It was early Wednesday morning, and a loud, relentless thud landed on Mason's door, causing him to jerk up from his slumber. He cast a glance at the wall clock; it was almost the same time he woke up the previous day.
"Mason! Open the door!" Nana's voice echoed in. "Mason! Mason!!"
"Leave me alone!!!" Mason shouted in anger. "Let me sleep in peace!"
"No, you can't sleep in peace, you're still young. Open the door!"
"Mason, wake up!" the voice kept coming, "open this door! Mason!"
"Damn, damn, damn, damn. Let me just go to heaven, then. Since you're after my life, let's just die together," Mason groaned as he stormed toward the door.
When he opened it, he was astounded by the sight he beheld.
"Happy birthday to you… Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you, Mason…"
"Now make a wish and blow out the candle."
Tears trickled down Mason's face as his gaze darted between his family's faces. Mrs. Robinson held the cake in front of him, while Nana stood beside her. Mr. Robinson stood at the back, his hands pressed behind his back, an awkward look on his face.
The shop was bathed in a warm glow. The light bulbs have been replaced, as if they had been planned beforehand. Mason couldn't control another wave of tears coming down his face.
"Now stop crying and make a wish. My hands are sleeping already," Mrs. Robinson reminded him.
Mason clasped his hands and closed his eyes. He made it and blew the candle.
Whuuuuuuuuu!
Mrs. Robinson cut the cake and fed him a piece. Mason took another piece and fed her. Then Nana. He took another piece and walked toward Mr. Robinson.
"Open your mouth," he said, not pleading, not asking either.
Mr. Robinson hesitated and tilted his head back.
"I'm an adult now, I can force it into your mouth."
Mr. Robinson looked shocked. "You think you can–" he opened his mouth to speak, and Mason used the opportunity to dig the cake into his mouth.
"Thanks, Dad. I'll never forget you till I breathe my last," Mason said. He turned to the rest. "Likewise you, Mom, and Nana. You'll always be my one and only family. You offered me joy I could never find elsewhere. You provided me shelter and showered me with genuine love. What more could I ask for?"
"Having you as my family is the greatest thing that has happened in my life. I've never once smiled, but I laughed when I met you. I know what real love is thanks to you all. If I were to die today, I'll leave with a smile on my lips. I'll never forget everything you've done for me. Thank you."
Mrs. Robinson's eyes were already shedding tears by the time Mason finished speaking. Nana likewise. But as for Mr. Robinson, well… it seems the only time his emotions dam burst was when his wife shaved her head.
The woman dropped the cake she was holding on the nearby table, and she pulled Mason to her embrace; their silent sob seemed to fill the room with raw emotions. Nana joined in, her tears pouring out.
But Mr. Robinson turned to the side. If he was containing his emotions, he did well in hiding them. Mason sniffed. He pulled his head backward as he noticed a strange sensation.
Dammit! Mom's wearing her turban; there would be trouble tonight.
***
The family returned to the main residence and had breakfast. It took Mrs. Robinson a while to leave for work, but before she left, she had a conversation with the kids.
"Just for today, Mom, I'll continue wearing the wig from tomorrow onward," Mason had implored.
"No, and finally, my answer is No!"
"But Mom, will you let him spend his birthday wearing a wig? Some men mistook him yesterday for a girl that has no bwess and ass."
"And what is bwess and—?"
"Female features, of course! Let him have fun today, it's not like people would recognize him when he wears a wig tomorrow."
Mrs. Robinson thought for a moment as she put her palm under her chin.
"Thanks, Mom!" Nana concluded.
"What are you thanking me for?" Mrs. Robinson said. "I haven't replied yet."
"Your silence means yes," Mason said, and he winked. "Thank you, Mom. And please don't forget it."
"Forget what?"
"That I love you."
"Your joke is not funny, Mason."
"It wasn't a joke. But you're smiling, though."
"Come on, Mason. Go and dress up. The sun will be out soon; we've got a lot of places to visit," Nana shouted.
***
Nana had written down many places on a jotter for them to visit. From an amusement park to a restaurant, then a haunted house, but most didn't go as planned; they got people's attention everywhere they went, and found themselves running from being converged on.
