Chapter 1: Happy Birthday

"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday... Happy birthday..."

Walking into the living room, Luna covered her face acting shy and surprised. But Luna was anything but surprised of her "surprise" birthday party. If you can even consider it as a party with only her Mom, Angelie and bestfriend Pipo. Well, she still pretended anyway, for the sake of her Mom. Though Pipo knows better.

No one can catch Luna off guard.

After all, Luna was born with a gift to see and know things before it happens. She can foresee things. Gets a peek of the future, was how Pipo describes it.

At the age of five, Luna can tell what her teacher's test exams would be. What her mother will cook for dinner or what clothes her Mom would wear. How she does it?

She does not have any idea.

Only that, she just knows. Just plain, know. And it freaked her out.

She tried telling her Mom, but like all mothers, Angelie attributed it to her being a child. Eventually, Luna learned how to ignore most of it. Many would have thought that this would have made her cool, but to other kids it made her the weirdest of girls. The brunt of all jokes.

The freak.

Pipo elbowed Luna and gave her a wink. "Come on, My Ore."

How sweet it would seem to others that he has a pet name for her. Sorry but no romantic feelings between them. My Ore is short for My Oracle. Yeah, cliche.

Luna met Pipo when they were in fourth grade. Being the new kid at school and bullied that day. Pipo would have fallen off the stairs, if not for Luna seeing through the result and prevented it from happening. Starting that day Pipo had never stopped following her around.

"Happy thirteenth birthday to you, baby...!"

Angelie hugged and kissed Luna after putting the cake on the table. It was a little goofy but she knows that her Mom had taken eight hours to bake it. She is definitely no baker. 

Luna tightly hugged her Mom back. "Thank you so much Mom, this is great. What a-a... surprise!" She tried to inject more liveliness, sounding so happy and grateful.

Behind Angelie, Pipo cannot help rolling his eyes. To which Luna responded by making-face. 

Giggling and unaware of the exchange, Angelie took her hand and pulled her to the table, excitedly.

"Ha, at last I have finally managed to surprise you...! I have tried so hard to keep the preparations a secret!"

"And well, Pipo kind a help too." Her Mom relented giving Pipo a side-long glance.

Luna smiled to herself. Sometimes it is not too bad to feign ignorance for her Mom's sake. Plus, she gets to practice her acting. (Tada! Thank god for drama club!)

The table was laden with food, from Luna's favorite spaghetti, chicken letchon, cheese rolls and orange juice. She looked at her mother. Even though money was hard to come by, Angelie still managed to give her a birthday celebration. Especially now that she alone, has to pay for their bills.

However, Luna can see tinge of sadness in her mother's eyes. Angelie may look carefree today for her daughter but her eyes tell another story.

Luna's mom is not a single parent. Not originally. A few months ago, Luna's Dad had gone missing. Her Dad was a soldier. He was always away on a mission or something. Travelling to this country, to that province doing military works. All classified, so her Dad never discussed his work at home.

He was in one of those missions last June but never came back to base. That is what the officer baring her Dad Luncio's dog tag had told Angelie. He came knocking on their door, told her Mom that her Dad was on a secret mission that is why no reports were on the news.

In a detached and monotone voice, he said sorry. Handed her Dad’s uniform on top of the folded flag and informed them that they will receive this and that from the government for her Dad's service. Her Mom took it all in. Stood with tears running down her gaunt face while clutching her Dad’s belongings but never forgetting to thanked the officer.

They never received the money. Things had been difficult after that. Her Mom had to take two jobs just to raise money for mortgage and keep the house. Luna is worried that her mother might be pushing herself too much. Losing her husband but with no body to mourn with.

Sometimes she would catch her Mom unmoving and staring into space. Or at other times, crying herself to sleep overwhelmed with grief.

At both times, Luna felt helpless. She knows her mother is still hurting. Her father may not have been present most of their lives because of his job. But Luna was witness to her parent’s quiet love. Her Mom had always been understanding and never once, did she nag her father about his prolonged assignments.

Even Luna not once resented her father for being barely there. He comes home at least twice a year and spends a few weeks with his family. In that short amount of time he manages to do many things, teaching Luna judo, karate and boxing, to name a few. After hand-to-hand combat lessons, he taught her how to use all sort of weapons. From knives, spears and even swords.

She never really minded the hard work her Dad put her through. Luna was too happy to spend her time with him. Oddly, time seems at a pause whenever her Dad was home. It feels like, he stays half a year but it was actually only just one month.

And what really bugs Luna was that, she can see things in the future only with the exception of those related to her father's. She always wondered why. Or how does it happen that her Mom was not included in the exception. Guess, she will never know now. Her Dad’s already gone.

"And now you must blow your candles. Hurry!" Luna was brought back to present by her mother's urging voice.

"Yes, go ahead, I am getting hungry." Pipo complained, pulling a chair to sit beside her.

Luna turned to him tilting her head, her lips pulled in a smirk. "Yeah. Yeah. I know you’re only here for the food. Right?"

"Go on and don't forget to make a wish...?" Luna looked up and saw the soft look that came across her mother's face. She was sure her Mom’s also remembering her Dad.

"Okay Mom... I know..."

Luna raised herself, closed her eyes and solemnly made a wish. The flame went out instantly. Her Mom may not have noticed but the flame was gone even before she blew air.

That is because Luna has another secret...

She has other gifts.

She can control the elements, alright.