She sauntered, basked in the warm sunlight. Smooth rays on her smooth skin.

It was rare; all of it. Rare that she was actually skipping instead of walking, and rare that it was sunny. Our town is cloudy on the brightest days.

It was like mother nature knew it was her birthday. After all, she was her daughter. A rose.

A yellow sundress decorated her petite figure. It didn't cover her knees. She was always insecure about how her knees looked like. But today she didn't worry about whether they'd were showing as she skipped or not. Happy.

A daisy tiara was sitting atop of her head. Real daisies. Her brother probably made it himself.

"Happy Birthday" I greeted her with a light peck on the cheek. She had to lift herself to the very tips of her toes to get that kiss. She earned it.

Her features softened more than they already were upon seeing the small box in my hand. A blush slowly creeped up her shy face, engulfing her with a red tint.

"Awh Tommy, You didn't have to get me anything" she gushed.

"I know, but you deserve something special for this special day"

"It's just another 6th of June"

"Awe don't be so humble" I said. She shoved me lightly in the elbow. This wasn't my only surprise though.

A ribbon was fitted across her eyes.

I led her, grasping her arms from behind, curiosity getting the best of her with each step.

We reached the secluded part of our mansion's garden.

Counting to three, I removed the blindfold and revealed the setup I prepared for her (curtesy of Magdalena).

A dark green tablecloth was sprawled on the grass, almost blending in with it. Atop of it was freshly baked cookies, light red barely ripe strawberries, and in the middle, a birthday cake.

She was resonating with joy despite playing it cool. She was a sucker for cute things and I knew how to hype her up.

We sat there for most of the day, eating, talking, laughing, playing stupid games and dreaming stupid dreams like the innocent kids we were.

Having a big house. Having 4 kids. Becoming a doctor. Becoming a fashion designer. Becoming a lawyer. Becoming a teacher. Getting a dog. Getting a cat. Getting both.

So many dreams and plans. We shared our very few secrets we had left.

I told her about my favourite flavour of ice cream; strawberry.

She told me about her favourite cars; Mercedes.

We made the perfect couple from a very young age.

Until she died. Sometimes suicide is stronger than our will.

-----------------

My hand brushed the tree trunk with our names on it. A cliché heart like those in movies. Our dumb initials 'T+R', Thomas and Rose on a big oak tree. Under it was the date. Her birthday. June 6th.

It wasn't close to June 6th, but memories do not care about our dates and times. Memories do what they want. Memories show up unannounced.

"What's with you and silver cards?" Raiden's voice mingles with the smooth sounds of the outdoor wind.

You must not like this Raiden, I thought, knowing how much he hated the wind. He hated the wind because he's jealous of it. He had told me how much envious that he can't be as free as the wind. He can't leave as easily as it does.

Little did you know Raiden you are wind.

You are so pleasant but you can also wreak havoc.

A calm cozy breeze and a raging tornado.

And you can disappear in the blink of an eye...

The scariest part about Raiden being my wind: You can't touch the wind, and you can't hold it.

"I see you got it" I said, noticing the silver invitation he had between his fingers like a cigarette.

He looked at it. It shone in the light, a slight silver glint.

"I did" he's wearing a jacket for once, and he's dressed properly and not in pajamas. His hair was ruffled and messy and very dark, and all I wanted was to have his locks wrapped around my fingers. I wondered what his hair feels like.

"Well it's only fair I give you one, you know" I liked non-gloomy Raiden. I loved gloomy Raiden too.

"Can't you ask me like normal people?" he'd gotten closer and I could see that he was about to be hit with the sunlight in his face along the way. I waited dearly for that moment. That perfect angle when the light was gonna hit his brown eyes, and all sorts of browns were going to dance in those weary eyes.

No matter how good he looked, how fresh he cleaned, how happy he pretended to be, his eyes bore the weight.

"You're not a normal person Raiden, so I don't see why I should ask you like normal people"

"Oh please you make it sound like I'm some royalty with these things"

King of my heart.

"Are you going to say yes, or don't give an answer and then show up?" I hinted at the first time I invited him to an event. The football game.

"A masquerade. Does it really sound like I'm a masquerade person? I mean you can pull it off, but I can't pull a hoodie off without struggling" he joked, but his jokes always had a real part to them.

"It's for a good cause"

"I know and believe me I want to be part of that good cause because-"

"If you say it's your fault again I swear"

"It isss" he was testing me.

"Okay fine. Say it is. Do you wanna be my date to the masquerade?"

"Can you even have a male date to an event like that? Isn't this like rich fancy people stuff and gay is a sin and all that shit mom lowkey believes in?"

"I thought things got better with your mom" she seemed to soften a bit after our talk the other day.

"Oh they always get better when she leaves. And you still didn't tell me what you said to her. She was a changed woman"

I love your son. I love every bit of him. I love his laughs and his cries. I love his scarred arms and his beat up wrists. I love his sullen eyes and small nose. I love his flaws before anything.

"I told her to chill" I attempted a half-assed joke. It seemed to work, kinda.

"Yeah right." he smirked. A new achievement.

A bullet will go through my heart before it grazes his skin.

"Back to the masqu-"

"No" he replied. Not surprised. Social events weren't his thing.

I won't let anything bad happen to him.

I tried to hold back any signs of disappointment or sadness. I had high hopes. Hopes break you. "It's alright"

"She must have meant a lot to you" he said, noticing the carvings on the trunk.

"She did"

I will hurt every person who hurt him.

"I don't know how to dance," he changed the subject. "I don't know how to dress well."

"It's okay Raiden you don't have to explain."

I will fight his battles.

He didn't seem to be interested in what I said and continued. "I don't know any proper etiquette, and I don't know the right things to say."

I will sail his seas.

He looked into my eyes, an expression of a fighter.

"Teach me and I'll go with you"

I will anchor his angry soul.

More soon x. Don't forget to vote and comment, they mean the world.

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