Ben's phone rang, piercing the morning silence. He stirred, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and reached for his phone. Seeing his sister's name on the screen, he smiled and answered the call.
"Hey, sis! What's up?" he said, his voice still groggy from sleep.
"Happy early birthday, bro!" his sister exclaimed. "I just realized that your birthday is coming up soon. You'll be turning 20 on June 6th!"
Ben's eyes snapped open, and he sat up in bed. "Ah, yeah! I totally forgot about that. Thanks for reminding me, sis." He swung his legs over the side of the bed, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of celebrating another year of life.
His sister's curiosity got the better of her. "So, how are you planning to celebrate your birthday this year? And does Mark know it's coming up soon?"
Ben chuckled, thinking about the possibilities. "Honestly, I haven't thought of any plans yet. But I'll definitely discuss it with Mark. He's always good at coming up with ideas."
His sister's tone turned teasing. "I'm sure Mark will plan something special for his favorite brother."
Ben laughed. "Hey, you're my only sister, so I'm pretty sure I'm your favorite brother too."
She playfully rolled her eyes, even though he couldn't see her. "Of course, you're my favorite. Now, go talk to Mark and come up with a birthday plan. I want to hear all about it!"
Ben playfully said, "Yes, mum," and his sister burst out laughing on the other end of the line.
"Oh, you're such a goofball!" she giggled. "I'll talk to you later, bro. Have fun planning your birthday with Mark!"
Ben grinned, feeling happy and carefree. "Love you, sis. Bye!"
With that, they ended the call, and Ben couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement about his upcoming birthday and the celebrations to come.
Ben's phone buzzed with a series of messages from friends and family, and he spent the next few minutes replying to each one. As he scrolled through his messages, his face lit up with a warm smile when he saw Mark's morning message.
"Hey Benny love, good morning! How's the best boyfriend I ever have doing? Hope he was able to sleep well without thinking too much of me 😊," Mark's message read.
Ben's heart skipped a beat as he read the sweet words. He quickly typed out a response: "Good morning, love! 😊 I slept great, but I have to admit, I missed you and thought about you a lot 😘. Can't wait to see you today! 💕"
Ben's phone buzzed again, and he smiled as he saw Mark's immediate response: "I missed you too, babe 😘. I'm getting ready for the day. Meet you at your place, okay? Don't go to class without me 👫."
Ben's heart swelled with affection, and he quickly typed out a reply: "Sounds perfect, love! 👫 I'll wait for you. Can't wait to see you ❤️."
Ben got out of bed, feeling energized after exchanging sweet messages with Mark. He quickly got dressed in a casual outfit, chose a pair of jeans and a comfortable top. Then, he headed to the kitchen to prepare a light snack to hold him over until they could grab a meal together.
As he waited for Mark to arrive, Ben busied himself by tidying up his room and making sure everything was in order. He glanced at the clock every now and then, counting down the minutes until Mark's arrival.
The anticipation of seeing Mark and spending the day together filled Ben with excitement. He couldn't help but smile as he thought about their plans and the time they'd get to spend together.
Mark arrived at Ben's place, beaming with a bright smile. As soon as Ben opened the door, their eyes met, and they exchanged warm greetings. Mark leaned in, and they shared a gentle kiss on the lips, their affection for each other palpable.
"Hey, love," Mark whispered, his voice filled with tenderness.
"Hey, babe," Ben replied, smiling up at Mark.
Together, they walked out of Ben's residence, side by side, heading towards the building where they would spend the day. The atmosphere around them seemed to brighten as they strolled hand in hand, their love and connection radiating outward.
As they walked together, their classmates and acquaintances couldn't help but notice the closeness between them. Whispers and glances followed them, with some people speculating about the nature of their relationship.
"Are they dating?" someone whispered to their friend.
"I think so," the friend replied, eyes fixed on Ben and Mark. "They're always together, and they seem so comfortable around each other."
Others nearby nodded in agreement, observing the way Ben and Mark interacted with each other. Their affectionate gestures and easy banter only fueled the speculation.
Ben and Mark, however, seemed oblivious to the attention, too caught up in their own little world to notice the whispers and glances. They continued walking, lost in their own conversation, their bond growing stronger with each passing moment.
