1Chapter 2
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROXY!"
Shock could not define how she was feeling right then as she stood in front of her front door looking around at the 100 or so people that she knew from UR, seen in her sister's work place or were their neighbors.
What was most shocking was that she didn't even know it was her birthday today.
What was today's date anyway? April the 18th?
Ops. It was her birthday today. She's totally forgotten about it. She turned 19 today.
After her initial shock, people started coming at her and wishing her a happy birthday, a congratulations, bringing her a gift or all of thee above. To say she was overwhelmed by the amounts of people and the number of thank yous she had to say would be an understatement.
Music blared everywhere, and people were either chatting around, dancing in the living room turned disco bar, or eating in front of the long buffet table set up to the side in said living room.
Their house was so packed with people that Roxy had a hard time getting to her big sister chatting away with her colleagues at work, of course the difficulty also came from some of her male schoolmates sticking to her like glue, just like every day at school, which she never truly understood why. They won't tell her why, they just blush or say it was nothing.
At least she's gotten use to it a little.
When she finally made it to her big sister who smiled at her, her friends greeted her with a happy birthday before leaving the sisters alone.
When they were gone, Roxy asked her question, "Did you plan this party big sister?"
Yumi continued smiling her cool smile, "Happy Birthday Roxy" she greeted happily, and Roxy took that as a yes
Hot tears began to form in her eyes as she hugged her bestest big sister in the world, "Thank you so much, big sister!" she sobbed as tears of joy went rolling down her cheeks to her sister's shoulder.
Yumi hugged her back feeling like the surprise birthday party was a huge success.
But it wasn't over yet. Only one last thing to make this party an absolutely memorable one.
When they broke their hug, Roxy started to wipe her eyes feeling so lucky to have such a wonderful big sister, "You're the best, you know that?" she said happily before noticing a familiar figure at the corner of the room.
She turned to him and waved her hand at him to get his attention, "Aaron" she called making him look up at her and slowly make his way to the two girls.
When he stopped in front of them, his tall frame almost covering their entire view of the room, Roxy smiled at him and turned to her sister, "Big sister, this' Aaron, my school mate i was talking about. And Aaron, this' my big sister, Yumi" and then to Aaron who stood casually
Yumi reached out her hand and he took it in a firm shake, although in Yumi's mind, she couldn't help but think he looked familiar to her especially his hair which she could still identify, despite the dim lighting, was silver in color. It was a strange color really but she guesses she can relate, her own hair was snow white after all.
"Nice to meet you, Yumi. Thank you for inviting me here tonight" he said politely without smiling.
"You're welcome. And thank you as well for taking care of my sister today" she said, very grateful in all honesty. Any other guy in their school and she would've been worried sick but Aaron seemed like a good person to her so she guesses Roxy finally found a friend who she didn't have to worry about.
But of course, she'll keep her guard up just to be sure.
Aaron merely nodded as Roxy continued to smile, pleased that they were getting along well together.
The party continued and Roxy chatted, danced, laughed and opened gifts. She was having the greatest time of her life but when 11pm struck, her sister suddenly said she wanted her to meet someone, someone very special.
She left the party for a while and followed her sister to the east garden where it was surrounded by blooming white roses and a wooden bench sat in the very middle surrounded by the fragrant flowers as it faced the forest beyond.
Her big sister sat her down on the bench and said for her to wait for a moment before she left her there.
Roxy was very curious on who her sister would want her to meet but soon her question was answered.
A low thump was heard from behind her followed by a smooth voice going, "Good evening to you..." and when she turned around she had the shock of her life, "... Ms. Birthday girl"
She was dreaming, surely this was a dream. There was just no way in this earth that her idol, the one and only Michael Lewey was standing right before her in all his greatness.
It was impossible.
For a moment she was dumbfounded and absolutely speechless as she stared at him. At the perfect comb of his black hair to the side giving him a prince-like look, the cloudy gray of his eyes that were a little hard to see due to the low lighting outside, the crisp black suit he was wearing with a red tie - his signature style, and finally - though it may have looked odd to her afterwards - a guitar was slung on his back, its strap hanging by his right shoulder.
