It was an hour's drive from my place to Allie's residence. I drove with joy in my heart.
Attending her birthday was a better way of showing my love to her.

Last night, I barely shut my eyes to sleep. My thought was filled with her pictures. I kept smiling at intervals. I woke up after a short sleep and it was 7 am already.

"Shit!" I cursed.
I needed to get a gift for her and I will be late if I don't drive fast to the store.

I hurriedly stood up, without brushing and in my pajamas, I picked up my car key and headed towards the door.

"And where do you think you are going? it's barely Daybreak" Lena inquired, standing by the door with her hand across her waist.

"And what business is that to you?" I retorted.

"I'm your wife to be Dean" she began "I deserve to know where my husband is going".

"Ohh! I'm sorry dear wife" I pretended to be sweet but then forcefully pushed her out of the way "I'm not in for your nonsense".

I commence opening the door when she threatened " I'll make sure she dies".

"Dirty threats" I responded.

"Let's see then," she said and made her way inside while I rushed out.

The beep sound of my phone and the vibration effect made me reminded me of the party I was attending. It was Annie.

"Where the fuck are you?" She queried before I could say hello "Everyone is here and all expecting you, if I had known you won't be here, there won't be any need of inviting you then... You are just an..."

"Turn your back" I replied

She screamed and hugged me tightly. I felt uncomfortable and withdrew my steps but she still held me tight.

"Thank God, you came. She would be so happy" she said.

"I can't please Annie and my suit is getting..."

"Ohh! I'm sorry" she apologized.

"Where is everyone?" I asked.

"They are inside, let's go in"

Her hostel wasn't bad and although it looked smaller compared to mine, its environs were peaceful. The sound of high-played music was resounding from the building we were heading to. We finally made our way in and were welcomed by a few people who turned to stare at me.
I was used to that so I just flashed a smile at whosoever stared but it worsened as the girls kept smiling, I had to keep a straight face.
Allie was nowhere to be found.

"Hello" someone tapped my back, I turned to look at her and it was an elderly woman.

"Hi" I greeted.

"Allie's mum," she said introducing herself with a handshake.
She was a tall, slender woman with a beautiful square-jawed, high cheek-boned face and auburn hair falling tidily to her shoulders. Few acnes were found on her face and besides that she is beautiful and will probably be in her late forties.

"Dean" I replied with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, Dean, I hope to see you more often," She said with an assuring smile.

"The Celebrant is here" Annie screamed.

And I turned to look at her, our eyes locked together. I was starting at a beauty. Her peach gown fed her entrance as she stood with her eyes screaming beauty. I yearned for her lip in an instant. The pink lip gloss she applied made her stand out and her hair fell on her shoulders. I couldn't stop staring.

"Happy Birthday my love," I thought of saying but stopped as I felt it was too fast "Happy Birthday Allie," I said smiling.

She smiled back and that made my heart skip "Thanks" she replied.

Annie called us over for the cutting of the cake.
"Feed him the cake" Annie shouted.

She did so after much hesitation.
I move closer to her when I found her less busy "I've got a surprise for you" I whispered into her ears.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yeah, it's outside, come with me" I replied.

On getting outside, I made to hold her hand but she turned and faced me, so I withdrew.
She laughed at my attitude towards that and clocked her hands with mine swinging them as we moved to my car.

"Wait a minute," I said, as I opened the car door and brought out the present which was still neatly wrapped as it had been.

"A present for me," she said clinging to my arms but quickly withdrawing them.

"Sorry" she mumbled.

I smiled.

"C'mon open it"

"Why now?"

"It's special and deserves to be opened beside, it will suit you well" I replied "Go ahead, open it".

"Okay then". She began unwrapping it. 

I kept my gaze fixed on her expression. I knew she was going to love it. Her smile was just too good.

"What!" She screamed flinging the present away.

"Don't you like it?" I asked stunned.

"Twaaarrh..." came a resounding slap on my cheek "you are a fool for serving me poop as a gift"

"Poop? How?"

"Take that shit and leave my hostel," she said storming into the building.
I stood confused as I walked over to the present which lay flat on the floor. I kicked it open and was shocked by what I saw.

A poop? How? I bought the present and wrapped them too. Then, what happened. How come a poop? I felt the urge to enter the house and plead but the culprit for this action needed to be punished first.

I entered my car and zoomed off. Lena has to pay for this. How dare she exchange the gift? I was fuming in anger.

I barged into the house to meet Dad and Lena's dad chatting. I never bothered greeting them as I rushed upstairs in search of Lena. Unfortunately for her, I met her in mom's room chatting.

I pulled her out of the room, heading towards my room in anger. As we reached my room, I forcefully pushed her to the bed.

"How dare you?" I questioned raging in anger.

"What?" she questioned.

"Who did it?"

"Who did what?"

I raged even angrier as I dragged her up from the bed, swiftly I squeezed her hand to her back and pressed them harder.

"That hurt Dean" she pleaded in pain, I was too angry to heed her plea.

"Who exchanged the gift I kept in my car," I asked squeezing her hand even harder.

I don't know how she did it but she managed to kick me off with her legs.

"Don't you dare hold my hands tight that way" she stopped for a moment moaning in pain, "and for whatever exchange you are talking about, I don't know who did it, I'm not the one, go and deal with that".

I stared in shock, if she's not the one, then who did?

" And don't forget, if she ever comes in between us, I'll make sure she dies" she concluded and walked out.

I sat in doubt. Lena is the only possibility of doing this. I can't think of anyone else.

"Allie!" came my thought." she must be disappointed"
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Who do you think to exchange the gift?
Your views matter readers🖤

𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒂 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒙𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒓...