"What happened that day?"
I turned to Haechan, surprised by his sudden intriguing question. I stared at him in disbelief. He seemed to notice my suspicion because he looked away clearing his throat.
"I was just curious! What are you staring me like that for?" He frowned, defending himself so I chuckled. "I still don't like that demon for you so don't give me that look."
"It went great actually. My last minute idea turned out really great. I doubt I would have made it if I didn't use my dad's name. Thankfully they're good friends with your dad still. I have to thank your dad soon."
"What did you even do there? I don't suppose you actually used the room."
I nodded in agreement. "I needed to get to the rooftop so she can see the moon."
"What? That's it? That's what went really great? Really?" He asked in disbelief. "She enjoys the simplest things in life. That's pretty—"
"Rare?"
He creased his brows. "Lame. I was supposed to say lame."
I laughed. Lame or not, rare or not, Forest is Forest. "What are you doing this weekend by the way? I heard they're serving your favorite in the mall on Saturday. We can go together if you like."
"Wait, really? Is it the first Saturday of the month already?!" He exclaimed frantically pulling his phone out of his bag to check his calendar. "Holy crap it is!"
I nodded, chuckling.
"We have to go of course!"
"Okay then."
I drove to Johnny's place after my classes. I wanted to check if Forest was already there. When I got there, Johnny was taking his daily dose of caffeine.
"Hey, Mark! What brings you here?" He asked offering a seat next to him by the dining area.
I extended my neck, searching if there were visible signs of a new movers but there was none. It was rather quiet. "I was just passing by to see if Forest already moved. I'm guessing she's still hasn't."
He almost choked on his coffee. "That's because she still can't move."
She still can't move? "What…"
"You can't move out of your family house unless you're 21. Forest just turned 21 so she wouldn't have moved here the past few days. She's moving tomorrow though."
I was shocked and confused at the same. "I didn't know that."
"I mean she can move now since it's her birthday but—"
Birthday? I looked at Johnny in surprise. "It's her birthday today?" I repeated in disbelief. I've been with Forest for so many times but I never really thought of knowing her birthday…
"What, you didn't know? It's today. She's turning 21 today that's why she's moving tomorrow."
I felt so bad. How can I tell her I like her all the time and I don't even know her birthday? I stepped back preparing to walk away. "I'll go ahead then Johnny. Thanks." I stepped out of the house after bidding him goodbye.
It's her birthday…
I drove back to Coventry Court in an attempt to find Forest at her aunt's house but when I got there, I was only welcomed by Ms. Felicity who was busy preparing a small dinner for Forest alone. "I'm sorry, dear. She went out a little while ago. I'm not sure where she went."
I looked down in dismay. "That's okay, Ms. Felicity. I'm sorry for the intrusion. I'll get going now."
"Why don't you stay and have dinner with us for her birthday? I'm sure Forest wouldn't mind."
I blinked. "I'll go get her then, Ms. Felicity and then I'll stay for dinner once I drop her off."
She gave me a warm smile and nodded. "I'd guess she went to visit her sister. She always spent her birthday with her sister. They would count sprinkles all night and eat them after."
I smiled and bobbed at my head. "I'll see you later, Ms. Felicity."
I rushed back to my car and drove to the nearest cake shop in the neighborhood. After that, I drove to cemetery where they took Polar. It didn't take long before I reached the cemetery so when I did, I ran to where I remember last time. I stopped when I saw her sitting down the ground across her sister's headstone.
She had sprinkles all over the ground with her but she was just playing with it with her finger. The sprinkles were all over the ground. She didn't look as happy as I expected.
"For a five year old," I started as I walked closer to where she was. "You look a lot mature."
She turned to me unsurprised.
I sat next to her on the ground. "So how much is it?" I asked her with a small chuckle. There were a lot of sprinkles scattered around.
"About eight hundred thousand."
I turned to her in shock. About eight hundred—
"Seven hundred eighty one thousand, nine hundred and thirty four to be exact."
