Joy Under The Blooming Tree

"We're free… finally free."

The words echoed in my heart, a jubilant chant I could barely contain.

I tilted my head up, no longer needing to hide my face. For the first time in what felt like ages, I could breathe. With a rush of unbridled joy, I reached out and clasped Ma Aye Phyu's delicate hands in mine. Her warmth seeped through, anchoring me in the moment.

Ma Aye Phyu glanced toward the front of the cart, where Ko Thaung Myint sat, obliviously focused on urging his horse forward. Taking the opportunity, I turned to her and gave her a playful wink.

My exaggerated gesture wasn't lost on her. She stifled a laugh, her lips curving into a soft smile. Her face glowed, radiant and enchanting. In that instant, I knew: from this moment onward, she was mine.

Tightening my grip on her hands, I felt a spark. It was as if an electric current flowed between us, charging the air around us, connecting us in a way words could never express. My heart soared, the world around me suddenly brighter. Even the creaking of the cart wheels became a cheerful rhythm.

The breeze rushed past, playful and wild. It seemed to invite everything—gusts, storms, the works—because, with her by my side, I could face anything. Leaves swirled in the air, a golden cascade, painting the landscape with a fleeting, magical beauty.

"This spring… it's the most beautiful I've ever seen," I murmured, gazing at her. "Even the earth and sky can't compare to you."

She blushed but didn't look away. I pointed toward a cluster of blooming trees in the distance.

"Look, Ma Aye Phyu. The blossoms there… so vibrant, so red. Aren't they stunning?"

She followed my gaze and nodded. "They're beautiful."

Up front, Ko Thaung Myint let out a hearty laugh, his voice breaking the spell of the moment. His cheerful energy was infectious, even as his face betrayed his struggle to hold back laughter.

"Bet he's thinking, 'What's so special about red blossoms?'" I whispered to Ma Aye Phyu.

Just as I said it, Ko Thaung Myint called out, his voice teasing. "Hey, stop staring at the flowers like love-struck fools! The blossoms aren't running away, you know!"

Ma Aye Phyu giggled, her laughter light and melodic. I leaned forward and gave Ko Thaung Myint a playful punch on the back. "You're the worst!"

He guffawed, his laughter echoing over the sound of the horse's hooves. "The day you bring a girl on a cart to pick flowers is the day you become a proper rogue, Maung Soe!"

We all laughed, the sound ringing through the air, mixing with the creaks of the cart and the gentle rustle of the wind.

The Blooming Tree

Not long after, we arrived at the blooming tree I had pointed out earlier. The vibrant red flowers stood in stark contrast to the lush green grass below, their petals scattered like a fiery carpet.

"Ko Thaung Myint, can you stop the cart here?" I asked.

"What for?"

"We're going to pick some blossoms," I said with a grin. "My uncle loves sour flower soup, and these are perfect for that!"

Ko Thaung Myint rolled his eyes but pulled the reins. "Your uncle's got plenty of dried blossoms at home. But if it makes you happy, go ahead."

We jumped off the cart, laughter bubbling between us as we darted toward the tree. The petals were vibrant, their red hue nearly glowing in the sunlight.

We picked as many as we could, racing each other to grab the best ones. Each time one of us reached for the same bloom, we'd burst into laughter, the joy of the moment overflowing. The tree seemed alive, shaking with our every movement, its petals cascading down like a soft rain.

Once we had gathered enough, we climbed back onto the cart, arms full of blossoms. Ko Thaung Myint turned to us with a sly grin.

"Let me guess… you're planning to cook up a feast for her with those flowers, eh?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "No, no! We just got carried away. That's all."

"Carried away, huh? You sure about that, Maung Soe? You're starting to look like one of those rogues from the old folk songs!"

"What do you mean?"

"You know the one: 'Stealing the girl with the red blossoms, scheming under the grand trees.' Except you're doing it under a blooming tree, not a grand one!"

Even the horse seemed to laugh, its steady trot growing livelier as if it shared in our cheer.

"Whatever you say," I shot back. "But don't forget, this rogue always takes care of his friends, including stubborn horse drivers!"

The three of us erupted into laughter, the sound carrying across the open fields. Today, under the blooming tree, with the wind in our hair and laughter in our hearts, it felt like the world was ours.

This was a moment we'd never forget—a fleeting spring, captured forever in memory.