Diamond: The Spark Within

Selena's birthdays had always been a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand, it was a special day that her mother had once made unforgettable with her warm hugs and thoughtful surprises. On the other, it was a painful reminder of what she had lost. This year, as her birthday approached, she expected it to pass quietly like the last few years—until Sam surprised her with an unexpected proposition.

It was during lunch, just two days before her birthday. They were sitting under the large banyan tree near the school's sports ground, the spot they often retreated to for privacy. Sam had been unusually fidgety, tapping his pen on his notebook and glancing at her more often than usual.

Finally, he cleared his throat. "So, Selena," he began, his voice casual but with a slight edge of nervousness, "your birthday's coming up. Any plans?"

Selena looked at him, surprised. "No, not really. I'll probably just spend it at home with Dad and Ryan, like always."

Sam leaned back against the tree trunk, a playful grin spreading across his face. "That sounds... boring."

She raised an eyebrow, half-smiling. "Well, not everyone's life is as exciting as yours, Mr. Popular."

"Touché," he said with a chuckle. "But seriously, I was thinking... how about we celebrate together? Just you and me, after school."

Selena blinked, her heart skipping a beat. "Celebrate? You mean, like... go out?"

"Exactly," he replied, his grin widening. "There's a new café downtown I think you'd like. And maybe after that, we can take a walk or something. It's your day, Selena. You deserve to enjoy it."

Her cheeks flushed, and she looked down, fiddling with the edge of her notebook. The idea was thrilling but also daunting. She had never gone out with a boy before—let alone someone like Sam.

"I don't know, Sam. My dad's pretty strict about these things. He'll want to know who I'm going with."

"Then tell him you're going with Amelia," Sam suggested, his tone light but his gaze steady. "It's not a complete lie—she knows about this, right?"

Selena hesitated. "Not yet, but I could talk to her."

"You should. She'll back you up," he said confidently. "Come on, Selena. It's your birthday. Let me make it special."

That evening, after much deliberation, Selena approached her father. He was seated in the living room, his glasses perched on the tip of his nose as he read through some papers.

"Dad?" she called softly, standing hesitantly by the door.

He looked up, his stern expression softening when he saw her. "Yes, sweetheart? What is it?"

"Well," she began, twisting her fingers nervously, "Amelia and I were thinking of going out after school on my birthday. Just for a little while, to celebrate."

Her father set down his papers and regarded her thoughtfully. "Just you and Amelia?"

She nodded quickly, her stomach twisting with guilt. "Yes, just us. We thought it would be fun."

After a moment of silence, he sighed. "Alright. But don't stay out too late, and make sure you're careful. Do you hear me?"

Selena's face lit up with relief. "Thank you, Dad! I promise I'll be careful."

Later that night, she called Amelia to share the news.

Later that evening, Selena called Amelia, hoping her friend would understand.

"Amelia?" Selena said hesitantly once her friend picked up.

"Hey, birthday girl! What's up?" Amelia's cheerful voice came through the receiver.

"I need your help," Selena admitted, her voice lowering. "Sam... he wants to celebrate my birthday with me after school. But I told Dad it would just be you and me."

There was a pause before Amelia broke into a teasing laugh. "Selena! This is huge! Of course I'll cover for you. Don't worry about a thing."

Selena sighed in relief. "Thank you, Amelia. I didn't know who else to turn to."

"You're welcome," Amelia replied brightly. "But listen, you can't just go in your school uniform. That's not how birthday outings work. You need a proper outfit."

Selena blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, take a casual dress with you to school. Something cute but comfortable," Amelia explained. "You can change before you go. I'll even bring my handy makeup kit to touch you up. We'll make sure you look amazing."

Selena felt her cheeks flush. "Amelia, that's too much..."

"Not at all!" Amelia interrupted. "Trust me, you'll feel more confident. Plus, Sam deserves to see you looking your best. Leave it to me."

Selena couldn't help but smile, her earlier anxiety giving way to excitement. "Okay, fine. But don't go overboard, alright?"

"No promises," Amelia said with a laugh. "This is your big day, Selena. Let's make it one to remember."

As Selena hung up the phone, she felt a wave of anticipation wash over her. For the first time in years, her birthday held the promise of something special—something just for her.