I don't know how people usually feel on their birthdays, because for me, I just wake up already expecting there to be a birthday party. There always has to be one. People wish me a happy birthday, everyone comes around, everybody loves me. But today, I don't feel like celebrating. I mean, I'm not in the mood. After these two weeks of Anna ignoring me, I just feel like... I don't know. I just want this party to happen, get through it, and have it over with. Maybe then I'll feel like myself again. I don't need people stressing me out and everything. I don't even know if she'll come or if she'll even send me a message. Other people have already sent their wishes, but there have been no words from Anna, so I'm not even expecting her to come. Yeah. It's a big day. I need to hit the gym, and then I'll help Grandma prepare and get everything ready for everyone to come. It's going to be a long day. It's going to be a fucking long day. Well, still thinking... Elliot called. God, it's always Elliot. "Yeah, big man or do I say Grandpa." He said immediately. "Come on, I'm not that old." I replied laughing "Yeah, I know. I just... well, I wanted to wish you a happy birthday again and make sure you're good. I mean, you've been so distant these days, and you haven't even responded to my messages, so I just wanted to know how you're doing. Or, if you just want to cancel the party, we can do that." He said "No, you can't. Because, you know, Grandma wants this party to happen. If it doesn't, it would hurt her. It would break her heart. So it's okay. Just don't make it a big thing. Just a small party, and yeah, that'll be all. That'll be enough. I just want Grandma to be happy today, so don't make it so Gen Z crazy, you know?Well, you know she's a party person, but she's also weak, so yeah, try something simple and beautiful. I mean, yeah, for her." I said "Man, it's not her birthday." He reminded "Yeah, it's my birthday, but it's Grandma's wish, or whatever. Just do it." I said before hanging up.
"Raf? Raf, baby, where are you?" Grandma called out. "Grandma, I'm coming. I'm just getting dressed." "Oh, this boy. What are you doing up there, twirling around? Are you trying to wear something dramatic? Because I already prepared something for you to wear. So what are you still doing? Come on, Grandma. I'm just... you know, I'm coming." After getting downstairs, I realized people had already started arriving, so I had to greet the guests. I kept looking at everyone's faces, checking to see if everyone had already come. And yet, he wasn't here yet . I had to call him. "Yo, Elliot, where are you? People are already here, and you're not. So where are you?" "Man, come on. I already sent a guy to prepare everything, so I'll be a little late." "Elliot, please, come on. I don't want to be in this boring place alone." "Okay, fine. I'll be there. Just let me do one more thing and I'll..." He said "Exactly what thing are you doing? Just don't tell me you're choosing sex over me." "No." "You know what? I don't want to hear any bullshit from you, you'll be lying anyway. So just get your ass here." After hanging up, I saw Regina coming toward me, and the first thought that came to my mind was to ask her if Anna was going to come. "Hi, Regina. Hi. Thank you for coming." "Oh, yeah. And here's your gift." "Oh, thank you. You didn't have to do this, though." I said with a smile "No, it's okay. It's your birthday, so yeah, I couldn't just come here empty-handed." She replied "So I just wanted to ask you... is there any chance your sister is coming?"I couldn't help but ask her immediately "Well, I don't know, because she's been locked up in her room since they got here. They came in the morning, her and Mom, so... we didn't really talk. I assume she wasn't in the mood to talk, so I don't know if she's coming or not. But I don't think she's going to come." She said , and i could see how sure she was, She continued "But I thought you would know. I mean, you're her best friend. Don't you know if she's coming or not?"I replied "Well, she's been ignoring my calls and texts, so yeah, I don't know. We haven't talked to each other in, like, two weeks, so..." "Oh, okay. Sorry. I just need something to drink. Happy birthday again. Have a nice day." She said before going "Okay, thank you. And thanks for the gift, of course." I replied and handed the gift to my cousin to take it upstairs because I had to stay there, greeting everyone and thanking them for coming. I was still lost in my thoughts when Elliot finally arrived. "Hey, yo, man. What's up?" He greeted "Oh, thank God, you're here. I just ran into Regina, and she said Anna isn't coming. I just feel like I can go to bed. Like, fuck, I don't know." I said "Okay, look, Raf. It's your birthday. It's not Anna's birthday. And for God's sake, you said you just wanted to make your grandma happy. If you leave the party, what exactly do you think is going to happen to your grandma? Just... I know it's not okay, and not easy. Just try to be happy for your grandma, you know? I know it's hard. Just try, okay? Just try a little bit to be happy for your grandma. Be you and don't make it complicated.Okay?" He said rubbing my shoulder and I just nodded "Okay, so now I'm going to find something to drink. Do you want something?" He asks "No, thanks. I'm not in the mood for that right now, and you know that." I replied "Okay, sorry. So I'll just go now. But first, where is Grandma? I need to say hi, and I think the gift is already in your room.
I'll be right back" he said passing behind me "Yeah, I think the guy you sent, has already brought it."
