A/N: Hi there! So how's everyone? Mhmh. Glad to hear that. Anyway, it's been a while since "laziness" take its vacation inside my body. So I'm as well glad that it's finally going back in its own home. So much for a metaphor, huh? Hehe. XD

Well, my thoughts have been also distracting me, so I immediately grabbed my phone and started typing this story as a draft, and tons of ideas came rushing on me. Yeah, just like that. I really have many explanations to say, but I'll do that later. For now, I'd like to give you a piece of my mind. So here it is.

The Alphabet Love: Father

By: kyohei11sunako

It all started in middle school. In middle school wherein my former teacher made an examination- writing an article about family. It's a piece of cake isn't it?

Writing from small details to very complicated ones, just by describing what a happy family was.

I believe there are mother, child, grandfather, grandmother, uncles and aunties. And a family won't be complete without a father. Indeed.

If you're going to ask me what a father was, there's only one appropriate word for that.

Bastard.

It could be applied in my case. For others? I don't know. I'll never know.

They said it's really happy to have a man of the house in your life. And it gives me chills whenever they say that.

Tch. How ironic.

I thought it's really fun having no father at all. But I realized I was separated from those any other kids. They are happy whenever they go somewhere, with their parents.

It's really strange but I suddenly felt this desire to feel a father's love.

Yeah. Is there any left for my mom and I?

In fact, I never had any predicaments understanding why I have no one to claim as my dad at all. For the reason that my mom explained that my father left us when he found out that she's pregnant with me. A real bastard, right?

Well, I really don't are anyway. I have my mom staying with me, my grandmother and grandfather, my cousins and especially, my best friend.

Preschool

"Na-tsu-me-kun!"

I was startled by that familiar voice. Here we go again. My best friend's favorite subject- annoying little Hyuuga Natsume. And as the responsible of it all, I sighed in defeat.

"What do you want sweetheart?"

Sakura Mikan, my best friend who blackmailed me to call her sweetheart and vice versa in exchange of my secret which only she, knows.

She grinned at me. That was pretty annoying.

"Mou. Don't be so mad. I have something to show you."

She held me by the hand and dragged me outside the school gates. It was the end of the class. Unlike any other kid, Mikan and I just walk a few meters. My house is near hers. I don't doubt why. My mom and her mom are best friends, so we ended up being best friends as well. It's not that I'm forced with it, but she's the only one who understands me fully. No romantic relationships at all, mind you.

There. I still don't know what she's planning. But she keeps on grinning and laughing like crazy.

"Here we are."

And we stopped. Ah, the lake. I spotted a playhouse which is her favorite toy, table, teacups and a mini dresser. But what intrigued me the most is that there's also a baby doll, which I gave her as a present on her birthday last year, and a mini stroller. I saw her smiling at me and found that she's carrying the doll. It confused me even more.

"What do you want to play Mikan?"

"Nee Natsume, since I call you sweetheart and you call me that the same way, let's play family. I'm your wife and you're my husband."

I gawked at her, and she looked at the doll.

"...and this doll would be our daughter."

I nearly laughed at her ideas. What a simpleton.

"Alright. Then, let me carry our baby. "
"Hai! "

She smiled in delight. I really don t know what trick she used for me to agree at her simple request. Being a father and a husband as a 4 year-old boy sure is funny.

Gradeschool

That time, I hold lots of memories. We have graduated from preschool. Just as before, Mikan and I enrolled in the same school. And just as before, Mikan is still clingy, but not more than in a friendly way. We had a field trip that time, and we are both of the same group. Well, the teachers divided 4 students from preschool, grade school and high school to form a group. One time, our group got assigned to gather woods for making fire. Mikan and I went with two preschool kids and the high school ones took the other two. The clouds are dark, and it seems like it's gonna rain. We immediately gathered enough woods and are on our way to the campsite when unfortunately, one preschool kid was tripped on a stone and fell badly. He had his knees sprained and can't walk. Mikan instead carried the woods and I carried the little child all the way back to the site. We successfully managed to make it on the campsite harmless except for the little child, who was treated well that time. And evening came. That was when Mikan approached me, smiling, while carrying two glasses of coffee. She handed me the other.

