[Before Murasaki got abducted]
6 am (Gabby's Apartment room)
...
Gabby wakes up by the sound of her stomach rumbling. She, although annoyed and still lacking sleep, decided to sat up and rub her still drowsy eyes. She yawned a couple of times before having the strength to actually leave her comfy bed.
"Ugh. Ouch."
She tried to stretch but damn do those muscles hurt!
She overworked last night and the sore feeling of her back and the painful tingle on her eyes made sure to make her remember that. What she didn't remembered though, was that it was actually her birthday today.
Gabby's constant thoughts on work had her almost forget it. She was only reminded of that when she opened her door, and a smell of wonderful aroma filled her system.
She looked and saw a feast at the table, with the reaper assigned to protect her, humming to a familiar happy birthday tune, while taking care of the decos.
She almost break to laughter. It was so awkward seeing the always ready-to-kill- monsters reaper was there, with a happy innocent face, decorating flowers, blowing up baloons and making rainbow cupcakes.
Her faint giggles was enough for him to notice her, however. And he immediately turned red when he saw her wide smile.
RED: You're early today. I did not expect that.
GABBY: Rude.
She tiptoed happily at the table. Colorful deserts were placed. She have a big cake too.
She felt almost confused as to how many yen the reaper had used for this, when she realized that they get paid by gems and flare energy each time they complete their dues.
GABBY: I can't believe you did all this.
RED: Then believe it.
Gabby snorts then grabs a muffin.
RED: Hey, that's not yet ready. It still needs toppings.
GABBY: Whatever, it looks ready to me.
RED: Put it back! It's not complete without the toppings!
GABBY: Nerd!
Gabby continued to tease him, and like always, it seems as if it's easier to breath around him too. Like all the drama they had before vanished. Red was a very good friend. Maybe he's better that way to her? Those thoughts made her pause for a bit, causing Red to see the opportunity to grab the muffin away from her.
GABBY: Hey!
RED: Bleh, grab something else. Like the cupcakes.
GABBY: Okay. And by the way.
RED: Hm?
GABBY: Thanks.
Red only looks at her, almost as if he heard it for the first time. Then snickers.
RED: You always say that. Like a lot.
GABBY: Because you always do me favors, why act surprised? You deserve a thank you.
RED: Your smile is enough.
GABBY: Quit flirting or I'll fall for you again.
RED: I am not.
GABBY: You are.
RED: Am not.
GABBY: Are.
RED: Whatever, just stuff that cupcake on your mouth. And...comb your hair too, you look ridiculous.
GABBY: You're so rude.
RED: And you're so noisy. It's better for me when you're still asleep.
GABBY: Ouchi.
RED: Go over the sofa. Grab everything you like on the table. But not the lobsters. They're not done too. Actually don't touch those that aren't finished yet.
GABBY: Okay, when will you be finished?
RED: In just a bit. Go take a bath too.
GABBY: Hey!
RED: For heaven's sake, you're 20 today. Go take a bath and don't make me tell you what to do.
GABBY: Nerd!
RED: Kid!
GABBY: You're so cute when you're pissed.
RED: Who's flirting, now?
GABBY: Still you. You don't have to do this stuff you know?
RED: Tsk. And that Murasaki does. I heard he's going to treat you to somewhere later?
GABBY: Yeah. You must have heard on the phone.
RED: Can't help it. His voice is so...loud.
GABBY: Of course! We sing together as kids! He has a great voice!
RED: Wow. You sing too?
GABBY: Yeah.
RED: Well good for you. I don't sing.
GABBY: Ow. Is there anything you like?
RED: Huh?
GABBY: A song, I mean.
RED: I...I'm not really a music person.
GABBY: Too bad.
RED: Mmm...and my voice really sucks.
GABBY: It's okay. At least you're good at cooking. Boys are attractive when they're skillful at household chores.
RED: Yeah, right. And by the way.
GABBY: Hm?
RED: Girls are attractive when they comb their hair. Don't make me comb that.
GABBY: Oh yeah, right. Sorry!
Gabby grabbed a nearby brush and began combing her red wine hair. Red couldn't help but take a glance from time to time and he can tell that everytime he does, his heart feels a little heavy, with his heart pounding uncontrolably by the sight of her unwary face.
He began to breath heavily.
Trying to drown his thoughts of her by focusing on the deserts. He began piping frostings on the muffins, when he realized his fingers were shaking. He laughed to himself as his weakness has been confirmed yet again.
GABBY: Ey, Red.
RED: What?
He said absent-mindedly, still piping the muffins.
GABBY: I think you're right. I'll be taking a bath now. I smell like sweat.
RED: Oh. Okay.
GABBY: Okay.
...
He finished after a while. But Gabby is still not back. He wonders why she wasn't coming out yet.
