Chapter 2

"5"

"4"

"3"

This was it. I sighed and closed my eyes.

"2"

"1"

Happy birthday to me.

I opened my eyes and listened to everyone's voices as they started singing the birthday song. "Happy birthday to you!"

We blew out our candles after making our wishes, and mine was to have Desmond feel the same way as I did some time soon.

"Happy birthday to you, my dear children." Our mother pulled us into a tight hug, squeezing all three of us together.

As if that wasn't enough, my father hugged us too.

"Ugh!" Sonnia groaned. "We're not four anymore, Mum, Dad!"

Our father laughed and ruffled her hair.

"You will always be my baby, Sonnia." He said, pinching her cheek.

Sonnia rolled her eyes and excused herself to call her boyfriend, while Noah walked to Mel.

I was left alone with our parents. "Found anyone you like?" My father asked.

"Newman!" My mother shouted at him. "Leave the boy alone. We can't force him to start looking around for his partner."

My father chuckled. "Forgive me, dear son, but it seems you are the serious one among my children. So, I know that you are already looking for her, right?"

"Right, Dad." I replied, even though my heart was set on Desmond.

"Newman." My mother pulled my father's hand. "He is not a little boy anymore. Let him have fun."

She grabbed his hand and pulled him away, leaving me alone.

My gaze swept across the crowd, faces masked in happiness as they danced to the rhythm of the music. Then, my eyes locked with Desmonds.

There he was, laughing alongside his girlfriend, the moon shining brightly on his blonde hair.

He headed towards me, hand in hand with his girlfriend, their smiles radiant against the moonlight.

As he approached, I inhaled, and his scent enveloped me. It was akin to the earthy perfume that arises when rain kisses the soil.

My heart raced in my chest.

Desmond, my best friend since childhood, is the only one able to make my heart flutter.

Time seemed to freeze as our eyes met. The world around us blurred into nothing, and there was only Desmond, his laughter, and the way his hand ran through his hair.

"Randy!" The sound of my name, a distant call, pierced through the surreal moment.

Desmond tapped me on the shoulder, breaking the spell. The touch sent a surge of electricity through me, a jolt that made me shiver.

I turned to face him, my breath caught in the intensity of the moment.

Desmond's obsidian eyes met mine, and he waved his hand in my face. "Randy, are you okay?"

"Yeah," I stammered, my mind struggling to catch up with the whirlwind of emotions.

"Just lost in the moment." I lied.

I can't ruin his relationship with his girlfriend.

Desmond grinned, unaware that I wanted him so badly to be mine.

"Happy birthday, my partner in crime." He pulled me into his embrace, triggering the electric shock again.

I forced myself to smile at him, fighting the urge to hold onto him a bit tighter.

"Happy birthday, Prince Randy." His girlfriend Ana bowed her head as she greeted me.

I smiled at her and then almost grumbled when she intertwined her hands with Desmond's.

"Found anyone of your choice yet?" Desmond asked, diverting my mind from thoughts of grumbling at his girlfriend.

I wanted to say, yes I found who I wanted and he was standing right in front of me, but I couldn't. I didn't want to break their relationship, and I was not sure I would be accepted by everyone.

"Randy!" he called my name again, and just as I was about to reply, his girlfriend whispered something in his ear, and he laughed. "Sorry, Randy, my girlfriend and I are going to talk." He winked at me and walked away.

"Des...." I wanted to call his name, but I stopped myself and heaved a deep sigh.

"I...." I lowered my head and walked to the front of the Mansion, where I saw Sonnia crying, and then I rushed towards her.

"What is happening to you?" I asked her.

"Samuel broke up with me." She announced and burst into another round of tears. "He said that we were not.." She stuttered and continued crying.

I pulled her into my arms and rubbed her hair. "Sorry, sister. You will surely find someone better. I hope you do." I kissed her forehead.

"Have you found anyone?" She asked, but I heaved a deep sigh.

Instead of replying, I walked to the front of the mansion and sat down on the steps. She sat down beside me and grabbed my hand. "Is everything alright, Randy?"

I forced a chuckle out of my mouth and nodded.

There was no use telling her that Desmond was who I wanted. Even though she was my sister, I believed that she might start to see me as a different person.

So, I shook my head. "I believe my fated companion is not around here." I chuckled and heaved a deep sigh. "Who cares about partners anyway?"

You do.

Desmond is who you want. Tell everyone and stop acting like...

No!

I blocked myself from such thoughts and then laughed. "Maybe Noah was right when he said that having a companion is a waste of time."

Sonnia let out a breathy sigh and then stood up. "Forget this, let's go to the party and have fun."

She grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the royal garden. "Let's go have fun!"

Fun?

What fun would I have when I can't even claim who I want?

Regardless, I followed her to the garden.