(Ciel's POV)
The next morning was busier than ever. I was pacing around the living room, checking the clock every few seconds. It was finally Sunday — Adrian's birthday — and the house was way too quiet for what was about to happen.
I looked around. Streamers, confetti, and a pile of decorations were already stacked near the wall.
All that was missing were the people who promised to help.
"Where are those boys…" I muttered under my breath.
Just then — Ding Dong!
The doorbell rang.
I rushed to open it and grinned when I saw them. "Finally!"
Standing outside were Keifer, David, CI-N, Yuri, and the rest of the Section E boys, each carrying bags of decorations, balloons, and boxes of snacks.
"Morning, birthday crew!" Keifer said, grinning.
"Morning!" I laughed. "Come in, come in!"
The moment they stepped in, chaos began.
"Hey! The banner goes up there, not sideways!" Endrix yelled, trying to tape a huge "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ADRIAN!" sign to the wall.
"Bro, it looks better this way!" calix argued, standing on the couch, holding a roll of tape in his mouth.
CI-N was blowing balloons like a machine, while Keifer tried to untangle the fairy lights — and failed.
"Who tied these things in knots?" Felix groaned.
"Probably you," Yuri shot back.
"No, that was you!"
"Guys!" I shouted, laughing. "Focus! We need to finish before Jayjay gets here!"
It took nearly four hours of shouting, laughing, and minor balloon wars, but by the time we were done, the living room had completely transformed.
Gold and white streamers hung beautifully across the walls. Fairy lights glowed around the family pictures. A huge table was filled with cupcakes, snacks, and a gorgeous two-tiered cake that said:
🎂 Happy 18th Birthday, Adrian! 🎂
I stood back, smiling proudly at everyone. "Perfect."
"Finally!" David said, collapsing on the couch. "I can't feel my arms anymore."
Keifer pulled out his phone. "I'll text Jayjay that we're done."
He typed quickly and read it out loud:
"All done. You can bring him now."
Within seconds, Jayjay replied.
"Already on the way 😉."
"Alright, everyone!" I clapped my hands. "Hide! And please, don't ruin the decorations again!"
(Jayjay's POV)
Adrian and I were still sitting on the park bench.
He had just finished saying quietly, "Jay, I told you… I don't celebrate my birthday."
I turned to him softly. "Then tell me, Adrian… what really happened the day before?"
He was quiet for a moment, staring down at his hands. Then he spoke, his voice low.
"My parents…" He took a breath. "They took a flight because they wanted to get me the newest gaming laptop from China. I didn't even ask them to rush, but they wanted to surprise me before my birthday. On their way back…"
He stopped. His voice cracked slightly. "…The plane never made it."
My chest tightened.
"If I hadn't wanted that laptop so badly," he whispered, his eyes glistening, "they wouldn't have gone. It's my fault, Jay. They died because of me."
I felt a sting in my eyes. Without thinking, I leaned over and hugged him tightly.
"Adrian," I whispered, "you have to stop blaming yourself."
He didn't move. I could feel the pain in his chest, the guilt he'd been carrying for years.
Then I pulled back, looking right into his eyes. "Listen to me."
I took a deep breath and said softly:
"You can't spend your whole life punishing yourself for something you never meant to happen.
Sometimes, life takes people away not because of what we did wrong, but because their story ended sooner than ours.
But you — you're still here, Adrian. You're their son.
And the best way to honor them isn't by hiding on your birthday… it's by living. By smiling. By celebrating the life they gave you."
Silence.
Tears slipped down his cheeks as he whispered, "Jayjay…"
I smiled gently, wiping one away. "I'm sure they'd want to see you happy. Not locked in the past, but living the future."
For a moment, he just stared at me — then, without a word, he pulled me into a hug again.
"Thank you," he murmured against my shoulder. "For everything."
I smiled faintly. "Anytime."
After a while, we both stood up. "You ready to go home?" he asked quietly.
"Yeah," I said quickly. "Actually… mind if I come with you? I want to see Ciel."
He blinked. "Ciel? You could've just called her."
I laughed lightly. "Yeah, but I haven't seen her all weekend. Besides, I'm bored."
He shrugged. "Fine. Let's go."
The car ride was peaceful. Adrian was quiet, but lighter — like a weight had been lifted off him.
Halfway through, my phone buzzed.
It was Keifer.
Keifer: "All done. You can bring him now."
I smiled secretly and typed back:
"Already on the way 😉."
As we pulled into the driveway, Adrian parked the car and sighed. "We're here."
He got out, walking up to the front door.
I followed close behind, my heart racing in excitement.
When Adrian unlocked the door and stepped in—