''Sweetheart, thank you for today.''

It was a bit embarrassing but her habit of calling me that way never changed. Old habits die hard. However, I did the same-forcibly.

''Did I do something?''

She laughed.

''Stop pretending. I saw your worried face when Kumi-kun got injured.''

I raised an eyebrow.

''So you're thanking me just because I had worried for someone?''

She smiled.

''Well, let's say yes. But I was thanking you because I felt that you cared for the kid.''

''I'll do it with everyone, anyway.''

''Are you trying to tell me that if I were in his situation, you'd rescue me?''

''Of course.''

''Thank you! But you know...''

''What?''

''I realized something.''

''That is?''

''Natsume-kun, I know you'll be a good father and husband someday.''

I shrugged.

''I'm not planning to be one.''

She frowned.

''Eh? Then who's going to be my husband?''

''Find someone else. Besides, we're only ten. You'll find a man who's more suitable than me.''

''You idiot! You're the only one who's suited to be my husband!''

Once again, she used a trick which made my heart beat faster. Suddenly, building a house and a family with her entered my mind, and two kids running after us is a bit cute. I smiled at the thought.

Highschool

This was when everything started. Because of a certain stupid question, I was forced to face the truth. A truth that changed my life for good. When I was in preschool, I always ask my mom why I don't have a father like any other kid do. And it seems like she's in agony when I brought that topic so I decided to stop asking, the same in elementary. But today's different. I am in the right age now, and I guess, I have to face the biggest difficulty in my life. Once again, I started making a conversation with my mom, finally dawning to my father's existence. She tried to change the topic, but it's not an excuse to pass this last chance.

''He didn't leave us just for any woman or crap.''

I stared at her intently, completely confused at her words.

''Natsume... your father has been a good person ever since you were born.''

I though he left us. I thought he never wanted to see me. But mom's perspective from before was different.

"You said-"

"I lied. Your father really loves us, and we got married before you were conceived. His parents were against us so instead he chose to die protecting us than to marry another woman."

And I thought he was a bastard. All those years I hated him, but I didn't know the real story. It was foolish of me to actually judge my own father like that, and yet, he's the reason why I'm standing here on earth. Little by little, salty droplets of water fell from my eyes.

Damn it. I knew I've been a bastard kid in 15 years of my life. My father isn't that bad. I understand him fully. He loves us. My father loves me indeed.

I don't care less now, even if my mom lied. Important is I already know the truth. And before I realized it, I was running outside the rain and unconsciously, my feet brought me to the person closest to me, to calm my heart. The next thing I remember, I was hugging her in the middle of the rain.

"I promise, Mikan. I'll be a good father and husband someday."

It's pretty awkward for me to say those things. But I don't care. It'll surely happen someday.

"Tadaima."

A man of 25 entered the room, carrying a suitcase and a box, followed by a brown haired boy of 5 years old.

"So what do we have here today?"

Another child of about 3 years old entered the room with her mom behind her.

"Welcome home sweetheart."

"Uh. So we have here, the father, the mother and the children. Do we still need a doll and a playhouse, Hyuuga Mikan?"

The lady blushed.

"Stop it Natsume, we're in front of the kids!"

Natsume chuckled and carried the 3 year-old girl.

"Daddy, what did you bring for me?"

"Hm. Let's see. Here, a teddy bear."

"Eh? Thank you daddy!"

"Daddy, I got 100 in the exam!"

"Really? That's good!"

Mikan smiled.

"Natsume, you're already a good father."

"Thank you. I'm glad I was the father of your doll."

Once again, Mikan blushed.

"Hey, I didn't that it was required to have a baby!"

"Ah. That se-"

"Natsume!"

"What?"

"The kids!"

"Oh, but tell me, am I not good husband?"

"W-Well…"

"Let me prove it."

"Later?"

"Later."

Mikan smiled. Natsume smirked.

He was finally freed from the chains-the chains that forbid him to be happy.

Well at least he knows that this time, he's here to face his troubles with his wife and children.

It is fun being a father.

A/N: I'm done finally! It's been a year, my dear friends, so yeah.

Sorry, I've been a lazy bum. Hehe.

Thanks for reading!

-kyohei11sunako