Time flew by, and it was now mid-March.
The small town of Medford, in this southern state, was located precisely between temperate and subtropical zones.
After early spring, the temperature quickly rose.
Compared to half a month ago, when people still needed to wear light jackets when going out, students wearing short-sleeved T-shirts could now be seen everywhere at Medford High.
Capitalizing on the buzz from the Super Bowl in early February and the warming weather, various high schools across Texas were busily preparing for their spring football invitationals.
Medford High was no exception.
Due to their excellent performance in last year's Summer League, Medford students this year paid even more attention to and had higher expectations for their school's football team.
And it was true; if the Medford Team could maintain last year's strong momentum, they might very well help the school secure its status as a sports powerhouse.
Therefore, this year's spring invitational was also a good opportunity for the Medford Team to make history.
"Mike, the invitational is starting in a couple of days. What are your thoughts?" At the school gate, Aaron stopped Mike, who was about to leave for home.
The football captain, who was currently the subject of people's expectations, looked a bit tired at the moment.
For the sake of the team's performance, he had bothered Mike quite a bit during this period.
"I'm quite willing to help the team, but the coach hasn't replied yet..." Mike didn't mind playing a few friendly matches to help the school win more honors, as long as it was within his capabilities.
Moreover, after school started, he had visited the football team a few times, but he hadn't encountered the current head coach.
Therefore, the matter of rejoining the team had not been finalized.
"Coach Wayne..." When the current head coach was mentioned, Aaron's expression grew a few shades more serious, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
"Never mind, I'll talk to the coach about your situation. Wait for my news..." After a brief silence, Aaron offered his solution.
"OK, contact me anytime if anything comes up—" Mike waved his hand and walked out of school with Paige.
Honestly, with his professional-level four football skills, plus a physical strength five times that of an ordinary person, Mike wasn't worried about his performance on the field at all.
Football, a sport that competes on physical talent, could be said to be completely under his control.
"Mike—" After walking some distance from the campus, Paige suddenly called out to Mike.
"What is it, Paige?" Mike stopped and turned to look at the little girl beside him, who had an expectant look on her face.
"Don't you have anything you want to say to me?" Paige asked back nervously, with her hands clasped behind her back.
Today happened to be March 17th, Paige's birthday.
She had been thinking about Mike's previous birthday promise to her.
"Uh, should I be saying something to you?" Mike feigned a confused expression.
Seeing Mike's performance, the little girl thought he had truly forgotten her birthday, and her mood visibly plummeted.
"It's nothing, let's go home!"
After glaring at him in a huff, Paige marched forward without looking back, her short legs carrying her away.
Disappointment and a sense of grievance welled up in her heart simultaneously.
It proved that no matter how mature Paige usually acted, she was still a child and couldn't hide her emotions very well.
Behind her, Mike, who had made a joke, quickly put away the idea of continuing to tease the little girl after seeing her reaction.
Then, he took out the small gift he had prepared from his pocket and pretended to be surprised, calling out, "Paige, is this something you dropped?"
As soon as the little girl turned around, she saw the exquisite small gift box in Mike's hand, and her eyes immediately lit up with surprise.
"I knew you didn't forget..." Paige turned and ran towards Mike, giving him a big hug.
What the gift was didn't matter; what the little girl cared about more was the other person's thoughtfulness.
"Alright, Paige." Mike patted the little girl's back, and after putting her down, he smiled and said, "Happy birthday, Paige—"
Because of her family situation, the little girl, who should have been innocent and carefree, always appeared mature like a small adult.
And their long time together also made Mike realize that Paige's original personality was not like this.
Therefore, constantly suppressing her emotions was not good for her.
It was precisely because of this situation that Mike's playful act earlier came about.
Across from him, the calmed-down Paige also realized that she had been a bit emotional earlier.
"What's inside?" Paige, still not accustomed to this feeling, took the gift box from Mike's hand and immediately changed the subject.
"Open it and see." Mike didn't intend to continue teasing the little girl; after all, personality development often takes a long time.
...
"This is... a butterfly..." Paige, who had opened the gift box, saw the butterfly-shaped hairpin inside.
The clever design made the wings of this butterfly hairpin, adorned with shattered diamonds, move with every sway.
Under the sunlight, it reflected dazzling, colorful light.
"How is it? Does it look good?" Paige asked happily after taking a few light steps with the hairpin on.
"It's beautiful, it suits you very well," Mike replied with a smile.
As a grown man, Mike didn't really have that kind of eye; this gift was something he had asked Trina to help prepare earlier.
Now it seemed, the effect was very good.
"Thank you, Mike!" After receiving the compliment, Paige looked even happier.
"Let's go, we should head back. Connie and the Cooper family at home have prepared a birthday cake for you..." Seeing the little girl's happy expression, Mike's mood inexplicably improved by three points.
At home, after Connie learned it was Paige's birthday today, she volunteered to make the cake.
Of course, on this special day, another surprise awaited Paige.
On the way, accompanied by the warm setting sun, two figures, one large and one small, walked towards home.
By the time the two entered Cooper, the dining room was already set with a lavish spread of food.
"Happy birthday, Paige!"
Amidst the blessings, Connie, holding the cake, and the Cooper family, came one after another to Paige's side.
"Before you make a wish, we have guests arriving." Connie gestured for Paige to look to the side.
"Happy birthday, our little angel..."
The Swansons, with their eldest daughter, walked out from the side hall.
"Mom, Dad, and Erica!" Paige excitedly went forward and hugged her family members one by one.
The reconciled the Swansons looked to be in good spirits, both with happy smiles on their faces.
Erica, beside them, had also changed her rebellious style. Dressed appropriately again, she now looked somewhat like a lady.
And the harmonious atmosphere of the family could be said to be the most special gift Paige received for this birthday.
"Alright, Paige. Come over and make a wish now—" After the little girl had hugged her family, Connie called out.
Then, under everyone's gaze, Paige came to the cake, closed her eyes, silently made her wish, and then blew out the candles.
"Paige, what did you wish for?" Connie asked curiously.
"It's a secret. If I tell you, it won't come true," Paige replied with a smile, looking at her family and then at Mike and the others.
There was indeed such a saying: a wish made should not be told to others, otherwise, it wouldn't come true.
"That's not fair," Sheldon, who had just revealed his wish at his own birthday, protested loudly.
At a successful gathering, there always had to be someone who stood out.
Looking at Sheldon's comical and aggrieved expression, the others nearby burst into good-natured laughter.
...
After celebrating their younger daughter's birthday, the Swansons had no intention of leaving that day.
The couple, who had rekindled their sweetness, also treated this visit to celebrate their younger daughter's birthday as a relaxing trip.
So, tonight, they planned to go to a nearby hotel for some alone time as a couple.
As for their eldest daughter, Erica, she was entrusted to Connie for care.