Maxim

Just before her birthday, Alina sat by the window. Her phone read 11:59 PM. She smiled at the congratulatory messages that had already started arriving, but inside she felt a strange feeling. Eighteen years old. It felt like something special was about to happen today.
00:00.
A loud cry was heard under the windows:

• Alina, come out!
  She shuddered, looked out from the balcony and froze.
  Her friends were standing at the entrance. Some were holding a huge cake with candles, others were already lighting firecrackers, and others were opening a bottle of champagne. One of them turned on a speaker, and the courtyard filled with music.
• Happy birthday!
  Golden confetti burst into flames in the courtyard.
  Alina, laughing, threw the hoodie right over her house T-shirt and ran downstairs.
  As soon as she left the building, her friends surrounded her with hugs.
• Well, that's it, now you're an adult!
  — Show me your passport!
• Now you can officially do everything!
  Everyone was laughing, taking pictures, and blowing out candles right in the yard.
  And suddenly Alina noticed that a little further away, near the lamp, there was a man standing.
  He didn't come any closer.
  Hands in pockets.
  Black jacket.
  Hood.
  She narrowed her eyes…
  And the heart skipped a beat.
• No…
  It was Maxim.
  The guy she hadn't seen for almost a year.
  They were once very close. First love. First arguments. Then life took them down different paths, and the last thing she heard was he had moved to another city. No one even said he was coming back.
  And now he just stood and silently looked at her.
  The friends exchanged glances.
  "Well... actually... it was all his idea," her friend admitted guiltily. "He said he wanted to surprise you. We helped."
  Maxim finally came closer.
  He didn't have a huge bouquet or an expensive gift in his hands.
  Just a small box tied with a white ribbon.
• Happy birthday, Alin.
  She looked at him, not knowing what to say.
  — I thought... you don’t even remember this date.
  He chuckled.
• I haven't forgotten a single one.
  For a few seconds, the music, laughter and firecrackers seemed to disappear.
  He held out the box.