My Love Journey's
The Elliot Birthday Party

So, Paul's been completely missing for a week. No phone calls, no messages... No news at all. Almost four have passed since he went to Spain. Well, actually I already knew something like this would happen sometime.

Instead of feeling deeply lonely, I was grateful my work schedule and my increasingly busy studies could take my mind off Paul a little. This morning, I sent him a message first.

To: Paul: Frosty misses you x

But even today, I'm home and finishing decorating for Elliot's little surprise birthday with Stacey, he hasn't returned my message. Trying desperately to shut down access to all media platforms, I didn't know any news about Paul.

"The campaign and his friends are ready" I said as I checked the preparation list on the phone.

"Good!" say Linda from the family room. "I'm setting up the lights..."

I sat on the kitchen table chair while checking the incoming mail folder. Then my brows frowned in confusion when I realized he had read my message, but there was no reply. I thought for a few minutes, considering whether I needed to text again, or maybe call her before my other friends arrived, but I decided not to.

Actually from the beginning I wasn't sure Paul and I could get through this, but now my doubts have grown as there is no commusication between us. I should have asked immediately when news of her relationship with the model started to spread, because now I feel like she has found another woman there.

"Hey, are you okay?" Stacey crossed the kitchen door, looking very pretty in a tight black dress.

I threw a smile at him and was just about to answer his question, but I heard the doorbell ring. "Yes, I'm fine." I said before hurriedly passing through to the front door.

The next two hours one by one my friends came, until Elliot, who was the center of tonight's activities, came last. This whole day Stacey and I were deliberately ignoring her in the hospital so she wouldn't know our plan.

"It's gonna be the most fun night!" I muttered to Elliot with a smile as we walked to my door.

Stacey and the others were already waiting inside the house, deliberately turning off the lights to add to the impression as if I was alone. I wore a jeans jacket to cover the colorful and shiny blouse I wore, combined with black jeans.

Elliot's ignorance of our plans made me so excited that my mind was unknowingly diverted from Paul.

"I like your hairdo" she said nervously.

I smiled over my shoulder. "I just curl it up a little." I relaxed.

"Well, you look prettier." Her tone was very sincere, but somehow I felt uncomfortable with her praise.

"Thank you." I tried to smile, taking slow steps as I approached the door.

Then I pulled out the key to the house from there while Elliot waited beside me. From the corner of my eye I could see he was smiling looking at me nervously.

There should be a reason for him to be nervous, right? I just invited him to watch Netflix at my house. Just him and me... Oh, no, no! My smile slowly dissipated as my mind guessed why he could be this big. No. gabe. This can't happen.

I opened the door and stepped forward, ready to press the switch as Elliot followed me into the house.

"Uhm, Bianka, listen... I know you're in touch with Paul Klug, but I can't.." he murmured softly. Instantly my body froze guessing where the conversation was going.

Then before Elliot could get on with his sentence, with one quick move I pressed the switch, and shouted 'SURPRISE!' from my friends standing in the living room were heard echoing throughout the room.

With a smile, I closed the door and looked at Elliot's surprised look. "Holy cow!" he shook with a natural shock, then a subtle laugh sounded from him. "Baa... What-what's this?"

"Happy birthday!" Mickey, one of his close friends, first came forward and hugged him.

***

"Geez, I really didn't expect you to prepare this for me." Elliot smiled broadly, speaking in a louder voice to cope with the sound of music. "Even you invited my friends."

I sip a drink while shrugging my shoulders. "You should know that Stacey's the best at investigating things. I don't know where he knew Mickey from and asked him to join the plan today."

"That's incredible!"

"You deserve it. We know how difficult it is to deal with Dr. Grey in your first weeks in the hospital, and we wanted to show you a little support" I said with a smile.

"You're amazing, Bianka. Thank you." Thank you." Suddenly I felt awkward because we were both in the kitchen.

"Ah, relax... I'm just preparing the place and drinks, the rest they're arranging."

