Happy Birthday

"Little bird!" Urbosa nearly crushes my spine in her embrace. "Not so little anymore. Happy birthday, Dear."

"Thank you." I give her a weak smile as our hug loosens far too soon.

"I know you don't celebrate your birthday, so I appreciate you stopping by, allowing me to give you your gift."

"A gift? Urbosa you know I don't like gifts."

"You tell me every year," she laughs. "And yet I still found something of mine I wanted you to have. Oh, and I also have something from my best friend."

"You mean..."

"Your mother," she confirms my assumption.

What might this be? Another letter? One actually written by her this time?

"I don't want to keep you, so I'll make it quick," Urbosa walks over to her duffel bag and returns with a tiny box and a potted plant.

"That's a Stargazer," I identify the hybrid lily. "But how is it blue? They only come in pink, yellow, and white."

"Your mother planted it the day you were born. I don't know how she got it to grow in blue colors, it was an experiment, I suppose. She named it the Silent Princess. She was a science geek like you, always eager to discover new things. You know, she was getting her Master's in archeology when she met your father. But then she found an interest in botany. Long story short, a few days before her departing, she asked me to take care of the Silent Princess for a little while. I didn't know it would be one of our last conversation. 18 years later and here we are... I think you should have it now."

I take the unique plant into my arms and take a careful look at it. Mother created this and Urbosa cared for it all these years, I don't recognize the feelings that come with holding this plant. It's just a flower but my heart is oddly attached to it.

"Thank you Urbosa," I say and hug her.

Urbosa cups my cheeks and studies my face.

"My, my... Look at yourself. What a beautiful woman you have become. You have accomplished more in your 18 years than others in a lifetime. I hope you know that I am extremely proud of you. As is your mother."

"Thank you," now the tears are breaking free and I don't stop them. She hugs me again, getting a little emotional herself.

"Don't ever let anyone convince you that you have to be satisfied. Not until you're truly happy. No matter how hard it gets, you just keep going until you reach contentment. I know it's not always that easy... The world can turn dark sometimes but just because you can't see, doesn't mean you are alone. You will never be alone, you hear me?" She says and I nod and sniffle. "When darkness falls over you, just remember; you are your own light. Here, don't let me forget to give this too."

Urbosa opens the little box, revealing a delicate gold ring with a tiny ruby sitting on top. I've seen her wear it, along with many more pieces of jewelry.

"Are you proposing to me?" I laugh, wiping the emotions from my soaked cheekbones.

"You are of marriage age now," she shrugs and joins my laughter. "I'm kidding, of course. This is just a little family tradition. This ring is actually a placeholder. Wear it until your special someone replaces it with an engagement ring. And then you keep it in a box to give to your own daughter one day."

"Urbose," I gasp in wonder. "Does this mean your mother wore it before you?"

"She and many other great women in our family. The ruby was mined in India in 1802."

"I can't possibly accept this," I try handing it back but she shakes her head and folds my hands around the little box.

"I will never be able to have a child of my own," she says, the sorrow strangling her voice but she shakes it off with a smile. "And that's okay. Because I already have you, and I love you like a daughter."

My smile is drenched by my salty tears. It's as if her words have rinsed my body of all the negativity from today. Having Urbosa, Link, and Impa in my life makes me the luckiest person alive.

"I don't want to keep you, I know you have plans with your friends tonight, don't party too hard," she teases.

"You know what they say: You only live once," I joke.

"Allow me to give you one last thing."

"Urbosa," I object but she continues anyway.

"It's nothing tangible, but valuable nevertheless. I want to give you some advice. 'You only live once' is neither a motivational quote nor a good life lesson. It's the source of anxiety. Live life as if you live life twice; don't fear mistakes, don't fear taking big steps. If you want something, go get it."

I wish she knew how much I needed to hear those words. I do fear mistakes but knowing that Urbosa has my back no matter what is the kind of love missing in my own house.

"Go now, don't be late," she tells me, wiping a single tear from the corner of her eye. I have never seen her cry before and it's making me slightly unease. But it also warms my heart to see such a strong woman show so much love for me.

I thank her at least ten more times before we finally say our goodbyes. In my car, I put the seat belt around the plant and sing to it as if it was a real person. I know it sounds like madness but it's my birthday and I can do whatever I want today. At least that's what I tell the mocking voice in the back of my head.

Wearing a ring is a foreign feeling and my fingers keep playing with it all the way home. The only staff members left are the maid and the security guard. I sent the chef home since Impa said she was going to bring take-outs from Daruk's.

After my shower I change into gym shorts, a hoodie, and socks that surpass my ankles. Father would disown me if he saw me wearing these clothes but he's not here to tell me to change into something formal so I am going for the comfortable homeless look. A grin plays on my lips unintentionally and I feel somewhat free. What is up with my emotions? I messed up my exam today but I feel great.

