CHAPTER 40: BIRTHDAY SURPRISE

"Chuck! Cut it out!" I scold him, brushing his hands away.

It's already 9.30 which means the closing will start in 20 minutes. I don't have anything else to do but I'm trying to make excuses because Chuck keeps asking me, suspiciously, to accompany him to the main hall. I really don't want to get involved in any one of his bullshits right now. I have a lot on my plate already.

"Aw... c'mon... it'll just be a few seconds... please..." Chuck says, well, whines to be exact.

"Tell me one, just one good reason as to why I have to do whatever you want me to do?" I ask, voice stern, eyes glaring.

"Because... you love me?" he grins with uncertainty.

"It's..." well, it's true... "True..." I let my voice trail off. Damn, he got me good. I pout and Chuck, in turn, squeals, yes, squeals in happiness. This damn guy must have truly planned something. I really hope he won't get in any trouble this time.

"Now..." he says and takes something from his pocket that makes my eyes almost pop out of their sockets. "Because you clearly love me... Just do as I say for now, okay babe?" he says and immediately puts on a, I think it's a tie...? Yup. He put it over my eyes and ties them good.

"I didn't know you're into this kind of thing." I say in what I now call a 'flirtatious' voice. I hear him scoff and cough and I giggle, before the nervousness comes.

"With you babe, I'm into anything," Chuck says after he secures the tie and whispers into my ears, making me shudder but then I yelp and then scream when I feel my feet are no longer touching the ground.

"What the hell are you doing? Let me down!" I circle my arms around Chuck's neck, securing myself. I really don't want to face-plant. But I also throw in some kicks into the air just to make it harder for him and also to let him know I am not liking this. But he smacks my butt. Not hard. But enough to make me stop kicking a fuss. "Ow!" I scream again.

"Stay still! Or I'll drop you!" he shouts back, more because it is incredibly loud around us than he actually is irritated with me. Annoyed, maybe, but he's never irritated. Not with me. Never with me.

"Don't you dare!" I say also still screaming, tightening my arms around him, and probably choking him, but not like I care. And I also still pout though I do try to be silent.

After a while, Chuck finally sets me down. I can feel the soft ground under my shoes so it's definitely not the main hall. Chuck spins my body around but I still have on my blindfold. I can still feel Chuck's palms resting gently on my shoulders. I can feel his hot breath when he leans in closer to whisper into my ears softly.

"Happy birthday, love," He says and slowly takes off the blindfold.

The sudden intake of lights makes me squint my eyes and blink a few times, adjusting to the normal vision I have. Then I gawk.

In front of me, behind the main hall, is the round gazebo. Small, white, shimmering lights decorate the pillars and even the ceiling, around the chandelier. It's beautiful. They really put a lot of effort just for decorating.

Chuck pushes me softly to enter the gazebo to meet a bunch of people who immediately surround me and shout 'happy birthday' to me, throwing glitters and stuff on me. I look around the gazebo. There are plenty of people. All of them are my favorite. I look around again. Every face I know and love are there, smiling.

I look around once again. There's Marsha and Kenneth, holding a very big cake. Chuck, standing in front of me, holding my hand. Joy and Allen are also there with them. Quinn, Naomi, Robi, Kimberly, Jordan. People from the drama club, photography club, people I'm acquainted with. My old gang members. They are all here. Each and every one of them.

I don't realize I am crying until Chuck brings his palms to cup my cheeks, thumbs wiping away the tears. He leans down and kisses my eyes, making me giggle but the tears still coming. This is embarrassing but frankly, I don't really care right now. I'm just feeling so happy. So blessed. So loved.

"Aww... He's crying! So cute!" Someone exclaims, embarrassing me when I think I won't be embarrassed so I give them the middle finger.

"Happy birthday love," Chuck says again and I smile, throwing my hands around his neck, hugging him tightly. "I love you," He adds, softer.

"Thank you," I smile between my tears, basically choking, "I love you too. So much. Thank you," I tell him before pecking his lips and detach myself to hug everyone else. "Thank you so much guys," I say, genuinely, truly, I am grateful. They return the smile.

"Make a wish," Marsha says as she and Kenneth come up to me with the cake. I smile at them and look around me once again before closing my eyes.

These people, God knows how much I love them. I'd do anything for them. I am truly blessed. I can't ask for anything else. Just one. Make them happy. Please, make the people that I love so much, happy. For the rest of their lives.

I open my eyes and blow the candles.

Please, be happy.