-Anya's point of view -
A car was definitely coming towards my direction and I had the feeling that the horns were aimed to get me to turn because as I did, the driver of a black car stopped at my level, rolled down the windows and said "Get in ". I would have worried if not for the familiar voice I heard.
Was that ... LIAM ?
"What who where- " too many questions went through my mind because as far as I knew, Liam didn't own a car.
"Get in, I'll explain on our way there" Liam said with a smiling face.
I put the questions on hold and got in the car as he said.
~
" So, let me see if I got it all straight, you bought this car today, you could afford it thanks to the savings of your part time jobs from all these past 3 years while you were in university, aunt Claire invited me to diner to celebrate and had you come pick me up as a surprise. And the best part of them all is that she called Isabelle to tell her I'll be coming home late ? " I asked with a face mixed with confusion and surprise.
All Liam did was nod to every sentence I said with a big smile on his face. " That's right. Now I can finally drive you to and from uni whenever you need to."
" But aren't you going back to the capital ?" I asked with a bigger confusion- if that was even possible.
He exploded in laughter and all he said was " we'll see, we'll see ".
Liam was my best friend- after Lilly of course (I gotta say it like that or else she'll haunt me).
I've known him my whole life. He's always been around, until he unrolled in university. He could manage to get in one of the best architecture universities in France- in Paris more precisely.
It was his childhood dream to both be an architect and study in the capital.
I was really proud of him for chasing it.
Despite being away all these years he never let our bound break. Liam texted me a few times a week to check on me ( he knows I hate phone calls- that's best friend goals right there ) and although he was 3 years older than me, I never felt that age gap.
After getting his degree, I thought he'll go for masters in the capital. Does what he said easier mean he'll stay here instead ? He never liked it here (none of us did) and always talked about how we'll all-Liam, Lilly and I- leave this small city and move to a bigger one.
Liam is the most ambitious person I know. Him buying this car is yet again, an other testimony of that.
He went to university far away from his parents, seeking better academics levels. He worked countless half time jobs that ate away all his free time, never forgot about his family and friends and stayed in touch regardless of his busy schedule and still managed to enroll in an association that allows him to help people in need, of which, he is now the president.
That makes me very proud of him and at the same time, makes me feel really unaccomplished (is that a word ? Well it is now because it describes exactly how I feel).
I really wonder, what is the next milestone for him ? What could possibly make him return to settle here ? Better academics ? I don't think so. He's been on top of his classes even in the capital. A job offer ? But he left for the sole purpose of working elsewhere. Or perhaps a love interest ? He's a man after all, he might be drawn to someone. Although he never mentioned anyone in particular to me. He always kept his love interests private.
He dated a few girls in the past with whom it didn't last long, and as far as I know, he's not interested in guys.
"Are you into someone, Liam ?" I asked suddenly surpuing both him and myself.
He welcomed my question with a surprised face as if I caught a dear in the light.
" I- I didn't mean to be insensitive I'm- hum I'm just curious to why you wanted to stay here or probably I shouldn't have asked all together it's not up to me to ask "
After all my rumbling, silence fell for a few seconds before he exploded in laughter.
"You'll never change. I always tell you, you're too upfront" he said with a grin which was replaced with a melancholic gaze when he added "and the person I like doesn't like me back".
It was my turn to be shoked. He likes someone ? And the surprising part is that they don't like him back ?
"Who in their right mind wouldn't like you ? " I asked with both surprise and anger.
He smiled faintly and said "they didn't tell me, I just know"
I would have said something or replied to that but a thousand questions were going through my head and it wasn't the right time to ask any of them. I would have advised him or helped him if he were to tell me about it on his own. But I should respect his choice of not bringing it up with me and close the topic. " I hope you are wrong " was all I could let out. To which he replied " I hope so too " with a faint smile.
~
When we reached the bakery, it said "closed" on the front door. Lights were turned off. Did aunt Claire go upstairs already ?
Since they lived just above the bakery she could afford keeping the shop open for a couple of extra hours.
As I opened the door, Liam close behind me, all lights suddenly turned on, screams saying "happy birthday Anya !" Echoed and confetti were showering me before I could realise what was going on around me.
"Is it my birthday ?" I said to myself before the wave of realisation hit me "OH MY GOD IT ACTUALLY IS MY BIRTHDAY !" I let out louder than I intended to.
Everyone burst into laughter before they started singing the happy birthday song with aunt Claire holding the cake with 19 candles.
Joy, happiness and a feeling of love and warmth submerged.
This is my family.
When the song finished with all of them gathered around me, I blew out the candles and proceeded to thank them one by one.
Lilly and Thomas handed me a small wrapped gift. I assume it was a collective gift from both of them.
Liam whom I'd guessI was the mastermind of this plan, grinned and handed me a gift as well with a much smaller packaging while wishing me a happy birthday.
Then i turned towards aunt Claire and uncle Eliott whom I considered like my parents by now. Their usual joyful smiling faces would always soothe me and make me think that everything will be ok. However, this time around, their faces held more fo a sad smile and teary eyes. What is going on ?
