HARI'S POV (Continuing):
Ciara was standing near one of the small tables by the window, the lights around her dim and soft. In front of her sat a single cupcake on a plate, topped with uneven swirls of frosting. A tiny candle flickered on top, its warm little flame dancing in the darkness.
And Ciara...
Ciara was singing.
"Happy birthday to you…" she sang softly, a little off-key, a little shy, but so sincere it made my chest ache.
"Happy birthday to you… happy birthday, happy birthday… happy birthday to you…"
For a second, I couldn't move.
Couldn't speak.
Couldn't even breathe properly.
No one had ever…
No one had ever done something like this for me before.
I slowly walked closer, still staring at her, and let out a quiet, disbelieving chuckle.
"How did you know?" I asked, my voice lower than usual.
She looked up at me, suddenly nervous, her fingers twisting together in front of her apron.
"I… um…" She gave a tiny awkward laugh. "I was looking through the staff records in the storage room while trying to find something, and I saw your birth date."
"Oh…"
That was all I could say.
Because honestly, my mind had gone blank.
A warmth spread through me, slow, unfamiliar, almost painful in how soft it felt.
She shifted from one foot to the other, glancing at the cupcake like she was scared I'd laugh at it.
"So…" she said, trying to smile. "Make a wish."
Then she rushed out the rest of her words in one breath.
"And sorry, I couldn't get you a proper cake because there's no bakery nearby, so I made this cupcake myself, and maybe it's not very good because I only made it by watching a tutorial, so please don't mind and don't judge it too hard…"
The way she looked at me, so anxious, so hopeful, so adorably panicked, made me want to laugh and hold her at the same time.
I chuckled softly.
"I won't," I said, my voice gentler than I meant it to be. "I promise."
Her eyes lifted to mine.
"In fact…" I added, stepping closer, "I appreciate the effort you put in for me, it means more than anything."
I gave her a small smile.
"Thank you."
And the way her whole face lit up after that…
God.
It was beautiful.
"You're welcome," she said quickly, almost bouncing in place.
Then she pointed dramatically at the candle.
"Now, blow it out! But first…" She raised a finger like it was very important. "Make a wish."
I looked at the little flame.
Then I looked at her.
At the girl standing in front of me with flour still somehow dusted faintly on the edge of her sleeve, eyes bright behind her oversized glasses, and so much nervous excitement in her expression that my heart almost gave out.
I slowly closed my eyes.