...
I woke up that morning feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness sitting quietly in my chest. It was a day before Sami's birthday.
I got ready for class as usual, trying to act normal, but my mind kept drifting back to the gift I had planned. Before leaving the dorm, I quickly texted Amy—the girl who was supposed to help me get the jersey.
"Is everything ready?"
She replied almost immediately. "Yes, don't worry. You'll love it."
A small smile spread across my face. I had gotten Sami a jersey from his favorite football team, with his name printed boldly on the back. It wasn't easy saving up for it, but thinking about how happy it would make him made everything worth it.
When Debbie noticed my smile during class, she nudged me playfully. "Hmm… you really like this your boyfriend."
I tried to act serious, but I couldn't hide it. I just smiled sheepishly and looked away.
After classes, I went straight back to the dorm. I carefully took the gift and hid it inside Mia's wardrobe since I still didn't have mine. I didn't want anyone opening it or asking unnecessary questions. It felt safer there, tucked away, like a little secret waiting for the right moment.
That night, I lay on my bed staring at the ceiling. It was 11:50 p.m., and sleep kept pulling at my eyes, but I refused to give in. I wanted to be one of the first people to wish him a happy birthday.
By 11:58, I had already typed out my message—sweet, thoughtful words that I rewrote at least three times. My heart was beating faster than usual, like I was about to take an exam.
12:00 a.m.
I hit send.
"Happy birthday, baby 🤍 I'm so grateful for you. You mean more to me than I say sometimes. I hope today brings you everything you deserve… I love you."
I stared at my phone, waiting.
A few seconds later, his reply came in.
"Thank you, baby. I love you so much."
My lips curved into a soft smile.
"Was I the first?" I quickly typed, curious.
He replied, "No… my mom called at 11:58."
I paused, then shook my head with a small laugh. "Wow… she didn't even waste time."
"Should I be jealous?" I added jokingly. "Okay no, I won't be that jealous… it's your mom."
I dropped my phone beside me, smiling to myself before finally drifting off to sleep.
The rest of the day was exhausting. Classes, lectures, moving from one building to another—I barely had time to think. By the time I got back to the dorm in the evening, my body felt weak and drained.
But I knew I still had to see Sami.
I rested for a few hours, just enough to regain a bit of energy. Then I got up, took my time getting dressed, and picked out something simple but nice. Nothing too much… just enough.
As I stepped out, Diana looked at me and smiled. "You look so beautiful."
I paused for a second, slightly surprised. I wasn't used to getting compliments like that from girls.
"Thank you," I said softly, returning her smile.
I picked up the gift from where I had hidden it and headed out.
When I saw Sami, he was already waiting.
I smiled the moment our eyes met, walking up to him and handing over the package.
"Happy birthday, baby."
Before I could say anything else, he pulled me into a hug.
"Thank you," he said softly, holding me a little tighter than usual.
That alone made everything worth it.
We stepped away slightly, and he started opening the gift. The moment he saw the jersey, his face lit up in a way I had never seen before.
"No way…" he said, almost in disbelief. "You got this for me?"
I nodded, watching his reaction carefully.
"And my name?" he added, turning it around.
I smiled. "Of course."
He looked at me again, this time differently—softer, warmer. "You didn't have to do all this."
"I wanted to," I replied quietly.
We went for a walk afterward, letting the cool evening breeze wrap around us. The atmosphere felt calm, almost peaceful compared to the chaos of the past few days.
We talked about random things—school, friends, little jokes—and for a moment, everything felt normal again.
At some point, he mentioned casually, "I went to the airport earlier… they delivered some things to me for my birthday."
I nodded, smiling. "Oh really? Big boy."
He laughed, shaking his head. "It's nothing serious."
But something about the way he said it made me glance at him for a second longer than usual. Still, I didn't push. Not tonight.
Tonight felt… too soft to ruin.
The breeze carried a quiet calm between us, and as we walked side by side, I let myself relax into the moment.
For once, there was no tension.
No drama.
Just us.
And for that moment… it was enough.