Aunt Claire approached me and embraced me into a tight hug during which she started crying. When she broke the hug, she handed me an envelope.
"Happy birthday my dear Anya. If Leila and Pierre were still with us, you would make them the proudest parents " Aunt Claire said with such emotions that made the whole room gloom. "They wanted you to have this on your 19th birthday "she managed to say before her cries made it impossible for her to continue speaking. Uncle Eliott continued from where aunt Claire stopped "This is their will, my dear. They wrote it when you were born and modified it when you hit your 10th birthday. They wrote a letter for you in case something happened to them for you to read it on your 19th birthday when you receive the will as well. It was our mission to deliver their last message and do our best to make their wish come true. "
By then, tears were flowing like rivers down my cheeks. My heart was burning as if i was in agony. I miss them ... I miss them so much ...
It truly is agony.
"A wish ? " was all I could mumble in the middle of my cries.
Uncle Eliott and Aunt Claire both smiled at me and said " Their wish is to see you happy ".
Mom
dad
I miss you..I miss you so terribly much.
My view was blurry as my knees hit the ground and my cries echoed in the room
"I miss them so much" was all I said again and again. I could feel hands embracing me and hugging me.
It's Lilly.
"They'd be proud of what you've become Anya" she said in a low calm voice while calming me down.
Although, I knew she was crying too.
...
when I managed to calm down I looked up and tried to get on my feet while saying "Thank you, thank you all" but my feet couldn't hold me and gravity worked against me. Lilly could hold me so I don't collapse and everyone else hurried to help me sit down on the nearest chair but ... Liam? Where's Liam ? Before I finish my thoughts he burst into the shop in a hurry and a worried face.
"ANYA ! ARE YOU OKEY? "
His voice was filled with fear and his eyes were red. A Proof that he was crying outside. He didn't want me to see him cry.
I felt so guilty looking at him.
"I'm okey, don't worry " I said with an attempt of a smile.
Looking around me, to all those worried faces, "Thank you all. For this, for all that you've done, for who you are, I genuinely thank you " I said in a quiet voice but that everyone could hear.
Silence and sadness filled the room before Thomas said "If none of you all plans to say anything, my stomach will take it from here cause GOD knows I'm hungry T-T ".
It was so unexpected that we all exploded in laughter.
Thanks to his input, we've all been able to break through that gloom and started the celebration with the feast aunt Claire prepared.
It was a long night and a memory that i will cherish.
~
It was already past midnight when Thomas and Lilly left. Thankfully he had a car so he could drive Lilly home safely.
I stayed for a bit to help clean around when aunt Claire kicked me out saying " It's your birthday, child. Leave the cleaning for an other time. " When all her attempts of convincing me to stay the night failed, of course.
She asked Liam to drive me home and make sure I'm safe.
And so we were on our way home.
In the car, we talked about how good it was and how I didn't expect it.
Liam told me that it was all his mother's planning. At least, now I know where he got it from.
We laughed recalling how Thomas looked like a hungry bear and Lilly was monitoring him like a wild animal.
"Did you get a chance to open your gifts ? " he said.
"Ah, not yet actually. I have them in a bag on the back seat" I replied as I reached back to get them.
First, I opened thomas and Lilly's gift. It was a chanel perfume -_- this girl is too rich for her own good.
"How am I gonna compete with that ?" I let out in frustration.
"Gifts are supposed to make you happy, not mad" Liam let out in the middle of a laugh then added "open mine now".
And I followed the instruction. The package was smaller as if it was ... jewelry ? I opened the box and a gold chain with an infinity pendant appeared.
" BOI. I quit -_- That's it " I said, to which he exploded in laughter.
"It's not real gold if it can make you feel better" he teased.
"good" i let out in relief to which he replied "or is it ?"
I replued to that with a death stare before we both laughed at how ridiculous the situation was. Someone getting pissed over good gifts.
In the bag, there was also the gift from aunt Clair and uncle Eliott's gift which they gave me in the end of the evening. I guess suppose they forgot to hand it to me earlier with all the chaos that was going on. in the bag, there was also my parents' big envelope. I wonder what it holds.
I was going to open it but I thought I'd better do it at home when I'm alone and in a mind set where i can process whatever it is that it holds.
I didn't want to ruin the mood, again.
~
Liam escorted me till the apartment's front door, as the gentleman he was.
I made sure to express my gratitude to him before I wished him goodnight and went inside.
The apparemment was dark, empty ... cold. Still doesn't feel like a home.
I almost regretted not staying the night at aunt Claire's.
I went to my room and threw myself on the bed.
I Let out a long sigh and took a deep breathe.
This room feels warmer lately. I wonder why-
DANIEL !
that's whem I remembered.
I reached out to my phone in a hurry not knowing why but not talking to him all day felt ... weird.
As I leaned to dig for the phone in my pocket, my left hand landed on the bag with the envelope in it.
Mom, dad, what is that you have to tell me I wonder.
I took the envelope out of the bag and my phone out of my pocket.
What now?