Well, for the party people, this party is good. Everybody is dancing, we have a nice DJ, and yeah, everything is going great. Grandma is so happy, so that's good. But I still feel empty. I mean, I can't stop smiling, even though I'm not feeling good, because these people are just so crazy. One person is like, "Oh, you're getting old now!" Another is like, "Hey, Grandpa! Happy birthday!" as if I'm Santa or something. But it's okay. Everything is all good. I joined a group of some of my former classmates-well, my high school classmates. We're not in high school anymore, but they're still talking about high school stuff, and I'm just praying they don't bring up anything about the whole couple thing. I don't want them talking about me and Mary. I haven't even seen her. I don't know if she's here yet, and I don't want to know. I really don't. I was still talking to people when Elliot suddenly pulled me into a room and whispered, "Did you see her?" I looked at him in shock. "Did I see who? What the fuck are you talking about?" He stared at me for a second before finally asking, "Did you see Anna?" Still confused, I shook my head. "No, I haven't. Is she here?" "You idiot! I just saw her. Like, now-now," he said. "Where? Where is she?" I immediately asked. "For fuck's sake, you're such a blind man," he replied, laughing. "I'm an idiot, okay? How do I look?" I asked, quickly fixing my pants. "Now you care about how you look?" he teased. "Just tell me if I look good and get the fuck out of my face," I said, pushing him slightly. "Okay, fine. You look good. Happy?" "Thanks. And...?" I waited. "Nothing." "Okay. Just look outside and tell me where she is," I said nervously. "Nigga, just go," he said, opening the door for me. As soon as I walked out of the room, I saw her. She was smiling, talking to people, and greeting some of our old school friends, and she looked... damn. She looked so fucking sexy. She was wearing a long mermaid0-brown skirt, a beautiful mixture of brown, white, and beige, with all the colors visible instead of blending into one. She wore a simple white top, and her afro hair was just there, naturally framing her face. Her lips were glossy pink, and she was glowing. I mean, really glowing. I couldn't take my eyes off her. I didn't even notice when Grandma came up beside me. She looked at me and asked, "Are you going to keep staring, or are you gonna say hi?" "Oh, Grandma, you startled me," I said, placing a hand over my chest. "I know, son. I know that look in your eyes. Just go and talk to her," she said. "Okay. Do you think it'll work?" I asked. "Well, I don't know. Just go and find out for yourself," she replied. "Okay," I said, nodding. "Yep. Just go," she said with a smile. When I got behind Anna, it was like she could feel me there. She suddenly turned around. "Oh, hi," she said. "Hi. How are you?" I asked. "I'm fine. How are you?" she replied. "I'm good too," I said. "Happy birthday," she said with a smile. "Oh, thank... yeah. Sorry. I mean, thanks." I cleared my throat, suddenly nervous. "So, you came?" I asked. "Yeah, I'm here. You can see me," she replied with a small smile. "Yeah, I mean, Regina said she wasn't sure you were going to come," I explained. "Yeah, I just changed my mind. I mean, it's your birthday, and you're my best friend, so I had to come," she said. Then she handed me a small gift bag. "Well, here's your gift. Happy birthday," she added. "Okay, thank you." I took the bag from her before asking, "Do you want something to drink?" "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'd like something cold," she said. "What do you want?" I asked. "If there's a Coca-Cola, that would be fine. With ice in it. I just need a soft drink, nothing else," she replied. "Okay, cool. I'll be right back," I told her. "Yeah, yeah. Thanks," she said with a nod. I still couldn't believe it. She was really here. Like, here-here. I got her drink and took another one for myself, and then we started walking away from the noise and the crowd. "So, how have you been?" I asked. "Well, I've been okay. I mean, there isn't much to say. I've just been home with Mom. She just decided to talk yesterday, and she said she wants to come to Germany, to my aunt's place. And yeah, here we are," she explained. "Yeah. Yeah, I get that." I said ."So, how about you? How have you been?" she asked me. "I've been good. Yeah, I've just been here with Grandma. Nothing much." I paused before adding, "And, well... I've been missing you." She looked at me for a moment and just nodded with a smile. "Well, can I ask you something?" I asked. "Yeah, sure," she replied. "If it wasn't for your mom wanting to come to Germany, would you have come to my birthday?" She hesitated. "Well, I don't know. I just... yeah, I just... I don't know. I'm sorry, but I really don't know." "So you wouldn't have come?" I asked quietly. "I mean... well, yeah. I wasn't doing very well, so I'm not sure if I would have come. And honestly, I shouldn't even have left her alone. So, yeah." "Okay. Good," I said with a faint smile. "But it doesn't matter now. What matters is that you're here." I looked at her for a moment before asking, "So... have you missed me?" "Well, yeah. Yeah, I did," she admitted. "Then why didn't you call or text?" I asked. "I don't know. I was just... maybe thinking about myself. Like, maybe meditating or something," she said. "Okay. So, are you okay now?" "Yeah, I think so. I think I'm good now. Mom is good, and I'm good." "Yeah." I nodded. "Okay." We talked for hours, and we just started laughing like we used to, like the old days. Somehow, I wasn't even mad anymore. I understood. It hadn't been easy for her, so I couldn't blame her for not talking to me. Eventually, we went back to the party. I cut the cake, and everyone went back to dancing, drinking, and enjoying the music. Then, suddenly, Anna came up to me. "Can we go outside again and talk? I mean, I don't want to be in this crowd," she said. "Okay." I nodded. She hesitated for a moment before looking at me. "Actually... can you take me elsewhere?" "Wait, what?" I asked, surprised. She just nodded. "Come on, Of course. Of course I know some place. Let me just get my bike." I said "Okay, cool." She replied, I stared into her eyes, and she stared into mine. I could already feel that there was something in her eyes she wasn't saying. But I could feel it. I could feel that she wanted this moment, as much as I did . I took her to my parents' cottage. Nobody had lived there for a long time. Over the past few weeks, I'd been going there, cleaned everything up, bought new furniture, and repainting the entire house. It had an incredible view of the sea. There was a large garden filled with flowers and trees, with what almost looked like a small forest surrounding the place. Water stretched out around it, making the whole place feel isolated from everything else. It was beautiful. I don't know why, but I just felt like she was the first person I wanted to show it to. After about a two-hours ride, we finally got there. I helped her off the bike and looked at the place. "Well... here we are." She looked around in surprise . "This is my cottage. I mean, technically, it's my dad's house, but it's in my name now. It was old, so I just... renewed everything." I said with pride. "Yeah. So, do you want to come with me?" I continued and held out my hand.