CHAPTER 34: WINTER’S BIRTHDAY
Winter’s POV
I took a bath as soon as I woke up. Then I went downstairs only for me to see the kid with Matthew helping the maids prepare breakfast.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
Both of them turned their heads at me and smiled.
“Good morning, Miss Winter!” Elisse said.
“Winter, you’re finally awake. We’re just helping the maids prepare breakfast.”
I raised an eyebrow at them. “What for? Do you think I’ll give you what you want if you prepare my breakfast?”
“It’s not like that, Winter. Elisse just wanted to help the maids, just like what she promised.” said Matthew.
“Oh, really? Then good for you. But don’t have false hopes, okay?”
Elisse nodded her head. “Yes, Miss Winter.”
“Fine. Let’s eat now.”
“Can we eat breakfast with you, Miss Winter?”
“If you don’t want to, then don’t eat breakfast with me. I won’t mind.”
“No, we want to eat breakfast with you, Miss Winter!”
After having breakfast, I already changed my clothes and went to the filming location.
“Finally, here’s the superstar!” Haley cooed upon seeing me step out of the car.
“How many scenes are we going to film today? I have something to do later.”
“You have something you want to do? What is it?”
I looked at her. “It’s none of your business.”
“Hey, I’m still your manager. I have the right to know everything that you want to do, especially if it has something to do with your craft and popularity.”
“It’s not about that, okay? It has nothing to do with me or with my popularity.”
“Fine. Just make sure you won’t go there by yourself. Fans might see you and attack you if they find out you’re alone.”
“I know, I know. You don’t have to act like a worried mother, okay?”
“Make sure you won’t get caught.”
***
I sat down on the bench as soon as I arrived in the abandoned park. I roamed my eyes around, and as usual, there wasn’t a single person except me. That made me heave a sigh of relief.
It’s my birthday today, and no one even remembered. But oh well, it’s like this every year and I’m already used to it. Today is my real birthday and my fans know a different date, so even they won’t be able to greet me. Only Phoebe and Winston were the ones who used to greet me before, but when they left, I had to celebrate it alone.
“Happy Birthday, Winter,” I said as I took the cupcake out of the paper bag. I also bought a pink birthday candle so I have something to blow.
As soon as I was about to blow the candle, a strong wind came blowing it. I heaved a sigh and smiled to myself. “What is wrong with this world? I can’t even blow my birthday candle?!”
I stayed sitting on that bench while staring at the sun setting, remembering the best birthdays I had when Winston and Phoebe were still there to celebrate my every birthday. But that was long, long ago, and now is different because I no longer have people beside me. It actually makes me think about why I even celebrate my birthday when I barely even have any reasons to.
When it was already evening enough, I decided to go home.
“Why is it so dark there?” I asked my driver when I noticed the lights were off inside the mansion.
“Perhaps they are now asleep, Miss Winter.”
“We never turn off the lights in the library room and in my room!”
I stepped out of the car as soon as it stopped. I ran inside, only for me to see nothing because all the lights were still off.
“Matthew? Elisse? Are you there?! Where the hell are—
Before I could even continue what I was about to say, someone covered my mouth with his hand.
“Mmmmm! Mmmm!”
I tried pushing him away, but he was too strong that he just kept on dragging me with him. I didn’t know where he was taking me because the lights were off and I couldn’t see a single thing.
“Who the hell are you?!” I yelled as soon as he finally let go of me.
I was surprised when I felt him move closer to me. “Wait for it.”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
My eyes widened upon hearing his voice. “M-Matthew?!”
Then, suddenly, the lights turned on.
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MISS WINTER!”
The maids, and butlers, together with Elisse, Matthew, and grandpa greeted me with huge smiles on their faces. They decorated the whole garden with Christmas lights and there were tables everywhere and also a buffet.
“W-What is this? How did you–
“Happy birthday, my dear granddaughter.”
I turned around and saw grandpa smiling at me. I immediately ran and hugged him tightly.
“Oh, grandpa… I missed you so much!”
“I missed you so much too, honey… Happy birthday.”
“Thank you. I almost thought you already forgot about it.”
“And how can I forget the birthday of my favorite granddaughter?”
I playfully glared at him. “Come on, grandpa. I know you’re saying the same thing to Summer.”
He just laughed. “By the way, it was Matthew and this little child’s idea to surprise you like this. I told them that it’s your birthday today and they immediately came up with this.”
I glanced at the two and they were already smiling at me as if waiting for what I was going to say. I heaved a deep sigh and walked toward them. “Is it true that you were the ones who planned this?”
“Actually, it was Ellisse’s plan,” said Matthew.
“Huh. You’ll really do everything for that playroom, huh?”
She shook her head. “N-No, Miss Winter. I didn’t do it for that. It’s because I thought you might feel sad if no one remembers your birthday. I think it’s sad when no one remembers the most important day in your life.”
“Why do you talk like an old woman?”