“Brittany, your birthday is coming up. What’s your plan?” Dad asked in the middle of our breakfast.
He just came home last night from their 3 days business trip. Dad also won't go to work today to rest. That's better because it is dangerous when Dad is overworked.
He needs to rest, he deserves that because of his hard work and determination in our business.
Ever since Mom passed away, Daddy's world has revolved around work and me. He no longer tried to recognize Mom’s replacement. I said that it is okay with me if he likes something. He deserves to be happy and I don't mind that. But even if I force Dad, he really doesn't want to. He didn’t want to replace Mommy. He is so loyal to the point that even without Mom, she and she are the only ones my Daddy will love.
That's why Dad's attention is focused on managing our business. This is all he focuses on. Though busy at work, he never disappoints me to give his attention to me, even the luxurious things that I want, he always gives it to me. It takes time for me. It always greets me and makes sure I'm well. Everything I ask for, Dad gives. I’m so blessed to have a Dad like him.
"I don't know yet, Dad."
I actually saw it on the calendar earlier today. It's October 4 and it's only five days since my 21st birthday.
Yes, I was born on October 8, 2000.
It's only been five days but I still have no plans. To be honest, I’m no longer excited. I guess it's really like this when you get older. The excitement you feel when your birthday is approaching is not the same as before.
I think I'm really in the adult stage.
“Do you want to throw a party? Or maybe an outing together with your friends and block mates. What do you think?” Dad suggested.
I first thought about which of the two I would choose.
It's okay for me not to prepare, I just don't have that. It's just Daddy who won't allow it. He didn’t want me not to celebrate. In fact, it was Dad who arranged and contacted the person who could handle my birthday celebration.
"Son, don't say you're going to refuse again?" It seemed to read my mind. “We are just one child and I want you to give the best birthday celebration. I want to celebrate your special day while I'm still alive.”
“Dad…” My tone of voice was sad.
Because of what Dad was telling me, it seemed like I was going to lose it. I can’t imagine that he will leave me like Mom. I can’t imagine my life without my Dad. He's the only one I have. I can't take it anymore if he, too, leaves me.
I gulped. “Okay. Just a birthday party here at home, Dad. It's better to just celebrate here at home than anywhere else.”
Last year, we celebrated my birthday in Tagaytay. Very few people were in attendance then because some of those I invited were not allowed by the parents. So it's okay for us to just stay at home so we don't have to go far.
Many also get to go when we perform here. There is a lot of space in the garden so it's good to have a party there. I won’t have that problem even if I invite a few more people.
“In that case, I will call Irish later, my secretary, to handle your birthday party. She is also in charge of contacting everyone even in catering. I will make sure that all your needs are already settled 2 days before your birthday.”
I smiled. Dad loves me so much. He will not allow me to be embarrassed by my friends and block mates so he makes sure that every event that involves me will be really successful.
“Thanks, Dad! You’re the best really.”
In a few moments we were done eating. Someone blew a horn outside, indicating that he was outside. Caleb picked me up and we entered at the same time.
"So, what's the feeling that you're old again?" Caleb asked.
He found out that my birthday was coming up because of Dad. Dad ordered her to accompany me home later to a well-known boutique to buy clothes that I wanted to wear to the birthday party. He did not even refuse Dad. They also said that their dismissal was early this afternoon so there would be no problem.
"It's not funny," I replied. "I don't want to grow old and get older again."
I heard him chuckled. “You don’t have a choice, Bri. If you don’t want to grow old then, what do you want?”
“I want to be…” I pretended to think. "I just want to be your baby forever."
At that point, I saw him blushing!
“Omg, Caleb! You’re blushing.” I pointed to her blushing cheek.
His face was serious and seemed to be restraining himself from feeling what was causing his blushing.
He sneezes. "No, I'm not," he refused.
I just laughed because I know that he’s lying. I haven’t carved him yet because he is driving. I want him to focus. It would be dangerous if I continued to tease him. We were in the middle of a trip and maybe what else would happen.
I just waited for us to get to the University to harass him.
When he stopped the car in the parking lot, he was surprised because I didn't get out first. He also didn’t come out first because he was still waiting for me to come out before it came out.
Surprisingly he turned to me. “What’s that smile for, Bri?”
He was still frowning as I just stared at him while still not removing the smile from my lips.
"Bri!" He was irritated. He seems to be annoyed with me because I still don't shut up.
“You’re going to crush me back, right?”
I let out a loud laugh because of his reaction. He couldn't look at me so I shut him up again. I approached him to present it to me when I saw again if his cheek was red but he was so strong that I could not present it to me. His gaze remained on the driver’s seat window.
"What, Bri?" His voice was full of annoyance.
I smiled back to my proper sitting position. “You’re blushing, right?”
“No,” he denied.
“I saw it, Mr. Vergara,” I said emphatically.
I didn't give up because I had seen that his cheek had been sour before. He's still cute while blushing! He looks like a tomato.
He still didn’t face me which made me laugh even more. It only means one thing, it's embarrassing to see him blush again.
