Chapter 3: Birthday Eve
This morning was different. Simon was gleefully screaming, "Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you!" He was tone-deaf, like a cat rolled over by a truck—one with big concrete rollers. I face-palmed my forehead. "My birthday is tomorrow!" I said. Simon's eyes bulged. I laughed at him.
"Oh, too bad, buddy!" Simon said.
"Nah! It's fine. It's the thought that counts," I replied, opening my arms. He hugged me. Oh my, he smelled nice. He kissed my forehead, then messed up my hair.
"Take care! I will be drinking tonight then!" Simon declared. He really was a dad, no matter what.
Day two of the exams. I'd finished Math, English, History, and Science yesterday. Jen looked at me after the exams. "Alex... is your... father ready to date?" she asked.
"Mhhh... I think it's about time, though... since Mom died two years ago," I said to Jen, and she smiled. Kris looked at me.
"It's your birthday tomorrow!" Kris exclaimed.
"Well, I'll be 20 tomorrow," I said.
"Then, care if we join in?" Emil asked.
"No prob..." I replied.
"Yes! We should invite Jen too!" Ros exclaimed. Jen blushed.
"Stop!" Jen replied, blushing profusely. "I am still your teacher! Don't get buddy-buddy with me..." she added, hiding her face in her maroon sweater. She looked too blissfully shy. This woman like Simon!
"Come on, Jennifer, I know you want to see Simon..." Ros teased.
"Ros! Staaaaaaaahp!" Jen said with a matching hand motion of an air swipe and a smile. Vixen!
"Anyways... I got to go... I'll be preparing for dinner," I said, riding my bike home. Huh? Simon's car was here. So he was home. I went inside. Simon was on the couch, drinking beer. He was in his shorts and tank top, looking at his and Mom's wedding day played on the DVD player. Oh, Simon.
"Mind if I join in?" I asked him. He wiped his eyes and looked back.
"Oh! Buddy! I did not know you went home early!" Simon said. I sat down next to him.
"Dad... you okay?" I asked.
"Oh! I'm fine!" he said. I snuggled closer. He rubbed my hair.
"You know... Silv always liked that... A strong-willed woman, she looked like you a lot when she was younger... Funny. Caring... loves to snuggle close. She always snuggled close when I had a bad day," Simon reminisced.
"Sometimes, I miss Mom too..." I said. He wrapped his hand around my shoulder and kissed my head. I looked at him.
"I miss Silv so much. Someday, buddy... We will recover from it, both Silv's and your sister Lavinia's death," Simon said as he hugged me close and let me lay on his chest, listening to his calm heartbeat on his firm chest. I missed Mom too. I just cried, for the first time in a while. It was a warm, bittersweet cry. "I miss Mom very much! She was always there just being nagging and always tells us to do this and that! She laughs so hard too! The house sounded empty, it's deafening!" I said. We were silent as individuals too. I looked at Simon. He was weeping as he kept caressing my hair.
"Sometimes... I was just happy... You did not leave me... Alex. But. You must know the truth," Simon said, stopping. I moved away a little as we looked at each other.
"I am not your real father," he said.
"I know..." I replied.
Simon wiped his tears and asked, "You knew?"
"I do. Moments before Mom died. For me it doesn't matter anymore. We are in this together," I said.
Simon hugged me. "I just realized that I raised you like my own. That's what matters, buddy. Someday, I mean... just next year... you will be in college. You will be on your own."
I cuddled him. I didn't really want to leave you, Simon. Then I went upstairs. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was very manly, though. Especially, I'm turning 20 tomorrow. I didn't want to change... I didn't want anything to change. I stayed up all night studying in my room. Later, I went down. Simon came inside. He brought a bunch of beer.
"So, happy birthday anyways!" Simon said. I smiled. He brought me beer.
"Drink with me!" Simon urged. I went down. We started to drink. I looked at the clock. "Dad, It's 12:30... I need to go to sleep..." I said.
"Nah! Your grades can wait! It's your birthday! I already set a whole day off tomorrow. I want to have quality time with you, buddy," Simon declared.
I opened a can of beer. I gulped it. "I will regret this!" I said to Simon. Simon rubbed my head.
"You know... When I first met you... you were just this little baby. Not even 1 year old. You were kind of bald too. Your mom was a widow. Yes, your real dad is dead, Rest in peace Alexis," Simon recounted. I just stared at him, his handsome face. The way he moved. He was kind of hard; like a square but with round edges. He moved here, then there. Honestly, he was just talking about his Papa, Grandpa Simeon. Then he moved to take my pictures. My eyes bulged. Simon was also naked in it too. But I was covering his...man parts. Damn you, old me!
He was moving funnily, then he became serious. I just kept staring at him. No wonder Mom was in love with this warm man. He always laughs. He always smiles. Fun to have around, except for the past 2 years.
"Hey! Buddy! You look very red!" Simon said.
"Nah, I'm fine, Dad..." I replied. Simon laughed as he gave me a glass of water. I asked him, though, "Simon... You can abandon me anytime if you wanted to..." He laughed. He flicked my head.
"I'm your dad! Well, we are not related, but whatever. It's dad for you, not Simon! You are my responsibility, and the best gift my dead wife gave to me!" Simon exclaimed. We laughed. I lay my head on the sofa.
"You know? You are all that I got. My mama is dead, my papa is dead. I don't have siblings or relatives. And I am all you have... except Kris, of course... your girlfriend. Your real dad is dead... Silv... Silv is dead, so is your little sister Lavinia." A tear dropped from his eye, but he still smiled. I lay my head on my arms and looked at him.
"Your mom always held my face. She would smile. She would say, 'Everything is fine, Simon... Don't worry...' That's the last words she said to me before I went to work. I can't believe how strong she was emotionally," Simon said. Simon hiccupped; he had drunk at least 8 cans now. I sandwiched his cheeks with my hands.
"Simon, I love you," I said.
He just laughed. "I love you too, buddy." He kissed my forehead. He yawned as he just laid his head on the armchair. I smirked. He just brushed me off in the most familial way.
"I love you, buddy," Simon said again. He started to snore. I moved close to him, and for some reason of these raging feelings, I kissed him on the lips. I walked around, being too tipsy as I lay down on the bed.