Chapter 12 This Day

Chapter 12 This Day

June 4, 2012 (New Present)

This can't be happening again. I can't go through the same pain and fear once more. Please, no…

That day...this day. I don't want to see that again. 

As I looked towards the same spot where my mother had been strangled to death, my heart began to race. My eyes adjusted to the dim light, and I could make out a dark object hanging in the same place. I couldn't believe it. Not again.

  My mind was flooded with memories of that day, and I felt the familiar weight of pain and fear return to me. I couldn't go through it again, not one more time. I couldn't bear to lose another person I loved.

  But as the anxious thoughts overwhelmed me, my mother's smiling face flashed through my mind. She had been so happy just that morning, and I couldn't let the past ruin the present. I had to be strong. I had to believe that this time, things would be different.

  With trembling legs, I forced myself to move forward. "This day must not be the same," I repeated to myself. I took a deep breath and poured all my strength into each step.

  As I approached the hanging object, I could feel my chest tighten with dread. I couldn't help but think of my mother's lifeless body, hanging in that same spot. But I had to face my fears. I had to know what was hanging there.

  I finally stepped forward.

Then suddenly, the previously dark room lit up with blinding lights. All of the light bulbs were lightened simultaneously. Before my eyes adjusted to the sudden changes, I heard a loud explosion-like sound. 

BANG!

Time seemed to slow down as the room transformed in an instant from cold, dark, and quiet to warm, bright, and noisy. 

My eyes were finally adjusted to the sudden light changes, and I could see. 

Colorful paper confetti flew everywhere. Many people are standing in a u shape formation, but among them, the first one I saw was my mom smiling like she did early this morning alongside my dad. I looked up and noticed something was hanging, and it was only a rope supporting a banner. 

Upon reading what was in the banner, Tears instantly filled my eyes.. 

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY Justin!!!" everyone shouted. 

I couldn't help but fall to my knees after that. 

Everyone clapped their hands. And my mom and dad quickly approach me.

My mom and dad both knelt down. 

"We are very sorry for that, Justin. Did we scare you?" My mom said apologetically. Dad also spoke apologetically, "We just thought that maybe we should surprise you by pretending that we forgot your birthday and surprise you after your school. We're deeply sorry for-" 

I hugged both mom and dad tightly. "I'm the one who forgot it." I sobbed in their embrace. Why did I forget this day? Or did I purposely bury this fact because of what happened in my past? Mixed emotions of tears overflowed. I let out everything I felt for 30 years, sadness, fear, and regrets. My parents comforted me by gently patting my back. 

Mom slowly wipes my eyes and snot using her handkerchief. "Yosh, you look good now." I smile in return. "Are you okay now, son?" My dad asked. I nod in agreement, and he lifts me up into his arms.

All of the guests clapped their hands. I glanced at all of our guests and recalled some of them. Some of our family members are wearing civilian attire, some are wearing formal uniforms, and some are officials in our Local Government Unit where my father works as a City Mayor. The last group is a bunch of kids wearing party hats. They are my classmates. Alongside them is my grandma holding confetti poppers. 

So that was the reason why grandma called and made me wait in her office even though the class wasn't over yet and never showed up. She probably informed and gathered my classmate for my birthday celebration. I glanced at all my classmates, and it seemed they were all here, including the delinquent boy and the lawyer's son. Behind my classmates are their parents. 

There are probably a hundred guests, but our hall room is wide enough to accommodate them. 

After visitors clap their hands, they're split in half and move sideways to reveal a long table behind them. My eyes widened when I saw lots of various delicacies, and all of them looked so delicious!

But the thing that caught my eye was a gigantic cake in the center of the table! It had 5 layers covered, and each of them had different flavors. There's chocolate flavor at the bottom, next mocha, strawberry, the middle is cheesecake, followed by red velvet, and the top is vanilla ice cream. That is an odd order, but it doesn't change the fact that it is mouth-watering. By the looks of it, I estimated it was a meter tall, and I bet it took a lot of effort and money to bake it. 

My dad noticed my glistering stare at the cake then he whispered to me. "Did you know? Your mom is the one who baked that all by herself. I looked at him in disbelief. "Really?!" I glanced at my mom, but she was just gleefully preparing the cake by lighting the candles on top of it. 

That's really impressive. I tasted her cooking this early morning, and the lunch and all of it was incredibly delicious. It's convincing that my mom is such a great cook, but I didn't expect that she could make more than that. 

My dad brought me in front of the cake, and the visitors then asked me. All of them sang me a happy birthday song. 

"Happy birthday to you~."

"Happy birthday to you~."

"Happy birthday, happy birthday~."

"Happy birthday Justin~."

To be honest, it felt so weird to be sung like that. I don't know what kind of face or reaction I should make because it's my first time… no, it's the second time someone has greeted me with a birthday song. But one thing I'm sure of, I am sincerely delighted by this. 

"Make a wish," my mom and dad said in unison. "And after that, blow out the candles on the cake."

  I couldn't believe this was happening. I had given up on the idea of ever having a celebration like this again, since everyone I loved was gone. I had even forgotten about my own birthday.

But now, here I was, surrounded by loved ones and a table full of delicious treats. This was something I never expected to experience, and it was more than I could have ever wished for.

  As I gazed at the flickering candles, I couldn't help but wish for this moment to last forever. If this was just a dream, I didn't want to wake up. If this was just my imagination, I never wanted to return to reality. I was grateful for this brief moment of happiness, and I hoped it would never end.

With a deep breath, I blew out the candles and made my one and only wish. Thank you, I silently whispered. Thank you for this precious gift.

CHAPTER 12 -END-

Happy Birthday, Justin. From now everything you longed for will  also come true. I want to see it too but… I…