Surprise

"A few days later, she was back home from work, enjoying the tranquility. Jo sat in the living room, still in her work attire, carefully planning her upcoming holidays. She was eagerly looking forward to her free time.

Sipping her beloved Earl Grey tea and nibbling on almond biscuits, she savored the moment.

For the past hour, Patrick had been persistently calling her, bombarding her phone with messages she had no intention of opening. Finally, wary that he might show up again on her door with Luke to disturb her solitude, she reluctantly answered the phone.

"Hi, Pat! What's up?"

"Why aren't you picking up the phone? I know you're already home," Patrick replied with a touch of reproach in his voice.

"Are you following me?" She inquired.

"No, where did that come from?" He paused briefly. "I called your workplace. They said you were only there for half a day."

"Yes. I took some time off." She admitted.

He wondered why. Usually, she worked late hours on Fridays. Did she have some plans?

"I'm just finishing cooking dinner. Do you fancy something good?" Patrick asked.

"I always fancy something good!" She replied, feeling irritated. Knowing his culinary skills, she assumed that if he was cooking, it would be something exquisite.

"Would you like a delivery, or will you come over?" Patrick asked.

"I'll be at your place in fifteen minutes." Today, she wasn't in the mood for company. 

The wiser choice seemed to be heading to Patrick's. Besides, it was just a ten-minute walk. Some movement would do her good, especially in the fresh air. Moreover, she had a work meeting, so she was already presentable without any need for makeup or dressing up.

Fifteen minutes later, she arrived at Patrick's door, holding a bottle of red wine. Not that she intended to start the weekend with a tipsy gathering; she brought it as a gesture of courtesy.

Patrick's face lit up at the sight of her. He helped her out of her coat, ushering her in.

"You look great, as always. Especially when you're dressed up." He complimented sincerely. However, as soon as she turned her penetrating gaze towards him, he regretted his honesty.

Indeed, she looked impeccable in an elegant, fitted white shirt paired with slim, dark beige trousers and brown, sophisticated shoes. He knew she had some important meeting, so she had no other choice.

When she entered the living room, a group of friends greeted her.

"Happy birthday, Jo!" They exclaimed.

She was expecting everything but not a birthday celebration.

"Wow! Thank you for remembering my B-day!" She tried to play it off with a smile. "If someone brings in a cake with candles right now, I can't guarantee my reaction." She added.

However, to her joy, nobody brought up anything. They started to present their greetings for her one by one and even gave her presents, which was completely out of her expectations. 

There were unexpected guests present, notably Patrick's neighbor, Simone, the airline captain, who had harbored some resentment towards her for a while, and his cousin, Mathieu.

"Hi, Kido. Great to see you!" Jo greeted him warmly. "It's been some time. You've matured, grown more masculine, and even more handsome." She commented, surveying Mathieu from head to toe.

"Five years and precisely eleven weeks!" Mathieu grinned mischievously. "But you haven't changed. You look stunning."

"Things do change, unlike her!" Simone interjected, standing nearby and overhearing their conversation. "She's got an even sharper tongue now, and by the day, she becomes more cantankerous."

"Thank you for the compliment, Simone!" Jo retorted ironically.

"That wasn't a compliment!" Simone exclaimed, visibly offended.

"Coming from you, that sounds like the most beautiful compliment." She said sarcastically, smiling broadly.

"I see you two are still 'at it'!" Observed Mathieu. "So, nothing has changed. It's great to be home again!"

"We're not fighting, just showing each other special affection." Simone explained.

"Was that time bad for you, Kido?" Jo asked, ignoring Simone.

"I don't like to complain, but it felt like exile…" Mathieu said, wearing a somber expression as he spoke.

"Poor kid!"

"I'm not a kid anymore!" He retorted, offended. "I'm a grown, mature man!" Mathieu puffed out his chest, straightening up. "And devastatingly handsome, to boot!" He added nonchalantly.

"Oh yes, devastatingly handsome." Jo started laughing. "You've undeniably matured, Kido."

"You're not saying that about me! Is there something lacking in me?" Simone interjected.

"You are a special case!" She said in a serious tone.

"A special case..." Simone slowly articulated.

"You mostly lack restraint and principles, mainly moral ones. It's a waste of time to compliment a man of loose morals." She said, satisfaction evident in her delivery, aimed straight at him.

What she said didn't impress him much.

"Don't be too harsh on me!" He said playfully.

"I'm just stating facts, Simone."

"But it's not my fault that women go crazy for me and throw themselves at me."

"No, not your fault." She nodded ironically.

"I'm just taking advantage of the opportunities that come my way."

"Sure, and you expect your future lifelong partner to have an impeccable reputation and not sleep around, just like you."

"What's wrong with that?" Simone didn't see any problem with wanting a wife with an impeccable reputation.

"Nothing. Have you ever thought about which woman would want to marry such a womanizer?" Jo asked with a very serious tone.

"So far, none seemed to mind." He shrugged. 

"So why are you still single?"

"I still hope that you'll be that one." He said just as seriously.

Jo burst into laughter; it took her a while before she could control it.

"Are you serious?" She asked after a moment. "Did you already drink too much?"

"I haven't changed my mind." Simone replied.

Jo burst into laughter again, unable to contain her amusement this time.

"What are you laughing at, badass?" Patrick appeared beside her.

She couldn't respond because she was still laughing too hard.

"My cousin still has sick delusions and dreams of being with her." Mathieu explained.

"Good joke!" Patrick summed up, but soon realized that he had made a mistake. "She already has one!" He announced it seriously.

He didn't particularly like his neighbor, mainly because he had seen many women leaving his apartment. Unfortunately, he lived across, so he couldn't pretend he didn't see. Other than that, he had nothing against him. Occasionally, he liked to sit with Simone over a good whiskey and talk about aviation.

The gazes of those present were directed toward Jo at that moment. They wanted to know who this lucky or unlucky person was.