July 7th, 1994
*Myra's POV*
I woke up like usual today, took a shower and got ready before leaving to go to work.
When I arrived in the kindergarten, I gasped when I've seen all the children who shouted 'happy birthday' , and that's when I noticed that Michael was there too. The playroom was full of colorful balloons, there was even a banner that said 'Happy Birthday Myra'.
I smiled widely and covered my face with my hands.
"How sweet... thank you very much!" I then said, the children started running towards me and hugged my legs. I bend down and hugged them back.
When I got back up, Michael stepped closer with a big smile plastered on his face.
"Happy Birthday, maganda." he whispered, before embracing me in a sweet hug.
"Thank you, applehead." I whispered back, while hugging him tight. He then slightly stepped back and places a soft kiss onto my cheek, making me blush.
"So... what are you going to do today?" he asked excitedly,
"Uhm... work?" I replied and giggled.
"Come on, for real." he then said,
"I'm being honest. You know that I have to work and I'm not going to be back home until 5." I replied honestly, while taking off my jacket and hanging it on the wall.
"Not today, Myra. You can go home sooner. Celebrate your birthday! You only have the chance to do it once every year." Annie said, smiling widely at us.
"Forget it, I'm not going home sooner." I said firmly,
"Myra... you are working too much. I understand that you love your job and that the children are your priority... but working too much isn't good. You need some time for yourself too." Michael said, looking deep into my eyes.
"Says the workaholic himself." I joked and smiled confidently. "Listen.. I love my job and I need this job. In three years that I've worked here, I never left sooner. And it's definitely not going to happen today." I added.
"Fine... alright then... if you're not going to listen to me with the good manners then I'll have to use the bad ones. See you later, maganda." he said before placing another kiss on my cheek, waving goodbye at the kids and leaving. What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I looked over at Annie and she simply smiled and shrugged her shoulders.
I decided to ignore it, since I didn't feel like fighting today. I can't even remember the last time that I've celebrated my birthday... for the past three years that I've been living here, I've spent my birthday at home with Tala. We would drink some wine and watch a film, nothing more nothing less.
Since my dad died, celebrating my birthday wasn't the same anymore... I remember when I was a little kid, he would surprise me in the morning with tons of balloons, cake, candies and presents. After school he would pick me up and we would go to the movies, or at the park, or go shopping. He always said: 'mi niña, recuerda... celebrar un cumpleaños es algo hermoso. Es un regalo de dios, que te recuerda que te queda otro año de vida. Nunca sabes lo que la vida te depara el próximo año. Así que disfruta de este día especial completamente para ti y se agradecido, incluso cuando me haya ido. (my child, remember... celebrating a birthday is a beautiful thing. It's a gift from god, reminding you that you've had another year to live. you never know what life has in store for you
next year... so enjoy this special day entirely for yourself and be thankful, even when I'm gone.)
While thinking back at his words I felt how a lump started to form in my throat... and soon enough, I found myself sobbing in tears into the palm of my hands.
"Te extraño mucho, papa." (I miss you so much dad) I whispered to myself,
"Myra?! Hey, are you okay? What's wrong?" Annie asked worried, while walking closer to me.
"I-it's just... I miss my dad." I said, and she immediately embraced me in a sweet hug.
After I've calmed down, I explained to her the entire situation why I don't like celebrating my birthday anymore... and now she understands better why I think the way I do. I've never told anyone before, besides Tala. Not even Michael...
*Michael's POV*
After I left Myra's kindergarten, I went to her apartment where Tala was waiting for me.
I picked her up and we drove to my Neverland Ranch. We have planned something for her... a surprise party.
We started decorating the entire Ranch with balloons and banners. I even ordered a big cake and some other candies just for her.
It's red because Tala said red is her favourite color.
Once we finished decorating everything, I looked on my watch to check the time. It's noon.
"Should I go pick her up now? I mean, it's two hours until I arrive in Los Angeles, then I have to get her home, she probably needs to change and freshen up which is one more hour, then two more hours to come back here...-" I said,
"Michael! Stop! Breathe..." Tala interrupted me and giggled, "damn, you really excited about this, huh?" she then asked, making me chuckle.
"Well, yea... Myra means a lot to me, and I want this to work and to be perfect." I replied, she smiled widely.
"It will work and it will be perfect. Now calm down, and go pick the princess up." she said, I nodded and smiled brightly, before embracing her in a quick hug.
I then stepped inside the car with Bill, who immediately escorted me back to the kindergarten. I was extremely nervous, I have never done anything like this for a woman besides for my mother. That's how much Myra means to me.
I can't wait to see her reaction for the other surprises that I have planned...
After two hours, we arrived, and I stepped out of the car, making my way inside the building with Bill.
