The Special Ones

ALDREN

My sister was alone in her room, slowly I climbed upstairs while carrying the cake that I made myself. It's a chocolate cake, I practiced so hard to bake this perfectly until I can make a delicious perfect cake for her birthday. Standing and staring at her bedroom door, I cleared my throat and immediately knocked. As I opened the door, a cold wind breeze greeted me and saw my sister sitting and facing the windows of her balcony room, looking at her looks like she enjoyed the breeze of fresh air.

"Good morning, Manda" Manda is the nickname that I gave to her, she likes it anyways. She immediately reacted from the way I called her, her head moved a little to the side, allowing me to see her side profile.

"Aldren, is that you?" she used her hand to hold the armrest and side drawers to help her stood up, I let out a giggle a little as I looked at her slowly walking towards me, following my voice.

"Happy birthday!" I greeted at her with a wide smile, saw her lips forms into a curl and smiled a little.

"Here, It's a cake" I gave her the cake while I approached her a little, helping her to carry it into her small and soft hands until she got good grip on it and I let go "I hope you like it"

"there's no doubt" she smiled, and I looked at her confused on what she says

"Hmm? Why is there something wrong?" I looked at the cake but there was nothing wrong

"Are you the one who baked it, Aldren?" she took a little icing and she tasted it and she smiled

"Ah, well. Is it delicious?" I smiled but also, I'm a bit nervous on what would be her response, knowing that I tasted a little earlier and it was very sweet. I hope she has a sweet tooth

"It's delicious, however. It tasted like burnt a little, but it's okay. Thank you" she smiled widely making me feel happy, this kid doesn't know how to lie, really.

"But, don't worry" she said smiling "I know it's made with love" She puts down the cake at the side drawer. I just smile at what she says and let go a little laugh until she tries to find something

"What are you looking for, Manda?"

"Your hand?" my hand? I gave her my hand and she held my finger; I flinch a little bit "Did you burn your fingers, again?"

"I know it's my birthday, and you want to give me a cake that I would like but, burning your fingertips many times? You can buy a cake next time." she smiled and let out a little laugh "Just make sure next time you won't burn your fingertips anymore, or else mom will cut them"

"Amanda." I looked at her and I felt sorry for my sister who was blind, I didn't want to cry in case, I cried, all I did was hug her tightly

"Why? what happened?" I didn't answer, I just hugged her tightly like she was still my small sister "Are you crying?" I immediately wiped my tears

"I didn't cry, there's a dust or something in my eyes" I immediately wiped my tears and excused myself, I looked at her and held her shoulders and greeted her a happy birthday once again, she smiled but right now she gave me a wild smile with her eyes sparkling. "Want to come with me in the garden?"

* * *

AMANDA

My older brother took me to our yard or better known as "Perez Garden" I don't know what it looked like but I knew it was beautiful because I could already smell the flowers around me.

"Sit here" he helped me sit on the grass

"Feel the wind, and close your eyes" I followed what he said so I immediately closed my eyes and i felt the wind "Feels great, right?"

"The breeze here is beautiful, it makes you feel a lot better; it feels like the wind is blowing away the sadness in your heart" I smiled while still closing my eyes

"I usually hangout here whenever I have a problem, so if you have a problem, you come here, okay? Especially if you're sad." I just smiled on what he said, I felt thankful for having a brother like him, but also his words are a bit weird to hear.

"Thank you, Aldren"

"That's nothing, why do I sound cool when I said those?" we laughed together on what he said, my older brother and I talked until we heard a voice calling my brother from the inside of the house, it was mom. He told me he will be back and went inside to help mom. I decided to get up to go for a slow walk on the surroundings, when I heard the voice that warns me.

"Watch out!" I stopped and fell on the grass when a ball hit me on the head so hard "Are you okay? Why didn't you avoid the ball?

"didn't you see the size of the ball that was going to hit you? In the head?" He asked but he sounded a little bit rude by the way he talks to me, from his voice it sounded like a boy that is around the same age as me.

"I'm sorry, I can't see "

"Are you blind?" he asked in a little high-pitched tone "The ball is too big for you to not see" I interrupted his speech with a little laughter and smiled, I don't know where he is standing right now but I think I am looking at him face to face, he sounds fun. I wish I can see his face.

"I am blind, I was born blind"

"uhm, I'm sorry about that, I didn't know..."it was silence for a minute but he then broke it by introducing his name "I'm-I mean Tyson by the way." suddenly he took my hand and we shook hands I smiled because he was now my friend, my first friend.