“Stop teasing me, Mrs. Vergara.”
I was the one who was stopped. I lost myself when he mentioned the last two words.
What did he say?
He took that opportunity to look at me with a serious face. "You'll be late if you keep teasing me." He came to me now. He leaned his right hand against the back of my chair and his other hand held the door. So, it's like I'm confined to him our scene today. Its face is so close to me that I can't move. “I know how much you love spending your time with me, but you need to prioritize attending your class. Don’t worry, we will spend time together after your class, baby.”
I just stared at him. I seemed to be stuck in my seat.
It smiled right in front of me causing me to feel a butterfly flying in my stomach. "Look who's blushing right now."
I swallowed and was forced to look away.
Gosh! I think my cheek is on fire because of what Caleb is doing!
I heard the door open. It was only then that I realized that Caleb approached me to open the door when I got out.
I turned to him and saw him smiling foolishly. “You’re blushing, huh?”
He deliberately teased me to make up for my earlier teasing.
"Blushing your face!" I rolled my eyes.
He still hasn't lost his smile. “I don’t have a class today. I will just wait for you in quadrangle.”
I haven't spoken yet. I got out of the car.
I was disgusted because I was the one who got pissed off in the end. I started the teasing but in the end, Caleb still won the teasing.
Why is it that I hit that man so hard!
He was just approaching me, I was dumbfounded.
Our skins would just stick together, I seemed to be electrified.
It's just a smile, I'm going to shake with excitement.
Caleb makes me feel the different kinds of emotions. It’s just like I’m riding in a roller coaster of emotions when I’m with him.
Activity and recitation we did in the major subject. It was good and I was still able to answer even though my brain was floating in the air because of the effect of what Caleb did.
He called me Mrs. Vergara!
Does that mean he really wants me to be his wife?
“Oh, what? What’s that smile?” I just returned when Kez hit me on the arm. I did not notice her presence. "I won't be surprised if even when you spoon the food you smile."
I told her why the cloud seemed to be rocking me now. I couldn't escape her blows because it was thrilling.
When we were dismissed, we did not go straight to the cafeteria.
We only had half a day because the instructor had a seminar on the afternoon subject. So Caleb also didn't attend because their two instructors also attended the seminar. Reign also didn't come in because they said they had important things to do and it would just end her pile of requirements in her other subjects.
Kez and I immediately went straight to Caleb who was waiting in the quadrangle.
The three of us plan to go today to a well-known boutique that Dad told me to shop for what I will wear to my upcoming birthday party. There will be no problem with my purchase because Dad's secretary has already contacted the owner of the boutique that I will go there now to shop. The new design dresses and sandals of the boutique are now ready for me.
"How about this white cocktail dress, Bri?" Kez took the dress and showed it to me.
Its design is cute because of the pearls that are glued to the chest of the dress. But I don’t want the cocktail. I prefer a dress that is up to my feet, like the infinity dress that will fit my body. I'm tall so that would suit me.
We even looked for Kez's dress. They released a lot of dresses and Kez and I haven't been able to unpack the dresses yet. The boutique owner himself is assisting us today.
The owner is said to be ashamed if she doesn't take care of us herself because Dad is known to be one of the best businessmen. So there’s a special treatment when it comes to me.
In the middle of shopping, I turned to Caleb. He was just sitting on the sofa there because he didn't know anything about the dresses here. I will just ask for his opinion only when I have chosen a dress.
“If you have no choice in the dresses here, Ms. Bri, we can ask for the design you want so that's what we do. You don’t need to worry because we will make time doing your dress. It will take 2 days before your special day,” Ms. Irish suggested, the owner of this boutique.
“Alright, but I'll look at it all first. It would be a pity if I couldn’t even see that other dress.” As tiring as it is to go through them one by one, I will still insist. They also made an effort to release dresses so I want to reciprocate their efforts.
It was also a few minutes of shopping when a dress caught my full attention. I picked it up and waved it in front of me.
"Wow!" I exclaimed.
Kez and Ms. Irish agreed with me. The dress I'm holding now is really beautiful.
It was a light gray off shoulder boho maxi dress.
“Omg! Nice color, Bri!” my friend said.
The light gray color is rare and I’m sure it will suit my skin tone.
“Can I try it?”
Ms. Irish nodded. "Yeah, of course."
She accompanied me to the fitting room. The space inside was wide so I had no trouble wearing the dress. There is also a large mirror there so I can clearly see the beauty of the dress when I wear it.
I confidently walked out of the fitting room to show them.
“Wow! That perfectly suits you, Ms. Bri!”
"Nice, sis!"
I smiled. They both agreed and I should only get an opinion before buying this dress.
I approached Caleb's seat.
"Caleb!" I called him.
He lifted his head when I was in front of him.
"What can you say about my dress?" I asked. I even circled in front of him so he could see the whole thing. "Do I look pretty now?"
He just gave me a poker face. "No," he replied.
I raise my right eyebrow. I was upset. I still thought he would be beautiful to me too.
"No, because you look pretty, not just today." He stared at me. "You're indeed beautiful every day, Bri."