“Said the one who walked out of the bathroom looking like a zombie.”
“Get out, please.”
Tsabinu moved closer. “What’s wrong, Dek?” His gentle voice broke me again.
Crap. That tone never helped; it only made my eyes tremble. I exhaled in defeat. “Zioh texted me.”
“What?!” they both blurted out at once.
“Like now? While you were in the bathroom? That’s why you came out like the walking dead?”
A thousand and damn one questions.
I managed a small nod, still massaging moisturizer onto my face. “But it turns out it wasn’t him. It was another girl.”
“What?!” Again, they shouted together.
“Work. Another woman,” the words came out cracked, barely a whisper. I stared blankly at my reflection, rubbing the cream into my skin.
“What the hell are you talking about?” Andi snapped, storming toward me. “Ugh, give me your phone, I’ll read it myself.” He reached for it on my vanity, but I snatched it to my chest, faster.
“No.” My voice was sharp, eyes glaring at him.
“Just give me your damn—”
The clock chimed midnight. We all stopped, realizing how late it had gotten because we were too caught up in drama.
It was Dad’s birthday.
We scrambled, grabbing the cake from the carpet where we’d left it, and Tsabinu carried it, leading us out. Andi paused at the door, turning back to squint at me. “We’re not done.”
« -- * --»
“Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday to you~ Happy birthday, Happy Birthday, Happy Birthday to you~ blow out the candles, Dad!”
We sang with smiles plastered on our faces in the dark of my Dad’s room, waking him from sleep.
“Thank you, my loves,” he said, his eyes softening as he looked at us. “I’m so lucky to have you all.”
Our dad, Prabu, was fifty-two tonight. He looked smaller and frailer, wrinkles deepening with age and illness. Still, he stayed active and productive despite it all.
Tsabinu was his mirror image. My twin brother was practically a younger version of him, only taller. Tsabinu had inherited every good thing from him: gentleness, a soft-spoken nature, calm maturity, love of reading, and courtesy. He was the golden boy. Even their careers were aligned in law. Dad was once a gifted lawyer before retiring early due to illness.
Andi wiped at his perfectly dry eyes. “Ahh, Dad Prabu~ I’m so touched,” he crooned, a teasing smile in his damn voice, hugging my dad. I winced and kicked him off to the side, only for him to growl and cling tighter to Dad, making Tsabinu sigh.
My brother kissed Dad’s cheek. “Shall we eat the cake? It’s late, but we can move to the dining table if you’d like.”
I kissed his other cheek, making him laugh.
Dad looked at each of us with love in his eyes. “Come on, sweethearts, let’s go to the table,” Dad said with a calming smile.
At the dining table, I cut the cake into slices and passed them out one by one. Then I cut an extra piece.
“Don’t forget to give one to your mother, Dek,” Dad reminded with a warm smile.
I smiled back at him. “Of course, Dad.”
I carried the plate out through the hallway beside the kitchen, passing guest rooms until I reached the corner.There, by the door of Dad’s bedroom, stood a table covered with photos and keepsakes.
