"Joyful anniversary of your birth to you...
Joyful anniversary of your birth to you...
Joyful anniversary, joyful anniversary, joyful birthday Chaca..."
A serenade from Nayla succeeded in halting Chaca's tears in an instant. Chaca looked up swiftly and gazed at Nayla, who stood before her holding a birthday cake adorned with candles.
"Damn it!" Chaca yelled at the top of her lungs upon realizing she was being pranked by her friend.
"Gotcha!" Hanna, Arlan, and Nayla shouted together and then burst into laughter at the sight of Chaca's annoyed face with eyes swollen from crying.
"Such an unethical friend!" Chaca complained, but couldn't help but smile, feeling overjoyed that her friends remembered her birthday.
"So wicked, I swear," Chaca said, wiping away tears which flowed even more, not from sorrow but from joy.
"My apologies, my apologies, hehe..." Nayla chuckled.
"The prank was so not funny, it's irritating, I swear!" Chaca grumbled once more.
"Aw, don't be mad, sweetheart. Happy birthday, may you have a long and healthy life, and may you be paired with uncle Duren," Hanna teased, hugging Chaca tightly.
"Amen," Chaca joined in the laughter hearing Uncle Duren's name mentioned.
"Blow out the candles already," Nayla pouted, annoyed since her arms were starting to ache from holding the cake.
"First, make a wish," Arlan encouraged.
"Well, my birthday wish is that I grow even closer to Uncle Duren," Chaca prayed with a giggle, which caused Hanna and Nayla to click their tongues.
"Amen," chorused Arlan, Hanna, and Nayla together, followed by a burst of laughter.
"Happy birthday, Cha. Wishing you all the best, truly," Nayla said earnestly, hugging Chaca dearly.
"Thanks so much. I had no idea you all were crazy enough to plan such a prank for me," Chaca said with a pout but also a smile.
"It was Jenar's idea," Hanna chuckled.
"Wow, that rascal, she really got me good," Chaca grumbled with irritation. "But I'm so happy that you all remembered my birthday, and this has been the best year for me," Chaca said genuinely, and they all hugged like Teletubbies.
"Aren't you going to include me in the hug? It should be the four of us to make it Teletubbies," Arlan said with a sweet smile, stopping the trio's embrace and causing Hanna to give her boyfriend a sharp look.
"You want this?" Hanna offered Arlan a fist bump, making Nayla and Chaca laugh.
"You seem to be crazy about Uncle Duren, Cha," Nayla said as they sat on the sofa in Hanna and Nayla's living room.
"I don't know," Chaca replied, smiling as she imagined Uncle Duren's handsome face.
"Don't daydream just yet, come on, let's eat first," Nayla said, flicking Chaca's sweet forehead.
"Damn it, my forehead," Chaca grumbled in annoyance.
"Hey, let's take a photo. We'll send it to Jenar to make her jealous," Nayla said, handing a Jannon camera to Arlan.
"Now I'm the one to play the photographer," Arlan sighed softly.
"Just go with it, Hanna will give you a bonus later," Nayla teased.
Reluctantly, Arlan captured the three girls' various funny poses and antics. Eventually, he joined in for a group photo, laughing together with them.
"I feel like I have three wives," Arlan thought with a chuckle, posing between Hanna, Nayla, and Chaca with their faces unrecognizable under the layers of buttercream.
'Thank heavens for the best friends they've given me. May this joy endure forever,' Chaca thought, smiling contentedly, enjoying the camaraderie with her friends.
👏👏👏
Since Aiden couldn't participate in the surprise party planned by Hanna and Nayla, he decided to present Chaca with his own surprise—not alone, correction—he was accompanied by Lira when they visited Chaca's house that afternoon.
"Surprise!" Aiden shouted as Chaca opened her front door.
"Aiden," Chaca said in disbelief, wondering how Aiden knew where she lived, and here he stood with a bouquet of white roses and a pink box, surprising but also amusing her.
"Happy Birthday, ma'am," Aiden greeted, "I'm not too late to wish you, am I?" he added.
"My goodness, I feel like I'm being surprised by my aunt's boyfriend," Chaca laughed.
"Thanks, handsome," she said to Aiden, accepting the flowers and box, "You're not late. Come in," she invited.
Aiden arrived at Chaca's place with Ms. Lira, having gotten the address from Jenar the day before Jenar left town.
"Aiden, who is she?" Chaca pointed at Lira.
"This is Ms. Lira, she's a fan of Aiden's," Aiden replied with his usual faux coolness, causing both Lira and Chaca to laugh.
"No wonder people call you a supernatural creature; it seems your narcissism is severe," Lira scoffed.
"Ms. Lira, you're beautiful, but still not as beautiful as Aunt Jenar and Aunt Chaca. It's not narcissism; it's HONESTY," Aiden argued.
"Meh, whatever," Lira responded, "Oh, by the way, happy birthday, Ms. Chaca. I'm Lira, Dylan Wang's girlfriend," she introduced herself.
"My, you've caught Aiden's contagious behavior haha," Chaca felt entertained by the arrival of Aiden and Lira.
"Oh, how about we go out? I'm bored," Chaca suggested.
"Let's do it, I've been bored all day following this mischievous kid," Lira said, earning a sharp glance from Aiden.
"Ms. Lira is like a poltergeist," Aiden pouted.
The trio set off in the car brought by Aiden and Lira. Chaca was impressed by Lira; not only was she beautiful and personable, but she was also highly intelligent and could even drive a car.
"Have you been working for Aiden's family long?" Chaca asked as they sat eating in a cafe at the mall, before planning to watch a movie and play games.
"Not too long, ma'am, hehe, it hasn't been a month," Lira responded, sipping her orange juice.
"How old are you?" Chaca inquired further.
"Nineteen, turning twenty," Lira replied.
"Oh, we're the same age, don't call me ma'am. It makes me sound old," Chaca chuckled.
"Okay, ma'am, I mean Chaca," Lira happily corrected herself.
"Join us when you have a day off. You must know Jenar already; I've got two other friends who are just as fun," Chaca encouraged, thrilled to make a new friend. "It might be nice for us to hang out as a group of five," she added.
"Would you really want to be friends with a maid?" Lira asked, a hint of melancholy in her tone.
"Why act like it's a big deal? Don’t be ashamed. Just relax, being friends with us is easy," Chaca reassured her.
"Aunties, can you stop chit-chatting? You've got a handsome guy being ignored here," interjected Aiden, arms crossed and sulking.
"Oops, sorry, dear. Are you done eating? Let's watch the movie and then play," Chaca suggested.
After a lengthy discussion, they settled on a horror film, although Aiden had wanted a romantic one, but Chaca insisted against it. Ultimately, Lira's suggestion won out.
Chaca spent the whole day with Lira and Aiden, touched and delighted by Aiden's thoughtful gesture. How could a nine-year-old give her such thoughtful gifts and flowers? 'I feel like I've got a boy toy,' she thought to herself.
For those who have already read this part in Jenar's room, just skip it, as mommy has intentionally included some parts from there to keep it consistent. Not everything though... 🙊💃💃💃
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