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Chapter 39 Part 4 *Cloud 9*

~Sophia

“Happy birthday to you.”

What?

“Happy birthday to you.”

Where are they?

“Happy birthday happy birthday."

Oh my God.

"Happy birthday Sophia.”

They continue to sing while I stand, my feet planted on the ground, as something moves from my peripheral vision.

A surprise sound comes out of my mouth when Driana walks to where I am.

“Happy birthday Sophia," she says, giving me a hug.

“T-th-thanks," I stutter.

"You really thought I forgot your birthday?" she asks incredulously. "I'm not a horrible best friend!"

I smile sheepishly because that  possibility came to my mind. "What is happening?"

She playfully zips her lips and throws the key away.

“Driana," I say.

The hidden people continue to sing a happy birthday while I pressure Driana to tell me what’s going on.

She shakes her head and bites her lip to stop the smile forming on her mouth.

Andre comes next. “Happy birthday Sophia," he says, giving me a hug as well.

“Andre?” I say, hugging him back.

He grins. “I wish you a happy birthday!”

“Thank you," I murmur.

Like Driana, I know Andre won’t tell me so I just wait and keep my mouth shut. I’m not the type of person that will just stand while the people around her moves. The suspense is killing me! I’m so curious, I want to know everything!

The next person to come out of the shadow is Aunt V. I’m surprised to see her because I thought it’s just Driana, Andre, and Draky. I can’t imagine Aunt V agreed to do this.

“Happy birthday Sophia," she says, kissing me on the cheek.

“Thanks Auntie," I say gratefully.

I’m about to just go to where they’re coming from when Andre grabs my arm and shakes his head at me.

“A little impatient, are we?” he asks.

I frown and give him a pleading look. "Please?"

“Sorry, you have to wait here.” I can see that he is enjoying this.

The next people to walk towards me are unexpected. Very unexpected.

"Parker?" I ask, surprised. "Chloe? What are you doing here?"

He grins, liking my facial expression. "I'm here to greet you a happy birthday!"

"I-"

"Since I didn't send you a message earlier," he says amusedly.

They walk to where I am and then Parker puts his arms around me. "I'm not stupid to forget your birthday," he says.

I put my arms around him as well, and say, "Thank you," many times.

"You're surprised, right?" Chloe asks eagerly. "We thought if we just greet you a happy birthday, it'll be just like everyone else so we decided to come up with plans."

"And I'm tired of people jumping to surprise the celebrant when he or she arrives," Parker adds.

I'm grinning from ear to ear, staring at the people that matters to me. "What you did was perfect. Very creative!" Well, considering it's Parker, he will not do something that is less than one hundred percent.

My parents are the only ones missing. If they're here, everything is complete. But maybe you can't get everything you want for a day. Even if it's your birthday.

"I know," Parker says smugly. "We want you to be happy. Remember your birthday seven years ago? When we dressed as magicians and clowns? We thought of things that will make you really surprised, so this is it. We’re genius."

"You're lacking modesty you know," I tease.

He ruffles my hair and grins. "I know you like me this way."

"You came all the way here for my birthday?" I murmur.

"Of course." He winks at me.

"But you have school tomorrow. . ."

"So?"

"When will you go back?" I ask.

"After the party."

My tears are threatening to spill because of the emotions I feel inside me. "Parker!"

"Oh, don't cry now," he says softly. "I really want to do this for you."

"Yes," Chloe agrees. "We want you to be happy. So we decided to go here after school. Thank God we didn’t have class in the afternoon."

"Chloe. . ."

"It's your birthday, you shouldn't cry," Parker says, trying to make me laugh.

"These are tears of joy," I mumble, wiping the now falling tears from my eyes with the back of my hands.

He smiles and takes his handkerchief to wipe my tears away. "It's worth it to drive five hours to see you. Besides, it's your special day. Smile, it will make you look good."

"As if I don't look good already," I say.

He laughs along with my friends. "So who's lacking modesty now?"

I grin. "Your lack of modesty is contagious."

"Oh well, because I'm a good teacher."

"Yes you are," I affirm.

To my astonishment, Draky comes next. Why did they make him last? Are they trying to imply something?!

He makes his way towards us and gives a bouquet of pink roses to me. “Happy birthday Sophia,” he says.

“Thank you,” I reply shyly.

I don't know why, but I remember the kiss earlier. The way his lips move to meet mine, the way his hands hold me close to him, the sound of his voice while murmuring my name.

Why am I repeating that scene in my head?

My friends, even Aunt V whoops at Draky and me. it’s so embarrassing! I can feel my cheeks heating up. I wish I can control this blush from coming to my face.

I wonder why they’re still singing. Are there more people who will come?

