It was a special day for her, there was nothing better than that day, which was the one on which she was twenty-three years old.
Aimi never mentioned her birthday to anyone ... but boy did some do quite extraordinary things to know something as simple as that.
Naturally, she didn't expect anyone to congratulate her, since no one knew about that particular date. It was not the first time that no one had congratulated her on her birthday, that happened quite a bit in the middle and high school years.
In college, only one person congratulated her on her birthday, because she was the only one who knew: her teacher.
-Congratulations on your nineteen, Aimi. -She gave her a motherly hug.
-Thank you very much teacher. I appreciate it as you don't have an idea. -That was one of the situations where Aimi felt good about life.
But four years had gone by, no one congratulated her again since then, something that depressed her. It was not as such that no one congratulated her, if not that the only person who did ... was no longer with her.
The boys, however, had a surprise in store for this to be the best birthday of their beloved teacher.
The person who had provided this information was Professor Tadashi, who knew the birthday of almost all the teachers. He would be the only person who would congratulate Aimi. The others would pretend nothing. It was mere formalism.
He was holding a small cup of light red coffee. Surely, it would be to your liking. It was put in a small cardboard box wrapped in completely white wrapping paper with a list the same color as the mug.
When he met her in the hallways, he gave her a quick smile, looking into her eyes, warmly.
-A gift from me, how old are you? -He asked.
-Twenty-three, now I'm only one year younger than you. –Aimi answered.
-Naturally in a few months things will change. Now, I hope you like it. –Tadashi handed over the gift to give a last smile and walk away calmly.
She shook the box lightly to try to figure out what it contained: thumps, plus something like brown paper.
Now the quintet looked behind a wall, almost as if only their little eyes were visible.
Each of the five had a very different gift than the other. Practically, Aimi would receive something she had never seen before.
The only one who did not want to say that he had to give away was Ringo, to which Juro launched a well-given attack.
-Surely you plan to take her to a hotel and there you bring condoms and who knows how many vulgarities. Hope I slap you good. –When he finished speaking, Juro smiled.
-Do not say foolishness! You know perfectly well that I would not be able to. -Juro just looked at him, incredulous. -Well, maybe I would, but not with her!
-Vulgars. –Kazumi mentioned, who had a cute teddy bear in her hands.
-And what's his name? –Yumei asked, who was touching the bear with her index finger.
-I called her Aika, and she's a bear. –She answered.
-That's my cat's name. –Yurisa smiled, also looking at the bear Aika.
-The teacher is coming, act natural! -Ringo sputtered, to which everyone hid their gifts.
When she walked by with her heels ringing, everyone was studying except Yumei, who was pretending to tune her guitar.
She looked at them slightly surprised, surely they already cared for the exams, especially for hers.
-Morning guys. -Greeting.
-Good morning, teacher Aimi. –Answered the quintet, in unison.
-What's in that box? –Yumei asked. -Who gave it to him?
-Professor Tadashi, it's just a small detail from colleagues. –She lied.
-Couldn't Professor Tada like him? –Yurisa smiled, taking Aimi by the arm.
-Don't even think about it, Yurisa. -She looked at her suspiciously.
-Oh, nothing else said! –The girl scoffed.
-Hum. See you in class. –Aimi withdrew, moving her hair, which gave off a delicious fruity smell.
When Ringo and Yumei smelled it, they both sighed in love, then looked at each other to start laughing with some hypocrisy, since they did not like the idea of someone else sighing for Aimi.
The moment she reached Kazumi's room, who was entering after her, everyone asked her about the gift. She said the same "a small detail" except that, in the same way as Yurisa did, the students mentioned that it was not a "small detail" but something like a romantic statement.
They expected that, when it was opened, they would find paper hearts and a letter that had a formal statement written in handwriting ... but what a disappointment they were all when they saw the simple cup.
Aimi analyzed it greatly, seeing that it was simple, but the occasion made it the best cup she could have, plus it didn't hurt at all.
Kazumi felt a step ahead of everyone for the gift she was going to give to Aimi, since Aika the bear had a cute red and white scarf. It wasn't a Christmas bear, but it certainly looked very cute, with its soft, shiny hazel-brown hair.
She was going to be "the best gift".
In the quartet room, Yumei and Yurisa kept talking about the gift Tadashi had given to Aimi. They already knew it was for the teacher's birthday, but they were expecting that she had given him a gift.
Surely, it was going to be something formal, something like a wristwatch, a bottle of wine, a pack of donuts, a book, or a cup for coffee ...
They had even bet that he gave her away. Yumei bet it was a sociology book and Yurisa, precisely, a cup of coffee.
The winner would get a full breakfast from the cafeteria, which was equivalent to about a thousand yen with all zeros.
Juro was more focused on making sure his gift wasn't too exaggerated or self-centered. It was a frame with a photograph of the Eiffel Tower, although he had no idea that Aimi studied in Paris.
When Professor Tadashi's class was concluded, he led the quartet out of the room.
-Okay, I have everything planned for recess, so you know what to do. I'll tell the teacher that I have something to say to her in the teachers' lounge, you will be there with everything we have planned, so for the love of God you are not going to ruin it!
