Happy Birthday?

Vienna’s POV:

“Happy birthday! When are you going to cut the cake?”

A cheerful voice broke through the noise, and I looked up to find a girl standing in front of me. Her face was vaguely familiar, but I couldn’t remember her name. 

"Thanks," I gave her a quick smile. “I’m just waiting for Asher.”

“So when will he be back?”

“Umm! Wait, let me look for him. He told me he'll be back by now.”

“Okay, enjoy your birthday!" 

The girl adjusted her glasses and smiled at me. I slipped past the crowd, stepping out into the corridor.

Asher was my boyfriend, the one who had organized this whole party. All thanks to him, our college cafeteria looked completely unrecognizable, and half the student body was here to celebrate my birthday. 

But even though everyone else seemed to be having fun, my eyes were searching for him. 

Where was he…?

The noise of the party faded behind me as I walked past a classroom next to the cafeteria, towards the basketball ground. 

My feet paused when I heard Asher's laughter coming from the classroom. I frowned, hearing another voice I knew too well. 

"It's her birthday today, isn't it?" 

The playful voice belonged to Gemini, my step-sister. 

I inched closer to the door, trying to hear what they had been planning for my surprise.

“Mm… yes! That’s why I’m planning such a huge surprise for her." 

Asher’s tone was light, and I felt a warm smile spread across my face. He was the best boyfriend anyone could have, and here I was, ruining his surprise by eavesdropping… that's not good.

I turned to leave, ready to head back to the party.

But then, I heard it.

Soft moaning and the wet smacking of lips, followed by the faint rustle of clothing. My stomach twisted into knots as the awful realization hit me, sending a dreadful chill up my spine.

No… no, that couldn’t be what I thought it was. Not Asher. 

I turned back toward the door, my heartbeat thundering in my ears. I had to be wrong. I had to be misunderstanding the situation, right?

Gemini’s voice came again, teasing and seductive.

"Have you forgotten that you have a girlfriend? And yet, you're here with me…”

My blood turned into ice in my veins. 

“Oh, I remember her all too well. But you, babe! You're just irresistible. Tell me, which man wants to think about musty old mashed potatoes, when a snack like you is in front of him? Right now, you are the one I want, not that stuck-up sister of yours!”

"Step-sister…" 

“Yeah, yeah! Step-sister, half-sister, whatever! I just know that she isn’t even half as sexy as you are, and she doesn't drive me half as wild as you do. Now will you kiss me already?”

No. No, no, no.

I couldn’t stop myself. My hand was on the doorknob before I even realized it, and the door went flying, slamming against the wall. 

There they were… Asher and Gemini, locked into a kiss. She was moaning shamelessly into his mouth while his hands were all over her ass, pressing her against himself.  

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" 

I shouted, my voice shaking with rage.

Asher let go of her, running a hand through his disheveled hair. 

“Oh, come on, Vi—”

But before he could say anything else, Gemini slithered over like the snake she was, her face smug. 

“Why, don’t you know what’s going on? Haven’t your stupid books taught you anything?”

She flashed her teeth, mocking me. “Well, then let me tell you, it’s called making out—”

Before she could finish her sentence, I snapped. My hand flew through the air, and the sharp sound of my slap echoed in the empty classroom– leaving a red imprint on her cheek. 

“How dare you, Gemini! I knew you always wanted to compete with me, but I never thought you'd actually sink so low.”

Asher moved between us at the speed of light, pulling Gemini behind himself in a protective gesture.  

He still had the nerve to defend her? 

“What nonsense is this?” 

He demanded, his voice now tinged with irritation.

“Nonsense? You’re the one cheating on me—”

Asher let out a mocking laugh, cutting me off. 

“Oh, please! You think this is cheating?”

I blinked, stunned. 

“What else would you call it?”

“No, sweetie, you are confused. This isn't cheating! After all, I’m gonna become the Alpha once we graduate college, and you’ll be my official mate. Can't you see, this is all the time I have left!”

“Time? Time for what!”

Asher shrugged, and replied in a blank tone.

“To enjoy myself, what else? I won't get time for fun after I become an Alpha. So just calm down and go back to your party, what you just saw is nothing more than a small distraction for me. And don't worry, you will still get to keep your position as my Luna… if you just tame your habit of running your mouth at inconvenient times– like this.”

The fury I felt in that moment was blinding. 

“Go to hell! We are done, Asher Blackwood!”

I simply turned on my heels and stormed out into the corridor, only to find a whole crowd outside the classroom. 

Apparently, everyone had left the party in the cafeteria and gathered out here to witness my personal humiliation. 

“Wait! Vienna—” 

Asher’s voice cut through the murmurs, and I felt his hand grab my wrist, forcing me to stop.  

“No, Asher.”

I pulled my hand free as I turned to face him, keeping my voice as calm as I could. 

“I can't be with you when you clearly don't respect me. I don't care whether you think it’s cheating or not, but I can’t tolerate it. So just let me go—”

Asher spoke over me, his tone turning ice-cold. 

“Wait, you think I was going to ask you to stay?”

There was a cold glint in his eyes, making me realize that this couldn't be the boy I loved… he can't be so cruel, can he?

“Were you really expecting me to beg you to stay, Vienna? I was just stopping you to say that you need to apologize to Gemini. But you’re too delusional! We have been together for three years, but you are too much of a nerd to let me touch you even once. So what was I supposed to do, wait around for your precious vow of chastity to break? If you can't understand such a simple fact, then forget it! We are not compatible at all.”

My cheeks burned, bright red with embarrassment. I had actually expected him to apologize—how foolish of me. Asher was nothing more than a pathetic scum.

Without thinking, I slapped him hard across the face. 

“You can burn in hell for all I care, Asher! But I will never apologize to either of you. Not even if Hades himself commands it.”

My anger flared to new heights. 

“With Moon Goddess as my witness, I, Vienna Belmont, reject you– Asher Blackwood– as my mate!”

Asher’s mouth opened like he was about to say something, but I didn’t give him the chance.

“And since you’re so obsessed with the fact that I didn’t sleep with you, let me fix that right now, as a last favor to you!”  

I screamed.

“I’ll kiss the next guy who walks through those doors, and you can watch!”

I announced, pointing to the double doors at the far end of the hallway, not thinking anything of it. 

I could hear gasps and murmurs from the students around us; and just as if the universe had decided to play along as the Director of the stage production of this drama, the doors swung open. 

Suddenly, tall figure appeared, silhouetted against the bright afternoon sunlight.

He stepped inside, a stranger—dressed in a crisp shirt, formal pants, and tie. I marched straight up to him. 

“Sorry,” I whispered quickly, barely giving him time to process my words before hooking my hand around his tie and pulling him into a kiss.

My lips grazed against his soft lips, his breath warm against mine– but now wasn't the time to be afraid. I blocked out all the noise and thoughts, and kissed him passionately, right in front of everyone… right in front of Asher.

‘After all, I have to make sure that the cheating scum sees every second of it.’

The stranger's hands hovered around my waist, unsure; but thankfully, he didn’t push me away. 

When I finally broke the kiss and pulled away, the guy was looking at me, surprise carved into his features. Instead of saying anything, he just stared at my face like he was still trying to process what had just happened.

But there was no time for apologies and explanations. Right then, the bell rang sharply in the corridor, announcing the end of the break. 

My breath was still uneven as I stepped back and turned on my heel. 

I kept walking, not looking back.