(This story happened back in early 2000s when internet was still a new invention to public, no android phones, no Facebook, no Friendster, no Whatsapp yet. Only a few emails, browsers, and a few simple chatting applications.)

This story focused on a young man simply called Rey. He surely wasn't a common guy at all. All about him was so uncertain, as he's an unknown youngster in another country. His occupation was an IT student, studying about computer programming, living alone in a small town house near his campus.

People around, fellow students, lecturer and neighbors only knew him as 'Rey the Rebel'. Not a masculine, too tall, or bulky or athletic man at all. But more close to be described as a sweet, tender, youthful looking man. In other words, he looked so damned ageless, just like Peted Pan.

With a soft light skin, narrow eyes, and jet black hair, Rey looked so cute. He has a perfect familiar smile, almost got no hair at all on his face, except if he didn't shave for a very long time.

And he's not a typical guy that so easy to be flirted with. Rey's not that kind of young man who liked to play around with girls. His daily rituals were only commuted with his old motorbike between home, study at his campus, to an internet cafe where he co-worked with his friends as a keeper, then late at night, went home to sleep alone or simply spent the rest of his day watching TV or playing internet games. So, until now, still no girlfriend at all.

Until one day, when he was online at the cafe he managed and chatted in MiRC like usual.

As it was still no video call or photo chat yet, users can only see others as randomly chosen or written nicknames, numbers or text in the screen, via some available channels.

Rey just liked to do casual chats, as he had no intention to get a new crush or any love prospects at all. He just enjoyed talking around about games, or news, or other light topics. And sometimes he played online games too when he wasn't busy.

But on that one fateful day, he came across a girl nicknamed Joy. Just chose a random person among the other names. Joy's a young lady on another internet cafe said she was browsing the internet after some lecture. And she introduced herself as an art student. Just about the same age as Rey, only born a few months earlier. And she also said she was still studying, now in her final lecture year to gain her bachelor of arts degree.

She wasn't yet know this young man's face at all and so did Rey. So they blindly chatted, told a little introduction about themselves, age, location, exchanging phone numbers and so on. It was an enjoyable conversation between the two, so Rey decided to continue their new friendship. He promised to call Joy on the phone later. And Joy just casually agreed at first, while she never really hopeful to be called.

But Rey was a man of his promise. Not too long after that, Joy's phone at home was ringing.

This young lady, even just like any girl-next-doors and nothing really special at all, was not a typical feminine, usual pretty girl, as she loved her lifelong tomboyish look. She now lived with her mom and her pet dog, while sadly, her dad died 2 years ago. No current boyfriend, as Joy already broke up after 2 years of a relationship without love.

Her ex boyfriend, also an IT student a few years elder, was just like a friend, or maybe a big brother, not a man she really loved, maybe just someone she tried to be with to expel their loneliness together. Or, honestly said, only to tell or show people out there that she's taken, not a sad or lonely single young woman at all. Then, their relationship was over. Something that she never regretted, as it wasn't feel right at all.

About this new unknown guy, Rey, she still didn't know what will happen between them, or even put any hope yet. She already tried to get new friends, mingled with some new guys, but this far, no sign of any crush yet.

And back to the still ringing phone, as it played the good old popular tune a few times already, at first Joy didn't want to pick it up in a hurry.

Is this a decent call from someone I know, or just another 'wrong number' that called me in rows from a few days ago ? - Joy hesitated.

Pick it up now, or never? The answer is in the next episode.

Joy was an introvert, quiet and a careful young lady while still a little bit timid about men. She didn't like bulky, hairy or too masculine men, so it's kinda hard for her to find her own type, just like the dream lover she wanted from her childhood long time ago.

Joy secretly fell in love at the first sight to a random person costumed as 'Prince Charming' in a carnival in a theme park while she was still about six or seven years old. She went there with her family, playing rides, then they came across the moving music parade, or carnival.

The view of the handsome prince started to catch the little girl's attention, she even forgot the face of the Cinder Ella the Princess, or maybe never gaze at her at all.

So after that, Joy liked to buy all Cinder Ella's story whenever she went to the book stores, just to see her first puppy love ever.

Back to the still ringing phone. Joy finally able to make sure for herself to reach it and with a little hesitation, said her first "Hello?" with her childish tone.

"Hi." a deep young male voice replied.

Joy surprised. Somehow she liked the tone. And it wasn't the one that called her from unknown number like she had answered lately.

"Good evening, is this Miss Joy's phone number?" the young man on the phone once more asked, politely.

"Y, y, yes, I'm Joy herself." she replied, "Sorry, but who is this I'm speaking with?"

"This is Rey, nice to finally hear your voice. We met online, not too long ago. Sorry if I called you a little late than you might expected."

"Uh, yes, it's fine, nice to meet you too.. Mr. Rey."

"With my pleasure. I hope my call isn't bothering you."

"Oh, no, of course you don't. I'm not busy." Joy chuckled. Strangely, she got more comfy and also felt an extra confident with this new friend she just met, sounded like a good beginning for them. Oops, no feelings yet, of course.

