It was an amazing night. We were mostly quiet, eating at the table, while Yuri happily shared what happened when I played with the neighbors' children.
"Miss Natalia, Arsen was dodging, and then, wahh! his accuracy amazed all the kids. He's very energetic!"
Natalia couldn't help but feel proud that her son was healthy. "I was starting to get worried. This is the first time he's ever played with the kids outside."
Yuri nodded joyfully, and of course, I was enjoying the compliments and ego-stroking I was getting.
Did I forget to mention that this chicken was well-seasoned?
This is what they call mom's cooking.
It's good to be alive to taste this!
Then Yuri suddenly wore a sheepish expression. "Miss Natalia, your son… he can be such a rascal at times."
My face was horrified upon hearing those words.
Ilooked at her eyes. I was sitting across from her at the table while Mother was seated in the middle.
Natalia gave an amused expression. "Tell me more, Yuri. What did he do?"
For some odd reason, I felt nervous. But before I could speak, Yuri cut me off almost immediately.
"Arsen was flirting with the moms. He's quite good at it," Yuri said.
"HUH!" I exclaimed suddenly.
Natalia giggled, though her eye bags and languid body language were still present. Still, she tried to enjoy this time with us. "He has his father's charms."
Then…
Everything went silent. I knew I needed to ask it, but why did I feel like I shouldn't?
"Mother… who's my father?" I asked anyway.
Suddenly, Natalia went silent as well, as if snapping back to reality.
She looked visibly disgusted upon realizing she had mentioned my father.
"Miss Natalia," Yuri said, and her voice was enough to completely restore Natalia's composure.
Natalia took a deep breath. She had no intention of spoiling the birthday of her son, which was 1 Noyabr 120 AH, of the 11th month.
I knew she didn't want to spoil this day.
In this world, or rather in this culture, we don't celebrate birthdays until 5 (formal education age), 8 (engraving test age), 16 (graduation age), and 21 (becoming an adult man), or 19 for adult women.
You don't even receive gifts in birthdays here until you're at least eight, which is considered the biggest milestone in the Sorcerer Kingdom.
Apparently, it's meant to teach children that material things aren't the most important part of celebrating one's birth.
I can neither agree nor disagree with it, well I guess poor families don't have to worry much every year?
Natalia forced a smile upon her lips, she shook her head, "That's only natural. Look at him, isn't he good-looking?"
Then I felt my mom pinch my cheeks then pat my head.
It was gentle; it didn't hurt. But she was clearly ignoring the topic of my father.
Yuri ignored it too, silently.
"Arsen is indeed handsome," Yuri said softly while taking a bite of her food.
Her table manners were elegant, her soft hands—
OUCH!
Yuri pinched me too, both sides this time. It wasn't fair, though I did blush when Yuri complimented me.
But I wasn't going to risk pushing the question about my father. All I knew was that he was a scumbag, and this only meant he was still alive.
---
"Arsen."
"Give it everything you got tomorrow, ok?" Natalia warmly said. Then I remembered—tomorrow was indeed an important day.
"I'll do my best, Mom." Now that it was here, I couldn't believe I was genuinely starting to get nervous about the first formal exam of my life.
It couldn't be worse than the thesis and exams I had in my past life, could it? After all, as a modern man and an adult, I should at least have some advantage against an exam literally made for medieval toddlers.
It felt like I was cheating.
"Arsen," Yuri said she caught my full attention, "he made me proud, Miss Natalia. He's easy to teach, and he does a lot of reviewing and studying on his own."
"For his age, he already feels mature and responsible." She paused.
"Miss Natalia, you were right in your decision. Arsen will pass the exam with high marks, I'm sure of it." Yuri finished, ending her sentence with a soft smile directed at me.
I didn't know what to say back, but I didn't think I needed to. It's difficult to respond to compliments when you rarely receive them.
I had never received this many compliments—even if you include my entire past life.
Though I know some people I personally knew in my past life, who received too many compliments, got blinded by their inflated egos, right now the only thing I was feeling was genuine gratitude.
I knew I didn't want to let them down.
However… what did Yuri mean by "decision"?
Natalia found herself wearing a relaxed expression, trying to ignore the exhaustion coursing through her body. Deep inside, she knew she should be spending more time with her son.
"Yuri, whether Arsen passes the exam or not, and for other reasons, no matter what happens, I will never abandon him."
"The child doesn't need to be burdened by my mistakes in the past. It wasn't his fault."
"I vowed to give him a proper life, after all," Natalia declared.
I don't know what they're talking about, but it's common sense that when adults are having a conversation, you don't chime in.
Besides, I'm five years old. They probably think I'm not aware of their current topic.
But from what I understand, I know I was an unwanted pregnancy, and my father definitely abandoned us.
Though, isn't there supposed to be some sort of child support? Where's that? I don't think this place has one.
Despite that, I've never once felt any ridicule or resentment toward me. Natalia never raised her hand against me, not once. In fact, I was never scolded by either of them.
Well, I am easy to work with, considering I'm fully aware of what I'm doing.
My takeaway is straightforward: Natalia probably had the idea to abandon her child—me.
But instead, she worked hard and still took care of me.
Mother is one strong person.
Yuri gently replied, "Miss Natalia, I don't regret ever following you."
What are they talking about?!
Natalia softly laughed. "I can say the same thing. You're the only person I can properly talk to these days. My coworkers are a headache, you see!"
"Tell me more about this scumbags, Miss Natalia," Yuri replied—and that's when I realized I was in the middle of a gossip session.
Mom was releasing all her frustrations about her coworkers the entire night. I acted like I didn't understand a thing and focused mainly on eating as much as I could.
Though, I was fat in my past life. As I ate while they gossiped, I realized that my jokes toward Bernardo had been a little out of line—but do I care?
Not really.
I'll keep doing it… mentally.
Anyway, I don't want to gain weight again. As soon as I'm stronger and able, I'll start exercising—for I know that someday, I'll have to face somber man.
At least I'll face him without being one step away from a heart attack.
Though I must admit…
Celebrating your own birthday…
It's not so bad…
Chapter End.