Chapter Text
“That’s it, Giovanni! I’ve had enough!” Sindella Zatara yelled at her husband, Giovanni. She was a tall, slender, black-haired woman who stood by their front door as she told off her husband for an unknown reason.
“Not now!” Giovanni attempted to calm his furious wife down.
“This is the last time!” Sindella yelled back.
“Please!”
“I’m leaving!” That was all that came out of Sindella’s mouth before she slammed the front door, leaving Giovanni alone with their distraught daughter, Zee. She had been hearing her parents argue as she sat at the table with a birthday cake in front of her.
“Who’s ready for birthday cake?!” Giovanni yelled happily at Zee.
“But… where did mom go?” Zee asked.
“Mommy.. had to be somewhere!” Giovanni replied. That answer didn’t satisfy the sad girl. “But, you know what? We’re still gonna have an amazing celebration!”
“Really?” Zee gasped.
“Every birthday from now on shall be Zee’s best birthday ever!” Giovanni exclaimed gleefully.
Zee smiled as she let out a giggle and a sigh.
Despite never seeing her mother after that night, Zee’s birthdays were filled with laughter and joy. Her father would make her the sweetest cakes and get her the most expensive gifts.
Zee would make a big deal out of her birthday every year and on her 16th, she accidentally turned her best friends into birthday-obsessed zombies with her dark magic.
After that, she decided that she wouldn’t make a big deal out of her birthday anymore.
It’s been years after her mother had left. It was Zee’s 17th birthday.
And it was also the day that Kimiyo Hoshi, an acquaintance of her’s, was getting married. And in no place other than the South Korean city of Seoul.
She had asked Zee to be one of her bridesmaids. It was the perfect excuse for Zee to not celebrate her birthday.
Her father and her friends wanted to throw her a party, but Zee declined. She was fine with them wishing her a happy birthday, but this year, she wanted to ignore it and treat it like any other day.
Today was about Kimiyo Hoshi and her matrimony with a man named Arthur Light. Zee thought to herself while relaxing peacefully in a park near the river. She wore a sparkly blue dress for the wedding, which was about to begin.
“Zee?”
Zee recognized that sweet voice anywhere. She looked behind her and sure enough, she was right. It was her best friend Casey, who was wearing a dress that was much like hers, except it was purple.
“Hey, Casey..” Zee softly greeted her friend, before turning back and looking down at the ground.
“You okay? You haven’t shown off to any of the guests,” Casey remarked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Just.. thinking about the past. How.. my dark magic almost ruined everything.. on numerous occasions.”
“You said you’ve made peace with it.”
“I did, but.. still! I almost turned my friends into crazy zombies. And got you stuck in time. I just can’t help.. but wonder how easier life would be without it..”
“Well, it helped us a lot, too. Sometimes, you gotta take the bad with the good. It sucks sometimes, but most of the time, it’s worth it. That’s what I’ve learned hanging out with you.”
Zee briefly smiled at Casey before looking down again.
“Are you sure that’s all you’re upset about?” Casey asked as she stood in front of Zee and held her hands. “You can trust me. I’m no snitch. I’ve trusted you many times, no matter how annoying you got...” She giggled.
Zee didn’t want Casey to know that it was her birthday. She’d give her a hard time and she knew how brutally honest she was. She stared at Casey’s gentle smile as she thought up a lie.
“It’s just.. I can’t believe Mrs Hoshi is getting married! And she’s asked us to be her bridesmaids. It’s just.. gotten me so emotional! It’s exactly what a gorgeous girl like me deserves,” Zee replied vainly.
“Well, it’s not as impressive as being the maid of honor,” Casey giggled sarcastically.
“Yes it is!” Zee replied playfully. “I’m gonna be great! And so are you! Look at you! You’re so pretty.”
“Yay. You finally noticed,” Casey replied, happily petting her bangs. “Well that won’t matter if we’re late. Come on. Kimi’s counting on us!”
“I’m right behind you, buddy,” Zee said.
They performed their new secret best friend handshake and ran off to the wedding.
As they ran, Zee found herself impressed that she managed to get Casey off her case, with nothing but her smarts and her charm.
”Thank Lord,” she said to herself as she followed Casey to the altar.