As Kai drifted deeper into sleep, he found himself immersed in a vivid recollection from his childhood.
In the dream, he was a young boy, surrounded by the warmth of his family's love. It was his birthday, a day filled with joy and celebration. In the midst of all the excitement, he remembered the tender gestures of his parents.
"Happy birthday, baby," his mother whispered, her voice overflowing with affection as she tucked him into bed.
And then, his father's voice, deep and reassuring, echoed in the room, "Happy birthday, my son," he said, his hand resting gently on Kai's shoulder.
In that moment, Kai felt enveloped in a sense of belonging and security, wrapped in the love of his parents. However, it was just his dream that will never came true.
As young Kai awoke, he was greeted by lavish gifts from his parents, a substitute for their absence on his birthday. Today was meant to be special, yet the one person he yearned for the most was absent once again. On his birthday, he found himself alone, surrounded only by the extravagant presents left by his mother and father, who had departed without a farewell.
Tears welled in his eyes and trickled down his cheeks as he grappled with his emotions. Hours passed with Kai immersed in his solitude. This was the pattern of his past birthdays – always alone, with parents physically present but emotionally distant. His heart ached for the days when he was just five years old, when his parents were by his side. He longed for the laughter they shared and the comfort of his mother's playful antics. But those memories had faded into the past, unreachable and fleeting.
After hours of tears, Kai's sorrow began to subside. He emerged from his room to find their housemaid bustling about, preparing for his birthday celebration with a cheerful demeanor. Despite her efforts, he couldn't shake off his melancholy. Silently, he slipped out of the house while everyone was preoccupied. With determined steps, he made his way to the park on the outskirts of the village.
"When will they prioritize me? Both of them cared only for their business. Is that more important than their own son?" the child lamented.
He entered the barrel and sulked there. Many questions flooded the young child's mind, "Do they love me?", "Do I have parents?", "Am I invisible to them?" and many more, until he cried because he couldn't find answers to his own questions. He wept incessantly until he was interrupted by the voice of a girl.
"Bakit ka umiiyak? (Why are you crying?)"
Young Kai furrowed his brow at the girl's question.
"Huh?"
"Sabi ko, “Bakit ka umiiyak?” bingi ka ba? (I said, 'Why are you crying?' Are you deaf?)" the girl asked.
"Sorry but I can’t understand you," he replied, still confused by what the girl meant to say.
"Patay! Alien! (Shoot! Alien!)" the girl exclaimed, slapping her forehead.
"What?" young Kai asked, confused.
" Paano ba ‘to? Hmm… Ah! Why you cry? Teka tama ba? Basta ‘yon na ‘yon! (How do I do this? Hmm... Ah! Why you cry? Is that right? Well, close enough!)"
"Nothing," he replied shortly.
" Anong nothing nothing ka d’yan? Iiyak ka ba ng walang dahilan? (What do you mean 'nothing'? Are you crying for no reason?)"
"Huh?"
" Ano ba ‘yan, ang hirap naman makipag-usap sa alien nakakabobo! (Ugh, it's so hard to talk to an alien, it's making me dumb!)" the girl expressed in frustration. She just scratched her head, finding it difficult to converse with him.
The young girl refrained from posing any more questions. Instead, she extended her handkerchief to young Kai, prompting him to turn towards her.
"Don't cry, you'll look ugly. Your handsome face will go to waste," the young girl struggled to articulate in English.
Young Kai's sorrow dissipated at her words, replaced by a burst of laughter. The young girl continued to chatter, her broken English only adding to the charm of her attempts. Despite the language barrier, she managed to entertain young Kai with her simple yet endearing anecdotes. Her efforts brought a sense of warmth and joy to young Kai's heart, momentarily lifting the weight of his loneliness.
As they conversed, young Kai found himself immersed in a world of laughter and companionship. Despite the difficulties in communication, the young girl's unwavering patience and genuine efforts to connect touched young Kai deeply. He felt a sense of belonging in her presence, a feeling he hadn't experienced in a long time.
Their conversation flowed effortlessly, oblivious to the passage of time, until the fading light of dusk drew their attention to the encroaching darkness. Despite the inevitable end to their encounter, young Kai couldn't help but feel grateful for the unexpected companionship he found in the young girl, turning what started as a lonely birthday into a moment of genuine connection and happiness.
"We should probably head home now. It's getting dark, and it's not safe for you to stay out late," Kai suggested to the young girl.
"Hindi ko masyadong naintindihan lahat pero alam ko sabi mo uwi na ako kaya, okay, I go home you go too. (Although I didn't understand everything, I got that you said I should go home, so, okay, I'll go home, and you should too)," the young girl replied, eliciting another chuckle from Kai at her playful response.
