Execute Order 24: Surprise the Birthday Boy

Despite my incomplete hours of sleep, I still managed to wake up by 7 to greet Ray. When I called him, he was already awake. I sang him the birthday song like I did a hundred times yesterday for my forced "pre-celebration". I greeted him so many times. Little did he know on what I have up on my sleeve.

I left the house by 8:30, the usual late departure and arrived at the office by 9:30. I saw my allies in the pantry and showed them what I did with the memes. I then rolled out the plan to them. I asked Kuya Bot if he can operate my gift for him; my gift is a remote control (RC) car. I decided to give him an RC car not only because his initials were RC but because he dreams of having a car of his own. So for the meantime, I decided to give him his "own" car, he can drive it alright, with the remote control. Kuya Bot agreed to operate the RC car for me. I also asked Jasper, his batchmate and buddy, to keep him downstairs for around 30-45 minutes when they decided to have a break after lunchtime. By then, we will be setting up the cake, the car and the memes. Everything was well-planned, there was just this one thing: I haven't bought the gift yet.

If there is only an alibi which I could use to excuse myself so that I can go to SM Megamall to buy the car. There was actually one, I told Ray that I'll go to the Globe Business Center to cash out some money for my business. That's fair enough. He said he was sorry he couldn't come because he'll be programming some codes for his project. "Good," I thought yet it really turned out with me saying, "Aww, it's okay". He asked me to return by 11. I managed to do the task before 11 and asked Mitc to tell Kuya Bot to meet me downstairs so it will look like as if he bought something. We were supposed to meet at 7-Eleven but thanks to Globe's delayed messages, Mitc received the messages late. When I took the elevator, Mitc met me outside the office restroom. She texted Kuya Bot to meet us there and gave the gift to him when he arrived. He returned to the office first, then Mitc, then me. Good thing Ray is in a meeting.

Mitc and Kuya Bot offered to buy the cake for me. They even shared some amount which I really see as a big favor. I tried to look for other cheesecakes near our office so it won't be a hassle for them yet they were too pricey. So we just went on with the plan, they went to Conti's Greenhills for the cake to save delivery charge. Ray and I ate his birthday lunch, which is ginataang hipon and monggo. Then we went to SM Megamall to keep him from the office until Mitc and Kuya Bot return.

When we were on Megamall, I asked why he seems so bored even if it's his birthday. He said that it's just a normal and ordinary day for him, in which I considered an advantage for the surprise. Then the conversation steered to where we left off the night before. We once again had the discussion of our misunderstanding yesterday which made me feel bad but eventually okay. When we were already back to good terms, we had a drink at Quickly in the foodcourt. He bought a Choco Loco Super for him and a Super Taro Ice for me. Then we sat at the spot which is very memorable to both of us.

Then we decided to head back to the office. Mitc texted me that they're already at the Podium when we were at the foodcourt. When I texted her that we're in El Pueblo already, she told me to slow down a little since they were still at Jollibee Emerald. We may bump into them in the elevator if ever. So I slowed down my walk and dragged Ray to 7-Eleven by telling him I want chocolate. He insisted to buy later but I said I want to buy now. I silently hoped that it didn't made him suspect a thing. I was waiting for Mitc's reply while choosing for a chocolate. It is really unlikely of me to choose slowly. I finally settled for two bars of Cloud-9. To give Mitc and Kuya Bot more time, I decided to go to the restroom. Ray made a fuss about it by telling me that I should just take the restroom in our floor. I told him in a slightly, overreacting manner that I can't hold it anymore. He then allowed me. I called Mitc when I was in the restroom and said that they were already upstairs. After, we went back to the office.

In a short while, Ray chatted me that Jasper and him will be going downstairs. It's now Jasper's move. I gave him the signal through a message in Yahoo! Messenger. When they left, I told Kuya Bot the route of the car, and the message with it, Mitc and I had the box of cake and placed the troll face sticker inside, I placed the memes in the cake and done. We'll just be waiting for their return. The only fail thing that happened was that I didn't see Jasper's text message immediately. When I saw the message, I chatted Kuya Bot right away to prepare but they were already in the office. I hope it still goes well.

When Ray saw the box (with the troll) he was cool about it. He even appreciated the troll inside. When he sat at this workstation, I went to the pantry to get the cake as he will be dealing with the remote control car which says "Follow Me" (that will be to the pantry to where I am, where the cake is and my troll-faced letter as the parking spot is). When he arrived at the pantry, I can say he was surprised by the cake and the troll letter. Mitc and Kuya Bot followed him as he read the messages in the cake. I called his batchmates to join us as we sing him the birthday song and eat the blueberry cheesecake. I showed him the videos I recorded last night with Balong and RJI greeting him (I also have a video actually). Mitc suggested that one of our officemates has a discount for Shakey's, only Php 400 for two pizzas and a 1.5L softdrinks. He then decided to treat us with that. By the end of the night, we went to Joanjo Panciteria to where my family was celebrating my sister's recognition in her college and greeted Ray a happy birthday too.

Wheeew. Despite what had happened, the misunderstandings, the death-defying circumstances of the plan and financial issues, I still manage to pull this through and make him happy. I can see how happy he really was just by observing him and that really made me thankful that I have him.

I love you sweetie. Happy birthday! :)