Chapter 213
Not only was the room decorated with fresh flowers and balloons, but the large LCD screen centered on the opposite wall played a video slideshow–all photos of Cedrick with Maricela, alongside Harlan and David from their college days.
Why?
A three–minute video, an old song “Friends,” captured the essence of their youth.
In the latter part, Maricela led the way, Harlan and David joining in:
Friends walk together through life,
Those days are gone forever,
One word, a lifetime,
A bond forever, a cup of wine…
By the end, tears welled in Harlan and David’s eyes.
“Cedrick!
Happy Birthday!
Friendship forever!”
Maricela wheeled out a cake, shouting.
Written on the cake: Happy Birthday to Our Beloved Cedrick!
From Your Best Buddies!
Cedrick’s eyes reddened too. “Thank you… thank you all…”
“Thanking us is pointless!
Thank Maricela, she planned everything!
She even baked the cake herself.”
Harlan nudged Maricela toward Cedrick. “Who cares and who doesn’t? It’s crystal clear now.”
“Cedrick, I hope we’re still this close when we’re old and gray.”
Maricela wore a distinctly schoolgirl vibe today, identical to one photo from earlier.
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Chapter 213
“Yeah!” Cedrick nodded firmly. “We will be. Thank you, Maricela.”
“Come on, sit down, everyone! Stop standing!
We’re here to cat!
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I’ve starved all day waiting for this feast!” Maricela giggled playfully. “Cedrick, you won’t mind me eating too much, right?”
“Don’t be silly,” Cedrick replied. “It’s my birthday. Wish me well. I’m not broke enough to skip treating you, am I?”
Everyone burst out laughing.
Cedrick glanced at his phone again. 6:30 PM. No messages.
“Cedrick, what’s up?
You’re miles away,” David remarked.
“Oh, nothing. Just making a call.”
Cedrick went to the restroom and dialed his grandmother.
In past years, Grandma always remembered his birthday first, calling the day before to ask if he and Lucille could come home for dinner.
Both Lucille and Grandma treated his birthday like New Year’s – a major event.
But Grandma’s phone was off.
The robotic AI voice droned, “The number you have dialed is switched off.” His mind buzzed. Why? Why was Grandma gone too?
“Cedrick-” Maricela’s voice called from outside.
He pocketed his phone and hurried out.
“Cedrick, look, we ordered these dishes. Want to add anything?” Maricela handed him the QR code on the table to
scan.
“No need. Your choices are fine,” Cedrick said.
Wine had been poured, a glass before each person.
“Exactly! We’ve known Cedrick how many years? Shared countless meals. No need for formalities,” Harlan chimed in.
“Well… but…” Maricela smiled. “Cedrick is a CEO now. A big shot. Not the silly boy he once was.”
Cedrick picked up his glass and drained it. “No matter who Cedrick is, he’ll always be your silly boy!”
Harlan and David exchanged a look, grinning. “He’s Maricela’s, not ours! We two grown men don’t want a man!”
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Maricela refilled Cedrick’s glass. “Cedrick, to you.”
Cedrick raised his glass and clinked it against hers, draining it once more.
Tonight, they’d drink till they dropped.
Cedrick was the most wasted, with Harlan and David not far behind. Only Maricela remained completely sober.
She helped him up. “Cedrick, let’s go home.”
Her gaze drifted to his unbuttoned collar, where collarbones peeked from beneath the rumpled fabric.
But she couldn’t lift Cedrick at all.
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A drunk man somehow weighs twice as much, a dead weight. She’d just hoisted him up when he went limp and col- lapsed again.
“Maricela, let me… help you.”
Harlan was only tipsy. He slung Cedrick’s arm over his shoulder and finally hauled him out of the restaurant.
Since the restaurant was right next to Maricela’s apartment complex, Harlan took Cedrick straight to her place.
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