From Mine to Ours

30: Spring Festival

Today's the big day. The huge event we've put blood, sweat and tears into for these past few weeks. Our minds and schedules have been flooded with all kinds of meetings, information and reminders of this very day and we'll finally see it come to life.

I just have to make sure the kiss stays in the very far back of my mind while I walk down that runway. It's all that I could think about since this morning and I could barely fall asleep because of it.

I really don't regret a single second of it, but I guess overthinking it and doubting myself comes with the package...

The festival just started this morning, but it feels like it's in full swing already. Children are running about the closed off streets that are usually filled with cars day and night. Flowers and really large bouquets fill any space we can find, whether they're hanging off lampposts or standing proudly on all of the shops' windowsills.

Fresh air invades our nostrils, a refreshing contrast to the smells of the city life we usually take in on a daily basis. Various DJs stationed around the city are creating a symphony of music, bringing an additional sense of wonder and joy to the people.

I can't keep myself from looking around for the umpteenth time, my green sweater loosening around my shoulders as I twirl around, feeling the breeze hit my face while the city fills with so much laughter. I really love spring.

A hand grasps my bare shoulder, stopping me from walking straight into a family trying to take a picture of their children. "Woah, someone's excited," Julian chuckles, tugging me into his side as we stroll through the market.

The Spring Festival's Market rivals the biggest one happening in October. Nothing can beat the Fall Market, but this one is really impressive. Sometimes I don't even know where to start and I end up wanting to buy everything.

"How could I not be excited?" I ask him, my eyes flitting back and forth to peek inside each stall on either side of us. My eyes finally land on my all time favorite stall.

The familiar fairy lights hanging off of the edge bring an extra pep into my step. In all my excitement, I end up grasping onto his hand, pulling him to one of the stalls that proudly obtains most of my money every year. "Hi, Anna!" I hop up to her and she turns around with her arms already out and ready for my crushing embrace.

"I've been waiting for you, Little Bee," she pulls back and looks over my face as she always does to gauge my well-being. Whatever she sees leaves her satisfied and she walks off with a firm bob of her head. I watch as her long skirt flutters with her movements as she sifts through the abundant amount of mugs in her inventory.

"How are you doing, Sweetheart?"

"Really well, how are you, Anna?" I lean on the counter, my gaze fully focused on looking at all of the handmade items soaked with Anna's love, patience and care filling all the space in her stall.

I feel Julian's body step up closer behind me, using our close proximity and his rather long and thin jacket to block the view from others as his hand holds onto my waist. My teeth grasp onto my bottom lip at the movement and I can't fight off the heat rushing to my cheeks.

"Same as always, Dear, it's always nice seeing you again," she smiles up at me, her green eyes still holding their usual brightness and liveliness. "So, Little Bee, who's the handsome man behind you?" She isn't even looking in our direction anymore as she clips back her long gray hair.

"Ah, um..." I tilt my head in silent questioning. How am I supposed to introduce them to others now? We're not exactly official and we haven't talked about our relationship much lately. "I'm not sure?" As soon as the words leave my mouth, I physically facepalm, leaving my embarrassed self to further humiliate myself.