"Thank you," Kai expressed gratefully.
"You're welcome," the young girl replied, her smile widening. “Pero teka, para saan ‘yong thank you?” (But wait, what's the thank you for?)" she asked, intrigued.
"Thank you for making my birthday not a complete mess. Somehow, it feels worth remembering after meeting you," Kai explained with a warm smile.
"Ano ba ‘yan! Ang hirap mo kausapin alien, pero narinig ko sinabi mo birthday mo ngayon? Bakit ngayon mo lang sinabi? (Oh, come on! You're such a tough nut to crack, alien. But wait, I heard you say it's your birthday today? Why are you only mentioning it now?)" the young girl exclaimed, her eyes widening with genuine interest.
"I thought it wouldn't get any better, but I was clearly mistaken. I'm sorry," Kai apologized to the young girl.
"Ba’t ka— ay ano ba! Don’t sorry me. You should be happy today! ‘Wag sad! (Why are you—oh, never mind! Don't apologize to me. You should be happy today! Don't be sad!)" the young girl corrected Kai.
"I'm already happy, thanks to you," Kai replied, his smile reflecting his genuine gratitude.
"No! You won't feel happy if I don't sing this!" The young girl took a deep breath and then sang loudly.
"Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you!" she sang with enthusiasm, bringing forth a unique joy in him.
"Hooray! Happy birthday!" he greeted her again. For some unknown reason, he hugged the young girl tightly, feeling a rush of warmth and comfort in her embrace.
"Thank you! Thank you for making me happy. I promise when we grow up I'll marry you," he said to the young girl, his voice filled with sincerity and gratitude.
"Ha? Marry me? Papakasalan mo ko? (What? Marry me? You'll marry me?)" the young girl asked in surprise, her eyes widening in disbelief. Kai gently released her from the hug and looked directly into her eyes.
"Yes," he replied softly, a hint of determination in his tone.
The young girl's initial shock turned into a wide-eyed wonder, her heart skipping a beat at the unexpected declaration.
" Really? Seryoso ka? (Really? Are you serious?)" she asked Kai, her voice trembling with excitement and disbelief.
"Yes. You don't want to?" Kai asked, a touch of uncertainty creeping into his voice.
"No! I mean, yes! I want to marry you! Aarte pa ba ako sa isang g’wapong katulad mo? (No! I mean, yes! I want to marry you! Would I even hesitate with a handsome guy like you?)" the young girl exclaimed, her cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and joy.
"Promise me, you will be my wife when we grow up," Kai implored, his eyes shining with hope and longing.
"Promise!" And with that, the two children intertwined their pinky fingers, sealing their vow with a heartfelt promise. After sharing a tender moment, they reluctantly parted ways, their hearts filled with the anticipation of a future together.
As Kai walked home, a radiant smile graced his face, his heart brimming with happiness and newfound hope. He couldn't shake off the feeling of contentment that enveloped him, knowing that he had found a special connection with the young girl and a promise of companionship that would last a lifetime.
Days turned into weeks, and young Kai's clandestine meetings with the young girl became a routine. Each encounter filled him with a joy he had never known before, a joy that eluded him in the presence of his distant parents. In the young girl, he found solace, companionship, and a promise of love that he held onto dearly.As they spent more time together, Kai became increasingly convinced that his future was intertwined with hers. He cherished their moments together, dreaming of a life where they would never be apart. He promised himself that he would marry no one but her, believing with all his heart that she was his destined partner.But even the most blissful moments have an end, and Kai's happiness was shattered when his parents discovered his secret rendezvous. Their anger was palpable, and in their fury, they decided to uproot the family and relocate to another country, severing Kai's ties with the young girl he had grown to love."No! I won't go anywhere! I won't leave her!" yo
Kai's parents successfully managed to separate him from the young girl, and they relocated to America. Each day, Kai longed to return to the Philippines, but he found himself trapped in his circumstances. Determined to bridge the gap between him and Blessie, he dedicated himself to learning the Filipino language, ensuring that when they reunited, language wouldn't hinder their communication.Two years went by, and on every birthday, Kai made a pilgrimage to the park, where he spent the entire day. It became a ritual for him to sit inside the barrel, where he would reflect on the promise he and Blessie had exchanged."Just wait for me, Blessie. Just keep holding on," he murmured softly to himself, the words carrying a weight of determination and longing. In those solitary moments, amidst the echoes of memories and unspoken hopes, Kai found solace in the belief that one day, he would fulfill his promise to Blessie and be reunited with her.Kai tightly squeezed his hands and hugged himse
