Thirty-Five

The way how they interacted with me today, I know something's up and I know it's about the event tomorrow.

Tomorrow is my birthday. Time flies so fast, it's like I have only blinked once in a while then the next thing I know, another year will be added to my existence.

When we are at lunch, all of us are silent. No one talked until the very end of time. I definitely knew something's up, but I didn't mind it at first because I only had a suspicion. I don't have evidence yet.

My whole day at school ends and still, my friends won't talk to me, even Archer. Even that bastard won't talk to me. And another surprise? When we got home, Alexis, also that one little bastard won't even talk to me.

Luckily, I have mom. But just right after we had dinner, she went to bed. So, I only have myself tonight.

On the couch, watching TV, with a bucket of popcorn beside me, I could see myself like a lazy dog that is slowly eating its meal.

My popcorn is almost done, so I went to the kitchen to grab more. I took one from the cabinet and threw it to the microwave. I set the timer for 3 minutes and waited.

I leaned in the counter to wait and stare at the spinning bag of popcorn inside the microwave.

I feel so empty right now. Literally and mentally. My friends won't talk to me, my brother won't talk to me, and even my mom won't talk to me. Did I do something wrong? Is this about me not having a celebration tomorrow?

I am confused and my brain is draining because of thinking too much. I glanced at the clock to see what time is it. It's currently 9:18 PM. I am the only person here at the kitchen, Mom and Sevron are in their bedrooms.

Archer's also already in the bedroom. He went upstairs after eating dinner.

The microwave timer dings. I took the freshly heated popcorn out of it and transfer it to the bowl that I used earlier. Then I went back to the couch and continued watching TV.

I spent the last 10 minutes on the TV and after the show, I decided to go to bed. I turned the television off and double-checked the locks on windows and doors. After that, I went upstairs to go to my bedroom.

Archer is already sleeping. He covered himself in his blanket.

Before going to sleep, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through it. Minutes later, my eyes started dropping so I put my phone on the table and wrapped myself in my blanket.

I knew my dream has come to ruin my night again.

I was in this place, a dark place where you can't see anything but pitch-black surroundings around you. You could barely see yourself because of the darkness. No light has shone.

Then someone, by the edge of my ears, I heard someone started speaking. It's a familiar voice that keeps calling my name.

I kept listening until the realization hit me.

"Alexander?" I muttered, still listening to that familiar voice. I turned around to face no one, my head wandered around, hoping that I could see my brother again.

"Alexander!" I called out, hoping that he would respond. I kept repeating on shouting his name, but what I got in response is him also shouting my name. The voice of him is still there, the voice of him when we were young, that's what I am hearing.

"Where are you?" I shouted again, and again, and again. But still, I received the same response earlier.

Out of a glimpse and endless shouting, I gave up and breathed heavily. Until the voice that was shouting earlier, came closer and called me once again.

"Asher?" I heard him. With just a flash, I turned around and saw him. The four-year-old Alexander is standing in front of me as a whole. Light has shone from above, illuminating the distance between us.

Flustered by what I am seeing right now, words barely came out of my mouth. "Alexander?" I asked confusingly. "Is that really you?"

A smile painted his face and slowly nodded at me as a response. Tears started falling from my eyes as I walk closer to him to give him a warm tight hug.

And I did. He also did. I hugged my brother like a pillow, tightly and warmly. After 12 years of knowing that he's gone, at least I felt his presence again.

I pulled away from the hug and faced him. I glanced at every part of him, knowing that I am actually seeing my brother right at this moment.

I can't even spit out a word. I just kept on exclaiming and admiring this moment.

"You-You're really here." I stuttered, still wiping my tears that is lying on my face.

"Yes, I am." he responded cheerfully that it made us both laugh. His voice was still light and innocent.

His cheerful face has changed into a stern expression. He looked at me with a blank face. "Hey, you gotta wake up now." he said, locking his eyes into mine.

