"Cheers!"
Four glasses of milkshake collided with a satisfying clink.
The café La Cool Cocina filled with the laughter of a close-knit group of friends, their voices cutting through the quiet calm of Arcnhill Town's evening. Their cheerfulness seemed almost too bright, a lively splash against the soft hues of the setting sun outside.
"To Zaiden!" the blonde-haired boy of the group exclaimed.
"To Zaiden!" the girls chimed in, and all three took hearty sips from their milkshakes.
Zaiden, the black-haired boy, covered his glasses with one hand, hiding a shy smile as his friends cheered for him.
"You guys are too much to handle sometimes," he muttered, trying to mask the blush creeping across his face. But everyone could tell—he was enjoying the attention.
"C'mon, Zaiden! Loosen up! We're celebrating your win, after all," said Selena, a girl with fiery red hair and a sprinkle of freckles across her nose. "You're the main character today."
"Don't forget it's his birthday too," Damian reminded, combing his hair back with a casual sweep of his hand. "Let's throw a party tomorrow—it's the weekend anyway."
"I don't know, Dame," Zaiden said, hesitating. "You know how my father doesn't like noisy stuff."
"Don't worry. I'm pretty sure Mr. Nox won't mind," Jane said, setting down the camera she had been recording with. Her long black hair tumbled over her shoulders like a waterfall.
"Yeah, I mean he's the coolest dad ever," Selena added with a grin. "Besides, he and Damian are better buddies than you and Damian."
"Of course we are," Damian said with a proud look. "Besides, we haven't had a party since starting high school, and half the year's already gone."
"Alright, alright! If you guys insist, we'll have a party tomorrow," Zaiden replied with a defeated sigh.
As their chatter carried on, a woman in a red apron approached their table, her heels clicking softly against the floor with each step.
A warm, savory fragrance of French fries and hot dogs drifted through the air as she stopped in front of them, balancing their order with practiced ease.
"Hi, Matilda," Jane greeted the lady with a bright smile.
"Hiii," Matilda greeted with a warm smile. "I hear there's a little celebration going on."
"Yeah! Zaiden won a national-level competition for mysteries and puzzles," Damian explained proudly. "Oh, and it's his birthday too."
"Wow, that's actually so cool! Happy birthday, Zaiden," Matilda said, clearly impressed. "That competition… isn't it the one the Arcane Corporation hosts every year around the world?"
"Yeah, the competition left lots of people in tears—the puzzles and mystery scenes were way too hard," Selena added with a laugh. "But every year, once the competition in one country ends, they release all the answers just to prove everyone wrong."
"That's not even the best part! Do you know what the prize for first place is, Matilda?" Jane leaned in eagerly. "Four entrance passes to the Arcane Crime Division and Forensic Laboratory!"
"Oh my," Matilda giggled. "I don't know much about that, but you certainly sound excited. What's the reason?"
"She's just addicted to forensic stuff," Damian teased. "Don't you think they'd make a good team, Matilda? A logical machine brain and a forensic addict."
Damian opened his mouth to add more, but a swift kick under the table from Selena shut him up.
"Ow!" he yelped, clutching his leg. "What was that for?"
"Haha, anyway, since it's such a big day, I can't let our regular customers leave empty-handed," Matilda said thoughtfully. "How about this—the hot dogs are on the house, and Zaiden gets a sprinkled donut."
"Wow, you're the best, Matilda!!" Selena and Damian shouted in unison, as soon as they heard her.
"Thanks," Jane added with a grateful smile.
"Thank you… but I don't mind paying," Zaiden said, his voice tinged with concern. "I'd feel bad making your business take a loss, Miss Matilda."
"Don't worry, darling, it's a gift," Matilda said with a kind smile. "Every kid deserves a treat once in a while especially if it's their birthday."
With that, she returned to her work, leaving the group to continue their celebration. Nearly an hour of chatting and laughter later, the four friends finally stood to leave the café.
Matilda was at the counter, so they settled the bill and waved goodbye before stepping outside.
"I wonder why there are so few people around today," Damian said as they walked into the street. "And why is Matilda the only one working? What happened to her employees?"
"This must be because of the circus that started yesterday. I heard people are really excited about it," Zaiden replied.
"Seriously?! What's so good about a circus?" Selena groaned. "I personally hate clowns—they're creepy."
"I'm not interested in them either," Damian admitted. "What about you, Jane?"
"I liked them as a kid, but not so much anymore," she answered. "What about you, Zaiden? Do you like circuses?"
"No," Zaiden said with a small laugh. "I can't enjoy them. All I think about is the effort the performers put in and the tricks behind the magicians' illusions."
"Can you even watch a TV show without overthinking it?" Damian teased.
"At least I don't get scammed out of twenty bucks by a kid," Zaiden shot back, elbowing his best friend. "Right, Damian?"
"I told you, that kid was a real fortune teller!" Damian protested. "She predicted everything that happened to me that day. I'm convinced she saw my destiny in that crystal globe."
Selena smacked her forehead in mock despair. "Remind me again why I fell in love with this guy, Jane?"
They walked for about ten minutes before reaching a crossroad.
"Alright, guys, we're heading this way, I'm going to walk Selena home." Damian said. "You two get home safely."
Zaiden bumped fists with him. "You too, Dame. I can't go around looking for a new best friend."
"You won't find one better than me," Damian laughed.
Jane and Selena said their goodbyes as well, before Selena and Damian strolled off together.
"So, should I walk you home, Zaiden?" Jane asked with a teasing smirk.
"Oh, please, Jane, I'm so scared of the dark," Zaiden replied in a dramatic voice.
"Pft—pft—hahaha!" They both burst out laughing.
"Damian sure does a good job pretending he's the one walking Selena home," Jane chuckled.
"He sure does. But doesn't he know that if anyone knows he's scared of the dark, it's us?" Zaiden grinned.
"Don't think too hard about it, Zaiden. You know Damian and logic don't exactly go hand in hand," Jane said, nudging him with her elbow.
"Yeah, yeah. Anyway, you should get going—it's getting dark," Zaiden said. "I'd better head home too before Mom starts worrying."
"You're right. So… have you decided who you're taking on that tour?" Jane asked slyly. "Please, Zaiden. I'll even pay you for one of those passes."
Zaiden gave her a mock look of offense. "That hurts. I'd never ask money from a friend for something like that. Besides, I was already planning to take you three with me."
"Thanks, Zaiden. This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for me," Jane said gratefully.
"No problem," Zaiden replied with a smile, waving goodbye before turning toward his own street.
Jane walked off in the opposite direction, heading home.
By the time Zaiden reached his house, the sky had already darkened, and the first hints of night hung in the air. His mother was waiting at the door and greeted him the moment he stepped inside.
Zaiden's father was in the living room that evening instead of his study as usual, and the family spent time talking about his win and the party his friends were planning for tomorrow.
Later, they sat down for dinner. His mother had prepared a squid dish—the same one she made every year for his birthday. It was Zaiden's favorite, above all the meals she cooked.
For dessert, they shared the last slices of his birthday cake.
That night, as they each went to bed, Zaiden carried only one wish in his heart: May this peace and happiness last forever.
But fate, as people often say, has a cruel sense of humor. And that night marked the beginning of a change in Zaiden's life—one no one could have ever imagined.
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