The next morning, James showed up at my doorstep to rouse me from sleep, ready to embark on our regular trading routine. The clock struck six, signaling the start of the day.
"Hey! Wake up, buddy. We'll be late. Hurry up and get ready," James urged, with a hint of urgency in his voice.
I groggily rubbed my eyes, feeling the pull of sleep still lingering. "I can't go today; I have a visitor coming, and they are looking for me. I can't just disappear," I explained, grappling with the mix of curiosity and uncertainty about the impending encounter.
James raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Oh, is it the guy who came here yesterday? My mom mentioned it. She said a guy in a fancy car dropped by. Is that him?"
"Indeed, that's him," I confirmed, my thoughts drifting to the mysterious visitor and the questions that filled my mind.
A playful glint danced in James' eyes as he joked, "Wow, your visitor sounds posh! Haha, if he gives you money, remember to share some with me, alright?" I couldn't help but chuckle at his jesting. Apparently, you won't see any sign of hypocrisy in James.
"Of course, of course, I won't forget you. When have I ever forgotten you?" I teased back, grateful for the unwavering support James always provided.
A genuine smile crossed James' face. " That's true; you've always got my back, espren (the childish term for a best friend). Now, give me a kiss before I leave." He leaned in playfully for a kiss, but I couldn't resist putting my hand over his face, gently pushing him away.
"Enough of that! Go now. Aling Rosing is waiting, remember? She said she has a lot of goods for us today," I reminded him, referring to the woman from whom we traded.
"Right, you're right. Today won't be too hard then," James agreed, feigning exhaustion as he pretended to lie down on top of me, playfully making snoring sounds. I playfully shoved him, prompting him to get up.
"OUCH! You idiot! Be grateful that you reminded me about Aleng Rosing; otherwise, I'd get back at you double," James teased, rubbing the spot where I pushed him.
I let out a yelp, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the playful pillow fight, and then saw James' dart out of the house, laughter echoing in the air.
"Hey! Don't think you can escape from me; I'm going to get back at you!" I called after him, though I knew it was futile to chase him down.
As I caught my breath, my mind returned to my father's upcoming visit. Uncertainty filled my heart as I pondered how I would react when I finally saw him. There was no strong emotion—no anger or excitement—just a faint sense of happiness, knowing that the lingering questions in my mind would soon be answered.
Interrupting my thoughts, my mother's voice chimed in with a mix of scolding and amusement. "You two are so loud! It's early in the morning, and you're making such a racket. Don't you even notice if someone's sleeping or not? Geez! You might as well be a married couple with all your affection."
Playfully, I replied, "We're just saving up money for our future kids, hehe," enjoying the light banter with my mother.
With a teasing tone, she added, "I noticed you seriously enjoy teasing me about James. You better not tell me you're secretly in love with him. I won't allow it! I won't allow you to end up with another man; James is the only one I want for you." She chuckled.
"You're taking the teasing too far, Mom. Hahaha." I spoke.
"Not at all, my child," Mother replied with a smile, "It's just my way of expressing love and acceptance for you. I want you to know that no matter what gender you identify with, I'll always be okay with it and embrace you for who you are. And, of course, I'll make sure you end up with a good partner. I can only see James as a suitable option, and he's genuinely kind, too. Hehe."
"Please, let's refrain from teasing so early in the morning," I pleaded, "And James? Kind? Oh, you're still half-asleep; you don't know what you're talking about. I swear, he's got some screws loose."
"Goodness!" Mother exclaimed playfully, "You're getting all worked up. You can't even stay calm when you haven't seen him all day... It's like I thought my son had grown into a young man, but it turns out he's become a young woman. Hahaha. (Now, I understand how James feels when he's irritated. I can clearly see one of the traits I inherited from my mom. Tsk! She's so good at teasing.)"
"I don't want any more teasing, Mom. I'm getting annoyed," I stated firmly.
"Oh, you can't handle the teasing now, huh?" Mother teased back, "I'll tell James later that I got back at you for him. Hahaha."
"It's like you two are teaming up to ruin my day," I joked, "but you won't succeed."
"Let's see about that," Mother chuckled, "don't be too sure. Now, because you're getting annoyed, why don't you go ahead and grab something to eat."
"Oh, and that's how it goes, huh?" I replied playfully.
Hay! Despite my best efforts, I couldn't help but think about what was to come today. As the hour of my father's arrival approached, a sense of nervousness crept over me. Luckily, my two dearest loved ones managed to calm and uplift my spirits. I decided to step out and head straight to Aleng Tale's store.
As I made my purchase, my eyes caught sight of a parked car across the street. My heart skipped a beat when I saw a tall, fair-skinned man with slanted eyes step out of the car. His appearance and posture spoke of wealth and success. There could be no mistake; that's the man. I turned to face him as he walked closer, my heart pounding louder and louder. However, he seemed to pass right by me, walking purposefully towards a small alley leading to our house. It was disappointing that he didn't recognize me, but I couldn't hold it against him. After all, I was just a newborn baby when he had last seen me.
After picking up my purchase from Aleng Tale, I rushed home. As I walked, a surge of emotions overcame me, and tears streamed down my cheeks while my lips trembled. It felt like I had turned back into a child, wiping away my tears with my sleeves. "My father," I managed to whisper, my voice trembling. All the expectations I had dissolved at that moment. I was wrong; I thought I wouldn't shed tears like this, I thought I wouldn't long to see him, I thought I wouldn't feel anything when I finally met him. But I was utterly mistaken. The child within me, who longed for a father, suddenly emerged.
In the past, I had pretended to be fine without a father. Not because I was strong, but because I needed to support my mother and endure the pain of his absence. However, the truth was that I secretly envied my friends and their fathers. Only now did I dare admit to myself that I longed for a father. A father who would work tirelessly to provide for us, even during the most challenging times. A father who wouldn't allow me to roam the streets to work, but who would assure us that we would survive the days ahead. A father who struck fear in those who dared to harm us, a protective shield against scorching heat and raging storms when we had no refuge. A father who would let me be a child and lift me when I stumbled.
Lost in my thoughts and emotions, I continued my walk and barely noticed that I had arrived at our doorstep. Inside, my mother and the man I came across earlier were engaged in conversation, but their chatter ceased as soon as they spotted me standing there.
"Jigger, this is Raffy, our son," Mom introduced me with a hint of cautious hope.