On Cayenne's 17th birthday, Seiji booked a whole dessert café for her. It was at that time that that her three friends found out that he was actually rich. He knew that Cayenne likes sweets but she didn't get to eat much because she was poor. Therefore, he was planning to spoil his future wife.
He asked the café manager to design the whole café with pink-violet motif. He also bought a huge bouquet of tulip flowers. Cayenne didn't like accessories or jewelries but she likes to create memories with her friends. And instead of intimidating her with his riches, Seiji chose to make her birthday memorable by just simply eating out and giving her a small customized gift.
Seiji invited the whole class as well.
When Arthur found out what Seiji has prepared for Cayenne, he was really angry.
"Ha! You can do it right now but once I'm out of my mother's surveillance, I will make sure to keep up with Cayenne and make sure you won't be able to manipulate her.."
"I am not manipulating her. I am just free to do whatever I love doing because my family supports me." Seiji responded. "Perhaps, when you get out of your mother's surveillance and monitoring, she'd be married to me already."
"In your dream! Don't you know, Cayenne never talks to her family about you. Her brothers didn't even know who you are. But in my case, her family knows me well and I can even go to their house whenever I can."
Seiji's face darkened but he was the least bit discouraged. As long as he can confess to Cayenne first, he will be able to monopolize her and make her fall in love with him. He was confident that he'd be able to do it.
Since Arthur cannot make a huge surprise for Cayenne, he only bought her gifts and treat her to some food during lunch. He couldn't stay longer with her or his mother would find out and he'll be scolded again.
After class, Arthur went home with his mother glaring at him while Seiji placated him an obvious smirk as he led Cayenne and the rest of the class to the Dessert Island Café.
"Wow! This is really amazing!" one of their classmates commented as they got inside the café.
"Did you really prepare this for Cayenne? This is awesome."
"Are you going to confess to her?" Marian whispered to Seiji while looking at Cayenne who was walking ahead of them.
"Not now." Seiji whispered back.
"You should hurry or someone will take her away from you."
Suddenly, Cayenne spun around and looked back at them. There was joy and wonder reflecting on her face. She was really happy and her smile couldn't be contained anymore. "Did you really prepare all this for me?"
"Yup! Do you like it?"
"Hn. I like it so much but –" Everyone looked at her, wondering what was the problem. "But I think it's too much. All these years that we've been together, the gifts I've given you were so cheap. I don't think I deserve this."
"Whether you deserve it or not is up to me. You are the first friend I got after transferring here so, this means a lot to me as well."
"Then, thank you so much for all this. Can I really eat any sweets I like?"
"Of course. Help yourself." Seiji answered and as soon as Cayenne turned around, he took the bouquet of tulips from the waitress and Marian took the cake that he also designed for her. He couldn't hold both of them so he needed help from his other friend.
Cayenne was still busy looking at the desserts behind the display case when suddenly, her classmates started singing 'happy birthday' to her.
Cayenne was really happy to see many people celebrating her birthday but she also felt a bit sad that her family wasn't around to celebrate it with her. Even so, she still smiled at them.
"Happy birthday, Yenyen!" Seiji greeted her and handed the bouquet of flowers. "I remember you like tulips so I got them for you."
"Thank you so much. I am really happy today."
"Make a wish before you blow the candles." Marian stated and moved the cake closer to Cayenne. She closed her eyes, made a wish and blow it but it wouldn't take so much time for her to know that her wish won't come true.
It was the first time that Cayenne didn't go home early. It was the first time that she didn't come home with her younger brothers. It was the first time that she gets to experience an expensive and wonderful birthday party and yet, she felt guilty about it.
"Next time, I'd like to celebrate your birthday with your whole family. Do you mind me meeting them? I mean, we've been friends but I never really got the chance to meet them."
"I'll find time to introduce my family to you and Marian. I hope you'll give me a bit of time."
"Sure, sure." Seiji was willing to wait as long as she would willingly introduce him to her family.
Not long after, Arthur's mother found out that her son had been sneaking behind her back and still befriended Cayenne in school. She also knew that Arthur was teaching Cayenne's brothers which was why he comes home late sometimes when she's not picking him up from school.
Seiji didn't really know what happened but Cayenne stopped hanging out with Arthur. Whenever Arthur invites her for lunch or to have snacks with him, she'd make any excuses she could think of. But whenever Seiji and Marian invited her for lunch or to have snacks together, she would go with them willingly.
Problems didn't stop there. When Cayenne told him that he can come home with her so that she can meet her family, Seiji also received a bad news from their helper. His grandpa had a heart attack and was sent to the hospital earlier that afternoon. His parents also came to City A to find him and take his grandfather back to country C.
Even if Seiji likes Cayenne so much, he couldn't just abandon his grandfather. It was his grandfather who supported him with everything he does. This time, it was his turn to do something for his grandpa.
"Your father needs constant observation from the doctor. We cannot risk him here with you for the love of your life." Isabela, Seiji's mother stated over the call. "I'll come and get you after school."
"Okay."
That day, Cayenne met Seiji's mother for the very first time. She looks so pretty and elegant. "You must be Cayenne. I am Isabela, Seiji's mother."
"Hello, auntie. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too. I've been wanting to meet you for a long time but my son wouldn't allow me to come here. He felt shy." Isabela mentioned which made Seiji blush. 'Hon, I think our son will be taken away from us soon. He raised his future wife really well.' Isabela thought as if she was really talking to her husband. "I hope we could have met each other in different circumstances, not in this time where I am in a hurry."
"Oh, it's fine, auntie. We will probably see each other again. I am Seiji's friend after all." Cayenne responded.