The Power Enthusiast

MINERVO 29: A Festive Night

When Paul opened the front door and entered the house, he was shocked by a very dark room, completely dark until his eyes could see nothing. Paul couldn't believe his mother had turned off the lights so soon, but it was still six in the afternoon, and outside, even though the sky was dark, but the sun had not sunk completely, and usually his mother never turned off the lights this fast. Usually the mother turns off the lights at midnight, where everyone has sunk into the world of her dreams. But what is this? Why is it this bad? As a result, out of annoyance, Paul simply said, "I'm home." While walking closer to the switch, to turn on the light. After his right hand had reached the switch attached to the wall, his index finger pressed the button on the switch, and,

THE TAR!

When the lights are brightly lit, there is a fairly shocking balloon eruption, which is quite surprising, accompanied by the figure of a woman who was standing upright while both hands holding a round cake coated with chocolate dough with a candle that resembles the number 18, and on the surface of the cake there is a happy birthday. Really, Paul was really surprised to see it, because the figure of the woman holding the cake was her own mother. Not only that, the room that should only be a reception place, decorated in such a way that it looks like the birthday moment of a five-year-old child; on the wall a lot of ribbons and balloons are scattered, on the guest table are many colorful conical hats, and things like that. To make Paul look up at it all, he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"What the fuck, Mom?" Finally Paul let out a voice, with a rather hoarse heavy intonation. His eyes were fixed on the figure of the woman who was holding the cake.

The mother smiled faintly at the voice of her son, then, gracefully, she walked over, coming at Paul while carrying a round cake in her hand. "Paul" said the mother in a very soft voice. "Happy birthday. It's a very beautiful month, because you've turned eighteen. Ah, I know, you must be surprised because every year you never get something this lively, even I sometimes forget your birthday. The last time we did this was when you were seven years old, after that, I often forgot to celebrate. And now, Paul, I, as your mother, want to bring you happiness. I know it's very simple, but I hope you're happy, Paul."

In this instant, Paul's eyes were perfectly rounded, he was shocked to hear it, his eyes were so teary. All tired, tired, and upset, completely gone, replaced with a feeling of shock, confusion, and happiness. Paul's lips shook, he didn't know what to say. And quickly, Paul came to his mother, took the cake the woman was holding and put it on the table, and then he hugged her very tightly.

Colin smiled, Jeddy chuckled, Cherry gaped, and Nico was glued. The four of them were silent to witness that, no one dared to make a sound between them because the atmosphere was very serious. And in his arms, Paul said in a low voice, "It's a shame, but I'm so happy. Thank you, Ma. I love you." A smile was on Paul's face. Paul seems very happy now.

The mother rubbed her child's back, and she answered her son's words in a trembling voice, "Foolish base" The mother also smiled. "Don't make your mother cry, Paul." And tears began to wash over Paul's shoulder, which his mother's head was piercing. Slowly, Paul let go of his embrace and he stared fixedly at the face of his mother who had bright brown eyes, thick lips, and had waist-black hair. Paul wiped away the tears on his mother's cheeks with his fingers.

"YES!" Suddenly, as Paul was about to say something to his mother, he was startled by the sound of someone just coming out of the kitchen room. It turned out to be Olivia, who was still wearing the school uniform; a white long shirt and a white long skirt. But Olivia's face looked dirty, because it was filled with chocolate, jam, and cake spices that stuck to her cheeks and forehead. "You must be surprised, huh? Ahahaha! Okay forget! So look, I came here to help your mother prepare all this, and the surprising part is not just this, Paul," Olivia clapped her hand twice, until finally came out hordes of young men who also came out of the kitchen room. "I'm not alone in coming to your house, Paul. Because when I said you were on your birthday today, they wanted to help."

Paul is wide-eyed, because the mob that is now behind Olivia are all his classmates, just like the girl, they are still wearing school uniforms. And their clothes are dirty, some are exposed to cake stains, some are exposed to dust stains, and such. It made Paul really shocked, no, it looked really, really, really shocked.

