After the End: Maki's Birthday

02 - Nico, My Love...

MAKI'S POV

"I...I am leaving...Maki-chan..."

"Huh?"

"I will be moving to another house, Maki-chan, close to the new university I've been enrolled to."

"What!? Wait, how would that..."

"My mom told me. She said we have to move soon since we might no longer have enough money to pay for this month's rent."

"Oh...*cough* is it far?"

"Yeah...in another city. We'll start moving our stuffs two days from now."

So that's why. Nico will be moving to another house. Hearing that I wanted to feel relieved, since I am happy to see Nico is alright with...with what happened. But...I feel like...it was all too early to happen...

"Hey, Maki-chan, these things are bound to happen anyway. We're not school idols or schoolmates anymore. I thought you prepared for this..."

"Yeah, but...*cough* Nico, it's just that I'm curious why it had to happen so soon."

"So am I. It went earlier than expected."

I am kinda sad with what was happening. Somehow I feel powerless and weak. I don't like the feeling. Nico, too, is sad telling me all this.

I pulled out something from a small box on a table beside me. I pulled out something to help cheer things up...even for a bit.

"You still have the other ring, right? As long we both wear our rings, we'll still be connected. Remember?"

I showed Nico the ring that Tsubasa-chan gave me last time. Nico also has one. We were both given a pair of rings in order to build our relationship back when we had a fight. Nico getting jealous...me dating Tsubasa...long story.

(Read NicoMaki: Jealousy here on Wattpad to know why.)

"Oh. Sure, Maki-chan.", Nico held my hand and kissed it. I still had some strength left to ask Nico two more things.

"How is everyone, by the way?"

"Well...everyone is fine, not doing much though. I think. But...Nozomi is getting busier lately especially when it had something to do with her new university, we have not talked yet."

"How about Eri-chan?"

"Eri-chan will be leaving too. Well...probably temporarily. She will be going back to Russia and have a vacation there with her family. She'll leave soon, at April 18."

"I see...", I said with a sad expression. It looks like what I wanted to happen won't come this time...

"Maki-chan...were you thinking that all nine of us will get to celebrate your birthday again?", said Nico as she looked at me and noticed my emotion.

"Ah...no..I am not. Really."

"Sigh, you are. Don't lie."

I just nodded as my reply, knowing nothing will happen if I continue to deny my feelings.

"Hey, Nico. Do you have a gift for me?", I asked her my second question.

"Ummm...ye-yeah! Of course I do, Maki-chan!"

"Hmm...you don't have one, do you?"

"Maki!!? Believe me! I have a present, I am just keeping it a secret!!"

Nico panicked a bit. I feel like she has another weird plan this time...

"Look, Maki you should be worried more that you're sick now than that everyone else might not visit you on your birthday!"

Yeah, I know that Nico but...I feel lonely not seeing everyone around...

"Come to think about it, it is ironic that it's the birthday girl who's sick this time, huh?!"

"*Cough* *cough* Oh really? Well, it is better that I got sick instead of you Nico-chan. Remember what you did with my birthday last time?"

"What!? Are you thinking that I screwed that up?!"

"More like you made that confusing. Getting sick...not calling me...playing a piano pretending that you're good at it..."

(Read A Short NicoMaki Story here on Wattpad to know why.)

"!! Hey, for your information, I am not dumb anymore when it comes to playing pianos!"

"I'll show you!", Nico walked towards my piano and was about to play, then said: "Hey, what song do you want to hear?"

"Snow Halation...*cough*...", it was the song I saw in my dream. I wanted that.

Nico started playing. The keys were pressed with soft touches that balanced the rhythm of the tune. The melody, especially the intro, was really sweet. That song always reminds me of u's, of both us, of all our sad and happy memories. I could not help but imagine that it was me playing the piano now. I have to say, Nico's really improved this time.

Then she stopped as she was about to hit the chorus.

"Eh...uhh Maki, I forgot how to play that part..."

"Uhh...let me help..."

"Wait! Maki-chan!!? Hey!!"

I walked towards her slowly even though I was feeling dizzy and out of balance. I got to her and held her hand, pressing the right keys....sigh...

"You press this key, then press that key with your other hand, then...umm..", I said as I helped her play the song. I could see Nico's awkward face as she blushed with what I am doing.

Hehe, is she embarassed? How cute...

Before I noticed it, my body started moving on it's own. My hand started holding Nico's face...I pulled her to my face...then I leaned...

..to kiss her...yeah...to kiss.......*thud*...

NICO'S POV

Darn it. Maki-chan is getting carried away!! She's sick, why is she still doing this!!?

Maki was about to kiss me when she suddenly fainted. She fell and breathe heavily, quickly I checked if she's okay.

"Maki-chan!! Hey!! Maki-chan!!", I started getting worried that she was feeling worse when I heard...

".......Ni...ni...co.......Zzzzz...", Maki whispered.

Sigh. She just slept. I'm glad nothing horrible happened. Looking at Maki-chan I touched her hair. She is so cute, like an angel. For a sick girl, how amazing is that?

I carried Maki-chan in bridal style and brought her back to her bed. She was heavy, I'm glad I was able to carry her at all! Then I brought out some water and medicine, placing it on the table beside her. I knelt down and whispered: "Rest well, Maki-chan. Don't do anything stupid, okay? I love you."

Then I left the room, her mom was there and I told her to take care of Maki-chan well. I wanted to stay longer, but I have to get home to continue getting some stuff to our new house. And also...her birthday...

Darn it. I have many presents for her but I don't know if they're all possible. Honoka, Umi, and Kotori are busy helping their families. Hanayo and Rin are too busy with school. While Eri and Nozomi...they're going their seperate ways...And Maki-chan is sick now, of all times.

And then we have to move to another city...uggghh...why do so many things have to happen at this precious time? Knowing this may be the last time Maki-chan will have a complete birthday with all of us?

Going out and walking through the streets, I thought all of this and noticed a small tear on my right cheek. I wiped it off and continued walking without crying.

Darn it...what should I do now?....