"A Thank-You Party, With a Side of Teasing"
A day had passed since my birthday, but the joy still lingered like soft perfume in the air.
Every time I closed my eyes, I could still hear the laughter, the music, and the chorus of voices singing off-key just for me.
But deep down, I knew that all the magic of that day wasn't just about turning a year older; it was about the people who made it feel unforgettable.
So, I decided to return the favor.
I planned a surprise.
A small, cozy evening together, not too fancy, but thoughtful.
Just a quiet moment to say thank you to the people who had gone above and beyond to make me feel loved: Saraph, Daniel, Jordan, and the rest of our crew.
I set the table and decorated my room with the quiet fairy lights twinkling above, soft cushions spread out, and music humming gently in the background.
I had snacks, games, and even a small photo corner with goofy props. Everything was set.
All that was left was to bring the unsuspecting stars of the night.
"Wait, what is this?" Saraph blinked, looking around the decorated room like she'd just walked into a movie scene.
I grinned. "Surprise!"
She turned to me, stunned. "Nuella, what? Did we forget someone's birthday?
Is it Daniel's?
Please tell me it's not mine again. I'm not emotionally prepared."
Jordan, standing beside her, chuckled. "I mean, I wouldn't mind another birthday cake. Or attention. Both, preferably."
I rolled my eyes and laughed. "It's not a birthday. It's just... a thank-you. For all of you."
Daniel walked up, hands tucked into his pockets, his gaze soft as it landed on me. "You did all this for us?"
"Of course," I said, smiling. "You guys made my birthday special. This is the least I could do."
"Aww, Nuella!" Saraph pulled me into a hug before dramatically flopping onto a cushion. "You're the best. I wasn't expecting this, but now that we're here, I expect snacks. I expect drama. I expect karaoke."
Timi pointed at her. "And I expect you to finally admit you ate the last slice of cake on her birthday."
Saraph narrowed her eyes. "You can't prove anything."
The room burst into laughter as everyone settled in".
The evening bloomed with lighthearted games, harmless roasting, and memories being made in real time.
Later in the night, I found myself walking over to where Daniel stood railing, away from the buzz.
He turned as I approached, his smile lighting up something deep in my chest.
"You always do things like this," he said softly. "Just... thoughtful."
"Well," I said, leaning beside him, "you kind of inspire that side of me."
He chuckled, gently brushing his knuckles against mine. "I still can't believe we're okay again."
I looked up at him, feeling that soft ache of healing and sweetness wrapped together.
"Me neither. But I'm glad we are."
We stood there for a beat, our fingers brushing, our eyes holding each other.
The chaos of the world blurred away, like the hush before a kiss.
That was until,
"AHEM."
We turned sharply to see Caleb standing behind us, arms crossed, wearing the most dramatic expression he could muster.
"I knew it! I said it, didn't I? The moment Nuella started smiling again, I was like, 'Yep.
Daniel's back in her good graces.'"
Saraph joined him, grinning wide.
"And look at them now, giving each other heart-eyes on the balcony like it's a romance drama."
Daniel covered his face, laughing. "We're just standing here."
Jordan shrugged. "Standing here looking in love. Same thing."
"Jordan, go eat a cookie," I muttered, trying not to laugh.
"Already did," he said, holding up crumbs like a trophy. "And I saved one for Daniel.
Because, you know, he needs strength for all the blushing he's doing."
Daniel gave me a sideways glance. "Do you regret inviting them yet?"
"Only slightly," I whispered, nudging him.
Saraph flopped onto the couch, dramatically, speaking to no one and everyone.
"You know, I prayed for this.
I was like, 'God, please let Nuella and Daniel stop being awkward.' And boom. Here we are."
"I'm right here," I said, laughing.
"Exactly," she replied. "You're here. With Daniel. Making my shipper dreams come true."
I groaned.
Daniel shook his head with a grin, sliding his arm around my waist as if to say, let them talk.
I leaned into it. Let them talk, indeed.
Because for once, everything felt light again.
Happy. Right.
We ended the night taking goofy photos, singing slightly off-key duets, and swapping stories that made us laugh until we were clutching our sides.
Before we parted, Saraph hugged me tightly.
"Thank you, Nuella. For tonight, for being you, for planning this,
Thank you, for my birthday, too… just for everything. I don't say it enough."
