Cherry Blossoms - Love in the air..

chapter 7- Birthday gift

Luciana:
Exam preparations were underway. It was already dark outside. Nev and I planned to have a sleepover.

Nev started staring at me as she was bored reading. I continued reading my notes. She slowly moved towards me.

"Oh. Lil Lu~that's a pretty nice thing on your hair. Tell me, where did you go on Saturday?" She smiled.

"Ah..this.." I didn't wanted to say that I went out with Luke.

"If you don't tell me today - - you're get it from me hahaha.." She was trying to tickle me. I have no other way.

"Shhh..let me speak."

"Speak!"

"Okay, so it went like this. I went out on Saturday and bumped into Luke, Dylan and Tiffany. Then.....(Blah Blah Blah)." Sorry Nev. I lied to you again. But I can't tell you about Dylan's secret.

"EHHH..I HAVE TAKEN MY EYES OF YOU FOR A FEW DAYS AND LOOK WHAT YOU HAVE DONE." She started yelling at me. And then she suddenly changed her expression. "But, I didn't expect Dylan to cover for you back then. He is pretty considerate huh." Wow, Nev is a face changing master. She changed from anger to normal in less than 2 sec.

She kept blabbering. " On that note, you are an idiot for sure. You don't get bumped into people often. So, why didn't you the most out of this rare opportunity? What a stroke of luck it was for you to get bumped into him at a time." I want to hide under a blanket and cry. I just can't talk normally, okay? Why else do you think I never made progress for three years? Just looking at him makes it so hard for me to breathe. I was already enough upset due to Dylan and now even Nev is talking about this.

"Alright, c'mhere and sleep, stupid Lulu." she patted on my head.

"Whom are you calling stupid?" But Luke's birthday is coming up in less than a week. What kind of present should I get him?

Actually thinking about it, what have I been giving others for a birthday? I have only given Nev birthday gifts from the past four years. The first year I gave her a keychain, the second I gave her a small teddy bear, the third year I gave her a stuffed monkey and last year I gave her a huge stuffed octopus. Thinking about the last one, I suddenly feel like I need to apologise to her. She is probably the only person who never judged me for my unimaginative presents.

I slowly turn towards her. She was having a sound sleep.

~~~

"Lulu, time to get up." she was yawning.

"Yeah, morning." I couldn't sleep last night as I couldn't figure out what to give to Luke. I was looking like a ghost after a night of insomnia.

~~~

At school,

"Umm. Nev! If you had to give someone else a present, what would you give them?" I asked her slowly.

"And it that person just happens to be a boy-" she paused. She said it as if she knew whom I was going to give a present. "If he just happenes to be the gentle type, why don't you give him a wallet or a scarf. It's not winter yet though." She read me. She knew whom I was giving the present.

"Whatever I am going to buy, it's going to burn a hole in my wallet. So...I am eating bread this week instead of cafeteria food." I said running towards the bakery.

"Oh yeah! My lil Lu is growing up." she was jumping behind me.

I wanted to choose the cheapest bread possible. As I went to the bread corner I saw a huge banner showing a brand new product sale. It was a chocolate ice cream cake. Why should I see this first. Come on Lucy, you must control yourself. Let's save.

"Hi, can I have the plain cream bread."

"Sure."

"Here, hold it carefully" she said giving me the pack.

"Thanks" I was about to take the cream bread when someone from behind me grabbed it.

"Hey!" I shouted as I turned back. It was the demon- Dylan.

"Give it back to me." I asked him the bread.

"First come, first serve, so it's mine," he said taking a bite. I wanted to pull the bread from him but I was a hamster beside him. Even if I use my strength it can end up into two parts or on the ground. Remember the drawing.

"Here.." he said giving me a pack. It was the chocolate ice cream cake from before. Why is he giving me this? " Haha, not bad. It's really fun irritating you. Consider this as your reward for being a good sport." he said. Did he buy the cake just for me. That can't be. Geez! Just what kind of guy is he? I can't tell at all.

Nev and I shared the cake. It was delicious. Three of us were walking towards the school.

"Ah, Dylan and Lucy. What a coincidence." someone spoke from behind. It was Tiffany.

"Can I join you both to school?" she asked.

"Sure."

"Lucy, have you decide on what to give to Luke on his birthday?" she asked with a smile.

"Nope, I haven't." Why do you remind me of that? I had a sleepless night thinking about it yet couldn't figure out what to do.

"Oh. I have stayed up last night to prepare a gift. If you don't have any ideas, come to me. I will help you after I'm done with student council work." She is too bright. I can't even see her. She smiles all the time.

"Ah, it's okay." I think I will buy a wallet. Why trouble her?

"Haha. Don't worry, it is my pleasure to help you. I need to hurry to school to do council works. I will meet you people later. Bye!" she ran towards the school. She has always been busy with work.

"See how efficient she is. Are you sure you don't need her help? Why haven't you decide something yet?" Dylan asked eating the cream bread.

"Nope, not yet. I haven't got a clue." I never gave a guy a present before. You expect me to figure it out within two days.

"No wonder you never made a progress. Try catering his interests or should I help you with that too?" Yeah. Dylan said to me his interests before. What did he like the most?He likes sweets. Nothing makes it better than handmade gifts.

"I will bake cupcakes for him." I said with full energy.

"Bake? Do you even know how to?" he asked me.

"I totally can't " This guy blows the energy out of me with one sentence.

"Uhmm, in that case, come by my house the day before his birthday and I'll teach you." he smiled.

"What? Your house?" That smile tells me he is up to something.

"I got everything you need to prepare. I even have an oven."

"But, how do you know to bake?"

"What is it to you? In the end I know how to bake and I can teach you. Have any problems?" he hit me on my forehead. Oww..that hurts. I don't want to go to his house alone. If I ask Nev to accompany me she will laugh at me for baking cupcakes for Luke's birthday. Ahh! Everything is all wrong but when Luke says he likes my cupcakes and they are delicious...

"I'll go." I said firmly.

"Alright, I am counting on you," he said leaving.

"Counting on me?" What does he mean by counting on me.