I'll Buy You a Cake

The next morning, Yvonne groaned as she groggily woke up. Her head was pounding wildly from hangover. She reached her phone on the bedside table that was constantly ringing and saw that it was her sister calling.

"Yvoonnneee!" Mozette shrieked over the phone.

Yvonne winced as she immediately pulled her phone away from her ear.

She rubbed her face as her headache was pulsing intensely. "Urgh, Mozette! Must you wake me up this way?"

"Happy birthdayyyyy!" Mozette's energy remained as high as ever.

Yvonne winced once more.

"It's so early in the morning, why are you getting so worked up?" Yvonne scowled as though her sister can see her.

"I thought I'd remind you about about the plans tonight. I know your memory lapses from time to time." Mozette shamelessly replied.

"You just want to tell me which restaurant we should eat at tonight." Yvonne deadpanned.

"I'll buy you a cake."

"Will I get to blow candles on it?" Yvonne's eyes lit up.

Mozette: "What are you, a ten-year old kid?"

Yvonne replied in a soft voice. "I just miss being a kid with not a care in the world, you know. Just playing with my dolls and I'm in my own happy bubble."

"Mom's still giving you a hard time?" Mozette's worry was traced in her voice.

"Oh, you know her. It's just... adulting[1] is hard."

Mozette's voice softened at her sister's words. "Alright, don't start crying now. I'll buy you a cake later... with candles."

"Will you sing me a birthday song then?" Yvonne tried to push her sister.

"Hey! Don't push your luck, girl! Geez, a thirty-year old woman acting like a kid!"

"He he. So, which restaurant is it?" Yvonne laughed.

Mozette's voice got excited. "There's this newly opened hotpot restaurant in downtown area. They offer unlimited choices. I already made reservations at 6pm. Don't be late."

"Alright, see you later then." Yvonne chuckled at her sister before hanging up.

Personality wise, both sisters were worlds apart. Mozette was more outgoing than Yvonne. Where Yvonne was the silent-type, her sister was more outspoken and loud.

On the surface, Mozette may have a stronger aura due to her fierce and sharp facial features. But inside, she's afraid of being alone. That's why she was better at making friends and building rapport with other people.

A moment later, Yvonne decided to start her day early as she fixed her bed before taking a shower.

She then chose to wear a gray sleeveless tight fitting dress that reached her knees, paired it with a black bolero jacket, secured a black butterfly belt on her waist, and a dark gray vintage ankle boots.

With a deep breath, Yvonne looked at herself in the full-length mirror as she readied to start her day.

When she walked to the front door, Mrs. Pereira smiled sweetly at her.

"Happy birthday, dear daughter. You look as lovely as ever."

"Thanks, Mom."

She nodded and smiled curtly as she silently thought, 'Sigh, if I didn't give her money last night, she'd probably be still lashing out at me.'

When Yvonne arrived at her work, she greeted everyone with bright smiles as usual.

While she was preparing the documents needed for their morning meeting, her boss' daughter arrived.

"Happy birthday, Yvonne!" A very cheerful voice greeted her.

"I told my father that today's your birthday. I believe the big boss will let you leave early."

"Wow! Thank you very much, Miss Lou!"

"Oh, don't mention it."

"Then, I better start preparing everything."

After getting her daily dose of brewed coffee, Yvonne busied herself throughout the day.

As the afternoon rolled by, Yvonne was suddenly summoned to the Chairman's office.

She knocked on the door before opening it. "Mr. Nason, you called for me?"

"Miss Pereira, my daughter reminded me that today's your birthday." Her boss started.

The chairman, Mr. Ben Nason was already in his sixties, with multiple companies under his name.

Working as the chairman's secretary was like being cooked under pressure. However, perks and privileges were always within her reach, aside from daily lessons on managing a business organization she was getting.

Yvonne smiled and nodded in response to her boss.

"You can leave early then. But print me a copy of the presentation for the meeting on Monday before you leave." Mr. Nason instructed.

"Yes, I will do it immediately. Thank you very much, Sir."

She was about to leave when her boss called her back again.

"Here's a little something for you today. I appreciate your hard work." Mr. Nason gave her a thick red packet.

Yvonne's heart warmed at the gesture. She smiled gratefully at her boss and expressed her thanks.

Two hours before her shift ended, Yvonne was all prepared to leave. She then bid farewell to all her bosses before heading out.

Since it was still a little bit early before their family dinner, she decided to visit the mall near her office and indulge herself with a little shopping spree.

She was crossing the street when all of a sudden, a speeding car appeared out of nowhere and collided with her.

"Aaaah!"

One moment, Yvonne was standing rooted on the ground, then the next she was thrown onto the pavement. She felt cold all over before her consciousness started to drift further away.

~×~×~×~×~

At this moment, Yvonne was in a dreamland where vivid memories of her past were flashing right in front of her.

When Yvonne had just started her first job, Mr. Pereira came home downtrodden. He was schemed against that he had no choice but to retire early, or he would be facing legal charges. This prompted Yvonne's parents to ask for her support.

In just two years, with no stable income and being left alone at home, the situation took a toll on Mr. Pereira that his diabetes escalated to a chronic kidney disease. His illness made Yvonne feel even more coerced to forget her dreams and just help provide for the family.

She didn't understand her parents' decisions back then. Their hesitation to invest for their own family's estate led them to live in rental houses, where at any moment they could be expelled from not being able to pay rent on time. Them stopping her from pursuing her dreams that should have provided higher income.

For if they did, their family would not have needed to worry about paying rent, her supposed profession should have made it easier to avail of necessary treatment for her father, and their family could have risen in ranks.

All these things, Yvonne kept them deep in her heart. She blamed not only everyone around her, but also herself.

The stinging pain in her heart woke her up. She checked the time on her phone and she was spooked to find that it was dated ten years back.

She thought nothing of it as she stood up and looked around.

"What the f-?!"