Four | Adolescence

    “Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday, dear Marigold, happy birthday to you!” Close friends and other members of the Bancroft family sang in harmony to celebrate the now 18-year-old girl, luxuriously dressed in a bright orange gown with marigold flowers locked in her blonde hair.

One hotel staff pulled up a cart in front of Mari, which had a large lemon cake topped with different fruits. “Hehe, thank you so much, everyone!” The guest of honor on the main stage delightedly shared her speech of gratitude to everyone around her.

In the middle of her speech, she spotted a tall boy warily leaving the party. She slowed down in talking and almost forgot what to say, but she saved herself and pretended she didn’t notice anything. She grabbed a glass of grape juice as she readied herself to say the last sentence.

“And to all this, I say… let’s raise our glasses. Let’s toast… and get drunk!” The crowd roared with cheerful laughter and clapped loudly as Mari finished talking.

The DJ blasted exciting music to keep the hype going. Mari took advantage of how everyone else got busy partying on the dance floor. She ran to her sister who was in a cute red dress and whose hair was tied up in a messy bun.

“Mara!” She huffs and catches her breath before she is about to ask for a favor. “Hey, if someone asks me where I am, tell them I want to be alone a bit. I need some fresh air.” Mari took hold of Mara’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes intently.

Mara could tell something was wrong and that what she said wasn’t really the case, but her gut instinct says it’s pointless for her to ask Mari. Instead, she nodded her head and put her thumbs up, indicating that she’ll do as she says.

After uttering her thanks, Mari discreetly left the bustling scene and went off to find the boy she was looking for.

There he was, already walking far down the hill where the hotel was located. Mari was about to shout the boy’s name but was afraid of getting heard by the party guests. She took off her heels, grabbed one for each of her hands, and dashed down.

But as she was running downhill at a fast pace, she stumbled a bit and yelped in pain. At this point, her whole appearance from head to toe was in shambles. Still, she went on running.

It turns out that in the split second she looked down at her feet in pain, the boy took notice of her and stopped walking. Mari only saw when she raised her head up. When she caught up to him, she paused to catch her breath again.

“Hey, it’s my… birthday… party, you nerd.” Heavy sighs in between. “Why did you lea—” The boy’s hand caressed her forehead to move the strands of hair away from her face.

“Now this is how a jock should look like. Messy and unkempt.” He earned a punch to the shoulder for that comment, but he still managed to snort out a laugh.

“Well, I don’t know. I just felt like doing it.” He said as he scratched his head.

“Pardon?” It was clear to anyone that Mari was deeply offended.

“Ah— I mean… Well.” Then he placed his shoulders on his hips. “I feel like I don’t deserve to be there… I guess?” A slap to the face. He’s just earned some more punches, this time, causing him to feel actual pain. “Ow, hey. Mari! Stop it!”

“Who cares if you hurt me badly a few months ago for rejecting me? Just because you don’t feel the same way doesn’t give you the right to leave on my special day!” Her fists were now resting on his chest.

“You think I couldn’t tell that you’ve been wanting to avoid me because you think that staying friends means you’re leading me on? Stupid. That works if we’re not close, but we have been since we were children! In our case, you shouldn’t worry about me not getting my romance, but worry about a long-term friendship ending forever!”

For someone who looks tough and resilient on the exterior, Mari was in reality, easily emotional. Her tears dripped down her cheeks and she began to wipe them off as she started to observe the boy.

The street lamp’s light made his carrot hair glisten so brightly, she liked how it reminded her of autumn. She’s taken aback that the boy who was once much shorter than her, has now grown to be at least a foot taller. That made him look mature, and she liked that.

What made her more nervous than ever was how he looked absolutely hot in that black suit. Finally, her eyes drifted to that cute little mole below his left eye. Even now, Mari was partly in disbelief at how amazing her friend turned out to be.

Ah shucks, she’s totally fallen head over heels for Orion again.

“Mari… I think you’re wrong. That’s not the reason why I’m avoiding you.” His eyes looked away from hers. He turned back to look once more at her face, plainly filled with confusion.

“Ah— Well, uh. Haha, I sound fucking pathetic if I say this.” Though he has matured in a lot of ways, he was still as easily embarrassed when it comes to things like these. Orion faced to his right and covered his mouth as his face reddened.

Mari desperately wanted to ask why, but words would not come out of her mouth.

“I’m… It’s just me, running away. From, uh…” His eyes were darting all around, glancing at anywhere but the girl in front of him. “From my fear of… commitment. I do… like you back, you know…?”

His voice gradually faded away as he stated the truth. He then shut his eyes and squished his face, it was the only thing he could do as some sort of defense mechanism.

“Pfft… What the hell?” Mari let out a chuckle. She wasn’t really sure how to react to it, and whether she should feel better or worse.

Who cares? All she wants is to have the best birthday ever, even if it means doing whatever the hell she wants to get her present.

Her arms wrapped around his solid build and her head rested on the area where his heart resided. “If I ask for a birthday kiss, will you give it to me?”

“Mm…” He glances down to look at the object of his affection. “I’ll think about it.”

Then Mari glances up at him, too.

“If it means not losing you, then… I think I will.”

In very slow motion like what happens in movies, their faces drew closer and closer until their lips came into contact. The kiss tasted so sweet like honey that they couldn't help but feel warm and tingly inside.

After they allowed themselves to indulge deeply at the moment, their lips parted a few inches apart. They both let out soft exhales and snicker in contentment.

“I’m getting old, but that was the first time I ever got to kiss someone,” Mari uttered.

