CHAPTER 2: A birthday surprise

   ADELE'S STANDPOINT

   "Lu Cheng?" The lady removed her gaze from the TV to me and flashed me a wide grin. "What in the world! How did...how did you_" my remaining words caught in the air when with the speed of a cheetah, she was hugging me so tight I could barely breathe. My hand bag dropped on the floor and tears clouded my vision as I wrapped my arms around her. 

    I haven't seen my bestfriends for closely six years after I left home. Although we still communicated constantly via social media I had still missed them terribly but home wasn't calling my name in a long while and I never planned to return back to the place where I received the biggest shock, embarrassment and shame of my entire life.

   Cheng was more grown now, married with two kids. She looked much fleshy than I last remember her to be and she now had bangs on her usually straight and long brown hair.

   We were both still gushing and crying over how well we've missed each other when another surprise package greeted me.

   "Girls that's enough, I feel cheated right here."

Lana? That's Lana's voice.

I raised my teary gaze up and a sharp excited scream left my mouth when I saw Lana, my pretty Lana walked in the living room from the kitchen. She was freaking pregnant but have also added a lot of weight.

   "Lana!" I was hugging her so tight I feared I could hurt her baby-bump. 

   "Easy girl. Happy birthday love. We've missed you so much we had to come unannounced." She chuckled.

   "Really?" I cried. 

Lana got married to her boyfriend two years ago but I didn't attend. I couldn't step foot back in the Philippines because it reminded me so much of the one person I've only ever loved. Going back there would bring back happy memories of blissful moments I've shared with my friends, family and even Carlo. But most of all, the bad memories were more powerful and dreadful I didn't dare consider returning.

   "Of course, Adele. And we know how hard it must have been here without us so we decided we were gonna surprise you on your 26th birthday." Lu Cheng said smilingly as they both pulled me to the couch.

   "I know you're surprised on how we were able to find and access your home. Well, remember you'd sent us a picture when you bought this building three years ago. It also wasn't hard guessing the password, you never changed it. It's still the year and day of your birthday." Lana said and she was so right.

   "Girls, I don't know what to say really. I'm only here shedding tears of joy because I never expected you to still care so much about me. Even when I never attended your wedding, thanksgiving or even your baby shower. I wasn't there for you all when you needed me the most, but look, you're here again today. Still loving, still faithful as ever." Tears rolled down my cheeks as I said the words. My friends sniffed as they hugged me again.

   "Don't say that Dela, you've always been supportive too. We know you a lot more than you think. When we got married, you supported us even from a distance. Financially you were there, emotionally you were there for us. Even physically you're were present_not like literally though," Cheng said and we chuckled shortly. "You attended our wedding ceremonies, baby showers and thanksgiving, live from your own side. You even designed our wedding dresses for free! So never berate yourself about not being there for us, because you were. You've always been loving and caring even when with us and when you're not. It's only fair that we check on you too." She said and I found myself being emotional again.

   "Oh my gosh! I can't stop being emotional." I laughed as I wipe my eyes and blinked severally to stop the tears.

   "Oh look at you." They laughed. "You're still as emotional as ever, aren't you?" 

    "Oh well, glad you found out." I grinned and we laughed again. "Thank you coming girls and I'm glad you made yourself at home already. I suppose Kieran isn't here." I looked sideways at them.

   "That's right, the surprise. Lana what are we doing?!" They both flew out of the cushion. "Wait for it!" I heard Lu Cheng laughed before the lights went off.

   I stood up immediately in puzzlement as I tried to adjust my eyes to the darkness. What are they up to? I mused. 

   "Girls," I called but got no response. "What's going on?" I turned around sharply when I felt something warm, small and soft touch my legs. I almost screamed when I saw two small figures, standing before me. Since it was dark, I could only see their shining white eyes and sparkling white teeth.

   I stood rooted to the spot, letting my mind run wild on the possibility of the identities of the two figures my eyes could picture before me. Just then, I heard voices and I turned towards the direction of the stairs to see them climbing down with the lit up candle lights and a sparkling huge cake in their hands.

   "Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you Adele, happy birthday to you." They sang as they approached me. I cupped my mouth in shock as my three friends and their husbands made the way to me. Oh yeah, I had tears of joy running down my cheeks already.

   "Oh My Gosh! Guys! Oh my gosh!" I cried as Kieran grinned at me before placing the same rainbow colored cape cap they were wearing on my head. 

   "Happy birthday, hunny. Make a wish." She said.

  I closed my eyes sniffingly and silently made a wish.

Guess what my wish was about...

   I wished that I find answers to the million questions I haven't gotten in six years, soon. 

   "Aunty Adele." I opened my eyes immediately only to see the most adorable kids I ever set my eyes on, grinning widely at me. 

   "Oh my gosh!" I was about to start gushing over them but Lana interrupted me.

   "Blow the candles first Dela," she laughed.

I did and they all screamed a HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME just as the lights came on and they began dropping their heap of gifts and wishes for me.

   While they did their thing, I immediately captured the adorable babies in my arms as I gushed over how adorable they were. Of course, the kids were Lu Cheng's and her husband, John's, children. They were a girl and a boy. The girl was about four years old and the boy seemed barely two. Kieran was just recently married, she don't have a child yet and Lana was pregnant.

   I didn't care about the others again as I played with the children. I've always had a soft spot for kids and I find joy in being with them and letting their warmth flow to me. 

_____

   Moments after I'd released the children to go play, I was eating cake and drinking wine with my friends and their husbands while we all talked about what's been going on in our lives. 

   Our joyful moment was however interrupted, when we heard the loud bang outside.