Chapter 24: A Morning Full of Surprises

Chapter 24: A Morning Full of Surprises
The next morning, sunlight filtered through the slits of the curtains, painting every corner of the room in golden hues, dancing across the wooden floor, sliding over the tabletop, and brushing against the dried flower vase on the shelf. The streaks of light twisted and twirled with the rhythm of the breeze, occasionally falling across an open book on the desk, forming radiant yet gentle patterns. But my head still felt heavy, as if an invisible hammer had struck my temples. The clock showed a little past eight, yet all I wanted was to curl up in my blanket, close my eyes for a few more minutes, and try to forget the throbbing headache, savoring the lingering comfort of sleep.

A soft knock made me startle. The door swung open, and the maid stepped in, carefully holding a steaming cup of tea. “Good morning, Miss. Your mother asked me to make you some warm tea to help with your hangover,” she said, her voice gentle yet formal. The fragrant steam mingled with the scent of paper and books on the desk, making me inhale deeply. Gently taking the cup, I felt the warmth spread through my fingers, easing my headache just slightly. The warmth of the tea seeped into my palms, reminding me of the rare tranquility this room offered.

I wondered how I had gotten home last night, but all I received was a shake of the head from the maid. “I was asleep by then, Miss,” she said, and left, leaving me in the quiet room. Only the soft ticking of the clock remained, interspersed with the birds chirping on the balcony and the rustling of leaves outside, along with the distant hum of passing cars, making me keenly aware of the morning’s gentle rhythm. At that moment, I heard the rustle of paper on the desk—probably the notebook I had forgotten—and watched the sunlight dance across the surface, as if trying to pull me out of my lethargy.

I stepped onto the cold floor, shivering at the contrast to the warmth of the tea in my hands. Without rushing to drink, I walked to the window and drew the curtains aside. Morning light flooded in, casting its glow over the wooden panels and carpet, awakening the room as if it had just stretched and yawned. My headache lingered, but my mind began to clear, and my breath grew steadier. Outside, the golden sunlight bathed the trees, birdsong echoed, and an unusual sense of peace crept into me. The scent of freshly cut grass drifted through the slightly open window, mingling with the aroma of baked goods from the kitchen, filling me with a palpable sense of morning life.

The phone rang, startling me again. The screen displayed Kristine’s name. I answered. “Good morning, Elysa. Are you over your hangover yet?” His voice was soft, tinged with mischief, like a cool breeze pulling me from my fatigue. The laughter in his tone was both familiar and teasing, hinting at something I couldn’t quite predict.

“I still have a bit of a headache,” I replied, trying to keep my tone steady. “But… how did you get me home last night?”

There was a pause, then Kristine’s soft, playful laughter floated through the line, warm and teasing. That was the answer: he didn’t want to reveal. I sighed and continued, “After all these years, why is my tolerance still so much lower than yours?”

A burst of triumphant laughter rang out over the line, but just moments later, his voice turned serious. “In the inner pocket of your bag, there’s the USB you saw at the restaurant last night. Open it. There’s something very important.”

My heart raced, warmth flooding through me, mingled with anticipation. “Could this be something Kael wants to tell me? Or just one of Kristine’s playful tricks?” I wondered, both excited and tense. I hung up, hurriedly rummaging through the inner pocket of my bag. The tiny USB gleamed in the morning light, making me feel a mix of anticipation and anxiety as I plugged it into my laptop.

But the screen didn’t reveal any documents or secret information related to Kael. Instead, a short video appeared. My chest tightened for a moment, then an unexpected smile spread across my face: it was Kristine’s birthday greeting. Gentle, endearing, warm, and humorously playful, his words brought tears to my eyes. His laughter, his gaze, his mischievous gestures in the video drew me back to youthful memories, of birthdays simple yet brimming with joy.

Since returning to Belgium, I had been so busy that I had lost track of the days, even my own birthday. Thinking back to past birthdays while studying in Belgium—simple but heartwarming—made me realize just how special Kristine had made this one. And now, he was the one reminding me that I was still loved.

I picked up my phone and called him immediately.

“Kristine, you’ve made me so emotional!” My voice trembled, the lingering warmth of joy and emotion filling the quiet room.

“Don’t cry, there’s still a surprise,” he laughed, this time with a mysterious smile that made my heart skip a beat. I could hear him bouncing slightly in his seat, full of excitement and energy, as if trying to pull me into his joy.

I clenched my teeth, my curiosity skyrocketing. “What other surprise?”

His voice turned playful again, teasingly low: “You’ll see it today.” And then he hung up.

I stood by the window, sunlight in my eyes, yet it did nothing to calm the eager anticipation in my heart. My pulse quickened, excitement mingling with joy. I wondered what else Kristine had prepared—another gift, or… perhaps an unexpected meeting?

With each passing moment, the morning life grew more vivid: the clatter of cups and plates from the kitchen, the soft footsteps from the living room, the hum of cars outside, birds chirping on the balcony. All these sounds blended into a gentle symphony of a new day, making my heart thrum in anticipation, as if foreshadowing what was to come.

Just then, faint footsteps echoed from the living room, mingling with the scent of freshly baked pastries drifting from the kitchen, bathed in the radiant morning light flooding the room. I took a sip of tea, its warmth wrapping around my throat, and felt a strange exhilaration rising within me, full of hope for the surprises that awaited on this special birthday.

My eyes sparkled, my pulse racing with each passing second. I knew that every minute of today would be marked by unexpected joys, and my heart was ready to embrace them all.

And I could not have imagined that each passing moment would bring a new delight, a new story, and perhaps… today would be a day seemingly made just for me.