2. Birthday (2)

Hoover laughed loudly. "Even though I've hidden the paper that Britney threw. Unfortunately Mrs. Lily's sharp eyes are faster."

"So? You guys got scolded?" Jessy asked impatiently to hear the continuation of Hoover's story.

"Yes, but Mrs. Lily just confiscated the answer paper and threatened us. Ah no, she was more focused on threatening me than Britney." Hoover continued. "I told you, any teacher would be scared if it had anything to do with Britney."

Hoover and her friends laughed again and got deeper into the conversation.

Alice who was walking with them was restless since dinner was over. It wasn't that she wasn't spoken to or anything, she suddenly thought of her father. She wanted to call but there were thousands of doubts.

Continuing to think that, Alice didn't interact with her roommate and the other two friends. Christie and Clarence were in another room where only the two of them shared. Not infrequently they play into the room which is now also Alice's room.

The five people in front of Alice didn't seem to notice that Alice was left behind. It became an opportunity for Alice to contact her father for a while. Honestly, she doesn't want to contact her father if she is in front of her friends, moreover Alice just recognized them.

Seeing that there were chairs and it was quiet, Alice sat down and immediately called. Her father had texted her many times, asking to hear from her.

Without realizing it, Alice's tears began to fall. She felt longing.

"Ah, hello Alice. Finally you called. Daddy's been waiting."

The voice sounded very happy. Alice became clueless as to what to say.

"What are you doing? Have you eaten?"

"Yes."

"Dad's here waiting for food. Your aunt has been working in the kitchen for almost an hour and it's not done yet." There was laughter from Alice's father.

Alice just grimaced. She knew exactly how long it took her aunt to prepare the food. When she was little, Alice and her father lived with her. However, after her aunt had a family, her father decided to move from there even though her aunt's family allowed them to live together. Alice also wanted that instead of living alone with her father. It's lonely and boring, especially if her father works.

At this time Alice's father returned to live with his sister because of family problems which also made Alice move to a boarding school. Now the father and daughter are in different cities.

"Does your roommate like you?"

To be honest Alice couldn't be sure of the answer to that question.

"Yes. They are always with me and joking."

Still, Alice had to come up with a pleasant-sounding answer so as not to become a burden to her father.

"That's good. Hope you can make good friends."

A smile appeared on Alice's face. "Yeah, hopefully." she said slowly.

Alice realized she was crying. She immediately wiped away the tears before anyone else could see. "Father get along with aunt right?"

The only hope in the little family is her aunt. Had it not been for her, Alice might have done something bad without her father knowing.

Therefore, Alice hopes that the relationship between father and aunt is fine. And she wants her father to be able to quickly rise and correct her mistakes.

"Don't worry about it. You know how our relationship is. Focus on your school and don't think about bad things. Promise me."

"Dad will be back soon. Dad will return to setting up the company and father will restore our harmony. I promise, my daughter."

Alice's hands went limp and tears came out of her eyes again despite being held back. Alice couldn't answer. She allowed silence to fall between them.

Her father laughed softly. "Isn't it time for bed yet?"

"Yes." Alice replied after wiping her tears again.

"When it's time for bed, sleep well. Get some rest." Alice's father message.

"Yes." Before her father could speak again, Alice hastily continued, "I'll hang up the phone."

"All right. Dad going to eat in a bit too."

"I'll hang up."

"Happy Birthday! I'm waiting for your story."

***

"Oh my god! Why are you late?" Hoover, who opened the bedroom door, immediately asked a question.

"Did we leave you in the dining room? Sorry, we're used to this." said Clarence, being her first conversation with Alice.

Alice shook her head and smiled. Instead, she is grateful for being left behind, so that she can get rid of her longing for her father, although not completely.

"I'm the one who enjoys walking alone." she said as she entered the room.

"It's a good thing you didn't get lost." said Clarence.

"Anyway, why are you so quiet?" asked Christie walking over to Alice.

"Maybe she's not comfortable with us." said Britney from her bed. "Just leave it alone."

"It's not that, I just had a lot on my mind." said Alice, smiling. "Sorry I didn't respond to you."

"No need to apologize. Everyone needs to adapt to new people and environments." Now Jessy is speaking.

Hoover interrupted, "Hey, you two know each other, don't you? You should be closer."

"Not really. I don't think we talk much. Is that right, Lice?"

Alice massaged her temples. She forgot what Jessy's face looked like when she was in elementary school. She couldn't be sure of an answer.

"Yeah, I guess."

"GOSH! TWO MORE MINUTES!" Suddenly, Christie shouted. She grabbed Clarence's hand. "We have to go back to our room. Bye guys."

After Christie and Clarence returned to the room, Hoover locked the bedroom door. She walked over to Alice's bed and sat there. Watching Alice who was still busy with her things.

"May I help you?"

"No need. It's about to end."

Hoover widened her eyes when she seeing the sizeable bruise on Alice's left arm. "WHAT HAPPEN? SINCE WHEN DO YOU HAVE BRUISES?"

Bugh

"AWW!"

A book toss from Jessy to Hoover.

"Lower your voice, duck!" said Britney. "Mrs. Lily is walking around here." She glanced at Jessy and they laughed.

"It's sick!" Hoover looked at them in annoyance.

Britney and Jessy stuck out their tongues in unison and succeeded in making Hoover even more annoyed. She climbed into Britney's bed and started a pillow fight. Jessy, who didn't want to stay silent, joined the pillow fight. Britney and Jessy attack Hoover.

Meanwhile, the girl, who was not close to the three people, was silently staring at the bruises on her arms that she had just discovered. She took a box containing medical equipment and took care of the bruise. Again, she was holding back tears.

Knock knock

"HOOVER DON'T MAKE NOISE!"

Instantly the teenager who was fighting the pillow fell silent.

"Mrs. Lily, why are you just reprimanding me?" Hoover said quietly, trying to hold back her patience. Her hand clenched as if ready to punch at any moment.

Britney and Jessy laughed softly. Alice who heard that laughed too.

After Mrs. Lily's footsteps drifted away, Hoover grew even more.

"How many times has she reprimanded me without rebuking you? Even though you guys are noisy too."

"Your fate." Britney joked.

Hoover wants to keep nagging, but Britney interrupted before that happened.

"Do not be noisy." She pointed at Alice who was reaching for the blanket. "Imitate Alice."

Jessy and Hoover in unison turned to Alice who responded with a smile.

"Have a good night's sleep." she said.

"Goodnight!" Hoover replied and ran to her bed.

"Don't worry about security, Lice." Jessie's message.

"Okay, thank you." Alice smiled widely at her old friend.

"Turn off the lights, Lice!" told Britney to Alice who was close to the light switch.

Alice got up from the bed and turned off the light. Then Britney asked her to turn on the two study lamps on the table. The three residents there were used to such a habit and Alice didn't mind.

Before closing her eyes, Alice had time to pay attention to her three roommates. Hoover sat on Jessy's bed and they are talking. Meanwhile, Britney play with her cell phone while occasionally laughing. Just Alice was heading to dreamland.

While trying to sleep, Alice thought about today's events. Starting from this morning she prepared her things and continued her journey to the dormitory from noon to evening. She remembered crying at the main gate earlier. Remembering that made her chuckle. Because she wanted to ignore her father but wasn't strong, that's how it happened. Especially after her father's tenderness earlier.

Her eyes fell on the calendar hanging by the door.

Farewell on birthday. It seemed strange to her. Although not forever apart, still it is a farewell.

Alice took a deep breath.

"Eighteenth, I beg of you."

***