Then, she had heard loud chatter from every direction about some sort of celebration the very next day. It was a curious subject since almost everyone in Magnolia seemed to be into it. However, it managed to surprise her the most when she realized that the enthusiastic preparations were not some sort of festival or public holiday but actually the birthday celebrations of a girl. She didn’t understand and honestly believed it to be some sort of joke that every Magnolian citizen were in on until the inn owner personally welcomed her to the function.
“What do you mean?” Eva had asked, hiding her surprise. “I say it’s Medias’ little one’s birthday tomorrow! Oh, you wouldn’t know Medias, now would you?” the inn owner, an old man over his sixties, reached under his counter to pull out a paper that he turned towards Eva. “Medias is a wonderful man if I have ever seen one. He is well known here for the grand parties he throws once in a month or so. He has been with us for such a long time, always helping us and sometimes, even throwing parties for our sake. There is probably no person in Magnolia that Medias has never helped at least once. So of course it doesn’t surprise that he would throw an even bigger party for his little girl. A fine child she is, too,” the man couldn’t stop as he placed the paper on the counter and pushed it towards Eva. “Medias is looking for people to help him with the preparations. Maybe you should help, too. He is rather kind with his rewards”.
Eva was jealous of the girl. She quickly caught herself before it could show on her face and took the request paper with her upstairs. Eva read the contents with a blank expression, going over the jovial scribbles and colorful art work wanting someone to meet Medias the next day to help with the celebrations. ‘When was the last time that her birthday was celebrated,’ she wondered. The question seemed selfish and she was sure not everyone in the world had the fortune of celebrating their birthday even once, but Eva had a father! She had a father who was in great health, who had no troubles in terms of wealth, and who ran a huge business with no trouble at all. But not even once had he held her, there was not a moment that he cared for ever or even looked at her with kindness. She was so used to looking up at two cold pools of indifference ever since she gained memory that Eva had no idea what a father was supposed to be like. At least, not until she saw him with her younger brother. It was difficult to see if it was the same man that treated her so coldly but smiled so very warmly at the boy that was barely able to walk.
All of it had made her want to rebel at first. Crying all day and night, throwing silly tantrums, hitting or even kicking the maids and butlers that took care of her, and doing the most idiotic pranks. But not once did Dominic come for her or even scold her. Eventually, the crying stopped and she thought that maybe if she became a better person, the best even, then her father would properly face her.
It was a desperate scramble to become the most ‘perfect’ person from that point. Somewhere down that road, Eva willed herself to create her walls and countless masks that she finally hid behind. When the art of dancing drew on her, she finally let go of all the other things that held her back and took flight, all on her own.
Love did not exist. It is only a superficial trick caused by some sort of chemical reactions in your head, an illusion that quickly crumbles when the initial attraction starts waning, and the biggest lie in a world built in lies, is what Eva had understood. She had looked down on it afterwards, deciding very well that she would never create something like it in her world. All she had and needed was herself.
But then, she couldn’t help but wonder, why had the news of someone celebrating their child’s birthday hurt her so much? Why had it so harshly uncovered the brutal wounds she had hid for the past seventeen years? Why had it started making her feel so ugly inside? She didn’t want to feel like a villain but it seemed that she was turning into one every time she looked down at the vibrant request for help. She wanted to feel happy for the child, she wanted to be able to look at them and have a sincere smile on her face but she couldn’t. Every time she thought of it, she wanted to ruin the day for both of them, she wanted to teach the girl the brutal reality of life, wanted to manipulate Medias into turning against his family, and wanted, much like a child, to take away everything that made them happy... Eva, to say the least, had turned into a disgusting person that entire night…
“Oh so you are the one helping us out today!” Medias smiled brightly. Behind him, hugging his legs was the cutest little seven-year-old Eva had ever laid her eyes upon. Last night had thrown her into an unwelcome phase of depression and hatred. While she was still so very jealous of the child and her father, Eva had caught herself before she could do something she would regret. She was going to help them with the party for the sake of it and leave.