บท 63: CHAPTER 63: THE GREATEST GIFTS

"Send my gift to her as soon as tomorrow morning." The guy on the other line instructed a bald guy in his mid-30's, perhaps.

"Yes Sir. Do you have any specific instructions as how to cover the present?" the man asked.

"Just make sure it is presentable. Don't make it suspicious."

"Ai Ai Sir." The man who just disconnected the line once again called a different number.

"Send it tomorrow. Make sure she will receive it. Don't give it to anyone aside from her." he continued.

"Yes sir!" he heard the person on the other line assured him.

*** At the Williams residence, Eli run towards a secret drawer where he placed his gifts.

"Mom, I have something for you!" Eli went back to her with gladness in his face.

"What is it sweetheart?" she asked sweetly. Eli handed her two boxes wrapped up in a very good way.

"What is this?" Aisha showed him an excited face.

"Open it Mom, open it!" Eli is more excited more than anyone else.

When Aisha opened the first box, she held her breath at the breathtaking piece of jewelry in front of her.

"It's beautiful!" she exclaimed. Eli grinned from ear to ear. Then Eli took the necklace in her hand then he tried to put it at her mother's neckline. Aisha kneeled so Eli could reach her.

"Mom, don't ever take this off. I will really get mad at you." Aisha didn't know if Eli was ordering her or threatening her but she finds it cute.

"Of course I won't ever take this out since it was from you." She kissed his forehead.

"There's one more box, open it mom!" Eli was jumping in excitement. He was more excited than the birthday girl. Aisha looked at Ethan with a questioning face but Ethan only smiled at her.

Aisha immediately opened it and found a phoenix hairclip. It's even beautiful!

"You gave me a gold infinity necklace and a gold phoenix hairpin?" Aisha can't believe her eyes. Eli nods while grinning from ear to ear.

"Thank you sweetheart, I like it very much!" She embraced him then kiss his forehead.

Fulfillment was written all over Eli's face. After a while, Lisa also handed her a box too.

"Thank you Lisa. You don't have to do this." She taps her shoulders.

"Of course I won't lose to Eli." Then she winks at Eli. They chuckled. Then one by one, the housemaids gave their presents for her. she was surprised! She was not expecting that at all.

"Thank you everyone!" she was speechless.

After some more hours of singing, dancing and playing, they decided to end the party since Eli and Yohann looks sleepy all of a sudden. They must have exhausted their selves. Aisha demanded Yohann and his father to sleep in the mansion since it's too late for them to go home already.

After everyone settled in their rooms, Ethan and Aisha headed to their own room.

"Did you enjoyed your birthday celebration?" Ethan asked all of a sudden.

"Of course I did. It was pretty amazing! Thank you." Then Aisha laid her back on the bed.

"You don't usually celebrate your birthday with us before so we don't know what you specifically want. Looks like Eli got it right." Ethan said as he headed towards his drawer. Aisha's eyes followed Ethan as he approached the drawer.

"What? Stacy never celebrated her birthdays too?" She silently thought. "Weird."

Aisha was deep in her thoughts so she didn't noticed Ethan standing in front of her as he handed a small box.

"Happy birthday." Ethan smiled. Aisha suddenly came back to reality.

"You don't have to do this; you know?" Aisha accepted the box that Ethan gave. Her eyes grew when she saw what's in it. She was speechless. She picks it up as she held it closer, she inspected it. This is it. Her mom's butterfly bracelet! she tears up. It was the only memory she had for her late mother.

But why is he giving it back?

"But why are you giving it back?" Aisha questioned.

"Because I already fulfilled my promise." He smiled.

Yes! the promise! She remembers it clearly. So Ethan really fulfilled his promised. But how could destiny be so cruel to her that instead of the real Erika, he found Emily instead? Aisha heaved a heavy sigh.

Ethan didn't know about her twin sister because before Ethan came to the orphanage, Emily was already taken by an unknown person. Also, she didn't bother to tell Ethan about her sister. He didn't ask about her family background anyway so why bother to tell him?

"Y-Your Anklet, I ----"

"It's okay, don't be sorry. You already told me before that you lost it, right?" Aisha was interrupted by Ethan.

"No I didn't. It was with me all along!'' she whispered to herself. She droops her shoulders as she looks away. Ethan was able to catch that.

After their small chitchat, Ethan took a quick shower, but Aisha seems to lose her energy all of a sudden. She laid her body sideways. Her thoughts were from a far. After some minutes, Ethan came out from the shower. After drying his hair, he laid on the bed. Aisha's back was facing him. he's about to turn off the lampstand when he heard her called his name.

"Ethan.." Aisha called still facing her back to Ethan.

"Ehm?" Ethan halted.

"What if one day you will wake up and find out that everything is a lie? Like everything you know is a lie?" unconsciously, she asks.

"What do you mean?"

"Would you be able to forgive someone who deceived you? Someone who's been lying to you ever since?" Ethan didn't response quickly. He himself was thinking.

"What if she didn't want to do it in the first place?" Still no response from Ethan.

"What if she already fell in love with the people around her? what if she was afraid to lose them?"

"But they we're not hers in the first place." She mumbles.

"If it is I then I prefer to know the truth from the person's own mouth. Maybe telling the truth early prevents more damage to both parties." Ethan suddenly answered.

"But that was just my own opinion though." Ethan continued when he didn't receive an answer from her. "Why'd you ask that anyway?"

"Ehm, nothing. I must have been watching too much dramas lately." She reasoned out.

"Oh, okay." there is a trace of disappointment in Ethan's voice. Then he totally turned off the light.

"Ethan, Sorry. I'm very sorry for everything." Aisha murmured but it's enough for Ethan to hear her. Ethan immediately hug her from behind.

"I think you should stop watching dramas from now. your becoming too sentimental." He whispered in her ears. Aisha turned around as she inches closer. She leans her head on Ethan's bare chest.

"Ehm. I should definitely stop it." Then Aisha dozed off to sleep.

"Should I tell her first? Should I tell her I knew everything in the first place?" Ethan was in deep thought as well. She still wishes for this woman to speak up first.