"Tag you're it!" I said as I tag Blake.
We were all having fun while playing. Blake and Jacob seemed to be having so much fun and so did I.
We were roaming around the park, trying to tag each other and later on group up.
***
"We were happy back then." I said as the clip of the three of us playing ended.
"Until now, we are." he said.
"But different." he continued.
"What do you mean?" I asked him.
"What the past was is different from what the present is." he told me.
"What?"
"Before we were friends, but now I have you." he teased as he laugh.
"Damn you!" I said and then I slapped his arms.
I was surprised by what I saw.
He knew it was my birthday.
And so he prepared.
When Blake called me earlier, I walked towards the music room.
Once I got in, balloons started escaping the room while others started popping.
"Happy birthday Dale!" Blake shouted while he is inside.
I immediately went in and closed the door.
"You don't have to make this much noise and effort!" I told him.
"Well, this is how much I want to prove my love to you." he said.
It is the 29th of Semptember.
The day I was born, and so as the day when I met Blake and Jacob
"So do you like it?" he asked me.
"I do." I replied.
"Nice!" he said.
"Shall go out?" he asked me.
"We have to clean up this mess first." I said.
"I'll take care of it. Let's go!" he said as he grab my wrists ands rush outside.
When we got inside his car,
"Where are we going?" I asked.
"You'll know it." he said.
I calmed myself up as I wait 'til we arrive at where we were going.
***
-Lenon-
"Hello?" I said on the other line.
"Hi Lenon! How are you? Are you available now?"
It is Aunt Tina. the mother of Dale.
"Yes auntie, is there any problem?" I asked her.
"Oh gosh you might have forgot! Today is the birthday of Dale remember?" she said.
I almost dropped my phone due to shock.
"It's September 29?!" I shouted on the phone.
"Hey, manners!" aunt said.
"S- sorry. I'll be there soon right after I finish my homeworks. Thank you auntie for reminding me." I said and then I dropped the call.
"How could a kid forgot his cousin's birthday?" Men said.
Crap I almost forgot.
Men is inside my room, wounded.
"I- I just forgot the date today!" I explained unreasonably
"Lies." he said.
"W- would you just get up and dress?" I told him.
"You're pushing me away now?" he said and he smirked.
"I-"
"After draggin me here?" he said and then he stood up.
He slowly walked towards me.
I stood up and slowly walked backwards but then I got cornered.
He slowly dragged his face towards mine, slowly 'til our noses has touched.
"What?" he said and then he paused.
I feel like everything is becoming hot.
My face slowly turned red.
And then everything was hot.
Imagine a naked guy in front of you slowly walking towards you.
Then his nose touched yours.
He laughed.
"It's fun teasing a kid like you." he said then he pulled his face away from mine.
"Damn you Men." I said.
He took his uniform and dressed himself up.
I remained stunned on the wall.
"So are you going to gaze obsessively at me or we're going at Dale's?" he said.
I was daydreaming.
He snapped his fingers in front of me.
And so I went back to my senses.
"Y- yes?" I asked.
"Let's go to Dale's." he said.
"A- alright." I told him and I fixed my stuff on my table.
When we arrived, we immediately went inside and saw everybody busy.
Aunt Tina saw the two of us and immediately rushed towards us.
"Perfect timing you two! Go help Joshua on the yard." she said.
"Joshua?" I asked.
"No more time for questions, any time now Dale is coming home!" she said and so I and Men rushed towards the backyard.
When we got to the backyard, I was shocked.
"Joshua?" I asked as I got near him.
"Oh! Perfect timing, come and help me place these lightings." he said.
"W- what are you doing here?" I asked him as I retrieve the light bulbs from his hands.
He paused for a second as he glance upon my direction.
"It's Dale's birthday. How could I miss this?" he said.
"Y- you know Dale?" I asked.
"Perhaps I haven't told you yet." he said.
I gave a curious face.
"He's my brother." he said as he point out on my back.
As I look behind me, I saw it was Men.
"R- really?!" I shouted from shock
Then I lowered my voice down, I got ashamed.
"I didn't expect that!" I told them.
"So are we gonna keep on talking here?" Men said as he walk in front of me and grabbed some of the lights.
"We have some job to do people, go and prepare." Men said too.
I continued placing the lights to the wires.
***
-Dale-
When we arrived at the restaurant, we immediately took our seat and called for the waiter.
"This one's so fancy." I said.
"You may say that." he said.
"Let's make this fast, I have to go home early." I said
"Alright."
