Bring Your A Game, Mr

“No way! Even though I was super quick, I couldn’t even secure any tickets!” Danny exclaimed in mild disbelief.

After finishing with the payment process, Jack breathed a sigh of relief and waved his cell phone at Mikayla. “I managed to get three tickets, but they’re not the VIP ones.”

“That’s good enough! H is so popular and has such tech-savvy fans, so the fact that you’ve managed to get any tickets at all means you’ve surpassed the majority of them.” Following that, Mikayla looked at Elise. “Come with us when the time comes.”

As Elise looked at them, an idea formed in her mind, so she answered, “Alright, but I might be a bit late that evening. I have a surprise prepared for all of you.”

All at once, they stared expectantly at her.

“What’s the surprise? Tell us right now!”

“Yeah, don’t keep us in suspense!”

Nevertheless, she only gave a mysterious smile. As she glanced at Alexander, she noticed him with a curious gaze before he blurted, “Can’t you at least tell me?”

Elise playfully shook her head. “I have already said that it was a surprise! If I tell any one of you now, it won’t be a surprise anymore...”

Her answer was enough to placate them and they began to look forward to her so-called ‘surprise.’

After the banquet ended, the hosts saw the guests off at the door before returning to their respective rooms.

It was just like that as Elise and Alexander were the only two people left in the spacious hall.

“Danny told me you have a birthday present for me in my room,” Elise started, to which he nodded slightly with mild amusement. All of a sudden, she was a tad bit too eager to wait. “I’ll just pop in and check it out then.”

With that, she raced up the stairs to her room.

The moment she opened the door, she noticed gift boxes of all sizes neatly arranged at one side of the room—they were presents from Mikayla and the rest of her friends. On the other side of the room were boxes of different shapes and sizes wrapped with the same kind of paper. After Elise earnestly counted the presents one by one, she discovered that there were eighteen of them.

With that, she reached down to pick one at random and began disassembling the box.

Inside was a doll with a greeting card that read, ‘Hope you came into the world with eyes bright and full of stars. Wishing you a Happy 1st Birthday!’

snorted out loud, she immediately began to tear open the second box where there was a pink princess gown inside. Its card read, ‘The two-year-old you must have been tottering about as you learn how to walk by now. You

the television to watch cartoons as well? I wish I could

you have many good friends? Once again, it’s your birthday.

old must be a

school! In the future, you must be brave and

seven-year-old cutie pie have any hobbies? Can

more

in them. By the time she finished reading the 17th card, tears were already

birthdays, I hope to be able to spend every future one with you! Being 18 means that you’re all grown

Signed, ‘Alexander Griffith.’

around, she discovered Alexander standing behind her and gazing at her, so she threw herself into his arms

of her head and asked, “Have you finished

Elise nodded.

“Do you like them?”

so many presents at once. I’d never be able to tell from our daily life that you,

softened even further, Alexander couldn’t help asking her with a tease, “Is it enough simply to say

hesitation, Elise tiptoed to kiss him

moment, Alexander froze before he closed his eyes

distance from her. “It’s getting late. You should get some rest! I’m heading back to my

stand there, flummoxed. As if she thought of something,

the gifts in her room and smiled brightly. As her heart filled with gratitude for Alexander’s kindness, she vowed to search for

college entrance examination began to grow near after her

especially hard. Since even Danny was up early on a

hall with Mikayla before heading home. Much to her surprise, Danny had appeared out of nowhere and inquired, “Exams

her head. “No,

and uneasy for the past two days. “To tell you the truth,

preparing for your exams. These are symptoms that you’ll only experience if you are highly nervous

What should I do

shoulder, she consoled, “Do