All The Love, -P

I

Dani

"Happy birthday Dani!" I opened my eyes and saw the people who I really love and matters in my life - my family, and my closest friends.

"Happy birthday baby girl. You are a year older now which means I am also old." Mom said and hugged me. Mom has always been a drama queen. She always tells me those words every birthday of mine.

"Thanks, mommy. But where is dad?" As much as I don't want to ask her questions because definitely my hunch is right on his whereabouts now, I still want it to come from my mom's mouth.

"Well, you know your dad does not want you to celebrate your birthday in the house." I can sense my mom is trying her best not to say one wrong word regarding on the whereabouts of my father because she knows I am totally against his idea. I sighed. No matter how much I will oppose on my dad's idea the words that he spits out in his mouth will be the word everyone should abide.

"Mom. Just give me the gown. I know that no matter how much I will rant right now it will still be useless because at the end of the day, I still need to show up to the people who is not even a big part of my life."

"Missis Hoodford, you can leave Dani on our hands now. We will help her prepare for tonight." Tori, my cousin said. My mom nodded and left us three in my room.

"Don't worry our dearest Daniella Maxine, your party's theme, as always, is masquerade so no one from our school will know you, well except for the faculty and staff." Germaine said while helping me putting on my gown.

I looked at my friends and all of them got a silly smile plastered on their faces. I know that if I ask them why they are smiling like that they will just ignore me. Boy, I am pretty sure that smile has something to do with the party later, and I have bad feeling about it.

And as expected, my party is held at our grandest hotel, more of like my dad's party. Like, 90 % of the people here are a big question mark for me, most them are my dad's investors. As much as I want my birthday to be celebrated in a simple and peaceful way, my dad will always be against it. I can hear my father's voice getting inside my ears. "You are my only child and the future and only heir of our company. We should celebrate it where people can recognize you already a very young age." And of course, the line that will be forever marked in my mind: "And also, it's a good opportunity to have some new investors for our company." When will my dad stop thinking about work? When will he give his family some time to spend with? And will that time ever come?

"Dani - I mean Maxine, brace yourself because you are about to meet the love of your life!" Tori said and started pinching my arm. What does she mean I am going to meet the love of my life?

"Oh my gosh! Don't tell me!" the realization hit me hard.

"YES! YES! YES!" Germaine shrieked. "Your father is going to introduce to you a young man."

"And he is not just a young man, he is like the hottest guy and I can already imagine the faces of other girls drooling at him and only watching him from a distance while he is holding your hand." Tori said and just like in cartoons, her eyes were like forming into a heart shape.

"So, tell me who?" I asked. Before Tori could utter the guy's name, someone hugged me from behind.

"Happy birthday my little princess. Wait, you are not little anymore." Dad's deep voice said.

"Daddy! Thank you. And please, I am still your little princess."

"So what do you think of your party tonight?" Dad asked. And as much as I want to roll my eyes and whine over at him to just go home and have a simple dinner, I should just pretend that I love it but boy, it's so hard to spit some words on how happy I am on this celebration. "Well, we better go now. Get ready." Dad added and left.