"Do you want to come?" he I asked.
"May I?" he asked.
"Of course." I said.
When the food arrive, we ate immediately.
I didn't eat much, I know they prepared something at home.
After we eat, Blake directly delivered me home.
When we got in, the lights were turned off.
"I think everybody is not around." Blake said.
"But-" before I could even finish,
The lights turned on.
There were fireworks on the backyard and so we rushed there.
When we reached the backyard, there were red lanterns and tons of lights scattered around.
There is the tree house, beside it was the picnic table and there were foods above it.
"Happy birthday to you!" everyone sang.
In the backyard, I saw Men, Lenon, my parents, Jacob, Joshua and a few relatives.
"This is so cute!" I said and I rushed towards the crowd.
I hugged everyone.
"Thank you everyone!" I told them.
Then the party started.
This is like any other children's party.
There were games, activities and performances.
Then lastly, we ate.
"How old are you anya Dale?" a young niece of mine asked.
*A/N: 'Anya' refers to older brother in chinese.*
"You have to guess that." I said then I laughed along with some people.
We were eating peacefully.
And everything seemed to be perfect.
When the night came, almost everyone left, except Blake, Joshua, Jacob, Men and Lenon.
The six of us were sitting in a circle.
We were playing two truths and a lie.
Then the first turn happened to be Lenon's.
"I uh-" Lenon excused
"You have to play." I said
"Fine." he said.
He was thinking, on what to say.
-Lenon-
I have no idea on what to say, but then the first few words on my mind came out.
"I like someone in here, I have never been in love, I've been in a relationship." I said.
Then I paused.
What have I said?!
"That's nasty." Jacob had said.
"That would be easy." Joshua said.
"You've never been in love." he said again.
"Wrong. I have been in a relationship." I said.
"So you like someone in here?" Dale asked me.
"I-" yet before I could even finish,
"Who is it?! Come on spill it!" Dale keeps on saying.
"I won't tell." I said then everybody's face suddenly frowned, except Men's.
"That's boring." Blake said.
The game continued again, then it was Dale's turn.
"Alright let's see." he said.
"I've never done skinny dipping before, I am currently in love with someone, and I want to be an Engineer." he said.
"Eady one." Jacob said.
"Guess anyone?" Dale replied.
"You have never done skinny dipping before." Jacob was able to answer correctly.
"Damn you got me." he said as everyone laughed.
The night became tiring yet fun. Then interesting things came.
-Dale-
When everyone almost left, I cleaned up the left trash we had on the backyard.
With me, is Blake.
He is currentky helping me clean up the backyard as my family is already asleep.
We were supposed to do it quietly, until Blake accidentally popped some of the balloons.
"Crap." he said.
We both laughed. We cleaned up as swiftly as we can, until we were done.
And when we got in,
"Oh Blake, it's already late you should stay for the night." my mom woke up and said.
"But I-" he excused.
"Come on! You used to sleep here all the time when you were kids." she said.
Blake had no choice but to agree.
"Perfect, Dale go and prepare your room." she said and then I nodded.
I brought Dale towards my room.
He immediately lie his body on the bed.
"It's been awhile since I have slept in here." he said.
"Yes. And it's been awhile ever since you went into the house." I replied.
"I'll just take a shower." I told him as I walk towards the bathroom.
Suddenly, I feel nervous, and at the same time happy.
"What should I do?" I told myself.
As I wash my face, I damped my face with a dry towel and went back to my room.
I saw there Blake preparing the bed.
"O wow." I told him and he smiled.
As I lie down, he also lie his body and then looked at me.
"How was today?" he asked.
"It's perfect." I told him.
"You had fun?" he asked.
"Indeed." I said as I nod.
Then he paused for some time.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday, happy birthday, happy birthday to you." he sang.
"T- thanks!" I said as my heart starts beating rapidly.
"Dale?" he said as he grab my hands.
"W- what?" I asked
"Would you please, give me a chance and be your boyfriend?" he asked stragithforwardedly.
"I- uh-." I said.
"C'mon." he said.
"I- I want to."
"Really?!" he said as he grabbed my hands and squeeze them gently.
"Y- yes." I said shyly.
And then he hugged me.
Slowly, I felt his hands wandering around my back.
And later on, he seductively kissed me.
He held my head.
Gently pressed my head towards his.
And he placed my head towards his chest.
"Thank you." he said.
His lips were so soft. His kiss was so delicate. I fell in love every second that we did, and I have liked him ever since the moment that he did.