The alarm rang at 6:00 a.m. on November 17, 2032.
Romeo stretched out his hand, turned off the sound, and slowly sat up, placing his feet on the cold floor.
"Ugh!" he sighed. At that moment, he felt delicate fingers trace gently along his back.
"Ah!" he startled, and there was Camila, still half asleep.
"Good morning, darling…" he said, smiling at her with tenderness. "How did you sleep?"
"Quite well," she replied, sitting up on the bed to fix her hair. "Today is John's birthday… should we prepare something like we did for his previous six? Or would that be too much?" she asked thoughtfully.
Despite her firm nature, Camila showed a hint of uncertainty when speaking about their son. She knew John was different, but that did not diminish the love she felt for him.
"Oh, sweetheart…" Romeo sat beside her and leaned her gently against his shoulder. "I was thinking we could just spend the day as the three of us. John doesn't get excited about gifts or parties. I think it would do him good to have a quiet day with us."
"Hmm… you're right. I'll finish up the paperwork and add an extra report so I can dedicate the evening to you two, okay?" she said, smiling softly.
Romeo couldn't help laughing.
"Awww, my beautiful wife!" he exclaimed, scooping her up onto the bed and showering her with kisses.
"S-stop, Romeo! Hahaha!" Laughter filled the room.
⸻
A few hours later, Romeo and John were in the living room, openly sharing sweets.
"Dad, is it allowed to eat this many candies?" John asked calmly. His face remained neutral, but he studied the colors and textures of the candies with interest. He enjoyed observing how they dissolved, not the taste.
"Oh? Of course, of course… as long as your mother doesn't find out," Romeo replied, breaking his own rule.
"It's your birthday, son. If there's ever a day to be a little silly, it's today."
John nodded slowly.
"Will my grandparents come like before?" he asked while carefully wrapping the candy wrappers, aligning them precisely.
"No, not this year," Romeo said. "Your mother and I thought it would be better just the three of us. Though it seems we'll be late… she's handling all the paperwork for the medical center."
"I see… but are you sure Mom will come? She usually gets a lot of reports," John said without expression, more as an observation than a complaint.
Romeo ruffled his hair with a firm hand.
"Hahaha, of course she'll come. She's the most excited of all of us. Come on, I want to show you something."
Without hesitation, John got up, put on a sweater, and followed him to the car.
During the ride, he observed the streets and buildings carefully, analyzing structures and materials as if trying to understand their composition.
"Where are we going?" he finally asked.
"A week ago I mentioned I'd teach you to use your abilities in a more practical way. Well… we're going to start." Romeo smiled as he parked in front of a massive building.
⸻
The Valoria Gym
An imposing six-story building, modern and robust in design. Steel and glass lines reflected the morning sun. It was one of the city's most renowned structures.
First floor: Sports store and equipment area.
Second to fourth floors: General gym with machines and training zones.
Fifth and sixth floors: Spaces dedicated to learning and practicing mixed martial arts.
It was, in essence, a creation of Romeo Xentras.
⸻
John raised his eyes. They moved slowly across each level, calculating height and structure without visible awe. Yet his mind was full of questions about design and stability.
"Haha, don't break your neck, son," Romeo laughed, giving him a pat on the back before entering.
As they crossed the door, five employees bowed in unison.
"Welcome, Mr. Xentras!"
Romeo sighed.
"I already told you there's no need for so much formality. I'm off duty, guys," he said, scratching the back of his neck with an awkward smile.
John watched silently. He didn't understand why they greeted him with such devotion, but he recorded every word and gesture to analyze later.
The tour began. Romeo guided him through each area, explaining the fundamentals of the spaces, weight distribution in the structures, the use of steel and fiber composites for floor support. John listened without interrupting, absorbing every detail.
To the casual observer, he seemed like a quiet child, but his mind worked constantly. He knew, long ago, that his father was not just a talented architect, but the mastermind behind many of the projects that kept Valoria standing.
To many, Romeo was a builder.
To John, he was the man designing the safety of the world.
⸻
Hours later, they returned home.
"So? What do you think?" Romeo asked, maintaining his smile. "Do you think you can get used to the gym environment?"
"Yes. I don't see any problem. When do I start?" John replied directly.
"Haha, I like that. You'll start next week," Romeo nodded. But before opening the door, a rubber ball struck him squarely in the face.
"Ouch!" he complained, laughing.
Camila appeared in the doorway, hair messy, balloons everywhere, expression frozen.
"Why are you here so early?!" she shouted.
John watched silently. He noticed the effort in her breath, the slight tremor in her hands, the disarray on the floor… and understood, though he could not feel it, that this was a display of affection.
For a moment, he calculated the proper words.
"Mom… Dad… thank you," he said in a neutral tone.
His parents looked at each other and smiled. No more was needed. Sometimes, John's simple voice was enough to light up the house.
"Happy seventh birthday, sweetheart!" they said in unison.
And at that moment, the home was filled with a warmth that even John could not measure.