My Mascot
Today is our 1st anniversary as a couple. He has been cold for the passed few days, but I guess it is because of his work. He has been busy these passed few weeks, I am aware, but I still expect him to give me something special for this day.
I woke up early and checked the time. It was 6 in the morning. I quickly opened my phone and checked my messages.
As expected, not a single message.
Is one year the end of what could have been our forever? It was a year but felt like a day to me, is it not like that for him?
I took a bath and dressed myself neatly, for I should at least celebrate this day even if I have to, alone.
I went out of the house, walked downtown. I visited each and one of the shops where I was a regular.
Each one gave me free coupons, but it was not even time for a seasonal coupon giving, or was I just not informed?
I went to the restaurant where I first saw him, that restaurant became too memorable, that we go there almost everyday. I did not know if it was just me or if it was just early, but nobody was there to eat.
I went to the counter, just to receive what I always order. Maybe these employees have already memorized my favorites.
As I was eating, a vendor of roses came inside the restaurant and handed me a bouquet. I said thank you and gave him my payment, though I did not even buy to him, but he did not accept the payment and went off.
After that, I went out to go to the park. The park at least is filled with people. But what was weird is that, people look at me when I pass by them. Then a kid bumped to my back. Coincidentally, he was holding my favorite flower, he gave it to me as a sign of apology.
I sat on a bench after taking a walk. A walk full of absurdity. A husky, which I have always been wanting to see, was lying on the grass, letting me pat it. A portion of the park was planted with my favorite flower, dandelions, which should not be there in the first place. Also, the people keep looking at me.
I spent my day in the park. I did not go hungry because every couple who come beside me, shares their food.
When it was time to go back home, I stood up and walked.
Just few steps away from the bench, I looked back and reminisced our time together on that bench. Our first date, second, third - eighth - 27th. I guess we go here in all of our dates, after all.
It is almost night, and I still have not heard a thing from him. I say he really did forget.
Then suddenly a bicycle stopped next to me, driven by a man I have not seen ever in my life. He gave me a helmet and asked to ride with him.
I agreed because he insisted, but then he dropped me in front of the park. Then a kid run to me, giving me another rose saying "Happy Anniversary!" I got surprised, how can a kid know that?
I did not mind it at all and continued walking. I passed by the restaurant, and another kid gave me a rose, saying the same thing. Is this a thing nowadays? Or an event of some sort? I am not sure.
After passing by four shops, I received 8 roses. Now that I think about it, those four shops are the shops I got my free coupons this morning. So they also give free roses in the afternoon.
Before going home, I stopped by at the residential park, where I looked back at our school days, he was still a childish teen back then.
Back then, my mom pulled a prank on us. Sending a mascot at the park and scaring off kids. I remember him crying because of that.
Crazy enough, that same old mascot came running from the streets to the park. That freaked me out so after stopping in front of me, I smacked it.
It stayed quiet, though I think that smack was a bit over the top. Come to think of it, this mascot was always in my vision all day today. How creepy.
"Happy Anniversary, Willow." It said. He handed me a bouquet of ten roses. "This makes the mark 20, does it not?" I did not get what he meant, but if I think about it, I did get 10 roses just from walking to here, and he gave me another ten..
"What do you mean by 20?" I asked, still full of confusion. "Did you know that if you multiple 20 by 5, you will have a hundred?" he uttered. It was absurd, I mean, yeah 20×5 is 100, is he messing with me?
"You should also know that with that in mind, I already gave you five special things." He sounded like a con. I did not get it at all.
"Coupons you always wanted to have, your favorite food, a bouquet after meal, dandelions and a meeting with your favorite dog." he continued. "100 mark from that 20×5 I just said, that means I 100% love you."
It was at that time I realized, he did not forget, he did not put it aside. He was working hard for this day. A day he could really pull a surprise to me.
"Happy Anniversary, my love."
I jumped to him, and hugged my mascot. "Happy Anniversary to you too, Aiden, my love."
We went home holding hands.
(-Anyway, are you not hot at all? You have been wearing that all day.
-Not at all, I am driven by the will to surprise you, nothing will tire me...)
