Eternity Glass

XII: Sun Kingdom

A yank of the blanket pulled Fallon off the couch and onto the wooden floor. She sat up in a frenzy, feeling around for anything to pull herself up. "What? What? What is it? What did I do?"

Mrs. Herrera shook her son awake. "Up, up, you two! It's already past ten in the morning!"

Jeremy grumbled, trying to pull the blanket back around him. "It's only ten in the morning."

Fallon yawned and stretched ever so dramatically just to get on the woman's nerves. "Tita, what's the hurry? It's..." she narrowed her eyes, trying to get a sense of time. "Friday?"

"Saturday," Mrs. Herrera corrected. Her hands on her hips, she gave Fallon a pointed look. "Come now. Don't you know what today is?"

Accepting that he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, Jeremy sat up and yawned. "You just said it's Saturday."

She clicked her tongue and waved him off, waiting for Fallon's reply. When the girl couldn't take a guess, the former threw her hands up. "It's the first of May! It's your birthday!"

Jeremy whipped his head in search for a clock, mumbling a series of curses that truly belonged to one that spent time out at sea. Fallon looked up at a corner of the ceiling, as if a mind map explaining how she managed to lose track of time would reveal itself. When it finally sunk in, she beamed at Mrs. Herrera, who promptly took her in her arms. "Happy eighteenth birthday, anak."

Fallon tightened her embrace and thanked her for the reminder, for the simple solace her Tita Elliana provided. Freedom.

~

Breakfast was served right after Jeremy and Fallon freshened up: enough pancakes, waffles, and fruit to feed an entire army. Mr. Herrera made a show of sprinkling extra powdered sugar and syrup on Fallon's stack, evident of how he clearly forgot to get another sort of present and just signed his name on his wife's card. Mrs. Herrera had gotten her a mini blender, complete with recipes for a quick breakfast perfect for any college first year in a hurry. Jeffrey had gotten her a keychain with a ladybug charm, even including a copy of their house key "for whenever she drops by," as he put it.

Jeremy insisted that his gift be saved for last and didn't react so kindly when Jeffrey chided him for wishing to give it to her in private.

Fallon clapped her hands gleefully as he led her to his bedroom. "I can't wait to see what masterpiece you've crafted this time." She sat prim and proper on his bed as he retrieved the item from one of his desk drawers.

He snickered. "So you can buy me a jacket, but I can't be granted a break."

"Come on, Jer. You know between the two of us, you're the more creative one."

He swiveled around, scrunching his nose. "Why would you lie to me?" A seriousness entered his eyes, and Fallon's own eyes echoed the sentiment. A small wooden box rested between his palms.

Fallon tucked her legs under her, feigning shock. "Are you proposing to me, Mr. Herrera? Because I ought to have you know that I'm not the stay at home type, nor do I ever want to be addressed as 'the missus.' I don't expect to have any kids, but we can adopt. Oh, and of course, that means you're coming with me to college—"

She enjoyed how his face shifted from amused to baffled until he couldn't take any more and cut her off. "Dear God, did you come up with our whole life plan?"

She winked playfully, neither confirming nor denying that question. "Now how long are you gonna keep a lady waiting? Lemme see!"

Jeremy refrained from rolling his eyes, trying to return to a more serious mood. He took his place before her, a bundle of nerves wrung too tightly for him to want to sit down. At this point, the girl didn't know whether to make fun of him for it or ask if he was truly okay. She massaged her wrists, impatient of what was to come.