-Sir, no sir! –Answered the quartet.
-Right now I have classes with Kazumi's group, so I'll tell her too.
-Tell who what? -Asked Eiji, who left the room to go to the vending machine.
-Oh, cazuelero. –Yumei sentenced, who took out a cinnamon ribbon from her backpack. (Cazuelero is a Cuban expression that is said to a person who is nosy.)
-H-hey, what's going on?
-You know how this is, so stay lazy and cooperative.
-Yumei, consider that after this, I will be very upset with you. –They all tied Eiji with the cinnamon tape to put him in the cleaning room.
-And stay there. -Yumei sputtered.
- Wasn't it better to just tell him what was happening and explain that he didn't say anything to anyone? -Ringo asked.
-That would take away the fun. -Tadashi mentioned.
-Hum ...
Yumei's gift was something simple, but not negligible for that: a chocolate almond-filled muffin, which was one of her favorite seeds. Without a doubt, that day was filled with many coincidences, as if the stars had aligned so that Aimi had the best birthday of her life.
When the "Two Y's" asked Tadashi what he had given the teacher, he initially refused, claiming it was something very personal ... until he got tired of hearing the two friends' pleas.
He was only convinced by the fact that there was a bet involved. When he heard what Yumei thought the gift was, he simply smiled quite gracefully.
-I think you owe Yurisa a breakfast. My gift to her was a mug.
Yumei just turned to see Yurisa with an angry face, putting her hands up as if to choke her.
-I didn't tell you to bet, did I? –Yurisa questioned with a flirtatious smile and enduring laughter.
-Rays ... you're right. -She muttered, holding back her anger.
Aimi was passing through the corridors, so immediately the four students and the teacher acted "naturally".
-Juro could give you a study guide, but you already have the notes. -Tadashi improvised.
-Come on, professor. No one has to know, right? -Juro continued.
-Yes, no one has to know, Professor Tada.- Yurisa added, to which Aimi stared at them while Tadashi made some gestures with his eyes.
-Leave Professor Tadashi alone. Now sush, sush, go away, go away now. –The quartet returned to their class with a thumb up, everything had gone perfectly. -And as for you ...
-I denied all your requests, so this matter does not correspond to me .
-It's not so much that. Thanks for the cup, the truth will come to me like pearls.
-I thought so when I bought. –Tadashi waved goodbye. -Have a good class, I tried to get so mad at the boys.
At recess time, Yumei had to take Eiji out of the cleaning room since that was one of the days they spent together. For obvious reasons, he refused, leaving with his friends.
She at first lightly begged him to forget what happened and that it was only for a matter of extraordinary importance, something in which no loose ends of any kind could be left. For example, leaving him with important information.
After two minutes and three seconds, Yumei got mad at Eiji and sent him to hell ... oddly, the one who had every right to be mad was him, not her.
-Oh my love, forgive me. I didn't have to be angry. -Eiji begged, who was sitting next to her.
-No. –Yumei sentenced.
Ringo, Juro and Yurisa were looking ugly at Yumei, because if he didn't forgive Eiji, he wouldn't leave and they couldn't talk about what they were planning.
-Can I have the egg salad? –Asked Juro, to which Yurisa handed it over.
-You forgive me?
-No.
-Please?
-No.
-How? ...
-Yes, her forgive you, now get out! -Yurisa pushed Eiji off the table, making him roll a bit on the floor. -And you too, get out, we'll tell you later! –Now he took Yumei and threw her along with Eiji.
-Remind me not to make Yurisa angry. -Ringo whispered into Juro's shoulder.
Tadashi came running and skidding his shoes on the ground, then took a deep breath, seeing Yumei and Eiji on the ground.
-In the end we are going to need your help, Eiji. Tadashi mentioned. -So I owe you an extra point for locking you in the cleaning room.
Eiji looked quite ugly at his classmates and the teacher ... those forty minutes of being in the dark and unable to move had been quite horrible for him.
The young people and the teacher went to the gym, although that was not the original meeting point. In the gym there was the room where the musical instruments were kept, so Tadashi took two guitars and handed them to Yumei and Eiji, asking them to sing something very happy.
The couple stared ... they knew what to play perfectly. After leaving there, the quartet ran into the living room to get the presents. Eiji, at one point in Eureka, remembered that she had The Perfume under her bench, so for an impromptu gift it wasn't bad at all.
They walked carefully to the teachers' lounge, opening the door slowly. Tadashi peeked out the door and didn't see Aimi, so he went inside.
-And what was it you wanted to tell me? –She asked, leaning on the table and smoking a cigarette.
-I hope you don't mind, but I told someone about her birthday ...
-Sigh. I imagine that person did not care, he did not congratulate me. The truth is that I'm used to it, nobody ever congratulates me on my birthdays.
Yurisa broke all the protocols and plans, pushing Tadashi aside and running to give Aimi a hug, who almost fell on the table from the impact of the same hug.
-What does nobody ever congratulate on her birthday? -She asked, doggy eyes on her face.
The others entered timidly followed by Kazumi, who had been summoned right there, right now she was arriving.
