It was on Saturday morning when the Furrund family gathered together for the birthday of their youngest son, Jacob Furrund. “Jacob your friends are here, come and see them!” her mom shouted from below. Jacob did not mind his mother and continued playing games on his phone. He was so engrossed in playing that he forgot that it was his birthday and that he needs to thank his visitors for coming. And so, his father went up to his room, “Jay, aren’t your friends more important than that game of yours?” said his father who was clearly disappointed by his actions. “five more minutes’ dad, I was close to defeating my enemies” Jacob replied. His dad went downstairs and tried to entertain Jacob’s friends.

The whole house was packed with their relatives from both sides and with Jacob’s friends. It was a full blast if only Jacob was a bit attentive to his surroundings. Meanwhile, everyone was enjoying the karaoke except for Jacob who was thinking about the game he left a minute ago. He was sure that he will lose his level if he won’t be back immediately so, he discreetly got out from the crowd and went upstairs to continue what he left earlier.

The party ended without the birthday celebrant’s appearance. Mr. and Mrs. Furrund was slightly mad for their son’s rudeness, however, they think that scolding Jacob at times of his birthday won’t be a good memory to remember. They also realized that it was partly their fault why Jacob acted that way—it was because of the little amount of time they have spared to him due to their hectic jobs.

“Let’s go on vacation!” Mrs. Furrund said with excitement.

“How about our work?”

“It’s okay, we can ask for a sick leave”

A loud alarm wakes up Jacob. With half close eyes, he noticed that the door was widely open. Standing outside was his parents and beside them were the blue, black, and white luggage. “Oh they’re off to work early this morning?” he thought.

It was the first time that Jacob would actually see his parents after his birthday. Usually, they won’t bother bidding goodbye to him personally and would just left him a note on his table.

But today was a bit different.

“Why are you still here? Mom? Dad?” he asked in confusion.

“Good morning son, guess what? We are not working today!” his mom said in delight.

He was not yet getting a hold of what was happening since he just woke up. So, he tried to blink his eyes many times and taking in what his mom said.

“Why? did you resign already?” he said when he finally understood the things she said.

His mom and dad looked at each other with smile on their faces.

“We are going on a vacation for three days” his dad finally said after a minute of silence.

That’s when he noticed that his blue luggage was there. However, he didn’t feel any excitement at all. He was used to being alone that thinking about being with his parents having a moment of bonding together makes him all awkward. Also, he likes being at home more than anything else. He does not have any friends. The friends that his dad were talking about during his birthday was not his friends at all, well for him. They were just simply classmates. It was his parents’ idea to invite them to his birthday. He’ used to be with his gadgets and video games than with people around him.

“I don’t like to go, just enjoy on your own” he said before closing down his door.

His parents were not able to say something after that.

What should I play today? Hmm. Oh! Super Smash Bros!

He went to get the video game on his drawer when suddenly, he heard faint noises from his walk in closet.

Maybe Pompi, his dog was playing with his things again.

He thought.

He was in the middle of his game when the sound repeated again. The sound was not that loud, however, it will surely catch your attention since the music is a bit different. It was peaceful and very pleasing to the ears. Wait? The music came from the other door which leads him to his walk in closet.

He paused his game.

As he opened its door slowly, the music seems to fade little by little until it faded.

Oh well, maybe the music was not from here.

He shrugged his shoulders and went back to his room.

Few hours had passed, he felt thirsty and hungry. He was craving for a caramel cake.

When he got out from his room, he noticed the eerie silence on his house. Not that he was not used to it, but he wasn’t just used to see no one in their house for even their housemaids were not on the vicinity, which is unusual.

Where is everyone?

“Mom? Dad?”

I forgot! They were on a vacation, and I was left here.

“Mrs. Reyes? Can I go out for a while? I’m just going to buy myself a caramel cake! I will buy some strawberry cake for you!” he yelled.

There’s no reply.

“Mrs. Reyes?!” he asked again in a loud voice.

Still no reply.

Perhaps, she was sleeping on her room.

He went to the nearest 7/11 store few blocks away from their house. As he went inside, he saw his classmates.

Okay, not right now, I don’t want to talk to anyone today.

He was about to hide behind the grocery section, when they glanced at his direction. He forced some smile and wave at them, however they turned their heads from him.

Maybe, they did not see me? Wait, who am I kidding, they clearly saw me. But they ignored me, why?

You ignored them on your birthday, didn’t you? His inner conscience speaks.

His classmates were busy looking at the prices of their food, so he had the chance to stare at them.

Wait? Something’s wrong. They were not on their usual selves. They were usually too loud and noisy, however at this time, it was different—they were all unusually quiet.

He ignored this feeling inside him.

There were so many customers today and Jacob was having a hard time getting the saleslady’s attention. He tried to wave his hands a couple of times but it seems like the lady did not see him.

“Jamie! Two slices of caramel cake and strawberry cake please! Excuse me! I came first than this woman!” he exclaimed pointing the woman beside her who came late.

