Preparations and Expectations

The calendar on my phone reminded me every time I opened it that Sack's birthday was only five days away. February 5th, to be exact. Although he had insisted that he didn't want a big celebration or anything extravagant, I knew he at least deserved something special. After all, this year would be different for him, and I wanted to make sure he felt it as an important day, even if in a simple way.

The initial idea had been straightforward: an intimate dinner with Olivia and me, perhaps at a quiet place where we could talk and have a good time without much fuss. But, of course, when Olivia found out about the plan, she decided we needed to "elevate it."

"An intimate dinner? Seriously?" Olivia exclaimed when I first mentioned the plan. "Lindsay, that's so… basic! Sack deserves something epic! Something he'll remember forever."

We were sitting in one of the campus cafés, supposedly discussing the details of our upcoming biology project, but Olivia had other priorities. While I tried to focus on my notes about gene regulation, she was scribbling extravagant ideas on her iPad.

"How about a themed party?" she suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "We could do it Hollywood-style. Red carpet, neon lights, fake cameras… and everyone dressed like movie stars!"

"Olivia, Sack hates that kind of thing," I reminded her, trying to stay calm. "You know how he is. He prefers something quieter."

"But quiet is boring," she protested, crossing her arms. "Besides, if we're going to celebrate, it has to be memorable. We can't just sit at a table eating pasta while talking about biology. That's not a birthday."

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't help but smile. Olivia was right about one thing: if we were going to do something, it should be special. But I also knew Sack would feel uncomfortable with anything too ostentatious. So, I decided to negotiate.

"Alright, Olivia," I said finally, closing my notebook. "If you insist so much, we can do something a little more elaborate. But no themed parties or massive events. Just a dinner with friends at an elegant restaurant. And you can pick the place."

Olivia looked at me with a mix of triumph and satisfaction.

"I knew you'd see reason," she said, grinning widely. "Leave it to me. I'll find the perfect spot. Something that combines glamour, elegance, and, of course, a touch of drama."

"Just make sure it's not too… extravagant," I added quickly, though I knew that, coming from Olivia, that was asking for a miracle.

"Don't worry," she responded, winking at me. "It'll be perfect. Trust me."

The next day, Olivia already had everything planned. She gathered us in one of the study rooms on campus, reserved exclusively for science students, to give us the details. She sat at the head of the table, her iPad in hand, showing us pictures of a restaurant she had found.

"Here it is," she announced, swiping through a photo on the screen. "Le Jardin Étoilé. It's French, elegant, and absolutely stunning. They have candles on the tables, live music, and a menu that looks like it came straight out of a dream."

Sack raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised.

"Olivia, that place seems… extreme. Are you sure it won't be too much?"

"Of course I'm sure!" she replied, ignoring his skeptical tone. "Besides, if we're going to do this, we have to do it right. Everyone will wear fancy outfits. No jeans or sweatshirts. I want it to be a night worth remembering."

I looked at Sack, who seemed resigned but also a little amused. I knew there was no way to convince Olivia to change her mind, so I decided to support her.

"Alright, Olivia," I said. "Let's do it. But remember, this is for Sack, not for you. So no exaggerations."

"I promise," she responded, placing a hand over her heart dramatically. "It'll be perfect. You'll see."

As I helped Olivia with the final details, I couldn't help but think about what this birthday meant for Sack. We had briefly talked about his mother's letter during our dinner a few days ago, and although he hadn't said much, I knew he was nervous. Opening that letter would be an emotionally intense moment for him, and I wanted to make sure he had all the support he needed.

That night, after Olivia returned to her room in the female dormitory, I decided to visit Sack in his residence. He lived in one of the male dorms near campus, and although I didn't usually go there often, I knew this occasion warranted it.

I knocked softly on his door, and he opened it with a surprised but warm expression.

"Lindsay, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to talk to you," I replied, stepping inside when he gestured for me to come in. "Are you sure you want to do this?" I asked gently, referring both to the dinner and opening the letter. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to."

Sack looked at me thoughtfully.

"I know," he said after a moment. "But I think it's time. I can't keep avoiding it forever. And… I like the idea of having you two with me when I do it."

I felt a lump in my throat but nodded with a warm smile.

"We'll be there, no matter what."

We stayed silent for a moment, simply enjoying the calm of his room. Finally, Sack broke the silence with a small smile.

"Besides, if Olivia picked the restaurant, it'll probably be fun. At least I won't have to worry about being bored."

I laughed, feeling the tension ease a little.

"That's true. Olivia has a special talent for making everything interesting."

As the birthday approached, Olivia became even more obsessive with the preparations. She took us all shopping for fancy outfits ("No improvising, I want you to look impeccable") and sent us constant messages with reminders about the time, the location, and dress code rules.

"Remember," she told us during one of our last meetings at the campus café, "no one is allowed to be late. This isn't some college party. It's an elegant dinner. So behave."

"Olivia, we're adults," Sack responded, pretending to be indignant. "I think we can handle a dinner without causing a disaster."

"That's what I hope," she said, pointing at him accusingly. "Because if anyone ruins this night, I'll never forgive myself."

Finally, the night before the birthday, we met at the campus café to review the last details. Olivia was radiant, as always, while going over her to-do list.

"Everything is ready," she announced, closing her iPad with a dramatic gesture. "Tomorrow will be an unforgettable day."

Sack and I exchanged a knowing glance. We knew that, no matter what happened, there would always be something new and exciting waiting for us. And although Olivia could be over-the-top, her enthusiasm was contagious.