Lost In Spain

Chapter 01: Happy New Year

"Happy New Year Alex! I hope that-", my dad walks inside my room scratching his head.

"The coming year is prosperous for you. It brings you loads of happiness and most importantly the love of your life. Thanks dad, same to you.", I cut him off.

Every 365 days or 366 once in four years, my dad comes in to my room exactly when the clock strikes 12 and says the same thing.

"You do realise that there's more to life besides novels, right?", he gives me a sympathetic expression.

I know where this is going. I ignore him and continue reading the book I was before he gushed into my room.

"Alex Barnes, you need to understand that I ain't no dog barking in front of you.", he crosses his arms against his chest.

I shift my spectacles from my eyes to my nose giving him a stare.

"What on Earth happened to you my girl? I miss you. The old you. The happy you.", he continues.

"Reality.", I sigh.

"Come again?"

"Reality happened to me dad.", I say as I close the book.

"Why won't you talk to me-"

"Is this you trying to convince that naive daughter of yours to socialise again?", a voice coming from downstairs fills the room.

"Honey, I'll be down in a -", he calls out.

"You should go dad.", I cut him off again.

"But-", he protests.

"Good night dad."

"Good night dear." he switches off the lights and goes downstairs to that wife of his.

I wonder how his choice degraded so much.

Suddenly, my phone notifies me that I have a message. I haven't heard the notification tone of my phone since forever. I wonder who it could be at 12:16AM.

"Em: Hello Best Bitch! Waddup? Happy new year. It's 2025.. If you know what I mean.", it reads.

Yay! My best friend got the time to text me after 7 weeks. I'm beyond excited. I roll my eyes.

"Me: No, I don't.", I respond.

"Em: Cmon man! I'll give ya hints! 2025 - goals - bff's - road trip - Spain.", she replies within seconds.

"Me: You can't be serious about doing that!", the idea alone sends a shiver down my spine.

"Em: Ofc. I am! Meet me at BL tomorrow! We'll discuss! Xoxo!"

I don't bother replying to that message. Idly I start thinking about how perfect things were back then.

~

"So what else?", she had asked me this question like for the 13th time already.

"Emilia, I hate having phone conversations with you. You're in your 'so what else' mood the entire time.", I rolled my eyes.

"Hey! You don't get to talk with your best friend like that..", her chuckle evidently audible through the phone.

"Blah", I stuck out my tongue even though she couldn't see it.

"So what else?", there she went again.

"Uhhh!! Emilia", I groaned.

"Haha! You know I was watching this Bollywood film today. 3 best friends go for a road trip in Spain. How cool, right?"