Myra was sitting on the floor, playing with the children. They clearly spotted me, but since Myra was showing me her back she didn't see nor hear me, so I mouthed to the kids to be silent.
I silently walked closer and put my hands on her eyes, closing them. She then started touching my hands...
"Michael what are you doing here?" she asked,
"How did you recognise me?" I asked surprised, stepping back. She stood up and turned around to face me, her arms crossed.
"Why are you here?" she asked while releasing a sigh,
"Get dressed, I'll escort you home so that you can get ready, and I won't take a no as an answer." I said and smiled confidently.
"Okay, in which language do you want me to tell you this? NO." she replied, making me giggle. I gave Bill a sign, and he immediately understood, that's why he walked to the door and opened it.
I walked closer to Myra and picked her up in bridal style. She started punching and kicking, but thankfully she didn't get me. Bill took her jacket while I made my way outside walking to the car with her.
Once we all made it inside, Bill started driving making our way to her apartment.
"You know that you've just kidnapped me, right?" she whined, making me laugh hysterically.
"Kidnap you?" I said and released a heavy sigh, "you need to stop complaining and live your life, Myra. I'm honest." I said and smiled at her. She simply rolled her eyes and looked outside the window.
After a few minutes we arrived into her apartment, and I waited in the living room for her to get ready.
About 30 minutes after, she came out completely dressed up. She was wearing a beautiful long red dress with a big split on her left thigh...
My lips were now slightly parted, clearly surprised by her appearance. She then walked closer and stopped in front of me, her hands now placed on her hips.
"So? I'm ready. What's the next step?" she asked, I gulped hard. My mouth was now dry.
"Y-you look amazing..." I whispered before licking my lower lip,
"Thank you..." she whispered as well and blushed. I smiled brightly and offered her my arm, she looked at me for a few seconds before grabbing my arm as we both walked outside, getting back into the car.
For the entire ride she didn't ask questions, thank god, but soon she recognised the place and she knew that we almost arrived at my Ranch.
"You're taking me to your Ranch? Why did you want me to get dressed up like that then?" she asked, I giggled.
"Just wait and see." I simply replied.
Shortly after, Bill parked the car, and I helped her step outside. We then walked into the Ranch, and there was everyone standing and waiting for her to arrive... the lights were on, they were all dressed up. Tala was there, Javon, Lisa-Marie, Annie, the maids, my securities...
At some point they all shouted 'surprise', and Myra gasped.
"Surprise..." I whispered into her ear, smiling brightly.
She then looked at me, and that's when I noticed that her eyes were now filled with tears. I thought they were happy tears, but I was wrong, because soon she started sobbing, covering her face with her hands.
"What's wrong? You don't like it?" I whispered in a worried tone, no response. "Hey.. Myra, look at me." I said and grabbed her hands, forcing her to look at me. "Talk to me." I said.
"You don't get it, Mike... i-it's because of my dad." she said in between the sobs, I looked deep into her eyes and I could feel her pain.
I then mouthed to the others to start the music and keep themselves busy, while I walked through the Ranch with Myra and took a seat on a bench. She then started explaining me why she didn't like to celebrate her birthday anymore... and I felt like an idiot. I didn't know all of that, and without even noticing, I made her feel hurt.
"You never told me before... I'm so sorry, Myra. But hey, listen to me... like your dad said, he would want you to keep celebrating your birthday and to be thankful, right? He would want you to be happy and enjoy this day. He wouldn't want to see you cry..." I explained in a soft tone, while holding her hand. She nodded, while wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.
"You're right... but it's not easy." she replied in a shaky voice,
"That's why I'm here." I then said and smiled brightly, making her giggle. "Come here." I then said and embraced her in a sweet hug, placing a kiss on her head.
*Myra's POV*
After Michael helped me to calm down, he grabbed my hand and escorted me over to where the other ones where waiting for us.
He made me sit down, while we walked inside. Something is going on, I can feel it.
Shortly after he came back outside with a microphone in his hand, and soon another music started playing... he walked closer and stopped right in front of me, smiling brightly. My heart was racing like crazy right now.
Then he started singing one of his songs,
"You and I, must make a pact. We must bring, salvation back. Where there is love... I'll be there. I'll reach out, my hand to you..." that's when he actually reached out his hand to me, and I grabbed it, "I'll have faith in all you do... just call my name... and I'll be there..." he kept singing, until the song was over.
"Happy birthday Myra, I love you." he then said at the end, before embracing me in a warm hug.
"How many times do you want to make me cry today, applehead?" I joked while hugging him tight, "thank you for everything. I love you too!" I then whispered. The only difference is... that I meant it in another way. But of course, he doesn't know that.