Love is War

Chapter 38

“Hey son!” dad shouted after I answered the phone and I put it away slowly so my hear won’t be hurt with his loud voice. I don’t usually see this side of him and I am happy that he is happy right now. I wonder what it is. “Congratulations on your win!” I am so surprised when I heard the commend from him.

“Woah,” I said. “How?” I asked him, how the hell did he knew about that? I did not tell anybody about this competition. I just said that I am going to a park, that is why I am confused right now.

“Oh, I just watched the livestream that Kuro told me about,” he answered my question and that left me more baffle. I would not ask him anymore question.

“Thanks,” I just said to him.

“Bring that card home,” he said and my eyes widened surprised.

“Wait, what do you mean dad? “ I asked.

“We have a weapon that will arrive alongside with the other shipment that will require such card and that’s the one that you are holding right now,” dad explained to me. Wait. This is my card I get to decide on how I use this card. I took a deep breath and prepared myself on telling him that, I couldn’t allow that to happen.

“Dad...” I said.

“What is it son?” he asked.

“Ahmm, I just want to tell you that,” my mouth froze and I can’t release the next words that I am about to say.

“What is it?” he asked me again and I am hesitating right now, if I will defend this card. He is in a very good mood right now and I don’t want to ruin it. “I also have something to tell you,” he said after a while of waiting and I didn’t tell him a single word. My mind was shifted to hi question curious about what he wants to tell me.

“What is it dad?” I asked him.

“I just want you to know right now that I am so proud of you, I watched the whole stream and how you crushed the other contestants was magnificent, I told everyone here to watch the livestream and they are cheering here for you, come back here quickly so we can celebrate your win,” he said to me. After hearing that I took a look at the card again that I am carrying right now. I didn’t get it for free, I bought it. It’s like the real winners of this competition are the second placer and the third placer, as they get their prizes for free. It’s funny how we fought just to get the privilege of buying and owning this card.

After observing it for a while, I decided to give this to dad. I am feeling like a winner already, dad showed me affection for the first time. I mean, I am aware that he is thinking of my well being and he loves me as his son, but this is the first time that I experienced it directly. That helped me to think clearly. I smiled.

“That’s great dad,” I said to him and the amount of happiness in my heart right now is overflowing. “I’ll cut the call, I will head there right now, bye,” I told him my regards. I put the phone inside my pocket and I head to my motorcycle.

I rev the engine of my bike after starting its engine and it released white smoke. After that I released the clutch of my bike and started driving outside this mall and I am heading right now outside this place. To the lawless lands, as the inhabitants of this place call it. Well, if they call it like that then so be it, why would I care. I checked on the card again that’s in the bag to see if its safe there.

I concentrated on the road again, after seeing the card is well placed in the bag, and I rev it harder to make my bike faster. Deep inside me, I want to see that smile from dad. That’s a rare moment. He smiles but just for a little bit.

Call me childish but I will not deny that I am still a child in heart. Yes. I am excited to see it. I accelerated and rushed to get home.

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As soon as I reached the gates in front of our house the guards rained confetti on me and congratulated me on my victory. I smiled at them, just a bit because I am too overwhelmed about the treatment that they are giving to me. I am not used to it, I avoided the crowd in the competition earlier, why now? Right?

A guard came near me and he said that he will be the one to park my bike and I should proceed inside because dad is waiting there for me. I didn’t hesitate to hand him over the bike and the keys. Just like, what I said, I am also excited seeing him smile.

I walked faster than my usual pace of walking. I reached the front doors of the mansion and entered the room while I hold the bag where the card is. I guess dad also cares about this card, and I think that it will make him happier if I hand this immediately over him. I took a deep breath and I prepared myself.  I knocked on the door three times and I waited for it to open.

After a while of waiting, the door opened slowly and I watched it unravel the secrets behind the door and later on I saw everyone waiting for me there. Wow, what a great way to surprise someone. Just like what the guards did to me earlier. They rained down confetti on me.

I feel so annoyed by the itchy plastic that touched my skin but I need to endure it, I don’t want to kill the mood of the situation, that would be a bummer. I tried to smile just to show them that I am grateful for the effort that they had done, I really am, I am just irritated by the confetti.

The people at the back raised a banner saying engraved with the letters that spelled congratulation, oh, and Kuro’s girlfriend is here too. John is nowhere to be seen but this is no time searching for him. Later on, dad stepped forward and offered me a hug.

Woah dad’s smile is very bright and big and he does not look so scary anymore, he looks so kind. If he is always like this. Maybe we would be the best of buddies, yes, I admit that I am intimidated by his looks. Obviously, I accepted his offer and we hugged each other as tight as we could without harming the other one.

“Congratulation son!” he said.

“Thank you, dad,” I replied and we let go of each other and I saw a glimpse of the bag that I am carrying right now, where I put the card. “Oh, here is the card that you wanted,” I deliberately gave him the hard-earned prize at the competition earlier and I don’t feel any regrets right now.

“I don’t care about that,” he said which confused me. “Put that aside,” he commanded and I did what he said but hesitantly. Why? After putting the bag in a safe place and no one will steal that. “What matters now is we celebrate your victory!” he exclaimed which surprises me the most. I thought that he is very happy right now because of the card, but I was wrong all along, it was my victory that made him happy. I thought that he is not proud of my hobby, my skills... I am speechless right now. I can’t explain this funny feeling in my heart. Is this the feeling when someone is proud of you? I am so touched. “Everyone!” he shouted and all of the eyes in here is on us. “My son! The champion!” he said with pride but I feel embarrassed and proud at the same time.

Everyone cheered for me including Kuro and his girlfriend but John is still nowhere to be found but I did not mind it that much. He must be busy planning for the upcoming mission and I don’t want to bother him just to celebrate with us.

After that more confetti rained down on us which really irritated me because it’s itchy.

But the party went on, everyone ate the food that’s been serve and drink as much as they could. Dad and I ate together and then invited me to his room and I went on with him, we climbed the stairs that lead to his room and when we reached it, we went inside. I closed the door and only the both of us are currently inside. He turned around and he looks to me straight to the eye. He looks serious.                                                              

“I know that you wanted that card for your games,” he said, and he really knows his son. Proof that he really cared for me, but I don’t mind giving this to him right now, I really don’t mind, but why is he saying this right now? “And I also know that you didn’t expected that I will be taking this from you just like that,” he added. “The situation just calls for it, with or without the card, I will be always proud of you,” he said and I really felt that in my heart.

“D- dad,” I mumbled. “I am really thankful,” I said and he hugged me again and I hugged him back.