FELIX

I stride pass dad seated on his favourite couch; legs crossed with eyes obsessed over the pages of a sport magazine, and a cup of tea by his side – typical of dad on a Sunday morning.

I don't intend to disturb him, but he calls on me out of the blue on my way up to my room.

"Felix."

Sluggishly, I make a U-turn. "Yes, dad."

"Can we talk for a moment?" He demands even though his eyes are fixed on what he's reading.

"Sure. What do you want to talk about?"

"Let us talk about you." He snaps the magazine closed and places it beside his cup. "Please, tell me what is going on with you."

I stare in misunderstanding. Is this supposed to be a helpful conversation or a derogatory one? "I don't understand what you mean."

"I have noticed since the past few days, you've been awfully quiet and more secluded, and it's alarming. Are you going through something?"

"Don't you like it this way? At the very least I'm not getting under your skin."

"Oh, of course. You sending me round the twist everyday with your constant mischief, I need a break from that but as your father, I'm worried about you."

"It's nothing serious, dad," I reluctantly answer him. There is already a strong wall to block out any concerns coming from him however it may be.

"You don't have to lie to me, Felix. You assume I can't provide a solution to your problems, but you'd be surprised what I can do so that my son doesn't think he's all alone."

He's out of luck. It doesn't matter how hard he tries, or the emotional trick he uses, I just can't forget what he did to me last year. I don't have it in me to forgive him let alone let him into my life. Rather, he should just focus on playing the fatherly role and keep mom happy because I'd refuse any favours from him.

"Do you have a problem in school?"

"Dad, I'm fine. Maybe you can call this growing up, but please stop worrying about me."

"Do you have a problem with someone?"

"Dad!" He won't give up, will he? Can't he take a hint to see I'm in no vein to tell him anything about my affairs?

Fortunately, Annie comes out to the living hall, and the unnecessary father-son moment ends. "Daddy," she calls.

"Yes, Annie, what is it?"

"Can I talk to Felix for you? I think whatever he is worried about I can solve it for him."

I turn towards the pretty little rascal, disturbed and mentally picturing the wild things she must have put in place. Precisely, I expect the silliest questions, like she usually asks.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, daddy." Without any delay, she hauls me by hand to my room.

Once we step inside, she immediately locks the door. Meanwhile, I'm still trying to understand how I left dad who was an easy dismissal to get entrapped with Annie whom I can't escape her interrogation.

"What was that about?" I ask her.

"You don't want to tell daddy about your friend now, do you?"

"Is that a bad idea? Never mind, it's not like it's going to change anything. And why are you this concerned about Agnes?"

"Because I'm the only person you can speak to, and I take pride in that, too." She offers me the seat in my study table while she jumps to sit on top. "So, what happened?"

"What happened to who?" I ask densely.

"What happened between you and Agnes? Did you tell her?"

"Tell her what?"

"Come on, Felix!" She whines, "stop answering my question with a question. I know you know what I'm talking about."

"I don't," I lie.

"Have you told Agnes about your love for her?"

She seems so excited to hear my sad love story. I hope she remains this ecstatic when I express to her how I've became a victim of a cruel hoax that was never meant to come this far, leading to this misery. "You know what? I shouldn't tell you anything. I started a mistake by opening up to you. You are too young to know about these things."

"Sadly, I do. So spill."

"No, I haven't," I sigh. "If she is going to forgive me, it should be by her freewill. I don't want to impose on her to do anything and I'm not going to tell her about my feelings to get sympathy."

"Ouch!" She replies, latching a hand on her left chest.

"She doesn't deserve to get hurt a second time. If she realizes that I have feelings for her, she'll think I betrayed our friendship once again."

"What if she feels the same way?"

"I don't think so. You know, she presently finds it hard to trust me again, what more if I tell her about my feelings?"

"To love somebody and to trust somebody are two different things." She carries my hand, my palm dwarfs her little fingers as she takes it. "If there is one thing you have to know about love is that anything is possible. For instance, it was so impossible for both of you to be best friends before, right?"

A warm smile that crinkles the eyes appears on my face. "You and Agnes are so alike. You both are such love experts you know so much about this cheesy stuff."

"And that's why she's my best choice for you."

I pinch her cheeks playfully. "How corny."

