CH12: The Celebrant

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, Happy birthday, Happy Birthday to you!"

The loud birthday song was heard inside the mansion. Many people gathered inside and out as the party began. There were lots of balloons and flowers. Aling Linda and the other servants were busy welcoming the other visitors. 

"Blow your candle Selene, and make a wish!" Daniela happily uttered while staring at Selene, who was celebrating her seventh birthday. She becomes the apple of the eyes of everyone in her red balloon dress. Her fair skin glowed because of that.

Selene closed her tantalizing eyes and whispered in the air to make a wish. And before she opened her eyes to blow out the candle, a cold breeze suddenly blew that made the candle lose its fire.

"Mom, the candle died again ..." Selene uttered while pouting her lips, as if she had been disappointed at what happened.

Philip quickly gets some lights to light up the candle. 

"Don't be sad, Selene. Your daddy will light it up again," Daniela uttered while comforting Selene. After a moment of pause, Philip came back and he lighted the candle again.

"Now, make your wish baby," Philip said while caressing Selene's back. Selene smiled sweetly and said, "I wish my mom and dad would tour me around." 

Philip and Daniela secretly looked at each other as they heard the birthday wish for their daughter. Because for almost six years, Daniela prohibited Selene from going anywhere, even the outside of the mansion, without a companion. Selene wanted to go outside with Jenny but their parents did not allow them. After Selene did her wish, Daniela kissed her forehead and Philip did the same. At that moment, the two couples didn't know what they would do after their daughter made a wish. Because they were both working in the city and no one would be her guide outside.

"Selene, I have a present for you," Daniela said while wearing a sweet smile, turning her attention to her wish. She gave a red paper bag to Selene where a pair of shoes was inside.

"Wow! Thanks, Mommy! I love it!" Selene uttered happily as she opened the paper bag. She embraced the pair of red shoes and kissed her mother.

"So sweet darling. I know you want that so I will buy it for you. Hope you like it." Daniela said and she smiled back at Selene.

"Ehem. Do you think I don't have?" Philip suddenly jumped on the conversation between the two and Selene looked at him. Selene blinked her eyes as she stared at her father. She was waiting for the present that Philip would give her.

"But before I give it to you. Close your eyes first," Philip said, and immediately followed by Selene. After a moment, Philip gets a golden necklace in his pocket. But when Daniella saw that the necklace would be the gift inside, she glared at Philip and whispered not to give it to Selene. But Philip refused. He knew that Selene needed a part of her identity from the past, but Daniela didn't want it. Because she thought that the day might come when Selene will know the truth if she knew that she was not their real daughter. She was afraid of losing her. That's why she wanted to hide all things connected to Selene.

"Dad, what's that? You make  really excited." Selene replied, giggling as she kept on closing her eyes. People around them took pictures and some were eating and talking.

"Count one to ten and then open it," Philip said happily as he ignored his wife.

One...

Two...

Three...

Four...

Five...Six...Seven...Eight...Nine...Ten!

Selene finished counting and she immediately opened her eyes. She saw her father holding a small box in his hand. Philip opened the box and a golden necklace appeared in Selene's eyes.

"..." Selene was speechless, she just looked at her father. She was amazed by the beauty of the necklace, which was not beyond comparing to anyone.

"Let me wear it on you, honey," Philip said, and Selene turned around. Their visitors were also amazed at the jewel that Philip gave to Selene.

"Dad, is this mine now?" Selene asked, ensuring the thing that Philip had for her. Philip held the shoulder of his daughter and said, "Yes. This is for you, Selene. I have kept it for almost a year to give it to you on your special day like this. I know you are young enough to take this kind of important thing, but I trust you that you will keep it no matter what happens." 

Selene embraced Philip as she heard those words coming from him. 

"Dad, thank you for that. I'll promise I will keep and take good care of it. I love you." Selene replied, which made Philip have watery eyes.

"Selene, Philip, let us start the dinner." Daniela suddenly interrupted them as she saw her husband become emotional. Philip carried Selene and they took their dinner. After they ate, Selene went to the other children to play some games that their family prepared. There was a lot of food for the children and ordinary relatives who came for the celebration. Selene happily played with the children and ate like a normal kid. Her laughter caught the attention of her foster parents.

As they looked at Selene, Daniela remembered the necklace that Philip used to be his present."Philip, why did you do that?" Daniela uttered as she felt madness about the thing that Philip did.

"Daniela, that necklace is owned by her. And we have no right to hide it from her, mostly this day is her special day. And you don't have to worry if it is lost because we all know how careful she is about the things that we give her," Philip replied in his calm voice.

"Not that case. All I am worried is, what if her real parents see that!? And what if they are looking for her for the moment that we take care of her for a long year? I'm afraid to lose Selene, Philip!" Daniela retorted.

Philip suddenly thought about the things that his wife told him. He glanced at the location where he saw Selene enjoying the moment with some children.

"I know Selene loves us. And I hope that everything you say will never happen. All we can do for now is to hide her and let her go beyond her limits. I don't want to become greedy, all I want is to protect her." Philip suddenly decided the things that they might do to Selene.

"From now on, we will never let her go to the place where we found her," Daniela uttered. At that moment, they planned to hide Selene from her real parents, not knowing that fate was always at the right time.

"But, what if she is on the stage where she can stand by herself?" Daniela asked again, seeming like she was afraid of things that might happen.

"Hon, Selene is just seven years old and we both know that she needed a long time depending on us. And I know that she is a good girl because we raise her with love." Philip replied, comforting his wife.

They kept on talking when Selene suddenly ran toward them.

"Mom, dad!" She shouted, wearing a grin on her face. Philip and Daniela waited for Selene and they saw something that Selene was holding in her hand.

"Look, dad! It's so beautiful, isn't it?" Selene happily led her hand to show the red rose to her parents. The rose flower was as big as her hand and it didn't have any thorns. It smells good like an expensive perfume.

"Where did you get that? Do we have that kind of plant in our garden, Philip?" Daniela asked, wondering as she picked the flower in Selene's hand.

"Someone gave it to me as his birthday gift for my birthday," Selene replied while her eyes twinkled because of happiness. Philip shrugged his eyebrows as he heard where it came from. 

"What did you say? He? Man? Where is he?" Philip continued to ask Selene. The child turned around and pointed to the fountain where the water flowed continuously.

"Ahmm... He was standing there a moment ago. But..." Selene bit her index finger as she could not see the man who had given her a flower.

"Selene, tell us his face so that we can be able to thank him for this lovely gift," Daniela uttered while smelling the flower.

"Pardon. I don't even recall his face, but he is wearing clothes like my favorite manga character," Selene said, which made Philip frown as he heard that.

"Daniela, did you get a cosplayer for the party? Philip asked, wondering. Daniela shook her head and stared at Selene.

"Selene, go to your playmates now and I will keep this for you okay," Daniela commanded Selene, who immediately followed her. At that moment, the two couples were clueless.