Loneliness was always a part of my life. I am an only child of my family; my father is dead while my mother is busy making ends meet. My father’s death was due to suicide, and a horrendous one at that. That event was known throughout the neighbourhood making it hard for me to make friends.

The kids in the high school where I attend are inclined to avoid me. There were some classmates who talk to me back then. It was all good and all until I overheard that they were only befriending me because the teachers told them to.

“I’m scared that one day it might be my fault as to why he kills himself like his dad,” the popular guy Jean said. The fruit does not fall away far from the tree, they say. That is how society works. Why pick a fruit from a bad tree when there are plenty more available from better ones? I understand that all too well. That’s why I did not hate my classmates for their behaviour. I just took the initiative to keep a distance from them.

I now live my days alone. Video games became my best friend and comics my lover, or maybe the other way around? Sometimes it is convenient but lonely in most. When sadness becomes too much to bear, I cannot help but curse my father. It is his fault after all. Why did he have to do it, especially a day after I was born? He did not even think about mom and me.

If he did not die like that, maybe things will not turn out this way. I wish I had friends.

***

The sun arose and another uneventful day began. I went to school as usual. I attended classes as if I was ethereal, ate lunch as if I was invisible and went home as if I did not go in the first place. I arrived home, lifeless as usual. I opened the door and no one was there to greet me but somehow, something was different.

I was able to hear some strange whispers. I went outside to look but I saw no one. I went back inside and it seemed that the sound was coming from upstairs. I went up to the second floor and the whispers were seemingly conversations. The voices were tiny, as if they were not human’s.

I walked through the empty hallway but no one was around but the voices were becoming louder the more I got nearer to my room. I opened the door and found three round creatures sitting on my bed.

I think each of them is about twelve inches in diameter. This is my first time seeing creatures like this yet the shocking thing is that they can speak in English!

“Wow! John’s bed is incredibly soft! I feels good rubbing my butt on it!” The white ball like creature said with lots of energy as he moves his hips left and right.

“Um… I think it is... not good to rub your butt… on the bed of others,” the pink hairy creature quietly uttered.

“He’s right, especially if the butt is as stinky as yours you idiot!” said the green one with a leaf like structure on his head.

“My butt ain’t stinky! Here, smell that!” The white one stood up and jumped over to the green one.

“Ah get off! Yuck! It’s stinky as hell, you idiot!” the green one shouted.

“Um… guys? I… think you should… stop, he’s here.” The pink one tried to interrupt the struggle of the other two.

“Oh! He is here! Hi John!” The white one stood up and greeted me with a smile.

“Took you a long time to get home, you idiot!” the green one added.

“Um… I think it is not… good to call someone you just met… an idiot.”

“And who are you to tell me what to do, you idiot!?”

“What the hell is happening here? Who are you guys? Or rather what are guys?” I asked.

“We are sprites! We are also sometimes referred to as spirits, faeries and deities!” the white one answered.

“Um… we heard your wish… so we came,” the pink one said.

“My wish?” I asked.

“You idiot! You don’t even remember your wish? You wanted to have friends!” the green one replied.

“We are here to be your friends!” The white raised his arms as he cheers.

Seriously? I can’t seem to believe what’s happening. Having friends is great, but with these creatures?

“Um… if you don’t want us… you can just tell us,” the pink one said with watery eyes. How can I reject that?

“No, I’m glad to have you all!” I responded despite still being reluctant to do so.

“Yes indeed, you are lucky to have us, you idiot!”

“It is all just too… surreal? It’s not a dream, right?” I asked as I pinched my cheek.

“Then how about you smell my butt to see if we’re real!?” The white one jumped towards me and planted his behind to my face, knocking me over.

“Argh! What’s that smell!? That was beyond disgusting!” I screamed after I was able to remove him from my face.

“Um… so do you believe now… that we’re real?” The pink one went closer to me.

“Well, I guess there is no way I can deny it after that horrible scent, right?” I replied with a laugh.

