Hex POV
The car ride felt longer than it should have.
Victor was driving.
James was in the front seat talking too much.
Keagan and keiren were arguing about something dumb in the back.
Mila kept glancing at me.
I stared out the window.
Jay hasn't called since morning.
No message.
No "Happy Birthday" from her.
Nothing.
Mila nudged me. "Why the sad face?"
"I'm not sad."
"You look like someone cancelled cake."
"I don't care about cake."
Keiren twisted around in his seat. "He cares."
"I don't."
Mila smiled knowingly. "You're waiting for someone."
"I'm not waiting."
They all looked at each other.
I looked back out the window.
The ride continued.
Too quiet.
Too normal.
We turned into a familiar road.
"…Why are we here?" I asked.
Keiren grinned. "Field trip."
Victor parked.
Before I could open the door—
A piece of cloth covered my eyes.
"What are you doing?"
"Trust exercise," James said.
"Take it off."
"No."
"Keiren."
"Relax."
They guided me out of the car.
I could hear… nothing.
Which was weird.
Usually Jay's house is quiet but not this quiet.
I stepped carefully.
"Don't let him fall," Mila warned.
"I can walk."
"Debatable," Keagan muttered.
We reached the door.
It opened.
Still dark.
Still silent.
Then someone whispered, "Ready."
My heart jumped slightly.
"For what?"
Silence.
Then—
"THREE!"
"TWO!"
"ONE!"
Music exploded.
Lights flashed blue, purple, neon green.
Fog rolled across the floor.
And everyone shouted—
"SUPRISE"
The blindfold came off.
I froze.
The entire living room had transformed.
LED strips glowing across the ceiling.
A massive screen set up like a gaming arena.
A leaderboard board on the wall.
"ACCESS GRANTED" banner above the entrance.
Glitch-style decorations everywhere.
Glow bracelets lighting up wrists.
And in the center—
Jay.
Smiling at me.
"Happy Birthday, Hex."
For a second, I couldn't speak.
Aries was there.
Angelo.
My classmates.
Even people I didn't expect.
Nathan grabbed a mic dramatically.
"WELCOME TO LEVEL 13 TECH TAKEOVER!"
The crowd cheered.
Nathan continued like a professional host.
"Tonight we celebrate the unlocking of a new level in the life of the one, the only— HEX!"
Everyone shouted my name.
I looked at Jay.
"You did this?"
She shrugged casually. "Maybe."
Keifer walked up beside me and nudged my shoulder.
"Happy Birthday."
I smirked. "You're part of this?"
"Unfortunately."
I shook my head.
"You all lied to me."
Mila grinned. "Correct."
Nathan raised the mic again.
"First challenge begins in five minutes! Gaming tournament sign-ups on the left! Outdoor challenge arena on the right!"
The music got louder.
People moved everywhere.
I stood there still processing.
Jay stepped closer.
"You thought I forgot?"
I didn't answer.
She tilted her head slightly.
"Really?"
I exhaled.
"…Maybe."
She rolled her eyes.
"You're dramatic."
"You didn't call."
"I was busy turning your house into a hacker lab."
Fair.
She leaned in closer and whispered,
"Did we do good?"
I looked around.
The lights.
The setup.
The energy.
My friends laughing.
Aries already arguing about the basketball competition.
Keifer pretending to check the drone.
Mila filming everything.
"…Yeah," I said quietly. "You did good."
She smiled.
That small smile.
And something in my chest settled.
🎮 Gaming Tournament
Nathan shouted, "Round one! FIFA showdown!"
Felix screamed immediately.
Keifer challenged me.
"Birthday match."
"You'll lose."
"Not in your house."
We sat in front of the big screen.
Crowd behind us.
Yuri updating the leaderboard dramatically.
Percy commentating like it was national TV.
"Hex with the ball! Keifer defending! Tension in the arena!"
I scored first.
Crowd exploded.
Keifer scored second.
Even louder screaming.
Final round.
Last goal.
I won.
Barely.
Keifer leaned back. "Rigged."
"You're just slow."
We fist bumped anyway.
🏃 Outdoor Challenge Arena
Water balloon battle.
Ci-N got hit first.
Rakki laughed too hard and got hit next.
Obstacle course timed challenge.
Aries tripped dramatically.
Angelo actually did well.
Drone racing nearly crashed into the fence.
Victor had to rescue it.
Basketball shootout.
Calix vs me final round.
He missed.
I didn't.
Percy handed me the trophy dramatically.
🏆 "ULTIMATE OPERATOR 2026!"
I pretended not to care.
I cared.
🎂 Cake Moment
Lights dimmed again.
Nathan lowered his voice dramatically.
"Prepare for cake protocol."
Fog machine again.
Music softened.
Jay walked out carrying the cake.
Black.
Neon letters glowing:
🎂 LEVEL 13 UNLOCKED
Everyone started chanting.
I stood there, staring at it.
At them.
At her.
"Make a wish!" Mila shouted.
I closed my eyes.
For a second.
Just one.
Then blew out the candles.
Confetti shot up.
Felix screamed like it was a championship win.
Music blasted again.
People cheering.
Jay stepped closer in the chaos.
"Best birthday?" she asked softly.
I looked at her.
Then at everything around us.
"…Yeah."
She smiled.
Keifer wrapped an arm around my shoulder from the side.
"Level 13 unlocked."
I looked at him.
"At least try to beat me next year."
He smirked. "Level 14."
The party continued.
Arcade games.
VR horror again. Keiren screamed again.
Glow bracelets glowing in the dark.
Loud hype music shaking the windows.
Laughter everywhere.
And for the first time that day—
I didn't feel forgotten.
I felt… chosen.
🌌 Ending
Late into the night.
Music softer now.
People sitting in groups.
Some outside under the lights.
I sat on the couch holding the trophy.
Jay sat beside me.
Not saying anything.
Just there.
"You really thought I'd forget?" she asked again.
"…Maybe."
She bumped my shoulder lightly.
"Idiot."
I smiled.
Level 13 unlocked.
And somehow—
It felt like the best level so far.
End of Chapter. 🎮🔥✨