"Well, I appreciate your efforts. I, uhm... Can we have a chat for a second?" He asked as he approached me.

I cleared my throat to overcome the uncomfortable feeling I was feeling. "I think we better join the others."

I hurriedly grabbed my glass from the table and immediately stepped into the living room, where my friends and Elliot's friends were busy dancing while chatting. Look around the room and find Stacey sitting on the couch with Elise, Camille, and Valerie.

"Hey," I said as I threw my butt in the middle between Camille and Stacey. I took a breath before sipping my drink.

"Yes, of course." I muttered nervously.

Suddenly Stacey elbowed my arm. "What's wrong?"

I shook my head. "Let me tell you, I just..."

"Bianca!" My head turned as I heard the spirit cry from Red. "Come, accompany me to dance..."

He reached out to me, and I raised a surprised eyebrow. "Huh?"

"Come on, pretty." He laughed and pulled me.

***

My condition was already very messy by the time it showed past midnight, almost at 3am.

"No, no. Don't go home yet." I shook my head weakly at Stacey and Elise who were about to go home. I've offered to stay the night because it seems they're really drunk. But, yeah, of course they refused.

"It's morning, Bee. See you on Monday" Elise spoke while hugging me. "I'll join you at lunchtime."

"Perfect!" I said, smiling as soon as our embrace slipped.

"You're okay we're staying, right?" stacey asked with her eyebrows raised slightly.

I'm nodding. "Yes, I'm fine."

I closed the door after Stacey and Elise disappeared from my eyes, and when I turned around, I gasped to find Elliot standing behind me.

"Can I stay over?" tanyakanya. With enough alcohol content to poison the mind, the awkwardness previously felt between kamo is now slightly reduced.

I smiled while nodding my head. "certain. But, you and Valerie should help me clean up this mess tomorrow morning."

"No problem" he said. "I still can't believe you'd bother doing this for me."

"Actually Stacey and Mickey had the most parts. And, this is not a competition of surprises or anything like that." I said, shaking my hands in the air.

With my body slightly limp from being tired of being drunk, I let go of my highness and kicked him into the corner of the room by the door.

"Thank you." I gasped when he suddenly pulled me into his arms.

"Oh, yes, equally." I said, then cleared my throat and hesitated to return his embrace. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Elliot looked at me with a look that made me uneasy, not because he liked it, but more because he was uncomfortable. While trying to avoid eye contact, I cleared my throat and continued speaking. "I'm gonna go up and get a pillow and a blanket for you, okay?"

With a hasty step, I left her downstairs. Elliot's a good guy, but not good enough to replace Paul. I respect Paul as my current partner and don't want Elliot to misunderstand me for throwing a surprise party for him at my house.

When I arrived at the last rung of stairs carrying pillows and blankets, the sound of Valerie's screams rang out from above. "Bianca! I'm getting sleepy!"

"Wait a minute!" reply shouted.

"Sleep" Elliot said as he grabbed a pillow and a blanket from my hand. "Once again, thank you."

"Uhm, Elliot.." I muttered nervously. "I'm willing to make my home a place to celebrate your birthday doesn't mean I... Uhm, you're my friend, okay? Not more. So, please don't misunderstand."

He was silent while looking at me for a while before speaking. "Yes, yeah, I know what you mean."

Relief is gushing through my heart. "good. Good night, Elliot."

"Good night." I thought he really understood what I meant, but I was wrong. Suddenly Elliot came forward and kissed me on the cheek and turned around and stepped into the living room without saying anything more.

Feeling somewhat annoyed in response to Elliit's overdue attitude, I set my foot back into the room. I changed clothes, cleaned makeup, and got into bed. I hugged Valerie while muttering 'good night' to her.

As soon as my body position is comfortable and ready to enter the dream realm, I heard the vibration of the mobile phone on the nightstand. I reached out and got a message from Paul.

From: Paul: Ah, I also miss him xx

Since my energy and mentality were completely dying, I could no longer reply to the message knowing it would continue until tomorrow while what I needed right now was a quick nap.