TYBA 4

"Thanks, Van. I really like the item. I especially love this design."

"You're welcome."

He walked towards the classroom door, leaving me alone with the sparkling silver necklace with a love pendant. Not to forget, there was also a pair of Mickey Mouse and Mini Mouse figurines with our initials on them. Mickey was named with the initial 'D,' and Mini was named with the initial 'A.' I found this particularly special.

I don't know, what does all of this mean? How did he know I like silver jewelry? How did he also know I have a thing for Mickey Mouse? Amidst my confusion and curiosity, I finally mustered the courage to tell him about tonight.

"Van, tonight at seven, at my place. Mom will be celebrating my birthday. If you can make it, please come...?" I messaged the handsome guy.

The chat had already reached his phone, and he had read my message. After a while, my phone screen displayed "typing..." followed by a notification sound, along with his response.

"Sure." He replied briefly.

I closed my phone and placed it on the classroom table. I looked at the pair of Mickey Mouse figurines he had given me and couldn't help but smile to myself. Ah, darn.

"Does this mean he likes me?" I muttered to myself in the classroom.

Mickey Mouse, or Mickey, is a fictional character from a cartoon created by The Disney Company in the 1920s, with Ub-Iwerks credited as the creator. According to Disney, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are a couple, and they are already married. "Does this mean I'll also marry Devan?" What kind of thoughts are these? You're being absurd, Din...!! My head was filled with imagination and strange thoughts. It felt like it was about to explode.

Don't stop, let the rain in front of us keep falling. I want to wait in the rain longer with him. Let billions of raindrops fall this month, and billions of waves of my love grow.

Road, 06. 18 PM.

Tonight, I went out with Devano on his beloved motorcycle. Mom asked us to go buy something. Apparently, she forgot to buy some ingredients when she went to the market this morning.

Mom continued cooking. Devano had arrived early. Since Icha and Ghandi hadn't shown up yet, Mom asked Devano to escort me. The two of us rode together, enjoying the beauty of Malang at night.

Although I'm a teenager and in high school, I'm not skilled at riding a motorcycle by myself. That's why I'm driven to school by Mom every day or resort to taking an online motorcycle taxi as a last resort when Mom can't make it.

We got caught in the heavy rain because Devano forgot to bring raincoats. Lightning occasionally attempted to mediate between the three of us. Rain, me, and Devano were now together. The two of us stood in front of a closed store.

I occasionally stole glances at his sweet and handsome face. As he looked at the somewhat deserted street filled with flowing rainwater in the gutters. The water flowed into every corner of the gutter. And my love flowed into every corner of my heart.

"Here... put this on."

Instantly, silence prevailed as he handed me his jacket. His broad hands now tried to put the jacket on me. The oversized jacket engulfed my petite frame. I tried to refuse it. I felt warmth afterward, not because of the jacket, but because of its owner.

"No need... I won't catch a cold."

He insisted on giving me his jacket. It was a black jacket, made of soft material, with a symbol on the chest indicating membership in a motorcycle gang. However, my nose accidentally caught a whiff of the fragrance he used inside this jacket.

"Yes... thanks, Van."

I thanked him. But apparently, he only responded with a gentle nod. He chose to endure the cold. Occasionally, he rubbed his own arms. Ah, he can be this sweet, it seems. Usually, this handsome guy doesn't behave like this every day. If he's not getting angry, he usually invites me to argue.

We're like Tom and Jerry. Cartoon characters who often fight rather than get along. Nevertheless, we're always together, and strangely, I now love him. I love him more than I did this morning.

After quite some time, the rain had subsided.

"Can we go back now..!"

"Huh... how?" My reverie was shattered by Devano's words.

"Do you want to go home or stay here..?"

"Let's go home, who am I supposed to celebrate my birthday with if I'm not there. Seriously..." I said in frustration.

"It's with Mom at home," he replied.

"Ugh, I don't want to. It's no fun at home."

Home, 08:17 PM.

When we arrived home, I was surprised by everything I saw. A complete party decoration with balloon wall decorations and a sentence.

"Happy 16th Birthday Adina."

The words were clearly written on the living room wall. They were written in pink and white foam carving. Several ribbons were decorated to become flowers, and it looked just as beautiful when displayed on the wall.

I saw my living room transformed into Princess Adina's palace, even if it was just for one night. Prince Devano had also safely escorted me to the palace. He may not have brought a horse, but to me, he was a prince.

"Thanks, Mom, Ghandi, Icha, and you, Van. I never expected to be this happy."

"Happy birthday, beautiful. May you be blessed with many wonderful things in your life. May God bless you in His own way."

"Thank you, Mom. I love you."

Both of us hugged each other, witnessed by a pair of teenagers who were not yet dating despite their mutual affection, Ghandi and Icha. Also, my dream prince, Devano. My eyes couldn't hold back the tears that welled up. I was deeply moved by everything at this moment.

"Happy birthday, Adina," Icha said.

"Happy birthday, Din," Ghandi added.

"Happy birthday, Adina. I hope you like all of this," Devano said.

"Wait, are you guys conspiring or something... hah. You guys..."

I, who hadn't finished shedding tears yet, was now shocked to discover that everyone here had plotted against me. Everything had been planned, and it turned out all of this was Devano's idea. I was still confused, but I liked it all.

"Let's eat here first. Icha, help Mom get the food, okay?" Mom invited Icha to the kitchen.

"Wait a minute, Devano, and Ghandi. Adina, come here."

After a while of waiting...

"Here, a gift from Mom."

Mom handed me a rather large box. It was rectangular and wrapped in pink and white floral patterned paper. I reached for it with both hands.

"What's this, Mom?"

"Just open it up!"

"Okay, I'll open it, Mom."

This was the most beautiful gift Mom had ever given me. It would surely be very useful. Mom gave me a gift of a new laptop with much larger memory and storage. Although it wasn't an expensive laptop, I loved it very much. My old laptop had often experienced errors and had been in the repair shop several times.

"Thank you so much, Mom."

Finally, we had a meal of yellow rice with fried duck in the living room together. Earlier, Ghandi and Icha had also given me birthday presents. But when it came to my birthday, Devano was the first to give me a gift.

A pair of small figurines, Mickey Mouse and Mini Mouse, with our initials, were placed on my study desk in my room. There was also the beautiful silver necklace with a love pendant adorning my neck. Everything felt incredibly beautiful.

Suddenly, the rain began pouring again on the roof of our house.

"Din, you and Icha can sleep in Mom's room. Let Devano and Ghandi sleep in your room."

"Huh... What do you think, Mom?"

"Yes, Din, let them sleep here. It's late, and it's pouring heavily," Mom requested.

****