Mr.Friend

I was in my 2nd year of junior highschool when a building beside my school was under construction. There were tons of contruction worker working for it. I usually get to see them having their breakfast at 6:30 am whenever I pass by the building. I could see their hardwork and I know that most of them got a family to support to which also their movitation. One time I was earlier than usual and while passing by the under construction building , I saw one of the construction worker having a coffee alone. When he noticed I was passing by he greeted me in a very cheerful and friendly way. "Goodmorning , Young Lady !" He said. By his looks , he seems like he's a little older to my dad. But I could tell by his face that he's a kind person. I smiled back in response. "It's still early. The school gate hasn't opened yet." he asked while blowing his coffee before sipping it. I glanced at the school gate and noticed that he's right. It's still closed. "Do you want a coffee ?" he asked. "No sir." "Well , wait I'll get you a chair for you to sit on. Hold on a second--" "No no no ! Sir , it's okay !" I immediately stopped him as he was about to stand up and get me a chair. "It's fine , sir. I'll sit here." I said to him and sitted in the long piece of wood he's sitting at. "Ohh , okay." he said and continued blowing his hot coffee. "You're up early than the other workers." I utterred. "And you're up early than the other students. Ahahahaha." he laughed at his own joke. I smiled at him as a way of showing that I liked the joke. He seems like a very cheerful man. "How old are you , kid ?" he asked. "I'm 14. I'm in second year highschool. What about you , Sir ?" "Ohh , that's nice. Make sure to study well. You're the same age as my daughter. And I'm 47 years old." I was right. He's older than my dad. And he got a daughter too. "Does your daughter goes to this school , Sir ?" I asked out of curiosity. Because if she's enrolled here then maybe we can be friends. "No. I live really far away from this town , Kiddo. Like really far. My wife and my kids stayed there." I got dissapointed that I thought he lives here. "So you're working far away from them." I said. "Yes , kid." he said while sipping all the coffee atlast. He said 'really far' so it might be a really really far away town from here. I wonder how he could manage to handle missing his family. Or maybe he's just trying not to show it and is acting so strong for them. I bet he's a great husband and a great dad ! "Don't you miss them , Sir ?" "Yes , I do. So much ! But I have to work hard for them." "You must be a very loving dad." I uttered in amazement. He seems really kind. I bet his a very great father to his family. Well , all father is ! "Ahahahahaha." he laughed. It felt great making him laughed. Because I bet he miss his family a lot. He must've been very lonely since he got here. While smiling at him I heard the school gate finally opening so I stood up immediately. "I gotta go , Sir !" "Okay. Have a great day , kid !" he waved his hand at me. "You too , Sir ! It's nice meeting you !" I waved back. LUNCH BREAK came and while I was eating lunch inside the classroom , I glanced at him from the school window. They're still working under the bright sun. I wonder if they already had their lunch. They looked like they're being cooked from the sun's heat. I bet they're hungry and thirsty. After lunch break , our classes resumed and whenever I had the time to take a glance from the window I will immediately look for him. All the construction workers seems so busy as usual. AND FINALLY , after a long day. My classes are done. Since I still have a lot of time , I decided to pass by the under-construction building and went to look for him. They're so many of them but luckily I found him sitting on a cinder block. He's full of dust and looked so tired. "Sir !" I waved to him. He's face immediately changed by the time he saw me. He looked so happy seeing me. Maybe because of what he said this morning that I'm the same age as his daughter. Maybe he finds some resemblance. I ran towards him and gave him a very wide smile. "I bought water for you !" I said and handed him the water bottle I bought at the cafeteria. He looked so shocked. He didn't accept the water bottle maybe because he can't believed that I bought him some , so I grabbed his hand and make him accept it. "I bet you're really thirsty." I said. He smiled and stared at the water bottle like it was a precious gold bar. "Thank you , kiddo !" "You're welcome , Sir ! Now , I gotta head home. See you tomorrow !" I bid goodbye to him. THE NEXT morning , I intentionally went to school early so that I could talked to him. And as expected , the school gate hasn't opened yet and while passing by the under-construction building , I saw him having his coffee. "Goodmorning , Sir !" "Goodmorning , Kid !" he looked so happy. I smiled and sitted right next to him as if he's my dad. I got attached so fast to him. He's a very great man and his daughter is so lucky to have him. "Thank you so much for the water yesterday !" he said. "You're welcome , Sir. Yesterday I noticed it was really hot outside while you're working so I thought you'll need water to keep you hydrated." He looked at me like I'm one of his beautiful treasures in life. "You know , my daughter would've done the same if only she's here right now with me." I can feel his longing for his daughter just by the tone of his voice and by the look of his eyes. "What's your daughter name , Sir ?" I asked. "Laelia." he proudly answered. "Laelia ? It's my first time hearing that kind of name. It sounds so unique , Sir." I complimented. "Haha , Yes. My wife and I named her Laelia because when my wife was pregnant with her , she loves to see and smell the laelia orchid in our garden." "Wow ! That's sooooo nice !!!!!" I uttered in amazement. We're kinda the same.. "Ahahahahaha." he laughed at my reaction. I was happy that I made him laughed and so I laughed along with him. "What about you ? What's your name ?" "Plumeria." I smiled. And I'm already expecting his reaction. "That's awesome ! You're named after a flower too ! That's amazing , kid ! " he uttered. "Hahaha , yeah." While looking at him laughed , a sudden thought came to my head again. 