Chapter 26

It was Darwin’s seventh birthday.

            He was standing by their house’s window, as his mother Deanna tied up the balloons and party decorations. Black and red are the theme colors for his special day, in which he isn't merely pleased. Darwin watched silently outside, hoping that in any minute, the young girl she was longing to meet will come walking towards his house.

            There, in front of them, is the house of a young girl named Miriam. He doesn’t know her full name as his mother only calls the beautiful youngling in that name. She has sapphire blue eyes that reminds Darwin of the waters of Malibu where they celebrated his mother’s birthday. Her luscious strawberry blonde hair makes him want to go back to the juicy, sweet strawberries of Japan—where he and his father’s son from another woman celebrated the latter’s birthday, along with their respective mothers and their father. She was beautiful, like the morning star above, brightly illuminating the world. His world.

            Darwin liked her the first time she saw her, back when she handed his mother a basket of pears upon Deanna’s request. He doesn’t know if it’s love yet. He doesn’t know anything about that matter either. But, if what he's feeling right now is indeed called love, then it probably is then.

            He was smiling as he sprinted outside. The sun was brightly shining, making him perspire a lot. He hasn’t yet seen her this morning. Lunchtime is nearing and the young Darwin is very much excited to invite Miriam for his birthday barbeque party.

            “Ohh, what is it dear boy?” It was the girl’s father who answered the door. He looks old, but he remembered his mother stating that Minerva’s father is just in his late thirties. White streaks of hair were on the mister’s onyx black hair.

            “I would like to invite Miriam for my birthday party.” Darwin tried all his best to paint his big, wide, and juicy smile.

            ‘Please say yes…please say yes…please say yes…’ Darwin keeps on chanting in his mind.

            “Oh, I see…Minerva….she’s…sick.” Sorrows engulfed her father’s face. “I’m sorry,” he added.

            “It’s okay, mister,” little Darwin replied. The man softly closed the door before him, and he was left sighing. Sadly.

            “Minerva,” he uttered. “That’s her name then.” Despite her not being on his special day, knowing her name is already a perfect birthday gift for Darwin.

            He looked up to their window. And there she was, looking wholly sick. Minerva waved a hand down him. Her strawberry blonde hair was partly covering her face, only making him see her left sapphire blue eye. Darwin waved back, and out of the blue, he threw a flying kiss to her with his hand while giggling. The ivory-colored curtains were now on the windows in a blink of an eye. “I’ll just make her rest…”

            “Darwin!!!” That’s his mother’s voice. He quickly rushed towards their house. As soon as he arrived, his mother’s face was indescribable.

            “What is it—ohh…” His father is here, Damon Gray.

            “Father…” His father only comes to their house if it’s his or his mother’s birthday. He stayed with his other woman’s house for the rest of the months despite his mother being the legal wife.

            “I’m here now, son.” 

He didn’t smile. “You’re only here because it’s my birthday…”

            Damon wiped a tear that fell from his cheeks. “No, Darwin. Daddy will now be here from now on.”

            Happiness devoured Darwin. He leaped in his father’s arms and Damon lifted him from the ground and carried him in his arms as if Darwin’s a baby. “I love you daddy!”

            “So do I, son!” Little Darwin wrapped his arms around his father’s neck. He glanced at his mother. 

She wasn’t smiling. Deanna noticed her son was staring at her and walked inside.

            He remembered that day in Japan, where he and his half-brother were celebrating the latter’s birthday party. His mother and father were fighting behind closed doors, unknown to them that he had heard it all as he was hiding in their closet when his remote control car went inside the huge walk-in closet.  

            “I chose to marry you Deanna! But you’re still not answering my damn question!”

            “What else should I tell you, Damon? Shall I jump in the Pacific Ocean so that you and your woman can be together? I should’ve said no to my father when he arranged for me to marry you!” Darwin then heard a slap. And judging from his mother’s loud cry, it was because of his father’s mighty hand.

            And from that moment, he knew. Darwin knew that he wasn’t his father’s first choice to be his heir.

***

 It was midnight and he was still awake. His eyes wouldn’t close no matter how many times he tried to read a bedtime story.

            Darwin was enjoying the view of the starry night sky when he saw the door on the house in front of them open.

            Miriam—Minerva—came out with a plate. 

‘Does she have a dog? A cat maybe?’ Darwin pondered.

            But, as soon as the young and dashing Minerva came into their front yard, he knew it wasn’t for an animal. The plate was for him. For them, perhaps.

            She saw him and immediately waved with a wide grin on her pale face. Her sapphire eyes made him go nuts and silently opened his bedroom door, and went outside in a panther walk.

            “I brought you some sweets.”

            Darwin smiled, widely and sweetly.

            “My father made it.”

            Unable to hold himself, he hugged her tightly. As if to mark that she is his possession from now on.

            “I’ll marry you as soon as we grow up.” But Minerva just chortled, softly. Then loudly.

            “I will eliminate anyone who comes in between us,” He grabbed her pinkie and entwined it to his own. “I promise that to you, Minerva Miriam.”

            Deep inside young Darwin Dennis Gray, he will do just what he had said—-as he had promised.

And he surely will.