Turning my head around, I look for the source of the voice just to see him grinning from the far end of the garden. Without thinking, I ran towards him.
“Miss me?” He said as soon as I was centimeters away from him.
The only reply he received was my hand touching his face.
I slapped him. Hard.
Luke groaned. “What was that for?”
I smiled at him sweetly. “Well, firstly, you didn’t show up today in school. Secondly, you, of all the people in the world, forget this day!! You forgot about my birthday! Now, how could you show up here with that grin of yours!!!”
He threw his hands up and chuckled. “Oh, c’mon! I am the mastermind of all these things!”
I stared at him deadpan, searching his eyes if he was lying or not. I raised my eyebrows and crossed my arms in front of me, testing him.
“A small thank you would suffice,” he said.
“Well, a punch would suffice!” I remarked, which everyone laughed about.
“Geez, I shouldn’t have courted an amazona, you should have warned me, Aunt Evy,” he commented, dragging mom into it and mom chuckled at his counter back.
“Amazona? Wow Luke!” I chuckled at that, shaking my head.
“What? It’s true! I couldn’t count the times you had hit me with Snow, you’re abusing my body!” He said, pretending to cover his body and I just snorted at him.
I looked at everyone, they were all smiling and laughing, too happy. I felt Luke pulling me into a hug, causing cheers from my friends that was bundled around us.
“Snow…” Luke started, his tone starting to get serious. “Yes Luke?” I responded.
He stroked my hair behind my ear, smiling at me, “I knew I have been courting you for a while now, but I just want to ask now, cause I think this is the right timing…”
My heartbeat quickened at that, suddenly getting nervous. The atmosphere changed and everyone was quiet now. “What is it Luke?”
“Can you be my girlfriend now?” He instantly asked. I couldn’t help but gasp at this. I glanced at mom for confirmation, who just shrugged at me, mouthing “yes”
I turned to Luke. I knew he had been waiting for me to approve of him. And I am thankful that he was patient. He gulped, licking his lips in nervousness and waiting for my answer. Nodding at him, his eyes widened. “Is that a yes?”
I nodded, “Yes, Luke.”
And just like that, I almost felt fireworks inside me. Everyone cheered for us, and Hannah and Emma gave me looks. Luke hugged me, kissing me on the cheek. “I’ll kiss you in the lips later when your mom is not around,” he joked, and I lightly hit him in the arm, feeling the heat on my cheeks from blushing. Gosh.
“I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” Leroy said from the background, imitating an old man’s voice like a priest.
At hearing this, I heard Nathan asked mom, “Is Snowy going to get married, mommy? Where’s the ring?”
There was silence the moment we heard it, and before we knew it, everyone roared in laughter. I flushed in embarrassment. Oh, how innocent my little brother is.
“Blow the cake already Snow! I’m hungry,” another little boy beside Nathan said. It was Caleb.
The laughter doubled and my face reddened even more. What did I do to be as red as a tomato on my birthday?
*********
Later that evening, the group made an idea for us to eat somewhere. I thought mom wouldn’t let me since mom being mom, wanted to celebrate until tomorrow but I was surprised when she just said “Have fun, my dear!”
“Where will we eat at the resto-bar?” I asked Hannah.
“Oh shush! Just be a good birthday girl and let us handle everything, okay?” She threw a pointed look at me before focusing on the road, being the appointed driver for tonight.
Luke, Dax, Leroy, and the robot were in Eion’s car as they left us behind thirty minutes ago and I’m sure they arrived there now. They said that we took so long to prepare that they didn’t even spare another thought and left earlier than us. What a gentleman.
I turned to the second person to ask, Emma who was seated in the back seat. “But could you please tell me where we’re going-”
Emma cut me off, “-we said no. No buts. Just chill okay? We’re just going to eat and have fun.”
“Well, sorry. I was just asking because I am really starving. I could eat a whole dinosaur right now.” I hold my stomach, exaggerating it like an actress I am.
They just shook their heads in disbelief, grinning like a fool. “Oh boy, I should really warn my brother about you,” Hannah remarked before speeding the car faster.
A soon as we arrived, I instantly hopped out of the car. The resto-bar was appetizing to look at. The dim yellow lights inside illuminated through the dark sky, casting a shadow behind. The dark hardwood made the whole place inviting and comfortable to eat at.
From above cast a big bold letter light that says “Daniel’s Specials.”
We saw the guys already seated on a table for seven at the middle part. We made our way towards them. Luke’s face instantly brightened at the sight of me, patting the seat beside him for me to sit on and I sat at it.
Scanning my eyes around, I gawk at the sight. As if the architecture outside wasn’t pleasing enough, the inside of it was breathtaking. A few people are chatting on their tables, while others are staring at the front where a mini stage was located.
There was a background song and a woman in her twenties held a microphone as her lips mouthed the lyrics of the song, her eyes closed.
“So don’t call me baby
Unless you mean it
And don’t tell me you need me
If you don’t believe it
So let me know the truth
Before I dive right into you”
The song was familiar, I heard it a lot of times but I don’t know the title. A waiter came into view and asked for our order.
“What do you want, babe?” Luke asked me. I raised my eyebrows. Babe? “Really, Luke? What kind of a call sign is that?”
“It’s called being sweet,” he winked at me, I rolled my eyes. I’ll never get used to him. Until now, I can’t believe that we are now together. Well, given that it just happened this afternoon, my mind was still in a daze.
Looking at the menu, I decided on a beefsteak, some rice, stew, chocolate cake, and a chocolate shake. I know what you are thinking. I’m just hungry, don’t worry.
“Your dinner will be in twenty minutes.” The waiter said after taking all of our orders.
I look at everyone at the table. Hannah talking to Leroy, Dax staring at Emma while she types something to her phone, and Eion was just looking at something, almost like in a trance. I turned my head to the stage and listened to the voice of the woman, who was now singing another song.
I peeked around, seeing people with dresses and tuxes while others just wore their casual clothes. On our left side, a happy family was eating. They were chatting with each other, looking so perfect that I diverted my eyes. We were like that when everything was still the same. I turned my head to the other side, shaking my head slightly to remove the sad thoughts away. On the right, a lonely man drank his wine.
He saw me looking and smiled sadly. Not knowing what to do, I offered him a shy smile before diverting my attention to a couple arguing on the far corner. The woman wearing a red dress furrowed her eyebrows at the man, while the man was running his hands on his hair, looking distressed. They must have an argument, a hard one for sure since the woman stood up and left the man.
I thought he’ll follow the woman but instead, he mumbled a curse and clenched his fist, drinking a glass of water while massaging his forehead. I froze. Was that what it was like to be in a relationship? Would Luke do that to me? Squinting in both fear and nervousness, I glanced at Luke and noticed him also staring at the couple’s table.
He noticed me looking at him and broke into a sweet smile. “Think that that will happen to us?” He asked. I nodded yes.
“Well, sorry to inform you. But you are mine. And now that you are mine, I wouldn’t do something that will waste my effort of courting you.” He said sincerely, his tone was so sure.