Chapter 35: Birthday Party

Evan Bell's October had been one for the books. Boston's winter arrived early, and his life seemed just as brisk. He wrapped up shooting a film, received an invitation from Universal Music, and dealt with a fallout among his bandmates. With so much happening, his life could easily be the plot of a TV series.

As November began, Evan tried to put the turmoil behind him. His focus shifted to his brother Teddy Bell, who turned 20 on November 1, 2000.

In the United States, a 20th birthday doesn't hold much significance compared to ages like 16, 18, 21, or even 30. Sixteen is the legal driving age, and Evan had gotten his driver's license after his 16th birthday.

Eighteen marks the age of adulthood, when many kids, encouraged by independent-minded parents, start living on their own. At 21, one can legally drink, and it's almost a tradition to celebrate with a night out at the bar.

But 20? It's just another year. Yet, Evan, with his strong ties to his Chinese heritage, still found meaning in celebrating this milestone, pulling Teddy into the celebration. Teddy, understanding the significance for his brother, agreed.

Driving his old but reliable Chevrolet, Evan headed back to New York for the celebration. Eden Hudson, their close friend, joined them for the ride.

Over the past two years, Teddy and Eden had become close. Teddy, with his easygoing nature, wasn't fazed by Eden's stoic demeanor. He would engage with Eden in conversation, his warmth slowly chipping away at Eden's icy exterior.

Eventually, Eden begrudgingly accepted Teddy as a close friend, though Evan knew that deep down, Eden truly valued Teddy's friendship. Eden wasn't the type to tolerate people he didn't care about, not even if they were his brother's friends.

About twenty minutes into the drive out of Boston, Eden suddenly blurted out, "My birthday is coming up."

Teddy looked at Eden, a little confused. "Isn't your birthday on the 10th? One day before Evan's? We were planning to invite you to celebrate with us."

Eden's frustration was palpable. He had been mulling over how to bring up his birthday for the past twenty minutes, only to find out that Evan had known all along and hadn't said anything.

Eden shot a fierce glare at Evan, who looked back with a smug grin, even humming a little tune. Eden couldn't help but grind his teeth in irritation.

Eden and Teddy were both born in 1980, with Eden's birthday falling nine days after Teddy's. Evan had discovered this by chance.

During their freshman year, Evan and Eden weren't close, so Teddy's 18th birthday had been a quiet affair between the two brothers. The following year's birthday was also low-key, and if it weren't for their mother, Catherine Bell, the brothers might have forgotten it altogether.

This year, though, with both brothers and their friend's big birthdays approaching, Evan was determined to celebrate.

They set out at noon, reaching New York by three in the afternoon. With plenty of time before the evening's festivities, Evan, Teddy, and Eden headed straight home.

As Evan pulled the car into the driveway, Catherine Bell stepped out of the dry cleaners next door. She was dressed simply, in a white pullover sweater, jeans, and flats for work, with a brown knee-length coat and her long blonde hair tied back with a blue shark clip.

Her face was makeup-free, allowing the faint crow's feet around her eyes to show, but they only added to her charm. Despite years of hardship, Catherine's elegant and calm demeanor remained, earning her the admiration of the neighbors, who often remarked that she was a naturally beautiful lady.

Evan jumped out of the car, running over to greet her. "Mom, I'm back!" Teddy stayed behind, turning off the car and grabbing the keys before getting out.

Before Evan could hug her, Catherine playfully smacked him on the head. "You still remember to come back?" she teased. Evan, rubbing his head with a grin, looked more like a mischievous teenager than a grown man.

Evan knew why his mother was teasing him. He had snuck off to the Eagle Rock Music Festival in the middle of the night and hadn't returned for over two months.

His mother must have been worried, so he didn't argue back. Instead, he simply smiled and said, "Ma, I missed you.". Eden couldn't help but roll his eyes.

Reflecting on his past life, Evan remembered being so polite around his parents that they felt like strangers. The concept of family affection had been something he only saw in TV dramas and movies.

In this life, though, Evan wanted nothing more than to be close to his mother. Initially, he felt his affectionate actions and tone were childish, but he eventually realized that no matter how old you get, you're still a child in your parents' eyes. That made it easier for him to embrace this new dynamic.

Catherine chuckled, shaking her head at her son's antics. She had always been confident in Evan's abilities and hadn't been worried about him since he was three.

The neighbors all knew the Bell family had a gifted son, so Catherine wasn't genuinely angry.

As Catherine looked Evan over, she noticed he had grown thinner. While she wasn't overly concerned, as a mother, she couldn't help but make sure her son was okay, especially after he had driven across the country for a music festival and a movie shoot.

Despite her concerns, Catherine didn't show it. She just gave Evan's right hand a gentle squeeze, then glanced over at Eden, whose eyes were practically rolling back in his head.

"Mr. Iceberg, this is my mother, Catherine. Catherine, this is Eden Hudson, my roommate," Evan introduced them with a grin, ignoring Eden's unimpressed look.

In front of Catherine, Eden's usual icy demeanor softened slightly. He was calm and polite as he said, "Mrs. Bell, nice to meet you. I'm Eden Hudson, Evan's roommate."

"Ma, Eden's the same age as me, and his birthday is just one day before mine. We came back to celebrate together," Teddy chimed in, walking over with a smile after parking the car.

Catherine already knew they were there to celebrate, so she wasn't surprised. "That's perfect. Let's have dinner together tonight!" she said cheerfully, leading the way to the house next to the dry cleaners.

The Bells' home was small, less than 50 square meters. The wooden sofa in the living room made the space feel even more cramped, but despite the tight quarters, Eden had never felt so comfortable. The warmth of the Bell home was palpable.

From the moment they started preparing dinner, the house was filled with the sounds of clattering dishes, laughter, and conversation.

In the tiny kitchen, Catherine was joined by Evan and Teddy, who were constantly bustling in and out, while Evan occasionally roped Eden into helping.

The four of them sat around the small square table for dinner, the air filled with joy and camaraderie. The brothers had endless topics to discuss, from school to music festivals to filming and the goings-on at the dry cleaners.

Their conversation with Catherine was casual, friendly, and equal as the way they addressed each other. though, of course, they still haven't forgotten to address her with respect. 

The warmth of a home doesn't come from luxurious meals or a big house full of people. It's in the small things—a dim light, a room filled with laughter, and the unspoken bond of family.

For the first time in two years, a touch of softness crept into Eden's icy demeanor, the hard line of his lips relaxing. This birthday party wasn't flashy or grand, but it was priceless.

Later, as Catherine washed the dishes in the kitchen, Evan helped her, and she couldn't help but worry aloud, "I know you're passionate, Evan, but you need to take care of yourself. Between music, movies, and school, you're burning the candle at both ends. Teddy's up all night studying, and you've always had a weak stomach. If you don't pace yourself, it could catch up to you."

Evan didn't argue, just quietly listened, occasionally saying "yeah" to show he was paying attention.

There's a certain happiness in being nagged by your mother, a truth that often only becomes clear with age.

In his previous life, Evan had never heard his mother's nagging, so in this life, he cherished it. Every time Catherine fussed over him, he felt like a kid again, and the warmth of her care was as real as it gets.

A/N: Don't forget to show your parents some love :)