Bucket Of Feelings

Short Story: Surprise

It was a normal school day, the sun peeking through my windows, the fresh air flowing past my face, the flowers smiling brightly in the morning sky. Another day, having no idea what might happen. I stood up, made my bed, and got ready for school. I kissed my mom goodbye and started thinking about school, again. 

Walking silently, I received a message, telling that we have a meeting at 8AM. Looking at my phone's watch, I panicked. I'm late!! I ran, swift as a lightning. Before I knew it, I was there, standing in front of the school gate, almost dying of thirst and tiredness. The words "I am late" kept repeating in my head, pressuring me to move even faster. Once again, I ran, I ran to the office where our meeting will be held. I am 5 minutes late. As I slowly open the door, getting myself ready for a long and embarrassing sermon, I was startled. "Surprise!! Happy Birthday Rose!!" Goodness! I almost died of a heart attack! Thinking it was just a normal day, I actually forgot that it's my birthday!! This is a very good way to start my day, forgetting my birthday, rushing all the way to school, almost had a mini heart attack thinking I'm late for an important meeting, and of course, still tired and thirsty. What a very good way.

Cheering up, I walked calmly towards our classroom, with a big smile on my face of course, approaching my boyfriend, who seemed stressed out, frustrated, and sad. "Boo!" I said and guess what? He. Shouted. At. Me. He didn't realize it was me though, his face softened upon gazing on my face. "I'm sorry, I was just not really having a good day." Of course its fine for me, it's understandable. I was waiting for him to say the words, but it did not come. I waited, silently, really not talking. "So, shall we go?" Oh. There's no greeting. Oh. Okay. I followed him silently, not really having the energy to talk, or even smile. He's my boyfriend for Pete's sake. He forgot my birthday, another good way to start my day. "Hey baby, are you okay?" He asked. I told him I'm fine but he didn't even sense the sarcasm in my voice. Instead, he smiled like everything's literally fine. I looked up at him and said,

"What's the problem with you? I walked up to you, all smiles, and then you shouted at me. Even though it's understandable, you didn't see it was me. But still, you shouted at me. That was upright rude, for anyone. You're not having a good day? Of course, its fine, I understand. But at least you should have asked me how my day started, and now you forgot my birthday, of all people." I burst out then quickly walked away. I went straight into the bathroom to cry my heart out. After about 5 minutes, I stopped, got myself ready for class, and acted as if everything's okay. I smiled genuinely to those who remembered my birthday, but my heart still aches for that one special person in my life to forget it. I know it's ironic that even I, myself forgot that it's my birthday, but the impact's hard, and hurts me like never before. He never forgot my birthday, never!

My day continued just like any other. After school, I was tired and was hoping to get to sleep immediately. As I walked through our front door, I smelled something sweet, like candles, scented candles. And flowers! Oh, the sweet smell of flowers. I went inside and became teary-eyed, because before my eyes stood my boyfriend, my mother, and my father who has been living outside of the country for how many years now. Crying, I hugged then one by one, saying that it has been the best day of my life. Cliché as it may seem, it really is. All the negativity I've been feeling from my whole day vanished into thin air. My birthday has never been the same ever since.