Chapter 12: A Birthday to Remember

Chapter 12: A Birthday to Remember

Time had a way of slipping by, unnoticed, as I settled into the rhythm of my new life. Housework, adjusting to the slower pace of living, and even getting used to local foods—it was all becoming part of the routine. But still, there was a part of me that clung to the past, a quiet longing that seemed to whisper to me on the wind.

I glanced at my phone. "It's that day again," I muttered under my breath, a small smile tugging at my lips. I knew exactly what I needed to do. I stood, stretching as the sun streamed through the window, and headed out the door. Today was no different from any other, or so I thought.

I arrived at the park, the familiar sight of the vast blue sky above reminding me of the countless times I'd been here before—last year, the year before. Every time, I'd sat on the same bench, staring into the horizon, letting my mind drift back to the past, to the happy days I once had.

"Sai..." A soft, familiar voice called out, breaking the tranquility. My heart skipped a beat. I turned, barely daring to hope, and there she was—Kiara. Standing a few feet away, looking at me with wide eyes, as if unsure whether to approach.

"Kiara... what are you doing here?" I asked, the words slipping out before I could think. Was it possible? Could she... remember?

"Have you been waiting here every year?" she asked, her voice quivering slightly.

I hesitated. "Oh, uh..." I struggled to find the right words. She was here—did that mean she remembered?

"Sorry for forgetting about you... for so long..." Her voice cracked slightly, and I could see the regret in her eyes. I was about to speak when she asked again, her eyes searching mine.

"Do you know what today is?" she asked, and my heart clenched. I had waited so long for this moment.

"Your birthday... and the last place we went on a date," I said softly, almost in a whisper.

Today was the day we had spent together in this very park, a year ago. Sitting on this same bench, sharing smiles and laughter.

I had asked her that day, "You sure you just want to go on a picnic for your birthday?"

"Yeah," she had replied with that smile that always made my heart flutter, "I just want to relax with you. Hey, do you have a present or not?" Her eyes glimmered with curiosity as she looked up at me.

I had tried to hide my excitement, but she saw through me. "You're just going to ask me? You just spoiled my surprise," I had teased, handing her the small wrapped box.

She had eagerly opened it, her eyes lighting up as she pulled out the earrings. "Wow! Earrings!" she exclaimed.

"It's simple, but I figured you could wear them whenever you want," I had said, scratching my cheek in embarrassment, watching her face light up in joy.

"I'm so happy! Thank you!" she had exclaimed, quickly putting them on. "Does it look good on me?"

I smiled at her, unable to hide my adoration. "Yeah... it looks too good on you."

Her eyes sparkled as she giggled. "Yay! Oh, what's this? A letter? 'Happy birthday, Kiara—'"

"Whooooaa, you read that later! Please!" I had said, panic rising in my chest. I had spent weeks writing that letter, carefully choosing each word. It was everything I wanted to say to her, but I wasn't ready for her to read it just yet.

"Hehehe, alright, alright," she had laughed. But before I could breathe a sigh of relief, she had gotten up, running away with the letter in hand. "I'm going to read it now!" she shouted, glancing back at me as she teased me, daring me to chase her.

And so I did.

But as I ran after her, my joy turned to panic. A bike came speeding toward her, and without thinking, I pushed her out of the way. The bike collided with me instead. I felt a sharp pain, then a crushing force as I was knocked to the ground. I saw Kiara's face, her scream echoing in my ears, but it all became a blur as my world dimmed and my consciousness slipped away.

---

The dream faded. The images of that day blurred in my mind, replaced with the reality of the present. I was here again, with Kiara. But this time, she wasn't just a distant memory. She was real, standing before me, holding something in her hand.

Kiara's voice trembled as she spoke, her words carrying the weight of the years. "You got into an accident trying to save me... and all the things you gave me, they were torn up. My parents were the ones who kept them after the accident." She held up the earrings I had given her, the same ones that had been part of that day. "They're not torn up because I put them on that day," she said softly, tears brimming in her eyes.