"You don't," she teased, then squeezed my back. "But I know."
As we walked outside under the moonlight, Daniel reached out and gently took my hand.
I glanced up at him.
"No teasing this time?" I whispered.
He smiled. "Just... happy you're happy."
And with that, the night settled into one more beautiful memory etched into the heart of our college days,
a night of laughter, love, friendship, and all the little thank-you's that never needed to be said out loud but were felt all the same.
"Spoons, Secrets, and Sweetheart Chaos"
It had only been a few days since my surprise party for Saraph and the gang a casual little thank-you gathering I'd pulled together to appreciate them for making my birthday so unforgettable.
Daniel was there, of course, along with Jordan, Saraph, Timi, and caleb. We'd spent the evening in laughter, soft music, and one too many plates of jollof rice.
But as the weekend arrived, the real chaos began.
Campus was hosting its annual "Laugh and Leap" Day an all-fun, zero-grades day where students took part in weird obstacle games and hilarious team challenges.
Think sack races, blindfolded walks, tug-of-war, and the famous "spoon and ball" run.
Saraph and I were already giggling uncontrollably just watching people try to balance tiny plastic balls on oversized wooden spoons while running like headless chickens.
"I'm definitely winning that race," Saraph said, stretching like she was about to run a marathon.
"You'll trip after two steps," I replied.
"Excuse me, ma'am, I am grace in motion."
"Grace who almost took out the mascot last week?" Jordan chimed in from behind us.
We all burst into laughter.
Daniel came jogging up with his hoodie sleeves pushed up, hair slightly messy.
"Ready to compete?"
"You mean ready to fall face-first into the grass?" I asked.
He grinned. "Only if you're falling with me."
"Oh please," Saraph muttered under her breath.
"You two better not start again with the soft stuff. My eyes are sensitive."
"Then blink slowly," Daniel replied, smirking.
The Spoon & Ball Challenge was announced, and we lined up, in two-person teams.
The rules were simple: place the ball on the spoon, hold the spoon with your mouth, and race without dropping it.
We all stared at the organizer like, he was insane".
"I'm sorry, in the mouth?" I asked, clutching my sides from laughing.
"Unless you want to carry it with your dreams, yes," the guy replied.
Jordan and Saraph paired up. Daniel, of course, was my partner.
"I feel like this is how breakups happen," I said, awkwardly balancing the spoon in my mouth.
"Don't worry," Daniel said, eyes gleaming. "I already signed up to carry you if you fall."
"Please," I mumbled around the spoon. "You can barely carry your GPA."
"Touché."
The whistle blew, and chaos erupted.
People ran like dizzy chickens. Balls flew everywhere.
One guy tried, to cheat by gluing his ball down and was immediately tackled by a referee.
Caleb tripped on his own shoelaces, taking Saraph down with him.
"I'm suing you!" she screamed as she hit the ground.
"Hey, I cushioned your fall!"
"Your ego cushioned it!"
Meanwhile, Daniel and I were somehow still in the game, slow, wobbling, but intact.
He kept whispering encouragement like", we were in the finals of the Olympics.
"You've got this. Steady.
Don't laugh—Nuella, DON'T LAUGH."
Too late.
I let out a giggle-snort and plop, the ball fell.
"NOOO!" we cried in unison, both dropping to our knees in mock tragedy.
"Dramatic much?" Saraph said, walking past us, her spoon hanging from her mouth like a champion.
We lost. But who cared? It was hilarious.
After the chaos, we all flopped down on the grass, catching our breath, sweat sticking to our faces, and laughter still bubbling from our chests.
Timi pulled out his phone. "I recorded the whole thing.
Especially your spoon fail, Nuella. That's going straight to our group chat."
"Timi, I swear"
"I'm tagging Daniel too. 'The Couple Who Drops Together…'"
"Lives to race another day," Daniel added with a wink.
We all laughed.
Then, as the sun dipped lower, casting everything in warm gold, Daniel leaned closer, brushing a strand of hair from my face.
The laughter around us faded into background music.
"I'm really glad" we made it back to this place," he said gently.
"You and me."
I smiled. "Me too."
We didn't need a kiss. The look in our eyes said everything.
Jordan made fake gagging noises behind us. "Oh great.
