A Dagger To The Heart

"I should just ask Uncle Murphy. He should know about this." he decided to go and ask Uncle Murphy next door.

Just when he turn to leave...

"Creek! creek!" the creeking sound came from the inside.

"Forget it! I should just go inside. May God protect me!" he tried to encourage his heart.

He opened the door slowly while peeking his head into the house. His things are all on their right locations. Nothing seemed to be messy - 'Except for the door maybe' he thought.

He slowly walked to his bedroom. All his important belongings are in his bedroom. If it was a burglar, the target would be his bedroom.

He reached for his bedroom's door and slowly he sneek into the room. When he was about to set his foot into the room, there was a loud popping like the bursting of a balloon.

When he turned around to find the origin of the popping sound, he saw a streamer saying, "Happy Birthday, Peter! We love you!"

Then one by one, his aunt, uncle, Uncle Murphy , and close relatives entered the living room and sings,

"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!" they were full with smiles.

His aunt, Cherylle, was smiling at him. She was carrying a round cake while slowly walking towards him. There were little droplets on her eyes.

"Happy birthday, my dear nephew." she put the cake on the table and went on to give Peter a tight hug.

"Thanks to all of you and for this preparation..." Peter was out of words to say.He was just too happy that for the first time since the lonely days started, someone sang him a happy birthday. It was just really an impossible thing to happen.

"It is your birthday, of course we should celebrate. Eventhough, we are not always by your side and we were not there when you needed someone to lean on to. But still, do not forget that you have us." his aunt said with a melancholic tone.

The atmosphere became more serious. It became awkwardly silent. There was only the chirping of doves in the frontyard.

"...Ehhem" Peter coughed a little. He didn't like this kind of emotional scenes. It is the reason why he is always into books.

"Oh, sorry for getting a bit sentimental, hehehe." his aunt continued to interrupt the silence. Then she added, "Shall we eat, it is not good to make the food eat."

"Ohh - okay!" Peter hurried to get the utensils and serve each person.

The atmosphere became lively again when they started eating. His relatives asked about his plan for the future. One of his relatives even promised him a position in one of his companies if he decides to go on a business career.

They also asked silly things. Such as, if she already had a girl she liked. "Don't forget to make me your bestman." one of his relatives jokingly said.

His answer to them revolved around yes and now. Sometimes he would just give them a dry.

'Oh, by the way, I think I have someone I like or rather curious about.' he remembered about that mysterious girl he met in the library. If he just had the courage and the words, it wouldn't be a big deal to make friends since he is already a graduating student. A friend or two would make a lot of happy and unforgettable memories.

"Ahhmm - Peter, can we talk for a moment?" his aunt suddenly interrupted his train of thoughts.

"Of course, auntie." he replied with a smile.

"Let us go outside for a moment." his aunt added.

The house was busy with everyone eating. There was also the Karaoke - everyone was eager to sing songs. Most of the songs are the dedicated to Peter. They would first give a short message for Peter before singing their selected song.

"This one is for my ever respectful neighbor." Uncle Murphy was the one speaking. "If there was an award for being a good neighbor and a thoughtful one too, I would probably give a hundred of them to you, Peter." he added before he sang a song entitled One Friend.

Peter turned to see Uncle. He gave him a thumbs up and made a slight bow and smiled at Uncle Murphy. He really felt that one. It went straight to the heart.

Eventhough he has his families and relatives, they only visit him once or twice in a year sometimes no one visits him. It is not that they hated Peter but it is just that they are too busy doing their own things. When he was all alone, he always went to Uncle Murphy for comfort and just to have a nice talk.

He treated this old man a family, not by blood but by heart.

There was a cold breeze blowing outside. It was getting late into the night. The stars are starting to make their way - lighting the night sky. The moon was not present tonight as it was mostly cloudy - even the stars took effort to peek from the clouds.

There was the harmonious clanking of the chimes hanging just above his door as the wind blows and plays a wonderful song. The chimes seem to whisper a lonely tale that slowly fades into the night.

Silence was lurking in the surrounding.

"Peter... I heard that there will be a coming Mass Entrance Examination at your school." his aunt Cherylle was the one to break the seemingly lonely song of the wind.

"Yes, that's right..." a slowly spoken reply from him.

She gave an 'I understand' nod. "So, have you decided on what school to attend to? I have a few closed friends at the academe. It won't be difficult to inroduce you to them. And with your talent and skills, I think they would probably give you scholarships." she explained trying to give her nephew a hand on his career.

Peter didn't know whether he should tell her that he wants to attend ASEA's Space Training Camp and that he has already applied to take ASEA's admission test. He lazily scratched his head, "Umm, about that... I haven't decided on what shool to choose so I just registeres for almost all the exams and I would just choose later on."

"Oh.." aunt Cherylle was a bit shocked at his answer. Of course she knew that her nephew has a great mind at school and that he would be graduating at the top of the class so it shouldn't be a problem. And he was still a teenager so it's normal not have a career on his head now. "Remember that whatever it is that you take, make sure that your heart wants it for the heart can see through. And I will always be here if you need advices on your life."

She gave him a comforting talk.