Chapter 3

"You have any plans for your birthday?" Mom ask while we're having our dinner.

Now that I've thought about it, I really don't have any plans for it, it's not like I have many friends to celebrate it with.

It would just be me, my parents, Sassy and Tita Sally like always. So I just shrugged my shoulders to my mom's question.

"How about we eat out?" Dad suggested which I immediately rejected.

"I want to stay at home for it dad. Maybe Mom can cook something and I'll just invite Sassy and Tita Sally over." I said after chewing my food.

I saw Mom and Dad exchanged worried looks while I was drinking.

"What is it?" I ask after bringing my glass down.

Mom immediately shook her head and gave me an assuring smile.

"Nothing hon, we just thought you wanted to somehow celebrate it differently since you're already turning sixteen."

I smiled at their worried faces.

"I am celebrating, Mom. I just like it intimately, just you, me, and Dad. I'm already satisfied with that." I assured them.

Dad smilingly patted my head before he resumes with his food and talked to mom about something related to his work.

I just finished my food and help my mom clean up after and prepared for my training.

"Fhyra, no training for today. Your mom and I got to go somewhere. Will you be okay here, alone?" Dad said when I was about to go to the basement.

"Oh, alright Dad. Don't worry, I'll be fine." I said with a smile.

Dad rubbed the top of my head, slightly messing my hair, I gave him an angry look while I was trying to fix it again.

"Not my hair!" I protested like a kid but my dad just laughed at me and silently pull me closer to him and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead.

I looked up to him with a questioning look, curious about his sudden action.

My dad is a man of few words, very opposite of my very talkative mom, so this sweet action of his is a little bit out of his character.

"You're really a grown-up now," he said affectionately while scanning my face as if memorizing every single detail of it.

"Dad... Are you being sentimental just now?" I asked with my brows furrowed in confusion.

He just laughed once again before giving off an adoring smile.

"We love you so much, dear." He said and pulled me into a tight hug.

Now, it's getting weirder.

"Hey! Let me join!" I heard my mom's loud voice before I felt another set of arms wrapped around me.

"What's wrong?" I asked them, I am already starting to worry about them.

"Nothing, maybe we were really just growing older. We're getting more and more sentimental." Mom said and wiped the tears in the corner of her eyes.

"Are you sure?" I asked, my voice and expression still laced with worry.

"Of course! Come'n, let us tuck you to bed before we go." Mom said and they accompanied me inside my room.

Mom was gently caressing my hair while my Dad was busy tucking me in the blankets.

"Are you sure you're okay mom?" I asked again, still bothered with how they act this past few days.

"Fhyra, we're just being sentimental, okay? Stop worrying. Take a rest, you still have school tomorrow." Mom said and placed her forehead against mine and said her goodnights, Dad left a gentle kiss on my forehead as well, before they slowly closed the door of my room.

"I told you Sassy, something is really going on with my parents! They were acting really weird!" I told her, almost hysterical.

"Maybe they were just being sentimental like what they said." she comfortingly said while licking her ice cream.

"No, there's really something wrong! I can feel it!" Sassy sighed heavily because of my stubbornness.

"Maybe they're preparing something for your birthday?" she blurted out.

"Seriously, Sassy?" I gave her a deadpanned look.

"What? I mean, look, your birthday is approaching, your parents are acting weird? Maybe they were just preparing to surprise you or something." She explained as if her idea was the most credible idea she ever had.

I helplessly shook my head and stood up from the bench where we were seated.

"Where are you going?" she asked as she followed me.

"Finding someone to talk sense with."

"What the?! And who was that? Cool?" Her face goes from irritated to a teasing one as she mentioned the latter's name.

"What? How the hell did was he involved in this conversation?" I asked her with my brows furrowed.

"Well, there are not so many people whom you can talk to here. There are the teachers, me and Cool. Oh, maybe you would find that creep, Hailec?" she asked while lifting one of her eyebrows.

"Of course not! Geez! Just forget it!" I said groaning with frustration.

I was awakened by some loud whispers around me, I remember lying down on our sofa after going home from school. I slightly opened my eyes to take a look at whatever was happening, but instead, I saw Mom holding a birthday cake while Daddy was wearing a birthday hat.

"Can you just smile a bit?! We're greeting your daughter a happy birthday, but you look like you're about to give sympathy to the dead!" Mom scolded dad.

I can't help but chuckle when I saw Dad tried to smile wider but it only resulted in an awkward one.

"Fhyra!" Mom exclaimed, quite shocked that I have awaken.

"Mom, you're terrorizing Daddy too much," I said as I get up from the couch and walked to them.

"Happy Birthday dear!" Mom greeted and kissed my forehead.

"Thanks! You really don't have to do this, but I really appreciate it." I said while smiling widely.

My heart feels so much warmth and I am very happy and satisfied with what I have. I may not be blessed with many peers but I am truly thankful for having such wonderful parents.

"I love you guys!" I said and hugged them both.

"Okay, light the candles now and blow it, baby girl!" Mommy joyfully said.

I stared at the candle for a second and closed my eyes for a wish after seeing it lighted.

I wish we would be happy every day.

"Yehey!" Mom cheered like a kid.

"Come'n! Let's eat, I cooked your favorites!"

We were happily eating the dinner that my mom had prepared when we heard some weird noises outside our house.

"Maybe Sassy came," I said and was about to stand up when Dad held my wrist and shook his head.

I stared back at him and then to Mom when I realized that they became too quiet.

"What is it?" I inquired when I saw worry and fear in their faces.

Mommy stood up and went to my side. Daddy stood up as well and walked near the window, peeking on whatever was happening outside.

And before I could ask further, our door was broken and four to five people, wearing weird clothes came in.