PERFECT MATCH

28 - Happy Birthday

Mabel's POV

Freedom was what I craved most. To be independent, to call the shots and make decisions, to be accountable to myself only and enjoy the good things of life. The last two weeks have been the worst time of my life and I realised that my need had changed with time, it wasn't to be free. No, it was to be loved. I craved love so badly, I wanted a man to hold me in his arms.

Life had become a chore. The tables had turn and I had become a workaholic. I know right –five years ago I'd never had thought this would be me. On a good day I spent over sixteen hours at the office, working late into the night and skipping dinner – sometimes eating takeouts. Friday nights were for going clubbing with my girls, Saturdays, spa and salon time with Ada and all the women in the family. Sundays, mom went to church with her sister and grandma while Ada and I stayed home to prepare lunch. Fucking boring routine.

                      I hadn't heard anything from Jason, I didn't know if he had returned from his trip. Working my ass out wasn't enough to distract myself because I'd find my thoughts drifting off to him. Everytime my phone dinged, I hoped it would be a notification from Jason.

                      My life was pretty simple. I had never loved any man and no man had ever loved me. I had a dirty dating history, I mean I had dated all kinds of men and I never really committed to the relationship, I only cared about the sex. None of them were out to offer what I really wanted, they were in for the fun. So I played a long. The relationships never lasted more than a month anyways, I always broke it off before I would grown on them. Pushed the good men away too.  Jason was the only person who I came close to loving. There was one man too, I only met him once, we only had one night together but he said he was going to find me and never did. We never saw each other again.

    
                        It was my first time the best sex I had ever had – I mean not that it came close to sex with Jason. Facepalming myself, my legs curled up in the bed, my fingers rubbing my legs as I stared down at my nails polished in red, the dirtiest flashback taking me down memory lane.

              Five Years Ago

                      
I had turned eighteen. It was the sixteenth of June, a beautiful morning in the spring. Waking up to the sunrise, was the most beautiful thing, not as priceless as waking up to my family singing a 'happy birthday' to me, with a cake, balloons, gifts and smiling faces.

My dad kissed me on the forehead, handing me a jewelry box that my itching fingers rushed to open. A sparkly diamond earring, melted my heart. A smile lit up my face as I jumped on my dad to give him a choking hug. My mother handed me a bag, a Brown leather Prada Bag that looked like I'd been ushered into womanhood. Thanking her, I gave her a hug and inhaled the fresh and addicting scent of leather. Ada had promised to give my gift later and I was curious to see what she had up her sleeves. Emeka had gifted me black Strap–on Jimmy Chu heel sandals, they were perfect. Blowing the candles out of the biggest cake, my eyes fluttered shut as I made a wish–i wished to find the love my parents had. The best part, when my dad handed me travel documents, a visa to Vegas in his office.  My scram and loud shriek rang through his office, echoing through the whole mansion. I was elated, confessing my love for my dad over and over again, this was the most I had seen my dad smile since I was born. I was speechless, knowing that he took a chance to trust me for the next twenty four hours and I was going to make the best of it.

In a few ours, I was breathing the air of Vegas. Night had come and it was time to get into the dirty business of the night and I wasn't doing that alone.  The girls and I shared a suite that dad booked for us.