"Amanda" we laughed a little "I think I am your neighbor?"

"Nice to meet you, Amanda" I heard him chuckled a little "my neighbor" I know that I can't see but when I heard his voice and when he held my hand all I could tell that he is funny, and I can see that he is a kind person

"Likewise,"

"Ahem, Manda"

"I think it's time for you to go inside now" my older brother called me

"Bye Tyson, I need to go inside now" I felt someone is holding my hand to guide me to walk inside, I turned around and slowly entered the house, following the one who is holding me.

"ah, okay." I smiled as heard his voice before going inside, I don't know what just happened but it made me happy.

ALDREN

"Hey kid?" I supposed to go near the boy who were my sister is talking to but he is now preparing to go without listening to me, good thing i was fast and held his arm to stop him from going away.

"Hey! where are you going?" the guy looked at me

"ah, Good morning brother" this guy smiled at me nervously

"Brother? Is that a joke, are we close?" he was shocked, he was supposed to say something but it left him stutter "Don't mind that"

"It's okay, it's okay if you'll call me brother." I looked at him and raised my left eyebrow "Cause your handsome too, it's okay." he laughed nervously at my jokes, even though it not funny. He does that fake laugh thingy so he could escape.

"By the way Amanda's birthday today and we will celebrate it tomorrow, do you want to come?" I said "After all she's your friend"

"Wait, me? Invited to her birthday? are you serious-"

"Do you want me to repeat again? I have a microphone, that I can use so that you can hear it clearly"

"ah, I mean. I'm going, only if you want me too?"

"See you tomorrow then." he went to his house and i found out, that he was also one of special kind of people like me.

AMANDA

It's my birthday now all my relatives and friends are attending today, right now mom and my brother are busy preparing the event, while I am in my room resting while listening to music using the earphones.

"Manda!!"

"Amanda! My nails" I heard a familiar female voice around in my room, I turned to where the voice came from. I heard a loud and a little messy noise from the outside balcony, I guess. It sounds like someone is climbing.

"Who's there? "

"Here, help me. I'm here at the window, here get my stuff " I heard a loud thud in my room like she threw something heavy

"Uh, what was that?"

"Don't mind it, that was nothing" she said but I heard her grunting like she was climbing "Here grab my hand, help me get up. Your balcony is so tall, good thing I found a way to come up here" I looked for her hand and pulled her to climb up and she finally climbed successfully panting, she sighed and I heard her laugh a little.

"That was stressful, thank you for helping me. Also, Happy Birthday!"

"Thank you, I guess?" I went silent for a little and asked her directly "Uhm, who are you again?"

"Ah, maybe you forgot about me" she giggled a little, she really loves to giggle huh? "I'm Crystal, your most beautiful cousin."

"Ah, I see. I guess we met each other before am I right? Like when we are still kids or"

"Who cares, that was a long time ago."

"Thank you for coming" I gave a wide and genuine smile at her and she wrapped her arms around me and hugged me tightly

"Of course, when it comes to food and party, I am always present in attendance" I laughed together with her until her I heard her laugh slowly disappears, I felt someone is with us. Crystal stopped laughing rather I heard my older brother laugh as if he was just forced to laugh and goes back to a serious tone

"How'd you got in?"

"Oh, come on!" she whined "Couz, am I the only one who wasn't invited to Amanda's birthday? for what reason, Aldren?"

"Aldren, you didn't invite her?"

"Not only that, Amanda. Earlier I called and knocked on the house's front door and he refused to let me in, he acted blind even though he saw me"

"You didn't let her in either?"

"Of course, I let her in, it's just she came in through your balcony"

"See! You heard him, he really locked me outside on purpose"

"Why?" I was confused and I asked my brother why would he do that to our cousin, I mean it's okay to play pranks but not too much, good thing Crystal didn't fall in the balcony while climbing earlier.

"There's something you didn't know about her, she's a monster when it comes to eating so I locked all the doors because all the food may be used up before we celebrate"

"What did you just say!?" Crystal raised her voice a little on Aldren "Can you say that again?"

"I said you're a monster when it comes to eating"

"Hey! For your information, I am the campus princess of my school and all the boys have a crush on me!" Crystal said

"I feel like I'm going to vomit, sorry but campus princess or what I didn't hear anything " Aldren said teasing Crystal. I laughed at the two of them, we are really cousins, there is no difference between Aldren and Crystal.

