Most people would think that the best gift could be bought by money and the more luxurious it is, the better it will be. But is that true? Are gifts merely something so materialistic or are they supposed to be something special – something from the heart?

It was my 17th birthday and since it was my last year in secondary school, my friends decided to throw a grand birthday bash for me. The drinks, the food, the pure luxury of the gifts and everything were supposed to make me deliriously happy. In a way, I guess I am… no doubt serious efforts were put into planning this whole event and I'm honestly grateful for it. However, as I looked at the crowd before me I find myself yearning for something else – another kind of birthday gift that no one would figure out what was it.

I didn't want to tell anyone about it because the silly part of me continued to hope that someone would be able to look into my heart and truly understand what I really long for but as I've said – silly me.

"This is one hell of a party isn't it, Rachel?" someone spoke and I turned around to see who it was.

I made myself laugh. Truth be told, I hate crowds and this party was crowded. "Hey, Dan." I greeted my friend. "Yeah. It's great…" I know, I know… I'm lying through my teeth. I paused for a while and looked at the crowd once more, trying to search for a familiar face. Nope, can't find him. Trying to act as if I'm not bothered, I asked Dan, "Hey, have you seen Trevor?"

Dan shook his head. "No. He's not here?" he asked, surprised.

I shook my head this time. Trevor was my boyfriend – well, sort of. We never really did any of those stuff that couples do. We never went on dates, we never kissed, we never said any words of 'I love you' to each other face to face before and even if we did, it always felt awkward. Yet at the same time, we knew that we needed each other more than anything else in the world.

I never asked him why we never did what normal couples would do and came up with my own conclusion that maybe it was because both of us fear of getting too emotionally attached to each other and would go through turmoil when we needed to break everything off with each other since we had to go our separate ways after graduation.

"He doesn't like crowds." I tried to find excuses for myself rather than for Dan. Besides, in the two years since Trevor and I had been together, he never gave me nor celebrated my birthday with me anyway.

Dan looked at me uncertainly and I laughed it off saying that I was fine. He smiled in return and I told him to enjoy himself before excusing myself. Quietly, without being noticed, I walked out of the ballroom – we're a bunch of rich bastards by the way. This party actually took place in one of my friend's mansion. –, down the staircase, into the guest room and out of the mansion, into the garden.

The air was nice and cool but sad to say, there weren't any stars in the sky – air pollution. I sat by the fountain at the center of the garden and started toying with the layers of while laces and cloths on my baby blue gown.

All of a sudden, life seemed so empty and meaningless to me. Everything around me consisted of just money and more money. Money determines my status in society. Money brings me friends. Money gives me my education. Money is a sign of love from my parents. Money was supposed to be what I have that people so desperately want and desire for. At that moment, I wouldn't mind just throwing all my wealth away for something that wasn't so purely materialistic and fake.

I never knew who my true friends were as everyone treated me equally kind and nice because I come from a noble lineage and I'm fully loaded with pure hard cash. Over the years, I learnt that I have to be cynical towards people and careful when I'm around them. Nowadays, it really is not easy to differentiate who's real and who's not.

Without my noticing, I started to tear. A soft wind blew past me and I shivered. Seconds later, I felt something thick and warm covering my bare shoulders and I blinked back my tears in surprised. My hand went to touch the warm fabric and I looked up.

"What's the birthday girl doing here all alone?" Trevor stood before me with an easy smile spread across his face.

"Trevor?" I spoke his name in the form of a question.

"Surprised to see me here?" he asked.

I nodded my head, speechless. "I always thought you weren't one who would come to luxurious parties especially if it's crowded."

"Well, I don't but if it's at my parent's command, then it's something entirely different."

I blinked. He sighed. "Anyway," he said. "I'm not here for the party."

"Then why are you here?" I asked, slightly curious.

His easy smile turned into a mischievous grin. "I'm here for you." He stretched out his hand and pulled me up on my feet. "I know you hate crowds too, so lets get out of here, 'kay?"

With my hands in his, he pulled me along with him, out from the mansion's compound. We ran as fast as my legs in stilettos can bring me. It felt really good to have the wind playing as messing around with my hair as we ran. "Where are we going?!" I shouted.

"To the children's playground!" he shouted in between laughter.

"The what?" I was literally bewildered.

"You'll see! Just wait, alright?!"

When we finally reached the children's playground, he immediately covered my eyes with his hands. "Trevor!" I was getting a bit annoyed. I hate surprises.

"Relax, Rachel! Just follow my lead." He guided me slowly up somewhere – I can't see, remember?

After a minute or two, he turned me around to face him. "What are you honestly up to?" I furrowed my eyebrows at him when he finally took his hands off my eyes.

"Before you turn around, I have things to tell you." He began. "I know I'm not really what an ideal boyfriend should be. I never gave you any promises, I never did anything that would make you swoon in delight. I never bothered about making any special occasions special."

"That's not-" I tried to deny. He silenced me by placing his finger on my lips.

"But today, it's going to be different. We don't have much time left together so I want things to be special. I don't know what would be best for you and while I was sleeping, this really whacked idea came into my mind…"

Slowly, he placed his hands on my shoulders and turn me around. He pointed straight in front of us towards the small field by the side of the children's playground.

I found myself standing at the highest place in the playground – the place where to have to walk up in order to play with the slides and slide down – and I was looking straight ahead at little spots of lights on the field.

Legs a little shaky, I walked towards the end and placed my hands on the railings to get a better view of it. The little lights glowed proudly in the dark and it said:

TO MY LOVE,

HAPPY 17TH BITHDAY.

I started to choke as I felt warm large hands wrap around my waist from my back. Trevor rested his forehead on my shoulders. In a low love-soaked tone, he whispered, "Happy birthday, Rachel. I love you."

I couldn't speak, and I knew I would have crumpled onto the ground if he had not held me so tightly. We stayed like that until all the candles had melted and the final light went out. Taking in a deep breath, I wriggled out from his arms. I turned to face him and cupped his face in my hands. I touched his forehead with my own, and then placed a kiss on his lips.

"I love you." I finally managed to say.

That was the first time we said we loved each other face to face, through our own two lips.

This present wasn't expensive. This present wasn't grand at all. But it held the most meaning and even the most expensive gift could not have topped this off…