Eirin blinked her amber eyes three more times before realizing something. 'Birthday! That's right. It is my birthday today,' she thought as she gulped and stared at her best friend.
"Don't tell me you forgot your birthday?"
Eirin tried to deny it, but the answer was evident due to her facial expression, making Ava laugh out loud. "I can't believe you," Ava said while holding onto her stomach, and almost dropped herself to the floor. "Who forgets their birthday?" she said while snorting.
'Must be because I escaped death three times. It feels like every day's my birthday,' Eirin thought while laughing awkwardly. Her eyes soon widened upon realization. 'Was that also the reason why grandma prepared too much food this morning?' she thought as guilt swallowed her after not even eating much as she was distracted by her thoughts earlier.
Instead of feeling happy, Eirin's chest tightened as she stared at her best friend. "Did you go to school today just because you wanted to greet me?" she asked. It was not impossible for Ava to feel weak but still go out of her way to make Eirin happy.
'This is the reason why I can't stop worrying about her.' Eirin sighed.
"I'm not lying when I said I'm feeling fine. I really do," Ava said after standing up and even spun around. "See? Completely healthy."
'If that is true, how come the more I look at her, the paler she becomes?' Eirin thought. "Why don't we go to the infirmary just to make sure?"
Ava pouted and tucked her silky, short hair behind her ears. "If we go and the nurse says nothing's wrong, will you enjoy your birthday?" She leaned to Eirin with her round black eyes twinkling like a puppy's, making Eirin unable to retort.
After eating lunch, the two went to the infirmary and the school nurse greeted Ava. They have become closer due to Ava's medical needs, making her a regular in the infirmary.
"I don't see anything wrong with your vitals today. You've eaten already, right?" Ava nodded. "You shouldn't forget to take your vitamins after eating." The nurse added before the two left.
"See? I told you it was nothing."
Despite the reassurance they received from the school nurse, Eirin was still worried. The loud and chaotic hallway full of students their age did not bother her at all as she only stared at her best friend while they walk hand in hand.
"You're 16 years old now. Time sure flies fast."
"You'll be 16 next month, too. Why are you talking like that?"
Eirin frowned. She hated the tone Ava used. It was as if she'll be leaving and won't be coming back for good.
"What do you want as a gift?"
They entered the classroom with Ava giggling after hearing Eirin say that. All eyes were on them, but they were in their own little world. Away from the noises and filled only with the two of them, surrounded by love.
"Just being by your side is already a gift," Ava said. She thought that Eirin looked pretty as they took their seats. It was not surprising why people were drawn to her. "If I could become Ei even just for a day, that would be the best gift ever."
"What does that even mean? Why would you want to be me when you're far better than that?"
Ava's loud laugh echoed through the whole room, getting everyone's attention on them. Their classmates were already staring plenty, but hearing Ava's laughter made them gawk at the two. There was tension in the atmosphere, and most of them envied Ava for being that close to Eirin. However, the two were in their own little world.
"You say that because you're Eirin Luxfield. You're too humble for your own good, and that's why I love you."
"I'm not humble. I simply said the truth," Eirin said and shook her head. "You think too lowly of yourself, and I hate that."
"Aww, did Ei hate that?" Ava used a childish tone, causing Eirin's forehead to crease. "It's your birthday, so I'll try my best not to annoy you."
"You never annoy me, anyway."
"Eh? It's your birthday today, Eirin?"
One of their classmates heard Ava's words, and the next thing they knew, most of the students in their class were already flocking around Eirin's chair, giving her the attention she did not want. Their voices filled the room, and Eirin winced.
"If we knew, we would have prepared a gift for you."
'Why would they do that?'
Eirin's forehead creased, and Ava giggled after noticing it and she poked Eirin's forehead and said, "Everyone wants to get along with my Ei." The way Ava said that made no room for other classmates to get in between them.
"What gift do you want? I'll give it to you tomorrow."
All eyes landed on the good-looking guy after he said that. The girls squealed, and the guys teased the two while waiting for Eirin's response.
"Why?"
Confusion filled Eirin's head as she asked that. The heavy silence caused by her sincere words caused the students to look at the looking guy whose name Eirin does not know with pity. Who wouldn't pity such a guy that utterly got rejected?
