SPEECHLESS
Finally, the time has arrived to cut the cake. Like Pearl said, this birthday is a special one and unforgettable. I wasn’t alone like every other birthday. I was a girl who never gets any gift on any birthday and doesn’t get phone calls at twelve. But things changed in a single year. I don’t want this day to end. Maybe, I can say ‘night’. It’s nine now and everyone already settled on the dinner and almost finished it. When I savoured the last spoon of the food, someone touched my shoulder gently.
” The party is almost over. Can you come to my house?” Ryder asked. What should I say?
” If you want some private moment, you can come to my room,” I replied but he simply said ‘No’.
” I can do that any other day. Now, I want you to come with me. You should know that I am saying this with a reason.” he said. I was stupid trying to call him to my room. Maybe, he’s going to give the gift he bought for me. I was no idea about his gift.
” Sure,” I got up from the table, glancing over my shoulder to find Pearl. She’s nowhere to be spotted. She must be helping my mom to clean the hall after the party. I will help them once I’m back from Ryder’s room.
I followed Ryder to his house. ” Is your parents at home?”
” Nope. They aren’t. Even Shawn is your house. So, it’s only you and me if you are asking about it.” Ryder said and wrapped his arms over my shoulder. Well, I didn’t expect to be alone but it’s not a problem at all.
” Aren’t we going to your room?” I asked him when we lead me another corner. It’s the place I never explored in his house.
” Keep your questions to yourself for some minutes. You will know it soon,” He said. After going upstairs, he stopped in front of a room.
” Get it, sweetheart,” he whispered in my ears as my hands moved to turn the knob of the door. Once I entered it, I was speechless. Many candles are lit in the corner of the room. I always love the light from the candle in a dark room than the bulbs. There are a table and a chair for two in the middle of the room. The whole room is tidy. I looked at a champagne bottle and two glasses in the table. I admired the moonlight from the balcony.
” Did you… Did you do this for…”
” Yeah. For you. I want to spend time with you on your birthday and do something to make you happy. I don’t know whether you like this set-up,” he said in doubt whether I would like it or not.
” I love it, Ryder. I’m a girl who even enjoys the little things. The way you decorated this room made my day.” I expressed my happiness.
” Your happiness is my happiness. I like to see this smile on you every single day,” he said as his hands caressed my cheeks slowly.
” I haven’t given my gift. But first, I will pour you some drink.” he led me to the table and waited till I took a seat. I love this gentle side of Ryder.
Last time, I didn’t like whiskey. But I know why he bought me ‘Champagne’. A week ago, I mentioned that I always wanted to taste ‘Champagne’. He remembers it.
” I always wanted to drink Champagne once. You did remember that moment. How sweet of you,” I complimented him instead of formally thanking him.
” I do remember all the things he ever talked to me.” He replied, pouring me the Champagne in my glass. I never felt so happy. It’s not about the drink, but the time I get to spend with Ryder. In my opinion, he changed my life and made me happy more than I did to him.
I slowly take a sip as I looked at him. His eyes never left mine. I don’t even want to look down. I wonder what I have done in my life to deserve this moment, to have Ryder in my life. I watched his lips while he drank his glass of Champagne. I feel like he’s a hot sculpture made by god with so much hard work.
” Tell me when you finished drinking. I have something to tell you.”
” Tell me already. I don’t want to wait.”
” If you say so. I’m going to say what I want from you if I pass the exam. I said I won’t say it now but I changed my mind.” he calmly said.
” Oh, that’s a good decision. It seems like you are sure that you will pass in the exam.”
” It’s not that I’m sure of it. I trust you. All I want is…” when he was about to say, his phone started ringing.
” Nice timing, Shawn,” Ryder muttered as he attended the call. A phone call disturbance is not something new.
” Hello… why are you calling me while you are in Emily’s house?… You are coming home?…. Nope. Don’t… Well, that’s funny to hear. I’m not kicking you out… Okay… Stay there as long as you can… Got to go… bye…” Finally, Ryder hung up.
” Do you have any secret plans? Why aren’t you letting him come home?”
” He may interrupt our moment without realizing it. I think this is a better way to do it. Anyways, where did I left?”
” All I want is…. you stopped with it. Continue…” I eagerly asked, keeping the glass on the table.
” You are so curious,” he laughed and got up from the table to the other end of the room.
” Hey, you are leaving unfinished?” When we returned, he’s with a gift package in his hand.
” This is for you, sweetheart. This is not the gift which everyone wants, but I know you love it.” Ryder said as I unwrapped it slowly. From what he has said, the gift won’t be any cosmetics, dress, hells or other things which loved my girls.
I couldn’t exactly guess it. When I unwrapped it, I saw all the CD players of all my favourite singers albums. It started from Ariana Grande, Ava Max and ended in Miley Cryus. All are the latest releases. It must be costly.
” Wow, it means a lot to me, Ryder. You must have spent a lot to get it. ” I said as I looked at all the album covers. We all be happy if we get the things that we always wanted to have. Especially when it’s from a special one. Right now, I feel so grateful to have Ryder by my side more than I have the love for the material things. He knew me well. I want to kiss him now before he takes time to do it.
” Yeah. That’s not all. I have one more thing for you.” Ryder whispered behind me as I felt his hands touches the side of my shoulder. I looked down to see that he’s holding a locket necklace close to my neck. I’m too stunned to reply.
” This necklace is for you, Emily. It has our picture in the locket.” He said as my hands went down to open the locket. I looked at the small picture of Ryder and me. I remember that the picture was taken in the theme park. I’m literally close to tears. Happy tears. I never received a gift like this in my life. I might have mentioned it a million times. Now all I wanna do is turn and kiss him before he could make a move. But he did something that made my heart skip for a beat. I mean… really skip for a minute.
” I love you, Emily. I might have said that I don’t believe a real love exists. It’s my opinion until I saw you. Now, all I want is to be with every single day. Will you be my girlfriend?”