3 Chapter 3: Birthday Eve

1). This morning is different. Simon runs inside the house in his pajama, half naked. He was fixing something as he wears the gray sweater mom knitted before. "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you!" said Simon, he is tone deaf, like a cat rolled over by a truck, that one with big concrete rollers. I face-palmed my forehead. "Dad... My birthday is tomorrow!" I said. Simon's eye bulges. I laugh at him. "Oh, too bad buddy!" said Simon. "Nah! Its fine. It's the thought that counts. Dad." I replied. I open my arms. He just hugs me. I smell him. Oh my, He smells nice. He kisses my forehead. Then messes up my hair. "Take care! I will be drinking tonight then!" said Simon. He really is a dad no matter what.

2). Day two of the exams, Finished Math, English, History and Science yesterday. Jen looks at me after the exams. "Alexius... Is your... father, ready to date?" asked her. "No. I don't think... It's just a year since mom died... Please respect." I said to her. Kris looks at me.

3). "It's your birthday tomorrow! You will be older than me!" said Kris. "Well, I'll be 19 tomorrow." I said. "Then, care if we join in?" asked Emil. "No prob..." I said. "Yes! We should invite Jen too!" said Ros. Jen blushes. "Stop!" said Jen. She blushes so much. "I am still your teacher! Don't get buddy-buddy with me..." said Jen as she hides her face in her maroon sweater. She looked too blissfully-shy. BITCH! You like Simon! "Come on Jennifer, I know you want to see Simon..." said Ros. "Rosa! Staaaaaaaahp!" said by her with a matching hand motion of air swipe and a smile. Dumb bitch! "Anyways... I got to go... I'll be preparing for dinner." I said as I ride my bike. I went home. Huh? Simon's car is here. So he is home. I go inside. Simon was in the couch, drinking beer. He was in his shorts and tank top, looking at his and Mom's wedding day played on the DVD player. Oh Simon.

4.) "Mind if I join in?" I asked him. He wipes his eyes. He sees me, he wipes his tears. "Oh! Buddy! I did not know you went home early!" said Simon. I sit down next to him. "Dad... you okay?" I asked. "Oh! I'm fine!" He said. I snuggle closer. He rubs my hair. "You know... Silv always like that... A Strong willed woman, she looks like you a lot when she was younger...Funny. Caring... loves to snuggle close. She always snuggle close when I have a bad day." Said Simon.

5). "Sometimes, I miss mom too..." I said. He warp around his hand on my shoulder and kiss me in the head. I look at him. "I miss Silv so much too." Said Simon I lay on his chest. "Someday buddy... We will recover from it on both Silvs and your sister Lavinia..." said Simon. Hear his calm heartbeat on his rubbery chest. I too miss mom. I just cried. "Buddy... It's fine." Said Simon. "It's not! I miss mom a lot! I miss mom very much! She was always there just being naggie and always tells us to do this and that! She laughs so hard too! The house sounded empty, It's deafening!" I said. We are, silent as individuals too. I look at Simon. He was weeping.

6). "Sometimes... I was just happy... You did not leave me... I never really realize it since you are, not really my own. I just realize that, I raise you like my own. That what matters buddy. Someday, I mean... Just next year... you will be in college. You will become a man of your own..." said Simon.

7). I cuddle him. I don't really want to leave you Simon. Then I go upstairs. I look at myself in the mirror. I am very manly though. Especially, I'm turning 19 tomorrow. I don't want to change... I don't want anything to change. I stayed up all night studying in my room. Later I go down. Simon goes inside. He brought a bunch of beer. "So, happy birthday anyways!" said Simon. I smiled. He brought me beer. "Drink with me!" said Simon. I go down. We started to drink. I look at the clock. "Dad, It's 12:30... I need to go to sleep..." I said. "Nah! Your grades can wait! It's your birthday! I already set a whole day off tomorrow. I want to have quality time with you buddy." said Simon.

8). I open a can of beer. I gulp it. "I will regret this!" I said to Simon. Simon rubs my head. "You know... When I first met you... you are just this little baby. You are kind of bald too. Your mom was a widow. Yes, your real dad is dead..." said Simon. I just stare at him, his handsome face. The way he moves. He was kinda hard... like a square but with round edges. He moves here, then there. Honestly, he was just talking about his Papa, Grandpa Simeon. Then he moves, take my pictures. My eyes bulges, Simon is also naked on it too. But I was covering his...man parts. Damn you old me!

9). He was moving funnily then he becomes serious. I just keep staring at him. No wonder mom was in loved with this warm man. He always laughs. He always smiles, Fun to have a round, except for the past months. "Hey! Buddy! You look very red!" said Simon. "Nah, I'm fine dad..." I said. Simon laughs as he gives me a glass of water. I asked him though, "Simon... You can abandon me anytime if you wanted too..." I said. He laughs. He flicks my head, "I'm your dad...well, stepdad but whatever. It's dad for you, not Simon! You are my responsibility and the best gift my dead wife gave to me!" said Simon. We laugh. I lay my head on my arms and look at him.

10). "You know? You are all that I got, my mama is dead, my papa is dead, I don't have siblings or relatives. And I am all you have... except, Kris of course...your girlfriend. Your real dad is dead...Silv ...Silv is dead so is your little sister." As a tear drops on his eye but he still smiled. I lay my head on my arms and look at him.

11). "Your mom always holds my face, she will smile, she will say, everything is fine Simon... Don't worry... That's the last words she said to me in the Hospital. I can't believe how strong she was emotionally." Said Simon, Simon hicks, he have drink at least 8 cans now. I sandwich his cheeks with my hands. "Simon, I love you." I said.

12.) He just laughs. "I love you too buddy." He kisses me in the forehead. He yawns as he just lays his head on the table. I smirked. He just brushed me off in the most familial way. "I will always love you buddy..." said Simon again. He starts to snore. I move close to him, and for some reason of these raging hormones. I kissed him in the lips. I walk around being to tipsy as I lay down on the bed bed. Simon walks around.He opens my door. "Why are you in my room?" asked Simon. I look around. It was really his room.

13.)He laughs. "If you want to cuddle...grow up. You are a man now!" said Simon happily. We laugh. "Exemption?" I asked to him. "Okay, I'll give an exemption, last one! Grown ass man!" said Simon he lays down in bed and cuddle me. I yawn and cuddle him, he... makes me feel safe, like years and years before.