"Aldren, you and Amanda have come down, I have to show you something" Mom called

"Yes mom, let's go" my older brother supported me holding my arm to guide me and crystal also went downstairs

"Crystal? You're here." Mom gave her a hug and smiled widely at crystal being here at my birthday "That's right, I'll give you some taste that I made" Mom took a plate and sliced some piece

"What did you make auntie?" Crystal hopped on the chair at the kitchen counter wearing those sparkling wide eyes, she brought such a happy aura in this house.

"Here, taste it if it's delicious"

"Woah cake, Wait is this for me??" she asked and mom nodded and signals her to try it on, there was silence, I only heard the spoon beside me which Crystal was using and about to put the spoonful of cake to her mouth but suddenly Aldren stopped her hand from going to its mouth.

"Just want to remind you that mom said 'taste', not 'eat' it" Aldren said in a serious but a little joking tone

"Hey, she told me this is mine"

"Mom, can I have some cake that you baked?" I asked, mom immediately held my hand as a sign for yes, I waited while I listened the quarrel with these two.

"yuck, do you know how many calories a cake has? If you'll eat that, you'll gain some weight, and you don't want that right? I'm not scaring you; I'm just trying to remind-"

"Hah! Even if you scare me, I'm not scared of gaining weight, this cake is too delicious to be avoid eating it"

"Aldren, that's the last cake, don't take some anymore. These are for the guests later."

"It's mine." I suddenly heard the plate a little loud thug from the table

"Hey! The cake is mine!" Crystal exclaimed

"You can't reach it, cause you're pretty tiny."

"Give it to me!!"

"Aldren, just give it to crystal "

"Wait the cake-" they suddenly fell silent

"Why, what happened?" I asked

"Fell" they both replied

"Aldren, you wasted the cake!" Aldren let out a guilty giggle

"Just eat later, there are many more for the guest. You're still considered as a guest anyways"

"Ewe, why did you return it to the plate?!"

"So that it would not be stepped on by someone, hold on let me get a rag to wipe it" Crystal sighed

"I miss my cake already"

"Don't worry you'll have much later, Okay?" I heard someone entered the door and there it was a guy's voice with those footsteps walking towards us here in the kitchen counter

"Hi Crystal, you came earlier as expected" he said with a teasing voice to Crystal, I also heard Crystal's sighed as he speaks to her. Do they really like teasing her?

"Besides, how did you get in here? Aldren didn't let you in here, sometimes, right? "

"Long story, Lance" she said "and to answer your question on how do I got inside here is that I climbed, got it?"

"Hi lance, how are you?" I greeted him

"Amanda! Happy Birthday." I felt his hand tapped me at the head "you grew a lot now"

"Is this yours? I'm really a bit hungry right now, can I have a bite?"

"W-wait! d-don't!" Crystal stopped him

"Here is the rag" the surrounding was quiet for a while but Aldren broke it "Wait– something's missing, who ate the cake on the plate?"

"Lance, did you eat the cake that was on the plate?"

"Uh, yes why? Is there any problem? I was a bit hungry while ago and no one wants to eat it so I did, why?"

"That cake fell on the ground cause me and Crystal were fighting over it while ago, you did not eat the cake, right?"

"No, I really ate it. Would you guys stop joking, you knew I hate dirty things" i heard lance laughed nervously, Lance is the guy that doesn't like dirty things like dusty or anything that is time consuming to clean it. He's a clean guy, he sometimes visits us here hearing him telling my brother to fix his room.

"You dumb, you guys were joking, weren't you?" there was silence "You guys aren't answering"

"They're not" I respond between the silence "The cake you ate, really fell on the ground" Again there was silence, until I heard someone wants to puke

"Dude, I didn't know you eat dirty" Aldren jokingly said to Lance, hearing him running towards the back and hears a loud thud which I think is the bathroom.

"Now you know? You should ask first about the food, before you put it on your mouth, you can easily get poisoned by your actions!" Crystal said but her voice was slowly fading, seems like she followed Lance by the bathroom door. All I hear was my brother's laugh and Lance's puking at the back while Crystal's life lesson lecture kept on going while Lance is busy puking. I cannot see, but hearing their laughter like this made me happy, feels like I'm not alone.

ALDREN

"What time is it?" I asked Crystal, but there was no response on my question. I looked at my side and I saw her looking at the direction where the chocolate fountain was placed, I leaned a little bit closer to her ears

"Hey!" she jumped a little on where she was standing and slapped my arm and annoyed on what I did "Is it my fault? you didn't listen"

"What do you want?!" she said pissed, this is so funny. I asked her what time is it and she glared at me "What do you mean? You have a flicking watch, on your left wrist. Why do you want me to tell the time?!-"

"It's broken" I cut her off, she looks like a mad duckling right now "Now, what" the time?"

