The Third Birthday
#1 of Short Stories
Shoort story about Elijah and Oliver
It was Oliver's birthday, March the 3rd, and Elijah intended to give him the gift this time directly even though they weren't that close to each other. Elijah did give him gifts the last two birthdays but was done anonymously and didn't tell anyone but his most trusted friend Christopher. The decision to give Oliver the gift directly was not an easy decision. Elijah had many times tried to gather courage to tell Oliver about his doing but never succeeded. Elijah felt in love with Oliver at the first year of High School and they were at the same class which just made the feelings stronger. It was Oliver's third birthday at High School and he saw this third celebration as an opportunity to clarify things for Oliver.
Elijah took off his bag and laid it on the table to take out and relook at the gift he bought. It was a sequel to a very popular game, Assassin's Decision, which was called Assassin's Decision: The Liberation. Elijah himself also really liked the series even though he didn't know if Oliver did. He just wanted to share what he liked with Oliver and didn't wanted asked for anything in return but a "Thank you". He felt the butterflies fly inside and it felt enjoyable warm and if he didn't had the light brown skin he would had had red cheeks of sheer shyness. He cherished the few good memories he had with Oliver and luckily Elijah had the opinion that you may dream but you have to be awake to achieve it and he decided this time to be awake in front of Oliver.
The game was not wrapped in gift paper but there was a red ribbon looped where a letter was attached beneath it that said:
"Happy Birthday, Oliver. I hope you like the gift as I do"
He held the game in his hands and took a slow, deep breath. As he walked closer to the class he felt the nervousness and shyness grow and as he stopped right before the door to the class he was in an inner fight of doing or not doing it. Luckily the doing won and he went inside. Some of the other classmates had already gave him minor presents and it was clear where Oliver sat; where there were a small pile of things was Oliver's place. Elijah saw that Oliver saw sitting down while looking at the gifts while he talked with the two classmates, probably about the gifts. Elijah went slowly towards Oliver. When he stood in front of Oliver's desk Oliver looked up and said:
"Hey Elijah"
"He... hey... Oliver" Elijah replied and panicked a bit. There was an odd silence for a short time, then Oliver looked away and said as he reached the gift out towards Oliver:
"Here... it's for you"
As soon Oliver took the gift Elijah went out of the terrace door the class had and tried to keep himself calm. Many thoughts went through Elijah mind as he was standing there in the cold air even though it was sunshine. Elijah felt as his head could explode of all the feelings that went through his mind. Then he heard the terrace door got open. He turned and felt the stomach turn a bit.
"Hey Elijah" started Oliver "I must say... ehm... it's quite a gift you got for me"
"Ehm... yeah" Elijah was lost in words and had no idea what to say and was too shy to look directly in Oliver's eyes which were seeking contact. Elijah said:
"Do... you like the gift?"
"Yeah, I actually do and I was about to buy it today after the school" as Oliver didn't had eye contact he instead focused on the gift.
"I... I'm glad to hear that... Oliver" Elijah could not resist saying his name. It sounded so beautiful for him. Also he felt an incredible joy hearing what Oliver just said.
"I mean... it's really a big gift. Why would you give so much for me?"
The feelings were now controlling Elijah:
"Because I love you" now Elijah could not bear looking at Oliver at all and expected the worst to happen.
"What? What do you mean?" heard Elijah but began to walk away towards the Great Hall on the opposite side of the road and left Oliver mute.
Unfortunately the Great Hall was closed so Elijah stayed right outside the door entrance, sat down on a snow free spot and folded his leg closer to him. He felt literally confused; there were many pleasant feelings which went through him but also some negative expectations of Oliver's reaction thus he didn't feel going back to class.
Three minutes had passed and Elijah was freezing. He was about to go back and go inside but not into the class when, to Elijah's surprised, Oliver showed up with one jacket in his hand.
"You must freeze, Elijah. Here, take this on" said Oliver and gave Elijah the jacket.
"I... I mean... thank you" overwhelmed by the situation he did as Oliver said. It was his own jacket that Oliver brought. As Oliver sat down beside him Elijah decided to clear the mysteries:
"Ehm... Oliver... you know... the other two birthdays... you had earlier... you received two gift which... was anonymous" Elijah couldn't make himself look at Oliver directly in the eyes so he alternately looked at the snow and Oliver's feet.
"Yeah, I did get some mysterious gifts back then"
"It... it was me"
"Why would you do this much for me? I mean... do you really love me?"
Elijah felt the blood flow through his cheeks and made them redder than before.
"Yes... I do, Oliver" In his panic he added "Will you mock me for this?"
"No, no I won't" Oliver now held Elijah's chin with three fingers and kissed him on the forehead "Because I like you too, Elijah"
That totally caught Elijah by surprise and he did open his eyes wider, muted. He slowly got more and more happy and didn't feel the cold at all. His world was not in ruin or chaos but something similar, something wonderful and fair.
"Oliver... you... like me?" Elijah finally manned up and looked directly in Oliver's eyes; they were beautiful, light grey color where one eye had a little spot of blue color.
"Yes, I do silly" he took his hand back and sat exactly like Elijah and continued "I had been for a while now" Elijah couldn't believe what he heard, maybe this was just a dream "and I wished that you could have said earlier because I couldn't make myself do it"
"But... what about your girlfriend?" why Elijah tried to find an excuse to falsify the truth Elijah didn't know either.
"I like her but I don't love her" he then slowly began to rise up "I'll invite you to go home with me so we can play the game"
When he stood up he reached out a hand to Elijah as Elijah slowly but surely took to rise up as well.
This was not a dream.