Kiana's Birthday

(Park)

It was snowing in Soukai City and I was taking a walk in the park after parking in the parking lot. Today was Kiana's Birthday and Kiana and I were out of St. Freya now because everyone had to get ready for Kiana's Birthday party.

Patrick: It's Kiana's Birthday today.

Drago: It is. December 7th. Next month will be your Birthday on January 7th since she is exactly a month older than you.

Patrick: That is one of the reasons why I like her.

???: Freeze!

All of a sudden, someone covered my eyes from behind before I could react. The cool fingertips of the stranger rested on my eyelids gently.

???: Guess~ who~ I~ am~

The person behind me deepened her voice in an attempt to confuse me, but she could not conceal the playful and spunky tone of a teenage girl.

Patrick in mind: Why would she do something like this and act all playful on me?

Patrick: You can't fool me, Kiana.

And then she removed her gloved hands off my eyes.

Kiana: Hey, you're pretty good at this, Pat.

Patrick: No one's called me that in years. Could the answer be any more apparent? The real question is what were you doing in the park alone and in the snow?

Kiana: You've got urgent business with me?

Patrick: Not really. It's just that I thought of coming here to enjoy watching the snow coming down till I ran into you...

Kiana: There is no problem or anything. But I've had a reason to come here too. The same as yours.

I could not think of what to say next.

Kiana: Is something bothering you?

Patrick: Not really. I brought a hot drink with me. Two actually.

I handed Kiana one.

Kiana: Milk tea? It's still hot.

Patrick: I bought it on the street after I parked. Have a sip.

Kiana took a sip and so did I.

Patrick: So? How is it? Do you like it?

Kiana: Whoa~ It's great! I can feel my body warming up already. Nothing beats hot milk tea in winter. Thanks, Pa... ah... ah-choo!

Patrick in mind: This is the part when someone asks if someone has a cold and the other says it's nothing or refuses to admit it. I think I shouldn't say anything.

Patrick: Here, put this on.

I took a scarf out and put it around Kiana.

Kiana: P-Patrick? What are you... This scarf looks awfully familiar...

Patrick: There. Now you should feel better. With both the milk tea and the scarf, you should warm up faster now.

Kiana: As if you wore one! Besides, I'm way too tough to catch a cold.

Patrick: You may think that way, but your red nose tells me otherwise. Let's go home. My car's heaters should warm you up.

Kiana: Almost forgot about the most important thing.

I followed Kiana's gaze. Several small snowmen are huddling together in the clearing a stone's throw away in the falling snow.

Kiana: The tallest one is Mei, the two tiny ones are Bronya and Seele, The tiniest one is Aunt Teri, the one wearing glasses is Fu Hua, and the one next to her is Miss Himeko...

Patrick: Well... if not for the specific designs, I could never tell which is which.

Kiana: They don't even look that alike to begin with!

Patrick: I'm not ignorant like Captain. I can tell which one is who. Bronya's twin tails, Theresa's bow, Seele's hair, Himeko's hair, and Fu Hua's glasses.

Kiana: I put a lot of heart into this!

Patrick: Let's see... Maybe they need a little more decoration? These twigs can pass for arms... Two leaves fit in well here...

Kiana: Wow. They look even more like them after you added the finishing touches.

Kiana: But something's still missing. You've tweaked them here and there, but they still feel empty. Maybe it's because I can't build snowmen that look like them. Too much has happened these days. We were separated, reunited, captured together, alone with just the two of us for 4 months, and we reunited with everyone again. We've all changed.

Patrick: I know. I've raged out because of my emotions and had to protect you. With all the changes we've went through and with the 4 months of being alone together we've grown closer to each other.

Kiana: What will the future look like? Who will we meet again? These thoughts keep swirling around my head. But in any case... we'll meet again. Don't you agree?

Kiana muttered to herself at the snowmen, her eyes lost in thought. I suddenly realized why the snowmen look empty. Without uttering a word, I built a new snowman amid them, and then made two thick pigtails on its head

Patrick: This is more like it. Look.

Kiana: Wait, why does this snowman... look like me?

Patrick: Impressive, eh? I won't call it a clone, but it's serviceable if you can recognize who it's modeled after at first glance.

Kiana: I wouldn't be so confident! It isn't half as cool as me. Anyway, thanks for the help. The snowmen finally feel right to me... Ah-choo!

Patrick: Here you go again. What id you really did catch a cold? Or maybe you don't have a cold and just sneezing from the cold air. Stand still for a moment while I retie your scarf.

Kiana: Huh? Patrick, I'm fine! The cold doesn't bite me!

Patrick: I know, I know. Stay still so I can get it right.

Kiana: Patrick, I'm as warm as I can be.

Patrick: Looks a bit messy. Just stay still a little longer so I can fix it in place.

Kiana: Urmph... I can barely see the road...

With that, Kiana's scarf was fixed.

Kiana: Phew! I feel much better this way.

Patrick: Let's go home now. If you catch a cold now, you won't be able to make it to your birthday party tonight.

Kiana: Oh, right. I heard they're preparing all sorts of tasty treats! It'd be a real pity if my nose is stuffed so I can't taste anything! I need to take a picture of the snowmen as a keepsake...

Patrick: So do I.

We took a picture of the snowmen with our smartphones.

Kiana: There. We can go now.

Patrick: Alright.

We looked at the snowmen one last time. The snowmen consisted of Kiana, Mei, Bronya, Seele, Theresa, Himeko, and Fu Hua. There was also a snowman of me and a snowman of the Captain. There was also a snowman of a bird by Fu Hua.

Patrick: By the way, I picked up a delicious scent coming from the kitchen when I came out. I wonder what pricy ingredient they were stewing?

Kiana: I bet the final results will be out of this world~

Patrick: Bronya and Seele blew up balloons to decorate the room. Theresa wants you to prepare yourself for her special present.

Kiana: A special present from Aunt Teri? I have a bad feeling about this. Speaking of which, what will be your present be?

Patrick: You'll find out tonight.

Kiana: A little spoiler never hurt nobody! I promise not to tell!

Patrick: That contradicts what people say. They don't beg someone to tell them what something and to promise not to tell. They ask for something to promise to keep a secret from someone that person is keeping a secret from a person.

Kiana: I meant I promise I won't tell anyone that you told me what my present is going to be. Don't be so hard on me, Patrick~

Patrick: It's wrapped in special wrapping paper with a special ribbon on it. It was pretty fun wrapping up your gifts in wrapping paper and putting the ribbons on.

Kiana: Thank's for the hint~

Then suddenly, Kiana kissed me in the lips.

Kiana: Now we can go home.

Patrick: ...

I said nothing as I was blushing and so was Kiana. We held hands and walked back to my car. The streets soon fell silent. Without winds to carry them, snowflakes drifted down and gently covered our footprints.