Page XII - Sleeping Beauty

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"Papa!" With a giant smile on her face, she couldn't help but be in glee as she called his father over the phone. She awkwardly got in an indian sit and placed the laptop on the table next to her bed.

"Celaine!" Her father, Arturo Edelstein joyfully replied to his daughter. With a smile on Celaine's face, as if the exhaustion in his body left and his vigor as a teenager went back to him. "Ah... I'm so glad I could talk to you. It has been a week hasn't it?"

"Yeah!"

"How's the first week of my little prince-," His throat clogged unable to let the words out. Right now he's thinking on how insensitive that question is.

He knows that his daughter is shy so she's having difficulties making friends. Her sister is no longer in that academy so she won't have anyone to support her. She's easily pressured and everything. "Everytime I asked this question since she was a child she always responded with, 'It's fine!' followed with a painful fake smile that no father could bear to look." He thought to himself.

Celaine was about to open her mouth and all the thoughts racing in his father's mind were, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for forcing you to give me that smile."

"It's... not bad." Celained said as she twirled the sides of her hair with a single finger while not looking at the camera.

"Eh?" Confusion took over her father trying to figure out what's going on.

"I found someone who shares the same interest as mine... You're right pa, this is an amazing school. I've already found someone who appreciates my love for books."

"Eh- Ah- Oh- Ah! T- that's great!" Arturo clenched his fists and thought to himself how happy he is as a father. "You found a friend. You should introduce her to me sometime!"

"Her? Hmm?" Celaine tilted his head trying to process the information. "Ah no, Theodore's a boy!"

"BOY!?" His internal thoughts were going wild. "W- w- why did a boy tried to get close to my Celaine!? Wait, that's rude. My daughter is absolutely pretty. So I can understand why boys would flock to her. Mhm. Mhm. That might be it."

"He's shown me a lot. I really appreciate him." Celaine's face was turning into a pinkish red as she was trying

"SHOWN A LOT!?" He grabbed his head with both of his hands and looked up and tried to shout but no sound came out. His wild thoughts were running amok. "Theodore!!! WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING MY PRECIOUS DAUGHTER WITH!?"

"P- papa? Are you okay?"

"Ah-" He lowered his hands and let out a cough to regain his composure. "Yes. Mhm. Mhm. What have he shown you?"

"Well... things here and there." She began to blush even harder and covered her smile with her hair and her palm and began to giggle silently.

"EH!? WHY IS SHE BLUSHING SO MUCH!? Why is she saying it like that? IS IT SOMETHING THAT NO DAUGHTER CAN SAY TO her FATHER!?" Something snapped inside of Celaine's father, all he could think about was his daughter shouting 'Papa!' from her infant days to her teenager years like a flashback of an old movie in his mind. "THEODOREEEEEEE!!! I will never forgive you for defiling my daughter! YOU... YOU MONSTER! I CURSE YOUUU!!!"

"I also gave him my first time."

"..." In that moment, Arturo's heart stopped and his movements stopped. He couldn't move nor speak to the shock. "Your... first... time?" He felt like he was falling in an endless void, unable to do anything as he lost his daughter to a man that he hasn't even seen.

"He helped me improve my writing and he's the first person other than you that I showed my poems to... It's a really special moment for me."

His heart began to flow blood again and his dead-like face is back to normal. "Eh?"

"Hmm? Do you have something to say?"

Arturo looked at her daughter with a straight face and suddenly, a flood of tears came out. He covered his mouth and looked away at the screen. "I hope you never change, Celaine!"

"EH? PAPA!?"

...

After several minutes, Arturo calmed down and all of his misunderstandings were cleared out. He let out a giant smile as her daughter told him in great detail what happened in the past week.

"So... she found a friend huh? I'm glad for her. I never thought she'd be able to find one." Harsh may it sound, he couldn't help but cheer her on in his thoughts. "She's growing up faster than I expected. Then I have no regrets. Even though I feel defeated that her friend is a guy, I don't mind it at all. Her smile right now is genuine. Something that she rarely shows."

"Ah! It's already late! Sorry Papa!"

"No, no, it's fine. Get some rest, I'll call you again next week or next month. I love you."

"I love you too! Bye!"

The words, [Call has ended] appeared on the screen of his laptop. He let out a giant sigh since he felt exhausted from that conversation with his daughter.

Just as he was about to sleep, he heard a knock on the door. "Mr. Arturo? Are you awake? I'll be going in." The maid went in. Her dress was something out of an old movie. It was clothes that maids from rich families use. She brought in a plate with a single glass of water and a bunch of pills on the side. "Goodevening Mr. Arturo. Here's your night pills."

"Thank you." He grabbed the pills and drank it one by one. It was an absolute horrible taste but he keeps a straight face as he endures taking those pills.

"The doctor asked me, has your chest been in pain for this day?"

"No. Nothing of the sort."

"I'll tell that to the doctor. Please enjoy your rest." She then left the room.

Arturo looked out the window to gaze upon the thousand stars and the moon. He grasped his chest and then prayed, "Please lord. Give me one more day."