Happy Birthday, Natalie
Joyeux anniversaire. Hereux anniversaire. Tous nos voeux sont sincères. Pour ton anniversaire. Tes amis aujourd’ hui. Se sont tous réunis. Ton. Bonheur on l’espère. Pour ton anniversaire.
I saw how everyone close to me was here. They all stand in front of me, holding a round white cake decorated with multiple shades of blue hydrangea flowers on top of it.
I told my family and friends that this year’s birthday would change slightly as Daniel told me he had planned something, and I was intrigued. But then I saw my parents, Alex, and friends — everyone was there. I never imagined that I’d be spending my birthday just like how I used to, even when I told them that this year would be different.
Daniel brought them here — his second surprise was this, and I could feel tears starting to build up in my eyes. I walked closer to them as they still sang the birthday song to me. Tears began to fall as I didn’t expect this — he meant it well when he said I’d cry happily — I cried happily because this meant I’d be spending it with the people I love.
I turned around to see Daniel standing behind me, looking all smiley. His mouth moved up and mouthed “Je vous souhaite plein de bonheur en cette journée spéciale.” This means a lot to me as I didn’t get to spend my day with them for the past few years when I was abroad.
A smile appeared on my face as soon as he said that. Venez plus près, I told him.
He walked closer and stood beside me, and our hands touched gently as we stayed still. We didn’t move for a few minutes since our hands started to feel each other — we just stayed still. Until one of our fingers began to intertwine — slowly. Our fingers moved as if they were familiar with each other — like we have done it more than hundreds of times — we had never held hands before, not even once — especially not in this type of situation.
The lights that were previously off started to light up one by one.
Everything looks so clear now — the surprises he had planned for me. A white cloth covered the long table under this giant tree, and with the portable candles above, it started to make everything clear. His plan, what we would do, and how well he had prepared for my birthday. I used not to care much about my birthday as it only meant that I was getting older, but I feel like from this year forward, everything will be different — I’ll start to wait for my birthday celebrations. I never considered my birthday a special day where I have to throw a party — I don’t even celebrate my sixteenth birthday or any other birthday. We usually had dinner together, either at home or at a restaurant.
As the singing started to stop, Daniel whispered to me, “Go make another wish.”
His hands were still intertwined with mine — hiding at our back like we didn’t want anyone to find out. We crossed the state line now — we crossed it a while ago when we met in Singapore — the peck he gave me started everything.
Everyone told me to make a wish before the wax candles started to melt the round cake.
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I started to close my eyes and make a wish that I hope will come true, and I think I’d be making the same wish for the next couple of years. I hope that it will come true. It doesn’t matter if I didn’t get the bag I wanted or ended up not getting driving lessons. It doesn’t matter if I don’t get to see any Formula One ever again.
I opened my eyes again and blew until all the candles went out.
Daniel’s hands at the back started to rub me slowly, and we didn’t want to let it go. I couldn’t help but smile at how it felt — how his hands felt, to be exact. It feels warm, and it just feels so nice — comfortable too.
After a few chit-chats with everyone, we started to sit at the table Daniel had prepared. Servers filled our glasses with drinks and put the appetizers on our plates.
Before we started to eat, there was toast that was given — from my parents to Daniel’s, and ended up with me thanking them for making the time to spend their days with me. I thanked Daniel, too, for how he planned everything, from the lanterns to the late dinner he had prepared. He invited everyone I cared about and ensured I spent it with them, too — not just him. This was a thoughtful gift, and I couldn’t help but smile each time I looked at him.
The servers took the empty plates and brought out the next dishes — the main courses to the desserts. Everything was meticulously planned. From how the table was decorated to how the fairy lights connected with each tree around us — it looked beautiful. He used portable candles because he knew that the wind would blow hard around this time, from the blankets he had put on each seat to the background music he chose for the dinner.
It’s almost midnight — just a few minutes left until the clock strikes twelve. The air started to get colder than before as the temperature dropped, and some of us were already wrapped in the blankets Daniel had prepared. We had finished the dessert, too, and they started to clean up the tables — taking away all the empty plates and glasses.
“J’ai autre chose pour vous”, he whispered into my ears.
At this point, I won’t try to guess what he was about to show me. I found it astonishing for everything he had planned for me — from the first date to the birthday that absolutely won first place in my heart. I don’t know what else he could have prepared, but I will surely like it. I haven’t met anyone who would do such a thing for someone like this. Daniel made me feel special, and he made everyone around me feel involved, too, like how he asked for my father’s permission so that he could teach me to drive (he failed multiple times) or how he planned everything so that I could spend it with my loved one too.
My parents and Alex returned first as they had to fly early in the morning. Oceane and Cecile will be staying the night with me, and they told me they would be in their room to clean up first.
As the countdown began, his smile started to appear — bit by bit with the sparkling in his eyes.
“Natalie, regardez le ciel.” He told me.
But instead of doing what he said, I kept looking at his face rather before I could hear the loud explosion sound. The firework burst one another, scattering tiny sparks into the sky as I finally tear my gaze away from Daniel’s face. I saw a beautiful display of fireworks. The colors and patterns light up the night sky. The vivid hues of crimson, gold, and sapphire blend seamlessly, and I am mesmerized by how the fireworks paint the sky.
“Je te souhaite de ne jamais cesser de profiter de tous les petits moments de ta vie! Bon anniversaire, Natalie.”
