Mrs. Anna's Birthday
A few days later, Mrs. Anna's birthday arrived.
The house was lively from early morning.
People from around the bay came to celebrate with her. The yard was filled with laughter, music, and conversations. Tables were covered with plenty of food and drinks, making sure everyone had enough to eat.
Cherry was everywhere at once, helping serve food and making sure the guests were comfortable.
Mrs. Anna sat nearby, smiling as she watched everyone enjoying themselves.
Noa stayed close to her, helping her with the preparations.
He leaned closer and lowered his voice.
"Lola... I don't like what I'm seeing."
Mrs. Anna looked at him.
She immediately understood what he meant.
Her smile disappeared.
"You saw something?"
Noa nodded.
"I know what's happening between Elian and Cindy."
Mrs. Anna's heart sank.
She looked around to make sure no one was listening.
"Does Cherry know?"
"No."
Mrs. Anna's eyes moved toward Cherry, who was laughing with some of the guests.
"She can't know."
Noa frowned.
"She deserves to know."
"I know," Mrs. Anna whispered.
She reached for his hand.
"But please, Noa. Don't tell her today."
Noa looked at her in disbelief.
"Why?"
"Because this is my birthday. I don't want Cherry's heart to be broken in front of everyone."
Noa's expression softened, but he still looked troubled.
"Lola..."
"Please."
Mrs. Anna squeezed his hand.
"Let her have one peaceful day."
Noa sighed.
He looked across the yard at Cherry.
She was smiling, completely unaware of what was happening behind her back.
"Okay," he whispered.
"But not forever."
Mrs. Anna nodded sadly.
"I know."
Noa continued helping her, but the weight of the secret remained heavy in his chest.
The celebration continued throughout the afternoon.
Music played across the yard as people danced and laughed. Mrs. Anna was having the time of her life, surrounded by the people she had known for years.
Cherry smiled as she watched her.
Then she suddenly remembered something.
Elian.
She hadn't seen him since she arrived.
Her hand went to the small gift she had brought for him.
"I haven't even given him this yet."
She decided to find him.
Cherry quietly slipped inside the house and headed upstairs.
She reached Elian's room and opened the door.
Empty.
She looked around.
"Where is he?"
Then she heard footsteps approaching.
The door began to open.
Cherry's eyes lit up mischievously.
I'll scare him.
She quickly slipped underneath the bed and hid, covering her mouth to keep herself from laughing.
The door opened.
Elian walked inside.
But he wasn't alone.
Cherry's smile disappeared.
Cindy walked in behind him.
Elian sighed.
"Cindy, not tonight. I'm busy. Cherry and Anna must be waiting for me outside."
Cherry's heart suddenly stopped.
Cindy?
She pressed herself farther beneath the bed, afraid to make even the smallest sound.
Cindy stepped closer to Elian.
"Please."
Her voice was soft and desperate.
"I just need you for a little while."
Elian hesitated.
Cherry's hands began trembling.
After a moment, Elian sighed.
"Fine."
Cindy immediately moved closer and kissed him.
Cherry's eyes widened in shock.
She watched from beneath the bed as they held each other, completely forgetting that anyone might be nearby.
Clothes began falling to the floor as the two moved toward the bed.
Cherry's eyes filled with tears.
She quickly covered her mouth with both hands, desperately trying to silence the sob that threatened to escape.
Her body trembled.
No...
She squeezed her eyes shut.
This isn't real.
But she could still hear them.
And she knew it was real.
The gift she had bought for Elian remained clutched tightly in her hand.
A few tears slipped down her cheeks.
Cherry pressed her palm harder against her mouth, trying not to make a sound.
Outside, people were still laughing and celebrating Mrs. Anna's birthday.
But underneath that bed, Cherry's world was falling apart.
9:00 PM
An hour later, the celebration was still going strong downstairs.
The guests continued talking and laughing as music played in the background.
Cherry quietly came out of Elian's room.
Her face was wet with tears.
She walked downstairs without saying a word and sank onto one of the couches in the corner.
She covered her face with her hands and cried silently.
Everything she had heard and seen kept replaying in her mind.
She had trusted him.
She had believed every word he told her.
And now she couldn't even understand how she was supposed to face him.
A few minutes later, Elian finally came downstairs.
His expression softened when he saw Mrs. Anna laughing with some of the guests.
He smiled.
Seeing his grandmother so happy made him feel warm inside.
He walked over to her.
"Lola."
Mrs. Anna looked up.
"Apo! Where have you been?"
Elian smiled.
"I got caught up with something."
He glanced around.
"Where's Cherry?"
Mrs. Anna looked around the crowded room.
"She was here earlier. I thought she was helping with the guests."
Elian frowned.
"You don't know where she went?"
"No. Maybe she stepped outside."
Elian nodded.
"I'll go find her."
He turned around.
Then stopped.
Cherry was walking toward them.
Elian's face immediately brightened.
"There you are."
Cherry stopped.
She looked at him.
Her eyes were red and swollen, but she quickly lowered her gaze.
Elian noticed.
His smile disappeared.
"Cherry?"
She didn't answer.
Mrs. Anna looked at her carefully.
"Cherry, what's wrong?"
Cherry swallowed hard.
"Nothing."
Her voice trembled.
Elian stepped closer.
"Have you been crying?"
Cherry quickly wiped her face.
"No."
But her voice betrayed her.
Elian stared at her, confused.
"Cherry..."
She finally looked at him.
For a second, their eyes met.
Then she looked away again.
"I just... need some air."
She walked past him.
Elian turned to watch her go, a worried expression settling over his face.
Mrs. Anna watched Cherry disappear through the doorway.
Her heart sank.
She already knew.
Something had happened.
Cherry walked far down the bay until the sounds of the celebration became distant.
She sank onto the sand near the ocean, tears streaming down her face.
The small gift she had bought for Elian was still in her hand.
She stared at it for a long moment.
Then, with trembling fingers, she threw it into the river.
"Why..." she whispered through her tears.
Her shoulders shook as she cried again.
A few moments later, footsteps approached from behind.
Noa had followed her.
He didn't ask any questions.
He simply sat down beside her and wrapped his arms around her.
Cherry immediately tried to pull away, thinking it was Elian.
"Don't..."
"It's me," Noa whispered.
Cherry froze.
She recognized his voice.
"Noa..."
"I'm here."
The moment she realized who was holding her, whatever strength she had left disappeared.
Cherry turned toward him and completely broke down.
She buried her face against his chest, sobbing uncontrollably.
Noa held her tightly, one hand gently resting on the back of her head.
"It's okay," he whispered.
Cherry could barely speak between her sobs.
"He... he..."
Noa closed his eyes.
He already knew.
He didn't need her to explain.
He simply held her tighter while she cried.
For the first time that night, Cherry didn't try to hide her pain.
She let everything out in Noa's arms while the waves crashed softly against the shore.