ASH

Ash anxiously paced around the room, casting glances outside. He had been trying to finish his work for the past two hours but only got half of it done. He knew better than to give another try and had left it for later.

His eyes snapped to the window when he heard noises from the outside; he discreetly made his way and peeped out. His heart thumped - the face of Serena being the first thing he saw.

She talked with Bonnie animatedly, her lips parting comically when she laughed. Her face glowed when she smiled.

He saw her big blue eyes widening at something Bonnie said, the surprise in them all too visible.

Ash smiled disdainfully. She looked happy while he looked like a mess. It hurt him to think that he was the only one who had been constantly tormented by their fractured relationship.

He closed the curtains before she could see him.

SERENA

Serena sank further in the jacuzzi, the tiredness she felt getting washed away along with the dirt. Her mind continued to wander to her brief conversation with Bonnie.

She ran into the lemon blonde, who was going out to the movies with her friends, when she had come back after meeting with Calem.

"It's his birthday in three days!" She had gushed. "I am giving him a hand-knitted sweater! What are you going to give him, Serena?"

Serena, who had been clueless and put on the spot, lied that she hadn't decided yet. Of course she didn't say that Ash hadn't told her. Although a part of her felt hurt, she told herself that she deserved it. 

She had decided to give him a nice, meaningful gift but she realised that there were limited things she could do.

"Haizz, I can't even sew" The honey blonde sighed dejectedly, discarding her thoughts of making something with her hands.

She slumped against the tub, thinking hard. Suddenly an idea popped in her head.

"Maybe, I can write something for him" Serena mumbled, a jolt of excitement coursing through her. She quickly got out of the jacuzzi, putting on her robe and exiting the bathroom.

"You are genius, Serena!" She exclaimed to herself, knowing exactly what she was going to write.

SERENA

"Serena, are you in there?"

Serena jolted awake, her eyes widening. She had no idea when she had fallen asleep. All she could remember was that she was writing Ash a letter.

Knocks were repeated on her door and she quickly wiped the drool from her face.

"C-come in!" She stuttered.

Bonnie walked in, her hair tied in a ponytail. Her blue eyes lingered on the honey blonde's face. "I am sorry, did I disturb you while you were sleeping?"

"You didn't" Serena quickly replied. "Wait - how do you know I was asleep?"

Bonnie giggled, pointing at the  imprint of words on Serena's face. The honey blonde flushed, keeping a hand on her left cheek.

"Excuse me for a second" The sapphire-eyed woman quickly said, wobbling her way to the bathroom. She emerged a minute later, the imprint no longer on her face.

"I am sorry you had to see me like this" Serena said, embarassed. Bonnie shook her head.

"Happens to me all the time."

"What brings you her?" Serena asked with a smile.

"Oh! Ash asked if you wanted to have dinner with him today" Bonnie grinned, more excited than she should be.

"He did?" Serena's eyes widened. She hadn't expected that; after coming from Hawaii, he had been having his dinner almost everyday in his office. She didn't know what he was thinking but she couldn't have been more glad.

She was missing him being around.

"I will be there" She replied, breaking her train of thoughts to answer the lemon blonde. The girl's eyes sparkled.

"I will let them know!" She squeaked happily and ran out before Serena could say anything else. The honey blonde flinched as the door was slammed shut.

"Geez, what is up with her?" Serena laughed softly.

Serena waited for him to arrive in the dining room. She sat at the far end of the dinner table, the seat in front of her still empty.

She tried to quell the fuzzy feeling in her chest and nervous jitters she felt all over her body. She was going to see him after a whole week and the thought both excited and scared her.

"Did I make you wait for long?" Ash asked, walking in the room. Serena jumped a bit in surprise, getting on her feet.

"O-of, course not" She gulped, steading her voice. "I just came."

"Good to hear that" Ash smiled in a strained manner that didn't go unnoticed by the honey blonde. She looked away, trying not to look into his eyes. "Should we sit?"

The maids and manservants quickly settled down the dishes of food. Serena stared at the plate in front of her, suddenly not wanting to eat. Her appetite disappeared.

Ash noticed the discomfort in her posture and asked worriedly. "Is something wrong, Serena?"

The honey blonde's heart ached. He was still worried for her even after all the things that had happened. She managed to say "I am fine."

Ash frowned, but didn't ask any further. They both ate in silence, with Serena mostly poking at her food. The silence gnawed at Serena's conscience.

She didn't dare to glance his way; afraid of catching his eyes looking back at her. She was damn sure she would break down into tears if that happened.

"I am done" She said as soon as Ash had set the cutlery down. The raven-haired man casted a brief glance at the leftover food in her plate.

"Was the food not to your liking?" He asked, his brows closely knitted together in concern. "If you want to eat something else, just tell the chef -"

"No" Serena asserted, forcing a smile. "The food was great. I just don't feel like we eating, that's all."

"Are you sure?" He asked again. His brown eyes hovered over her. She bit the inside of her cheeks, restraining herself from saying anything. But she blurted out anyways.

"Why didn't you say it was your birthday the day after tomorrow?" She wanted to take it back; not sound like she was blaming him.

His eyes widened a bit in mixture of surprise and something more complex. He ruffled his hair, his voice just audible enough to be heard by Serena.

"I am sorry, it's not like I didn't wanted to tell you . . ." He trailed off. "It's just that . . . I haven't celebrated my birthday since, you know, my dad passed away. He used to be the -"

Ash paused.

"He used to throw me surprise birthday parties every year even though he knew that I knew he was going to do it."

"I am sorry" Serena said slowly, carefully weighing her words. "I didn't mean to overstep my boundaries."

"You know more" Ash said and poked his fork in the steak. He gave her a faint smile. "Anyways, I heard from Mrs. Kendra that you had gone out today."

"Yeah" The honey blonde, who had not expected the flow of conversation to change direction, swallowed nervously. She hoped that the panic was not visible on her face. "I just - I just went to get something for myself."

Ash didn't say any further. If he knew that she was lying, he didn't probe her into telling him the truth. Serena was thankful for that. She was sure she would blurt out everything if he had asked her more than once.

They finished the rest of the dinner in silence.

SERENA

Serena flopped on her bed, her face blankly staring up at the ceiling. The conversation kept replaying in her head and she couldn't help but feel the slightest bit of pity for the raven-haired man.

She understood why he wouldn't to celebrate his birthday. But she knew that birthdays were special; and she couldn't just let him work on his special day.

"A surprise party, huh?" She mumbled to herself. "I am sure his father would have wanted for someone to keep up with the tradition . . . Wait."

She sat upright, a random thought now stuck in her mind. She threw the comforter aside and picked up her phone. A smile crept up her lips.

"Maybe I can do it instead."