My 18th Birthday

Since my birthday falls on Saturday, I am still lying on the bed, because I don't need to hurry to take a shower, and eat my breakfast. I am thinking spending my day watching my favorite series on Netflix, when I heard someone knocking on my door without calling my name.

    It seems odd, my parents usually calls my name without knocking on my door. "Coming! Dad, why are you knocking?" I asked, while opening the door, and I was surprised to see both Freda and Nick standing in front of me with cake and balloons on their hands.

     They are singing a birthday song, and I feel shy because I am still wearing my pajamas. "Happy 18th Birthday, Malia." They both said after they sang the birthday song.

     "You don't need to do these guys, but thank you so much. I will just change my clothes, just wait for me in the parlor." I said to them while I half closed the door to hide my whole body.

     "Okay Mal, just take your time." Freda said, while Nick just winks at me. I close the door instantly, and I go in a hurry to my bathroom to wash my face, and to brush my teeth. I change my clothes into shorts and T-shirt.

I am on the stairs, and I heard them whispering to each other. I know that my parents are with my friends, what are they murmuring about? Another birthday surprise? I don't know it gives me a bad feeling.

I play it cool, I don't want them to think that I am curious about the things they are discussing without me.

"Happy birthday, my dear Malia!" My mom said, and she hugged and kissed me on my cheeks.

"Happy birthday Mal! Welcome to adulthood Malia, it means more responsibility." Dad said seriously, and he kissed my forehead.

"Thank you, Mom and dad." I said hugging them both. Out the corner of my eye, I see my Mom crying.

"Hey Mom! Why are you crying?"

"These are tears of happiness Malia, you are not a baby anymore, but always remember you will always be my little girl." Mom said while wiping the tears with her hands.

"Malia can you come with us in your Dad's study? There is something we want to tell you." Mom asked me, and I can see it in their eyes that this is not something but a big thing. I see the looks on my father's face.

I can tell my dad feels so nervous, what is so important that they have to bring me to my dad's study room.

"Okay." That is all I can say at the moment because I sense the tension around the house.

"Freda, Nick can you wait here? Okay?"

"No problem Malia, just go ahead, we will just wait for you." She said nervously. Why Freda feels that way. Does she know what my parents are trying to tell me?

Dad closed the door of his study, and told me to sit down on the chair in front of his desk. I feel like one of his students.

"Malia, now that you are eighteen we need to tell you the truth." Dad said with a sigh.

"What you mean truth dad?"

"We are not your real parents Malia. You are our adopted daughter. But you know we love you so much like our own daughter Malia." Dad said soberly.

I can't move and breath, I can't believe what my father has told me, and I feel like shouting and crying at the same time.

They keep quiet waiting for my reactions and response. My mom didn't move at all. I can see her tears falling down her cheeks. It feels like hours before I finally got the courage to talk.

That is why yesterday I felt something different within myself that I can't explain. All my body senses become more active. It seems my eyesight becomes clearer, and my hearing became sharper, I think I can even hear the footsteps of the crawling insects.

    What shocked me more is I have seen my dad having pointed ears, but it just happened so suddenly, when I blink my eyes again his ears came back to normal. I think, I am hallucinating, but it was all real. My dad is a real fairy, I thought yesterday I am going insane having those visions.

"What??? You can't be serious dad, what you mean I am adopted?" I asked, looking at him in the eyes, I can't think straight.

"I am so sorry Malia, we keep it a secret from you for your own sake, I am not joking Malia. We are not your biological parents." Father said sadly.

"Who are my parents?" I asked them with disappointment in my voice.

"I personally know your parents, but I am not sure if they are still alive. That is why you need to go and find them. You can't stay here, you are not safe anymore since you are now eighteen." Said Dad.

"Why my age has something to do with my safety? I am eighteen, which means I can look after myself, and you know that I am more mature compared to my classmates that is why they sometimes think I am weird."

"Malia, please? Listen to what I have to say, you are a fairy, and a very powerful one. Your parents are known to be the most powerful fairies in the kingdom, and when you were born the combination of their power is within you. The world we came from is under the mightiest kingdom, the Erthesia Kingdom." Said Dad.

    "Hold on Dad! This is too much, this is not a good joke dad, mom, why are you pranking me on my birthday?" I asked both of them.

    "If you want to surprise me Dad well, congratulations you nailed it. I had enough of this nonsense. You are my parents, and I know that deep in my heart." I said to them.

    Dad stands up abruptly to face me, and before my very eyes, I witnessed my Dad's appearance change. His face is still the same, but more enhance, and his ears are pointed but looked very beautiful. My Dad is so handsome.

   He is really glowing, and the most fascinating things happened, a beautiful red, yellow and green colored wings take place on my father's back, and he ascended from the floor.

   "Look at me Malia, do I look like human to you? Now that I show you my true self?" Dad asked me while he is still floating in front of me.

    "Wow! I can't believe this, so fairies are real? And I am one of them? That is beyond invigorating." I said while shaking my head.

    "Now that you know the truth, we need to discuss things that you needed to know about your real identity."

    "How about Mom? I want to see her fairy appearance too." I asked Dad, his feet are on the floor now, and he is back to his old self.

   "Sorry Malia, but I am not like you. I am human. We fell in love with each other when he came here on a mission, since then he decided to stay with me in the human world since I am not allowed in the fairyland." Mom said sadly to me.

   "I am one of the royal guards of your father's kingdom Malia. I am in fact member of the elite guards, in short our duty is to protect the royal family specially the King and Queen."

   I don't want to believe what they are saying, but after what I have seen, I don't have any other option but to listen to them. I always follow my parents rule, since I always have faith in them.

    "When I fell in love with your mother, I asked a blessing from our king, your father. At first, he seemed reluctant, but when he realized how serious I am to give up my position and leave my fairy life behind, then he let me go."

   "I have been here for two decades, and live like a normal human being since I am not allowed to use my magic, that is the condition of your father before he granted me the freedom of marrying my only love."

"Dad! That is so romantic, I never peg you as a hopeless romantic." I can't help myself but appreciate my dad's love for mom.

They both looked at each other with love and compassion. I still feel blessed for having them as my adoptive parents even though my heart and mind is in disarray.

   I want to confront them why they have to lie to me? Even, though I feel different in this human world this is the only place I know. I love my close friends in school and my teachers because I am their favorite student. I learned to love this lonely place I call home.