Cock-a-doodle-doo

  Waking up to my family damned rooster, I stared at the wooden ceiling in my room once again.

  The bruised part on my jaw is now gone, as expected of the witch granddaughter. The ointment that she smeared is really effective even though it was cheap.

  I was wondering if it was true that you could make such effective medicine with a cheap ingredient or if it was just a witchcraft.

  Well, calling her expertise a witchcraft is pretty insulting if you ask me, in the first place as far as i know there is no such things as a witch. It was just an old folk tales that no one really believed.

  The only reason we called an old woman a witch is just because she has a black cat, make such an effective medicine with a strange utensil and sometimes we heard a strange scream coming from her home.

  But the witch didn't matter right now.

  The one who actually matter is my father, What should i say to him when i meet him? Should i just pretend yesterday incident never happen or should i, once again confront him with my honest feeling, Like the one that happen yesterday.

  "Heh" a chuckle escaped my lips

  If i am brave enough to do that then, i can't see myself living past 18, such a bravery usually cost a lot and doesn't pay for much.

  But, ...... do I truly want to let that go, do i want to let the chance to go on adventure? Over such a trivial thing such as talking to my father?

  No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No! No!

  I don't want that! I want to go on adventure and living on exciting experience! Exploring an unknown territory, slaying a dangerous creature and challenging an impossible odds those thing is a far, far better choice than dying of old age as an ordinary farmer in an ordinary village.

  And if the price is my live than, I will happily pay for it.

  So, What did i am afraid of! Talking to my father is a such a trivial task, it make me want to laugh at myself for being scared of it.

  What the worst thing that can happen?! Getting hit once again? Being scolded? Grounded? I deal with that almost every other day.

  Did that stop me from doing what I want?

  Of course it didn't!

  No matter what happens, I always rush forward without getting afraid of the consequence.

  Because fuck consequence! I do what I want to do and no one can stop me!

  Not even my own father.

  So why?

  Why do I still can't get up from my bed!

  ...

  Getting out of bed right know is harder than swimming against a waterfall. But driven by the calling of adventure i push myself forward. So, With a bated breath i get up from my bed and go toward the door in my room.

  Grabbing the door handle, I pushed it forward to open the door.

  Taking a step out of my room, I walk toward our living room, there is a chance of meeting father in there, the chance is slim because at this time of the day he normally already left for the field.

  This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

  When I finally arrive at the living room a miracle happened, I found my father sitting on the chair.

  I unconscious touch my jaw

  Even though the bruised part is gone and the pain already subside when I remember what happen yesterday i can feel some piercing pain coming from it once again.

  Gathering up all the courage that i could muster, I walk toward my father in order to confront him.

  The first step toward adventure is the hardest step, so by facing him this also means in a roundabout way also facing the adventure i wish for.

  thud.

  Taking my first heavy step i walk toward my father.

  thud, thud.

  With each step my leg feel lighter and lighter.

  thud, thud, thud, thud, thud.

  I can feel the chain of fear binding my leg getting broken one by one.

  thud, thud, thud.

  And before i knew it i finally stand in front of my father.

  With his head resting on his face he looked unusually serious. His serious face is something that i rarely see. Because the one i often see are the tired face or the angry one

  The serious face is usually reserved for the important talk.

  Like the day when my mother left us.

  Stunned i can only look at him speechlessly.

  "Rai!"

  Father spoke before i could, he uttered my name in a deep and heavy voice.

  "Sit down!"

  Before my mind could process what my father said, My body moved first following his command.

  Father looked at me with his serious face and giving me a goosebumps. I think this situation is more terrifying what happened yesterday.

  "Do you know why i am sitting here waiting for you, Instead of going to work in the field" Father asked me with his deep voice.

  "Because of what happen yesterday?" I answered feeling uncertain.

  "No, Even though what happened yesterday have something to do with this talk, it is not the actual reason."

  "Did you still feeling angry because I want to become a rebel leader?"

  "No, I did not, I know you well enough to know that you did not actually want to become a rebel leader."

  "Really?"

  "Yes, you are not a stupid person, The stupid one is your brother not you, so even though you are a rebellious kid, you do not actually want to become a rebel leader"

  "He he he" I laughed at my father praise.

  "Haaah" Father sighed tiredly.

  "Wait a minute if it was not because what happen yesterday then what is the actual reason you haven't left for the field father?"

  Father didn't speak for a while. His silent state speaks more of the situation than any other word could.

  He turned his head to the side, staring at the window before he finally speak.

  "Do you know why i strongly ask of you to help me in the field, Knowing that you will not inherit it" Father asked me with a tired voice.

  "Because my brother is a stupid, lazy and often ditch his job to play with a girl." i Instantly answered

  Father smiled wearily "Well .... that's a part of it, but no that's not the actual reason"

  "Then, Can you tell me the actual reason father?" I asked curiously.

  Father turned his head once again and come face to face with me.

  "It's because of you"

  Feeling insulted i ask my father "Huh? What is wrong with me?"

  When my father heard me say this he has a face that wanted to say something but manage to hold it at the last possible moment.

  "Haah" Father sighed once again with an even more tired voice.

  Father massage his throbbing head and said.

  "You are an adventurous kid."

  I blushed at my father praise.

  "I blame my wife for that, Why did he always take you on a forest even though i said it was dangerous, heck the forest is even dangerous for an adult, So why did she took you to that place."

  "That is the question that I never dare to ask to my wife."

  Father make a fist for a moment before he reluctant relaxed his hand "But what is done is done and you are already become like this so, it is no use crying over a spilled milk, what is more important is the present."

  I continue to listen to my father lecture.

  "So even though, I knew you won't actually inherit my field and not going to stay in this village when you become an adult, I forcefully order you to help me helping in the field, Do you want to know why, I did that."

  I nodded my head.

  Father smiled and for the first time i knew it was coming from his heart.

  "That is because you are my son"

  Stunned, I can only continue to stare at my father without giving him a response

  "More than anything, I want give you the second most precious treasure that i can give so, when you go on a journey and feeling lonely you can think of it and know that i always love you"

  Father continue to talk "I don't have a precious artifact to give you strength, no precious technique that can save your live, and no amount of money i can give you will amount much."

  Father smile sadly "because I am just a simple farmer."

  "I am not a wizard, knight or even a merchant, i am just a farmer in ordinary village and as a farmer the only thing i can give you is a knowledge about farming."

  "I ask of you to help me farming not because i am giving you a punishment for doing something bad."

  "I ask of you to help me with farming because i want to to give you my second most precious treasure."

  My father extend his hand and i flinch in reflex.

  But the fist i expected to receive on my head never come, Instead what i received is a loving stroke as he softly caress my head.

  "My second most treasure treasure I have is my farming knowledge but, my most precious treasure I have is something that I can't give you because you already own it."

  With his most heartfelt smile my father told me

  "Because you, my son, are the most precious treasure of all."