Cue the romantic music. Where's the DJ?"
Saraph swatted him. "Let them have their moment! They've earned it after that spoon disaster."
I looked around at the faces of the people who had become my second family.
We didn't need a perfect race or a shiny medal. We had each other.
We had inside jokes, shared chaos, and a million memories being made one silly game at a time.
As we walked back, sticky with sweat and laughter, Saraph draped an arm over my shoulder.
"That was fun," she said, grinning. "But just wait until next week.
I'm signing us up for the water balloon war."
"Oh Lord," I muttered. "There goes my dignity."
She winked. "You lost that the moment you face-planted during the spoon run."
And we all howled with laughter, echoing into the golden evening like it was the best sound in the world.
"Pillow Talk & Heartfelt Dares"
It started as a joke.
Just a casual, "Why don't we do a sleepover at mine?"
From Daniel after we dropped saraph home that evening. He said it so casually, I almost brushed it off until I saw that flicker in his eyes.
That half-smile that meant he wasn't just teasing.
So, I said yes.
By the time I arrived, I was lowkey" nervous, but excited too. I packed light: pajamas that were cute but not too cute,
a hoodie that definitely "accidentally" belonged to him, and snacks (because what's a sleepover without chocolate and popcorn?).
He opened the door with that familiar smirk and a blanket tossed over his shoulder like a cape.
"Welcome to Casa Daniel," he said in a deep voice, gesturing dramatically.
"Where the blankets are soft and the vibes are elite."
I laughed and stepped inside. The place smelled like his cologne clean, comforting, and just him.
He'd actually tidied up, candles flickering on the shelf, low music humming from a speaker, and the soft glow of fairy lights he must've borrowed from a romantic Pinterest board.
"Wow," I said, impressed. "You went full rom-com in here."
He shrugged, a little sheepish. "You're worth the extra effort."
We ordered pizza, ate on the floor, and bantered over soda and old throwback songs.
But the real fun began when he brought out a tiny glass jar.
"What's that?" I asked.
He shook it with a mischievous grin. "Dare jar. I made it for tonight.
Romantic dares only. We pull one at a time. You in?"
"Are you serious right now?"
"As serious as I am about you."
That shut me up real fast.
I rolled my eyes playfully and reached in for the first dare.
The paper read: "Let him kiss your hand and tell you why he likes you."
Daniel took my hand so gently I forgot how to breathe. He kissed the back of it and looked up at me.
"I like you because you're smart, soft-hearted, and way too good at roasting people when they least expect it.
You make everything feel lighter. Like I'm finally breathing right when you're around."
I didn't even try to hide the blush. "Okay. That was dangerously smooth."
"Your turn," he said, pushing the jar toward me.
His dare:"Whisper something you've never told him."
I leaned in close, lips near his ear, heartbeat thudding.
"I used to imagine what it'd be like to fall asleep next to you. Long before we even started talking properly."
He looked completely thrown. In the best way.
"I—wow," he breathed. "You're really trying to kill me tonight."
The dares kept coming.
"Feed each other with your eyes closed." We nearly choked from laughing.
"Share your favorite thing about their body." He pointed to my lips. "Dangerous weapons."
I stared right at his collarbone. "Sinfully distracting."
Eventually, one of the dares said, "Cuddle for five minutes. No talking. Just vibes."
And we did.
We lay on his couch, tangled under a blanket, his arm around my waist, my head on his chest. I could hear his heartbeat, steady, warm, safe.
At some point, I whispered, "This doesn't feel real."
Daniel brushed his thumb along my shoulder. "It's real. And it's ours."
There was a pause. The world felt quiet except for us.
Then, of course, the silence was broken by a loud buzzing from his phone.
Group chat message from Jordan:
"Y'all better not be making out in a blanket fort. Nuella, blink twice if you're being held hostage by romance."
We burst out laughing.
Daniel typed back:
"Only thing we're making is memories, bro."
I smacked him with a pillow. "That was so cheesy!"
He grinned. "You love it."
Maybe I did.
The night faded into something softer. We didn't do much after the dares ended, just stayed close,
watching a movie we barely paid attention to, trading soft glances and the occasional kiss that lingered a little too long.
And when I finally drifted off, tucked into his arms, I felt something that wrapped around me like that blanket.
Safe. Wanted. Home.