I blinked. T-That's… "You really—"
She chuckled catching me off guard. "You're a dumbass if you actually believe that."
I don't why felt relieved when she said that. I was happy she was starting to feel less uncomfortable and can joke around like this. "If you actually did, I would have liked you more."
She wheezed out loud. ���There's nothing you don't like about me."
I smiled at her. "That's true."
For a moment, silence enveloped the both of us. The cemetery isn't as scary when you're with someone you like. The silence, the cold breeze brushing over our faces, sitting out here with Forest – it doesn't seem like a perfect date but I was with the perfect person so it felt great regardless.
"How does it feel to be leap year baby?"
She turned to me. "Saves a lot of money. I only get to really celebrate it four years so,"
I chuckled. "Everything about you is so rare. I'm starting to think you're the diamond people threw in the ocean." That came out nice, I think.
I see her look down with grin. "You always say that."
"Because it's true." I quickly replied. "What are the odds I like an unusual girl born on the 29th of February?"
"Some odds."
I stared at her as she continued playing with the sprinkles that were on the ground. I pulled the macaroon I bought from the only store that was open and brought them up to make her notice. When she did, she stared at the small macaroon in confusion.
"Happy Fifth Birthday, Forest Laken Young."
She suddenly laughed. "Is this the cake?" She asked, a little bit of insult injected there. "How fucking cheap of you."
I blushed and looked away in shame. "I found out about your birthday and there were not cake shops available. I had to buy what I can and this was the only thing I could find."
She smirked and stared at me with her arched brow.
I frowned and brought the macaroon to my mouth. ""I'll just eat it then," I said staring at the other half lurking out of my mouth. I was about to push everything to my mouth when she suddenly pinched my cheeks the way she did when she was drunk.
She leaned closer and stared at me. Her eyes didn't look too sad. "Why are you eating what you're giving?" She asked, her hands still squeezing my burning cheeks.
I gulped. If she—
"That's not nice." She suddenly leaned closer, biting on to the other half of the macaroon that was sticking out. She sat back down, munching the macaroon she took a bite off.
I was frozen. That wasn't a kiss but it felt like one because of how close our faces got. I'm not sure why she keeps doing things like that but it was enough to make t explode.
"You look fucking funny when you're all flustered."
I snapped out of my head and looked at her, pieces of the macaroon falling off my mouth. I gulped the small remaining amount in my mouth. "So stop doing it. Don't you feel bad for my heart? It's weak enough for you."
"I don't know. I like it."
She does it again. The way she replies, the way she acts around me, makes me feel so giddy inside like my insides clenching, and twisting like knots.
"The macaroon was good."
My lips parted. Does she mean…
"The macaroon." She repeated, this time, emphasized. "Not your lips."
I could feel my palms already sweating because of how embarrassed and shy I am.
She laughed out loud, standing up from the ground. "You're here to bring me back to aunt Felicity's right?"
I nodded, still dumbfounded.
"Let's go then." She reached out for her hand and waited for me to take it but I just stared at it in confusion. "This is your chance to hold my hand and you're just staring at it?"
I quickly grabbed it before she would hide them over her pockets again. She pulled me up to stand and as soon as I got back up, she loosened her grip which made me grip them back.
She turned to me but no aggression from her reaction as opposed to how she always reacted whenever I do something she doesn't like – like this.
"J-Just until we reach my car?" I nervously said.
She looked away sneering. "Do you want me to pretend like I snapped my ankle so you can carry me all the way to your car?"
That's not a bad idea but—
"Are you seriously trying to consider that?"
"Yes?"
She frowned. "No. God no."
I looked down in shame. I mean, I should have expected that it wasn't a real option from the sarcasm in her voice but at least I tried.
"Hold them properly then." She moved her hands over mine and locked them to mine. "Doesn't that feel much better?" She asked teasingly.
"It does."