I stared at the earrings, the memory rushing back, clearer than ever. "Oh..." I whispered, touching the familiar object.

Kiara's gaze softened, a sorrowful smile tugging at her lips. "When I thought about how it's my birthday today, I just couldn't stop crying... then my dad told me it's the right time for me to face my past and gave me this."

She held up the letter I had written, but the once-pristine paper was stained with blood, the ink smeared and unreadable. My heart twisted in my chest as she looked at me, asking a question I wasn't sure I could answer.

"Happy birthday, Kiara... I'm looking forward to...," she began to read, but the words were lost in the crimson smears.

"I can't read this anymore," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Please, can you tell me what you wrote in this letter?"

I took a deep breath, my voice shaking as I began to speak the words I had written so long ago. "Happy birthday, Kiara. I'm looking forward to having a lovely family with you, to going to the park together every year. Let's bring our kids here, one day. I can't wait for when we're married. I love you, Kiara."

I paused, wiping away the tear that had slipped down my cheek.

"You've been waiting here every year, haven't you?" she asked softly, her voice filled with awe.

"Kiara..." My hand pressed against my eyes as I tried to stop the tears that threatened to fall. The floodgates opened, and I couldn't hold back anymore.

"I'm sorry. There's so much I want to say, but I can't find the words... I just can't stop crying," Kiara whispered, her own tears falling freely now.

Without warning, she stepped into my arms, her head resting against my chest as she cried. I held her tightly, never wanting to let go. Could this be real? Was this just a dream, a figment of my imagination after all this time? But as I held her, the warmth of her body against mine, the steady rhythm of her breath, I knew—this was real. This was not a dream.

We stayed like that for what felt like hours, the world around us slipping away as we found comfort in each other's embrace. Eventually, Kiara looked up at me, a soft smile on her face.

"I want to relax for just a moment... Okay?" she asked, her voice quiet. She lay down on my lap, her head resting gently as I adjusted to make her comfortable.

"Of course," I whispered, taking off my jacket and placing it over her. She drifted off to sleep almost immediately, her breath steady and peaceful.

I pulled out my phone and placed an order for a small cake and a bottle of water. I stared at her face, making sure this was real, that I wasn't still dreaming. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her, not even for a second.

An hour passed before she finally woke up, her eyes meeting mine as she blinked the sleep away. "Did you sleep well?" I asked softly, my voice thick with emotion.

She smiled, though her eyes were brimming with tears. "It's not a dream, right? If it is, I don't want to wake up from it," she said, reaching up to touch my face.

"It's not," I replied, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "I'm really here, next to you."

Tears welled in her eyes again. "Don't cry on your birthday, you idiot," I said, laughing softly. "I'm not leaving you, and I'm never letting you go."

Kiara sat up, wiping her face with the water I handed her, before I gave her my handkerchief to dry her cheeks. Once she felt refreshed, I took the cake out and lit the candle.

"Happy birthday to you~" I sang loudly, my voice full of emotion. "Happy birthday, Kiara!"

Kiara winced at the volume, laughing nervously. "Sai, you're not singing, you're shouting! Look, everyone's staring at us!" But despite the embarrassment, she smiled, grateful. "But thank you!"

The security guard, however, wasn't as entertained by my impromptu performance, and we were soon escorted out of the park. We couldn't even cut the cake there. So, we headed to a nearby café, where we continued our celebration in a quieter setting. Afterward, we visited the temple to pray for Kiara's birthday and our future together.

As the sun began to set, I walked Kiara to her house, both of us reluctant to part.

"So... bye. See you soon," I said, my voice soft.

"Can't you stay a little longer?" she asked, her eyes pleading.

I smiled gently, shaking my head. "No, I can't. I have work tomorrow. We're working adults now."

"Okay, then let's meet again this weekend," she said, her face lighting up.

"I'll come to see you. Bye," I replied, kissing her gently on the forehead before turning to leave, my heart full.

This was only the beginning.