As they walked, Ben turned to Mark and said, "Hey, I just found out my birthday is coming up. It's on June 6th, and I'll be turning 20."
Mark's face lit up with interest. "That's awesome! Happy early birthday, babe."
Ben smiled, but then his expression turned uncertain. "I don't know, I don't have any plans or ideas for celebrating it. Do you have any suggestions?"
Mark thought for a moment, his brow furrowed in concentration. "Hmm, we can definitely come up with something special. Let me think about it, and I'll see what I can plan."
Ben was thrilled that Mark was willing to help plan his birthday celebration. He leaned in, his eyes sparkling with excitement, and said, "Really? You'd do that for me?"
Mark smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Of course, I'd do anything to make your birthday special, Benny."
After a productive day of classes and meetings, Ben and Mark parted ways to attend to their respective activities. Ben headed to his hostel room, feeling grateful for the time they'd spent together earlier.
As he settled into his room, he couldn't help but think about Mark's offer to plan his birthday celebration. He wondered what Mark had in store for him and couldn't wait to find out.
Meanwhile, Mark was in his own hostel room, already brainstorming ideas for Ben's birthday. He pulled out his phone and started jotting down notes, determined to make Ben's 20th birthday one to remember.
As Mark sat in his hostel room, an idea suddenly popped into his head. Excited, he decided to browse the internet to see if his idea was feasible. He typed in keywords related to his concept, and his eyes widened as he scrolled through the results.
The idea was to plan a surprise dinner party for Ben's birthday, inviting all their loved ones. Mark envisioned Ben's sister and her family, his own family, their friends and drama club crew, and even their favorite teachers, Miss Rena and Ms. Thompson, all coming together to celebrate Ben's special day.
Mark's heart swelled with excitement as he thought about how much Ben would love this. He could already imagine the look of surprise and joy on Ben's face when everyone shouted "Surprise!" and the celebration began.
Convinced that this was the perfect way to celebrate Ben's birthday, Mark started making a list of details to finalize the plans. He couldn't wait to make this a memorable night for Ben.
Mark meticulously made a list of invitees, including Ben's sister and her family, his own family, friends from the drama club, and their favorite teachers. He then moved on to planning the refreshments, deciding on a mix of Ben's favorite dishes and desserts.
Next, he searched for the perfect venue, considering options that could accommodate their large group. As he planned, Mark also thought about gifts, brainstorming ideas that Ben would truly appreciate.
He wanted the evening to be perfect, so he added music to his list, deciding to create a playlist of Ben's favorite songs to set the mood. And, of course, singing the birthday song was a must. Mark smiled to himself, thinking about how he'd practice his singing to impress Ben.
"I'll have to train this voice of mine if I want to impress Ben," he said, chuckling softly at the thought of his singing skills. He couldn't help but laugh at his own determination, feeling excited to make the evening special for Ben.
Mark's planning continued, and he thought about the decorations, deciding on vibrant balloons and a banner with a heartfelt message: "Happy Birthday Ben and our best wishes for you." He envisioned the balloons set up around the venue, creating a festive atmosphere.
Realizing the magnitude of the setup, Mark decided to enlist the help of the designing and setup department to ensure everything was perfectly in place. He also made a note to arrange for tables and chairs, making sure there was ample seating for all the guests.
But the pièce de résistance was the cake – Mark knew Ben's favorite was chocolate with vanilla icing, so he made sure to specify that when ordering the cake. He couldn't wait to see Ben's face light up when he saw the cake.
As he planned, Mark also thought about writing a heartfelt letter to Ben, expressing his love and birthday wishes. He wanted the letter to be perfect, capturing the depth of his feelings for Ben. With a smile, Mark began drafting the letter in his mind, pouring his heart onto the page.
Mark's fingers flew across his phone keyboard as he texted people about his plan, coordinating with friends, family, and the designing team to bring his vision to life. He was determined to make Ben's birthday celebration unforgettable.
"Need your help to make this happen!" Mark typed out to his friends. "Let's work together to make Ben's birthday one to remember!"
He also messaged the designing team, discussing details about the setup, banners, and balloons. "Can we get the banner to read 'Happy Birthday Ben and our best wishes for you'?" he asked.
