She wasn’t expecting anyone, and after the day she’d had, she wasn’t sure if she wanted to see anyone either.
Maybe it was Jessie, coming to check on her.
Suddenly, she panicked.
Could it be the real owner of the gift she received the other day?
She hesitated, staring at the door.
The doorbell rang again, this time the visitor was desperate, after being ignored by Beauty for the past minutes.
Beauty sighed and finally walked cautiously toward the door, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the handle.
Taking a deep breath, she opened the door.
To her surprise, the same delivery people from the other day stood on her doorstep, smiling warmly at her.
This time, they were holding an even bigger package, a large box of chocolate cake adorned with chocolate snacks like Hershey's, Reese's, and M&M's.
Another bouquet of roses accompanied the box, even more beautiful and looks more expensive than the first
Beauty’s eyes widened in shock. She blinked severally, her mouth opening slightly in disbelief.
“This… this must be a mistake,” she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper.
“No mistake, ma'am,” the man said. “They are for you. The sender was very specific.”
“But… are you sure?”
Beauty asked, still in doubt.
She couldn’t imagine who would be sending her these gifts, especially not after the terrible day she’d had.
It felt unreal, like something out of a dream.
The delivery lady nodded with a smile.
“Absolutely, ma'am. The sender was clear about it.”
“But… why?” She stammered, still unable to understand why someone would be sending her such lavish gifts without expecting anything in return.
“I mean, who would…?”
The delivery man handed her a small envelope attached to the bouquet.
“Maybe this is a clue”.
He said.
With trembling hands, Beauty took the envelope and unfolded the note out inside.
She read the message quietly.
“You are perfect the way you are.”
The words sent a jolt through her.
She looked up at the delivery people, who were still smiling patiently.
“I really don’t know what to say… I…,” she murmured…,” I mean, this is so unexpected…and so sweet.”
She felt her eyes clouded.
“We just need you to sign here,” the lady smiled at her, holding out a clipboard with a delivery confirmation sheet.
Beauty hesitated for a moment, still unsure if this was all some kind of elaborate mistake.
With a small, shaky breath, Beauty signed on the paper and accepted the gifts.
“Enjoy your evening.”
The lady said after handing over the package and the bouquet with a gentle smile.
“Thanks”.
She replied.
They left, leaving her standing there in the doorway, holding the box of chocolate cake and a bouquet of roses.
After Beauty snapped out of it, she slowly closed the door, leaning against it for support as she tried to process what had just happened.
She took the note to read again.
“You are perfect just the way you are.”
Tears welled up in her eyes again, but this time they weren’t tears of sadness
She wasn’t sure what they were…tears of relief, perhaps, or maybe just the overwhelming emotion of being seen and appreciated, even if she didn’t fully understand why or know who this person might be.
She slowly carried the gifts back to her into the living room, setting them down on the table.
Then she sat down on the couch, staring at the chocolates and the note.
For the first time in a long time, she allowed herself to believe that maybe, just perhaps, someone out there truly cared about her, just as she was.
A small smile crept onto her lips.
Also, for the first time in a long while, she felt a glimmer of happiness, a sense of being appreciated, and it's not from her parents or Jessie.
She whispered a quiet “thank you” to whomever the mysterious admirer might be, before diving hungrily into the box of chocolate cake.
The rich sweetness of the chocolate cake melted on her tongue, offering a satisfaction that eased the tension in her heart and made her tummy happy.
“So sweet… I have been craving this”.
She hummed and swung her legs happily like a child.
She had an idea to enjoy the sweet moment by reading a book Jessie had recently added to her library on the novel app Moboreader.
The title, *Don't Toy with Me, Sexiest Man of the Year* by Luchi Luchy.
She chuckled at the accidental marriage proposal to the female lead and began reading more chapters, quickly finding herself drawn into the story.
The escapism of the novel was exactly what she needed, the intriguing plot and rollercoaster of emotions combined was enough to keep her mind off the stressful day she had endured.
Just as she was really getting into the story, a message notification popped up on her screen.
Her heart skipped a beat when she saw it was from her parents.
“We’re on our way. See you soon!”
Panic rushed through her as she glanced around the living room, her eyes landing on the roses and the chocolates wraps on the floor.
The last thing she wanted was for her parents to see these gifts and start asking questions she wasn’t prepared to answer.
She doesn't even have an answer to give!
She imagined their curious looks and the barrage of questions, and her anxiety spiked.
Especially her mother teasing her for hiding her boyfriend from them.
Without wasting any more time, Beauty jumped up from her seat and began frantically cleaning up the living room.
She gathered the roses, chocolates, and the cake box, haphazardly piling them into her arms, heading upstairs to her bedroom, her heart pounding in her chest.
Once in her room, she placed the gifts in a corner, trying to make them as inconspicuous as possible.
The first bouquet of roses she received was still in her room.
She glanced around, ensuring nothing was out of place, and then quickly straightened her bed and tidied up the few scattered items.
As she finished, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.
The gifts were now out of sight, and the living room looked just as it should.
She glanced at herself in the mirror, noticing the slight flush of anxiety still on her cheeks, and took another deep breath.
“I can do this,” she muttered to herself. “Just act normal.”