I'm Not Daria
Surprise to Mario

Finally it was time for a party. I had told some of Mario's friends to tell him they were going to a very special place and told him to put on his best clothes.

It was already seven in the evening so he should be here any minute. I was wearing a simple dark blue dress and I wanted to make sure everything was perfect in the park, so she came a few minutes before seven.

His family arrived as calm as possible. We've managed to keep Mario from knowing that we're up to something. I interacted with his family for a while, playing with the little kids. The cake is ready and so is my gift

We are all waiting for Mario to arrive.

"You did a good job with the preparation." Say a voice next to my ear. I was surprised for a moment to hear that unexpected voice and turned to look at Devan

"thank you. What are you doing here?"

"I'm here to attend the party."

"I don't think you got an invitation."

"I don't need it."

I rolled my eyeballs. "Is it because I scolded you last night? You don't have to be here if you don't want to, I just want you not to hate Mario blatantly. I understand that if you hate Mario, I can't change him, it's just that I don't want you to show it because it can hurt. I'm not forcing you to like anyone".

"But my heart forces my mind to like you." He said, making me quiet for a moment.

"Don't say anything like that"

"That's how it is. It's been like that even before. Even if I say it out loud it won't change anything."

"Your mind is worried. A few days ago you ran away from me and now you can accept my circumstances and feelings. Master your mind, Devan. You can't be like that. Did you forget? you have a boyfriend who's my best friend?" I looked at him with accusations

His face changed as if he had only realized it now

"You're right, it shouldn't be like this." He straightened his posture as if he had just changed his feelings

"True, forget this feeling. The longer that feeling lasts, the more unfair it is to Luna."

He didn't answer.

Moments later, we saw Mario, led by his friends to the park, with his eyes closed. It wasn't part of the plan, but it made it better.

When the blindfold opened, we all shouted "SURPRISE!"

He obviously did not expect it as he jumped up and looked a little dazed, as if it would take him a longer time to understand the situation.

"What's going on here?" He asked confusedly.

"Happy birthday is too late! We all answered in unison to his question.

Mario looks very embarrassed after he understands what really happened here.

His young nieces ran towards him, hugging his legs while trying to maintain balance. His entire family swarmed over him, apologizing for forgetting his birthday and telling him how proud they were of him.

I smiled looking at Mario's happy face as he interacted with them. It was obvious that he missed his family very much. He carried all his nephews and nephews, there was even a boy sitting on his shoulders. What an adorable sight to see him surrounded by children and how he is so comfortable to be around them.

He even shed tears just by looking at his family. He wondered when was the last time he saw them.

"I'm so glad you're here" he told his brothers and their wives and husbands. "I miss you all so much. But why are you all here? How are you allowed in?"

Everyone pointed at me. "Beautiful girl over there who arranged everything and invited us. I'm so glad you have a good friend" said one woman. I'm not sure if she's his sister or his brother's wife, but I'm still happy to hear it from his family.

"Whoa?" Mario finally noticed me after his reunion with his family. "You did all this for me?"

I'm nodding. "I'm sorry I didn't say happy birthday to you. I want to make it up to you. It's not much but it's all I can do"

"Are you kidding me? This is all I expected for my birthday. Just being able to gather my family here is enough. Thank you very much".

Mario kept looking at me as if it was just the two of us in the park at the moment. We smiled at each other but her gaze looked a little different now. Slightly more intense than is usually seen on him.

And then her beautiful eye-sight disappeared as a wide back blocked our eye contact.

Devan is standing in front of me. "Aren't you going to cut the cake?" He asked Mario, his voice a little too cheerful and pleasant that I know it was just because he was too over-the-top being nice to Mario.

"There's cake?" He asked as if he could not believe his ears.

He was given a knife.

"I feel like a child" she blushed,

"Daria, will you cut the cake with me? you did all this for me, I think it's appropriate that you cut it too"

"Oh, no, no. I didn't do much. It's your birthday anyway."

"Please?"

I didn't want to reject him a second time, so I opened my mouth to say yes, but Devan preceded me.

"He doesn't seem to want to but don't worry, Kit-Kat. I'll cut it with you."

"Kit-Kat?"

Devan nodded. "That's my new nickname for you because I feel like you're the sweet guy that everyone loves." He then directed his gaze at me, almost as if accusing, I rolled my eyeballs at him.

I'm not in love with Mario!.

This is probably the most awkward cookie cut I've ever seen. Mario and Devan look uncomfortable as they hold the same knife. Devan moves his hand to cut the cake into triangular pieces, but Mario stops him.

"Kue shouldn't be cut like this. We have to cut it in the middle, like a strip so that when it is removed, the other two parts will form another circle, this time a smaller one" Mario said while cutting the cake as he described.

"Why should it be like that? It's just a cake. And I always cut it in a triangle shape"

"Then, you might have to change it. When you cut it in the middle, the other two parts will stay fresh and taste better even if you eat them after a few days. In addition, the cut pieces will make it easier to share the pieces of the cake with people"

I felt that Devan was going to argue further and maybe ruin Mario's day, so I interrupted before he said anything else. "Devan, Mario is a chef, so I'm sure he knows what he's talking about."

"Alright," he said with a frown.

Everyone took turns feeding the cake to Mario. When everyone was done, Mario's face was full of cake that he couldn't even chew. I held back the amused look at her situation. He was also instantly flooded with gifts from his family and friends, who did not even get to give his gifts until the latter.

"Okay, this is a lot. I'll open it later." Said.

I hope he likes my gift

We spent the next half hour interacting with everyone present there. I know her family better and her little nieces are adorable, reminding me of Jessica. It's been a long time since I last saw her

After some time, the cooks and other kitchen staff rested in their respective rooms and I took it as a gesture to leave as well. I've arranged to escort Mario's family safely after they're done. I think I should give them a little privacy, after all it's been a long time since Mario has met them. So, after saying good night to Mario and the rest of his family, I got out of the park.

Devan immediately left after cutting the cake, he had some business to settle and told the others to enjoy it.

"Daria," a voice stopped me from going any further.

He came up to me and smiled. "I'd like to thank you for what you've done.it's the best birthday I've felt in years."

"I want to make you happy and show that people are there for you and care about you.

"You make me more than happy. You did more than that for me."

"I'm glad to hear that. Now go back and spend time with your family". I nudged him in the opposite direction.

Mario stepped closer, closer and looked at me intensely. " May I cross my boundaries a little for tonight?"

"What?"

She did not answer, but rather wrapped her hands around me, pulling me into my arms.I was surprised, but I hugged her back. He was so tall that my head only reached his chest where I could hear his heart beating hard and fast, like my heart when me and Devan were close together like this in the hallway earlier.

I got the same reaction from Mario it was really unsettling.

I withdrew from his embrace but did not let anything be seen on my face. I smiled and said goodbye before going up to my room.

What do I think is that true?

It might just connect two completely different situations to conclude something that is far from the truth, but it is possible that it is the truth.