So they began to talk a lot as two strangers, and shared almost anything from hobbies to other things that came across their minds.

"I hope you like and enjoy talking to me, Ms. Joy. I rarely chat like this to a lady." Rey also pleased to find out this new friend wasn't the type he didn't like, Joy wasn't too chatty but very enjoyable to talk to, also Rey didn't see her as too shy as she described.

"Of course Mr. Rey, you're a very polite man and sound so familiar to me. Are you a famous person or what? A radio DJ or announcer?"

"Umm, maybe a prince?" Rey playfully teased, a little tried to see Joy's reaction as well.

"Uhh, you could be one. But I'm not sure."

"Nay, I was joking. I'm just an IT student. And to be honest, a lil' bit younger than you. Is that okay to have a younger male friend, Ms. Joy?"

"Why not? I don't really into elder men. Once in relationship with a 4 years older man, it didn't work at all."

"Oh, I see. So sorry to hear that."

"It's ok. Old, long story. What about you?"

"Once I dated a younger girl. But she liked to go to disco and such. I don't. Then I managed to end our relationship. No love as well."

"Almost the same as me. So, we both singles. And nobody will get mad if you chat like this to me," Joy never talk this much, but Rey succeeded to lure the introverted girl away from her timid nature in just a phone chat away.

"Yes, I agree. If you don't mind, we can be friends, and I'll call you every evening. Do yo mind if I do?"

"Of course not, I will wait for your calls."

"Joy, what are you doing? Dinner is ready." Mom's voice from downstairs called.

"Oops, my mom called. I'll go there now Mom! Sorry Mr. Rey, I have to go now."

"It's ok Ms. Joy. I'll call you again soon. Night."

"Night. Talk to you later."

Joy put the phone, felt a bit hard to end their first conversation. But she felt happy that she got Mr. Rey called. And his warm, deep young male voice, a little bit bassy, sounded so deep and echoed again and again deep inside her heart.

Oh my God. I think I had a crush.

Rey too, some warm feelings secretly went to fill his ever cold heart. He smiled, silently tried not to imagine what if his new friend Joy find out the biggest secret he still hid.

Joy sounded like a nice girl. I have to call her again tomorrow, to see if she really wait for my calls. And why this time I feel this longing so early, just like talking to a long lost friend. Or maybe more than that?

Rey went back in time, remembered his own hard times back to the country where he really belonged...

Back to Rey's history about a few years ago in a monarch kingdom named Evertonia, just a neighboring country from Evernesia, where Rey and Joy now lived.

Rey was not just a regular blue-blooded guy from a wealthy family. More than that, in his own country, he's as famous as a celebrity. Girls everywhere adored him, they liked to flirt him. Princesses on his royal, international standard school and in his real life tried to win his heart like a trophy. And it was so natural.

Because he's the Crown Prince. The first and only son of a cold, reigning King of Evertonia. And soon or later he would be crowned after his father. But not that easy, surely with some hard terms and conditions. He must fulfill an obligation to marry a blue-blooded lady from a noblemen descent, with a legal family tree. Not just any woman he loved.

And personally, Rey didn't like that rule, nor royal position, at all. Honestly, he didn't want to be a king.

Not now, also not later. I have to try living my own life path as a commoner. I want to study my interests in computer and photography. Not a good idea to stay this way, sit nicely on my daddy's throne and continue living an empty royal life!

Rey silently had planned carefully to do his runaway to Evernesia once his king daddy gave him a very useful gift, a big motorbike on his birthday, just a few months before his high school graduation.

His two best buddies at about the same age, Knight Yin and Yang, at first didn't really agree with Rey's crazy idea. "That was so brave and cool of you, Bro Rey. But as you know already, your king daddy won't ever agree and you'll only end up in his wrath." they said.

"I knew that, and I'm ready to take all the consequences." Rey replied. "At midnight, right after my graduation, I'll ride my bike as fast as possible on the empty road to Evernesia. The great escape. And you guys must help me by keeping this secret as long as possible from my dad."

"Surely we'll help you. But you have to stay safe there, bro. Good luck. And don't forget, we're always here for you anytime you need our help."

So, it was the end of the heroic Prince Rey who liked to help his people at night, by silently doing charities or 'save the world like superheroes' downtown, or at days, gave his humanity help to elderly people retirement houses and orphanages. He's been loved by his people as an ideal philantropic king-to-be for years. But it was about time for him to go and leave all the good things he has done.

Early in the morning, people in the palace histerically found out that the crown prince was missing. The newspapers and TVs soon flooded with major headlines and breaking news that Prince Rey The Next King-to-be might had been 'prince-napped' or missing without a single trace nor clue. His best friends kept their words to remain silent, so neither the press nor the palace could track Rey's whereabouts. The king was really angry, but couldn't do anything except put all the blame on the careless palace guards.

Now Rey's gone for years like a ghost. Nobody ever find out that he went to Evernesia. Thus, no more royal uniforms, fancy facilities, royal parties, pretty faces.

Only Rey the Rebel, his bike, his new identity, his books and his new journey to find life and love.