That day didn't feel like a birthday from the moment I opened my eyes.
I woke up holding my phone, staring at the screen like it had personally betrayed me. No message. No missed call. Not even a short "happy bday". I refreshed my chats again and again, pretending I was calm when I clearly wasn't. In the Section E group chat, Felix had already started screaming in caps, Mayo was spamming memes, and Rory was threatening to drag me out of bed if I didn't reply.
"BIRTHDAY GIRL ALIVE?" Felix typed.
"DON'T CRY TODAY OKAY," Rory added immediately.
I laughed softly at the screen and typed back something casual. But the truth was—I was already crying inside. I kept thinking, He promised he'd always remember. And the silence hurt more than anything else.
By evening, the mansion felt unreal. Lights wrapped around pillars, flowers lined the halls, music floated softly in the air. Section E had already taken over one corner of the place like it was their personal territory. Calix and C In were arguing about who ate the last dessert, Erdix was teasing Felix about being single again, and Eren was sitting quietly, watching everything with a small smile.
I stood at the staircase, looking down at everyone.
So many people. So much noise.
And yet… my eyes were only looking for one person.
"He'll come," I whispered to myself, gripping the railing.
I didn't know if I was convincing myself or begging fate.
Kuya Angelo walked into my room holding a gown.
"Jay," he said softly, "wear this."
It was blue. Deep, elegant blue.
Lia gasped. "Oh my God… Keifer's favorite color on you."
I froze for a second before touching the fabric. Even my dress was reminding me of him. I swallowed hard and nodded.
Lia zipped my gown slowly, like she knew I needed time.
Tita Gemma fixed my hair strand by strand.
Mumma adjusted my makeup gently, her fingers warm on my skin.
"You look beautiful," she said, kissing my forehead.
I smiled at the mirror.
I really did look perfect.
But perfection felt empty without him standing beside me.At six sharp, the doors of the party hall opened.
The sound hit me first—applause, whistles, laughter—too loud, too sudden. For a second, I froze at the entrance, the blue gown clinging to me like it knew how heavy my heart was. The fabric shimmered under the lights, sleeveless, backless, beautiful… but I didn't feel beautiful. I felt hollow. Still, I lifted my chin and stepped forward, because that's what I always do.
"There she is!" Mayo shouted from somewhere near the front.
"QUEEN ENERGY!" Rory yelled dramatically, throwing his hands in the air.
"Section E—behave!" Erdix joked, though his voice cracked with excitement.
Everyone laughed. Everyone smiled. Everyone was happy.
Everyone… except me.
I walked in slowly, greeting people one by one. Teachers smiled proudly, business holders shook my hand with respect, relatives pulled me into tight hugs. "Happy birthday, Jay," they kept saying, again and again. I smiled back until my cheeks hurt, until my face felt stiff. But between every greeting, every thank-you, my eyes drifted.
Entrance.
Stage.
Crowd.
Still not him.
I kept hoping—maybe he's late, maybe he'll walk in any second, maybe my phone will buzz. It didn't. Not a message. Not a call. Two days of silence. On my birthday.
Lia squeezed my hand softly. "You look stunning," she whispered.
I nodded. "Thank you."
But even she could see it. Everyone could. My smile wasn't reaching my eyes.
The hall filled completely as time passed. Section E gathered near the front—Felix pretending to be cool, Calix teasing Mica, C In arguing loudly about the music, Rakki rolling his eyes at all of them. Normal chaos. Familiar. Comforting.
And still… one space felt painfully empty.
When the cake was brought out, the room gasped. It was elegant—blue and silver, delicate detailing, my name written beautifully on top. It should've made my heart race.
Instead, it sank.
"Jay, stage!" Erdix called out gently.
"Don't disappear now," Calix added with a small grin.
I walked to the stage alone. The lights followed me, warm and bright, but I felt exposed. The candles flickered, tiny flames dancing like they were mocking my thoughts.
"Ten…"
"Nine…"
"Eight…"
Everyone counted together, voices overlapping.
My heart wasn't excited.
It was terrified.
If he comes, I thought, it has to be now.
"Three…"
"Two…"
The lights suddenly went out.
Complete darkness.
"AY YO WHO DID THAT?" C In yelled instantly.
"NOT FUNNY," Felix snapped.
My breath caught in my throat. Before fear could fully settle, arms wrapped around me from behind.
Strong.
Familiar.
Safe.
That heartbeat—
I knew it without turning.
The lights came back on.
A spotlight fell on us.
I turned around.
Keifer.
Standing right there. Alive. Real. Mine.
For one second, my mind went blank. All the fear, all the sadness, all the anger collided at once. My hand moved before my thoughts could stop it.
Slap.
The sound echoed through the hall.
"Ohhh damn—" Mayo whispered.
"BRO JUST GOT HIT," Felix muttered, stunned.
Before anyone could react, I grabbed Keifer's collar and kissed him. Hard. Messy. Desperate. I didn't care who was watching. I didn't care where I was.
"JAY—" Freya gasped.
"OKAY ROMANCE," Rory said, already emotional.
When I pulled back, tears were already falling. "Damn you, Keifer," I said, my voice shaking. "You didn't message me. You didn't call me."
The hall fell silent.
"Two days," I continued, breaking. "You forgot my birthday—but you didn't forget your stupid profanity rule."
Keifer didn't raise his voice. He didn't panic. He just looked at me, eyes soft, steady.
"I didn't forget your day, my honey," he said quietly.
"I was just preparing."
That was it.
Every wall I had built shattered.
I hugged him tightly, burying my face in his chest, sobbing like I'd been holding my breath for days. "I thought you forgot me," I whispered.
"Never," he said, holding me closer.
Behind us, Erdix wiped his eyes. "Why am I crying?" he muttered.
"Because you're soft," Rakki replied instantly.
Keifer stepped back slowly… then went down on one knee.
"NO WAY—" Felix screamed.
"THIS IS IT—" Calix shouted.
"STOP I'M CRYING," Mica said, already wiping tears.
"Jay," Keifer said, voice steady but full of emotion, "I survived everything just to come back to you. Will you stay with me forever?"
"Yes," I said instantly. No doubt. No fear.
The ring slid onto my finger.
The hall exploded.
"KISS! KISS!" Section E shouted together.
This kiss was different—gentle, slow, full of promises. When it ended, I hid my face in his chest, shy, overwhelmed, safe.
"ABOUT TIME," C In nodded seriously.
"FINALLY," Rory laughed through tears.
We cut the cake together. This time, I wasn't alone.
Lia gave me a scrapbook filled with memories. Grace handed me a framed photo from my childhood. Felix, Mayo, Kit, Eren, Calix, Erdix, Rory—each hug felt like home, like love layered over years.
As the night went on, laughter filled the hall again. Music played. Section E argued, teased, celebrated—loud and alive.
And my hand never left Keifer's.
I finally understood something.
I hadn't been forgotten.
I had been waited for.
Loved enough for someone to plan the impossible.
I looked up at him, tears still shining in my eyes, and smiled.
And behind us, Section E cheered, laughed, and fought—just the way family always does. 💙