Seeing that her students had some gifts in their hands, Aimi's eyes crystallized as she dropped the cigar she was smoking.
Kazumi was the one who approached with the gift box in her hands, offering it to Aimi; who, with trembling hands, accepted it.
Taking off the lid and seeing what was in it, her heart dropped to the ground. Little by little she brought out the bear Aika until she had her in front of her eyes.
-Do you like…? –Aimi now hugged Kazumi, who's eyes widened.
-Th-thanks. –Aimi broke into a sob with happiness. -The last time they gave me a teddy bear was years ago.
-It's not a bear… it's a cute bear. –Juro joked. (In Spanish there are 3 linguistic genders, which are masculine, feminine and neuter. In English there is only the neuter gender, hence there is not much meaning in this sentence)
Aimi tried to wipe her tears but she couldn't, they kept coming out more when she saw the gifts from others.
Yumei handed over the chocolate muffin, which was written on the container: "I love you very much, teacher Aimi." Naturally, they both hugged, but when Aimi tried to get out of the hug… Yumei stopped her by hugging her tighter, making her laugh and returning a hug much stronger than hers.
Yurisa had a small box in her hands, Aimi made mysterious eyes since she did not want that there to be a ring. Luckily it wasn't, but it was a hair clip with several shiny olive green stones, and the clip itself was silver.
-Let me help you ... -Yurisa took the clasp from her hands to put it in her hair.
-How I look? Aimi asked, wiping away her tears.
-Pretty pretty, it looks like butter on bread. -She smiled.
Receiving the painting from Juro, many memories came to her mind, so she took out her cell phone and showed the boy a photo: it was her posing in her French clothes with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
It was a surprise for those present ... less for Ringo, because he already knew that past of Aimi, although he could not suppress a smile from ear to ear.
Eiji handed him the perfume. Aimi smiled brightly. -I had already read it when I was studying at university, but the truth is that the book was lost, so thank you. –She ended up hugging the boy who was slightly embarrassed.
Now Ringo followed, whose gift caused him a lot of intrigue and excitement ... without knowing why it caused those feelings.
He had his hands behind his back, as if hiding something that seemed to be very important ... Buuuuuuuut!!!
What Ringo had behind him was a white envelope, without the remotest adornment or anything that could be impressive.
-They say that the simplest is the best, so I hope this is to your liking. -He smiled as he handed her the letter.
When the envelope was opened, a nearly empty sheet of paper was pulled out. There were a few words, very synthesized. The paper said in medium letters: "I love her very much." Something that made Aimi smile.
She hoped that Ringo was a much more detailed person and that he would put a lot of care in the gifts he gave, especially to her, who was supposed to be his favorite teacher.
He just gave him a slightly forced hug, which he truly reciprocated with heart, although he noticed that Aimi wasn't hugging him like she had with Kazumi or Yurisa.
-Thanks for this detail, Professor Tadashi. –Aimi wiped away the last tears to give him a hug too, thanking him for having told that secret that was no longer so secret.
The occasion was not over yet, Yumei and Eiji took the guitars and played a traditional song with great joy to Aimi, who listened with great joy and even with the occasional giggle. Kazumi and Yurisa took her by the hands and began to dance with her, while the other three men watched with quite satisfaction.
The laughter, tears, and amusement were over. Aimi walked with the gifts in her hands to her car, where a certain person was waiting for her, smiling.
She didn't want to know much about Ringo at the time, boy had her gift completely disappointed her. However, it was still a nice detail.
-I thought you were going to need help to open the door and to put the gifts in the trunk. –He mentioned.
-What attempted are you. - She answered, in a sharp tone.
-You don't need to say it. Your hug tells me everything ... my gift was shit, I know.
-Don't swear in front of me when I'm at the academy. It was not bad, I care more about the intention than the cost.
-Really? What a pity, then I will have to change this I have here. –Ringo took out of his backpack the volume of an anime novel that he showed to Aimi.
She opened her eyes and mouth, incredulous of what she saw. -No! Where did you get it from ?! She threw the gifts on the floor in surprise, running towards Ringo.
- A friend of my mother works in the publishing houses of this type of literature, although I will sell it now that you say that the intention is what counts.
Aimi grabbed Ringo's neck, squeezing hard so that he released the book instantly, which, before falling to the ground, ended up in her hands.
-Thanks a lot. -She smiled, giving him a hug with all her heart.
-Wow, you are bipolar, first you want to kill me and then you hug me!
-Thank you… that's all I have to tell you. Ringo returned the hug, closing him eyes.
Arriving home, Aimi ran to immediately read the novel. The boy had observed his shelf the times he ate there, carefully seeing what she was reading, leaving without any doubt.
Opening the book to review the first page, she found a small handwritten note.
"I can give you a tree leaf as a birthday present, I could even buy you a stairway to heaven; But that would not take away from the fact that every day we give each other unforgettable experiences, laughter, happiness and if I continue I will make this letter a damn thesis of hundreds of pages, so I will summarize it in fifteen words: since we met, our lives have changed for better, being an adventure day by day. Finally: Don't smoke anymore!!!"
Boy, that was the best birthday present ... and that's not counting his beloved novel.