After a few minutes, the car finally came to a smooth stop in front of a grand, iron-wrought gate. It slowly opened, revealing a luxurious resort decorated like a royal estate. The road ahead led through a beautifully lit pathway surrounded by trees wrapped in fairy lights, ending at an elegant party hall.
As the car rolled to a stop before the entrance, a staff member in a suit quickly walked over and opened the car door. The red carpet beneath her feet glimmered under the soft morning sun as Aisha gracefully stepped out, her delicate shoes touching down on the plush fabric.
Her mother and father were already waiting near the entrance with warm smiles, and her elder sister stood beside them, dressed in a pale blue gown. As soon as Aisha stepped out, the three of them walked up to her with open arms.
Together, they walked a little further inside the resort, and the scenery opened up to a stunning lakeside view. The clear water sparkled like diamonds, and the soft breeze carried the scent of fresh flowers from nearby arrangements. Tables were arranged all around, decorated with elegant cloths, ribbons, and floating balloons. In the center stood a magnificent cake tall, white, and beautifully adorned with pastel colors and sugar flowers.
Well-dressed guests had already gathered, most of them from well-known, wealthy families. The women wore elegant gowns, and the men looked sharp in their tailored suits. As Aisha stepped closer to the cake area, a sudden burst of confetti exploded into the air, showering the surroundings in color. Everyone clapped and cheered.
Her mother leaned down, gently brushing Aisha's hair back.
"Aisha, my honey," she said with a soft smile, "I know it's only 11 a.m., but we have a lot of places to visit today… so, let's cut the cake now, shall we?"
Before Aisha could reply, her father stepped in with a grin.
"Wait, princess—let me help you!" he said warmly, then lifted her into his arms. Aisha giggled, her dress flowing as he carried her closer to the cake.
Emi, one of the staff members, approached with a shining silver knife in her hand.
"Miss Aisha," she said kindly, kneeling slightly, "please take this."
Aisha reached for the knife with both hands, her eyes wide with excitement. As she slowly sliced into the cake, everyone began to clap again, a few guests cheering while others sang a soft birthday song. It was her special day and the celebration had only just begun.
After cutting the cake, Aisha's father gently placed her back down on the red carpet. She stood still for a moment, unsure of what to do next. Her small hands trembled slightly, hesitant.
Her mother stepped in with a warm smile, gently grasping Aisha's hand.
"Come, sweetheart," she said kindly, guiding her toward the cake again. "Let's cut another piece together."
With her mother's help, Aisha sliced a smaller piece of cake. But just as the knife glided through the frosting, something strange happened.
A sudden glitch rippled through the air like a screen flickering. Aisha blinked in confusion. The sound around her faded for a moment, and the world felt… off.
"Honey?" her mother asked, her voice sounding distant and distorted. "What happened?"
Aisha turned to look at her but everything looked normal again. The guests were clapping, the balloons swaying gently. Her mother smiled, as if nothing had happened.
"Cut it and feed everyone," her mother said cheerfully, handing her the plate.
Aisha nodded slowly, trying to shake off the strange feeling. She took the piece of cake and reached up toward her mother. Her mother leaned down, mouth open slightly, ready to be fed.
But just as Aisha's hand was about to reach her everything changed.
Suddenly, her surroundings warped. The air shimmered, and time seemed to bend. The world around her moved in fast-forward people blurred, their movements accelerated as if someone had hit the fast-forward button on a film. But Aisha remained still, frozen in place, her heart pounding.
"What's happening?" she whispered, her voice drowned in the storm of motion.
Just as quickly as it began, everything stopped. The motion ceased. But when Aisha looked around again, her heart dropped.
They were no longer by the lakeside resort.
Instead, they were in a hotel ballroom. The decorations were different. The guests were dressed differently. Even her mother and father looked older, and their clothes had changed.
Confused, Aisha turned toward the cake and gasped.
It wasn't the same cake from earlier. It was bigger. The number on top read 12.
"What…?" she whispered.
Her mother turned to her with a chuckle.
"Come now, Aisha. What are you thinking about? It's your big day!"
Aisha's breath caught in her throat. Just a second ago... it was my 8th birthday.
Now they were celebrating her 12th.
Her mind spun. How could four years pass in a second?
She stood there, frozen, the laughter and celebration around her now sounding distant, like echoes from a different world. Something wasn't right and deep down, Aisha could feel it.
Still shaken, Aisha moved on autopilot.
She fed her mother a small piece of cake. Her mother smiled sweetly and returned the gesture, gently feeding Aisha back.
Then came her father playful as always—leaning down with a grin.
"My turn," he said warmly.
Aisha cut another piece and fed him. He ruffled her hair in return.
Her older sister stepped forward next, hugging her tightly before taking a bite from Aisha's hand. The warmth of their affection should've made her smile… but her mind was drifting somewhere else.
Guests began approaching her, one by one, with carefully wrapped gifts and wide smiles.
"Happy Birthday, Aisha!"
"You've grown up so beautifully!"
"You look just like your mother!"
Aisha nodded, bowed politely, and accepted each gift. Without even glancing at them, she handed the boxes to Yuna and Sakura, who stood nearby, collecting everything in neat stacks. The two kept chatting with guests, laughing, helping organize but Aisha couldn't hear them clearly. Their voices were distant, like underwater echoes.
Her hands moved, her mouth smiled, but her thoughts were elsewhere—trapped in the moment where everything changed.
How did I get here?
How did four years pass in a blink?
She scanned the crowd. Everything looked real. Familiar. Too perfect.
But something still felt wrong.
Her fingers tightened around the next gift she was handed. Her heartbeat quickened. That glitch those seconds she couldn't explain they weren't just dreams.
Something had happened.
Something was still happening.