"Why are they too-" Not yet had Paul finished his words, the children clustered behind Olivia immediately ran over, came to Paul, and in unison, they all hugged Paul's body, no matter, it was a man, a woman, tall, or even short, they were jostling each other just to hug the person they had been waiting for all this time.

"I'm Ronald! forgive my mistake, Paul!"

"I'm Agnes! Paul's! I really hate myself!"

"I'm Roy! I miss you so much, Paul! When are you back at school?"

"I'm Lia! I've recorded all the schoolwork, if you want to cheat, I'll give it all to you, Paul!"

"I'm Harry! Paul's! Anytime let's play football with my team!"

"Paul! I'm Windy! I'm the one who sent all the ingredients to make the birthday cake! It just so happens that my family runs a cake business! So, I came here to help!"

"I... Uvi! L'm... Emm... I want to walk with you, Paul."

"I'm Nick! Know it? I'm the one who put all the decorations in this room! I know it still looks ugly, but I struggled while installing it, Paul! Hope you're happy!"

"Paul, I'm Fia! All the cone hats on the table, they're all made by me, I made them with pleasure! Even I would make a thousand hats for you, Paul!"

"Paul! I'm Erick! I was the one who popped the balloon! I know I'm not very useful here, but I hope with the eruption, you're shocked! Sorry mistake! Paul!"

"Paul, I've rented some tourist attractions, if you want, let's go on vacation together! I'm Vino by the way! If you forget! Hehe!"

"Paul! I'm Herman! Do you remember me? I'm the one who used to laugh at you! I want to apologize! For all my bad treatment of you!"

"Paul! I'm Zaskia! I know you must have forgotten! I am the girl who always defames you! I always get you punished by teachers! I am also the one who always complained to the principal by saying something that does not match the facts about you, forgive me! Paul!"

After hearing all that, Paul simply fell silent, with a blank look of eyes. Watching Paul's expression, they all started to take off the hug and away from him, out of fear. It seemed that Paul would not forgive them, judging from his expression alone, the man seemed to be unconcerned at what they had just said. Until finally, one of them started walking with his head down, about to get out of Paul's house. However, Paul immediately grabbed the child's shoulder, made the child stop, then the child turned to him.

"What's up, Paul? I'm gonna-"

"Stay here, fool!" The boy's speech was immediately cut off by Paul with a clash. "If one of you goes home before the party is over! I will not forgive you! Stay here and enjoy the party!"

Hearing what Paul said, making the expressions of his former classmates who were gloomy and sad so smiled widely, they were elated. After that, the mother took back the cake stored on the table, into her grasp, then, the woman said, "Olivia, light the candle." Nimble, Olivia took the match in her pocket, then carefully lit two candles that resembled the number 18. After it was perfectly lit, the mother looked at Paul. "Paul, come on, blow the candles." And with reddened cheeks, Paul approached the cake being held by his mother, and he closed his mouth to the two candles.

The two candles were blown by Paul's mouth, so that the blazing flames on them instantly died. Suddenly, applause began to accompany Paul, enliven the room, Colin, Cherry, Jeddy, and Nico also applauded, they had entered the house, they had entered, by sharing his smile each to his mentor who is on his birthday.

Paul smiled, saying, "All of you, you assholes! Ahhaha!" and for the first time, Paul laughed out loud in a very loud voice, beyond what Jeddy often does. Everyone in the room laughed.

The party was really lively, Paul with his mother, and Olivia, Jeddy, Cherry, Colin, Nico, and his classmates, enlivened the atmosphere. They were all wearing conical hats, including Paul as well. Until Paul's house looks alive, let alone filled with simple and funny event sessions, such as; Olivia who dances silly with girls of her class by wearing a skirt made of foliage, which is a, Jeddy who narrates a hilarious tale, makes everyone laugh out loud hearing him, Cherry who giggles while mocking the seemingly impressionable boys of Paul's classmates, Colin who screamed while watching a horror film, Nico who spoke with very piercing grammar, made all the audience dumbfounded.