The doorbell rings while I'm blow drying my hair and the maid calls my name only seconds later. I put my damp hair into a messy bun and head downstairs to greet Impa at the open front door.

"Hey Impa," I chant and invite her inside but she remains standing on the doorstep outside.

"I brought you a gift," she tells me, excitement radiating from her smug face.

"I told you, no gifts. You already gave me a cake."

"I know, I know. It's just something small. Or should I say something short," she giggles and pulls Link out into sight from behind one of the pillars.

"We are the same height," he protests.

What's going on?

"What--what are you doing here?" I ask him puzzled. I'm so confused right now. Why is he here?

I notice the shiny little accessory on top of his hair and burst into laughter.

"The bow was her idea," he mumbles, removing the bright green ribbon from his head.

"Somebody please explain what is going on." My eyes keep jumping back and forth between the two.

"I know you wanted a sleepover but I thought since your dad is so conveniently gone today you could spend your birthday with Link," Impa explains her intentions.

While I am always happy to see Link, I didn't tell him that it's my birthday. I hope he isn't upset about it.

"Link can't be here," I decline her sweet and absolutely irrational gift.

"You don't get to say no," Impa remarks. "It was a pain in the ass to get Link here; he wouldn't talk to me, not a single word. You owe it to me to hang out with him for at least an hour."

"The staff will see him and report to Father. It's too risky."

"Already taken care of. The maid won't snitch. It's your birthday so she promised she would leave early today as a little gift. In fact, she already left."

"Impa bribed her," Link reveals.

"Snitch," she barks at him. "But yes. Oh and the security guard will stay out here, watching the gate to make sure no unwanted guests bust the party." Cado nods at her. She bribed him too, didn't she? "No excuses. You're going to have some leftover cake, watch a movie, and enjoy your evening, deal?"

"But Impa--"

"Deal?" she cuts me off in an assertive tone.

Live life as if you lived life twice...

"Alright, okay. You win. Come on in, Link."

Impa looks so smug right now. Out of the three of us she looks the happiest. I wonder if she had to force Link to come here or if he agreed without hesitation.

"Have fun you two, but not too much fun," she points her fingers at her eyes and then at Link.

And just like that I am left alone with Link, the person that feels like home, at the house that feels like a stranger.

"So..." I awkwardly shut the heavy front doors, minding eye contact with Cado. "How did the game go?"

"Good, my team is celebrating in the stadium with some fans," he says, holding back a chuckle as his eyes take in my appearance.

"I don't usually look like this!" I squeak and tug my shorts down a bit. They are way too short. "I would have done my hair and worn different socks had I known you were coming over."

"I like the socks. They look really--um, cute," he says, turning slightly red.

I don't give a response, I just stare at him, trying my best to be normal.

"What?" he laughs.

"N--nothing," I join him. "It's just... weird. You being here."

"Been here before." He shrugs his shoulders.

"Not like this. You're in my house, I mean, the lights are all on and you're standing in my foyer... It's weird. Did you know you were going to come over or did Impa kidnap you?"

"This morning. When I left the English lecture hall I passed Impa and she told me about her plan."

"And all day you didn't say a word?"

"I am good at keeping secrets," he smirks. "It was hard though not to say 'I'll see you in a bit' during the game. I felt bad when I left you like that..."

"Oh, don't feel bad, I'm actually feeling a lot better. I'm really sorry about the whole thing. I shouldn't have come to the game. Did you get in trouble?"

"No. They weren't happy but it's not like they can replace me."

"Cocky much?" I tease him.

We walk to the living room where we stop and stand in awkward silence again. I have no idea what to do now or where to go, or what to say.

"So," I fill the silence.

"So."

"What do you want to do?"

"How about a house tour?"

"I thought you've been here before," I challenge him.

"I saw your room and the kitchen," he replies unimpressed.

"Fair point," I walk over to a little display at the wall and use it to turn off the security cameras just in case Father decides to watch the tape. "So this is our main living room," I gesture around me and walk down the tiny flight of stairs with him. "This is where we dine."

"How many siblings do you have?" He counts the chairs.

"It's just me and my father."

I never realized that we don't use the other chairs around the long slim table. I'd like to say we use those for guests but we actually have a separate dining room for such occasions.

We take the stairs to the first floor and I show him the bathrooms, the guest bedrooms, the balconies, and the slightly smaller living room first. One of the largest rooms upstairs is the gym that is only visited by the maid, when she cleans the dust of the machines. It's Link's favorite room so far. I must admit, the view from up here is great.

We skip a couple of rooms and return downstairs with a different set of stairs.

"Excuse me, tour guide," Link raises his hand, "do you have a map of the place, 'cause I think I'll get lost on my own."

