Shorts: Surprise I

It's her birthday tomorrow. I'm sure she'll gape at me for the surprise we've prepared for her. We have worked so hard waiting for this opportunity. And now it's here. From now on, our lives will change. We won't have to look back at our tragic past anymore. We will live the way we always wanted to be. Our dream life starts now.

The next day I woke her up.

"Honey, good morning. Wake up." I smiled at her.

She smiles back and kisses my cheek. We hug for a long time. We haven't done this for a while. I feel relieved.

"Good morning, Mom."

We went to the kitchen and eat our breakfast. I did not prepare any food for the occasion. I convinced my son and husband to act like it's a normal day today, nothing significant. Pretend that we have no idea how special it is today. They both agreed to be my accomplices.

As we eat, I study her face, her eyes wide open, waiting for something. A word, a greeting, a thought, but nothing came. We talk about the usual things, our food business, politics, sports, current affairs, and of course, showbiz. Not dropping a hint that today is a special day. Our plan is to disappoint her first. Let her think that we have no idea about her birthday, it makes the surprise even more intense.

"Aren't you guys forgetting something today?" she asked. Not smiling anymore.

"Not that I know of, is there?" dad answered.

"Yeah. I remember. It's-" said my son. She smiled, half-expecting. "It's Jejo. I forgot to feed him."

Jejo is our pet dog. We laughed except for her.

"Oh yes, it's Jejo. Anyway, Forget it." She walked out of the table and went to her room.

"Do you have any plans for today, honey?" I asked her.

"No. Mom, maybe I'll stay here for a while." Closing the door.

This is the perfect moment. I called the boys and get my surprise for her. We knocked at her door.

"What?" she asked.

"Just open the door, please," dad said.

She opened the door lazily and see us standing there. Me, holding a small box. I gave it to her and we sing her happy birthday. She looks totally surprised. The face I am hoping to see. After the song, we urge her to open our gift.

"Is this what I'm expecting it is?" she asked. Tears in her eyes is welling up.

"See it for yourself," my son answered.

She opened it. The look at her face made me cry. She also cried. She doesn't spoke a word. We end up having a group hug.

"Is this true?" Assuring.

We went outside and show her where the key belongs to. A pink car. She rotatingly jumps and hugs us. She cannot contain her emotion. She lied at the front of the car and inspected its details. Touch its every corner. I can see the brightness in her face. The surprise.

"You're the best mom and dad in the world! Thank you!" She kissed our cheeks.

But our surprise does not end there. I'm sure she'll be more surprise for what's coming next. We ride in her car and went to the venue for our next stop. It's my daughter's first time  to drive her own car. She was very happy. We arrived at the NBC tent. She still has no idea what's going to happen next. She keeps on asking what we are doing here. "You'll see," dad answered her, smiling.

The  surprise is waiting at the big tent. The organizers are waiting for us at the entrance. They look happy to see us. On to our next gift.