Rice, December, Remember

(2.5) Festival, Fireworks, and... I'm sorry, who?

We were kids back then. It was December when I met a girl named December. I believe it was when my mother was organizing a bit of a festival for her birthday. She was a timid girl, though always surrounded by people—her friends.

I tried to get closer to her and set up an interaction. Another individual beat me to it though, an adult. "Hey, Dece'! There are some snacks over there. You help yourself?"

The little girl, December, made her way to a long table. Her eyes were feasting over a literal feast assorted all over choice. I thought she looked adorable.

December, being a small girl, climbed one of the chairs to reach for some sweet treat. Attempting to grab one of the small cakes, she halted, seeing something that caught her attention... rice creams.

She extended her little hand but realized she couldn't reach her favorite.

Moments like this, it's either she falls off the chair and people will expect me to catch her and that would start an expected romantic situation. But we were still kids back then.

And I still remember how adorably shy she looked when I handed her the piece of rice cream she was desperately trying to reach for. I smiled at her when she gently took it off my hand. Her face was slightly redder than the velvet frosting that glazed on the table.

I remember many things about her, but she cannot recall a single thing about me.

"What's your name?" I asked, even though I already knew it was December. But I wanted to hear her talk. "December," she answered after finishing her munching. "What about you?"

I didn't expect her to ask me the same question too. I figured maybe she wasn't exactly shy at all, or maybe she grew comfortable with others quickly especially when they could be trusted. But I should have introduced myself first, before making her speak. I stared at what she was eating, and it made me chuckle. "I'm Rice," I responded with a smile.

She stopped eating and just glanced at me silently. When she spoke again, I felt a tingle. She laughed as well when she realized. "Pft! —I'm sorry, who...

... Are you?" she asked as the last plitandas were raised in the sky. I let go of her and gave distance between us on the seat. It was the moment I knew December's accursed memory kicked itself out.

She stood up, with the rice cream still in her hand. Without a word, she left the place in wonder. I couldn't do anything, so I just sat up straight and gazed at the spectacle before me.