As the plans started to fall into place, Mark felt a sense of excitement and relief. With everyone's help, he was confident that he'd create a birthday celebration that Ben would cherish forever.
The responses started pouring in, and Mark's phone buzzed with enthusiastic agreements. His friends, family, and the designing team all chimed in, eager to help make Ben's birthday celebration a success.
"Count me in! What can I do to help?" his friend replied.
"We'd love to help with the setup! What time should we arrive?" the designing team asked.
Mark's family members also responded positively, offering to help with food, decorations, and more. "We'll take care of the cake and desserts! Can't wait to see Ben's face light up," his mom messaged.
With everyone on board, Mark felt a sense of relief and excitement. The birthday celebration was shaping up to be everything he'd envisioned, and he couldn't wait to surprise Ben.
Mark compiled a detailed list of tasks and roles for each person involved, along with the date of Ben's birthday. He sent out a group message with the plan, assigning specific responsibilities to each person.
"Hey everyone! Here's the plan for Ben's birthday dinner party on June 6th. I've assigned roles to make it easier for us to work together. Please check your tasks below:
- Designing team: Setup, banners, and balloons
- Friends: Help with decorations, music, and gifts
- Family: Food, desserts, and drinks
- Me: Cake, letter, and overall coordination
Let's make this a surprise to remember! Let's keep it a secret until the big day."
With the plan in place, Mark felt confident that they'd create an unforgettable celebration for Ben.
Mark dialed his best friend's number, and after a brief hello, he got straight to the point. "Hey, I need a favor. Can you take charge of printing the letter I wrote for Ben, the invitation cards for the guests, and helping with the banner preparation?"
His friend's voice was enthusiastic on the other end of the line. "Absolutely, I'm on it! I'll make sure the letter is printed perfectly, and the invitation cards look amazing. What design do you want for the banner?"
Mark smiled, relieved to have someone he trusted handling these important details. "Let's go with a simple yet elegant design. I'll send you the message I want on the banner: 'Happy Birthday Ben and our best wishes for you.'"
"Got it! I'll take care of everything. Consider it done," his friend assured him, and Mark felt grateful for his friend's reliability.
With a sense of satisfaction and relief, Mark drifted off to sleep, knowing that things were falling into place for Ben's birthday celebration. He felt grateful for the support of his friends and family, and he couldn't wait to see Ben's reaction on his special day.
As he settled into a peaceful sleep, Mark's mind wandered to the happy moments they'd share soon, and a gentle smile lingered on his face. The anticipation of making Ben's birthday unforgettable filled his heart with joy.
As the days flew by, the day of Ben's birthday was fast approaching. The preparations were going smoothly, with everyone involved working together in secret to ensure the surprise remained under wraps.
Mark checked in with his friends and family regularly, and everything was falling into place according to plan. The venue was reserved, the food was ordered, and the decorations were being set up.
The excitement was building, and Mark couldn't wait to see Ben's face light up when he walked into the surprise party. He was confident that Ben would be touched by the thought and effort everyone had put into making his birthday special.
As the big day approached, Mark made a significant decision. He had been thinking about it for a while, and he felt that Ben's birthday celebration was the perfect opportunity. He decided that he would introduce Ben as his boyfriend openly to everyone present at the dinner party.
Mark's heart skipped a beat as he thought about it, but he hoped that it would go well for both of them. He imagined the look of love and support on Ben's face, and his friends' and family's reactions. He took a deep breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, but ultimately, he knew it was the right moment to share this special part of their relationship with the people they cared about.
Ben's sister showed up at his place with a big smile and a bag full of goodies. "Happy early birthday, bro! I got you a new outfit to wear on your special day," she said, pulling out a stylish ensemble.
Ben raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What's the occasion? Where am I wearing this to?" he asked, but his sister just winked.
"Just trust me, wear it on your birthday, okay? You'll look amazing," she said, handing him the outfit.
Ben couldn't resist his sister's enthusiasm, so he agreed to wear the outfit. "Alright, alright, I'll wear it. But you're being super mysterious about this," he teased, shaking his head in amusement.
Little did he know, his sister was in on the surprise party plan, and the outfit was part of Mark's bigger plan to make Ben's birthday unforgettable.
