Chapter 4: A birthday, a bond and unspoken warnings

The day had arrived. It was September 1st, Arnold’s first birthday, a day that everyone had been looking forward to for weeks. The house was buzzing with excitement as decorations were put up, balloons were inflated, and the sweet smell of cake filled the air. Jwell had spent the morning preparing everything, her joy palpable as she arranged tiny outfits for Arnold and organized the table for the small celebration. Robert had taken the day off work, and even though the pandemic still loomed large over their lives, the family had decided to make the most of this special occasion.

Noel, on the other hand, felt a mixture of excitement and apprehension. She loved Arnold dearly, and she couldn’t wait to celebrate his milestone, but there was something else on her mind—something that had crept into her thoughts ever since Jwell had brought it up a week ago.

Bond.

Jwell’s friend, a 27-year-old architect, had been a constant subject of conversation between her and Noel in the past few days. Jwell, always the well-meaning aunt, had tried her best to nudge Noel in Bond's direction. She had mentioned him several times, painting him as a great catch—smart, charming, and successful, with a steady job and a promising future. At first, Noel wasn’t interested. She had always been focused on other things—her studies, her family, and the bond she shared with Robert. But over time, Jwell had worn her down with her gentle encouragements.

“It’s just Facebook, Noel. Just talk to him,” Jwell had said one afternoon when they were having tea. “You don’t have to make it anything serious. It’s a good way to meet new people. Bond’s a great guy, really. He’s sweet, and he’s a little shy, so you might find him interesting.”

Noel had been hesitant at first, but eventually, she had given in. It was harmless, right? Just a few casual conversations with a guy her age. Nothing to get attached to. So, she had sent Bond a friend request on Facebook. They had exchanged a few messages, and while the conversation had been polite and friendly, Noel hadn’t felt any spark. She hadn’t been excited to talk to him, nor did she find herself thinking about him outside of their brief chats. But since Jwell had insisted so much, and Bond was coming to Arnold’s birthday, Noel figured it couldn’t hurt. It would just be another face in the crowd.

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As the party kicked off in full swing, the small house filled with the warmth of laughter, the clinking of glasses, and the occasional gurgle of Arnold, who was thoroughly enjoying the attention. Everyone was there: Robert and Jwell, of course, along with Noel’s mom and brother, and a few other family friends. The atmosphere was light, cheerful, and full of love, but Noel felt an undercurrent of nervousness every time she glanced over at the door, wondering when Bond would arrive.

Robert had mentioned it casually earlier that day. “Bond’s coming, right? Jwell’s been talking about him non-stop,” he said with a teasing smile. His eyes lingered on Noel for just a moment longer than necessary.

Noel just nodded, forcing a smile. “Yeah, he’s coming. It’ll be fine.” She said it in a tone that she hoped was convincing, though deep down, she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Bond was just another person, right? Nothing to get worked up about.

Robert chuckled, though his smile was soft and knowing. “Just be careful, okay? People can be… complicated. Relationships, I mean. You don’t want to rush into anything.”

Noel looked at him, slightly confused by his comment. “What do you mean? You know I’m not rushing into anything.”

Robert hesitated, his gaze dropping to his glass of water before he raised it to his lips. “Just saying… sometimes things aren’t as simple as they seem. Casual relationships can lead to complications, that’s all.”

Noel thought about his words for a moment, but didn’t respond. She didn’t want to read too much into it. Maybe Robert was just being protective, like always. But she couldn’t ignore the subtle warning in his voice. She didn’t really understand it. Was Robert warning her about Bond specifically? Or was it just his general advice about relationships?

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As the afternoon turned to evening and the birthday party began to fill with more guests, Noel found herself glancing over at the door, waiting for Bond’s arrival. When he finally walked in, he was exactly as Jwell had described him—tall, confident, and with an easy smile. He looked around, spotted Jwell, and waved. She immediately waved him over to where the family was gathered.

“Hey, Bond! You made it!” Jwell greeted him warmly, her tone full of pride. “This is my niece, Noel,” she said, placing her hand gently on Noel’s shoulder.

Noel smiled politely, giving Bond a nod. “Hi, Bond. Nice to meet you.”

“Hi, Noel,” Bond said, offering a friendly handshake. “I’ve heard a lot about you. Jwell always talks about how smart and nice you are.”

Noel chuckled softly, feeling a little awkward. “I don’t know about that,” she replied, her voice light. “I’m just trying to get through this year.”

Bond laughed, and they exchanged a few more polite pleasantries. But Noel couldn’t shake the feeling that something about the whole situation felt a bit forced. She didn’t feel any connection with him—not that she had expected to, but it made the whole thing feel even more awkward.

As the evening wore on, Bond joined in the birthday festivities, mingling with the other guests, chatting about work, and sharing stories. He seemed nice enough, but Noel found herself more absorbed in the energy of the party itself—watching Arnold play with his toys, laughing at Jwell’s stories, and listening to Robert talk to her brother about their childhood memories.

But Robert’s words stayed with her. Casual relationships can lead to complications. She wondered what he meant by that. Bond was nice. Sure. But was he someone she was supposed to get excited about? No, not really. In fact, she wasn’t even sure what she was supposed to feel about him. She had talked to him for only a few minutes, but she already felt like she wasn’t interested. It wasn’t that she thought Bond was bad or anything, but she wasn’t drawn to him. Maybe she was too young for this.

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As the night began to wind down, Noel found herself alone in the kitchen, cleaning up a few empty glasses and plates. Robert walked in a few moments later, a slight grin on his face.

“Everything going okay?” he asked gently, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of distress.

“Yeah, everything’s fine,” Noel replied, giving him a small smile. “Bond seems nice, I guess.”

Robert nodded, though there was something unreadable in his expression. “I’m glad you’re being polite. Just don’t feel like you have to do anything you don’t want to do, okay?”

Noel raised an eyebrow, a little surprised. “What do you mean?”

He hesitated for a moment, clearly unsure whether to say more. “I just want you to know that sometimes... people can get too attached too quickly. It can be hard to manage those feelings, especially when you’re not sure of what you want. You’re still figuring things out, Noel. Don’t let anyone pressure you into anything.”

Noel’s heart skipped a beat at his words. She couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but there was a heaviness in Robert’s tone—like he was talking about more than just Bond. She looked up at him, her eyes searching for something more in his expression.

“I’m not... I’m not rushing into anything, Robert,” she said softly. “I promise. I’m just… just going with the flow.”

Robert smiled at her, his expression warm but a little distant. “Good. Just remember, relationships—whatever kind they are—should never be rushed. Take your time. You’re young, Noel. You’ve got all the time in the world.”

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As the evening came to a close, Noel’s thoughts were a little muddled. Bond had been fine. He wasn’t bad, but she couldn’t help but feel that there was something missing. She was thankful that the night hadn’t forced her into anything more than a few simple conversations, but deep down, she knew that Robert’s words had resonated with her.

She had been so caught up in the excitement of family and the idea of casual relationships that she hadn’t really stopped to think about what she wanted. Maybe she was too young to be worried about any of it. Maybe she was just supposed to enjoy the moment and the people around her.

But one thing was clear: Robert was right. Sometimes, casual relationships—no matter how harmless they seemed—could lead to unexpected complications. And Noel wasn’t ready for any of that, not just yet.

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