Secrets and Suprise

At school, I was used to hearing girls talk about their boyfriends—how sweet they were, the gifts they exchanged, the little romantic things they did together. Normally, I would just smile faintly and pretend not to care. But today… today was different.

My fingers were still wrapped tightly around the folded piece of paper Ben had given me in church. Even in the car, I could feel its weight—not in grams, but in meaning. I couldn’t stop thinking about him: his gentle smile, the calm confidence in his voice, the way his eyes seemed to see straight through me.

I was dying to know what was written inside.

“Sisi, you look happy,” Anna’s voice cut into my thoughts. “Did something happen? Did I miss something funny in church?”

I blinked at her, startled. I hadn’t realized she’d been watching me.

“It’s nothing,” I lied quickly. “I’m just happy to go home and celebrate your birthday with you.”

She smirked knowingly. “Well, you’ll be even happier when you see what’s coming. Josh is bringing me a cake and chocolates later—you’ll have plenty to eat.”

I turned to her sharply. “Really? Josh is coming over?”

This would be his first visit, and my curiosity immediately shifted.

“Anna… do Mom and Dad even know about you and Josh?” I asked, lowering my voice.

She shrugged with that fearless confidence that only Anna could pull off. “Relax. They won’t do anything harsh. Now come on—let’s go change. He’ll be here by five.”

---

The sharp knock at the front door came sooner than expected.

“Coming!” Anna called, practically sprinting across the living room.

Mom’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “Anna is very excited,” she remarked, glancing at me. Everyone knew my sister avoided answering the door at all costs.

“Sisi, pass me the salt,” she added, turning back to her cooking.

I handed it over with a smile. Mom loved cooking—it was her element, her art.

I hesitated, then cleared my throat. “Mom, can I ask you something? Can I get a phone? All my classmates have one.”

Her hands paused over the pot. “Sisi, we’ve talked about this.”

“Yes, I know. But I’m sixteen now, and a phone could help with my studies,” I reasoned, forcing myself to sound mature.

Her lips pressed together in thought before she finally said, “Alright. You’ll get a phone. You’re starting high school tomorrow, anyway.”

A grin spread across my face, and I hugged her tightly. It was the sweetest thing she’d said to me in a long time.

“But promise me,” she added, her voice softening, “it won’t distract you from your studies.”

“I promise, Mom,” I replied, meaning it. Education was everything to my parents.

---

“Mom, are you done cooking?” Anna’s voice rang from the living room.

“Yes, darling. Do you need anything?”

Anna hesitated. “Actually… umm… I… could you just come with me to the living room?”

Mom’s eyes narrowed slightly, suspicion flickering in her gaze. “Alright, Anna.”

I trailed behind them, and there he was—Josh.

I had seen pictures before, but in person, he was different. His skin was a smooth, rich chocolate tone, his dark hair trimmed neatly, and his beard was sharp enough to look deliberate yet soft enough to touch.

“Who is this, Anna?” Mom asked, her voice steady but curious.

“Mom, meet my boyfriend, Josh,” Anna said, her smile just a little too wide. “Josh, this is my mom. And this,” she added, gesturing toward me, “is my sister, Sisi.”

Josh rose politely. “Hello, Mrs. Philips,” he said, offering his hand.

“Hello, Josh. Nice to meet you. I hope you’re hungry—I just finished cooking,” Mom replied with warmth that I wasn’t expecting.

Josh smiled, clearly relieved. Maybe Anna was right—Mom wouldn’t blow up about this.

“Mrs. Philips, I brought you something,” he said, handing her a neatly wrapped gift.

“Oh, thank you, darling,” Mom said, taking it with genuine appreciation.

The tension melted away after that. The cake and chocolates appeared on the table, laughter filled the room, and everything felt light.

Still, in the back of my mind, the folded paper in my pocket was burning like a secret flame.

Ben’s words were waiting.

And I knew that as soon as I was alone, I’d find out exactly what they said.

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