Rooftop Summer | EN- Jake

12

The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a deep indigo hue as Hanna made her way to the rooftop. the day had been long and uneventful, her mind drifting from one thought to another, but always circling back to the anticipation of seeing Jake. Their nightly meetings had become the highlight of her existence, the one thing she could count on to bring a little light into the darkness that seemed to follow her everywhere.

When she reached the top of the stairs, she pushed open the door and stepped out into the cool night air. The rooftop was quiet, the city's distant hum barely audible beneath the blanket of twilight. As expected, Jake was already there, sitting in his usual spot at the edge of the rooftop, his silhouette outlined against the faint glow of the city lights.

Hanna smiled to herself as she approached, the familiar comfort of his presence washing over her. She had brought something special with er tonight—another small package of her favourite sour lemon candies. She had been saving them, waiting for the right moment to share them with Jake, and tonight felt like the perfect time.

"Hey," she greeted softly as she sat down beside him, close enough that their shoulders almost touched.

Jake glanced over at her, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Hey," he replied, his voice quiet but warm.

Hanna reached into her pocket and pulled out the crumpled package of candy, holding it out to him with a grin.
"I brought something for you," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Jake raised an eyebrow, eyeing the package with curiosity.
"What is it?"

"Sour lemon candy," Hanna replied, tearing open the package and holding it out to him.
"It's my favourite. I thought you might like to try it."

Jake looked at the candy, the at Hanna, his expression skeptical.
"Sour, huh?"

"Yeah, but it's good," Hanna insisted, popping a piece into her own mouth. The familiar burst of sourness made her eyes water for a moment, but she smiled through it, savouring the tangy flavour.
"Trust me, you'll get used to it."

With a small shrug, Jake reached into the package and pulled out a piece of candy. He unwrapped it and hesitated for a moment, then popped it into his mouth. Almost immediately, his face twisted into a grimace, his eyes squeezing shut as the sourness hit him full force.

"Ack!! Why is it so sour?" Jake exclaimed, his voice muffled by the candy in his mouth. His expression was a mix of shock and confusion as he tried to process the intense flavour.

Hanna couldn't contain her laughter. She burst out in a fit of giggles, the sound light and joyous as it echoed across the rooftop.
"Hahahaha!!" She laughed, clutching her sides as she watched Jake's reaction.
"You should see your face right now!"

Jake shot her a look of disbelief, still struggling with the sourness in his mouth.
"You actually enjoy this?" He asked, his voice incredulous.

Hanna nodded, still chuckling.
"It's an acquired taste," she admitted, wiping away a tear of laughter.
"But trust me, you'll get used to it. After a while, the sweetness starts to come through, and it's totally worth it."

Jake looked at her, his eyes narrowing playfully as he tried to get used to the candy's intense flavour.
"I'm not so sure about that," he muttered, though there was a hint of smile on his lips.
"This is some kind of torture, you know that?"

Hanna grinned, reaching out to nudge him gently with her shoulder.
"It's a good kind of torture," she teased.
"And besides, you'll thank me when you finally get to the sweetness."

Jake rolled his eyes, but the small smile remained on his face as he finally managed to swallow the candy.
"I'll take your word for it," he said, still looking a bit dubious.

They lapsed into a comfortable silence after that, the shared moment of laughter leaving a warm glow between them. Hanna watched as Jake reached for another piece of candy, this time more prepared for the sourness that awaited him. She felt a strange of contentment, a sense that, for just a little while, everything was okay.

As the night wore on, the sky above them darkened, and the first stars began to appear. The city was alive with its usual hum, but tonight there was something different in the air—a quiet anticipation, as if the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

Hanna leaned back on her hands, gazing up at the sky, her thoughts drifting like the clouds overhead. She felt the weight of the moment, the realisation that these nights with Jake were becoming more important to her than she had ever expected. There was a sense of safety in their quiet companionship, a sense that she could be herself without fear of judgement or pity.

And then, without warning, the first burst of fireworks lit up the sky.

Hanna gasped in surprise, her eyes widening as the colour exploded above them in a shower of red and gold. The sound followed a split second later, a deep, resonant boom that echoed across the city. More fireworks followed, each one brighter and louder than the last, filling the sky with vibrant light.

Jake sat up straighter, his gaze fixed on the display above them.
"Wow," he murmured, his voice filled with awe.

Hanna smiled, her heart swelling at the sight of his amazement.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She said softly, her eyes reflecting the colours of the fireworks.

Jake nodded, his eyes never leaving the sky.
"Yeah, it is."

They watched in silence as the fireworks continued, each burst of colour more dazzling than the last. The night was alive with light and sound, the sky transformed into a canvas of fire and magic. It was as if the universe itself has decided to celebrate this moment, to remind them that there was still beauty in the world, even in the midst of their struggles.

As the final fireworks exploded in a brilliant display of gold and silver, Hanna felt a surge of emotion rise within her. The joy and beauty of the moment mingled with the sadness and fear that had been her constant companions, creating a whirlwind of feelings that she couldn't contain any longer.

Without thinking, she turned to Jake, her voice barely audible over the roar of the fireworks.
"Jake, there's something I need to tell you," she said, her heart pounding in her chest.

He looked at her, his eyes still bright with the reflection of the fireworks.
"What is it?" He asked, leaning in slightly so he could hear her over the noise.

Hanna hesitated for a moment, then took a deep breath and forced the words out.
"I'm dying," she confessed, her voice trembling with the weight of the truth.

But just as the words left her lips, another firework exploded above them, louder and brighter than all the others. The sound was deafening, drowning out everything else, and Hanna realised with a sinking heart that Jake hadn't heard her.

He was still looking at her, his expression expectant, waiting for her to speak. But the moment had passed, and the words she had been desperate to say were lost in the noise.

Hanna's shoulders sagged, a mix of relief and frustration swirling inside her. She had wanted to tell him, had wanted to share the truth with him in this moment of beauty and light. But maybe it wasn't the right time. Maybe she wasn't ready to burden him with the knowledge of her impending death.

She forced a smile, shaking her head slightly as she looked back up to the sky.
"Never mind," she said, her voice soft but steady.
"It's nothing."

Jake frowned slightly, as if sensing that she was holding something back, but he didn't press her. Instead, he turned his attention back to the sky, his expression thoughtful.

Hanna watched him for a moment, her heart heavy with the unspoken truth. She knew she couldn't keep it from him forever, but for now, she would let this moment remain untouched by the darkness that lingered at the edges of her life.

And so, they sat together, side by side, watching the final bursts of fireworks light up the sky. The world was filled with colour and sound, and for a brief, fleeting moment, it felt like everything was exactly as it should be.