After a tedious week, nearly ruined by the appearance of Richard, Kali was finally ready to celebrate her long-awaited birthday party. Samuel was, once again, her sister's go-to guy for planning, so he promptly blindfolded her in the driveway of their house. Her fingers reached up, touching his knuckles when she got to her face, and he responded by gently slapping her hand away.

"Stand still."

"Why am I being blindfolded?" She asked for the sixth time that morning, shuffling from one foot to the other. "It's not a surprise party."

"If it were a surprise party, blindfolding you will give it away."

She stuck her tongue in her cheek, waiting for him to finish while regretting the choice to wear heels on her dress. Kali had no idea he would blindfold her first when she picked out the golden heels she thought went well with the snugly fit emerald green dress she picked for the party. A pair of white sneakers would have worked just as well since she wouldn't see the ground for a time.

"There we go." She felt the knot at the back of her head when he pulled the band taut. "Now, come on. Face me."

She was stiff, inching around little by little. With her hands in front of her, she waited until Samuel had turned her around to grab hold of his arms, sinking her fingers into the leather material of his jacket.

"Samuel, be careful." She whined, not slightly comforted by his mirthfulness.

"Don't you trust me?"

"I am sorry, dear. When it comes to blindfolds, I trust no one. Don't take it personally."

"I'll try." She heard the car door open as Samuel's fingers circled her right wrist. "You are by the car. Lift your leg high and get in."

Kali leaned closer, feeling the air until her hand came into contact with the cold metal body of the car. She stepped closer and closer, waiting for her legs to bump against the car before she got in. Samuel let go of her then. His scent intensified as he leaned close to secure the seatbelt around her.

"Try and be calm."

"Okay."

Things felt better once she got in the car. Samuel considerately didn't drive too fast. She held on to the seatbelt, worrying it as she tried to figure out where he was taking her. There was no way to figure it out because there were no familiar sounds she could cling to. All it served was to keep her worried but occupied as he drove.

After what felt like decades, the car jerked to a stop, and the locks disengaged. She helped herself out of the seat belt but waited for Samuel to help her out of the passenger seat.

"Please tell me there are no stairs involved in this."

"There are no stairs." She smiled gratefully, resting her weight around him. He held her by the hand and held her up against him by the waist. "We are taking an elevator."

"Oh no."

"I've got you."

"I don't like this. I don't like this at all."

"You know this is the whiniest I have ever heard you be. And with those steps, we'll never get anywhere. Trust me. Walk."

"Forgive me for being concerned for my future. Snapping my ankles isn't high on my list."

"Do you want me to carry you?"

"Yes."

Samuel chuckled. "I would if this wasn't much more fun."

Bristling, she turned to him, but he held her back, reminding her that she couldn't be acting irrationally. After a few choice words at him, she continued making her way forward skittishly with him standing behind her.

Finally, after a tedious ride on the elevator and more walking through unfamiliar hallways, Samuel led her into a room. Inside, Kali heard the shuffling of feet as everyone moved around. Samuel held her at a standstill, and she felt relief when his hand travelled from her shoulder to the back of her head. The blindfold fell off, and a resounding cheer rang out as she squeezed her eyes shut as the bright light fell on them.

"Happy birthday to you..."

Her eyes adjusted, and she looked around the room, swaying in rhythm with the song. Gold and silver balloons decorated the room. They hung from the ceiling, swung from the floors, and some tied to the columns. The doorway to the balcony had a decorated flower arch, with pennants dropping from them that read, 'Happy birthday, Kay'.

Ember stood behind a food cart decorated with an off-pink tablecloth. There was a two-tiered cake on it, topped with tall, spiral-shaped red candles and the numbers two and nine.

"Thank you. Thank you all so much." Kali said when the singing had ended.

Most of her colleagues were at the party. Giovanna stood by Peter at the end of the line of bodies surrounding the cake. Some of her older clients were also there. How June managed to get them to come, Kali had no idea.

"Hey." She squealed as she hugged her sister, happily taking the champagne flute from the table and moving behind the cake.

"Did I have to get blindfolded?"

"You know this place." June shrugged. "I didn't want you to see the venue."

"Thanks for the forty minutes of anxiety."

"You are welcome." June pecked her cheek and pulled her closer as she called the rest of the guests to come around. "It's time for the cake cutting."

Samuel stood by her side, taking the glass from her and setting it aside as he handed her the knife.

"Okay," She chuckled as she looked at the cake. "How do I do this? On three?"

"Yes. Everyone, let's count!"

