“Careful, baby, don't rush,” Jasmine said with a giggle in her voice while holding Aurora who had been blindfolded, as they both descended the long staircases one after the other.
“Do I have to be blindfolded?” Aurora groused, not liking the idea of this blindfolding stuff.
Jasmine gleamed and looked down at the guests, who were now having a glowing smile on their faces upon seeing the celebrant walking down the stairs.
Noah was not left out on this joyous occasion. How could he not when he was the father of the day?
He was looking more handsome in his custom-made suit with smooth edges and no creases, which made him look rich and noble.
He admired his daughter in her pink ball gown, she looked really magnificent. When he had said his daughter looked like a real princess who came from a royal family, he was not exaggerating.
Finally, Jasmine and Aurora came down from the last stair and Aurora could feel her heart tumbling over and over, not knowing what the surprise his father and Jasmine had planned.
“Are you ready?” Jasmine bent slightly and asked her.
“Yes, yes, I'm ready,” she answered impatiently. Jasmine then nodded and stood behind her to unfold her blindfold unhurriedly.
“Happy Birthday, Aurora!”
The audience cheered loudly.
Aurora slowly opened her eyes to see the guests. Most of them were her classmates, but they came with their parents. All of them are looking beautiful and elegant in their dresses.
Bubbles and some shiny beautiful things kept pouring on her from every angle while the audience kept cheering on and on.
Tears gradually welled up in her eyes, and the tears began to trickle down her cheeks when she started catching a glimpse of her pictures surrounding the whole place.
Most of the pictures were taken while she was in her school uniform. Most of the time before going to school, her father would take some snapshots of her.
Pink and White balloons were hanging and spreading everywhere. Most especially the area where the giant birthday cake was staying. Some balloons were bouncing around the place.
This was so beautiful, she had never seen something so beautiful as this before.
Noah stepped forward and crouched to her height, and gently wiped off the tears that were streaming down her cheeks hysterically.
“Happy Birthday, sweetheart. You know daddy loves you so much, so much that he would start crying soon if you don't stop crying,” Noah said in a low, lukewarm voice.
Aurora immediately thrust herself onto her father and wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, allowing her tears to pour on their own.
“This is just too overwhelming, daddy. I love you too, so much, you're the best daddy in the world,” her voice throbbed with emotions.
By this time, Jasmine could no longer hold back her tears and right then, she felt a hand on her shoulder.
Turning around, it was Alicia, clad in a mint green plum gown with lacey sleeves. She had her blonde hair tied and falling over her shoulders.
“Oh my, you're here already?” Jasmine quickly wiped her tears with the back of her palm and smiled broadly at Alicia.
“Yes, Jasmine, you look beautiful,” Alicia praised, smiling warmly at her.
Jasmine reddened, “Thanks, Alicia. You're not looking bad either,”
Meanwhile, by that time, Noah had left his daughter to attend to her mates.
She was now standing close to her birthday cake while her classmates were coming forward to wish her along with their presents.
She was beyond surprised to see almost all her classmates present at her birthday party.
“Happy Birthday, Aurora,”
Aurora looked up to see her three bullies standing right in front of her with apologetic expressions. They were looking pretty in their Princess dresses and as if they had planned it, their hair was tied in a ponytail.
They kept their gift items at where others were dropping them and came to stand in front of Aurora again.
Although, Aurora had given them the invitation cards when they requested it, but she never thought they would come.
“We're so sorry for those times, Aurora, and we hope you would forgive us. Even at how we used to look down and bully you, you still shared your IVs with us. You have such a big heart, Aurora,” the one in the middle who seemed to be their leader was the one who spoke up first.
Aurora blinked her eyes twice, was she imagining things now?
“Yes, Aurora. Our parents are also here to apologize on our behalf if you want. Please forgive us Aurora,” the second one added, she was a bit taller among them.
“You're so sweet, Aurora. We hope we could become friends,” that was the last one.
For a long time, Aurora couldn't find anything to say as she just stared at their beautiful-looking face in silence.
“You guys were never my enemy, and I hold no grudges against you. Thanks for attending my party. Please enjoy,”
After she completed her words with a full smile on her face, she turned around on them and walked away.
As she walked to nowhere in particular, her eyes kept surveying the guests as if searching for someone.
“Why did he collect my invitation card when he knew that he wouldn't be attending my party?” she uttered to herself in an irritable voice.
“Looking for me?”
Hearing this small masculine voice at her back, he recognized the voice owner to be the only person she had been waiting for.
She drew in a sharp breath to calm herself down before turning around to face him.
Samuel.
She scrutinized him. He was wearing a gray tuxedo and a pair of black oxford shoes, matching his super dense black hair.
His face was round and cute, he was looking so handsome.
At her young age, she was already so smitten by his lovely face.
Samuel brought forward some paces and his fragrance hit her nostril and she forgot to breathe.
