The school had announced that the reopening date would be postponed by one week.
Luna was sitting in her room, talking to her friends through a video call.
"What?" Luna exclaimed.
"Yes," Zoey replied. "It's really true."
Mili grinned. "I'm actually excited about it."
Zoey laughed. "I'm excited too. It was supposed to be my first day at the Science of Universe Academy."
"Aww," Luna said. "That means we can't meet today."
Mili suddenly remembered something.
"Oh, Luna! Tomorrow is your birthday. Now we can't celebrate it together. That's so annoying."
Zoey blinked.
"Wait a minute. Luna, it's your birthday tomorrow?"
Luna smiled.
"It's okay, guys. We can celebrate after a week."
"Yes!" Mili agreed. "We'll definitely celebrate."
After the call ended, Luna walked downstairs.
"Dad, may I help you with something?"
Her father looked up from his work.
"No, sweetheart. There's nothing to do. Your school got postponed, right?"
"Yeah."
"And tomorrow is your birthday."
Luna nodded.
"I know I'm going to be busy," her father said. "I have to go into town for some work. But you have your own plans, right?"
Luna forced a smile.
"Oh... yeah. It's okay."
Later, Luna sent a group message.
Luna: What are you guys doing?
Mili: I'm outside with Kai.
Lucas: Helping my father.
Kai: Why? Are you bored, Luna?
James: Kai! Don't tease her.
Luna: No, no. I was just asking.
The next morning, Luna woke up to a gentle knock.
Her father entered the room carrying a small gift box.
"Happy Birthday, sweetheart."
Luna's eyes brightened.
"Thank you, Dad!"
She hugged him tightly.
A few minutes later, birthday messages began arriving from Mili, Kai, James, Lucas, and Zoey.
After replying to everyone, Luna sat on her bed.
"Hmm... I have nothing to do today."
Her eyes landed on a puzzle box sitting on a shelf.
"I've never played with this before."
She opened it.
One puzzle became two.
Two became three.
Before she realized it, hours had passed.
Suddenly she checked the clock.
"What?!"
It was already 7 PM.
"I should probably go eat something."
She walked downstairs toward the kitchen.
The house was completely dark.
"Huh?"
Luna frowned.
"Why are all the lights off?"
She reached for the switch.
Suddenly—
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Colorful party poppers exploded around her.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Luna jumped in shock.
The lights turned on.
Standing in front of her were her father, Mili, Kai, Lucas, James, and Zoey.
Her mouth fell open.
"W-What?!"
Her father laughed.
"Happy Birthday, my sweet girl."
"Mili? Kai? Lucas? James? I thought none of you were here!"
Mili giggled.
"We were kidding! We wanted to surprise you."
"Guys!" Zoey interrupted dramatically. "You forgot about me."
Lucas scratched his head.
"Oops."
Zoey crossed her arms.
"Happy Birthday, Luna. If Lucas hadn't told me, I would've missed this. Mili, why didn't you tell me?"
Mili laughed nervously.
"Sorry! Everything happened so fast."
Zoey smiled.
"I'm just kidding. Let's have fun."
Everyone burst out laughing.
Kai looked at Luna.
"So? Happy now?"
Luna folded her arms.
"You guys are terrible."
Everyone froze.
Then she smiled.
"Because I seriously thought I was going to spend my birthday alone."
James pointed at Mili.
"You know, this was all Mili's plan."
"Really?" Luna asked.
Mili proudly nodded.
Luna immediately hugged her.
"Thank you, Mili."
Then she looked at everyone.
"Actually... thank you, all of you."
The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, games, food, and birthday cake.
At one point, Kai pulled Luna aside.
"Luna, I want to tell you something."
"What is it?"
Kai scratched the back of his head nervously.
"That day in the cave... I saw the future too."
"What?"
"The future."
The music suddenly became louder.
"I can't hear you!"
Kai took a deep breath.
Then he shouted,
"I SAW A FUTURE WHERE WE WERE TOGETHER!"
"What?!"
Luna blinked.
"Let's talk later! I seriously can't hear anything!"
Kai immediately regretted everything.
Meanwhile, James and Lucas were laughing from across the room.
Late at night everyone fell asleep.
Luna, Mili, and Zoey shared one room.
Kai, James, and Lucas shared another.
The next morning everyone woke up except Luna.
Downstairs, her father was preparing breakfast.
"Where's Luna?" he asked.
"Still sleeping," Mili replied.
"Should I wake her up?" Zoey asked.
Her father shook his head.
"No. Let her sleep."
Kai looked concerned.
"Her sleeping problem still hasn't gone away?"
"Not completely," her father admitted. "But she's been through a lot lately. Let her rest."
After breakfast, the friends prepared to leave.
"It's getting late," Luna's father said. "You should head home before your parents start calling me."
"Okay," everyone replied.
One by one they left.
Several hours later, Luna finally walked downstairs rubbing her eyes.
Her father smiled.
"Good morning, birthday girl."
Luna looked around.
"They already left?"
"Yep."
Luna sighed.
"Aww."
Her father chuckled.
"So, what would you like to eat?"
Luna smiled.
"Honestly? Anything is fine, Dad."
For the first time in a long while, everything felt peaceful.