Ben's sister quickly got up and gave him a playful smile. "I have to go, bro! I'll catch up with you later," she said, hastily grabbing her things and heading out the door.
Ben watched her go, still wondering about the mysterious outfit and the occasion. His sister's sudden departure only added to the intrigue. She was clearly keeping something from him, but Ben had no idea what was coming his way. Little did he know, the surprise dinner party was just around the corner, and his sister was doing her best to keep the secret safe.
Ben's curiosity was piqued as he watched his sister disappear out the door. He couldn't shake off the feeling that something was going on, and everyone around him was in on it except him.
"What aren't they telling me?" Ben wondered, his mind racing with possibilities. He thought about the mysterious outfit, the hushed conversations he'd overheard, and the suspiciously cheerful mood of his friends and family.
Ben's thoughts swirled with questions, but he had no answers. Little did he know, the surprise party was just a day away, and everyone was working hard to keep it under wraps.
******************* June 6th (the day of Ben's birthday) **********************
The day of Ben's birthday has finally came.... And Mark wa drilled about it so he woke up early to go to the venue to set the final things in place.
Mark was putting the final touches on the arrangements, making sure everything was perfect for Ben's surprise birthday dinner party. He had everything planned out, from the decorations to the music, and he was confident that Ben would be blown away.
Ben checked his phone for what felt like the hundredth time, but there were no calls or texts from Mark. He was supposed to pick him up so they could go to class together, but he didn't show up. Ben tried calling Mark, but it went straight to voicemail.
As he sat in class, Ben's mind wandered, and he couldn't focus on the lecture. He noticed that some of their friends were absent, which only added to his growing unease. "What's going on?" Ben wondered, feeling a knot in his stomach. "Where's Mark? I hope nothing bad happened to him."
Ben's worry turned to anxiety as the minutes ticked by. He tried to shake off the feeling, telling himself that Mark was probably just running late or stuck in traffic. But the uncertainty was eating away at him, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. Little did he know, Mark was just a few miles away, finalizing the surprise party preparations.
****Evening hours for the dinner party*****
As the evening approached, Mark sent Ben a casual text. "Hey, wanna hang out and grab dinner tonight? I've been meaning to catch up with you, and I needed to apologise for not being +ere with you all day please wear the best outfit you've got OK, love you.... Benny," Mark wrote, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible.
Mark's heart was racing with excitement as he waited for Ben's response. He knew Ben would be surprised, but he had no idea how much he'd cherish this special moment they were about to share. The plan was falling into place, and Mark couldn't wait to see Ben's reaction when he walked into the party.
Just as Ben was starting to get really worried, his phone buzzed with a message from Mark. "Hey, sorry I'm running a bit behind. I'll be there soon," Mark wrote.
Ben's relief was palpable as he quickly typed out a response. "Hey, you've got me worried sick... I thought something bad happened to you. Now I know you're OK, I'll be waiting for you. OK, don't screw it up," Ben replied, his words laced with a mix of relief and playful warning.
Ben hit send, feeling a bit better knowing that Mark was alright. Little did he know, Mark was grinning from ear to ear, knowing that his plan was still on track.
Mark's face lit up with a delighted smile as he read Ben's text. He couldn't help but chuckle at Ben's playful warning. He quickly typed out a response, trying to keep a straight face.
"I won't screw up, OK? I'm on my way. Get ready, I'll pick you up at your room at 3:30 pm. Wear something cute, OK?" Mark wrote, adding a hint of mischief to his message.
Mark hit send, feeling thrilled that everything was going according to plan. He knew Ben had no idea what was waiting for him, and Mark couldn't wait to see the look on his face when he walked into the surprise party.
Ben got up and headed to the bathroom to take a bath, still none the wiser about the surprise party planned for him. As he soaked in the warm water, he couldn't help but think about Mark and what he had planned for their hangout.
After his bath, Ben got dressed in the outfit his sister had picked out for him, feeling a bit puzzled about why he was dressing up for a casual dinner. He looked in the mirror, adjusting his clothes and hair, and wondered what the rest of the evening had in store for him. Little did he know, Mark would be arriving soon to whisk him away to a night he'd never forget.