_Jace Dreice Scott's Point of View_
Warren and his younger sibling went up the stage after Charlie and Astrid descended.
"Ate Lav, Astrid is right, the man you will love should treat you as a queen. Anyways, happy birthday and more birthdays to come, we hope that you'll graduate fast so that you can fulfill your dream of owning a restaurant." Warren said and I saw Lavalee laugh
"Ate Lavalee, happy birthday, next time we are bonding again with Cath, Eris, and Riley. Oh, I miss our bonding and next time let's play truth or dare and dress ups, you have a great fashion sense." Zia said and hugged Lavalee
"Thanks," Lavalee said and the two went down
Next, JC and Kent went up, then Jester and Jess, Chelsea, and Franco, then Irene.
Bryle and Carrienne, that was what Franco and Jester said the girl's name is, gave a message.
Chiara Smirnov and Ross, that's what Chris called the lady with Chiara Smirnov, were the last to give the message to Lavalee.
Lavalee's aunt Abbigail, uncle Cronus, and uncle Zaircon shared a memory they recalled about Lavalee. Their uncle Zaircon assisted Summer in walking up the stage because she was next.
"This happened three years ago, I was just six years old when my classmates bullied me saying that imo and uncle Law weren't my real parents and that I'm adopted. I didn't cry because I know that eomma and appa are dead and that I'm not adopted. After all, they are my aunt and uncle acting as our legal guardians. Nee-chan suddenly arrived and her arms are crossed." Summer said and I saw Lavalee chuckling
He seemed to know what Summer was going to say next.
"'What do you need, froglets?' that was what nee-chan said and held me close. " Summer laughed and so did we because of what she said
"It's really a wrong move to tease Lav's siblings, she won't let you off." Icarus shook his head while speaking
"Nee-chan told them that I'm not adopted and that those kids don't have a right to question my existence because they don't feed me and that my things are more expensive than what they even have." Summer said
"After dinner, nee-chan helped me answer my assignments and finish my project but I fell asleep, when I woke up I was already in bed and when I checked my homework, nee-chan had already answered it and even placed a paper where she wrote the explanation of the answers, my project was already done too." She said and looked at Lavalee
"I went out of my room to thank nee-chan because I know she's still awake even though it was already midnight and I saw her at the library, she was busy doing her project, I wanted to help but when she saw me, she led me back to my room and lulled me to sleep. The next day, I woke up early to help but her project was finished and Nee-chan was huddled in the living room while wearing her uniform. Nee-chan looks tired but she still goes to school." Summer said and looked at Lavalee again before placing the microphone on the stand and hugging Lavalee before coming down.
Irene went up the stage next and she smiled at Lavalee before taking the mic.
"As some of you know, I'm an illegitimate child but for Lavalee, I'm the eldest and first successor of the Lee Family. Three days ago, Chelsea and I had a misunderstanding with Lav and Jess." Irene sighed
"Why? We're the best of friends and having misunderstandings isn't avoidable, it makes our friendship stronger. What was it about? Lavalee gave my Mama and Aunt Christine's numbers to Elijah and Ethan for them to ask permission from our parents in courting us. Of course, if it were a normal situation since we're girls and we like them too, we'd blush and think of it as sweet," Irene said with a laugh before looking at Lavalee and continuing to speak
"But because of the possible consequences we, or well in this case since she chose to shoulder it, she'll face we were worried and planned to reject it, we confronted Lavalee and asked her why she didn't tell us that she shouldered the punishment for us. Chelsea was crying, I was mad at Lavalee because it seems so easy for her to sacrifice herself. I asked her why, why did she do it even though there are punishments." Irene sighed after speaking
"Chelsea asked Jess why she allowed and helped Lavalee, then we got the answer we knew but refused to accept, It's what makes her happy. Neither of us could take that away from her so we enjoyed the time we had during the date they planned for us." Irene said and approached Lavalee to give her a hug
After Irene, the rest of Lavalee's 18 messages went up the stage to give her message so I went up the stage since I'm the last one.
"Go, Jace!"
Lavalee and I face palmed after we heard Icarus, Franco, Ares, Jess, and Irene cheering.
"Flamelinne, I still remember when you called me gay," I said and she chuckled
"That was months ago, Dreice. You're holding grudges?" she said in a teasing tone
"My first impression of you was a spoiled brat but as days pass, I get to know you more, you weren't spoiled and you're not a brat because if you were, how come you ate calamares with me in the park?" I said and 'ayiee' echoed in the venue being led by her great friends
"You even sat under the tree and leaned on the trunk. You played with Mnemosyne on the grass and carried Mnemosyne even though she ran on the grass. While we're eating calamares and resting from playing, you said that the last time you played tag was when you were twelve with your sisters." I said and she shook her head
"I can't believe you remembered that Dreice, that was months ago." She said while smiling
"How will I not? If ever since the night you cried, I started noting the happy memories you told me and we did." I said and smiled
"Happy birthday, Flamelinne," I said and went down the stage
After I went back to my seat, music started playing but Lavalee was just there on stage so I went to the buffet table and took a tray from one of the maids and asked her to bring it to Lavalee.
Freia didn't hire any waiters because she said that it'll be just them, like a family reunion.
I turned around and saw Lavalee's cousin JC or Jasper when I heard someone faking a cough.
"What's going on between you and ate Lav?" Kent asked and I looked at them confused
"Flamelinne and I aren't dating if that's what you're asking." Sabi ko
Someone suddenly called me and I saw Summer with Frost, Autumn, and Winter.
"Jace-chan," Summer and Winter greeted me
"Jace," Frost acknowledged
"Frost," I acknowledged him
"You like him for your sister, Kuya Frost?" Charlie asked Frost
"He helped prepare this, Charlie." Summer answered
"Welcome to the family." JC and Kent told me
"Flame-chan's looking for him," Winter said and pointed at Lavalee
"I have to go ahead," I said and excused myself
I went up to the stage where a table is set up in front of Lavalee but the latter is frowning.
"Frowning? It's your birthday." I said and she looked at me with narrow eyes
"I want to go down." She said
"You're going to leave your throne, Fire Queen?" I teased her and she rolled her eyes
"Yeah, but you have to escort me while I go to every table." She said while wearing a mischievous smiled
"What are you thinking, huh, Flamelinne?" I asked her
"Nothing of sort," she denied and chuckled
"You look entertained, Lavalee." Her aunt Arizza said
"That's Lavalee's boyfriend, Máthair," Ares said
"He's not my boyfriend, Ares." Lavalee denied
"We're just friends, Ma'am," I said
"Then, what's with meeting the parents?" Ares asked
"Ares, tost," his mom told him and looked at me
"I'm glad Lavalee has a friend whom she can rely on and can make her release her emotions." Her aunt said
"Thank you, ma'am," I said