Un atardecer contigo

Chapter 4: ¡¡Happy Birthday!!

Took me about twenty minutes to fully wake up because I didn't even know what day it was.

Isn't it your birthday?

Yes, that's right.

I went down to the kitchen expecting to find someone. This feels weird, even though I know they must be hiding somewhere.

No one is in the kitchen, and no one is in the bedrooms either.

I went to the garden and entered the barbecue area where I also didn't see anyone. Until...

Everyone appeared with smiles, throwing colorful confetti.

"Happy birthday!!!" they all shouted at once.

The surprise made me very happy. Since I was a child, I've always liked it when they do something like this.

My parents and Romina hugged me tightly, and I hugged them back.

Javier and Mary congratulated me, and Luke came up to me with his charming smile and kissed me on the cheek.

"Happy birthday, Vicky," he said as he put an arm around my shoulders.

"Thank you, Luke," I said, and this time I didn't get nervous.

Yeah right...

"Well, does my daughter want to see her present?" my father said excitedly. It reminded me of when I was little and would tear through the wrapping paper faster than Flash.

I saw him come in with a large box, yellow with a purple bow on the lid.

I opened the box, and a furry creature clumsily pounced on me and licked my face.

I can't believe it, I always wanted a dog... well, a female dog in this case.

She's a bit big, looks like she's about four months old. Her fur is brown with a white spot on her forehead. She's beautiful.

I started crying with excitement.

We had never adopted a dog before, and I didn't expect it now.

"I can't... I can't believe it," I said as I continued to pet Kimba.

Yes, Kimba. I love that name.

"Thank you," I said with a huge smile.

"What are you going to call her?" Luke asked.

"Kimba. I don't know, I just love that name."

Everyone loved that name. Kimba's face showed happiness. My parents had already bought toys and a bed for her.

"But don't you mind having a dog at home?" I asked Mary and Javier.

"On the contrary! As long as she doesn't break things," Javier laughed.

"When we go out, we'll take Kimba with us," Luke said, looking at me.

"Go out?" Okay.

We had chocolate pancakes for breakfast. My favorites.

My parents suggested going for a hike to a volcano to see it up close since it's set up as a tourist attraction.

I always talk to them about volcanoes because I love them. That's why they want to take me there on my birthday.

Both families got ready for the hike. We packed our backpacks with water bottles and sports clothes. My mother looked like an explorer. I couldn't help but laugh.

When we arrived, Luke seemed as delighted as I was.

"I grew up watching volcanoes, and yet every day I fall more in love with them," he said, still looking at the volcano.