"The universe whispered in my ear - Continue to share your heart and I promise when the time is right, I'll deliver you with the most amazing love..... Just believe!"
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Kathleen and Sarah were busy working in the kitchen, they were bringing out the most amazing cake for EJ'S birthday party( of course, it's not a party exactly).
Sarah was preparing dinner on other hand. She made all of EJ'S favorites. Kathleen helped Sarah in all ways she could. They together decorated the reading room as a surprise to him. As EJ doesn't like grand decorations, they made it neat and simple.
"So, Kath darling!! How do you celebrate your birthdays??", questioned Sarah in the middle of her work.
"Nothing much, it's always dad and me and few of my friends!!", shrugged Kathleen. Kathleen doesn't talk much about her family or her past life because she was never used to sharing things about herself with others. She doesn't want people to judge her based on past. She doesn't open up easily.
"And your mom??", asked Sarah hesitantly.
"Ahm....it's complicated. Mmm.....My mom, she is busy and ahm.... my dad and she are in kinda of a break....!!", stammered Kathleen and pretended to avoid looking at Sarah.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, dear", assured Sarah calmly.
"No it's okay Sarah mom', Kathleen put on a quick smile and continued decorating the room. To lift her mood, Sarah asked her about EJ.
"Kath, let's be frank, EJ have got so many foes and hatred in the university, Am I right?", enquired Sarah and Kathleen laughed nervously.
"No, no, no.....it's a not like you think", blurted Kathleen with a smile.
"Come on, Kath dear!! I know it all. I learn it through the boys, Robert and EJ!! EJ wasn't the same boy he used to be few years back. I always tell him to make friends, show them her cares and love them and be kind to everyone!! But I know he is the right opposite to all my expectations", confessed Sarah with a worried face.
"No, no!! Actually people neither hate him nor like him. Everyone is afraid of his presence and won't say a word against him. So this makes him look like a bully", concludes Kathleen.
"But Sarah mom, I have to accept the fact that he has got a enormous fansclub and so many girls are after EJ for his looks", added Kathleen and Sarah giggled at her comment. Kathleen was tensed that Sarah would question about her and EJ, the relationship between them. Kathleen wasn't ready to get judged by the only person who showered her with love and get a bad impression from her. Kathleen doesn't want Sarah to come to a conclusion that she is short tempered and she fights with EJ all the time.
"Yeah, I knew that as well", expressed Sarah with a grin.
"What about you?? Got any boyfriend?", enquired Sarah making Kathleen laugh hard.
"No, not so far", she said with a chortle.
All this time, Kathleen was edgy and wasn't sure it was a good idea to be a part of his birthday celebration. She didn't have the courage to face EJ. Kathleen was having butterflies in her tummy.
They completed decorating the reading room and the cake preparation was almost done. They took one final look of the reading room and left to the kitchen.
The door bell rang which made Kathleen's eye wide open, she was startled. She couldn't imagine herself facing EJ, she wasn't sure if he could accept her presence since they are not always in good terms. EJ and Kathleen were like chalk and cheese. They are completely different from each other.
Kathleen took a glass, filled it water and gulped it. Sarah and Kathleen planned on wishing him the moment he enters the kitchen.
"Mom, can I get a glass of......", trailed off EJ witnessing Kathleen who stood there with a fear smile.
"Happy birthday", Sarah and Kathleen yelled in unison. EJ looked stunned on seeing Kathleen.(we can't tell if he was surprised by her presence or the way she looked today to his eyes).
"Look, he is surprised", beamed Sarah hugging her son. EJ blinked his eyes to make sure that Kath was there for real.
"Happy birthday, Ethan", she said with a closed lip smile.
"Ahm, well thanks", he shrugged, and was confused to see Kathleen present there for his birthday which would never happen even in his wildest dreams.
"I insisted Kathleen to come here on your birthday", stated Sarah solving the confusions that EJ had.
"Oh, great", shrugged EJ.
"Okay, you guys wait outside. I'll be back in a minute", said Sarah, Kath and EJ left the kitchen and walked towards the living room.
"I got this for you", Kathleen gave him the gift box that she brought along with her.
"So, I'm getting presents for this birthday!! How sweet", teased EJ while Kathleen glared at him. EJ started unboxing the package. He took out the lamp first.
"You knocked my socks off", laughed EJ.
"Oh come on, Ethan!! I'm trying to be nice, since it's your birthday", replied back Kathleen.
"It's different! Is it a bedside lamp?", enquired EJ examining it closely.
"Actually, my friends wanted me to get this !! It comes in pair, if you touch this, the other lamp that I have will also light up", explained Kathleen.
"Interesting!", announced EJ and took out the bracelet. He inspected it curiously and Kathleen watched him wearing it in his right hand. Kathleen was left dumbfolded on seeing him wear it.
"They look good", he said rotating his right hand. Kathleen couldn't believe her eyes.
"I thought you don't use such stuffs", expressed Kathleen.
