New Beginning
CHAPTER 31
NEW BEGINNING
The party began as the host invited everyone to take their seats.
Christine sat beside Jeffrey near the side of the stage. She held his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“How are you feeling?”
“A bit nervous,” he admitted, kissing her forehead. His voice was barely above a whisper. “Good thing you’re here beside me.”
“Oh, come on.” She smiled, teasing him. “You’ve been through hundreds of meetings and business deals. You don’t have to impress anyone. This is your day.”
“I guess.” He smiled to himself. “But they’re not the reason I’m nervous.”
Before Christine could ask another question, the host stepped onto the stage.
“Our birthday celebrant, Mr. Jeffrey Anthony Reyes!”
Jeffrey chuckled quietly, stood, and made his way to the microphone.
“Wow… what a surprise.”
He looked around the room, smiling. “Thank you all for being here tonight. To my mom, my dad, and Jane—thank you for everything. To my executives, I’m truly grateful you could make it. And to my friends and college classmates—I know how difficult it is to adjust your schedules and spend an evening away from your own families just to celebrate with me. That means a lot.”
He paused, letting his eyes wander across the room until they settled on the Javiers.
“I’d also like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Javier for coming tonight. I’m truly honored by your presence.”
Finally, his gaze found Christine.
“And to the love of my life…”
A soft smile spread across his face.
“Christine. Thank you for putting all of this together. I know how much work you put into making tonight possible.”
He held her eyes for another moment. “I love you. And thank you so much.”
The room answered with warm applause. The host stepped back toward the microphone as the applause slowly faded.
“I think it’s time we let a few other people have their turn,” he said with a grin.
He gestured toward the large screen behind the stage, and the lights dimmed. A montage flickered to life. Coworkers, relatives, close friends, and longtime colleagues appeared one after another, each sharing short birthday greetings. Their messages drew laughter, applause, and occasional cheers from the crowd.
Gradually, the mood shifted. The music softened, and the montage transitioned into a personal message from Christine. Jeffrey stood quietly, his eyes fixed on the screen as her voice filled the room. The video reached its final moments. Christine appeared on the screen, looking directly into the camera with a gentle smile.
“I hope you like my gift.”
The screen slowly faded to black. The host emerged from the side of the stage carrying a small, neatly wrapped box. He walked over to Jeffrey and handed it to him with a smile. Jeffrey accepted the gift, carefully peeling away the wrapping paper before lifting the lid.
NovelFire is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Inside was a simple keychain. He held it up, slowly turning it beneath the lights. For a few quiet seconds, he simply looked at it. Then a small smile appeared on his face—it was the kind of smile that needed no explanation.
A moment later, the host returned to center stage. “Alright, everyone,” he said brightly. “Let’s keep the celebration going. If I could ask everyone to please stand.”
Chairs scraped lightly across the floor as guests rose, laughing and chatting among themselves. The host raised both hands. At his signal, the room burst into a heartfelt chorus of "Happy Birthday." The staff wheeled out a cake with a single lit candle.
Jeffrey remained where he was, still holding the keychain as he looked around the room. His smile was quiet, grateful, and humble. When the song ended, he blew out the candle to another round of applause before accepting the microphone once more.
“Thank you so much, everyone.” He laughed softly. “I really appreciate it. And I’m pretty sure you’re all hungry by now.” A grin spread across his face. “So let’s eat. Dinner is served!”
The room soon filled with laughter and the clinking of cutlery against plates. Jeffrey made his way from table to table, greeting his guests and thanking each of them for coming. Christine settled beside her parents and began eating. When Jeffrey finally reached their table, she reached for his hand.
“Come on,” she said. “You should eat.”
Jeffrey smiled, kissed the top of her head, and looked at the empty chair beside her. “Okay, okay,” he said with a grin. “But only if I get to sit beside you.”
“Of course.”
He pulled out the chair and joined them. Dinner stretched on with easy conversation and frequent laughter. When the last of the plates had been cleared, the DJ turned up the music, filling the venue with upbeat songs that quickly drew people onto the dance floor. Others stayed behind, raising glasses of beer and wine as conversations continued around the room.
Before long, the Reyes family found themselves gathered at the Javiers’ table. The two families blended together so naturally that it no longer felt like two separate families sharing a celebration. They laughed over old stories, teased one another, and talked as though they had known each other for years. Christine sat quietly, watching the conversation move effortlessly from one person to another. A small smile settled on her face; this was everything she had hoped for.
After some time, the music gradually softened. The conversations faded as guests turned toward the stage once more. Jeffrey stepped up to the microphone. He glanced around the room before taking a slow breath. When his eyes found Christine, he smiled.
“For the past few months,” Jeffrey paused. “I’ve had the privilege of loving someone,” he said, his voice calm. “She became my everything.”
Every conversation disappeared.
Jeffrey's eyes remain on Christine. “When I asked her to be my girlfriend, I wasn’t ready.” A few guests exchanged curious looks. “I didn’t have a ring.” He chuckled. “All I had was the keyring from my keychain.”
Laughter rippled across the room. Jeffrey laughed with them. “I still remember struggling to get the keyring off. I was standing there thinking…” He laughed again. “‘Please come off.”
Even Christine couldn’t help laughing. The room slowly settled again. Jeffrey looked back at her. His smile softened. “But tonight…” He paused. “I am ready.” His voice was steady now. “I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.”
Christine sat frozen in her chair. Jeffrey stepped down from the stage and walked toward her. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a small ring box. Then he lowered himself onto one knee. The room fell silent.
“Christine Javier,” he said, his voice steady. “Will you marry me?”
Christine blinked as Jeffrey opened the box. Inside was a simple gold band. No diamonds. No pearls. Just a clean, classic ring. Christine covered her mouth, completely stunned. The room held its breath. Her eyes filled with tears. Then someone broke the silence.
“Say yes!”
Laughter rippled through the crowd, followed by cheers and applause. Christine barely heard any of it. Her eyes never left Jeffrey. For that brief moment, it felt as though they were the only two people in the room. She slowly reached for his hand and placed hers in it.
Then she nodded. “Yes,” she whispered.
The room erupted. Applause echoed through the venue as cheers rose from every corner of the room. Jeffrey remained on one knee for another heartbeat, almost as if he needed to hear her answer one more time. Then he let out a long, relieved breath. A smile spread across his face as he stood.
Still holding her hand, he gently slipped the old keyring from her pinky finger. He looked into her eyes and smiled. “I think it’s time we replace this.”
Carefully, he slid the gold band onto her finger. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. The crowd cheered even louder as the two of them held each other, surrounded by the people who mattered most.
to be continued