“Happy Birthday to my pretty Aurora,” Samuel said with a big smile while bringing forward his hand and stretching forward a green rose.
Aurora frowned deeply, “What do you mean your Aurora, and again, what does a green rose mean?”
“It implies love,” Samuel answered almost immediately.
Aurora became shocked, so shocked was she that her eyes widened very much in surprise.
And before could she open her mouth to retort, Samuel continued.
“I know we are still very young to share anything mutual other than friends now, Aurora. But I want you to have it in mind that once the right time comes, I'll fight for you if I have to. You shall be my girlfriend and then years after, you will become my wife,”
Aurora's eyes expanded the more as she stared at his face, who looked determined and confident.
Time tickled by, but Aurora was still in a state of dilemma and seemed lost for words.
She swallowed and just as she stretched forth her hand to attain the rose, Noah appeared at the scene.
“Excuse me, young man. Would you please permit me to see my daughter for a minute?” Noah asked politely with a friendly smile, surprising Samuel.
“Sure, Uncle. Of course,” Samuel also responded respectfully.
Aurora quickly collected the rose from her with a smile and then walked away with her father.
Jasmine and Alicia had been attending to the guests cheerfully, ensuring the men and women in the hall were alright and needed anything.
They were now conversing merrily while they came down from the stairs. Alicia was holding Noah's laptop, he had asked her to get it for him.
Jasmine inadvertently looked over at the entrance and saw a woman in a magnificent royal blue dress and holding a big wrapped-up package. She smiled widely, recognizing this woman in an instant.
“Mrs. Antonio is here, Alicia. I'll be right back,” Jasmine announced without peeking at Alicia, and left gleefully.
Alicia fumed and bite on her lower lip. She had almost forgotten that Mrs. Antonio would likely attend the party.
“Welcome, ma'am,” Jasmine greeted with a cheerful smile while ushering Mrs. Antonio inside.
“Whoa, Miss Jasmine. You look so beautiful,” Mrs. Antonio complimented, having a broad smile on her face.
“Thank you so much, ma'am,"
“I heard what happened to you, I hope you're alright now?” Mrs. Antonio pressed, looking concerned.
“Yes, ma'am, thank you,” Jasmine appreciated her kindness.
“So, where's the birthday girl?” Mrs. Antonio extended the package she was holding.
Jasmine's smile grew as she collected the gift. She darted her eyes around in search of Aurora and suddenly, the lights went off.
Jasmine became strung out as everyone else in the room while murmurs filled the air.
“What's going on?” she muttered, not understanding why there was a sudden blackout.
After a couple of minutes, the lights suddenly came back again.
She smiled while everybody chorused, “Aww”
Just then, she looked down and saw Noah on his knees, holding the most beautiful silver ring she had ever seen. It has little shiny black crystals gathered in the middle.
The package she was holding slipped out of her hand and her palm quickly covered her mouth in another shock when Aurora also knelt before her holding a golden crown.
She sniffed back her tears when both father and daughter popped their questions, her tears were uncontrollable.
“You're an incredible woman, Jasmine, and meeting you has been nothing but a blessing to me. I don't ever want to lose a gem like you, let's be together forever babe. I love you so much, Jasmine, will you be mine forever?”
“Jasmine, thank you for always caring for me, reading me bedtime stories, dressing me up, and making me happy. Thank you for not maltreating me, but treating me like your daughter. I want it to continue, will you please be my mother?”
It took all the strength within Jasmine to restrain herself from collapsing with shock.
“Come on… say yes already, we are waiting,” Jasmine heard one of the voices she could never mistake for another.
She tilted her head to the source of the voice and saw Paisley on the laptop screen Alicia was holding.
“Paisley?” her voice cracked.
“Yes, darling. You want this too, right? Just say yes already, you're keeping Mr. Cooper and everyone waiting,” Paisley said persuasively.
By now, cameras were now clicking and shining extremely at Jasmine's face.
“Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!” Jasmine's scream was deafening and Paisley was scared she would burst her throat.
Beaming, Noah rose to his feet and then slipped the ring on her finger.
The audience kept cheering on and on, and the twinkling lights of the cameras were never leaving their figure.
They looked at each other with eyes full of affection. Noah then kissed her forehead lightly, and then he moved down and kissed her lips.
There was no gap between their lips,, and they were closely attached. His tongue entangled with her tongue and stimulated the root of her tongue.
The scene was extremely passionate, and the people present couldn't help but applaud their love.
“Hey, can I put down the laptop now?” Alicia asked Paisley from the screen.
“Sure, I can watch from there,” Paisley said, pointing to the table where the gift items were kept.
After Alicia had kept the laptop, she moved closer to Mrs. Antonio and stood right next to her.
“Do you like what you're seeing?" she sneered relentlessly, peeking at her face out of the corner of her eyes.
Mrs. Antonio didn't respond as her heart continued to blaze, and she had no way of dousing the fire.
No, she would never accept this. No!