Locking In With My Life System

Aiden had a habit of forgetting his birthday.

Even before his mother had passed away, he was never really gung-ho about it.

To him, it was just another day, only that it was an indication that he was getting older.

Compared to most individuals, he’d also seen the day as less of a celebratory milestone and more as a haunting reminder that time was ticking by and he had yet to make anything worthwhile of his life.

Clearly, this thought process had been as a result of his crippling fear of failure...

...which made it all the more ironic that he’d gone and forgotten it again today for the completely opposite reason.

A thought process so focused on the dogged pursuit for success, he hadn’t even registered the day was coming, talk less of realizing it had even arrived despite all the hints pointing to it all day.

As his expression shifted from wary to surprise, the confetti falling all around him, all five began singing and dancing around the living room as Richard shuffled past and made his way over to the kitchen;

Happy birthday, to you...

Happy birthday, to you...

Happy birthday, to you dearest helicopter mom~...

Happy~... birthday, to~... youuuuuuuu~!

Immediately, the gang burst into laughter as they began cheering, and so did Aiden himself whom had long accepted his nickname by now.

At that exact moment, Richard walked back into living room with a medium-sized cake in his hands, a bold, cursive seventeen in icing alongside seventeen candles resting atop it.

"Well, champ. Make a wish."

Bashfully rubbing the nape of his neck in genuine appreciation, his hands brushing against a few locks of his coal-black hair, Aiden glanced over to the expectant eyes of everyone.

From Casper whom was holding onto a party blower, to Theo who had a little party hat on his head, then Larry, Clyde and Benjamin whose confetti were clutched in their palms and finally, back to his Pops whom was holding onto the cake itself, Aiden spoke;

"I wish for this... for the little, big and everything in-between moments in our lives to be as joyous as the one we’re in right now. That’s all I’ll ever really want."

No sooner had he said that--much to the genuine surprise of both his Pops and his buddies whom hadn’t expected such deep words from him--he blew out the candles in a single breath.

Then, he immediately pumped both fists into the air as he declared;

"Let’s get this party started!"

Instantaneously, the gang cheered, as did Richard himself who let out a celebratory whistle!

Aiden’s stance on birthdays hadn’t really changed all that much.

Even now, he saw it as yet another day... just without the deprecating notion he’d formerly attached to it.

However, for the sake of his family who saw it as far more than that, celebrating a new milestone in his life didn’t sound all that bad.

...

...

...

An hour was all the gang had managed to spend before they had to head back home due to their respective curfews.

Though they’d informed their parents prior to today that they’d be arriving home late, it was still the responsible thing to return as early as they could.

Having seen them all off about an hour ago, and equally thanking his Pops for putting everything together, Aiden bade the man goodnight, who in turn proceeded to retire to bed earlier than he usually would.

Considering he’d probably had to leave work early to set everything up with the gang, Aiden was pretty certain he’d also bulldozed through a lot of work to make it happen.

And for that, he couldn’t be more grateful that he had a father who cared so much, he was willing to compromise just to make his ’special’ day that much better.

As he watched the man retreat into his room with a tired, sleepy yawn, Aiden inwardly affirmed;

"I’ll retire you before fifty, and perhaps even earlier if I can manage. I promise."

Then he made his way up the stairs... only to pop back downstairs a moment after, cut himself another slice of cake onto a plate and head back up once more.

Given how healthily he’d been eating these past months, today was as good a day as any to cut loose a bit.

Besides, he figured his brain would need the sugar for what he was about to do anyway.

Settling into his chair by the desk and switching on his laptop, Aiden soon placed the plate to the side and began working on the flyer like he’d planned.

Roughly an hour later, he was done.

Promptly, he transferred the file over to his phone, then hibernated the system afterwards.

Stretching a bit with a sleepy yawn, Aiden stood up from the chair, returned the plate to kitchen and headed back to his room once more.

Then he took a shower, brushed his teeth, slipped into his pajamas and crashed onto his bed, the sleep embracing him in seconds.

And even then, as he quietly snored away, the hint of a warm smile hung on his features.

...

...

...

The next day, Aiden arrived at school, his mood at an all-time high.

This time, his buddies were huddled up where he usually found them, all five congratulating him once again... a gesture that Aiden reciprocated with genuine thanks and appreciation.

A few minutes later, the warning bell rung and they all promptly made their way in alongside several other students.

Aiden had just closed his locker and was about to make his way over to his class, the required textbooks for the class held in both of his hands when another hand casually extended over from behind to place another book atop it.

Without fanfare, Clarissa casually walked away before Aiden could stop her, a light smile on her lips.

Naturally, the youth glanced down at the intricately-designed leatherbound navy-blue sketchbook, his gaze flickering as he inwardly remarked;

’This... this must’ve been expensive.’

Touching its cover further confirmed his thoughts, hence why he immediately went after her despite knowing he’d be cutting it close for his homeroom call.

Cornering her at her own locker just after she’d managed to take out her books and close its door, the queen bee put on her most flirtatious smile as she spoke;

"Just slam your hands against the wall and I’d be a swooning maiden straight out of a--"

"Thank you, Clarissa." Aiden cut her off, his tone genuine and his eyes reflecting his honest appreciation.

Staring into those olive-green irises she’d genuinely come to love these past couple months at point blank, the queen bee felt a strong blush creeping up her neck.

Yet, she simply kept speaking, even as her cheek turned a rosy hue;

"There are people watching, you know?"

"Well, unless..." she suggestively added with a slow arch of her brow.

For a moment, Aiden realized how this must’ve looked to all the passing students and teachers in the crowded halls.

He was practically leaning over her as she looked up at him, the implications of their postures almost telling of something that was not.

Then a hint of amusement touched his lips as he leaned back and said;

"No thank you,"

"Sergeant Hale will have me running laps all over the school till I die of exhaustion." he flashed her a grin.

"Hey. What he doesn’t know won’t kill him, right?" she gestured with a slight tilt of her head in response.

"The old man’s heart, Rissa." Aiden placed a gentle palm over his heart, his expression seemingly hurt and crestfallen.

This time, Clarissa’s blush became that much stronger. It was the first time Aiden had ever shortened her name.

At the same time, she found herself giggling at his faux forlorn expression, her eyes turning a bit misty.

"But seriously, thank you. Thank you so much. I am genuinely grateful and I promise you, I will put it to good use..."

"...much like I have this distinguished gentleman over here." he retrieved the little guy from his pocket with a light smile.

Clarissa’s eyes widened as she stared at the trinket.

Though she’d gone ahead and got it on a whim for him, she hadn’t really expected Aiden to actually use the pocket watch in his day-to-day life.

It was also why, a fuzzy warmth filled her up, a genuinely warm smile touching her lips as she replied;

"You, good sire, are most welcome."

No sooner had she said that, the second warning bell rung.

Promptly, Aiden and Clarissa parted ways, their steps brisk as they made their way over to their respective classes.

But even then, the smiles remained on their features... long after they’d arrived at their destinations.

The rest of the day went smoothly following that.

Aiden also informed his buddies of the design for flyer he’d made, all five acknowledging it and the idea, but also chastising him for spending the latter half of his birthday working still.

Casually dismissing their worries and pointing at them for being the helicopter parents this time, the youth eventually printed said flyers using the color printer in the computer room.

All that was left, was for him to pin it onto the bulletin board without anyone’s notice.

Sharply, he chose to do it in the late afternoon when the halls were a ghost town, right as he was about to head home after his AP classes.

Now he just had to lay in wait for the seeds of his labor to bear fruit.

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