"I won't leave your side, how about that?" I blush. "This is the indoor pool." We walk past the calm water into the next room. "Our spa," and into the next one, "and the sauna."

"Can your dad be gone for more than two nights please?" He says, his big eyes taking in the countless rooms.

"You're not staying the night," I say and he frowns. If anybody catches him here we're both dead.

"Here we have the home theater and right next to it is the gaming room."

"You have a gaming room?" his eyes might as well turn into cartoon hearts by the mention of video games.

"Not your types of games," I say as we enter the room.

"What do you mean not my type? This stuff is awesome," he says, passing the air hockey, foosball, and pool tables. "We should play some tonight."

"If you like this you're going to love our big boy game room," I tease him. "Follow me."

I show him the bowling alley before I take him outside to the tennis court. His excitement couldn't get any more obvious.

"I changed my mind, we're going to play some tennis tonight. Man... I might reconsider the whole athlete career and become a university president too," he jokes.

"That's not how Father affords all this. He owns a lot of real estate and a couple of companies too."

We take the route through the courtyard to get back to the pool. He looks at the hot tub on the patio and lets out a sigh.

"Should have brought my swim shorts," he says, looking at the water and then at his gym shorts. "Meh, these will do."

"We're not going swimming."

"For real? You have a gaming room, a pool, a home theater, and a gym, but you don't seem to use any of it. What do you do for fun?"

"I haven't shown you the best room yet," I smirk and take him by the hand to lead him back indoors.

"It's the garages, right? You have so many, what are you hiding in them?"

"Drugs and dead bodies."

"Seriously, what cars do you have and most importantly, do you have motorcycles?"

"No bikes. We have a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce, er... something with a B..."

"Bentley?"

"No... Baguettes?"

"Bugatti," he laughs. "That's crazy. Why have I never seen you drive any of them?"

"I am not a friend of attention."

"I feel you."

We pass the grand piano, Father's study, and the pantry, and walk all the way to the end of the hallway where two tall wooden doors lead us into the library. This is where my eyes turn into cartoon hearts.

"We have the best literary collections," I boast in admiration but Link thinks it's funny to make snoring sounds. "I'm sorry, do I bore you?" I giggle.

"Not at all. Dusty old books sound like lots and lots of fun. Hey, are you hungry?"

"Is food all you ever think about? I already sent the chef home."

Maybe Link will cook something for us. He is just as good, if not better, than our professional cook.

"Let's order pizza," he suggests. I did not expect that.

"I don't think food has ever been delivered to this house."

He brings up his phone and scrolls through images of different types of pizza on a local food delivery app.

"Are you a pineapple person?" he asks, trying to hold a serious mien. "And before you answer, just be aware that it will determine the continuation of our friendship."

So that's what we are. Friends. It makes sense, what else is there? We aren't a couple nor are we strangers. Friends is... good. I suppose.

"No pressure," he adds, waiting.

"Er... I've never tried it."

"Hm, then we'll do that. One Hawaiian and one BBQ chicken pizza. What's your address?"

"You're being serious? You want to send a pizza delivery guy to this house?" I point at the dark hardwood floor as I gape at him.

"Why not?"

"For one, the only pizza this house has ever seen was coated in gold leaf flakes, and I just didn't expect you to like pizza."

"Huh?"

"I'm just saying, you have a special athlete diet and usually eat all those extraordinary dishes. The stuff you cook is so different from greasy American pizza."

"I'm a glutton, I eat anything. And besides, food is not all about the flavor. Ordering pizza is a mood. It's the company and the circumstances that make pizza so delicious. If you prefer I cook something for you just say the word."

"No, you're right. We're going to have some fun. Order pizza but add another one for the security guard," a giggle slips from my lips. "Let's be crazy for a night."

Link obliges and orders our food. Then he walks back to the living room as if he has been living here for years and takes a seat on the white sofa. I follow and sit down next to him, stiff like a guest in his fancy home. Nobody ever uses this sofa and I see why. I thought it would be more comfortable.

The glass doors to the patio are open and I welcome the warm breeze that occasionally enters the small living room. Link gives me a warm smile, and despite the anxiety knocking at the back of my head telling me that I am absolutely mental for having a boy over, another voice drowns it out. Don't overthink it, I hear it say to me.

"So you don't have any video games?" Link asks, staring at the oversized, curved TV. "Not even a Nintendo Switch? We could have played some Mario Kart."

"Why don't you just bring it with you next time?" I suggest rhetorically.

"Maybe I will," he sticks out his tongue and my heart melts at the sight of his silly grimace.

(Hey guys! How's everyone's week so far? :) Last week I posed a Q & A and got a lot of questions about Thinking About You. I really enjoyed your questions and wanted to see what you would answer.

Which character do you relate to the most?

I'm excited to read the comments ^^ I love you guys!! xo)