Jian stood outside the university's auditorium, his breath visible in the cool February air. The Lunar New Year celebrations had brought the entire campus alive—students hurrying around with red decorations, lanterns hanging from the trees, and a light warmth that seemed to glow from the smiles of everyone passing by.
Jian held a small box in his hands. It wasn't much, but he had spent days thinking about it—a small, delicate flower-shaped keychain he had bought after stumbling upon it in a gift shop. It reminded him of Hana: simple, elegant, and quietly beautiful.
He fidgeted with the box, unsure how Hana would react. Would she like it? Would she think it was too simple? Overthinking as always, Jian sighed, his mind swimming with doubts.
"Jian!"
The sound of Hana's cheerful voice broke through his thoughts. He turned around to see her jogging toward him. She wore a white coat with red mittens, and a bright smile that lit up her face. Her hair, tied loosely, danced with the wind as she approached him.
"You're here early," she said, slightly out of breath.
Jian smiled shyly. "Yeah… I didn't want to be late."
Hana grinned. "Well, you're always so punctual. It's impressive." She tucked her hands into her coat pockets. "Come on. Let's go inside! It's freezing out here."
The two walked side by side into the auditorium. Inside, it was bustling with energy—students setting up booths for traditional games, tables stacked with food, and others preparing for performances. The sound of laughter, chattering, and festive music filled the air.
Hana glanced at Jian. "Have you ever been to something like this before?"
Jian shook his head. "Not really. I usually… avoid crowds."
"Ah, that makes sense." Hana nodded knowingly. "But today, I promise you'll have fun. We'll stick together, okay?"
Jian felt his heartbeat quicken at her words. "Okay."
---
The first stop was the food stalls. Rows of tables were filled with dumplings, rice cakes, fried snacks, and warm soups. The aroma of food wrapped around them like a comforting blanket. Hana eagerly dragged Jian to a table where dumplings were being freshly made.
"Have you tried these?" she asked, pointing to the dumplings steaming in the trays.
"No," Jian replied, shaking his head.
Hana gasped dramatically. "Then you have to try them. You're missing out."
Before Jian could protest, Hana bought two plates and handed him one. "Here."
Jian hesitated before taking a small bite. To his surprise, it was delicious—the warmth of the dumpling spread through him, and he found himself finishing it quickly.
"See? I told you!" Hana teased, her eyes shining. "Food never disappoints."
Jian smiled faintly. "It's good… Thank you."
They wandered through the festival, stopping at booths and playing games together. Jian wasn't great at them—he lost repeatedly at ring toss and dart games, but Hana cheered him on regardless, clapping and laughing each time he missed.
"You'll get it next time!" she said, patting his shoulder.
Jian couldn't help but laugh softly. Being around Hana made him forget his usual worries. He wasn't thinking about whether he fit in or how others saw him. With her, everything felt simple and light.
---
Later in the day, Hana noticed a calligraphy booth where students were writing New Year wishes on red paper. She pulled Jian toward it eagerly.
"Let's write something," she said.
Jian hesitated. "Me? I don't… I'm not good at this stuff."
"It doesn't matter!" Hana insisted, handing him a brush. "Just write whatever comes to your mind. It's about making a wish for the new year."
Jian sighed and sat beside her, holding the brush awkwardly. Hana, on the other hand, seemed focused as she carefully wrote elegant characters on her paper. Jian glanced at her, admiring her calm expression as she concentrated.
"What are you writing?" he asked softly.
"A wish," Hana replied, smiling. "For health, happiness… and a bit of luck."
Jian looked back at his empty paper, his mind blank. What should he wish for? Slowly, he began writing simple words: "To be stronger, to speak up, and to stay close to the people I care about."
His handwriting was uneven, but it felt honest. When he finished, he looked over at Hana's paper. She had written something beautiful and flowing, but Jian couldn't read all of it.
"Can I see?" Hana asked, leaning over.
Jian instinctively pulled his paper closer to his chest. "It's nothing special…"
Hana pouted playfully. "Hey! I want to see what you wished for."
"It's really not much," Jian muttered, his cheeks turning red.
Hana smiled warmly. "Fine, keep your secret." She finished her own paper and pinned it to the display wall with the others. "I'm sure your wish is a good one."
Jian stared at her for a moment, feeling a warmth in his chest. He wanted to tell her his wish, but the words wouldn't come out.
---
As the day turned into evening, the festival's final event was about to start—a lantern release in the courtyard. Students gathered with small paper lanterns, each one holding a handwritten wish inside.
Hana handed Jian a lantern and smiled. "Here, let's release one together."
Jian stared at the lantern. "Together?"
"Yeah! I already wrote my wish inside. You just have to help me release it."
They walked to the courtyard where hundreds of lanterns were being lit. The soft golden glow spread across the crowd as students prepared to let their wishes fly. Jian and Hana crouched down, lighting the small candle inside their lantern. The flame flickered to life, illuminating both of their faces.
Hana looked at him. "Ready?"
Jian nodded, his fingers brushing against hers as they lifted the lantern together. Slowly, it floated upward, joining the sea of glowing lights drifting into the night sky.
Jian watched it, feeling a strange mix of hope and peace. For a moment, it felt like he and Hana were the only two people there.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Hana whispered beside him.
Jian turned to her, his heart racing. "Yeah… it is."
She looked at him with a soft smile. "Thank you for spending today with me, Jian. I had so much fun."
Jian's throat tightened. He wanted to say more—to tell her how happy he felt, how much he loved being by her side—but the words stuck. All he managed was a small nod.
As the lanterns disappeared into the darkness, Hana reached into her pocket and pulled something out. "Oh, I almost forgot."
She handed him a small box. "Here. I got you something."
Jian blinked, surprised. "For me?"
"Yeah! Open it."
He slowly opened the box and found a keychain inside—a tiny, delicate flower, similar to the one on her necklace.
"I saw it and thought of you," Hana said softly. "It's simple, but I hope you'll keep it."
Jian held the keychain in his palm, his heart pounding. It was small, but it meant so much more. "Thank you…"
Hana grinned. "It's a little reminder that someone believes in you, okay?"
Jian looked at her, wanting to say so many things, but all that came out was a quiet, "I'll keep it safe."
The night ended with lanterns still floating in the sky, their soft glow fading like distant stars. Jian clutched the keychain tightly in his hand, a smile tugging at his lips.
For the first time in a long while, he felt like he belonged somewhere—with Hana.