But above all, Paul was really happy, because finally, he could feel how exciting it was to celebrate birthdays with the people he loved. And it was not felt, the clock had shown at nine o'clock at night, which made Paul's classmates say goodbye to go home to each other, including Olivia with Cherry. However, even though the birthday party was finished, instead of dirty mess, the room even became clean shiny, because before going home, his classmates agreed to getong royong clean the room.

"Dadaaaaah! See you in the morning, yaaa! Pauul! Jeddyyy! Coliiii! Nicooooo! Hihihi!" Cherry squealed after sitting on her bike with Olivia driving her.

"Thank you! Auntie!" Olivia also made a voice bowing respectfully to the woman standing at the gate with Paul, Jeddy, Colin, and Nico, escorting them home.

After Olivia and Cherry's back had vanished from his sight, Paul quickly entered his house again, followed by Colin and Jeddy. While Nico, he still stands with his mother Paul.

"Are you Paul's friend too?" asked the woman to Nico with a friendly smile. Hearing that, Nico turned his attention to the figure standing beside him and nodded his head. "From the color of your skin, it looks like you're from Vineas, huh?" The woman returned to voice.

Nico replied, "Yes, Auntie. I'm from Vineas."

"Ah, it's great that my guess is right, haha." The woman gave a small laugh. Then he again asked, "By the way, what made you come all the way from Vineas coming here? Ah, I forgot to ask this, what's your name?"

"I'm Nico. I came here because I was invited by Paul, Auntie."

"Hijacked?" The woman frowned, clueless at Nico's words. "Taken how, that is?"

Feeling that he had brought the conversation to quite a secret discussion, Nico pressed his glasses slightly down, then replied in a soft voice, "Sorry, Auntie. I have to go inside, Paul told me to."

"Oh, please, please." said the woman with a jerky face. As Nico is out of his presence, he begins to feel that something Paul is hiding with his friends. "But never mind, I'm sleepy too." However, as drowsiness strangled her, the woman did not bother about it, she immediately closed the gate of her house and rushed to sleep.

"What were you talking to my mom in front of the gate, huh!? Say it!"

Just as Nico had arrived inside Paul's room, he was instead greeted with a sharp question, making him sigh. "It's none of your business."

"Haha!" Jeddy patted Paul on the back. "Already, Bro! Calm your mind, after all this is your birthday night! Bro! Ahaha!" Hearing Jeddy's words, success makes Paul speechless.

Then, rudely, Paul took the sheets from his closet, and he spread them on the floor of his room. "Since my bed can only be occupied by one person, that means three people should sleep here!" Paul pointed to the bedsheet he had just placed on the floor of the room.

"Actually I want to go home, anyway, because my house is not too far from here" Colin said with a shrug. "But sometimes I want to stay over." And Colin immediately laid his body on the floor sheets. "I guess the one who's entitled to sleep on the bed is the owner of this room, right?" ask Colin to Jeddy and Nico.

"No, I'll sleep there, you, sleep with them, Paul" said Nico coldly, then he took off his glasses, kept them on the nightstand, and immediately lay his body on the bed. It makes Paul annoyed to see it.

"Whatever!" paul said harshly. "Just be up tomorrow morning! Because we're going to continue the search for the next hero!"

"Sorry, I'm not coming, Bro," Suddenly Jeddy chimed in on Paul in a low tone. "Tomorrow, I promised myself to go home to Groen, look at my parents in prison. So, sorry, I can't come, Bro."

"I can't go either, Paul," Now Colin's the one who's making the noise. "I was sent an email by my boss, that tomorrow I'm required to work again at the tavern."

Hearing him, Paul grieves, then he turns to Nico. "Can't you come too, huh!?" With a flat face, Nico answered.

"What can I do" said Nico with a cold look. "It looks like I'm with Cherry who'll be with you."

After hearing Nico's reply, Paul immediately shouted, "Then, quickly close your eyes! Don't let you get late to get up early! Goddamn bum!"

At the same time, they were asleep in their dreams. Until finally, the morning turned so fast.