’Dear... Dear... Dear...’
The word repeated constantly in Soren’s mind, echoing in an endless loop as he stood frozen, staring blankly at Ethea. He could hardly process that those words had actually just escaped her lips.
In that exact mont, the brightly decorated living room seed to fade into a blur. In his eyes, she looked incredibly beautiful and bright, radiating a warmth so intense that he felt almost blinded by it.
This sudden rush of emotion completely paralyzed his analytical mind, leaving him utterly defenseless against her gentle gaze.
Forcing down the lump in his throat, Soren broke the spell with a quiet cough. He gave a slow nod, his voice a little tight as he spoke.
"T-thank you," he said softly. "Truly."
Aunt Clara stepped forward right then, a knowing smile on her face as she reached out. "Alright, let’s get you out of the entryway. Go on, give the box and sit down."
Soren nodded automatically, handing over the package. As his hands emptied, his gaze swept over the balloons, the hanging decorations, and the massive banner once more, the pieces of the puzzle finally clicking together. He realized the frantic phone calls and the sudden errand across the city had all been part of a deliberate setup. "Then, all of this... was a setup to get out of the house?"
"That’s right. The sweets from the southern district were just an excuse," Aunt Clara explained with a warm chuckle. "We had to stall for ti to prepare everything here, so I panicked when you finished early. I apologize if anything seems a bit rushed or lacking. And sorry about making you drive all that way."
"N-no," Soren replied, still feeling a bit overwheld by the scale of it all. "You didn’t have to go through all this trouble."
Aunt Clara stopped in her tracks, shaking her head firmly as she looked back at him with maternal affection. "You’ve been working too hard lately. You deserve a lot more than this. And let tell you," she added with a mischievous glint in her eye, "it was Miss Ethea who planned all of this."
"...She did?"
Soren’s eyes drifted back to Ethea, a soft, stunned expression taking over his features. He couldn’t find the right words to speak, so he simply offered her a smile full of deep gratitude. Walking over, he gently took hold of the handles of her wheelchair and began to guide her toward the dining area.
When they stepped inside, Soren froze for the umpteenth ti.
They had prepared the bigger table, and it was absolutely packed. Plates of steaming food, colorful rows of fresh fruits, salads, assorted drinks, and side dishes filled every single inch of the surface. Right in the center sat a massive platter of golden, perfectly stead dumplings, their savory aroma filling the air.
’Woah, I can’t believe they made all of this.’
Soren pulled out a chair for himself after carefully positioning Ethea beside him, near the head of the table. Just as they settled in, Aunt Clara returned from the kitchen, holding beautifully arranged plates featuring the sweets Soren had just brought back.
"You turned 23 today, right?" Clara asked warmly, extending a freshly brewed cup of hot tea toward him.
"Mm, I’m 23 now." Soren took the cup, letting the warmth seep into his hands as he nodded. "Honestly, it’s still hard to believe. But I guess the statent that ti passes in the blink of an eye is completely true."
"It really is," Clara agreed, taking her own seat. "A birthday always makes you realize how quickly the days blend together."
Ethea sat quietly, watching the steam rise from the center platters. "Twenty-three is still just the beginning," she murmured, her voice calm but carrying a distinct note of comfort.
Soren picked up his chopsticks, a relaxed expression on his face as the casual small talk continued around the table. The atmosphere was completely easeful, a stark contrast to the usual isolation of his past.
Suddenly, the sharp ring of the doorbell echoed through the quiet apartnt, cutting into their conversation.
Clara imdiately stood up from her chair, smoothing down her apron. "I’ll get that."
Soren nodded, watching her head down the hallway. Within a mont, the sound of muffled greetings and familiar voices echoed from the entryway.
Soon, Aunt Clara returned to the dining room, holding a large, beautifully tied cake box in her arms. Right behind her stepped in two familiar faces.
"Happy Birthday, Brother Soren," Ryan said, offering a polite, respectful nod as he entered the room. "Please accept our apologies for the sudden intrusion on your family gathering." His eyes then landed on Ethea. "Sister-in-law, I hope we aren’t disturbing your evening."
Seria followed closely beside him, a warm and polite smile on her face as she looked toward the host. "Happy Birthday, Mr. Soren."
"Thank you both," Soren replied, shaking his head as he gestured toward the expansive layout of the dining area. "And you aren’t intruding at all. Co on in, take a seat."
Truthfully, looking at the sheer volu of food filling the massive table earlier, he had already suspected that they would have guests tonight. Seeing Ryan and Seria walk through the door simply confird his suspicions, replacing any lingering surprise with a genuine sense of welco.
Ryan stepped forward first, setting a neatly wrapped, heavy rectangular box on a nearby side table. "We didn’t want to show up empty-handed. It’s nothing extravagant, just a little sothing we thought might be useful for your upcoming ventures."
"I appreciate it, Ryan," Soren said, offering a nod.
Seria then approached, handing him a smaller, elegantly tied package. "And this is from , Mr. Soren. I hope you like it."
"Thank you, Miss Seria," Soren replied, accepting the gift with a relaxed smile before placing it next to Ryan’s package.
With the greetings finished, Aunt Clara expertly set down the cake box and cleared a couple of spots at the large table, welcoming the new arrivals.
Ryan and Seria took their seats across from Soren and Ethea, imdiately blending into the room’s warm, lively atmosphere.
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