Chapter 4: Chapter 4

“Mike, we are going to make a quick stop at my place.” George told Michael on their way out of the bar. “Why?” Michael asked still walking beside George without looking at him. “To pick up my cell phone, please.” George replied and made a quick step in front of him stopping a taxi.

“What were you thinking to have left your phone back in your house?” Michael asked, wondering what he was thinking, he knew that George used to be too attached to his phone and for him to have left it behind sounded a little not him.

“Come on hurry up, Mike,” George told him, urging him to follow him to his apartment, when he saw that he was feeling reluctant to go with him to pick up his phone that he had claimed was left at home.

“Must I follow you into your apartment?” Michael asked, shaking his head slightly as he does not quite understand what George was about today, he was kind of acting a little off unlike him.

“Yes, just shut up and follow me, do not be a whinny little kid,” George replied, insisting that he come with him into his apartment. Michael shrugged his shoulders a little bit and followed behind George.

Back in George’s apartment the room was dark. “Hey man, hurry up and get your cell phone.” Michael said standing outside George’s apartment. “No come in Mike.” George said, pulling his hand and in one pull, he pulled Mike into the house then made his way for the light switch and switch on the light.

“Surprise!” Came the voices in the room which startled Michael and they all began to sing a happy birthday song to him. They were so many people inside the house, many of them are well known to him and a few others who he haven’t seen before.

Michael was so surprised that he didn’t know what to say. “Happy birthday Mike.” George said, smiling at him.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe this George, you remembered my birthday that even I have forgotten.” Michael said still looking surprised “wow, thanks guys.” He said looking at the ladies and gents in the house. “And thank you George.” He added turning around to look at George who smiled at him in return.

“I told you Mike, take a break and have some fun.” George said to Mike. “I mean look at you, I can’t believe you forget your own birthday; I George would never forget my birthday for anything in the world.” George told him and then, turned around and shouted to the DJ he had hired, “DJ hit the music, and let the party begin.”

***

Lora stood by the door, raising her both hands up to halt the kids who are jiggling at the door, they are usually filled with excitement each time they come to her house for classes; she really do not know the reason for their excitement, but all she knows is that she feels light hearted by their excitement.

“Hold on kids, hold on, hold on!” she said to the kids, raising her voice up a little to calm them down. The kids who were so eager to go in and sit down for their lessons, paused by the door and looking at one another, they wondered why Miss Lora would stop them at the door instead of letting them in to begin their lessons as usual.

“Miss Lora, are you alright?” Little Emilia asked looking up at Lora, her voice sounding small and childish. “Yes Miss Lora, is there a problem?” Jose added also looking up at Lora.

The rest of the kids looked up at her too, their eyes widened in agreement to the questions asked. Lora knowing that the kids are right and that this is unlike her, smiled and replied “yes kids, today is quite an exceptional day you know.” She said her gaze moving from one kid to another.

“Exceptional day?” the kids echoed and looked at each other in a questionable kind of way, in wonder as to what made the day exceptional.

“What could be so exceptional today, Miss Lora?” Diago asked looking back up at Lora who was still gazing at them, enjoying the moment.

“Oh yes, Miss Lora graduated today.” Nina shouted and jumped up and down, jiggling like one who had just won a lottery.

“Mmmh.” Lora said, nodding her head in agreement. The kids jumped up and down in excitement and echoed, “Happy graduation Miss Lora.”

Lora knelt down on both knees with her arms opened wide, the kids all ran into them and they had a group hug. “Ooh… thank you guys.” Lora said, while they were still holding each other.

This feels so good and she have been longing for a beautiful hug like this since morning. She wished Alfredo would give her beautiful hugs like this without wanting anything in return.

What a life, she’s hoping that Alfredo would give her the love and care her parents never gave her; If only she didn’t love him so much, maybe her heart won't yarn for him like it does now. She thought.

“Miss Lora” Nina called, bringing her attention back to reality. “If only I remembered today is your graduation, I would have prepared a present for you.” She said, while they were still holding themselves in a hug.

“Oh no darling, you’ve made my day by giving me such a lovely hug; you’ve all made my day.” She said now entangling herself from their little hands and looking at them.

“You know what!” Lora said standing up and making a pose. “We are not having lessons today because I have got a surprise for you...”

“What! A surprise.” The kids shouted in excitement without letting her finish her statement; they ran past her, shoving her to a side as they made their way through the door into the room where they used for their lessons. “Wow.” They shouted, their eyes widened as they saw their lesson room beautifully decorated.

Lora closed the door and followed behind them. “Well?” she asked, shrugging her shoulders in a way of seeking their opinion about the decorated room.

“This is beautiful Miss Lora, it didn’t look like our class room at all.” Maya pointed out, her voice filled with excitement; all the other kids nodded in agreement.

“Well am glad you all liked it because this is going to be my own little graduation party with you guys.” Lora said, picking little Emilia up from the ground into her arms, feeling happy that she did this, now she would have her own lovely graduation party.

***

“Let me introduce you two,” George said to Michael, holding a beautiful blond girls hand who he had invited to the party. “Mike, this is Brenda.” He told Michael pointing at the beautiful blond girl who is standing by his side. “Brenda, Mike.” He said to Brenda pointing at Michael who reluctantly stretched out his hands to Brenda, she took it and they both said “hello.”

“Excuse me one moment.” Michael said to Brenda letting go of her hand as he placed his arm on George shoulder and moved him aside. He wanted to know what he was up to and why he wanted to hook him up.

“What’s the meaning of this George?” he whispered into George’s ear squeezing his shoulder at the same time.

“Chill Mike, relax and have fun.” George said pulling his shoulder off from Michael’s hold. “It’s your birthday package from me to you, so please go and have fun.” George said to Michael as he shoved him back to where Brenda is standing before he could get any chance to react to what he had just said.

“Hi!” Michael said, raising his right hand up, not sure of what to say to Brenda; then he took a sip of the alcohol in his disposable cup which he is holding in his left hand.

“Hi!” She said in reply looking at him skeptically, not sure of what to make of him. He is cute though, she thought and kind of shy too, she concluded as she took another glance at him and took a sip from her cup too, waiting for him to say something to her other than ‘Hi’.

“Happy birthday Mike.” Brenda said to him after a short silence, seeing that he was not ready to speak to her, or was too shy to speak to her, she thought.

“Thanks Brenda.” He replied, and then gazed at her briefly before looking away, did not like that he had to seem speechless in front of her, and wished that George gave him a hint about something like this before introducing her to him, it would have made him more prepared other than looking this silly in front of a girl, Michael thought as he lifted his disposable cup to take another sip but then, suddenly some guys pulled him on both hands on to the middle of the room where they assumed to be the dance floor.

George took Brenda’s hand after he saw what happened and led her to where Michael is dancing at the middle of the house with some other invitees, he wanted to hook them up so that Michael could have some fun, he has already spoken to Brenda about Michael and had shown his picture to her before now and had brought her here after she agreed to get down with Michael.

“Give him some time to come around,” George whispered to Brenda as he led her to where Michael was dancing, she nodded as she understood him quite alright. George winked a little at her after her nod, thankful that she understood Michael’s position before leaving her.

Brenda turned to Michael and extended her hand to him. Michael took her hand and smiled a little sheepishly at her, they both followed the flow and started dancing together along with the others that were dancing too.

“Ooh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about.” George said, winking an eye to Michael who smiled at him coyly after his gaze unconsciously met his.