'What if he really misses his family so much like especially right now and maybe he was just hiding it and trying so hard to be strong.' "Sir , do you miss your daughter and your wife ?" I asked. "Because me , I miss my dad a lot. He works really far too and gets home once a month." "I do miss my family. They're my life , kiddo." he said. "And you're dad probabaly misses you too !" he tapped my back. "Yeah." I smiled. DAYS and weeks passed by and we became bestfriends with each other. Whenever I have time I always to go him and tell him all about how my day was at school and he does the same too. He became my second dad. And sometimes while he's on top of the building that he's working on , he would wave at me whenever he sees me from our classroom window. And one time during both our lunch break , he made me go with him on the top of the building. No students shouldn't be allowed on the site but he said he wanted me to see the beautiful view from above. He also said that he took a picture of the view and his daughter , Laelia , loves it ! The view from above was really is amazing and breathe-taking ! We spent a lot of time like a father and daugther. He's my bestfriend ! MONTH OF DECEMBER came and it's our last day before we have our christmas break. And today is our chirstmas party at school. The worker's from the building has a little party too. I can't go outside the school premises til the party is over. I wasn't able to see him this morning. During the school party , all I did was glancing at the window. Luckily , the room where my class is having a party is on the first floor of the school building. So if he ever come look for me , he won't bother to go to the top of the under-construction building to wave at me. While glancing , I noticed him looking up from our school. I knew he's looking for me so I immediately called him. "Sir !!!!" I waved at him from the window. "Oh ! There you are !" he ran towards me and looked so happy. "Sir , it's almost christmas !" I uttered. "Yes ! I brought my daughter a gift and she loved it !" he said. "Waaa ! That's so nice , Sir ! Are gonna be able to get home to them this christmas ?" "Hopefully , kiddo. I missed them so much." "I bet they miss you too , Sir. You're amazing !" I gave him a thumbs up. "Ahahaha." He laughed. I really love making him laughed. I love doing this to my dad too. "Kiddo , I wanted to also buy you a gift but I wasn't sure what you'll like." he said. "What ? No , Sir ! It's okay ! You don't have to buy me a gift ! " "I want to thank you for everything , Kiddo." "Sir , thank you so much for everything too ! You really became my second dad !" "Kiddo , just please accept this money and buy yourself something." he handed me the money. "Sir , it's okay. You don't have---" "Please buy something you'll like , okay ? I'm sorry I wasn't really sure what to buy for you." "Aww , Sir. Okay , I'll buy something from this. Thank you so much , Sir. And Merry Christmas !" I smiled. CHRISTMAS break came and it lasted over a week. While spending time with my family , I couldn't stop thinking about him. I hope he was able to get home to his family during christmas eve. Because if he wasn't able to get home , I think I couldn't even imagine how sad and lonely he must've been. 'God , I hope he was able to get home.' MONDAY came and the christmas break is finally over. I was so excited to go to school because I could finally talked to him. I can't wait to tell him how my holiday was. I went early and immediately looked for him in the building. I've been looking for him in a while but I wasn't able to find him. I spent all my classes wondering where he was. He didn't even showed up above the building to wave at me. I'm worried. After our class , I went to look for him again. And I just realized that some of the workers are new. I went to the place where he usually sits every morning to drink coffee but he wasn't there. 'Maybe , he haven't got back yet. Well , maybe he'll be back tomorrow.' "Excuse me ?" a man came to me having the same contruction uniform just like him. "Yes , Sir ?" "You were that kid who talks to Garret , right ?" he asked. "Yes , Sir ! Do you know where is he ? Was he able to get home to his family ?" I was desperate to know. The man is showing me a very gloomy face which made me feel worried. "Was he okay ? Was Mr.Garret , okay ?" I asked. "Y-yes , he's okay. But he wasn't able to get home to his family. He got assigned somewhere else last week. He won't be back here again." the man's voice sounded so worried. I think he was worried about how I would feel. "But , do you have his number ? Can I have his number , Sir. Please ?" I beg. "Sorry , kid. But we haven't heard from him since he moved away." "No.." "I'm sorry. I tried contacting him but I think he changed his number. I'm sorry , kid." he said. "But , did he atleast left a letter for me ?" I asked. I can't believe he left me just like this. He was my bestfriend ! "Kid , it was a very sudden changed of assigned location. He left on a rush. But he did tell me to tell you that you should do well in life." Tears fell down from my eyes. The friendship and bond we had was something so special. He was my second dad. My bestfriend. If I knew that was the last day I'd talked to him , I should've stayed a little longer. And I feel sad for him that he wasn't been able to get home during the holiday. I'm sure it was so hard for him. 'I'm sorry , Sir. I wasn't been able to tell you a proper goodbye before you went away. But , thank you for all the memories ! Please be safe , Sir.' NINIAMARIA