The night before James's birthday, Zinnia paced back and forth in her room. It was almost a tradition for them to greet each other a happy birthday at the exact moment the clock struck midnight.
When the time finally came, she quickly sent him a text. "Happy Birthday, James. May you have more wonderful years ahead."
James replied almost immediately, "Thanks, Zinnia. I'm looking forward to seeing you this afternoon around sunset at 6 p.m. I already sent you the address yesterday. See you there."
Zinnia blushed as she read his message and replied, "I'll be there, I promise. Happy Birthday again."
Lying on her bed, her heart raced with excitement. She rolled around, clutching her pillow, struggling to calm her racing thoughts. Every thought was consumed by James and the upcoming event. Her cheeks flushed a deep pink as she imagined his smile and the possibility of his confession.
She let out an excited squeal, her fingers fluttering over her phone as she replayed their last conversation. "What is he planning? What did he prepare for me? Is he really finally going to confess?" she mumbled to herself.
Zinnia rehearsed her response out loud, her voice filled with anticipation. "Okay, Zinnia, you've got this. When James tells you he likes you, you'll just smile and say, 'I've been waiting for you to say that.' And then maybe add, 'I've liked you for so long. I'm so happy you feel the same way!'"
She giggled, her cheeks flushed with excitement, imagining the perfect moment. "Or maybe," she continued, "I could say, 'I've dreamed of this moment!' And then just give him a big hug. Yes, a hug sounds perfect."
Her face beamed with joy as she imagined the scene, her heart fluttering with nervous delight.
So excited she was, Zinnia had a hard time falling asleep. Every time she closed her eyes, her mind raced with thoughts of James and the evening ahead. She finally managed to drift off at 5 a.m.
Her alarm rang at 9 a.m., jolting her awake. It was the time she had set to prepare for the day's event.
She walked to her closet and started looking for a dress. After picking one and checking herself in the mirror, she almost shouted in shock. "Nooooo! Not now! What are these eye bags? I can't have panda eyes today! I'm supposed to look my best!"
"What am I supposed to do? Hope a little make-up works like magic to conceal these eyebags." She sighed.
"I still need to look for a dress."
Determined, she continued searching for the perfect dress. After trying on almost all her clothes, she sat down dejectedly. "There's nothing pretty here."
Though all her clothes were pretty, and she had new ones she hadn't worn yet, nothing seemed right for today. "I think this calls for shopping!" she mumbled to herself and decided, "Yes, I'm going to shop for a dress and also buy him a birthday gift."
Excited by the thought of giving James a gift, she grabbed breakfast and headed out. She went to the closest mall, worried she would spend too much time finding a dress.
Luck smiled at her. A knee-length, A-line dress in timeless navy blue caught her eye. The dress's clean lines and graceful fit highlighted her slim figure and complemented her long brown hair and warm eyes.
Looking at herself in the mirror inside the fitting room, she couldn't help but admire the dress. "This is it!" she murmured happily.
After buying the dress, she moved on to find a gift for James. She browsed through men's clothes, shoes, and various stores but couldn't find anything that caught her attention.
Deciding to take a break, she had lunch before continuing her search. When she went to another mall, it was already 2 p.m. She was worried about being late for their 6 p.m. meetup. She hoped she could finally find a gift for James.
Luck was on her side again. As she entered the mall, a sleek silver watch caught her eye. It had a minimalist dial and understated markers, exuding refined elegance. 'It seems perfect for him,' she thought.
She entered the store and asked the salesperson, "Could I take a closer look at this one?"
The salesperson, with a genuine smile, handed her the watch. "Of course, please take your time."
As she examined the watch, she imagined James wearing it, striking poses like the men in TV commercials. The thought made her giggle softly.
After buying the watch, she rushed home to get ready, fearing she would be late. She had always been punctual and didn't want to ruin today.
Dressed and ready, she went to a parlor for a hairstyle that would match her dress. The stylist decided on soft, loose waves. As the stylist worked, Zinnia's lack of sleep caught up with her, and she dozed off.
The sound of the parlor's telephone ringing jolted her awake. Panic set in as she checked the time on her phone. "Oh no! I'm late! It's already 7:15 p.m." After paying, she dashed out of the parlor.
Remembering the address from her summer vacation with her parents, she hailed a taxi. But just as she was about to call James, her phone died. "No! Not now! This can't be!"
The taxi driver looked at her, surprised by her outburst, but Zinnia didn't care. Her mind raced with thoughts of James waiting for her.
Why, of all times, am I late now? she thought, her heart pounding. She had never been late for anything before. This was the one day she had hoped everything would be perfect, and now everything seemed to be falling apart.
As the taxi sped toward the dock, she stared out the window, her anxiety growing. What if James had already left? What if he thought she didn't care enough to show up? The thought of disappointing him made her stomach churn. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
She glanced at the passing streets, each minute feeling like an eternity. The sky was already darkening, and the city lights began to twinkle. She clutched her new dress and the watch, her heart aching with worry.
She had planned everything so carefully, only for it to go wrong at the last moment. She could only hope that James would understand and that she would arrive in time to make the night special.