78 Side Chapter - Birthday

(A/N: It's my birthday! Regular chapter coming out tonight/tomorrow.)

/Luis(Eden) POV\

\Before Godhood/

I got home after a day of work, tired, sweaty, and dirt all over my body.

I woke up at 4am and didn't get home until just now.

Looking at the clock it's 2am, December 14th…

Looks like i survived another year.

I navigated through the small studio apartment, fumbling through the dark by pure memory to make it to the shower.

I was tired and weak since i haven't eaten much today.

I crept to the shower since it's late and i didn't want to wake her.

The house was quiet, i slipped into the bathroom and began to finally make myself clean again.

The shower felt great, it was calm, soothing.

It also gave me time to be alone with my thoughts.

Thinking over the course of my life and all that's happened.

So much unhappiness and pain.

But before things got any darker, i remembered her face, her smile.

It made me smile, the girl that made this life bearable, why i do what i do everyday to provide for us.

Aya…

She's been by my side for years, and i hope she'll be there even more…

I finished the shower off on a happy thought, cleaning myself off and heading to the room with a towel wrapped around my lower half.

I grabbed a change of clothes and went back to the bathroom to put them on.

Once dressed i headed out of the bathroom and went towards the kitchen to get something to eat.

Flicking the light on i was immediately greeted with—

"Surprise!!!"

Aya standing in the kitchen holding a cake with my name on it, followed by a number on top.

16.

The feeling of having someone celebrate my birthday is great.

Through the years we've been together we've never been able to properly celebrate either of our birthdays.

Busy working, surviving trying to pay rent.

I wiped the tear forming in the corner of my eye and gave her a hug, taking care not to drop the cake.

"I saved some extra money, took on an extra job so i could get you something. Happy birthday, Luis."

"Just being together is enough. Thank you, Aya i really appreciate it."

It felt like the aches and pain from the day has disappeared.

We smiled at each other, sat down, and ate the cake.