Heart Forest

One

•Ivory•

Life Journal #73: His birthday— April 21, 20xx; Sunday

"Marcux? You there?" I stood in front a white door and knocked lightly. My net, some beetle baits and containers in hand. The door opened and revealed a man with an I-just-woke-up-from-my-beautiful-sleep look.

"Good morning Marcux! Let's go?" I cheerfully greeted him. "Ivy? What's going on? What's the *yawn* occasio—" I pulled him out of the house and tugged him near me.

"Oh dear! Don't tell me that you forgot your own birthday!" I stared at him widely. "Okay! Let's get you dressed!" I tugged on his sleeve and pulled him inside the house. "Tito! Tita! Good morning po!" I greeted his parents that are at the living room watching a movie while eating banana chips and some pancakes.

"Good morning anak, tagay! Let's eat?" His mom invited us to eat with them but I politely denied. "Naku! I just ate my breakfast, tita. Thank you. May I borrow your son for today?" I said with a wide smile. "Well, no problem! But you need to take a bath, son! Anyways, enjoy your day, birthday boy! Me and your tita are going on a date today. The both of you can, too." His dad approved. "Take care, children!" His mom added.

"We're not dating, tito! Bye!" Then I pushed Marcux to his room. "I'll be back! When I return, we'll head out. Sounds like a plan?" And he replied me a "Okay." in a sleepy tone.

I went down the stairs (because Marcux's room is on the second floor) and I went to a shop that sells some beetle bait. Marcux loves catching beetles —most especially when it's summer— it was our bonding time ever since we were just elementary students. His birthday is today— on a hot summer in the Philippines— and I want to make him enjoy his day. After purchasing the bait, I headed to Marcux's home.

"You're back, Ivy! Let's go beetle hunting!" Marcux greeted me with a smile and he was already outside the house with our nets and our containers.

"Great! Let's go!" I tried to get my net from him but he insists to carry it. We went to a café shop and bought some drinks and took a tricycle to the park near the forest— where we usually catch beetles.

We finished our drinks first before we went to the forest. "As my birthday present to you, I'll give you all the beetles that I'll be catching today. And everything's my treat! Promise!" I said cheerfully. "Really? Thanks! But, my treat. It's my birthday, Ivy!" And he hugged me tightly. "Nah. It's your birthday that's why it's my treat. No buts!" And we chatted while walking to our favorite spot. Not too long after that, we started looking for beetles.

"Marcux! Look what I caught! Marcux!" I said excitedly like a 3-year old kid who got a balloon while holding a container with 3 stag beetles.

"Ivy! Not too loud!" He whisper-yelled while concentrating on a green stag beetle on a tree nearby. I muttered a soft "Sorry.." And looked around for more beetles.

Not being attentive enough and being such a klutz, I unluckily tripped on a tree root and rolled on the dirt-covered ground. "OUCH! Ugh! This sucks. Oh dea— it's bleeding!" I screamed in agony.

"Ivy! Oh God! Where are you!? Ivory!" Marcux worriedly looked for me. "Down here, Mr. beetle enthusiast." I tried standing up but, I miserably failed.

"Ivory! What happened? Are you alright!?" He saw my bruised knee and arm. "Ivy! We need to cover this up! Wait. Stay here. I will get some gauze to stop the bleeding. Stay. Don't move." He ran and told me to stay so, I did.

When he returned, he started cleaning the wounds and I uttered non-stop 'sorry's and 'I'm such a klutz..'.

That fall didn't ruin the day. Despite my wounds and scratches, I still insisted to catch more beetles with him. It was his birthday, after all. Though he tried stopping me from doing so.We stopped catching beetles around one o'clock in the afternoon. We walked at the park and went to get some fruit smoothies at a stall nearby.

"Ivy, you seriously need to stop walking for today. Your wound is still fresh. I don't want to see you hurt. Let's go back home?" He politely told me.

"Wait! This is the last stop over! Come with me!" I pulled him and we went to get our things before leaving the park . "Very adventurous. Ms. Tourist, where are we off to?" He tried mocking me. "You'll see." We rode a tricycle and we were dropped off at a crowded place nearby.

"Ivy, what are we doing here? And it's dangerous. Look how crowded it is.. And your wounds.." He whispered at my ear. "You'll enjoy this. Trust me, Marcux. Just enjoy the—" I was cut off by the people chanting a countdown and I started chanting too. My gaze drifted to his profile view while waiting for the fireworks to appear.

"8..7.." This guy.. has a perfectly dark, wavy hair. I liked the way he styled it. It looked so perfect with the skies dyed with purples and oranges as the sun sets.

"6..5.." This guy has beautiful brown eyes, hazel brown. I liked the way his eyes sparkled when he's excited and overjoyed.

"4..3.." I really like this guy, don't I? Will my feelings reach him? Would he return them?

"2..1!" Would he even notice? Would he care? Not fair..

And then the next thing I knew was that a bunch of fireworks started launching in the air.

I unconsciously looked once again, at the amazed face of the man beside me. "Wow.." He uttered, not looking at me. Then he gave me a tight hug. And I unknowingly smiled at the smiling man who suddenly hugged me.

"This was one of my best birthdays with you. Thank you. Ouy elvo, Ivy."

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Second! Ideas really bombarded me today and decided to write my overflowing ideas. Stay tuned and enjoy! xx -Ree

Other books:
1. Unexpected
2. Her Fortress