"Aish, it's almost 7:20, why?" she smiled at me with his charm smile, but I know that smile she can't fool me.

"Don't you dare smile at me like that, you're ugly. You know what you're wearing, right? You look like a mad duckling drowned in the pond; you know guests are coming. Go upstairs and change and help Amanda"

"Eh? What did you say? " she acted like she really didn't hear what I said, she puts her hand on her ear and repeats what she said

"I said go up and change-"

"Say what" what the? She sticks out her tongue teasing me and leans back on her chair 'I'm not going to change, I already looked good in what I wear-"

"I said go up and change!" I raised my voice a little at her causing her to scare a little "Don't you get it?" she stood up glaring at me crossing her arms "What?!"

"Ugly giraffe" she went inside and climbed upstairs leaving me shocked at what she said, I stood up and looked at her and she gave me a monkey face and ran fast. That duckling, she's lucky she's, my cousin.

"Excuse me" I turned around and looked at the person that calls my attention, he was wearing a black suit without a tie, and a small box that he's carrying on his hands. I looked at him standing there a meter from me and stare at him.

"Yes?"

"Hey, do you, uhm remember me?" I put my hands on my pockets and looked at him up and down.

"No, who are you for me to remember?" I said, his eyes grew a bit wide and clears his throat, he took a deep breath like he's going to swim in front of me or something.

"Hey woah, calm down. That's a deep breath there, I was just asking who you are, I'm not going to let you swim." I walked a little bit closer at him "Why, who are you?"

"I'm Amanda's friend, the name's Tyson, remember?" Tyson. I scanned him again until the small box on his hand caught my attention

"So, it's you, Tyson. What's that?" I pointed at the box "Is that a gift, for her?"

"Well, yeah." I nodded "It's for her"

"Really?" he nodded and smiled a bit "So, where's mine?"

"E-Excuse me?" I was just jokingly asking but, it's funny how you see his face slowly turning into pale "Well uhm, I didn't know that-"

"I was just messing with you, you're so formal" I said "Loosen up, you're scaring me"

"Aldren, she's here" I heard Crystal's voice from inside the house, I turned around and saw them walking down stairs, I saw Amanda, holding into Crystal's hand tightly, she was so innocently beautiful, as she walks towards me, I can't help smiling looking at my sister.

"Amanda, hey" I said and they stopped walking, she smiled when she heard my voice calling her name "You look beautiful, tonight"

"Really?" she asked "You mean it?"

"I mean it, you're pretty beautiful" I elbowed Tyson beside me, I looked at him grunting holding his stomach "Right, Tyson?"

"W-what do you mean? She really is beautiful" I stopped and looked at him

"What are you talking about?"

"Who was that?" I turned to Amanda "Are you with a friend? "

"Actually, no" I said "It was your friend, Amanda"

"Hey, Happy birthday"

"So, let me guess. My brother invited you?" I looked at Tyson and he does the same at me too, and I just rolled my eyes on him.

"Well, you can say that." He said "Amanda, I have something to say to you."

"Really what's that-"

"Yeah, what's that?" I interrupted him and I stare at him in the eye, I saw that mad duckling doing a face palm and I just ignored her. Tyson looked at me, confused "What? I just want to know too"

"I just want to give this gift, to your sister"

"Oh, you just can give it to me and she'll open it later-" someone got the box on my hand and gave it back to Tyson

"Well, we just leave you two here. Okay, Amanda? Tyson?" She said while pushing me forward "Just you guys don't be late in the event!"

"Hey! Duckling! Where do you think you're taking me?!" I whined "You can't just drag me away from my sister, what if something bad will happen?"

"Hey, if you think something bad will happen to her, you wouldn't invite that Tyson guy in the first place." She said in a serious tone "And plus, she's Amanda's friend, right? Trust me, nothing will happen"

I just looked at her face panting from pushing me away from them, she is now wearing formal clothes. I let out a sigh, and fixed my suit blazer and looked at her, she's still glaring at me.

"What?!"

"I know what you're thinking"

"Then keep thinking" I walked a little and stood halfway from where my sister and Tyson is standing and called out Tyson, he immediately looked back at me.

"I'm watching you" I said while doing that hand gesture, eye to eye "Watching you"

"Okay, let's go. Keep your neck out of their conversation now, let's go"