“Thank you everyone,” I say, smiling from ear to ear. “I appreciate all—“

“Wait,” Parker interjects. “There’s more.” He points to the shadow and that’s when I see them.

"M-mom?" I ask, my voice is shaking, and I can't control it.

"Happy Birthday Sophia," she says, walking towards me. When she opens her arms, I run into them and hug her as tightly as I can.

I've never been so happy in the arms of my mother. I bury my face on her shoulder, and that's when I notice the uncontrollable tears flowing from my eyes, staining her dress.

"I'm so sorry for leaving you," she murmurs, brushing my hair away from my face and then kissing me on the cheek.

"Mom, I missed you so much," I whisper, not letting go.

I can hear the smile in her voice when she says, "Someone wants to see you too."

I lean away slowly and gasp when I see someone behind her.

"Dad!"

"My girl," he says, pulling me to him. “Happy Birthday Sophia!”

I hug my dad as tightly as I can. Oh God, I missed my parents so much. I won't be here in this world without them. Suddenly I feel guilty for thinking bad things about them. I shove the thought away because I don't want past mistakes to ruin this enchanted moment. It’s not yet the time to ask them why did they leave me. Tomorrow I will get the answers I need. And I’m sure they will tell me everything I need to know.

I feel light; I can feel myself floating with happiness and glowing like there's some light surrounding me. To put it simply, I'm on a cloud 9. I've never been happy like this before. This is the best day and night of my life yet. And it will forever be in my mind as long as I live.

“Thank you so much,” I repeat, blinking back the tears that are spilling from my eyes without control. “I’m so happy. I thought you forgot my birthday," I say sheepishly, "I'm glad- so glad to be here tonight. Thank you so much!Thank you so much to all of you! You don’t have any idea how. . . words can’t express this feeling I have.”

Fortunately, I’m not embarrassed to cry in front of them because of the overwhelming euphoria I have inside my body. What I know is I’m fully contented on everything that is happening.

“You’re welcome,” Parker says. “I think it’s eating time, right? I’m hungry!”

Laughter fills the air. Parker is so good with words; he can move a crowd in an instant.

So we go to the spot beside the garden where they arrange tables and chairs. This is an enchanting night. I wonder how they planned all of this, without me knowing anything about it.

While eating, we talk and converse with each other. I can see in the faces of everyone that they’re having fun. The happiness we’re feeling is contagious. I can even taste it in the air surrounding us. Matt is the only one missing today. I know that wherever he is, he’s happy for me. These people are my family. And this is what home feels like.

When the cake arrives, they sing me a happy birthday again. At first, it feels awkward because I don’t know what to do while they’re singing so I decide to just sing with them instead.

The cake is simple, yet elegant. It’s a two layer vanilla chocolate cake with swirling designs on the side. There are seventeen candles in different colors.

“Make a wish, make a wish,” they chant excitedly.

Closing my eyes, I lean down and wish with all my heart. After that, I take a deep breath and blow all the candles in one breath. They said that when you do that, there’s a big chance that your wish will come true. But of course, you have to take action too if you really want your wish to happen.

To my surprise,  they start to give their gifts to me. All of them- well, except for Draky because I'm already wearing his gift for me. Even Parker and Chloe, although they told me a few days ago that the dress and the shoes were their gifts for me. I should have known! My mom tells me to open the gifts after my birthday for a good luck. That's okay, so I agree. I'll open them tomorrow morning.

“Sophia is getting older,” Parker teases.

“She’s still my lovely daughter,” says my mom affectionately.

“Who’s the lucky guy?” asks my dad.

Lucky guy?

I don’t know how and why, but everyone except from my parents look at Draky.

“Dad," I say quickly before he can notice what’s happening, “I don’t have a boyfriend.”

“Is that true?” he asks, looking pointedly at Draky.

I almost laugh when I see Draky's adam’s apple bobbles when he swallows. I think he’s nervous. “Sophia doesn’t have a boyfriend sir," he says.

“Studies first," says my dad, smiling.

I know he’s just giving Draky a hard time because he can feel that there’s something going on between us. A father radar.

We continue to update what’s happening in our life, occasionally laughing when they say something funny.

After some time, the adults talk about something that doesn’t interest us so Driana and I decide to walk to the swimming pool and look at the candle lights. Before I can ask her about them, she speaks first.

“Where did you get that necklace?” she asks, a knowing smile is on her face.

“I. . um.” Why is it so hard to tell her that it’s from her twin?

“A birthday gift from your boyfriend?” Andre chimes in, wiggling his eyebrows.

“I don’t have a boyfriend!” I say indignantly, glancing at my parents to make sure they’re out of hearing range. I breathe a sigh of relief when I see them busy talking to Parker, Chloe, and Aunt V. I don’t know when Andre appears beside us.

“Really?” he asks, feigning he’s surprised. “What is Drake to you then?”

