And my heart was beating faster, as if anticipating that something worse was about to happen.
Fear slowly turned into despair when the room lights suddenly went out. The day was getting darker. I sat curled up in the corner of the room, leaning against the cold wall. My tears flowed uncontrollably, soaking my cheeks.
Not long after, I heard the sound of the door opening. I couldn't bring myself to look at who it was. Trembling, I buried my face between my knees and shut my eyes tightly. That's when I heard footsteps approaching… accompanied by singing.
"Happy birthday to you... Happy birthday to you..."
Mom and Dad's voices. In unison.
The lights suddenly came back on. I slowly lifted my head, and when I saw their faces, my tears flowed even harder from fear, but also from a strange mix of relief and joy. They were okay.
Mom and Dad looked shocked to see me crying. They rushed over with panicked, worried expressions. Dad was holding my birthday cake, while Mom ran straight to me and wrapped me tightly in her arms.
"What's wrong, Sweetheart? Why are you crying?" Mom asked gently, her voice full of concern.
"I was scared, Mom…" I whispered through sobs, trying to calm myself in her embrace.
Mom turned to Dad with a reproachful look in her eyes.
"This is all your fault... It was your idea to do this surprise," she said, sounding annoyed.
"I didn't know she'd be this scared, Sweetheart I thought this kind of surprise was trending and popular among teens these days," Dad replied, sounding regretful. He truly believed I cried just because I was startled.
"We're so sorry, Sweetheart... We thought you'd be happy," Mom said softly, her eyes full of guilt.
"It's not that, Mom..." I said quickly, my sobs growing louder.
"Then what scared you, Sweetheart?" Mom asked, gently rubbing my back to soothe me.
"I.. I just had a nightmare. I saw you and Dad..." My words trailed off as Mom quickly interrupted.
"It was just a dream, Sweetheart. Whatever you saw, it wasn't real It was just a dream," Mom said quickly, trying to calm me, though her voice betrayed a hint of panic.
Seraphina looked at Sylas, her husband, with eyes full of worry and something else that was hard to explain. Her hands trembled, and her embrace around Aurya tightened. Sylas remained silent, watching his wife and daughter with concern. It was the first time he had seen Aurya sob like that, and also the first time he saw Seraphina trying to calm their daughter and herself.
In Mom's embrace, I could feel warmth. A slight sense of relief washed over me, knowing they were actually okay. I tried to convince myself that Mom was right that it really was just a dream.
A few moments later, Mom let go of her hug, wiped my tears, and gave me a small smile.
"Dreams are just flowers of sleep, Sweetheart... So don't be afraid," she said softly, trying to sound calm even though her eyes couldn't hide the worry and a secret.
I nodded slowly, trying to believe her words. Then my eyes turned to Dad, who was still standing awkwardly in front of us, holding the birthday cake in his hands.
"Dad, is that for me?" I asked curiously, my eyes on the cake he was holding.
"Yes, Sweetheart. This is for you," Dad said, walking toward Mom and me with the cake.
"But... my birthday was yesterday. And we already celebrated it, right?" I said quickly, trying to recall.
I remembered the happy moment Dad and Mom surprised me at midnight while I was sleeping. They brought a cake and then...
I couldn't remember anything after that.
My mind jumped straight to the moment we were heading to Velmoria. All memories after the surprise were gone erased. Mom, who was sitting beside me, smiled in relief. Her eyes seemed to say she had successfully done something to me or more precisely, felt relieved that I had forgotten something I wasn't supposed to remember.
"We know, Sweetheart... But we didn't get to celebrate it properly," Mom said gently.
"Your Dad got a sudden emergency call from work, and we had to move to Velmoria right away. So everything was rushed... Right, Dear?" she said, smiling warmly at me, then looking at Dad with a meaningful glance.
"Yes, your Mom is right," Dad added. His smile was directed at me, but it looked a little forced.
"This is all my fault... Your birthday ended up being a mess, and we didn't get to celebrate it properly."
Mom gently caressed my cheek.
"That's why we want to celebrate it now, properly. What do you say? Would you like that?"
I nodded slowly, my smile beginning to form. Then I hugged and kissed Mom's cheek affectionately.
I caught a glimpse of Dad. His expression looked a bit displeased, as if he was jealous because only Mom got a kiss.
"Only Mom? Are you still mad at Dad for messing up your birthday?" Dad asked with a half-teasing, half-jealous tone.
I got up, walked toward him, and kissed his cheek.
"I'm not mad... Besides, it's not your fault. It was your job's," I said quickly, trying to reassure him.
Mom walked toward us, giggling softly, amused by her husband acting like a jealous teenager. When she reached us, Dad placed the cake on my study desk and pulled both of us into a warm, tight hug.
"You two are the most precious treasures in my life... I won't let anything harm my precious treasures," Dad said with sincerity, then kissed Mom's forehead and the top of my head gently.
That hug lasted for a while warm and comforting. Until finally, Dad let go gently.
"Isn't it time to make a wish and cut your birthday cake?" he said quickly, trying to lighten the mood.
Dad then took the cake from my desk and placed it on the small table near the balcony. The three of us sat on the couch facing it. We sang the birthday song together, and Dad lit the candles on the cake.
"Make your wish, Sweetheart," Mom said softly.
I closed my eyes, clasped my hands together, and in my heart, I prayed:
"God... please protect our little family. Please protect Dad and Mom..."
That prayer echoed in my heart, pure and full of hope.
Then I opened my eyes and blew out the candles with full conviction that my prayer would be heard by the Creator of the Universe.
"What did you wish for, Sweetheart?" Dad asked curiously and Mom quickly pinched his shoulder, making him wince in pain.
I giggled as I watched Mom and Dad act like young lovers so romantic and silly.
"I hope I can find someone like Dad to be my life partner," I said, looking at them as they continued their playful teasing.
Mom and Dad froze for a moment, staring at me wide-eyed after hearing my words. Then Mom finally spoke.
"Why would you want someone like your dad… What's so great about him?" she asked, half-joking.
"Because Dad is handsome and patient," I said, making Dad lift his chin proudly.
"You... your taste is just..." Mom didn't finish her sentence and only shook her head.
I knew she agreed with everything I said Dad really was handsome and patient.
"It's true, Mom... Look, even though you always scold and 'torture' him over small things… he stays patient," I added, making Dad puff his chest even more as he nodded proudly to everything I said.
Mom gave me a sharp look part annoyed, part embarrassed because she knew I was right but didn't want to admit it.
"So you're saying I'm the villain and your dad is the victim?" she asked with a pout...