Alex sat in the quiet corner of the library, her favorite spot by the large window that revealed the campus grounds. She had a piano piece to perform on stage for the school festival and she had to practice but that day she just didn't feel like doing it. The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden glow that set the perfect mood to read.
She was completely absorbed in the story when her phone buzzed softly. Glancing at the screen, she saw a message from Daman.
"Meet me by the Silverwood Lake in 30 minutes. I have something to show you." The text read. Curious and a little excited to know what they planned for her, Alexandra placed her book back and headed out of the library.
*******************
The path to the lake was shaded by tall, ancient trees, and as she walked, she thought about how much she loved this place and the people she had met here, especially Daman. Only few years had passed since she moved into Verdant City, but meeting her friends really made her feel at home.
When she reached the lake, she saw Daman standing by the lake's edge. He turned as she approached, a broad smile spreading across his face.
"Hey..." He said with a loving gaze, pulling her into a hug. "Come on, let's walk a bit." He took her hand and said. He then led her around the lake, chatting about their day and making her laugh. As they walked, Alex saw a small clearing with a picnic setup ahead of them. A blanket was spread out with a basket full of food, and balloons were tied to the nearby trees, gently swaying in the breeze.
"Surprise!" Came a chorus of voices. Alex turned to see Daniel, Natalie, and Rosalind stepping out from behind a large oak tree, grinning from ear to ear.
"You guys!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with delight. "This is amazing!"
Daman took her hand and led her to the blanket. "We wanted to give you a little birthday surprise. Nothing too fancy, just a nice evening with friends."
They spent the evening eating, laughing, and sharing stories. As the sun began to set, casting a beautiful array of colours across the sky, Natalie stood up and cleared her throat.
"Alex, we have a little something for you." She said, holding out a small, wrapped box. Alexandra took the box, her heart filled with happiness. She carefully unwrapped it to reveal a delicate necklace with a tiny locket in the shape of a music note."We know how much you love music." Rosalind said, smiling. "So we thought this would be perfect for you."
Alexandra's eyes filled with tears as she held up her gift. "It's beautiful..." she said, as her voice trembled. "Thank you all so much."
Daman helped her put the necklace on, and it gleamed softly against her skin. "Now, this will remind you how much we all love you and your music." He told her with a smile. As they all sat by the lake, watching the stars come out, Alexandra looked around at her friends and felt a deep sense of gratitude. This simple, heartfelt celebration was perfect, and she couldn't have asked for a better way to spend her birthday.
"Thank you all.." she whispered, leaning against Daman. "This is the best birthday ever."
Daman smiled and kissed the top of her head. "Happy birthday, Alex. I'm glad you're happy." And with that, they continued to enjoy the peaceful outing under the evening sky.
As night arrived, Alexandra and her friends were basking in the warmth of the campfire's glow. They laughed and reminisced about everything. Daman sat close by, his arm around her. Just as she was about to reach for a piece of cake, her phone buzzed with a new message.
It was from Laura. It just had one line.
"Alex, your father is home."
Alexandra's heart sank. She hadn't expected this. Her relationship with her father had always been strained. William had often been absent during her upbringing, focusing on his own pursuits while she felt neglected. While she still loved him, the idea of facing him was daunting. Things never went right when he came home.
She glanced at Daman, who noticed the sudden change in her demeanour. "What's wrong?" He asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Laura just texted me." Alexandra said quietly. "Dad is home. I need to go."
Her friends nodded understandingly as she gathered her things, trying to hide her anxiety. Daman offered to accompany her, but Alex shook her head. "I need to handle this on my own."
The way back home felt longer than usual. When she arrived, she took a deep breath and walked into the house. The familiar scent of cologne greeted her. William was sitting on the couch, his posture rigid, and his expression stern. He looked up as she entered, his gaze cold.
"Alexandra." he spoke, his voice lacking warmth. "Where were you?"
"I was... with my friends." Alexandra replied.
William's face remained impassive. "We need to discuss something."
"Mm, go on."
"I came here to take you back to Rosenberg."
Alexandra's eyes widened. "What? Why so suddenly...?" Her heart raced.
William leaned forward, his tone firm. "It's no use letting you stay here anymore. You are not meant to be living as a normal child. The more you are staying here, the more you are forgetting that. It's time you start taking up your responsibilities as the future head of Rosenberg." Hearing that made Alex even more sad. This man would never even give so much as a glance if she weren't his sole heir. Alex knew fighting back was not an option as she knew that the moment her father found her unworthy, he would disown her. But with a faint hope, she decided to try one last time.
"But, there are things that I love here... my friends, my passion... To tell me to throw it all away so quickly..." Alexandra said in a low voice. "Dad, I promise that they would never be a distraction. I will work more—"
"Your friends won't be there to support you when you need to lead." William interrupted. "You need to be physically and mentally strong and more disciplined. That hobby of yours is a waste of time. It's time to focus solely on your training. I didn't allow you to stay on Earth for wasting time." His eyes became cold.
The weight of his words hit her hard. She had always felt neglected, but this was different. This was an outright dismissal of her passions and her life outside of her duties. Anger and frustration bubbled within her. But she couldn't find words to throw back at him. It was true that she promised to train hard and become worthy. But, in reality, that promise was made just as an excuse to run away from the place that gave her nothing but bad memories.
"You need to understand that your position requires sacrifices." William added. "If you want to be ready, you need to dedicate yourself fully."
"So, are you going to... take me back to that place?" Alex asked.
"Hmm... You need to come back. I know you don't have any good memories of that place. But, I can't let you stay here for long. And, you know that it's not safe for you here anymore. I won't be able to keep an eye on you if you stay here. The things Laura can do for you are limited..." He rubbed his temples. "I will give you a few days time. Wrap things up here. You won't be able to come back here after that."
"Haaa... A few days...?" Alex scoffed. "What about my studies here, then?"
"You can continue it there." He simply told her. Alex wanted to cry but she held it in.
"Okay, fine.... I agree. But, please... you need to give me one month... And, please don't interfere with my life during this period. If you agree to that, then I won't object."
"I can gove you a month. But, you know that I can't agree to the second condition." William said in a firm tone. Alex wanted to protest but she knew that would be a waste of energy. He's never going to do what she asks him to do. So, she started walking away.
"Where are you going?" William asked. Alex opened the door.
"Out. I could really use some fresh air now.."
William's expression changed, but it was very subtle. He didn't try to stop her. "Fine. Take care of yourself..."
Not listening anything further, Alex left the house, her emotions swirling in turmoil. Just talking that much to her father had taken out all of her energy. She felt like she was suffocating. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than running out of that place....