Unexpectedly

Chapter 17: Edriel's Birthday

Erick: "uhh.. guys, you wanna come to my house tonight? It's my sister's birthday."
Raphael: "you have a sister?"
Erick: "yeah. Her name's Edriel."
Arianne: " how old is she now?"
Erick: "uh i guess she's gonna be 7 now."
Clarissa: "well, what are we waiting for? Let's go buy her some presents."

They go to a toy store to look for the perfect gift.

Raphael: "guys, me and Marcus will look there. We'll see you guys later."
Clarissa: "I'll go with you guys. Arianne, Erick, you comin'?"
Erick: "nah... I'll... go on my own.."
Arianne: "me too."
Clarissa: "okay, we'll see you in a while."

Clarissa, Raphael, and Marcus go to the dolls area. Erick went on his own, while Arianne is looking on her own.

Arianne: "hmm... what should I give her? Maybe a..no... what if.. meeh..."
Erick: "hey."
Arianne: "wha?! Don't..don't just sneak up on me."
Erick: "yeah yeah, so... what are you going to buy for her?"
Arianne: "I still don't have any idea, how 'bout you?"
Erick: "..... I.... don't know."
Arianne: "what? Seriously? I mean, she's your sister.."
Erick: "..... I'm not as close to her as you think.. ", "Edriel is not truly my sister.... she's adopted."
Arianne: "really? Why?"
Erick: "my mom and dad had a fight before and I'm their only child. My dad went to USA to separate from mom, and he took me with him. Mom was left all alone here in the Philippines, she decided to adopt a child so she won't feel alone."
Arianne: "damn.. that's kinda sad."
Erick: "but even if my mom and I are far away from each other, we still communicate through chat, calls, and texts. After many years passed, last year I come back here alone, without my dad. I'm just so sick of him. He treats me like I'm just a little puppet, it sucks!"
Arianne: "......."
Erick: "I don't want to be a bad son to my mother. I don't want her to see me and I don't want to become like my father who is an asshole! I tried to be a good brother but... I just don't know how.."
Arianne: "it's okay."
Erick: "I don't know what to give her.."
Arianne: "well you can give her something she wants to have, something she likes.. or something you observed from her that she always having fun with."
Erick: "like what? I mean... I don't really spend time with her.."
Arianne: "just think of what makes her happy."

Erick is thinking while Arianne is looking at the stuff toys.

Erick: (a stuff toy? ...) flashback(Edriel: Wow! A bunny! It's so cute!! I want one!")
(Perhaps i could give her a bunny stuff toy.)

He picks a bunny stuff toy with the same size of a real bunny.

Arianne: "a bunny stuff toy... that's a cute choice."

Later, Erick, Arianne, Clarissa, Raphael, and Marcus go to the Andersen's house to attend the birthday party.

All: "happy birthday, Edriel!!"
Edriel: "wow! A birthday party!!"

They give their gifts to Edriel, and her reaction was priceless.

Edriel: "wow!! Thank you, thank you!!" *gives a big smile*

It's Erick's turn to give his gift.

Erick: "uh.. here's your gift, happy birthday." *slightly blushing in embarrassment*
Edriel: *opens the gift* "wow!! A bunny rabbit!"
Sarah: "a bunny stuff toy, nice choice. Why did you pick that as a gift?"
Erick: "I noticed before when we go to the mall and pass by a pet shop, she always looks at the Rabbits."

Flashback: at the pet shop..
Edriel: "a bunny rabbit!! Mom I want one!
Sarah: "sorry honey, we can't have a pet for now.."
Edriel: "awww...."

Edriel suddenly hugged him.

Edriel: "thank you, Big brother!! "
Erick: *shocked & blushing* "u-uh..."

Later everybody was having fun, Erick and Edriel are playing. Edriel is riding on Erick's back. It's getting late, so Erick, Arianne, Clarissa, Raphael, and Marcus go home.

Clarissa: "I'm going home now, bye!" *leaves*
Arianne: "bye!"
Raphael: "well, Marcus and I will go now."
Marcus: "bye, guys."

Erick and Arianne waved goodbye then Raphael and Marcus left.

They ride a taxi to their condominium. While they're walking to their condo unit...

Arianne: "she's really happy, isn't she?"
Erick: "yeah.. I felt... happy.." *smiles*
Arianne: *looks at him* (w-woah! This is the first time I've seen him smile..)
Erick: "I didn't actually know how to interact with kids.. that's why I don't really play with her.."
Arianne: "well..now you finally feel what it's like to play with her."
Erick: "yeah... uh hey, Arianne... "
Arianne: "huh?"
Erick: "thanks.."
Arianne: "for what?"
Erick: "for earlier.. you listened to me and help me decide on what kind of gift I should give her. And... sorry... for being mean to you.. when we first met."
Arianne: *blushing* "u-uh it-it's okay...actually, I should say sorry.."

And they smiled at each other..