★★The Next Day★★
Still fast asleep on bed, my sleep got disrupted by the noise of loud trumpets, microphones and playing guitars. I refused myself from waking up, because I was already enjoying my sleep this early morning. The trumpet overpowered my strength, and I had to wake up as a must.
Blinking my sleepy eyes twice, I caught an unclear picture of people, standing next to my bed.
I had to open my eyes fully, to see those strangers standing before me.
"Happy Birthday..." They screamed in unison.
"Happy birthday mum." Zoey said to me happily.
"Happy Birthday bestie." Jasmine wished me.
I sat up on the bed, wearing a big smile by the surprise before me. Zoey was holding a big brown cake with some candles, while Jasmine was holding some fire crackers. Jasmine called over our neighbors and some instrumentalist that morning. I was very happy by the big surprise.
All these meant so much to me, and my day was already made.
"Thank you so much darl." I pulled Zoey to the bed, giving her a kiss on her both cheeks.
"I love you so much mum." Zoey said to me, handing a birthday wish card over to me.
I opened the card with joy, reading her beautiful thoughtful write-up under my breath. She expressed all her feelings and emotions for me in the birthday card. I felt so emotional when reading it, not knowing when one or two tears dropped down my eyes, making some circles on the card. I laughed at my foolishness, wondering what next.
★★After the morning surprise...
I stood next to a telephone table at the living room, waiting patiently to receive a call from mum. Jasmine joined me at the living room later on, surprised to see me standing next to the telephone for some minutes now.
"Whose call are you expecting?". She asked me.
"Mum's call of course. She must really hate me so much by now." I said.
"Don't think too much on your birthday." Jasmine said to me.
"You still have your birthday party to attend tonight." Jasmine reminded me.
I have already forgotten that she and Zoey had prepared so hard for my birthday party tonight. Zoey had successfully invited both her friends and those at our neighborhood to the birthday party happening tonight. Jasmine on the other hand, doesn't disappoint at all. She was the assistant birthday girl, and won't let anything go wrong on my big day.
CITY OF LONDON
Mother had woken up since six in the morning, baking some birthday cake for me at the kitchen. Auntie has been searching for her over minutes now, only to trace her presence by the sweet aroma of the baked cake at the kitchen.
She entered inside the kitchen room, surprised to see mother icing the cake she had been baking since.
"June, is there anything going on today?." Aunt Susan asked her.
"Today's my daughter's birthday." Mum replied.
"It's been years I celebrated her birthday for her." Mum added.
"I thought, you were still mad at her?". Aunt questioned.
Mum stopped with the icing, turning towards aunty. Her eyes were filled with tears. Aunt approached her, lending her arms to mum. Mother cried it all out to aunty and she couldn't deny the fact, that she misses me everyday that passes by. She wished that one day, I will finally reunite with her. She wanted to see how much I had grown in this passed years. I also missed my mother so much, and I would do anything to reunite with her. Seventeen years without my parents haven't been easy for me.
★★Tonight★★
It was already seven in the evening, and night fall has fallen on us. People that were invited to my birthday, were already heading towards the location where Jasmine had fixed the birthday party. It was one of the five star hotels in Manchester "Dacota Hotel" near to Manchester Piccadilly.
The hotel was one of the biggest hotels in Manchester, that receives people from wealthy homes especially celebrities.
Jasmine rented two halls for the birthday party, and she really spent a lot to make my birthday a great one.
I was still fixing my golden coloured ball gown in my bedroom, when Zoey and Jasmine entered.
They were already dressed up and no doubts, they looked so beautiful tonight.
"Wow, mommy your dress is beautiful." Zoey said to me in admiration.
"Thank you baby." I appreciated.
"Hurry up best friend. Some artist would be coming in few minutes for your makeover." Jasmine said to me.
I nodded my head at her, trying to zip up my dress. She noticed the problem I was facing, and decided to help me out. Phew and I was done with the suffocating ball gown. The dress was really a heavy one, and it was because I wasn't used to wearing heavy gowns. Zoey assisted me in putting on the new model of heels, she bought for me with her savings. It was so thoughtful of her, because those were obviously my taste of fashion.
On the other hand was Sebastian, who was already ready for my birthday. He was already off to the venue of the birthday. He was putting on a suit from one of the best designers at Manchester. His shoes were foreign made and obviously expensive.
**An hour later**
I finally arrived at the venue of my birthday party, and no doubts, the decorations were absolutely my taste. I walked into the hall majestically, as all eyes were on me. I was given a grand welcoming, by my guests.
Zoey went in search of Sebastian, and noticed he had been standing at a corner, outside of the hotel.
Zoey walked up to him, surprised at the reason he didn't go in to see the birthday girl in quote.
"Cute uncle, my mum has arrived." Zoey informed him.
"Oh really? I'm okay with standing here. I'm not used to being with so much people." Sebastian replied.
"You're claustrophobic?." She asked surprisedly.
"Yes I'm. I almost gave up when I was inside.' Sebastian said to her.
Zoey understood his reason, and decided to go inside alone. Sebastian enjoyed the night breeze, breathing out heavily.
Zoey brought her friends to me, and each of them were holding there birthday presents they had bought for me earlier. Zoey was also with hers, and it was in a big box.
"Happy birthday Aunt Bianca". Zoey's friends said to me in unison.
"Thank you darlings." I appreciated them, receiving their birthday gifts for me.
"Mum here's mine." Zoey said to me with a low tone.
"Aww, I wonder what's in there." I said to her smiling.
I gave each of them a hug. Zoey's friends left I and Zoey, while we had some conversations. One of the cooks Jasmine rented, walked up to us, holding a present in a small box. I exchanged glances with Zoey, wondering who would have sent such gift to me.
"Someone gave this to me to give to you." The cook said, handing it over to me.
"Who's that?". I asked confusedly.
"A young man outside." She replied.
"Oh that must be cute uncle. He couldn't come in because he's Claustrophobic." Zoey chipped in immediately.
I shook my head, staring at the little box before me. I packed it alongside with the other gifts I had received, into a big sack.
I left Zoey, looking for Jasmine. I finally found her, where she was serving her other friends some palatable meals. She was really acting like the assistant birthday girl she was. I was really enjoying myself tonight.
Jasmine coincidentally turned her head backwards, and jammed her eyes with mine, where I was standing at a corner watching her. She left her friends immediately, approaching me.
"Your sack is filled up already." Jasmine teased me.
"Thank you once again Jasmine. This alone, means so much to me." I appreciated.
"You're welcome. There's no problem." Jasmine replied me with a warm smile.
Zoey had already gone outside to thank Sebastian on my behalf, even without him knowing that I was the mother of his friend Zoey. She returned back inside, searching for me. She finally found me with Jasmine, but she had her way anyways.
Zoey dragged me away from Jasmine, taking me to somewhere I had no clue about.
She was taking me to another hall, without saying a word to me.
Zoey pleaded with me to remain at the hall, and promised me that she would be back in few minutes. I stood there, staring round the empty quiet hall. I was feeling very lonely in there.