Finally, they went to a haunted house, hoping to find a difference, but found none. Even the ladies who were supposed to scare them ended up drooling around Mason.
And once again, they had to leave without enjoying their time. At last, they stopped at a restaurant, which seemed to offer them a little comfort, and that's apart from the people staring at them instead of their meals.
"That was a close call," Nana was the first to speak, drawing the sweet, diluted air in the restaurant.
Mason chuckled. "I can't believe you took me to the haunted house to scare me only to–"
"Aren't they crazy? How could they drool around an 18-year-old guy?"
"I'm too cute. Now I understand why Mom was worried."
"Forget it. Let's just eat."
Mason's brows suddenly narrowed.
"Don't tell me you're spending the money you're saving for your birthday on me," he said.
"Don't worry, I can just save another one. After all, it's still two weeks ahead," Nana replied.
"And how much are you going to gather in just two weeks?"
"Don't worry about it!" Nana snapped, her voice taking on an angry note. "It's your birthday, Mason. Forget everything, every pain, sadness, and focus on your own happiness."
"Thank you, Nana. I'm always on the receiving end, I'll never forget your kindness."
"Shut up! Why are you talking as if we won't see each other again?"
Mason shrugged. "Is it wrong to appreciate kindness?"
"It's going to get cold. Eat," Nana insisted, and she dug in.
After eating, they returned home. Unlike what they'd expected, the day was almost cloudy. It was as if the sun was hiding behind the clouds, too shy to peep at Mason's face.
Under the setting sun, the duo trudged home, too tired from running from one place to another. And the food they'd eaten had only added another layer to their exhaustion.
And as though they had been waiting for them on the bridge, Mason and Nana saw them. They seemed to wear their most expensive dresses and makeup. Through tired faces, a smile escaped Mason and Nana's lips. Nana turned to Mason, her eyes glinting with mischief.
"Do you still have the strength to play your role?" she asked.
"I'll manage. They need to pay for their misdeeds, it's now or never," Mason replied almost in a whisper.
They approached the girls. Malia, as always, stood in front of them, her hands crossed on her breasts. Her eyes fixed on Mason, they lacked the usual nonchalance in them, now filled with curiosity and anticipation.
"What do you want?" Nana said to them. "Why are you blocking the way?"
"I just want to talk to Mason," Malia responded, her eyes staring past Nana.
"So you can pick on him as you normally do?"
"No, we're not this time," Beth chimed in. "We're just trying to…" she trailed off, not knowing how to complete her sentence.
"Let me just talk to her," Mason said and tried to walk toward the girls, but Nana pulled him back.
"That's not going to happen. Step back, Mason," she said, a hint of authority in her voice. "I can't believe you're trying to play into her trick."
"I'm sorry for how badly we'd treated you, Mason. I'll be good to you now, I promise. Just give me a chance," Malia said, her tone seemingly pleading.
"Let's just give her one more chance; she has already apologized," Mason said to Nana.
Nana's eyes darted between the girls and Mason. She thought for a moment and finally said, "No!"
"Why?" the girls chorused.
"I can't give him to a weak girl. He'd suffered enough from your hands. I want someone strong who can protect him," Nana responded.
"So?"
"I'll give him to only the strongest of you."
The girls stared at each other for a while before throwing themselves at each other. Mason and Nana watched as the girls charged at each other. Even Malia wasn't left behind; her nails and teeth sank into Dolores' body.
"What's going on, Nana?" Mason whispered. "This wasn't our usual plan."
Nana nodded. "I suddenly felt like they didn't deserve your seduction," she replied.
"And what is this, Nana? How did you manage to make them fight each other?"
"All I did was plant the seed, they watered it themselves. Let's go, it'd be a chaotic recipe to know the winner."
Just what the hell are you, Nana? Mason thought to himself as he followed her across the bridge, leaving the chaos behind them.
Passersby stopped, astounded to see the town's girls' group fighting menacingly on the bridge. Some even took pictures, wondering what had transpired.
Mason glanced back once more to see the girls screaming and yelling. He felt a pang of guilt in his mind for having a bit of relief for what he was seeing.
The girls have caused him pain and sleepless nights, and he knew they deserved something like this in return. However, he still felt bad for enjoying their sufferings.