Boboiboy stared at the tablet screen in front of him. There was his father's face there, connected by the video call they were making. He was here, at his house. While his father was on a foreign planet that Boboiboy didn't know the name of.
"Happy birthday, Dad's hero," said the middle-aged man with a smile.
The child smiled widely, rubbing the face of the man who had raised him with a feeling of great longing. He almost cried, but he held it back with all his might because he didn't want to worry his father.
"Thank you, Dad."
His father smiled faintly. "What gift do you want Boboiboy? I'll bring it to you when I get back from the mission." he asked then.
Boboiboy was silent. He thought that he didn't want any birthday present. For him, chatting with his father who was very far from where he was sitting was more than enough. And was able to make his heart happy and relieved.
"Boboiboy... doesn't want a gift, Yah."
Hearing his soft answer, his father fell silent followed by his smile fading. The man was silent for a moment, a glimpse of his gloomy expression was visible but only for a moment. His father was already smiling again although it seemed forced.
"Why? Usually Boboiboy always asks Dad for a present?"
"Yes..." Boboiboy looked down. "It's just ... Boboiboy doesn't want to give anything." he said honestly.
The father finally nodded in agreement. "Alright. So, what does Boboiboy want for his next birthday? Can Dad know?"
Silence enveloped the two of them for quite a while. The father and son stared at each other through the tablet as an intermediary. Boboiboy pursed his lips. He took a breath, before looking back at his father intensely.
"Boboiboy ..."
"Boboiboy just wants daddy to come home for Boboiboy's birthday next year,"
The loud alarm clock on the nightstand made Boboiboy's consciousness fully awake. The boy reached for the noisy object beside him, turned it off, then closed his eyes again for a few seconds. Actually, he didn't want to wake up today. Yes. Today. The day that should have made him happy, but instead it was the opposite.
"Boboiboy! Wake up! It's past six, you'll be late!"
His grandfather's screams were heard booming down there. Boboiboy sighed. Forcing his body to get up even though he had no intention whatsoever. His feet walked towards the bathroom, but when he accidentally looked at the calendar, his movements immediately stopped.
March 13, 2020
It's his birthday.
And he still clearly remembered what his father said at that time.
"Okay. So, what do you want Boboiboy to do for his next birthday? May I know? "
"Boboiboy just wants daddy to come home for Boboiboy's birthday next year, "
"Okay. Dad promises."
Promise...
His father had made a promise, which meant it had to be kept. But, that promise was made six years ago. And until now, that promise has not been kept.
Every birthday, Boboiboy always sits in front of his porch, hoping for his father to come with a big smile and arms outstretched to hug him tightly. He will wait there, until his father really appears even though in reality he never comes. The first year, Boboiboy tried to understand and a month later he was able to collect on the promise. His father said he couldn't come home because he had a mission.
