Rue

17. To Know You

I don't know anything about you,
I don't know anything about your family,
I don't even know about your birthday,
But I'm here to stay,
And to know you.

Bonne anniversaire, Chaol.

Rue looks at his expression as he reads her card, which is just full of pure honesty. She really didn't know that his birthday is on today after all.

He looks near to tears but when she blinks her eyes that look is already gone.

He gazes at the other thing she gave him, the bookmark.

It is a handmade bookmark made up of laminated papers and dried leaves and flowers. The caption shouts I AM AWESOME in the front and I LOVE MYSELF at the back.

Chaol's face morphs from a smile into a wide grin. She replies him with a shy smile.

It's a split second idea. It's not like he doesn't love himself, with that attitude, she thinks.

"I'll be back in a while." He runs off towards the car and stows the present somewhere in the car, running back.

The way he runs makes her smile. It is as if he is just a young kid running around.

"Let's go." He takes her hand, startling her. After a second's pause, she laughs and goes with him.

***
Chaol
***

It is evening as James and Kate goes away once more, leaving us alone. I really hope they're getting together.

Rue splashes water at me, blinding me and I can hear her tingling laughter as I splash water towards her direction.

Suddenly, I hear a small scream and I wipe off the water from my eyes to find the source of the scream.

Rue is fully immersed in the water and struggling to get up as I help her out and she coughs and splutters.

Then she laughs after the ordeal as she still stays in my arms as I carry her towards some rocks after fetching towels for both of us.

"It's your fault I tripped." She exclaims. "What if I drowned?"

"You know I won't let you drown." I say.

"Who knows? But if I drown, I'll hate you forever. I'll come back and haunt you as a ghost." She teases.

"Kay."

"You're cruel!"

"Kay."

"At least say something, sorry or something."

"Sorry."

She doesn't reply me. I look at her to see what's wrong and we both laugh at the same time.

"You're forgiven. Are you happy?" She nudges my cheek a little.

"Nope." I wink at her, but my mind automatically went back to the past.

"You okay? You can tell me anything, you know. We're friends." She watches me closely as I pretend not to see her doing that.

I gaze at the sea ahead of us. The sea has no end.

"Chaol?" She taps my shoulder.

"Yeah." I reply.

"Chaol." She leans on my chest, not looking at me anymore.

"Hmm?" I watch the red sun going down towards the horizon. Why does a good day end so fast? It is also a wonder that she is still in my arms. But we are only friends.

"You're very bad." She reaches out to tap my forehead. "And very... emotional."

I look away. I don't want her to see me like this. I want to forget everything and have a good birthday for once. With her.

"You can trust me. And please be happy. After all, it's your birthday today." Her tone gets serious and I feel a sudden irritation.

I wave it away. If only she knows what I want, and she being here is just so tempting, but we're just friends after all. It takes all I have not to touch her face and tell her that I like her and ask her to be my girlfriend.

"Okay." I've got nothing to do except to tell her the story, to see if she will know me like she says, in the card.

And so I do.