Everything is ready, the decorations are hanging on the wall. Many balloons have also covered every corner of the living room and then the balloon letters are glued to the wall and when we read it, "H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y C A R O L" is stated in the combined letters. At the same time as the intensive preparation, the various dishes we cooked along with the two-layered cake in the very center of the table were already on the dining table. The only one missing to complete this preparation is unique, important, and very important to us-Mama Carol.
I was with Tita Ollie in the planning and Azrael, Tita’s adopted child who was just my age. It's Saturday and Azrael and I don't have school. Tita Ollie, Mama's best friend, filed for leave from work so we could prepare for today.
We are currently waiting for Mama to come home from work, so we were lucky because we were alone all day preparing our surprise birthday celebration for her.
Azrael looked at us, "There's Tita Carol," he whispered as he stared out the window. The door suddenly opened and Mama entered. Azrael quickly hid behind the curtain.
Mama is now looking at her cellphone, "Astrid? Why is it so dark in the house? Maybe we didn't get a power outage, did we?" she said as she lowered her bag on the sofa, "Astrid," she called my name again then started walking towards the light switch in the living room.
I’m currently standing on the side of the switch now, “One, Two, Three,” I whisper in conjunction with turning on the light. The formerly dark house has been replaced by the bright and beautiful decorations we designed earlier.
"Happy Birthday!," we greeted Mama together and then started singing.
“Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
Happy birthday
Happy birthday, Caroline"
Unable to paint Mama’s face, we could see that her emotions were mixed. Shocked, happy and he also couldn't help but be emotional with what he witnessed. I, too, became emotional with Mama's reaction.
I hurried to her stand and hugged her tightly, "Happy Birthday, Ma. I love you," I whispered in her ear.
Mama turned my face to her and kissed me on the forehead then she offered a very sweet smile, "Thank you, baby Astrid. I love you more. "
I also reciprocated her smile and then let go of her hug because Tita Ollie was also waiting behind us with a cake.
Tita smiled as she watched Azrael light the candles on the cake. After lighting the candles, he stepped slightly towards Mama.
"Happy Birthday, Carol," Tita Ollie greeted. Mama's smile never left her lips. "Make a wish," Tita Ollie added with a wide smile on her face.
Mama closed her eyes for a few minutes before blowing out the candles. At the same time as Mama blew out the candles, it was also time to take a picture.
"Yey!" Tita and I shouted at the same time.
"Thanks, Astrid, Ollie, and Azra," Mama said as she wiped the tears from her eyes. It was already red as well as her nose.
"The drama is over, Carol," Tita said, "This day is special for your birthday, it should just be celebrated," added Tita Ollie then went to the table and laid the cake in its original place.
Mama smiled, "Oh, you're right Olivia, I'm not going to dramatize anymore, and let's eat because I know you're even hungrier than me... Maybe you've been preparing it all day?" Mama changed the subject while looking at the food on the table.
Tita and I looked at each other and secretly grinned, "Secret!" Tita replied and I laughed.
"Just wait, Tita Carol. picture first, "Azrael replied holding a DSLR, "Stand there, I'll take the picture," he continued.
"Picture for memories!" Tita Ollie shouted and Mama and I laughed.
We sat across the table to prepare for the photoshoot. Mom and Tita Ollie are between me now.
"1, 2, 3 smile," Azrael exclaimed once the camera clicked. The three of us posed.
"Are we good there, Azra?" Tita Ollie asked her son. He nodded, "Of course, Ma, another one, wacky," He said while focusing his attention on the camera he was carrying.
"Hmm, maybe Astrid is the only one who's beautiful there," Tita commented while pinching my cheek.
I looked at Azra to see his reaction but he only had a poker face while looking at us.
I stared at Tita Ollie wickedly, "Tita!" I complained and he laughed.
"Sus! Just kidding. All right, do the wacky pose," he said and we did a wacky pose.
Also a few shots before the end of our photo shoot session. The pictures are as much as Tita's requested pose. Anyway, Mama and I have a picture and they also have a picture with her best friend, Tita Ollie.
"Azrael, you too. I'll take the pic," I volunteered to Azrael and I approached him.
He shook his head in disapproval of what I said, "I don't want to," he replied coldly.
"Azrael, you don't have a picture of us yet," Tita Ollie added.
"All right, your mom already said that," I agreed with what Tita said. I saw the doubt on Azrael's face so I just smiled at him as he handed the camera.
He stepped closer to where they were standing and took a seat in the middle.
"1, 2, 3, smile," I replied smiling as I clicked on the camera, "One more. 1, 2, 3, smile!" after I took them I looked at the photo results, "Nice!" I comment on my shots.
Tita Ollie and Mama stepped towards where I was standing, "It would be even better if I took a picture of you two and Azrael. Go ahead, Astrid, stand there next to Azra, I'll take a picture of you two," Tita Ollie replied politely with a trace of a smile on her lips.
Is that it? He is pushing me again with his child. Even when this, Tita Ollie is weird.
"No, Ma!" Azrael complained irritably while scratching his head.
I nodded, "Yes, Tita, let's just eat so that these foods don't get cold," I added to what Azrael said as I looked up at him. It immediately averted its gaze when our eyes met.
"Oh, he's fine! The art of these two lovebirds," Tita commented,
"Anyway, happy birthday Carooool," Tita shouted.
"Wait! Who's calling?" Tita asked as she grabbed her cellphone from her pocket.
She was now staring at her cellphone, "Oh it's Maddie!" she shouted before the call was answered.
"Hello, Maddie?" said Tita after loud-speaking the call.
"Olivia Howell. Go online now! I was texting early on the messenger and you were offline. I'll make a video call with you, hurry," Tita Maddie ordered on the other line.
"Yes, Madame!" Tita Ollie joked.
Tita ended the call and she went online to the messenger and she saw that the message had been sent to her by Tita Maddie. It started to ring and a few moments, later Tita Maddie's family opened up to us.
"Happy Birthday, Carol!" they greeted Mom.
"Thank you, Maddie, and to your family," Mama thanked.
"Hi, Amber!" I interjected the call and waved to Amber, my best friend.
Amber waved, "Hello Astrid, and to you Tita Ollie, Tita Carol, and Azra! Happy Birthday, Tita. I love you," Amber said on the other line with a big smile on her lips.
"Thank you, Amber," Mom said.
Aunt Maddie is on the screen now, "Carol, happy, happy birthday to you. Even if I'm not there, always remember that I'll be there for you. Thru ups and downs. Stay positive, love, and take care of yourself and your beautiful daughter. I love you. God bless, always. May your day be filled with wonder and endless joy, "said Tita Maddie to Mama.
"Thank you, Maddie,” Mom said.
