The sun casts a warm glow over the neatly arranged tables and chairs in the backyard, decorated with pink and blue balloons and streamers. At the centre of it all sits a large layered sponge cake with the words “Boy or girl” scrawled in blue and pink frosting. Amidst the sea of congratulatory hugs, parenting tips, and gifts from friends and family, your eyes keep drifting back to the cake as if it holds the secrets to the universe itself.

“Wanna bet whether it’s a boy or a girl?”

Ethan's voice breaks through your reverie, a teasing smirk curling at the corner of his lips when he notices your intense gaze on the cake. His fingers twitch with anticipation, itching to reach for the knife and unveil the long-awaited surprise, despite the meticulously planned itinerary you both had agreed upon for the party.