“What?” I ask, taken aback.

“I heard you talking about me," Draky says, walking towards us. “I heard my beautiful name.”

Driana rolls her eyes. “Always full of himself.”

“I didn’t hear you sister," he says, putting his arm around her shoulder.

Driana squirms away from him, and in the end, she ends up standing beside Andre. They are even standing close to each other. I wonder why Draky doesn’t notice it.

I have a feeling on who Andre likes, but I’m not really sure about it so I just keep quiet. If I tell the name now and find out I’m wrong, er, it’s embarrassing.

I’ll just wait for Andre when he’s ready to tell us. A smirk makes its way onto my mouth as I think: If he’ll ever be ready.

In the corner of my eye, I see my mom making her way towards us. “Hi mom,” I say.

“Hello there,” she says. “Andre, Driana, and . . . you’re Drake right?”

“Yes ma’am,” Draky says.

“You’re Andre’s best friend and Driana’s twin brother,” she states.

Oh no. Where is my mom taking this conversation? I hope she won’t notice the way Draky and I act with each other. My mom has an amazing instinct when it comes to me. I have a feeling her radar is working full force now.

“Are you sure you’re just friends with my daughter?” asks my mom.

“Mom!”

Draky struggles to fight off the smirk forming on his mouth. “We’re friends,” he says, but his voice is implying that there’s something more between us.

“You’re not her boyfriend?” she asks, ignoring my pleading look at her to stop asking questions.

“No,” Draky says.

Because he’s beside me, I hear the words: Not yet when he mutters them under his breath.

I’m glad my mom doesn’t hear it because I’m sure she will ask a lot of questions to him. Before she can say something more, I ask, “Are you going inside?”

“Yes,” she replies, “I’m going to get the lasagna.”

“I’ll do it,” I volunteer.

“No, I can.”

“It’s okay mom,” I insist.

“Fine,” she says, smiling.

“I’ll help her,” Draky says.

“Good,” says my mom approvingly.

One minute Draky and I are walking side by side and then all of a sudden we’re holding each other’s hand. I don’t know how that happened. Our hands just find each other and then our fingers intertwine.

When I’m alone I’ll try to think about the situation I am in. I can’t think straight because he’s beside me. I’m sure my decision will be affected by his presence. I’ll try to distinguish my feelings for him and his feelings for me. And well, the thing between us. It’s still my birthday so I don’t have to think about that yet. It’s creeping in the back of my mind though, waiting eagerly for my birthday to be done so that it can torture me with haunting thoughts.

All of a sudden, Draky stops walking bringing me to a halt.

“What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” he says, smiling slyly.

“Tell me.”

He raises our hands and says, “I’m just happy.Perfectly happy to be with you.” He takes my other hand and kisses it.

I swear my heart skips a beat. More butterflies flutter in my stomach. There are more now than before. They probably multiply three times. I can feel their wings inside me.

Oh Draky, it’s hard to distinguish your feelings for me. I wish it’s just easy for both of us but you make it difficult with your actions that I can’t even comprehend which is real from unreal. I know that tomorrow we’ll go back to normal.

“Is there something wrong?” he asks gently.

I shake my head and smile. “It’s my birthday. Everything is perfect. Or, well, close to perfect anyway.”

“That’s good," he replies, “I want you to be happy.”

“You make me happy.”

“That’s just—“ he pauses and looks at me like he’s seeing me for the first time. “What?” he asks. “Can you repeat what you just said?”

I don’t .  . . oh my.

I can’t believe I said that. How did it come out of my mouth? Did I mean that? Why did I even think of that in the first place?

“I make you happy," Draky says slowly. “I make you happy.” I lost count on how many times he says that. Finally, he looks at me with a huge grin on his face. “I’m glad I can make you happy!”

I smile at his enthusiasm. His smile is contagious! When he smiles, it’s hard not to smile with him.

“Let’s go," I say tugging at his hand. “They’re probably wondering why it takes us a long time to get the lasagna.”

“Wait a second.”

“Why?” I ask curiously.

“I want to this first.”

“What—“

He kisses me on the cheek, making me stop from talking.

“D-Draky," I stutter.

“What?” he asks innocently.

“You can’t just kiss me without asking permission," I say disapprovingly. I can’t believe he’s confident enough to do that!

“Okay," he agrees. “Next time I’ll ask your permission.”

Next time?

Well, you never know what will happen tomorrow. Or in the future for that matter.

*****

Hi! ^.^ I hope you liked this! I found something interesting. Click the External link to read it. You'll be inspired :)

The song is These Are The Nights by Making April. I love this song! :) Banner by mwaaah_kisses95

The original title of the chapter was supposed to be Kisses and Butterflies but I thought Cloud 9 would be better :)

Thank you for reading my story ♥