We share a laugh for a moment as I start to feel better. She knows how to do this. My serotonin levels are always on the high every time we talk about stuff. Maybe she's just so cute, or it's her words of encouragement but it's nice to have a friend and a sister in one person.

"Tell me more about her. The last time you did not allow me to see her properly. And you owe me for that."

"Weren't you the one who went straight to her and asked if she was my girlfriend?"

"I was clearly speeding things up for you. Thank you very much, Annie – you're welcome."

"I didn't say thank you."

"You just did now. So, about Agnes, give me all the juicy details. How do you feel about her?"

I blush hard, trying to stop myself from gushing like a love-struck teenager on his first date. The more I think of her face, the more I feel like my heart is being tap-danced on. I genuinely don't know how my plan led up to this, but I also feel happy about it. I'd never have seen this coming if I was told I'd ever fall in love with someone a year ago.

And the sparkles in my sister's eyes confirms all I need to know. I hate that she's this inquisitive because I simply cannot refuse her.

"Stop blushing and talk to me."

"Seriously, Annie, you're so annoying." I frown in pretence then I sigh with satisfaction. "I truly admire her, you know."

"What do you admire about her?"

"She can be so tough outwardly, impenetrable even, but deep, deep inside, she's a very sweet and fragile person."

"Like a coconut, am I right?" She giggles briefly at her own joke.

"Sometimes, her sarcastic attitude can be very appealing when it wants to be, and even when you get through her tough surface, which to be frank is intimidating at first, trust me, I've been there. But with time, you'll realize she is simply the best person to have as a friend."

"Or a girlfriend... huh?" She teases me.

On impulse, I cast a cutting glare at her.

She trivializes it. "But I mean, it's beautiful, you being so in love and all."

I truly find it hard to believe. Me! Of all people! It's insane how huge the difference is between my past and present self. My belief system has been reformed ever since I got to know Agnes.

"Now that you have arrived at your destination in love, shall we discuss how you'll get the girl? Have you met her parents?"

I crease my forehead and narrow my eyes. "Are we getting engaged?"

She chuckles, "you can remind me to make that wish the next time I see a shooting star."

"No, I will not. Anyway, she stays with her aunt, so I don't know her parents, yet. Her mom is no longer with her and her dad..." What am I doing right now? I shouldn't be talking about her past with someone else. "I've only met aunty Cherry and she's a nice person."

She notices my change of mood. "Hm. I wonder where she got her beauty from."

"Must be from her mom."

"I got my beauty from daddy."

I let out an unrestrained laugh, which for some reason starts to piss her off.

"What's funny?"

"Do girls inherit beauty from their fathers?"

"Of course!" She exclaims.

"Okay, okay, silly girl. I won't argue with you."

For a silent moment, we look into each other's eyes, appreciating the company we share.

"I sincerely hope things get better between the both of you. I'm serious. I don't want your love life to rub off on mine."

I rub her hair violently. "You little stalker!"

She barely reacts while I mess up her hair. After I'm finished, she just stares at me. "Do you feel better now?"

"I think I do. Thank you, Annie. And this time, I am actually thanking you."

"That's good. Now you have to comb my hair." She jumps down to get a hairbrush.

*

As the inter-house competition draws nearer, I finally get my focus back on track for the game.

Our coach assigns at most two sports amongst a variety for every participant. Thank goodness I get to play two easy sports – football, because that is something I'm already familiar with and a 200 metre race, which is hog heaven easy for me, considering my height and speed.

"Alright, lads, Felix is back in the game and he's ready to win, am I right?" Coach cheers me and my fellow house members.

I nod excitedly.

He comes down to talk in whispers. "You know I'm secretly rooting for this house to win, right? Don't let me down. I'm sure you guys will crush the others like you always do."

We smile at one another secretly as well.

Our coach is never biased when it comes to the gameplay or judging, but for a good reason, he constantly wants us to win in any competition. Nobody can blame him, his finest team players are in the Eagles' house.

And I may or may not be one of them.

"So, put in your best alright. Up Eagles' house!" He chants.

"Up Eagles!" We chorus.

Soon, he jogs off to other houses to cheer them up as well.

One of my teammates meets me. "Hey Felix."

"Hey."

"I just want to say that I am super proud of you. I thought you'd bail on us after what happened but I'm glad you're back."

"Thanks, mate," I grin. "I'm equally happy to be back. To tell you the truth, I feel so alive now."

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