"Hey!" Kia calls me from afar as I walk down the hallway.
I got there with the guy and I settled down. He forgave me but I wonder, for what? Where will he forgive me? What have I done wrong to him? Confusing.
My shift is over so I can rest but I can only see the sunset in front of me, that's rest for me.
As Kia approached me, I could see her face that looked pale by the time she got close to me.
"What is that?" I casually asked her.
She narrowed her eyes on me. "What's that, huh?" I frowned at her.
"What?" I innocently asked her. I have no idea what is she asking?
One of her eyebrows rose as she looked at me. It's still floating. "Why are you two holding hands awhile ago?" She poked my side. "Are you dating already?" she asked teasingly.
I was even more confused. Courting? Who? "The who? What are you saying, Kia? Are you on drugs now? That's bad, ha," I told her.
She smirked at me. "You're really mean as always, Alba Monroe. I'm your friend, oh!" annoyingly she says to me.
I rolled my eyes. "Straighten me up so I'm not the one you're guessing at. I swear, I don't know what you're saying," I said.
She stomped like a child. "Why did you hold Mr. Arki's hand earlier, Ms. Alba?" she asked maliciously.
I laughed at her. That's all. "He pulled me and another one, about the holding hands. He held my hand, we didn't hold hands. I didn't hold his hand, okay?" I clarified to her.
I smirked at her. "By the way, there is a reward for his help to us," I promised.
Her forehead furrowed. "In exchange? What in exchange? Why! If you're going to be his wife, just go! I really support you. Just ha, I'm the bridesmaid at the wedding!" she exaggerately replied.
She's so advance to think. "Just date," I annoyed reply to her.
Her eyes widened and she held her mouth as if she couldn't believe what she heard. "True? OMG! Shit! Okay, like this. I'll take care of you. I'll take care of the venue, I'll organize," she exaggerated again.
I rolled my eyes at her. I have given up on this woman. "Can you finish me first?" annoyed I told her.
She folded his arms and stood neatly in front of me, ready to listen to what I had to say. She looks like a kinder who was scolded by her mother because she is naughty. "What's that because?" behave she asked.
I chuckled. "Not a date totally because you're with me," I replied.
Her face went up. "Hey girl! I'm not a third wheel, ha! I really don't want to. You're going to touch me in your love life. I never dreamed of being a third wheel," she said annoyed.
I stared at her. "It's not a date, okay? One more thing, Travis is with us too. The two of them are dating after the two of us," I explained to her.
Her face lit up when I mentioned the name Travis. Fishy. "Really? It's okay with me, Sol. You know I'm a good friend. I'll be with you wherever you go. One more thing, I'll be here in Spain longer." She was like an angel coming down from heaven to speak.
"Okay, then. On Saturday?" All I know is we have a day-off on Saturday so I think we can leave.
She nodded at me. "Of course. But can we exhange?" she suggested.
My forehead furrowed. "What's the exchange? Of what?" I'm confused question.
She brought her face close to mine and whispered. "Let's change the date," she whispered.
I pulled her hair lightly. "Tse!"
My plan on Saturday is to look for papa. I have no idea where he is but just in case I do. To the extent of Spain, I don’t know where to start.
But I'll just give it to them first.
"Wy are you quiet?" Kia asked.
I'm in my office now and as usual Kia is lying here. Why can't I suggest to ma'am Emilia to lower her salary because she's just gossiping here and I'm still bothering her. Then the salary that will be deducted from her will be added to me. Hmmm?
"I was just thinking, why are you still receiving a salary from our boss?" I asked him to annoy her.
I was successful because she stared at me. "You know, I'm still thinking about that date Travis and I had on Saturday," she said ambitious.
"Who told you she invited you to date her? I said we'll go for a walk," I explained to her.
"You're really ruining the moment, you're Solete!" annoyed she said.
"By the way, I want to look for papa," I seriously promised her.
She sighed then smiled at me. To assure maybe she's there and she'll help me find my dad.
She held my hand. "We'll find your dad. What else am I here for? Hello? As good as I am, I will help you," she joked.
I pouted. "I miss him so much," I said sadly.
"You miss him. But how about him? Did he miss you? Did he miss your siblings and mother?" She's really very straight-forward sometimes.
I stopped what I was doing and got ready in the chair. I looked up and forced the thoughts out of my mind. I love my dad very much and I don’t want to think badly of him even though I know in myself I have hidden anger and resentment towards him. Not for me if not for my siblings.
"If papa hadn't left us, would I be here in Spain now? Am I happy? Won't I cry every night? I can't possibly question myself," I said sadly.
Kia stood up and went behind me to hug me from behind. "Shush. Everything will be alright. All the pain you're feeling now, will be replaced by happiness someday. Don't get tired not only for your mother and siblings, if not for yourself as well. Sol, be brave, I know that because every time you cried before, I witnessed it all. You just cried but you didn't give up and that's what's important. It's okay to cry but still, fight everyday," she said seriously to calm my feelings.
I held her hand that was wrapped around me. "Thank you, Kia," I uttered.
If you have also one important person in my life. That's Kia. She all witnessed my sobs and cries. She was the one who hugged me when I needed it. She never get tired of me. Now that we're together again, I feel like I'm safe again. She is here again and she will go with me to find my dad even though I know she is also angry with him.
After our conversation, Kia also left because she was called. I continued what I was doing. I’m still planning the games I’m going to organize.
When my shift was over I went to sea first. It's late at night. I sat on the sand. I removed the sandals I was wearing because it felt good when not wearing sandals or slippers.
It would be nice if I brought my notebook journal. Yes, where did I put that? I'll find out later.
I looked at the moon. It’s not entirely full. I think it's called gibbous moon. I was born on the 13th day of July in 1995 and it was also gibbous.
Just like that moom, so am I. Not very full. It takes time to be whole again and that’s what I need. But I was scared. How long have I been waiting to be rebuilt or to be.completed again? When else is that time? How much longer do I have to wait before it can be rebuilt? Or do I need someone to rebuild me? It's always been my dad who will make me feel complete again. But where is him?
"Where have you been, papa?" I whispered while looking at the moon. I wiped the tears running down my cheeks when my phone rang.
It's my mama. "M-ma ..." I tried to harden my voice so that mama wouldn't notice that I was crying.
"Alba, how are you? Is it late there? I just woke up, your siblings are still asleep," mama began.
I want to cry again because I heard mama's voice.
I took a deep breath and struggled to fight the feeling. "I'm fine here, ma. The people here are nice. It's also good and I'm with Kia, I'm not too home sick," I said.
"It's okay then, my Sol. Don't get too tired, huh? Don't worry about us here and we'll be fine." I smiled.
The assurance I always want to hear, my family is fine. "Be careful there, ma. Just call when you need something or when you miss me." I chuckled.
"Of course and we'll call you. Just call me, Sol. Mama is always here for you. When you're oppressed there, fight for yourself." I nodded.
So I don’t bully other people, whoever you are. If I knew I was being oppressed, I would fight for my rights. "Of course, mama. I guess it's up to you, brave." I laughed.
"All right, my Sol. I just really called you to say hello. Maybe you'll go to sleep. Be careful there. We love you."
After we said goodbye to each other, mama dropped the call.
"Thank you, Lord," I whispered.
Thank you for guiding my family. Thank you for being kind, always. Thank you for the blessings. Thank you for everything. I owe everything on you.
"But Lord ... where is my dad? Where is he now? Why did he leave us? What did I do? Did I do something wrong to him?" I always questioned my self why papa leave us.
I always blame myself. The memories are still fresh on my mind. H-how I'm confused what's happening. Why mom was crying, my siblings ...