CHAPTER 104 – The Day Belonged to Care
20th November – 12:01 AM
The moment the clock turned midnight—
The entire resort exploded into cheers.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARE!!!"
Confetti cannons burst.
Music blasted through the garden.
Care stood in the middle of it all, still slightly overwhelmed.
Lyra was already jumping around like a maniac.
"IT'S OFFICIALLY YOUR DAY!"
Percy grabbed a party popper.
"Care survived another year of our chaos!"
Nova laughed.
"That's the real achievement."
Care rubbed her forehead.
"…you people are insane."
Ben grinned.
"And yet you love us."
She looked around again.
Everyone was there.
Every single one.
The lights reflecting in the ocean behind them.
The decorations Lyra had spent days planning.
The ridiculous energy of the group.
Care exhaled slowly.
Her voice softened.
"…thank you."
The group froze.
JJ gasped dramatically.
"Did she just say thank you?"
Alex nodded seriously.
"Write that down. This is rare."
Care threw a napkin at him.
"Shut up."
Everyone laughed.
---
Morning – 9:30 AM
Care woke up to screaming.
Not danger screaming.
Lyra and Ash screaming.
"WAKE UP BIRTHDAY QUEEN!"
Care groaned.
"lyra I swear—"
JJ ripped open the curtains.
Bright sunlight flooded the room.
"THE DAY IS WAITING!"
Nova entered carrying coffee.
"Happy birthday."
Care took the cup immediately.
"You're my favorite."
Lyra gasped.
"EXCUSE ME?"
Nova smirked.
"Facts are facts."
---
Afternoon – Poolside Chaos
By noon the entire resort had turned into a battlefield of fun.
Music blasting.
People swimming.
Percy throwing everyone into the pool.
Lyra yelling at people not to ruin decorations.
Endrix grilling food.
Honey chasing Ben with a water gun.
Care sat on the edge of the pool watching them.
For once…
She wasn't managing everything.
She was just enjoying it.
JJ suddenly jumped out of the pool.
"GIFT TIME."
Everyone cheered.
Care sighed.
"…I regret having friends."
---
Gift 1 – JJ & Kiefer
JJ dragged a large box forward.
"This," she announced dramatically, "is from the best couple here."
Kiefer rolled his eyes.
"Don't start."
Care opened the box slowly.
Inside—
A custom leather journal.
Dark blue.
Her name engraved in silver.
Inside the first page—
A handwritten note.
"For all the ideas you haven't written yet."
Care looked up at them.
"…you made this?"
Kiefer nodded slightly.
JJ grinned.
"Because your brain is dangerous and needs storage."
Care hugged them both.
JJ squeezed her.
"DON'T GET EMOTIONAL YET WE HAVE MORE."
---
Gift 2 – Percy & Honey
Percy slid a long wooden case toward her.
Care opened it.
Inside—
A handmade fountain pen.
Black and gold.
Nova smiled.
"It's antique style."
Percy added,
"So you look intimidating while signing important things."
Care laughed softly.
"…I love it."
Percy nodded proudly.
"Of course you do."
---
Gift 3 – Alex & Lyra
Lyra pushed forward a velvet box.
Care opened it.
Inside—
A bracelet made of tiny constellations.
Each star engraved with initials.
Lyra explained quietly.
"Each one is one of us."
Care stared at it.
"…you're kidding."
Alex smiled.
"So wherever you go, we're technically stuck with you."
Care slipped it on slowly.
Her voice was softer.
"…thank you."
---
Gift 4 – Ben & Nova
Ben placed a ridiculously large wrapped box.
Care narrowed her eyes.
"…this feels suspicious."
She opened it.
Inside—
A giant framed photo collage of the group.
Every chaotic moment.
Trips.
Fights.
Laughing.
Even embarrassing pictures of Care.
Care stared at one photo.
It was her laughing.
Genuinely laughing.
She whispered quietly—
"…when did you take this?"
Honey smiled.
"When you forgot you were supposed to be serious."
Care didn't say anything for a moment.
Then hugged them.
---
Gift 5 – Aries & Ella
Ella handed her a small elegant box.
Inside—
A delicate silver ring.
Ella said softly,
"It symbolizes strength and leadership."
Aries added,
"And stubbornness."
Care snorted.
"Accurate."
---
Gift 6 – Angelo & Ion
Angelo stepped forward calmly.
He handed her a small envelope.
Inside—
A keycard.
Care frowned.
"…what is this?"
Angelo said simply,
"A private research facility membership."
The entire group went silent.
Percy blinked.
"…that's expensive."
Angelo shrugged.
"For her work, it's useful."
Care looked at him.
"…thank you."
---
Evening – 7:40 PM
The sun slowly set behind the ocean.
Golden light covered the resort.
The group gathered around a giant table.
In the center—
A three-tier birthday cake.
JJ lit the candles.
"Speech."
Care groaned.
"No."
Everyone shouted.
"YES."
Care sighed.
She looked around the table.
At all of them.
Then she said quietly—
"I didn't think I'd ever have something like this."
Silence fell.
Care continued.
"…you people are annoying."
Percy nodded.
"Fair."
"But… I'm glad you exist."
Lyra wiped tears.
"SO BEAUTIFUL."
Care rolled her eyes.
"Shut up and let me cut the cake."
Everyone counted.
"3…2…1…"
Care cut the cake.
Cheers exploded again.
Cake was immediately smashed into Percy's face.
"HEY!"
Total chaos followed.
---
Night – 11:45 PM
The party slowly calmed down.
Most people were tired.
The ocean breeze was calm.
Care was standing near the beach alone.
Cole walked up beside her.
"…you disappeared."
Care shrugged.
"Needed air."
Cole looked at the ocean.
"Enjoy your day?"
Care nodded.
"…yeah."
He turned to her.
"I still have one gift."
Care groaned.
"Please tell me it's not another kidnapping."
Cole smirked.
"Worse."
He pointed toward the ocean.
Lights suddenly turned on across the water.
Care frowned.
"…what?"
Then she saw it.
A private yacht.
Huge.
Elegant.
Decorated with lights.
Her eyes widened.
"Cole…"
He spoke quietly.
"You once said you wanted a place where your brain could breathe."
Care stared at the yacht.
"That's a research vessel."
Cole nodded.
"Fully equipped lab."
The group suddenly appeared behind them.
JJ shouted,
"IT'S YOURS!"
Care turned slowly.
"…what?"
Cole said calmly,
"Your projects deserve space."
Her voice shook slightly.
"You bought me a ship."
Percy corrected,
"Technically a floating laboratory."
Care looked back at Cole.
"…why?"
Cole shrugged.
"Because you're going to change the world."
The ocean wind moved softly around them.
Care didn't speak for several seconds.
Then she walked forward and hugged him.
Tightly.
The group immediately started screaming.
"OOOOOOOOOO!"
Cole sighed.
"Idiots."
But he smiled.
And the night ended with laughter echoing across the ocean.
Far away—
Inside a locked room—
The tablet recovery process continued silently.
Four more days.
And whatever secret Serina Watson left behind…
Was getting closer to the light.