Chapter Five: Surprise

“Hello? Are you asleep?” I asked our tenant while I was outside her door.   

I'm sure she's still awake, I even heard someone playing the guitar so I know she's not resting yet.   

I immediately straightened up when I saw her turn on the light and a little while later she opened the door.

I was surprised to see her eyes wide open as she sniffed it through her nose.   

“Hi! I’ll get the missing juice bottle and the glass I left here earlier, hehehhe!” I awkwardly said. She immediately panicked and immediately left in front of me and went back inside.   

“Sorry! I wish I had brought that with me earlier when I got down. And thank you!” And she immediately bowed and smiled.    She's really amazing. She's pretty good at hiding her sadness, but she's not very good at pretending. I still notice the traces of her tears on her cheek even though she managed to wipe it earlier.

  

I wonder why she's crying right now and also, whose the cause of those tears on her eyes.

“Oh, that’s okay! Good night, I’ll be right down! Just let me know if you need anything else. Baby! And good night!” I said and went downstairs to take what I had brought to the kitchen.   

I wanted to listen to the sound of his guitar more because its sound seemed to pierce the heart of anyone who could hear it.   

But, it didn’t seem like that sound was for me or anyone else, so it was better if I just didn’t listen to it anymore. I knew that whoever she was offering it to was special to her heart.  

Immediately put the dishes that needed to be washed in the sink. Smiling when washing the dishes and immediately cleaning up the mess in the kitchen and the grill itself.   

I don't know why I'm so energetic and I think it's bad because I must sleep early tonight because of school tomorrow. Quickly washed the dishes and rested early.

  

***

And yeah! I didn't sleep at all, I was awake all night and felt sluggish when I went to the bathroom to take a bath.

I was expecting to fall asleep because of all the things I had done earlier, but my thoughts wouldn't let me sleep.   

My brain was floating and I felt light-headed and light-headed because I was awake.   

I looked slim and modest like a woman when I put on my uniform and combed my hair. Even though I had taken a bath, my reflection in the mirror still caught my attention, the way my face was glowing.  

“Raphael, hurry up or you'll be late for your first class!” Mom shouted outside my room.   

I was slapped when the door to my room was immediately opened and Mom quickly shushhhhed at the noise.   

“Mom, did you forget that we have a tenant!” Mom immediately raised her eyebrows and frowned.   

“It's a good thing our tenant has already left for school, eh! You? You're so slow, hurry up!” She hissed. 

“Huh?” I immediately ran downstairs and picked up the bread. Immediately, the egg on the plate was pointed out and without looking back, I hurried out while biting the bread in my mouth.   

“Babye ma!” I shouted and ran to school. I never thought that she would go to school earlier than me. She was excited to go to school.

  

Seah's Point Of View

*1 HOUR BEFORE*

I was blankly staring at my ceiling while imagining things and thinking random thoughts about my future.

It was still dark and it was still three in the morning so the whole room and surroundings were dark. The breeze was also cold and I couldn't sleep.   

I immediately took out my phone and immediately scrolled through my photos, especially the photos of me with or next to my dad.   

I noticed that the times I thought of him or missed him were becoming more frequent. I smiled when I looked at the photos of me with him smiling and happy.

“Aren't you tired?” I immediately took a deep breath at his question.   

I saw him sit at the edge of my bed while looking at me.   

“Why am I tired?” The question was floating here.   

“Let him go, seah!” I frowned and shook my head. Here he goes again with his useless ramblings.   

“If you don't have anything good to say, can you just go away!” I said reluctantly and immediately stood up and went to the bathroom.   

“Aren't you tired of hurting yourself?” I turned away reluctantly and went to the bathroom. I also closed the door and immediately faced the mirror.    Knowing him, he wouldn't go into the bathroom because he knew what our rules were.

  

“Why are you hiding everything? Try to live your life the way you'll never be hurt again,” he continued to preach. I don't want what he wanted me to do. His suggestions were impossible and he really bowed down to lead me.   

“Stop hiding, Seah!” He continued to scold. I better shot the fuck up, than answer him.   

I immediately washed my face and angrily faced the door.   

“Tsk! That's great, if you could see mom say that to her face, if you're so good at preaching, try to preach to her might she'll be baptized,” I said and immediately went to the C.R. sink again and dunked my head in a basin of water, trying not to hear the words he wanted to say.

  

I don't want to hear things that remind me of how Mom left us.   

Even though Dad used to tell sweet stories about his love for Mom, I know it must have been painful for him.   

I don't want to remember again the reason Dad died because of my own mother. I don't want to remember again the nights I saw Dad crying in his room and saying her name.    I don't want to remember the words Dad said before he lost his breath.

  

It hurts, it hurts so much and I can't bear to be hurt by those memories. The word mother only reminds me of the hardships and pains that dad went through.    How cruel. Of all the people who make love a game, of all the people who make relationships happen or multiply relationships, dad was the one who was really hurt even though he loved her deeply.   

I immediately removed my head from the blanket and listened to see if it was still outside. I felt like it was gone so I collapsed and leaned against the wall next to the bathroom.   

I felt the hot tears flowing down my wet face again. I'm such a mess being imprisoned from the past and always be chained into it until now.   

“Heh! Ironic,” I exclaimed and smiled stupidly in the bathroom.