Out of confusion, I squinted my eyes and look at him while shaking my head. "What do you mean?" I confusingly asked. I got nothing as a response as he slowly fades away and then my eyes opened.

I immediately saw Archer looking at me with a jacket and shoes on. "Archer?" I asked, my eyes are still adjusting from my sleep.

"Just in time, buddy. Come on." he whispered. Still confused by what's happening, I followed every single thing he said. I put some proper clothes on. I also threw in my favorite maroon jacket.

"Archer, what the hell is happening? Why are we in a rush?" I asked him in a whisper while he does something on his bed. Yes, the couch was upgraded to bed this week since we haven't heard from his uncle. I bet his uncle doesn't want to see his face anymore.

"Just be quiet and follow me." he ordered. I shut my mouth closed and did what he said.

We got out of the house, or should I say, we snuck out of the house again and we're on our way to a place that I don't know.

A few miles away from the destination, I saw the familiar small beach where we went the first time I snuck out of the house. "What are we doing here again?" I asked, after we arrived at the beach. "I thought this place is where you wanted to be alone?"

"Yeah, I do." he said smiling while glancing at the beach. "But, tonight, tonight is special." he then added and looked at me.

Still freakin' confused, I'm still not processing everything. Earlier this day, this guy are treating me like a stranger then now, this bastard took me into this place again without my knowledge about what's going on.

He signalled his hand to look at my back. I didn't have second thoughts or anything then I immediately glanced behind me.

There stood my friends, standing and looking at me. I squinted my eyes as I still process the situation. Then my eyes grew wider when I saw a beautiful familiar person come out.

She smiled at me also while looking directly into my eyes. "Candice." I whispered to myself while looking directly at her.

They walked closer to me while I am still confused about what's happening. When they stopped, I looked at each one of them.

"Well, hello, strangers." I sarcastically muttered. "So, this is what it's all about? The treating-me-like-a-stranger thing?"

"Yes, we all know that one stupid human being here does suck at keeping secrets." Irish said, referring to Justin.

"Wha-hey! I pulled this off nicely." Justin argued.

"Oh, did you?" Agatha chimed in. Justin didn't respond and just rolled his eyes to the two.

I then faced Candice. "You're in this too?" I asked her, smiling. She smiled back at me.

"Well, Archer told me about you disagreeing to have a party. So, I stepped in and we'll make the best out of it tonight." she explained.

I turned around to glare at the bastard and he gave me a wink while his arms are crossed in front of his chest. I rolled my eyes at him and faced my friends again.

"So, what are we gonna do?" I asked them. They all looked at each other and looked back at me while smiling.

We arrived at a closed stall. A familiar place where I remember going years ago. It says "War Zone" on the top of the door entrance. The letters were embossed and were looking eerie.

"The store is closed." Candice said while peeking at the door from the outside. We heard a key jangling and we all turned to Justin who is holding a bunch of keys.

Maddie then gasped exaggeratedly, "Did you just rob those keys?" she asked Justin with disbelief.

"No, I found this on the dumpster across the street." Justin said while smiling. We stared at him blankly. "Duh, this is my cousin's store so I asked him if I can borrow the place for tonight." He then started unlocking the doors and opened it. "And he said we had this place all by ourselves. For tonight." he continued while we walk at the big arcade place.

We were all astonished by the variety of games available to play. I mean, it's just the nine of us over this plenty of games. We all started separating are ways and picked our own games.

I'm playing at one of these shooting games, where you have like a pedal-step to step on and a real-life gun that has sensors so when you point it to the monitor and started firing, the game will respond just like you're really using a real gun.

"Hey, shithead." I heard Candice calling. I turned around to look at her and she signalled me to go onto her. I placed the gun from where it belongs and ran towards Candice.

"You play air hockey?" she curiously asked.

"Yeah."

"You sure?"

"Try me." I cockily said and smirked.

We started playing and for the first round, I won easily. I kept on beating her until the final round. She then gave me the throne and I bowed my head like a new king.

