Flickers

Chapter 57

The cool night air relieved us of the summer heat typically felt in the day, the narrow street transformed into the world of festivity as glamorous lights and neatly ordered seats along with a table full of food was presented just in the heart of their homes.

As she stepped out of her home with those dazzling white heels, the crowd buzzed and clapped, their eyes reflected the flower bud that has now bloomed in front of their very eyes. Her dress was the color of the night sky but much lighter than it, her smile reached her eyes with a genuine complexion expressed on her face. As she walks towards the center, everyone ceased their excitement and filled the alleys with hushed tones.

"Thank you everyone for coming here, for the people that helped and those who have come here to celebrate my debut, thank you so much!"

After that announcement, applause rang from the crowd, and soon it was time for the celebration to start.

Several of her friends and some of her classmates have arrived, each with a smile lighting up their face, as her eyes wandered around she finally locked eyes with him.

Eric, the person she wanted to be within her debut, was second to her father.

Thinking of her father, made her feel disappointed and sad that he couldn't attend her debut. He would be the last one that would take her hand and dance, he wouldn't be able to give her the gift he has promised before and wouldn't be able to greet her on her birthday.

Although the party was invigorating and is packed with the people she loves, it is still inadequate to her feelings of loss.

"Now we're going to call the people included in the 18th gifts!" One of the hosts said it was my cousin who was used to doing this type of hosting.

One by one till my lap was filled with gifts, eighteen gifts to be exact, I smiled at them one by one. Thanking them for giving me a precious gift that I for sure would cherish and then it was Eric's time to give me the gift.

I managed to invite him to my debut as my classmate, a close friend of ours, and when he was near me, he gave me a box and his hand stayed for far too long when I received it from him.

Thankfully I was adorned with a blush on my cheeks or else my mother and especially my brothers would be suspicious about it.

Following it was the next segment; eighteen
candles where the person included in that part gives wishes or heartfelt messages to the person who is debuting. It was where my friends were involved and I just knew that whether is gonna come out of their mouths, would surely embarrass me or make me cry but I highly doubt the latter part.

"Happy 18th birthday Ange! Thank you for our friendship and for all the advice that you gave me, I love you!" It was Alysson and that surprised me to be able to hear something coming out of her mouth that was so sweet, I thought it was only reserved for her boyfriend.

"Happy birthday Ange! You're older than me now yet I'm still taller than you" laughter rang and I just glared at her playfully. "But don't worry, I will always back you up and I wish that you would achieve your dreams and live a fulfilled life" if faith just cut out the earlier parts then I would have no problem crying.

I laughed, I cried and I snorted after hearing their messages along with my brothers who just couldn't wait but say all the embarrassing moments they've seen from me and that's just not good! Erics's here and I don't think that I would want him to hear how I pissed off of my brother's face.

"Ange, our bunso, your already big huh. Time flies fast, if your father is here he would be very proud of what you have become. Always remember that mom is always here, mom would always nag you because mom wanted you to be a good child. You know that mom lives you right? Happy birthday again bunso, I love you!"

(AN: Bunso means the youngest child in the family)

Tears fell from my eyes and I just hugged my mother, I tried so hard to make it seems like everything is happy but I hated the fact that my father wouldn't be here by my side, celebrating me into stepping into adulthood.

I was then put into my room and got some makeup on my face again after crying. In the meantime, there were some performers that my brother found for me, they were there to eased things and entertain them while faith was finishing my makeup.

Soon I returned and it was the time for the eighteenth dance it is where 18 men composed of your family and loved ones would dance and give you roses.

Almost all of my brothers and my cousins participated in this part and sadly, I couldn't let Eric join in, or else they would surely doubt my single status on Facebook.

We were slow dancing in the middle of the narrow street that I once ran and played with countless times, the moon watched as I twirled and twirled till I feel my feet aching but I didn't stop, the night was calm as the dance reached its peak.

It wasn't by far the most impressive celebration nor would it be called a shabby party, it was in between the two but for me, just celebrating my birthday with the people I love was enough for me to be satisfied.

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Chapter 57 is up!

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