Anxiety kicked in. With the many times he had to save her, it couldn't be now that he'd let the possibility of her being kidnapped slide.
He, like an idiot, speed runs to the door, forgetting he can easily teleport out of haste, then knocks on her door furiosly.
RED: Hey, Gab! You okay there? If you don't answer in 10 seconds it means you're not. Okay, 1...2...3...
GABBY: What are you saying? I'm just scrolling my phone and drying my hair.
RED: Oh. Good heavens, you're good then?
GABBY: Of course I am.
RED: Come out then.
GABBY: Oh, okay. Wait, I'm going to fix my hair.
RED: Oh, sure.
Red waited, his foot tapping the floor, while he hums another tune. He can't help but look back at the door, anticipating to see her immediately.
He might be nervous she's hurt, or maybe just excited to show her the fruit of his effort.
Or maybe both.
...
Gabby opens the door, slowly, and Red almost felt like something hit him. Oh wait. He slapped his own face to quit staring at her intensely.
Gabby felt weirded out by his silly action. He don't normally do that. But what exactly have Red saw that he's acting this way?
Well, undeniably, Gabby and any girl would look better after they took a bath, right?
Gabby looks more attractive now.
She have her hair tied into one big ponytail. She also wore a clip to secure her bangs falling to her nose. Her face looks neater and more mature looking. And she also wore a pink lipstick that changed her overall look.
She really looks like she aged.
But the positive one. (♡•♡)
GABBY: Oi, you good?
RED: Yeah. Your pink cardigan's nice.
GABBY: Oh. Then why are you looking at my face?
RED: Nah, by the way you must be hungry.
GABBY: Yeah!
RED: Eat on then, it's all for you.
GABBY: Thank you! Oh, and by any chance do you remember your own birthday? I want to celebrate it too.
RED: Really? Well, I did not expect you to do this though. I mean...after all the things I told you before, shouldn't you be a little colder towards me?
GABBY: Oh please. I may get upset easily but, I won't go mad at you. After all, you always end up saving me. What I don't understand though, is why Jinko isn't around anymore.
RED: Yeah. Probably scared.
GABBY: Oh. Do you really think he left us for good?
RED: Yeah. Hopefully. But that doesn't explain why a demon went after you. I doubt it's a coincidence since you're not the only one who entered the stall alone.
GABBY: Weird. Well, anyways let's blow my candle!
RED: Oh, oh! Okay!
Gabby excitedly walks towards her birthday cake and closed her eyes.
GABBY: I wish those nasty spirits leave me alone...at least just for today.
She blows the candle but it took her three more blows to finally have the fire go off.
RED: I hope you wish comes true because I'm growing tired.
GABBY: Me too. I don't even want to think about it. It's stressful. Everything is stressful.
RED: True. But hey, uh, you better start eating now.
GABBY: Oh yeah! Wait...aren't you forgetting something?
RED: Birthday hats? But you're too old for that.
GABBY: Eh? No. I mean the question.
RED: What question?
GABBY: Your birthday. If mine's January, what about yours?
RED: Eh, it's kinda useless. I don't age and reapers don't celebrate birthdays.
GABBY: Come on, but still. Let's celebrate it.
RED: I can't really remember, you know?
GABBY: Hmph, fine. I'll give you a birthday then.
RED: Really?
GABBY: Yeah! It will be March 20.
RED: Spring?
GABBY: Yup! If mine's winter then yours should be spring! After all, you gave life crazy adventures to mine! Also...I wouldn't be alive if weren't for you.
RED: *smiles* Ah, well, if you say so. Thank you.
GABBY: Don't worry, when that day comes, I'll give you lots of things too. So we're even.
RED: Just you being safe is enough.
GABBY: You're no fun.
RED: Well, I'm actually having fun in your realm.
GABBY: Heheh, even if there's nothing cooler than the spirit realm?
RED: You think the spirit realm is cool?
GABBY: It's colorful though. The trees, er...what do you call those again?
RED: The divine spirit trees.
GABBY: Yeah those...and the lake, and those cool varities of reapers around. And wow, the sky there is green!
RED: Yeah. Also, you still sound like a 12 year old. You're always excited.
GABBY: Sorry, I'm a child at heart.
RED: Yeah, undeniably. But...
GABBY: But?
RED: It's cool. You're okay with being a child. At heart.
GABBY: Thank you.
RED: Anytime.
GABBY: These deserts are great! I feel so happy...yum.
RED: Mm.
Red wasn't able to focus.
He was just looking at her, admiring her from a distance, while seeing her stuff all the cupcakes she could like a little kid. She may have grown, but she didn't change a thing. She's still the same bubbly Gabby he met that night.
RED: Happy...Birthday.