"One!" They hollered, and Kali grinned, setting the knife into the cake while looking at an enthusiastic Samuel who held his phone up to record.

"Two!"

Several guests were playing the role of photographers, Samuel included. As she prepared to cut the cake, several cameras flashed. Some even started suggesting poses and encouraging Samuel and the rest of her family, which included Giovanna and Peter, to put their hand over hers.

"Three!"

The knife slipped down, slicing through the cake as they cheered and clapped.

Kali cut a generous piece of it, and with her hand under his chin to catch any spills, she fed the cake to Samuel. He tried to fit it in his mouth, but soon enough, he couldn't take anymore. Kali and the rest of the guests laughed as she continued to push the cake further, not allowing him to pull back.

"You can do it." She encouraged, excited as he flashed his angry eyes at her before shackling her wrist with his hand and pulling her away.

After she thanked the amused crowds for coming, they slowly began to break into their groups. Some fell into light conversation while others approached the buffet table for snacks.

As she reached to help her sister with the table, Samuel caught her hand. "So you want to play games?"

"No." She yelped as he held both hands across her chest, pinning her against him.

"June." Samuel laughed at her efforts to get free, only tightening his hold. "Get me a slice."

"No. June, don't you dare." Kali giggled, trying to get her hands free so she could push him away.

"Hey, bro, don't traumatize the birthday girl." Peter joined in, holding his drink in his hand as he watched them with glee.

June had the cake sliced, and as she brought it closer, Kali turned her head away, unable to stop the laughter rolling out of her.

"Be still, now. Don't let the cake smudge your pretty face. All that nice make-up." Samuel teased before tucking his head into her neck and whispering. "It's not good to waste."

"Oh, come on." Kali pleaded before June caught her by the chin and pushed the slice into her mouth.

Her elbow found Samuel's ribs just before he could step away. When she turned, fists raised to pummel his chest and her cheek swollen from the slice stuffed in her mouth, he playfully held a finger in front of him.

"Don't try. That's not even half of what you shoved into my mouth."

Unable to speak, she nodded, lifting her face towards him as she chewed.

"Fine. Come here."

He grabbed a tissue and wiped the sides of her mouth carefully. When he finished, his hands cupped her face, turning her head to plant a deep, long kiss on her cheek that ended with an audible "muah."

"Happy birthday."

Kali chortled. "Thank you, silly."

"Ah, again?" Peter's exaggerated voice made them turn. "Are you shy of us? Kiss her."

Kali baulked, turning with wide eyes to face a still-grinning Samuel. Without any words, his hands went to her cheeks again, and he lifted her lips to his. It wasn't anything intimate—a chaste kiss. His lips pressed firmly against hers as she lifted her hand to rest on his forearm.

"That's more like it." Peter hailed.

"Happy birthday," Samuel repeated with a wink when he pulled back, and she could only manage a smile.

Peter raised his glass and steered a watchful Giovanna away while June refilled their glasses. Kali didn't look at Samuel. She kept her eyes on the buffet table, finding things to busy herself with. Samuel stood beside her, filling a plate with various delicacies from the table.

"Thanks for this, sweetheart," Kali said when she found herself again.

June smiled. "I am glad I finally get to throw you a birthday party after so long. Samuel was also a big help. He gave me the idea to use this hotel."

Kali blanked again, blinking in surprise as she looked at Samuel. "How did you know about the hotel?"

"I didn't. I told June to think of a place you mentioned enjoying."

"You told me once how much you loved coming here."

Kali remembered doing that when she was still going out with Richard. He had brought her to the hotel several times, and she loved everything about it. The food, the pool, the service, the aesthetic. Everything.

She had not been here since the breakup, and though it didn't hold her interest like before, she appreciated her sister's effort.

"It turned out beautiful. Thank you."

"I made the cake too."

"Really?"

"Yeah." June proudly picked a slice to eat, and Kali took the opportunity to smudge some of the icing on her cheek. "It took a while to master the new recipe, but I think I nailed it."

"You did." Samuel agreed. "You can take my word for it. I got a mouthful of it."

"And I got a new lipstick out of it. Get over yourself." Kali slapped his chest before saying to June, "It is delicious."

Samuel waved goodbye, excusing himself to speak to Peter across the room. June didn't stay long after that. She went to see some friends and offer them cake, leaving Kali by the cake. Others joined her. They came with smiles and congratulations.

Kali entertained them. As they talked, her hands would travel to her lips, and in the back of her mind she replayed the kiss over and over again.