@cyno ꒰33꒱
the venue was alive with music, laughter, and the joyful chatter of friends celebrating (name)'s birthday.
colorful balloons adorned the walls, and fairy lights cast a warm, enchanting glow over the scene. it was a perfect setting for a memorable evening.
(name) stood at the center of the festivities, surrounded by her closest friends, including sara, heizou, and a few others. they had all come together to make her birthday unforgettable.
heizou, ever the life of the party, was in full swing, hyping up the crowd as he took charge of the music.
he was dancing with unparalleled enthusiasm, his energy infectious. "come on, everyone! let's make this night epic! it's (name)'s day!"
the music thumped, and (name) found herself laughing and dancing along with her friends. she felt a wave of gratitude wash over her. these were the people who had filled her life with love, laughter, and cherished memories.
however, in the midst of the celebration, (name)'s excitement was tinged with a hint of disappointment.
cyno, her special someone, couldn't make it to the party due to a prior commitment that he had to take care of.
she had been looking forward to celebrating her birthday with him, and his absence left a void in the celebration.
sara, ever perceptive, noticed the change in (name)'s mood and decided it was time to cheer her up. she stepped forward, holding a mock-serious expression.
"hey, (name), what's with that long face? this is your day, remember?"
(name) tried to smile, not wanting to dampen the festive atmosphere. "i know, sara. it's just that cyno couldn't make it."
sara smiled and gave her a comforting pat on the back. "i know, (name). cyno's a stand-up guy, and he wouldn't bail on your birthday unless it was really important. besides, he told me he has something special planned for later."
(name) perked up at this. "he did? what is it?"
sara winked mischievously. "well, it's a surprise, but he said you should meet him at the bookstore where you two first met at 10 pm. knowing cyno, it's bound to be something memorable."
(name)'s disappointment began to fade, replaced by a sense of curiosity and anticipation. cyno always had a way of surprising her in the most thoughtful and meaningful ways.
with sara's encouragement, the party resumed its lively pace. the night was filled with laughter, dancing, and heartfelt toasts to (name)'s happiness and success. (name) lost herself in the celebration, feeling truly blessed to have such wonderful friends.
"alright, folks!" heizou announced, clapping his hands together. "it's time for a toast! let's raise our glasses to (name), the birthday queen!"
(name)'s friends gathered around, each holding a glass filled with sparkling cider. they raised their glasses high, and (name) felt a rush of warmth in her heart as she looked at the faces of the people who meant the world to her.
"to (name)!" they chorused, clinking their glasses together.
touched by their heartfelt gesture, (name) felt a tear of gratitude well up in her eye. she had never felt more loved and cherished than in that moment.
as the hours passed, (name) couldn't help but steal glances at the clock. she knew that cyno had promised to meet her at the bookstore, where they had first crossed paths, at 10 p.m.
the anticipation of what he had in store for her added an extra layer of excitement to her birthday celebration.
as the clock neared 10 p.m., (name) and her friends bid farewell to the venue, each promising to continue the festivities another day.
they knew (name) had a special meeting to attend, and they eagerly wished her well.
with a heart full of hope and love, (name) made her way to the quaint bookstore where she had first met cyno.
the soft chime of the bell announced her arrival, and she scanned the familiar shelves filled with books that held countless stories and memories.
however, as the minutes ticked by, (name)'s excitement began to wane, replaced by a growing sense of unease.
cyno had always been punctual, and he knew how important this meeting was to her.
just as her hope was beginning to waver, tighnari, of all people, entered the bookstore. he wore a solemn expression, and (name) immediately felt a knot form in her stomach.
"tighnari, where's cyno?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"hey, (name)," tighnari began, his voice gentle but filled with concern, "i need to talk to you about cyno."
(name)'s heart sank at the mention of cyno's name. she looked at tighnari, her eyes wide with worry. "what happened? is he okay?"
the boy hesitated for a moment before he spoke, his tone somber. "cyno had to leave the country quite suddenly, and he won't be able to return for a while,"
"he asked me to pass on his apologies and let you know that he won't have any means of contact during his absence."
(name) felt like the ground had been pulled out from under her. she struggled to comprehend the words she had just heard. cyno had left the country, and he couldn't even say goodbye?
tears welled up in her eyes as she tried to hold back her emotions. she felt a wave of sadness, disappointment, and longing wash over her.
seeing the anguish in (name)'s eyes, he reached into a bag he was carrying and pulled out a small, beautifully decorated mini cake.
it was adorned with a single candle that flickered with a warm, comforting glow.
"(name)," tighnari said softly, "cyno wanted to give you this and celebrate a mini birthday with you before the clock strikes midnight,"
"but since he couldn't be here, he asked me to step in and make sure you don't spend this moment alone."
(name) blinked back her tears, touched by tighnari's thoughtfulness. she nodded and gave him a faint smile. "thank you, tighnari. i appreciate it."
tighnari placed the mini cake on a small table in the bookstore, and (name) took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
as the clock on the wall ticked closer to midnight, tighnari lit the candle on the cake, and they both sat down.
the bookstore was quiet, and the soft glow of the candle created a cozy, intimate atmosphere. (name) made a wish in her heart, her thoughts and hopes centered on cyno, wherever he was.
tighnari encouraged her to blow out the candle, and as she did, they both clapped, marking the end of her birthday, even if it was a bittersweet one.
"happy birthday, (name)." tighnari said sincerely.
(name) managed a small but genuine smile. "thank you, tighnari. and thank you for being here."
they shared a slice of the mini cake, and even though cyno was far away, his absence was less painful at that moment because of tighnari's presence and kind gesture.
they talked and reminisced about their friend, hoping he was safe and that they would see him again soon.
the fox boy's eyes held a hint of nostalgia as he delved into memories of the cake dilemma. "you know," he began, "cyno really had a tough time deciding on a cake for you,"
"at first, he was torn between a classic red velvet and a rich chocolate cake. he wanted it to be as meaningful as you are to him."
his chuckle was warm, filling the air as (name) listened with rapt attention, savoring her cake.
"but then," he continued, "he did something pretty clever. he asked scaramouche which cake you liked the most, and it turns out your favorite is mocha cake."
a soft, appreciative smile graced (name)'s lips as she thought of how thoughtful her boyfriend had been. however, her joy was tinged with sorrow, and tears welled up once more.
"i just can't believe he's leaving me like this."
tighnari reached out and gently placed a comforting hand on (name)'s shoulder. "i know it's tough, (name), but sometimes life takes unexpected turns. cyno cares deeply for you, and i'm sure this decision wasn't easy for him."
(name) nodded, her tears still flowing, but she appreciated tighnari's attempt to console her. "i just wish he could have told me in person, said goodbye properly."
tighnari's eyes softened with understanding. "i wish so too, (name), but circumstances can be unpredictable. i'm sure if he could, he would have wanted to be here with you."
as they sat in the quiet bookstore, the candle's flame flickering between them, (name) couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions.
she was grateful for tighnari's presence and for the mini-birthday celebration he had orchestrated on cyno's behalf. still, the ache of missing cyno was a heavy weight in her heart.
tighnari offered a small yet genuine smile. "remember, (name), this isn't goodbye forever. it's just a 'see you later.' and when that time comes, i'm sure cyno will make it up to you in the most special way."
(name) nodded, wiping away her tears with a tissue. "you're right, tighnari. i'll hold onto that hope."
chapter written : september 30 2023