Chapter 31: Chapter 31

BELLA

Jayden was quiet for a while and I felt I must have asked a question he wasn't ready to answer. I sighed. "It's fine if you prefer not to say anything,"

He stared at me and then shook his head. "No, I just don't know where to start from"

I stood up. "Never mind, you don't have to answer the question now. You can always answer it when you're ready". He only nodded his head but said nothing. The room became quiet, with Jayden staring at nothing in particular. I felt a bit awkward with the silence looming between us. Since I was done eating, I decided to take the plates back to the kitchen and use that as an opportunity to get out of the room. I picked up the tray containing the plates and walked closer to the door. I turned to look at Jayden, who seems unbothered that I was leaving the room. "Jayden". He turned to look at me with no emotion on his face. “I will be right back," I said and he nodded. I sighed. Giving one last look at the room, I stepped out and locked the door behind me. I headed for the kitchen. Lucy sat on the couch in the living room, legs crossed on the table with a bowl of popcorn on her lap, her attention focused on the screen. I wanted to walk past her without drawing her attention " she raised her head before I could take a step. “Hey"

I dropped the tray on the table and sat down beside her. "Hi"

She frowned. “Look at you. You looked stress out. I told you I could help, but you wouldn't let me. Just look at you,"

I sighed. "Needed to do the stuff myself"

She shrugged. “The stuff has got no name right?"

I chuckled. “Come on. ”

"Hope you enjoyed the food?"

I smiled, "Yes, I did. It was nice. But it tasted so different. Who made the food?"

She chuckled. "Jayden did"

I sat up quickly. Is she been serious right now?. Or she's joking?. "Y-you mean Jayden made that food?"

She nodded. "Yeah. He cooked the food"

I frowned. "Why didn't you tell me he cooked it?"

She scoffed. "You never asked. And by the way, why did you eat the food without asking?"

I sighed. "I was hungry. And..."

She laughed. "You were hungry or happy to see Jayden"

"I wasn't happy to see him. I...". She stared at me and I groaned. "No, I don't mean it that way. It isn't like I wasn't happy seeing him. Just that...". She laughed and I rolled my eyes. "Ok. I was happy seeing him but he wasn't the reason I ate the food"

She chuckled. "You don't have to explain. I understand"

I sighed and stood up. "I know you don't believe me but never mind"

She smiled. "You should go back to Jayden. He will be missing you". I rolled my eyes, ignored her, and picked the tray I kept on the table up. "You're leaving?" She asked. I ignored her and left for the kitchen

**

"You took so long," Jayden said, immediately I opened the door. He wasn't staring at me. His focus was on his phone.

I chuckled. "Sorry. I was doing some stuff in the kitchen". He raised his head to look at me. I walked closer to him and sat down beside him. "I brought this for you"

He furrowed his brows and I smiled. "They are cookies. Chocolate cookies. Or you don't like chocolate cookies?"

He smiled. "I love it. Thanks". I handed the pack of cookies to him and he bit one of them. "You made this or Lucy did?"

"I did"

He nodded. "Ok"

"It isn't nice?"

"It is"

I sighed. "Ok". There was an awkward silence. Jayden kept mulching on his cookies while I returned to my work. Within a few hours, I was done with my work. I stood up to return my books to the shelf. Jayden was fast asleep. He looked so cute and harmless when sleeping. I smiled and returned to sit down. I picked up a book to read while I let Jayden have his nap peacefully.

**

The ray of light shined on my face, disrupting my sleep. I frowned, my eyes still closed. Though I was curious to know who had opened the curtains, I was feeling so lazy to open my eyes. The duvet cover used in covering my body was dragged off and I groaned. I opened my eyes slowly to see Lucy, Diana, and Katie standing beside my bed. Lucy was holding a cake while Diana held two balloons with 2 and 7 written on them. "Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday, happy birthday. Happy birthday to you" they sang in unison

I smiled and sat you. Thank you girls"

Lucy hugged me. "Happy birthday, baby girl"

"Thanks, Lucy"

"Happy 27th birthday" Katie cooed

I smiled. "Thanks, Katie"

"Welcome to the 27th club," Diana said and I rolled my eyes

"Do you have to remind me that you're some months older than I am?"

She chuckled. "Stand up and take your bath. You've got guest"

I furrowed my brows. "Guest?. I wasn't expecting anyone"

She smiled. "Well, some people are here to celebrate with you"

I frowned. "Who are they?"

Lucy chuckled. "Jayden and Ethan"

I rolled my eyes. "What are they doing here?"

Diana scoffed. "Can you stop asking questions and stand up to take your bath"

"That hasn't answered my question"

Katie sighed. "To celebrate with you"

I sighed and stood up. "I will go take my bath"

Katie dropped the cake on the bed. "We've got a nice cloth for you"

I turned. "Are you been serious?". Katie nodded and I smiled. "Ok, I will go take my bath"

**

"This looks so good on you" Lucy complimented. Diana and Katie had left the room to attend to Diana's visitors. I wondered who she invited to the house. I could hear music playing so loud. I sat on the bed.

"Thanks, Lucy"

"Do you want me to make you up?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. I think I will leave my face like this"

She frowned. "You can't leave your face like this. You're the celebrant of the day"

I sighed. "I never wanted a celebration, Lucy. I just want to be in my room with a bowl of popcorn and ice cream"

"You shouldn't think that way. It's your day. You should have fun"

I shook my head. "No, there is no fun when you have no one to celebrate with". She furrowed her brows. "I know I have you. I have Diana and Katie. Jayden and Ethan too but I have been celebrating my birthday with friends and family. I want to celebrate with someone who loves me. I mean..."

She held my hand. "I understand. I know what it feels like and I have been in the situation before. But you can't let that pull you down and not let you have fun on your birthday. It's a special day, Bella. You should enjoy it"

I smiled. "I wish I can but..."

I sighed. "Thanks"

The door opened and Diana walked in. "You look so gorgeous, Bella". I rolled my eyes. "I can see you are ready. Come on. Let's go. People are waiting"

I stood up sluggishly and followed her to the living room. Lucy followed us from behind. When we got to the leaving room, it was empty with music playing. I looked around. "Where is Katie?"

Katie popped her head out of the kitchen. "In here"

I sighed and sat down. I wanted to ask for Jayden and Ethan but I decided against it. "Where are the visitors you talked about?"

Diana chuckled and sat down. "There are no visitors"

I frowned. "No visitor?. Then why all these?. I mean the clothes?"

"Just keep calm, ok"

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever"

**

It's been so many hours now and I was getting tired of sitting down. Though I never wanted a birthday party from the onset, I hated the dullness. I groaned. "Are we just going to sit here and do nothing?" I asked

Diana chuckled. "I thought you never wanted a party?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes, but not a boring birthday like this"

"So what do you want"

"Something better. Not a quiet, boring day"

Dia furrowed her brows. "You want a party?" Diana asked

I groaned. "At this point, I think that's what I need"

She chuckled. "I think she ready"

I furrowed my brows. "What do you mean?"

"You will find out soon. Lucy, get her makeup done"

Lucy made my face up and we left the house. When we got to a place, My face was covered with a black veil. "What's this for?"

"You will find out

The car stopped and we stepped out. Diana held my hand until we suddenly stopped. The veil on my face was removed. "Happy birthday, ma'am"

I batted my lashes. How were they able to bring my students together?