Happy Birthday.
Those were words I want to hear from my friends and my family today. However, they forgot about it, much to my disappointment. Am I asking too much? It was just a simple greeting with two words and thirteen words.
Perhaps I’m overreacting.
I know I’m too old for this. But it’s not every day that you turn seventeen.
“Are you okay?” Ember asked upon noticing my mood. I sent her a weak smile and nodded my head yes. She seemed to notice the truth behind my eyes but didn’t ask further. I sighed.
Even Ember was concerned about me… when my own friends were acting like it’s a normal day. Tomorrow I will avoid them, for sure they will regret forgetting today’s occasion. Gosh, I know I’m so petty.
The sound of the bell rang, pulling me from my thoughts. Dismissal time. I grabbed my belongings and stood up before heading to the door and to my locker.
After putting my books inside my locker, I noticed a presence. He’s here.
Without turning around I said, “I’m sorry, Luke. I’m not in the mood right now. Stop whatever you’re planning to do because I–”
“–I’ll drive you home.” A voice cut me off before I could finish my sentence.
I stopped after hearing a different voice. Deeper voice than Luke. I turned around and was met with a set of deep green emerald eyes.
“Eion?” I asked, unsure.
“I’ll drive you home,” he repeated, his eyes boring my eyes. What is he doing here? And wasn’t Eion angry at me a few days ago? He was avoiding me for a few days and now he came to talk to me? I sighed, it’s really hard to get along with him considering the fact that I have to be very careful with my words when talking to him. But that’s not the point right now…
“Where’s Luke?” I asked him, looking left and right, hoping to see Luke…
“Luke said that I should drive you home.” He answered. “Let’s go now.”
“Where is he?” I asked again, annoyed at the fact that Eion is here while he’s not.
“Emergency,” Eion answered. I sighed, slamming my locker shut, I tried so hard not to be obviously disappointed.
I thought Luke will remember this day?
I was expecting him to greet me since he knows my birthday. Him of all the people. Even Eion is here in front of me.
“Stop wasting a minute. Let’s go,” Eion demanded, walking ahead. I glared daggers at his back. This boy is adding weight to my shoulders.
He then turned around. “I’ll leave you behind if you’ll just gawk there.”
**
There was no argument. We didn’t even utter a word the minute he started the engine. When we arrived at my house, I instantly hopped out of his car and went directly to the door, stomping my feet hard on the ground.
“Mom, I’m home,” I shouted and went to my room. I want to lock myself up and disappear forever. I swear I’m not usually like this…
“Snowy?” A little voice said from the door.
I glared at it. “I’m not in the mood right now, Nathan.” I sighed and cuddled with myself.
“Mom said you should water her flowers, she’s still not home.” He said before I heard footsteps vanishing.
Even mom? I can’t believe this.
I stood up and went to the cabinet of the garden tools downstairs. I went to the garden while rubbing my eyes.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!”
Just then, I heard a loud noise from behind me. I stood frozen, my body jerked at the sudden noise. Turning around, I blinked my eyes as if I was hearing it correctly. And when I saw mom’s excited face and my other friends, it took me a minute to realize what was happening.
Without having enough time to breathe, I was wrapped into two long arms tightly. “Don’t cry, Snow, it’s your birthday!” I heard my mother’s voice saying to me.
I hadn’t realized until then that I was crying. Tears and tears soon followed upon realizing it. They didn’t forget!
I was tackled in a hug with two other people. “Happy birthday, Snow!” They greeted me and I saw Hannah and Emma shrieking in laughter.
I looked at them pointedly. “You know how disappointed I was when the two of you forgot it right?”
They both shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “We were busy planning your birthday.” Hannah grinned.
“Hey, hey hey, at least we didn’t forget!” I heard Dax’s voice shouting from afar.
“Yeah, and we surprised you!” Leroy added. “Right?”
I glared at them, which made them burst into laughter.
“And Snowy, drop those garden tools, I was just lying when I said mom ordered you!” A little voice said from below. “They told me to do it!” Nathan exclaimed, pointing at Leroy and Dax. The boys just held their hands in surrender.
“But there’s more!” Emma said from behind.
“More?” I asked.
“The cake of course.” Mom said. “Are you ready?”
I nodded.
“Den den den den,” Leroy yelled for a background sound, “Representing….. The cake!!”
A big cake was being held to a table, while they sang happy birthday. I searched for someone, a particular blonde-haired boy with green eyes. Everyone is here but he’s not.
I couldn’t help but feel disappointed…. He really forgot it, right?
I heaved a sigh of relief as I watched them pushing the table towards me.
“You can blow it now,” mom said as soon as the cake on the table reached me.
I smiled and prepared myself to blow the candle. I feel like a kid as they watch and urge me to do it.
I was about to blow out the candle when a voice interrupted me.
“You think you’ll have a party without me?” I froze.