Chapter 130: Happy Birthday Phantom
A frown crossed Nicholas’ face as he saw the name on the caller ID.
It was Marina.
He felt his chest tighten, and his gaze narrowed. ’Did something wrong happen?’ Nicholas thought as he quickly answered the call.
"Nicholas! How come you didn’t say anything! I almost forgot" Marina’s voice came from the other end with an edge of excitement.
"Say what? What are you talking about?" His brows knitted tightly, trying to make sense of Marina’s words.
"Don’t tell me you forgot your birthday?" Marina scoffed from the other end, "I can’t believe you actually forgot. Would’ve loved it if you were home we would’ve celebrated together! Well, when you’re done with the event, make sure to come home. We can still celebrate!"
Nicholas stood frozen for a long moment, unable to find the words.
He was an orphan.
He’d never really had birthdays in his previous life. The orphanage only assigned them dates based on the day they were brought into the place.
Nicholas had long stopped caring about birthdays.
Keeping the day his parents abandoned him at an orphanage as his birthday felt more like an insult than something he should’ve been happy about.
All his life, he just knew that every year, he’d added one more year and that was it.
No celebration, no calls from friends, no gifts.
He’d only ever seen what an actual birthday should’ve looked like in movies.
But now... he held the phone to his ear and heard her clearly.
It was his birthday.
A small smile spread across Nicholas’ face. "Thank you sis, I’ll make sure to celebrate with you when I get home"
"Make sure you do! I’ll go get an excuse from the Academy to have Katie out for the weekend, so we can all be together. I’ll cook your favourite as well! My little brother is finally turning twenty! Goodness you grew so fast! I can’t believe it, Mom and Dad would be so proud!" Marina sniffled as she spoke.
"Why are you crying? Are you hurt? Did your boyfriend make you cry?" Nicholas asked his voice dipping.
"No dumbass, you’re such an overprotective brother... Tsk, I’m crying cause I’m just so happy! And yes, I had my boyfriend over since you both left me alone" Marina said with a giggle.
’She was the one who kept asking me to leave the house so she could bring him over.’ Nicholas brows twitched.
"It’s my birthday. If anyone should be crying, it should be me."
"I know I know, I’m just happy! Be quick and get back home. I can’t wait! Take care of yourself, and win those other countries, I’m rooting for you bro!" Marina said with an excited voice.
Nicholas had a warm smile climb up his face, "I sure will"
"Alright then, have fun with your friends!" Marina said as she cut the call.
’I never thought birthdays mattered... I won’t forget next year’s. Twentieth of July’ Nicholas thought with a smile, a feeling of warmth blooming in his chest as his gaze lingered on Marina’s caller ID.
For the first time in two lifetimes...
Someone had remembered his birthday before he did.
Just then, a hand flung over his shoulder.
"Did I just hear birthday?" Dana asked with a smile as she glanced at him, "Why didn’t you tell any of us?!"
"I forgot" Nicholas said bluntly.
"Of course you’d forget, nuthead. We have to celebrate since it’s your birthday" Selena said.
"I’m in full support of that!"
"I heard birthday?" Light asked poking his head in.
"Yeah! It’s Phantom’s birthday today!" Julie said with excitement in her voice.
"Oh! What age is sir Phantom turning this year?!" Light asked and everyone’s gaze shifted to Nicholas with the same curiosity as they waited for his reply.
"I guess I’ll be turning twenty"
"Huh? You give off a thirty year old vibe!" Julie said with a surprised voice.
’Well that’s cause I am thirty... Or was’ Nicholas thought, but remained calm.
"Then what would you say about Selena? She’s twenty one" Dana chipped in.
"Huh? Supervisor Selena is twenty-one?"
All their gazes shifted to Selena who was caught off guard by the sudden attention, her brows twitched as she looked at Dana who smiled back teasingly.
"You didn’t have to expose my age out in the public like that" Selena hissed lighting her cigarette as she slipped it into her mouth.
"I’m sorry it slipped from my mouth" Dana said with a small chuckle that made Selena’s brows twitch, but she didn’t reply.
"So all this while, Supervisor Selena that’s been acting like my mom was only four years older than I am?!" Julie said a shocked expression on her face, "Now I don’t have to be scared of her again" Julie muttered to herself.
"What did you say Julie, I didn’t hear you" Selena asked with a cold voice, her eyes narrowing towards Julie.
"I said you’re the best Supervisor I’ve ever had"
The group burst into laughter seeing the casual exchange.
"I was afraid you both were going to have a wide age gap, but oh my. I guess everything is set" Dana said with a smirk.
Selena’s ears reddened slightly, "What is set?"
Dana clapped her hands together, "Alright, enough chatting! Let’s celebrate Phantom!" Dana swiftly changed the topic as she walked towards the door.
"We only have tonight! Tomorrow is going to be a big day!"
"There’s no need to celebrate here, I’ll celebrate with my family when I get home"
Dana paused on her track, turning to face him, and so did everyone else in the room, "Way to spoil the mood, but oh well if you don’t want to we won’t force—"
"No! Phantom is doing his birthday celebration with us today! Birthday celebration is much more fun when it’s done that day, he can have fun with his family later. But he has to get the hero celebration first! We can’t just let him go" Julie’s voice came from the side stunning everyone.
"I’m with her, there’s no way I’m letting him slide out of this one. You’re celebrating that birthday Phantom" Selena said letting out the smoke from the cigarette.
"Me too! Phantom you’ve done a lot. But not every moment is for fights or serious stuff! It’s your birthday and we’re going to celebrate it" Vixen added.
Nicholas stared at the group of heroes with a hint of surprise.
He looked from one face to another.
None of them were joking.
They genuinely wanted to celebrate with him. A smile couldn’t help but go up on his face.
He’d thought the call from Marina would be the end of it.
Apparently not.
Somehow, he found another family waiting for him.
"Alright then, let’s celebrate"