Chapter 1

I miss Dad

Daaad! Uwaa.. They stole my cake that you baked for me again.. *sob sob* "Let them be, I can make you 1000 thousand more cakes," he smiled, patting my head. Daad.. I want upsy-daisy! I raised my hand. Dad smiled, holding me tightly, "Upsy-daisy!" Daaad, my Barbie doll is broken! Dad smiled, "I'll buy a new one for you." Daad, kitty.. died! Dad smiled, "kitty will always be by your side although you can't see him." Dad you always are there for me, calming me, smiled for everything, I love you. But I'm so so far away from you now; I miss you, why… why would mom take me away from you? I'm happy by your side. I hate mom. Mom is so selfish. Even on the last day I saw you, you smiled, patted my head and said, "Everything will be fine, you'll be happy with your mom."

I woke up; I realized I cried in my dream… again. No, my parents didn't divorce, mom just went to the city because she wanted to achieve her dream and bring me along with her, and she's still working on it. She said she bring me along with her cause I am her lucky charm. I hate her; she's the one who separate me from dad. She even said father had died. I don't know I'll believe her or not, but I decided not to. Father's still alive, he's a strong man. I always said that to myself.

8 years had passed; I am a 17 year old teenage girl now. My name is Ann. I have an orange hair which I always tied in a braid and also I have blue eyes.

I went down stair to eat my breakfast; as usual we are silent, mom and I always not in a good mood because of the past. It's so quite, only the warble of the bird outside and the clock ticking can be heard. "I miss dad," I said, breaking the silence.

Mom stopped eating, "Past is past, I don't want to hear anymore."

My temper was rising up like a tidal wave, I stood up, "How can you forget about dad so easily?"

"Sit down, please respect the food," she said sternly, continued eating like I never said anything. "'I miss dad', will your word bring dad back to life?"

I sat down, holding my temper, "Dad did not die."

"Oh, how can you be so sure about that?" she said looking at me.

"I can feel it through my bones," I glared at her.

"Can feel it through your bones huh?" she chuckled, holding still the spoon and fork.

Mom is always like this, being serious all the time. "Yeah, I'm sure about it," I replied. "I'm not hungry, I'm going to my room."

"Stop, I'll tell you everything.. but in one condition," she said and glanced at me.

I turned around, "What is it?"

"Eat-your-food."

We went to the living room, "So.. what is it?" I asked.

I've longed for this moment, a long silence, "Mom….?"

"Yes, you father…. did not die," she said suddenly, after all these years, a smile of relief can be seen on my face.

"My feelings were right!"

"I'm going there," I decided and stood up.

"To where?"

"To the countryside we were used to live."

Just when I was about to go to my room, "You're not going anywhere, he's not there," mom said. "And I'm not going to tell you where?" she gabbled before I could say anything.

I went towards slowly my mother and fell on my knees, tears running down my cheeks. "Mom, I beg you, please, I would do anything, anything to meet dad, it's been 8 years, please tell me where is he?"

"Let go off me, I need to go to work now," avoiding looking at my face, she went straight away to work.

"Mom!" I shouted, chasing her out of the house. 'Vrroom' I heard the sound of the car engine starting and went away.

I'm not going to give up, I have to search for means and ways so mom will tell me where dad is.

At night, mom called me, "Dinner's ready!"

I went to the kitchen, sit and ate, I stared at mom, "How can you pretend as if nothing happened?" I asked.

Mom heaved a sighed. "I told you already didn't I, that I wo—"

"I lost my appetite, I'm going back to my room."

Mom didn't say a word.

The next morning, mom knocked on my door, "Ann, eat you breakfast." A long silence. "Ann, answer me, are you there?" Mom's getting more worried. She have my another bedroom key in her pocket and unlocked the door.

"Oh no, Ann!" she saw me at the floor, unconscious. "You look wan, you haven't eaten anything since yesterday and you seem to catch a glandular fever, I'll take you to the hospital now!"

"Mom, it's okay, I was just desperate to meet dad, it'll be the best medicine."

Mom was sobbing. "Okay…. I understand, if it's for your own good, I wouldn't mind."

Oh Yes! Mission SUCCESS! This isn't as hard as I think it would be, Nye-hehe.. But I am really sick though. She took me to my bed, asking me to take a rest, feed me and what I've waited for so long is for her to say, "I'll make a letter to your father, so that he'll know you'll live with him starting from next week, but… in 3 conditions," she smirked.

"What is it?" I groaned.

"First, make sure you telephone me if anything happen. Second, take care of yourself. And lastly, take care of your father….. And the restaurant, before you ask me anything, yes he open a restaurant," She smiled; I can't believe she smiled and said 'take care of your father'! Maybe… mom still love dad. My heart filled with happiness and joy right now. Remember when I said I hate my mom, I don't think I hate her now.

"Okay!" I said, feeling energies. After a few days, I've gotten better.

~The day I went to Dad's~

Just got down from the ferry, thinking. My wonder lust to come here came true. I hold my straw braid beach sun hat, afraid that it will fly away due to the wind. I gripped my luggage and went to my father's house. On my way, I took a look around me, maple trees beside the road, it's not really road, I would say it's a walk way, it changed a bit around here, it's beautiful.

Looking at a piece of paper that mom gave me, she wrote father's address on it. I stood in front of an old looking big restaurant; this must be dad's restaurant, dad must have opened this restaurant for a long time ago, it's just that mom just tell me recently. There's 'Close' sign in front of the door. Beside it there's notice board saying 'Doug's place' open: 8Am-9PM. I knocked no answer. Maybe he went out; did mom even tell dad that I will come? Well she do tell him, I'm sure of it. I knocked again for several times, yet no answer.

I opened the door carefully, oo.. it isn't locked, dad you should lock it next time. It's dark inside. I went in, it's bigger than it used to be, so this is the restaurant, I saw some tables and chairs. Put down my luggage in front another door that I'm sure it's the living room. I opened it slowly and took a peek….… HUUH?