"Summer has only just begun, and temperatures are rising faster than usual, but that hasn’t stopped XYLO at the Palace from filling the entire venue with loud, hypnotic music, and colorful dancing lights. Everyone is engrossed in the lively, modern music played by the attractive DJ. While everyone else was having a good time, a hot young man sat in the corner of a glassed VIP room, savoring every sip of his favorite ‘Jameson,’ attracting the attention of the ladies outside the room he was in. While the guy was watching the crowd, he noticed a group of girls who were staring at him and giggling, making cute gestures to catch his attention. “Found my target,” the guy says quietly as he smiles at the group of girls who are staring at him and squeals at his simple smile. The young guy never took his gaze away from those three girls until they couldn't take their coquettishness any longer and approached him where he was. “You look so lonely, baby; do you mind if we join you?” The girl wi
The nightlife has never been so quiet. Everything remains the same; only I have changed.Kai let out a long and deep sigh after gulping the entire whiskey in his glass. He was being devoured by the thoughts that were racing through his head. He can't stop thinking about it, so he pours another whiskey into his glass and sips it down to the last drop. Regardless of how many glasses he had, it appears that whiskey is just water to him, as it never caused him to become inebriated.Hours passed until he had finished one bottle of whiskey and was about to order another when the bartender informed him that the bar would be closing soon, so he just went home. He paid for his drink and walkto the bar's parking lot, where his car was parked. He looked up at the dark night sky, which was filled with billions of stars that shone brightly in the darkness. He was gazing up at the night sky for a while when he noticed a shooting star. Without further ado, he takes his
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS SLEEP, Kai heard a small beautiful melody. Despite the fact that he is a slave to his sleepiness, he can locate the source of the beautiful melody even with his eyes closed. As if his body has its own life and knows where he can navigate the corridor without looking in his way or hurting or bumping into anything.He entered the room where he heard the lovely melody, and when he opened his eyes, he saw a woman laying on her bed, smiling at Kai. He sat next to her and hugged her without hesitation.“Mommy,” he said softly, as if he were a child, with tenderness in his voice. His mother reaches out her arms to embrace him and caress his hair.He felt his mother's love and care in every caress she made in his hair, which caused him to hug her tightly. But he snaps out of it as soon as he realizes it's impossible. This is not a possibility. This is simply not a viable option. She would never do anything like this. Those were the
“I APOLOGIZE if I'm being impolite, but what is your name, Miss?” Robert inquired as to who couldn't keep his horses any longer.The lady cast a glance at Robert, but quickly removed her gaze and returned her attention to her soup.She replied, "Sittie," after taking a spoonful of soup.“What—”Robert was about to finish his sentence when he felt Kai kick him in the shin under the table, causing them to look at each other. Kai shoved his head against Robert, telling him to stop asking Sittie strange questions and to concentrate on his food. Robert followed Kai and shoved a heaping spoonful of rice, bacon, and sausages into his mouth. After such large bites, his curiosity continues to pique, and a slew of questions arise in his mind, to which he seeks answers. He knows he won't get an answer from Kai; he's the type of man who will keep his silence if he says he won't tell anyone anything. But Robert is not the type of man who
WHEN KAI enters his house, he immediately turns his gaze to Robert, who has a silly grin on his face. “Wait a minute, Kai, what was that? You seem to have a strong attachment to her?” Robert inquired, a teasing tone in his voice. “Stop it, Robert,” he said flatly. “Are you sure there hasn’t been anything—” “I told you to stop!” Robert was stopped by Kai, who spoke authoritatively and glared at him. “Woah! Wow! Man, calm down! You don’t have to be so agitated. I’m just curious why you’re so upset about it.” Robert indicated his surrender by waving his hands in the air. Kai returned his attention to his food after clicking his tongue. While Robert continues to stare at him, he can't help but wonder. “But don't you find it odd? Why was she behaving in this manner? Does she have an attitude problem?” he wondered aloud to himself. “Is that the new way to say thank you?” he sarcastically asked, turning his gaze to Kai, who was preocc
She patted her forehead after she realized what she had done. She quickly fix herself and went to the sink to wash her sappy fingers. When she was standing in front of the fridge, she felt a sharp ache in her head, which caused her to kneel and hold it with her other hand; the ache was unbearable. Her head appears to be on the verge of splitting in two. However, after a few moments, the soreness vanished and she felt much better. So she gradually raises her face till she regains her proper posture. She saw her reflection on the fridge door directly in front of her when she was able to stand up straight. She definitely saw herself, and she couldn't stop staring at herself in the reflection.“Are you suffering from a hangover?”After hearing Blessie's voice, Sittie turned away from her own image.“Uhm, yeah,” she replied quickly.“I'm sorry, Sittie, if you have to put up with this mess,” Blessie murmured, her face flushed