Beneath The Surface

Chapter 27: Happy Birthday, Love

"About your..." Nat and Aika spoke concurrently.

"You first." Nat offered.

"So I was thinking about your birthday...and I'm going to be honest about it." Aika bit her lip.

"What about it?" Nat chuckled.

"I did plan on surprising you but..." Aika stopped halfway.

"It's okay. I know you've been working really hard at work and for your mama and I don't want you worrying about something so trivial..." Nat assured Aika.

"But it's the first time we're celebrating our birthdays together..." Aika sighed. Nat had done so much for her that she wanted to give him a nice surprise too.

"Hey, as long as I have you and Jamie, everyday feels like my birthday. And talking about birthdays, isn't someone's 3 days away from mine?" Nat reminded Aika.

"Right...I almost forgot." Aika had been so caught up with everything else.

"So, how about this? We can celebrate together on Sunday, no fancy surprises but just a simple celebration with the family?" Nat suggested.

"Sounds good to me. Promise that you won't spring any surprises on me?" Aika held out her pinky. She had experienced enough of Nat's surprises to know that Nat would go all out for her.

"Okay, I promise." Nat wrapped his pinky around Aika's.

~

"Ninang, what are you doing?" Jamie took a seat next to Aika on the floor. Aika and Jamie were alone in the apartment since Nat had to work late in the office.

"I'm making your Daddy's birthday present!" Aika pressed a kiss on Jamie's forehead.

"Ooh, can I help?" Jamie looked at the pieces of paper spread over the coffee table.

"Sure, come here." Aika patted her lap. Jamie climbed into Aika's embrace and made herself comfortable.

"What are all these?" Jamie wondered why Aika had a big heart-shaped glass and thin strips of paper.

"I'm going to write things that I want to tell your Daddy onto these pieces of paper and fold them into mini stars." Aika explained as she showed Jamie an example.

"Wow! Can I write some too?" Jamie wanted to be part of it.

"Of course you can, sweetie. I'll help you." Aika held Jamie's hand as she wrote out the message Jamie had for Nat.

"So first, you tie a knot..." Aika then slowly guided Jamie in folding the paper into a star.

"How many are you going to make? The jar is so big!" Jamie stared at the jar which was only 10% filled.

"As much as the things I want to tell your Daddy..." Aika laughed as Jamie escaped from her lap, having lost interest after one star.

"Ninang, you're sleeping over tonight right?" Jamie looked at the clock. It was 8pm and Nat was still stuck at work.

"I'm sorry sweetie, but I have to head home tonight...But I'll leave after your Daddy comes home." Aika promised her mama that she would be back tonight.

"Okay..." Jamie frowned slightly.

"Come on, shall we get ready for bed? We can continue with that storybook we were reading..." Aika held her hand out to Jamie. The girl immediately cheered up.