“Dang, me too, actually.” They chuckled some more whilst still in each other’s hold. Orion moved away some of Mari’s hair and gently kissed her forehead. Mari smiled at his boldness.

“You know, my graduation is coming up in a few months. If this means that we’re dating now, then we only have a little time left to enjoy the moment.” Mari said as she placed her head back on his chest.

“Hey, hey.” Orion lightly flicked his finger to her forehead. “Time may be short, but that’s no excuse not to create fond memories together.” Now, he placed his head on top of hers.

“I guarantee you that some of the best moments in your life will happen through me.”

It’s a kind of sorcery Orion has, knowing the right things to say at the best time. It made Mari relaxed and safe.

Unbeknownst to the newly-formed couple, a spectator hiding behind a tree has been watching the whole scenario play out. It was none other than the sister and the friend, Mara.

Over the years, she has been acting as their self-proclaimed matchmaker to get them both together. While it initially began from playful teasing, Mara slowly started to see them as a perfect match made in heaven.

It was true that both Mari and Orion have been admiring each other for a long time, but how it annoyed them when Mara goes beyond her boundaries.

Right as they leaned in for another round of smooches, Mara popped right up behind the two who jumped in fright from seeing her.

"Ooh, hahaha!! Mari and Orion! Standing on the streets! K-i-s-s-i-n-g!" While Mara pranced around them, the couple have been screaming at her to stop her childlike demeanor.

"I was right this whole time, I've been telling y'all!" She shook her hands as if she were playing invisible maracas. "I have. Been pushing. You two together. For years. Now look at this, I am so, so, so proud!"

Mari and Orion forced a smile, which was in part genuine considering they were still feeling giddy from the event that occured minutes prior. Though for the most part, they couldn't help but feel offended from the way Mara's tone sounded condescending and rude.

Their efforts of getting her to leave them alone were futile — Mara was too soaked in her excitement and pride. They were, however, saved by distant voices heard from up the hill.

"Mari! Oh, you three have been hiding away here. Come back to the party, darling! The guests were looking for you!" The two sisters' mother gestured her hand, willing them to come. But she came nearer anyway after noticing the ragged look Mari has.

"Goodness, me. What's happened to you? Fix yourself, child!" She took off the marigold accessories on her daughter's head, and ruffled her hair to make it a mess that at least looks appealing to the eye.

Mari on the other hand, rubbed off the dirt on her dress skirt and the soles of her feet before putting on her heels back. Orion absent-mindedly rubbed the side of Mari's lips with his right thumb to remove the lipstick stain.

Everyone's eyes grew large at the sight of his bold action, including the guy himself.

He looked at his lover and now, at the mother. "Ah… I'm sor— I apologize." He slowly pulled his hand back and formed it into a fist, also sucking in his breath through his teeth.

Studying the nervous look on his face, Mari took hold of his hand and locked it with her own. As usual, the shy Orion blushed strongly and panicked on the inside.

"...mommy." She glanced behind her shoulder and refused to say a single word more. Putting in the pieces together, her mother exhaled and embraced Mari tightly.

"Alright," she whispered voicelessly. Once she had let go, she urged them again to return to the party. Mari and Orion felt warm from the silent acceptance that they received.

"Ho-hum, whatever happened to the little boy who never stepped out of his comfort zone?" The wholesome feelings Mari and Orion had disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only slight annoyance. They both knew there's no use reacting to Mara's jests, so they put it behind them.

The mother had already gone ahead, but favored them once again to return faster. "Mara, come on. Let's go back." Orion suggested, to which Mara refused.

"No can do! You two are way too cute together, and I'd rather not get in the way!" She made an X-sign with her arms and shook her head.

Puzzled, Orion asked. "O… kay, then…? Where are you going?"

"It's literally so hard for me to contain all my excitement and I'm smart enough to know I can't do that at the party. So…" Mara walked behind the bushes where she had been hiding a while ago. "I will fangirl behind the bushes like an idiot."

Her brows furrowed and eyes squinted though she wore a cunning grin (what Mari and Orion suspects is the face Mara makes if she thinks up some sort of evil plan in mind). Already accustomed to her quirky manners, they let her do her own thing anyway.

They bid her farewell, and the two lovebirds walked back to the bustling scene while holding hands together.

Soon as they were no longer in her sight, Mara knelt down on the ground, fanned herself, and shook her arms off to indulge in her over-excitedness. She desperately wants to scream at the top of her lungs and declare her happiness as their 'matchmaker', but instead, she simply opened her mouth wide and 'screamed' inaudibly.

As her over-the-top feelings have gradually calmed from letting it all out, Mara sensed a slight pang in her heart. Her happiness faded away in that moment when she thought about the situation in a different perspective.

"Damn, this sucks." She lowered her head and covered her eyes with her right hand. "I'm officially a third wheel now, huh?"

Nay, it was not that she no longer felt happy because in fact, she really is proud and glad for the couple's success. But feelings of envy have been born, now mixed in.

Thinking back on how sweet they were, her jealousy grows stronger and bigger. But to her, it cannot be. Someone like Mara, the girl with an identity of an always positive mindset, refuses to acknowledge whatever negative emotions she may have.

(Disgusting. Look on the bright side, I cannot be any fucking happier than when I know it was I who contributed to their love. They're happy in love, and as Mari's sister and Orion's friend, I couldn't be any fucking happier. Look on the bright side, Mara!)

She slapped herself hard.

(Get away, I'm not jealous. I feel only happiness and pride.)

Deep... Breaths… Done.

Now that Mara got herself back on track, she saw that there was a flame currently lighting up inside her.

It was a desire to find a love of her own.