In the end, he left the store getting nothing since the saleslady won’t entertain him. She used to be his favorite part-timer there not until today.

He was so angry on how things turns out today so he keeps on murmuring in the middle of the road that he failed to notice the car who is closely approaching oh his right side.

Then, there’s light.

A blinding light suddenly appears before him.

When he opened his eyes, he saw himself in their own house.

How did I get here?

He then saw his mom in their living room crying?

“Mom?” Jacob uttered

His mom did not even move an inch on his call so he sat beside her.

“Mom, why are you crying? Is there something wrong?” he said with a worried voice.

Then, there’s a picture she was holding.

It was him smiling widely during his fifth birthday.

“Mom? Why are you holding my picture? Mom answer me, please”

He stopped.

Why? what is happening?

Why can’t I hold her?

Jacob tried to touch his mom, but his hands would just pass through her.

“Mom, I’m here, look at me mom, I am just by your side” His tears were heavily flowing as he tried to touch her over again.

“MOM! PLEASE MOM LOOK AT ME, I AM HERE!”

He then looked at the man who had just arrived.

“Dad? What is happening? Why can’t mom see me?”

“Serene, let’s go, your son needs you there”

I am here Dad.

I am just here.

On the floor, he noticed a red string.

He tried to hold the string and it glows brightly.

The end of it can’t be seen, but he followed where it will lead him. Maybe, he can seek answers from the end of the strings.

As he reached its end, he saw himself inside the school.

There he saw a boy aged seven years old, who was bullied by his classmates.

“You stole my robot!” the tallest bully said.

“No! I didn’t, why would I steal yours? I have my own robot!” the boy replied.

“That was mine! Give me that!” he tried to take the robot of the boy while the boy keeps on holding unto it.

At the corner of the room, he saw this young boy holding a toy robot with a blue hand.

Stealer. He thought.

“I said it’s mine! Look at it, he has a red hand, yours has blue right?”

“Blue or red, give me that robot!” the other kids are starting to help the tallest kid take the robot from him, so the boy was helpless.

“leave him alone!” Jake together with his other classmate intervened bringing a teacher with them.

“Jacob are you okay? Do not let them treat you like that okay, we are always here to help you, just call us and we’ll be there”.

After seeing that, Jacob realized that he has friends. They have treated him as a friend, but in return, he ignored them. So, he went near them, but instantly they disappeared, including his seven-year-old self.

The string glows once again as he holds it.

Oh, my room.

He saw Mrs, Reyes beside his bed reading a book. He knows this scene it was when he was having a fever, but his parents were too busy from their work. It was also at this time that he felt really disappointed and hurt because his own parents can’t be with him when he needed them.

At 10 in the evening, his mom and dad went inside his room still wearing their office attires.

“Did he eat his meals?” his mom asked Mrs. Reyes.

“Yes, he ate the one you cooked for him Ma’am”

She cooked for me?

Mrs. Reyes left the room while his dad and mom stayed beside him. His dad was on his right side while his mom was on his left. They were both looking at him. His mom took out the cold compress on his forehead and replaced it with another, while his dad was holding his hand.

Both of his parents were taking turns in the cold compress, monitoring his temperature.

He saw them sleepless when he was sick. He thought, they never cared for him.

It was three in the morning when his fever cool down, so they both fell asleep.

The alarm clock rang on five am, and Mrs. Reyes woke them up reminding them of their work.

They only have two hours of sleep.

They were with me when I needed them.

I was wrong.

He went outside his room and saw his mom cooking a porridge.

“Mrs. Reyes, make sure that he eats his food okay? I’ll take a bath now.”

Then, just like that it faded again.

Another light appears and he found himself attending

My funeral…it’s my funeral

He saw his relatives.

I will miss my cousins. I will miss our picnics together.

He saw Jake and his classmates.

Sorry for not being a friend to you, sorry for pushing you away. I wish I can still be with you, if that happens, I promise to become a good friend, and I will create more memories with all of you.

Then, he saw his parents standing beside his coffin.

They were crying.

Mom, Dad, I am really sorry. Sorry for thinking that you don’t love me. Sorry for not making importance of your existence in my life. Sorry for rejecting your offer to be with me in a vacation. I am really sorry. I love you Mom and Dad.

He saw how his death pains them deeply.

I’ll be better next time, I promise.

A loud alarm made Jacob wake up and as he touched his face, there were tears.

He was crying.

He pinched his arm.

Ouch!

I was alive?

Was it all a dream?

Then he noticed that his room was widely open, and his parents were outside. Beside them were the blue, black, and white luggage.

Deja vu?

Wait. He must confirm something.

“Mom, dad? Are we going for a three days’ vacation?”

His parents were shocked by his question.

“How did you know?” his dad asked.

He smiled widely.

“I love you Mom, Dad”

Then he hugged them tight.

THE END.

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