"That's because I like you."
The way the good-looking guy professed his feelings for the teenage girl broke the silence, making everyone squeal and compliment him for his bravery and composure.
"But I don't know your name."
Ava's eyes widened after Eirin said that with no hint of interest in her eyes. The surge of awkwardness in the air felt suffocating for the other students as they felt pity towards the good-looking guy, thinking that this will surely be a huge blow to his pride.
Ava smiled at Eirin and moved her hands in a way that confused Eirin. 'Does she want me to say something more?' Eirin thought while watching her best friend signal something. Something then came into her mind after seeing her best friend move with those hand signs.
"I'm sorry, I'm not interested in romance."
Ava slapped her forehead after Eirin said that. Their classmates looked away, avoiding Eirin's gaze as much as possible, leaving the teenage girl baffled.
"What is going on? Get back to your seats, now."
The teacher arrived just in time before Ava could die from the awkwardness Eirin caused.
'I need to explain romantic things to Ei."
When dismissal arrived, the awkwardness Eirin left did not vanish, and the other students were afraid of approaching her, so Ava decided to bid them goodbye instead.
"Why did you say that?"
Eirin tidied her things and couldn't look at her best friend. "Say what?"
'Does she seriously not know?' Ava pouted and said, "They were just trying to get along with you and you gave them the cold shoulder. That guy also looked sincere, even though he was careless with his confession."
"I don't understand."
Eirin tilted her head and her eyes brimmed with confusion. "How could he fall for me when I haven't talked to him before? And they don't have to get along with me anyway, why bother to give me gifts? They can just ignore me like usual."
Only Ava's grunts could be heard inside the silent classroom where they were the only students left.
"It's because we're human. Humans are social beings. We need to interact with other people and get along with them. That's how society works. Remember that quote 'No man is an island'? We're bound to socialize whether we like it or not. No one can get through life all alone."
"I'm not alone," Eirin looked at Ava and said, "I have you. Why do I need to interact with others?"
Ava blinked thousands of times, realizing how deep those words meant. It was touching, but Ava knew that she couldn't be the only one part of Eirin's world.
"There will be a time when we'll get to live separated from each other. What would you do if that happened?"
"Why? Are you leaving somewhere? Abroad?"
"Huh?"
Eirin stared at Ava, waiting for her response, but Ava could not find the right words. It's as if, Eirin does not accept that they might have to live away from each other.
"I-It means, when we get to college, we'll be taking different courses. And when we get older, we'll have a family of our own," Ava said, but seeing the expression on Eirin's face made her stunned.
'I didn't know Ei values me so much,' she thought after witnessing the immense confusion on Eirin's face. 'Ah, I love her.'
"I can just choose the program you'll choose. And I'll become the godmother of your children." Eirin wore her backpack and flipped her straight, dark brown hair.
"Y-You don't get it."
Eirin ruffled Ava's hair as she looked at her phone after receiving a notification. "Grandma said to invite you and Bright over. It looks like she cooked some food."
"Really? I'm so excited to eat good food again!"
As if already forgetting what they were talking about, Ava got distracted by the fact that they will be celebrating Eirin's 16th birthday.
'This is better. I don't need anybody else,' Eirin thought while watching Ava rush to the door.
"Hurry! The food will get cold."
A smile formed on her face. "Yes, I'm following you." She followed the excited Ava into the hallway. "Why are you acting like your mom isn't feeding you?"
"It's because my mom can't cook. She's not good at it! She even butchered making fried rice. Remember back in 3rd grade when we had that sports festival? My parents came and brought a lunch box filled with my mom's homemade cooking. I couldn't participate in the games because of a stomachache right after."
The two laughed.
"I remember. You asked me to go to the restroom with you and you kept on farting. It smelled so bad I thought I was dying."
Eirin received a slap on the arm after she said that.
"Also, Bright cried so hard that day because he thought you were dying."
Eirin's laughter went louder after she remembered Bright's crying face, and Ava's face turned red as a ripe tomato due to embarrassment. It was rare for Eirin to laugh like that, so Ava couldn't retort.
'My Ei looks so happy,' Ava thought.