"I don't always fulfill the expectations that others have on me", winked EJ. He took out the author signed book and smiled at it. That smile was new, it was an innocent smile indeed. Kathleen has never saw him in such a state. Sarah captured a picture of them together in which the innocent smile was clearly visible and Kathleen was looking at him.
"That's a good picture", said Sarah smiling at her phone. Kathleen was back to her senses. She ran towards Sarah and took a glance of the picture she just clicked.
"Thank you for the book!! You do have some brain", he teased her and Kathleen took out the great expectations and handed it over to Sarah.
"I bought this for you", she grinned while Sarah instantly hugged her.
"Well!! enough, enough", mocked EJ.
"So sweet of you, kath darling!! It's so thoughtful of you to get me this", said Sarah. Kathleen stood there grinning.
"Woah, what a pleasant surprise!! Barbie ?!", said the most familiar voice that addresses Kathleen as Barbie.
Robert entered through the door with surprising look on his face.
"Robert!! Welcome boy", claimed Sarah while Robert gaze was fixed on Kathleen.
"Is this happening for real? But how?", Robert's mouth dropped open in shock.
"Don't be so dramatic", Sarah smacked Robert's shoulder playfully.
"You look dazzling Barbie!! And how come you are here?", Robert questioned Kathleen, forgetting EJ'S presence who was standing next to her.
"Umm, thanks!! Will fill up the details later!! Now it's time to celebrate his birthday", spoke back Kathleen for which Robert nodded. Sarah walked into kitchen leaving them alone.
"Happy birthday man", Robert greeted EJ with a brotherly hug. Sarah came back from the kitchen with a cake.
"Happy birthday to you.....happy birthday to you...happy birthday", sang Sarah in a sweet angelic voice. Kathleen sang along with her and Robert mocked them.
EJ blowed the candle and celebrated his 21st birthday. They clicked few pictures together and they had the tastiest dinner. Kathleen planned on leaving to the dormitory before it gets too late. EJ and Robert were busy playing with the play station.
"Sarah mom, I'll take a leave! It's getting late", said Kathleen hugging her.
"EJ will drop you in the dormitory", affirmed Sarah, calling out EJ.
"No, I can go back on my own. I have booked a cab", insisted Kathleen.
"Of course not, sweetheart!! I'm not letting you go alone. You have come all the way here for us and I can't let you go like that", proclaimed Sarah. She commands EJ to drop her in the dormitory.
"Yeah, mom is right!! I'll drop you", EJ took out his keys and walked out of the house. She smiles at Sarah and waves her goodbye.
"See you around, Robert", she yelled walking towards the parking lot.
"What? Wait, Barbie?? Where are you going", Robert puts down his play station and planned on going with her but he was stopped by Sarah.
"EJ will be back!! You stay here with me, Rob", suggested Sarah and Robert accepted it since he never says no to Sarah.
Meanwhile during the drive, kathleen and EJ stayed quiet and the silence spoke a lot between them. To avoid that uncomfortable silence, EJ spoke up.
"Hey, let's me come straight to the point,? you were never fond of me, right?? Then why all this", he asked her, his gaze on the road. He drives perfectly at any circumstances.
"For Sarah mom", said Kathleen, peeping at the window.
"Woah!! So this is all for my mom!! Then thank you for doing this", he thanked her and Kathleen giggled hearing him thank her for the first time.
"Hey, not so funny!! And I always wanted to ask you this!! Why do you hate bullies so much?!", he enquired.
"Because I used to a domineering bully in my past!!", signed Kathleen and EJ could now understand why she was so brave and stood up for herself all the time.
"And trust me, I have lost a lot due to my bullying nature", replied Kathleen with a sad face. They reached the campus shortly and Kathleen walked into the dormitory without uttering a word to him. EJ felt bad for making her look worried. He didn't mean to hurt her or make her sad by asking that question. He just wanted to know about her.
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"Hey, kath!! You are back!!! How was your day!! What happened??", Laura shoot her with a lot of questions.
"I'm all ears", said Janice curiously.
"Girls, calm down!! It's just a party. Nothing happened", assured Kathleen with a twisted smile. Kathleen narrated her friends on everything that took place in EJ'S home. She showed them the pictures.
"Is that EJ?? Is he smiling?? You have to be careful, Kath", laughed Laura.
"What?? Why??", kathleen asked back.
"Smiles are contagious !! It can make you fall hard!!", winked Janice.
"Don't worry, I'm vaccinated", spoke back Kathleen with a soft chuckle.
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Maybe Kathleen didn't see it coming!! She doesn't know that she is gonna love him so badly! Read out the next chapters to know more!
This chapter is dedicated to my jaanu !! As her birthday is approaching I wanted to make her feel special!
Jaanu, you will always be the sister of my soul, and the friend of my heart!
I love her no matter what! She is the friend who knew the best of me and where I have been, what I have gone through, still accepts me as who I'm and be there for me at any cost! She has never judged me for my mistakes nor let down at any circumstances. She understands what I want even in my silence!
I can never love anything more than I love you, trust me I'm very bad at expressing things!
And trust me you mean a lot to me and you can never ever imagine how much I love you
So till the end of the line, I'm your best friend and you are mine!