Loving You Untimely

Chapter 3 : Birthday

Ji Ren's POV

6 years later...

DAD'S presence woke me up one morning. When I opened my eyes, I saw him sitting on the side of my bed.

"Happy birthday, Ji Ren," he greeted.

"Dad, you woke up this early in the morning just to greet me," I said sleepily.

"Eighteen years have passed. I've taught you everything I know, in a little while you'll be ready for everything," said dad then stood up and sighed facing the window.

I'm eighteen years old but you're still not getting older and still looking young. I smiled.

"Dad, because it's my birthday today, I would like to ask you something," I said as I sat down, he looked at me and seemed to be waiting for me to say something.

"What is that?"

"Can we take a walk today?" I asked.

"Take a walk?"

"Mm... Yeah, I've never been to a walk with you ever since I can remember," I mumbled. "I've never seen you enjoy yourself nor seen you smile. Have you ever been to malls or parks?" I asked out curiosity.

"You know, I'm not used to having fun, Ji Ren. I have nothing to go, aside from the place I already abandoned long time ago," he meaningfully uttered, bearing no emotion at all.

"That's you again with your rhyming words that I can't understand," I said laughing. "Aren't you bored that you're always at home and doing the same thing every day?" I asked again, frowning at him.

"Bored?"

"I mean aren't you bored here at home?"

"No."

"Dad, you're really weird," I said with a sigh while shaking my head.

"If you can beat me I can grant your request," he said, I turned to him and he was already holding the sword so I took mine too.

"Aha! Do you want a duel?"

"Du—what?"

"Hayst! Let's fight with the sword, when I defeat you, you will grant me all my requests for my birthday!"

“That’s exactly what I wanted to say,” he said.

"Yes."

"Outside," after he said that he pulled out his sword so I pulled out mine as well.

As soon as I came out of the door, he immediately charged at me but I immediately avoided him. I, on the other hand, rushed and he immediately avoided me too. Over time the work I used to hate has come to my enjoyment. Apart from this, it serves as a bonding for me and dad, I can also use it to relieve stress because college life make my the brain bleed so much.

"You're really good at using the sword now, Ji Ren, I'm glad because you learned everything right," dad said between our fights.

"Are you happy? Are you happy with face like that?" I asked with a laugh because there was no reaction on his face.

"Mm. I'm glad because she can be proud of you now,"

"Who is it? Mom?"

"You'll know in time, too," Dad said then rushed to me.

Here we are again with his right time. I was just shook my head while defending.

"I've been training for six years so you shouldn't be surprised," I said proudly as I charged towards him.

We kept doing that until we both got exhausted. Even though we were both out of breath we didn’t stop rushing and shielding each other’s attacks. Dad didn't even say but I knew he was also affected by my attacks. I know I am also strong compared to him.

I don’t know how long we fought but after a long while, we both just lay on the ground due to exhaustion. We both gasped as we stared at the sky.

"Dad, who won between us?" I asked breathlessly.

"It's a fair fight, Ji Ren," Dad said then sat down.

He held out his hand to me which I immediately accepted and then he helped me to my feet. I frowned as he sighed then walked into the house. I remained standing for a while before following him inside. I found him dressed up already so I frowned.

"Dad, where are you going?" I asked bending, both hands on my knees.

"Don't you want to take a walk?" he also asked, I smiled then approached him.

"Will you come with me even if we tie the match?" excitedly, I asked.

"Mm. I thought I might not be able to have the change to walk with you someday if I didn't give it to you now," I lost my smile because of what dad said.

"Why do you talk like that?" I felt suddenly nervous because of what he said.

"I have nothing else to say, Ji Ren," he said then patted my shoulder. "I don't intend to mean anything. I'll wait for you outside," he said then left me.

I looked for a moment at the door where he came out. But why do I feel like you're not telling me something, dad? Even though dad said he had nothing else to say I felt nervous. I feel as if he is leaving or something bad is going to happen. I don’t know but I feel scared.

I just took a deep breath and then forgot in my mind what dad said. I took a short shower then I followed him outside. He sat there in the broken wood where he often sat. He turned his back in my direction so I stared behind him, watching his back. Why does dad not seem to be getting older? From my childhood I have noticed nothing changing in the appearance of my father.

Isn't he really an alien? I secretly laughed at my own thought.

Even though he looks ignorant because of his long hair that he doesn't want to cut. Fortunately, he agreed for me to cut my hair down to my waist. It's only up to my chest now but I still don't like it because I'm a man and another one doesn't seem to matter to me.

"Dad! Let's go!" I called him, he immediately stood up and approached me.

"What kind of place do you want to visit, Ji Ren?" Dad asked as we walked out of the small village.

I thought about it for a while.

“One of my classmates told me there was a nice park near here,” I said smiling.

"Park? What place is that?" Dad asked crookedly.

"Dad, are you being serious there? You don't know what park is?"

"There's nothing like that in the palace," he said, I frowned and held back a laugh.

"Palace?"

"Nothing, let's just go to the park you're saying," he ended the conversation.

I just shook my head then followed him. When we arrived in town I could not take my eyes off my dad because he was like a child, who for the first time, come to such a place. He always looked around and was always alert. It was as if someone would charge at him in any moment.