We both laughed until we got to another game stall. It's like those Dance Dance Revolution machines but this was styled in a modern way. The stall has these fancy bright lights and the arrows where you're gonna step are looking good.

"Now, I'm sure I'll win this time." she confidently said while selecting music to play.

I then exclaimed while my arms are crossed in front of my chest. "Let me remind you that you are speaking to the best dancer in high school." I confidently said.

She turned around to face me. "Correction, former dancer."

"That doesn't make any difference."

"Okay, let's find out if this 'former' high school dancer still has the skills." she challenged, again.

"So, we're like Elle and Marco now, huh?" I asked before the music starts.

"You don't like Noah?"

"Noah doesn't dance, Marco does."

"Good point." she responded then the music started playing.

The vibes of the music matched my dancing and steps. My feet are moving just fine and smoothly. My body is flowing and fully in control. "Not bad for a former dancer, huh?" I muttered while we are still dancing.

"Don't get so cocky." she shook her head.

We kept on dancing until I felt my right side starting to drive pain. I kept on dancing even though I feel my side hurting until the song ended. I dropped my hands on my knees while panting and waiting for the score. It showed that Candice got the highest and I am just 5 points behind hers.

"That's unfair. This game is rigged." I complained. Candice looked at me with disbelief and laughed. Her face quickly transitioned when noticed that I am holding my right side.

"Hey, are you okay? Should we go to a clinic?" she worryingly asked.

"Nah, I'm good. It's just trigger pain so, no worries. This'll pass." I said. "Why not we just call the others and go grab food."

"Yeah, sounds tempting. I'm starving too." she responded, doubt is shown on her face. We then gathered the others and Justin lead us to a cafeteria that is located at the corner of the arcade.

"Well, since it's just us here, we only have yogurts to eat." Justin stated, holding a yogurt on his hand.

"Nope. Uh-uh." Archer said, shaking his head repeatedly while looking at the yogurts.

"What, why? You don't like yogurts?" Cristina asked with disbelief. Archer grimaced while shaking his head. Cristina then stood up from her seat and snatched the yogurt that Justin was holding.

"It's fine. I already ordered a pizza." Agatha chimed in, looking just done from a phone call. We talked for at least 15 minutes then the pizza arrived.

Agatha ordered 2 boxes of pizza and drinks just enough for us. We were enjoying our meals until Archer suddenly excused himself because he said that he needs to answer a call.

Just minutes after, the rest of them from the table stood up and looked at me. I looked back at them, confused about what's going on.

Then it all came up when they started singing "Happy Birthday" while Archer is holding a cake while walking towards us. After they sang, they clapped and cheered while I embrace the moment by smiling and looking at them. I stood up and went to Archer who is holding the cake.

"Make a wish!" Cristina expressed.

I took a deep breath. "I wish to be a successful person in the future and live a good life." I said aloud then blew the candle.

We consumed all the food like a monster. After we eat, the others stayed at the table because they're tired, but Archer and I decided to play some more games.

"Alright, this game, The Raptor Charger." he said, the moment we arrive at another game machine. "So, basically, this game is pretty easy. We just shoot all the raptors that are blocking our way and save the queen that is located at their lair."

"Yeah, I know." I said while smiling and glancing at the game, memories are slowly appearing to my mind.

"You do?"

"Yep. I used to place this game."

"Then, let's get started." he responded and pressed the start button. The Raptor Charger is a 2D game where the main goal is to save the queen that is being held by creepy-looking creatures called the raptors.

"See, the trick here, is you do not kill all the raptors." Archer muttered while we play the game. "There's a hidden code at this game. The trick is do not shoot the raptors, but instead, you dodge them one by one. Because shooting the raptors make the game spawn more, so instead, you just run and try not to get eaten by them, go to the lair, save the queen, and bingo! You win the game!"

I slowly glance at him while my mouth is parted open. "Where did you learn that?" I curiously asked.

"Oh, it's a secret code that I've figured out. When I was a kid." he answered. And there, after that very moment, my eyes widened after realization hit me like a rock.