The next day was Anne's birthday—August 23rd. Anne had told everyone around her, probably hoping for birthday gifts, and of course, Rita had been informed too. Rita, being the thoughtful friend, had prepared a special birthday card for Anne and secretly slipped it into her bag, not wanting to make a big deal out of it.
That morning, however, things didn't go as smoothly for Anne. As she entered the class, a group of students splashed water on her, leaving her drenched and flustered. But despite the prank, Anne was still armed with a variety of birthday gifts, her bag filled to the brim.
As Anne opened her bag, she saw the card from Rita. She paused for a moment, touched by the gesture. "Thank you, Rita," she said, her voice soft but sincere. "I didn't expect this from you."
Rita, who had been quietly observing, couldn't help but smile, although a pang of sadness tugged at her heart. She thought to herself, Anne is so beautiful when she smiles, but she looks so different when she angry.
At that moment , the door to the class opened, and in walked Janina, a student teacher from one of the most prestigious universities in the country. She was greeted warmly by the class, and her presence immediately shifted the atmosphere. Janina smiled at everyone and asked them to introduce themselves.
When it was Anne's turn, the entire class shouted, "Today is her birthday!"
Janina, smiling brightly, instructed everyone to stand up and sing a birthday song for Anne. The class complied, and the air was filled with joy as they sang:
*Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday, Anne,
Happy Birthday to you.*
Anne's face lit up, and despite the earlier prank, she couldn't hide her happiness. Her classmates cheered, and for a moment, it felt like everything was right in the world.
***
Later that day, as the sun shone brightly, Evelyn walked into Rita's class, her presence bringing a sense of calm. She walked over to Rita, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I came to apologize for everything," Evelyn said, her voice soft. "Let's start fresh. I know we've had our differences, but it doesn't have to stay that way."
Rita felt a weight lift from her shoulders as Evelyn spoke. For the first time in weeks, she felt like things were going to be okay again. The tension between them seemed to melt away as they began talking and laughing, just like before.
But despite the conversation, Rita couldn't help but wonder why Evelyn had suddenly acted so cold toward her, especially when she had heard Evelyn's words about being a "minus friend." Rita didn't bother asking who had told Evelyn such things, though. It didn't matter anymore. What mattered was that Evelyn was talking to her again. That was enough for Rita. She didn't need to dwell on the past or on petty rumors.
And so, on Anne's birthday, things began to heal. The laughter that had been lost for so long found its way back, and the friendship between Rita and Evelyn was rekindled.
It was a beautiful, bright morning. And maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.