We spent time talking after. They introduced themselves, the white one is Pebble, the pink one is Nibble and the last one is Kibble. Those three were always having mini skirmishes among themselves and they even include me sometimes.

Pebble is always very hyper and never runs out of his silly antics which always irritated Kibble resulting to their funny small fights. Nibble will then cut them in between despite her very shy nature.

It is really fun to be with them. I was hesitant at first but as time goes by, I didn’t mind if they were sprites. They are my friends.

Pebble, Nibble and Kibble were always waiting in my room after I got home from school. Sometimes we’ll play cards, video games or just have fun conversations. They will then leave before night falls then be back again tomorrow. Because of them, I was able to look forward to the next day because I know I have friends that will keep me company.

***

It has been a week ever since I met those three. This time, I am planning to scare them by jumping out on them by surprise. I went inside the house as quietly and slowly as I could. I walked towards my room, tiptoed. I placed myself on the floor and was ready to jump at them when their conversation intrigued me.

“Hey guys, are we not gonna do it yet? I’m getting pretty hungry,” Pebble asked.

“You idiot! The longer we wait, the more we will be satisfied later!” Kibble replied.

“Um… I think a few days more… then it will be the peak,” Nibble said.

“A few more days? That’s too long! I’m starving!” Pebble touched his tummy.

“It is because you are always bouncing around, you idiot!”

“We were already here for a week! This is way too much time for a single meal!” Pebble flails wildly.

“You idiot, we were able to wait way longer before!” Kibble pounded Pebble on the head.

“Oh, that meal! That was the best ever! I don’t think John will taste as good.”

“Um… at least this time… all we have to do is be friends… no need to use magic.”

“Wishing for friends? That John is a real idiot!”

My hair rose and my chest tightened. Damn, are they serious? They were planning to eat me? Just when I thought I had friends for the first time. I was so happy for the past few days yet they only think of me as a meal! I gotta get out of here!

I stood up then ran as fast as I could as I descended downstairs. I was already near the front door when my eyes widened and cold sweat ran throughout my whole body because of what I saw. Pebble, Kibble and Nibble were by the door, blocking my way.

“He already knows! That means we can eat him now, right?!” Pebble wiped the saliva streaming down his mouth.

“It is because you are too talkative, you idiot!” Kibble angrily responded.

“Um… I think we should… get this over with… before he makes a commotion,” Nibble cuts in.

“Hey guys, tell me it’s just a prank, right?” I asked, wishing it really was but a bad joke.

“You really are an idiot, just like your father,” Kibble responded.

“Oh, I wish he is also as tasty as he is!” Pebble said as he waved his arms.

“Wait! What is it about my dad!?” I furiously asked, are they responsible for his death?

“Um… Our job is to fulfil dreams… and wishes… so that the person becomes happy.”

“And the happier the person, the tastier he becomes!”

“You still don’t understand, you idiot? We ate your dad’s soul after fulfilling his wish!”

“That was the best meal ever!” Pebble cheered.

My dad… He did not commit suicide? He was killed by these guys… for a wish?

“You three, will you answer a question of mine before you finish me?” I hesitantly asked. I somehow know that running would be useless so at least I want to know something before all ends.

“Sure! Ask quickly so we can begin the feast!” Pebble excitedly replied.

“Can you tell me, what my dad wished for?” I asked with a clenched fist.

“Um… It was a wish… that took nine months… to fulfil.”

“And every day that passed, the tastier his soul became!”

“That idiot was so happy that day his wish got fulfilled that I still remember the taste.”

“Hey! So what was the wish?!” I shouted. I already know it at the back of my mind but I don’t want to accept it. I want it to be wrong.

“Do we have to spell it out to you, you idiot!?”

“Um… How about the three of us… say it all at the same time?”

“Let’s go! So we can start the feast!”

Pebble, Kibble and Nibble then counted up to three and the truth that I somehow want and hate to hear at the same time came out of their mouths.

“I wish we could have a son.”

THE END