"Mom!"


    "Here, my girl." My mom, Mrs. Lilly, is working on my birthday party. She''s a beautiful and stunningly growing woman. We''re very similar in appearance, though not in our thoughts. She hates the Parker family, which means Ronald''s family.


    My mom is an entrepreneur. She loves flowers; that''s why she started a business with her own perfume line. When I was a child, my mind was always curious about flowers, and now I''m thinking of taking one step further in the perfume business. But my dad says, "You need to complete your studies first."


    "Mom, I told you I wanted a simple party, but this is..." There is so much decoration and so many guests. I told my mom I wanted just my friends, but she invited the whole college. She doesn''t like to show off, but this is her way of showing love for me.


    "This is what? Oh, come on, my girl, it''s not a big deal. It''s better for you to take it as a habit because..." Oh, there she goes again, giving me lectures about parties and class society.


    Blah blah.


    "Lilly, you''re talking to walls," my mom stops talking at my dad''s voice. She narrows her eyes on me and raises her brows.


    "Dad, please don''t. And by the way, where''s my gift?" Dad comes forward and kisses my head. His warm smell of love is always pure and blessed.


    "Happy birthday, my little Rosee Posee. This is for you." Oh, my god.


    "Dad, I don''t... I can''t thank you." He gave me my own car. Seriously. My feet start bouncing.


    "Carter, you can''t. She needs to learn."


    "Mom, I know how to drive. Dad already taught me." Mom never knew that Dad gave me secret lessons about the car. Here, she is shocked.


    "Carter, you''re giving her too much." She grabs my car keys, but my dad snatches them back and gives them to me. Without listening to them, I run to where my car is parked. It''s a beautiful BMW.


    "Dad!" I shout with full force, and both look at me.


    "I love you." They both smile, and I know Mom is faking it because, deep down, she loves me.This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    Later, when night comes, my party is already in full swing. Music, dancing, food, and, of course, drinks. My friends and classmates are here, but Jessie and Ronald haven''t shown up. My eyes are always on the door. There are so many wishes and gifts, and the best gift comes from my friend Annie.


    She is my best friend. Since I started school, she has been by my side, and now we''re in college. She''s like family.


    After saying goodbye to all my friends, I take two plates of cake and send a message to Jessie.


    Me: Cake! I want to eat. (Attach photo)


    Jessie: Hell yes! God, you''re my savior.


    Me: Coming to open your window.


    It''s our secret that, late at night, she comes to my room or I go to hers. Sometimes we study, and sometimes we just talk. Dad knows about me and Jessie. Unlike Mom, he never stops us. But when Ronald is involved, things are different. He''d spend nights in my arms. We''d talk and kiss, but he never took it further. I wanted him, but now there''s nothing between us.


    It''s early winter, and the cold wind gives me shivers. I stumble with the plates while climbing. I knock on her window, and she opens it. But before helping me, she snatches the plates from my hands.


    "Hey, that''s not fair!" But she''s already gone.


    "Help yourself," she whispers aloud. It''s dark in her house; everyone is asleep. Ronald is asleep.


    "You missed my party." She stops eating.


    "You know, Mrs. Laura... I hate her. She tries to control our lives, and she''s doing a great job with Ronald. He''s blind to it." Her anger is plain on her face. Everything about it feels wrong.


    "It''s fine. But I missed you both." While she eats, I sit on her bed and try to call Ronald. He doesn''t pick up. It''s my birthday, and I''m still waiting for a wish from him. Hate or love, he''s my first. But today, he''s not around, and I know he''s gone off somewhere with friends or girls.


    I stop calling and sit there, just waiting. Every second feels heavy. He doesn''t come home. My eyes are on the door, but nothing.


    After leaving Jessie, I walk toward home. Someone grabs my elbow and stops me. I turn, and there he is—Ronald. But he''s bleeding. His face is swollen, and blood drips from his mouth.


    "Ron. What happened? You''re... bleeding." He hisses in pain as my hand lands on his cheek. God, he''s bruised and swollen.


    "It''s nothing; just a fight." He steps back, breaking the warmth of my touch.


    "You''re hurt."


    "You''re hurting me more." His words cut deeper than any wound I could see. Watching him kiss someone else, seeing him with other girls, hearing his lies—those wounds sting worse than this.


    "Here, happy birthday, Rose." He''s never called me just Rose before. It stings.


    "Thank you."


    "I... I saw you from the window. You looked happy without me." Never. Open your eyes, please.


    "Yeah, it''s my birthday, and you know how my mom is..." Before I finish, he grabs my face between his hands and rests his forehead against mine.


    "It hurts, you ignoring me, leaving me alone. Don''t put distance between us. Don''t kill me with your hate." His pain is unbearable.


    "I love you, my Rosee Posee. I can''t live without you. Let''s go somewhere, just you and me. I promise you—no regrets." A single tear falls to the ground. He doesn''t understand; forgetting that night is impossible.


    Suddenly, he collapses to the ground.


    "How dare you touch my daughter with your dirty hands?"