While all the couples are chatting happily, Cyndi was sitting right at the back of the bus grumbling and complaining.
Cyndi: (mutters) Why must I follow them? They are all in pairs and I'm the lone ranger. The biggest problem is I hate being alone!
Angela: Hey Cyndi! What do you think Sam will like for his present?
Cyndi: Whatever. He likes everything, so don't worry.
Tony: (sense that Cyndi is not in mood) Hey Cyndi, why don’t you sit here. (Pointing at an empty seat in front of where he and Angela in sitting.)
Cyndi: I’m fine here. It’s not a long journey anyway. There’s no need to shift places when the bus is moving.
Tony: Ok, suite yourself but you can always come here if you feel lonely.
On the other hand, Sam is busy preparing his surprise with Rio.
Sam: (moving the sofa to its right place) I should have bought the blue colour sofa. Beige just doesn’t stand out in the room.
Rio: Never mind that, at least beige is an easy colour to match.
Sam: You’re right then. Luckily we’ve painted the apartment last week or else we would not have time to finish everything before today.
Rio: What about Cyndi’s book shelf? Is it here yet?
Sam: Oh, that reminds me, we should go get it assembled. Where did you put the screwdriver?
Rio: Oopps, I left it on the bed. I’ll go get it now. (Runs off for the screwdriver)
Sam: Luckily we need to use it now or else who knows that a screwdriver is let loose on a bed.
Rio: Got it! Let’s start with the book shelf or we are never going to get everything done before they come back.
On the others’ side, Angela has done a pretty good job comforting the lonely Cyndi and she is now happily shopping with the rest of the girls. While the boys followed them with hands full of shopping bags and mouths full of grumbling.
Zax: Boy are these heavy, I wonder what they bought?
Jason: I don’t mind knowing if you don’t mind unwrapping them (pointing at the presents in the shopping bag which Zax is holding) and take the risk of Rainie come nagging about that.
Zax: Very funny, Jason. Why don’t you unwrap those in you are holding and face the risk of being nagged by Hebe?
Jason: Because I’m not grumbling like someone, that is.
Tony: Aren’t you guys tired of walking, talking and holding all these stuff?
Zax and Jason: Of course!
Tony: If that’s so, quit arguing and save your energy to walk faster. The girls are disappearing.
Zax: Of course they are! They are not the ones holding shopping bags that weight a ton.
At four o’clock, Sam is waiting in front of the school’s front gate for the others to arrive from their shopping.
Rio: Why did you ask them to wait here?
Sam: Because I don’t want them to guess my surprise.
Rio: Are you aware that you guys will have to walk for miles until you reach the apartment? Why don’t you pick some place nearer?
Sam: Like I said, I don’t want them to guess my surprise. If I pick a place too near the apartment, they will probably guess that the apartment was the surprise and it will not be a surprise anymore.
Rio: I say even if you guys meet right in front of the apartment, they would not be able to guess that it’s the surprise.
Sam: Are you sure?
Rio: Do you look like someone who can afford to buy an apartment?
Sam: Not really, but I did bought that apartment.
Rio: That’s it, you don’t look like one. So why don’t you change the meeting spot before they start cursing you for making them walk for miles to see that so-called surprise.
Sam: I guess you are right. (Took out his mobile) Hey Tony, there’s a change of plan, let’s meet at the playground near the shop where I work.
Tony: Why a sudden change of plan?
Sam: Just meet me there, its part of the surprise.
Tony: Ok. (Hung up the phone) Zax, we are not stopping here.
Zax: But this is the stop for our school.
Tony: I know but Sam said there’s a change of plan, so we are not stopping here.
Jason: Then where are we going?
Tony: To the playground near the shop he works.
Cyndi: Why does he want us to meet him there?
Tony: He said its part of the surprise so I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Zax: This surprise better be a good one.
Angela: It must be something big or else he won’t be hiding it that way.
At the playground,
Tony: Ok, everyone’s here. So Sam, care to tell us what is your big surprise?
Sam: Not yet. Come with me!
Zax: We still have to walk? Can’t you see we have walked more than enough for the day? (Holding up the shopping bags)
Sam: Come on, a little walking wouldn’t kill you, would they?
Zax: There better be a bed of something in your surprise.
Sam: There’ll be more than those. Just follow me, ok?
Cyndi: Where are we going?
Sam: You’ll see. (walks into the lift) Fifth floor, please.
Hebe, who is the nearest to the lift’s button pad, pressed the number 5 button.
After the lift reached the fifth floor, eveyone is getting excited about the mysterious surprise.
Sam: Ok, now here's the moment you all have been waiting for. Please do not blink. (as he took out a bunch of keys from his pocket and unlock the door of one of the units.
Tony: Sam, who's house is this?
Sam: (opens the door) SURPRISE! This is OUR home!
Zax: Are you serious?
Sam: Of course. This is my present for all of you.
Angela: This place is nice.
Tony: I agree. Thanks, Sam.
Jason: Where did you get all the money to buy this place?
Cyndi: Yeah, i thought you were going to take over the sports equipment shop with Rio. How could you have enough money to do both at the same time?
Sam: I don't. I just got some help from someone.
Jason and Cyndi together: Who?
Sam: Hebe.
Jason: Hebe?
Hebe: Oh, i helped him with the negotiating part of the price of this house because the agent was one of my dad's friends and the price came out really reasonable and affordable.
Tony: you are not paying this alone aren't you?
Sam: Nope. You guys are all getting a fair share when it comes to the bank loan.
Tony: You'd know pretty well that we don't mind that.
Sam: I was actually just kidding but since you guys are willing to share.
Zax: Of course we are! What kind of friends are we?
Cyndi: We are a family!
Jason: Agree.
Cyndi: I really can't wait to move in here after i graduated.
Rio: That's touching enough already, family! Sam, aren't you going to show them your arrangements of rooms?
Sam: Right, i almost forgot about that. There are three rooms here, so Tony and zax will share one, Jason and i will share one and Cyndi has one.
Zax: How come Cyndi could have a room all by herself?
Sam: Because her room is smaller. I've considered about the size, don't worry. It's fair and square.
Zax: It should be fair and triangle because there's three rooms. And, i was just kidding before that.
Hebe: Are you guys going to talk all day? or help us with the food here? (holding a stack of plates)
Cyndi: Right where you are! I'll help you with that. (took over the plates from Hebe)
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Everybody: Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you... Happy Birthday to all of us!! Happy Birthday to us!!!
*since my computer has been reformatted and the ending chapter is in it... i'll just make this chapter the final chapter of The Life of Orphans.... Thank you very much...
