The Living Fictions

Chapter 2

Chapter Two

Nagising ako ng alas tres ng umaga out of the blue only when I realized na nakatulog pala ako na may isang libro na nakapatong sa dibdib ko. Oh, it might've been the reason why it feels so heavy.  I yawned at the thought that dad might have already gone home at this hour pero hindi na siya nag-abalang hanapin ako para batiin ako ng happy birthday—oh, it's actually not my birthday anymore kasi August 23 na at hindi na August 22.

Nilingon ko si Arin sa aking tabi na mahimbing na natutulog habang yakap-yakap iyong isang unan sa tabi niya. It was still so early and I should sleep back. So, I put back the book to the side table at ipinikit muli ang mga mata.

***

Dear Ayezza,

‘These are annotated books for you, they are my gift for my princess. You are officially on your legal age yet you're still our one and only baby. I hope you'd like these books, Aye. I bought them last week's book fair (the books are on sale so I bought a lot of them. Yes, more than a bundle). I am sorry if I was absent yesterday, I was just so busy and I need to attend a lot of conferences. I promise, next year I'll try my best to attend. I still wish you a happy birthday and I hope you value your life more than you values books. I want the best for you and happiness forever, Aye. These are books for your own peace. They're nice (though they didn't have good reviews on BookTok, just my workmates’ review. They said it changed their way of living). Books are great movies in our minds, aren't they? Alright, I am talking a lot now. Happy birthday, Aye!

Love,
Dad

“Does dad really wrote this?” halatang tanong ko.   Of course, he did. Halos marinig ko ang boses niya habang binabasa ang sulat na nakalagay sa paper bag kung saan niya inilagay ang bundle ng mga libro. They are not series, just tons of books and most of them are self-imposed books but there are also fantasy books.

“Yes, dear.” Sinabi niya sa akin na kung hindi mo ito makikita o mapapansin sa iyong side table, ako na lang ang magsasabi sa iyo. I'm glad you noticed it. I hope you appreciate his gift, Aye.”

Ngumiti ako. "Mas maganda kung personal niya itong ibigay sa akin."

I saw how mum frowned the moment I said that. Nandito ako sa shotgun seat and mom was the one who's driving beside me. It's still ten o'clock in the morning and pabalik na kami sa aming bahay sa La Valle. Kaka-drop palang namin kay Arin exactly sa gate ng bahay nila—malapit lang ang aming bahay sa isa't-isa since we live in the same village. Ganoon rin sa pamilya nina Ashton.

I then again, take a look at the tons of books infront of me. Though, sabi ni dad sa letter niya na wala itong good reviews sa BookTok (since wala namang ganoong app si Dad) I can say that these are top-tier books base on how they look. Though, hindi ko pa nabasa ang mga description.

"His appointments aren't done yet, he needs to be there early."

Tumango ako. Trying hard to understand lahat ng ginagawa ni dad. I know he's working hard to provide the necessities of the family but damn, I know one day of absent in work won't make us poor. Workaholic siya nitong mga nakaraang taon at hindi ko nga alam kung sapat na ba ang pahinga niya.

“Just tell him my gratitudes, mom.”

“Yeah, probably later.”

Hindi pa rin ako makaget over sa lahat ng nangyayari sa birthday ko. The fact that dad's presence is such a big deal. Is that being immature? Sa tingin ko ay hindi. I am now seventeen years old and I hope I am already mature enough.