A Cold Night's Sweetness

Sweet Or Sour

Today is going to be awesome. Finally I am 16 now, I thought as I woke up in the morning. As I got up from my bed, Jess came behind me and yelled "Happy Birthday". She even sang the stupid birthday rhyme. I laughed at her voice cracking in the middle. Thanks, I said in the middle of my laugh. After laughing so much, I managed to ask, "Where are mom and dad?" Jess stopped laughing and said, "Sorry, Su but your dad had to go to somewhere due to his work and your mom went with him." My smile drooped on having to celebrate my birthday without them. "Oh, I forgot, here is the card from them. They asked me to give it to you since they left early." I took the card and read what was inside it. I felt disappointed that they had to work during my important day. Brushing aside my sadness I asked Jess, "Where are your parents and Aunt Ellie and all?" she said that she was not quite sure where they went but they kind of said that they will visit one of our relatives who was hospitalized yesterday. Allen and Fallon had gone out to run some errands. "So it's only two of us here today," Jess said.

"Wanna go for shopping, Su?" Jess asked after I finished washing up. She must have seen the disappointment in my eyes and wanted to make my 16th birthday a happy one. It was not a sweet 16 but a sour one. I nodded, agreeing to her.
She brought me to the dress section and started dressing me up. She asked me to pick a dress I love and said that it was a birthday present from her. I felt tears stinging my eyes when she said that, I chose a long sleeved blue and white dress that was neither glittery nor too dull but appropriate for every kind of functions. Jess even liked my choice and we bought the dress and accessories that would go with it. We visited so many fashion stores and tried out different snacks on the way. I was beginning to feel great and I was happy that I was not alone on my birthday that Jess was at least with me. She brought herself a dress that best suited her and a makeup box. It was almost 6pm when we came back to our car. I was wondering if mom and dad came back from the work when Jess interrupted saying that we two should totally wear the dress today. I rejected the idea but she told me that she has booked a table for two in order to celebrate my birthday. I didn't want to go but looking at her getting excited moved me. It had only been two years since she began working and by refusing to go, it would only mean wasting her hard earned money. I didn't want that.
We went to nearby bathroom and wore our dresses; it perfectly fitted on our body. Jess makeover session started when we entered inside the car; she perfected my eyelashes, powdered my face, did my hair, put on a light pink lipstick on my lips, and put on the jewelries we bought earlier. I put on a matching strapped sandal to complete my look. "You look beautiful! Su," Jess exclaimed as she finally gave me the mirror to see myself. I did look different. Jess went outside to call the restaurant manager if everything was arranged. I was just going over everything we bought when she came back and said, "Let's go to the Hotel first. We will keep the other clothes in our room and then go to the restaurant."

When we reached to the Hotel, it was dark inside. "What happened to the Hotel? Why is it so dark?" I asked Jess. "The light must have gone," she said. We stand in front of the entrance unable to see our own feet. "Hey, Su, you go inside, I think I left my phone in the car. I will go and fetch it." I went inside, carefully supporting myself against the wall, "Is anyone here?" I said. Suddenly flashes of light blinded my eyes and before I could adjust my eyes, a large group of voice shouted, "Happy Birthday" and songs started playing.

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