A wave of silence came and went without her noticing and then finally a word came out of her mouth, "Ahm..." technically not a word and probably the stupidest thing she could say at that moment but still she said something
After another moment, he suddenly smiled his signature smile making her blush, it was the smile that started his career as a model and the smile she's been dying to see all her life.
The only time she saw him in person while he was in LA was in the airport when they were going to South Carolina and he was headed for Miami for a cover shoot. When he passed through the terminal, he was surrounded by men in black and was only focused on his cellphone, she was also too shocked to move missing her chance to take a picture of him
After that she never saw him in person again...
until now.
He took a step forward and headed for the bench she was sitting in a while ago, which caused her to step back to make room for him to sit down.
He turned to her again, still smiling and gestured her to sit down.
She obediently followed in one quick motion without being able to look away from him, afraid he'd suddenly go away if she did.
He sat down and placed his guitar on his lap, his fingers over the strings, "Would you like me to sing you a song?" he asked smoothly, gently
She was taken aback when he spoke, still a little dazed that he was there, "Ah... Y-yah... Sure" she stuttered out, feeling her cheeks burn even more of embarrassment
Finally she turned away, unable to face him any longer. She must look like a total dork to him now
He paused then suddenly he started strumming his guitar to a tune she knew well and started singing the lyrics she knew by heart.
It was his third record single, one of the first few songs she first heard when she started listening to his songs. It was 'You are a fairytale'
With its mellow and lullaby-like tune, Roxy started to swoon and close her eyes to further feel the notes playing beside her like her own personal music box.
It was beautiful.
When the song ended, she slowly opened her eyes, feeling a bit tired but nonetheless, she smiled a small smile and muttered lightly, "Thank You"
Then she turned to him, smiling her brightest smile.
"I'm really thankful you sung that song for me" she said happily, cherishing this moment where she's finally met her idol. She knows it wasn't forever or she could be dreaming, but she was treasuring it for the rest of her life
He stared at her wide eyed and when she noticed it, her expression turned to question, "What's wrong?" she asked curiously. Did she say something wrong?
He seemed to have snapped out of it and comely shock his head whilst smiling again. "No it's nothing" he didn't sound so reassuring but she just thought it was probably nothing
Another silence passed, "Oh and..." he started, "Happy Birthday" he told her and she felt like her night had become absolutely perfect
"Thank you" she said, completely thankful to him ang also to her big sister and everyone who came to her party today.
It truly was one of her greatest birthday parties.
Too bad she was going to regret this night soon.
Very soon.
The two had spent a great deal of time together in the garden surrounded by roses, chatting and michael playing while Roxy listened were mostly the only thing they did but both enjoyed each others company without him spilling how he had been invited as Roxy's special guest.
Though as the night went on and morning was only 2 to 3 hours away, Roxy was beginning to feel sleepy, not even realizing she was already lying her head against his shoulder as he merely sung now without the accompaniment of his guitar since it might disturb her. He sung another of his lullaby songs, 'Little Garden'.
Don't get him wrong, michael mostly sang pop songs but he had a limited only album which were a collection of lullaby-like songs that were an instant hit, the day it hit stores, further skyrocketing his career.
As Roxy's eyes slowly drifted to a close, smelling the sweet scent of michael's hair, she wanted to stay that way forever but she knew she couldn't, it wasn't possible and also, her big sister would get worried if they stay until morning outside.
She forced open her eyes lazily and turned her head to the house to see if the lights were still on but she forgot to sit up before turning thus ending up burying her face in the black tresses
Huh? Black? Then Why was there gold here?
Indeed, there was small number of gold strands peeking over michael's collar and mixing with the other black strands around it.
Drowsilly, Roxy reached her hands up to the single strand and pulled it revealing what looked like a thin white cloth stuck to his black hair, but she only had a short glance for the man beside her suddenly stood up quickly in front of her, escaping from her grasp of his hair. But when he stood up, she suddenly heard a cat's cry followed by michael falling down to the ground, his guitar smashing beside him.
And when she turned to him to see if he was okay, she had another shock of her life that night
Her perfect dream had ended.