"So girl, are you excited for your birthday?" Basilio questions as he takes a sip of water. Everyone's at the dining table except Lon'qu. Where is he? a part of me wonders.

"What?" I reply belatedly, looking up from my plate. I've barely eaten anything. "Oh, right, um…"

"Did you forget your birthday?" Flavia asks, her blue eyes surprised.

"I guess, haha." I didn't; I just spent more time avoiding Lon'qu than thinking about it. Even with what happened in the laundry room, I still kept my distance around him. He's taken the hint and toned down the eagerness to do my bidding.

"Birthday?" the cursed man interrupts, appearing at the stairs. We all turn to face him.

"Yeah, she's going to be nineteen!" Basilio boasts.

Lon'qu slowly brings his eyes to me. I start blushing, which causes him to blush in turn. I know that the Khans shared a knowing look. They seem to do that a lot lately… "You're nineteen?"

"Yeah...how old are you?" That's so rude, Olivia! Has Basilio taught you nothing in manners?! Then again… "I-if you don't mind," I amend.

Lon'qu drops his gaze onto the floor. "...Twenty-two."

"Ah, close to our age!" Flavia exclaims. Both Khans are in their early thirties.

"When is it?"

"Next week!" Basilio replies.

"Congratulations," Lon'qu says to me. Now everyone looks at me expectantly for some hint of giddiness. I'm famous for being a tad too excited about my birthday. Gotta enjoy my youth, right?

"Yayyy…! Then I can go shopping, woo…!" How can I think about my birthday when I'm still reeling about Lon'qu being the only person who doesn't look at my dancing? And that he held my hand willingly? Gods, I need a break…

Thankfully, my statement appeases the Khans. "Great! Let's go right now!" Flavia says, jumping up from her seat and grabs my wrist to pull me from my seat while I'm in the middle of scarfing down mashed potatoes for the first time since the meal began.

"Don't stay out too long," Basilio reminds us, bringing me back to my sixteenth birthday, where Flavia and I camped out on the streets to get tickets for an exclusive performance. It took us three days, but it was worth it.

"We won't!" Flavia and I chorus, though I'm not exactly sure if we'd uphold it. Flavia pushes me towards the stairs as I look back to see Lon'qu watching me go with saddened eyes.


"Tell me again why...we're doing this spree a week before my birthday?" It's past midnight and Flavia and I are hauling what feels like a thousand bags to my room.

"You need a distraction...I also need to get supplies." The East-Khan won't meet my eyes as she says this. I squint at her. During the trip, she's slipped away while I was changing into countless outfits, coming back with more bags stuffed with tissue paper, refusing to tell me what she got.

"Okay…" As we near my bedroom door, I notice that there's a dark figure lurking. They're not paying attention to us or doing anything in particular, just pacing in front of the door. I'm about to scream, but Flavia notices too. She puts a finger on her lips and lunges at the figure, sword out, shopping bags and all. Quickly, the figure parries the blow with their own sword.

"Not again, you-"

"East-Khan?" Lon'qu.

The East-Khan and I let out a sigh of relief, dropping the bags. "Oh, boy, it's just you."

"Lon'qu, what are you doing creeping around my door?!" I nearly screech. My eye adjust enough to the darkness to make out that he hasn't changed into his sleepwear at all. Was he…? No. Too late, I realize that I've stepped towards him, but he hasn't moved. He only moves away when Flavia gets closer.

"...I was waiting for your return, Olivia." Again, my heart sings at the way he says my name, but I squash it.

"Why?" I get closer, staring him down. I can make out that he's blushing, but I can't tell how much.

Flavia sees the growing tension and slides away with the bags of things she bought without me. "I'll leave you two kids alone…"

Lon'qu relaxes when Flavia is out of earshot and whispers, "I mis-I was worried."

That takes me back. "Oh…"

The ruffled man starts pacing again. "It's ridiculous, but I'm supposed to protect you, and I-"

"Oh Lon'qu, that's only for parties. Flavia and Basilio can handle it the other times."

He stops pacing for a moment and looks into my eyes. "Yes, but I want-oh no…"

I perk up. "You want what?" Hopefully it's lighter than visiting his wrecked village.

For the first time since I found him, he takes a big step back. "N-nothing," he stutters.

My shoulders drop. "O…okay."

After several seconds of awkward silence, Lon'qu offers, "Let me help you." Without letting me answer, he picks up all of the bags and patiently waits for me to open the door. Blushing, I push it open and let him in. He nods at me in thanks and places all of them by my closet.

"Thanks…"

"Anytime." A little eager there…guess he still wants to make it up. I gesture the way out, but Lon'qu doesn't move. He stands there, looking at my feet.

"Is there something…?" I begin.

The man nods. "What...would you like for your birthday?" His gaze travels up my body, but not in a leering way. It's more like he's hesitating to look at my face. Of course. I think about the shopping spree; it was fun and all, getting new stuff, but nothing really caught my eye. I only did it to satisfy Flavia. "Do you still...want the dress?" Lon'qu asks to my surprise.

What dress? Hold on… "The one I was staring at when I went out with you the first time?" Immediately, heat rises to my cheeks. Make it sound like a date, Olivia. Real smooth.

Unfortunately, Lon'qu gets it too and starts blushing as well. "Y-yeah."

I ponder for a minute. "Yeah...it was so pretty…! But it's probably gone by now." It's been a month or so.

"Ah...anything else?" His voice rises a little, trying to sound casual.

The infatuated side of me wants to scream, You! but I cross my arms and say, "Not that I can think of. But I'll, um, let you know when I think of something." Wow, trying to beat a dead horse, aren't you?

Thankfully, Lon'qu doesn't say anything about it. His mouth turns into a small frown, disappointed that I have nothing for him. "Alright...well, good night...I'm sorry." I sigh inwardly. He's been saying that ever since the party and honestly I have no real reason to be upset with him at this point. You just want him to notice you.

"Good night…" I say to his back as he closes the door. Sighing, I change into my pajamas for once and throw myself onto my bed, loving how soft and warm it is. Don't think about him, I tell myself as I drift off into sleep.


Of course, I had to dream about Lon'qu. We weren't even doing anything, just holding hands on a date and Lon'qu uncharacteristically kissing me first at the end. I really need to stop. Secretly though, I didn't want it to end, but I suddenly woke up to screams. I thought it was me, but they're still persisting. Slowly, I crawl out of bed and crack my door open an inch. The screams are coming from down the hall. And only two people sleep in this corridor: Lon'qu and me. Oh no, Lon'qu.

Heart beating fast, I run down the hall to Lon'qu's room. I knock, but seeing how futile that is, I barge into his room. I've only been inside once before, but I don't have time to balk at the fact that I'm in a man's room. Lon'qu writhes on his bed, the sheets thrown off. "Lon'qu?" My voice rises an octave. He doesn't answer. I approach him to see that he's asleep. A nightmare?

"Ke...ri…" the sweaty man croaks, his face contorted in fear.

"Lon'qu," I say a little louder. I'm afraid to touch him. There's no time for that, just do it!

"No…!"

"Lon'qu…!" I start shaking him, but he grabs onto me and flings me to the side. My back hits the wall, but I'm undeterred. I jump on him and shake him hard. "Lon'qu!" I plead. Please wake up. I can't see you like this. He only responds by pushing me away.

"Let me...protect you…!" He thrashes around even more, but I don't fall off the bed.

"You've done enough!" I cry. I grip his shoulders, willing him to wake up.

The minute the words leave my mouth, Lon'qu's brown eyes shoot open, wild and unfocused. I notice that there are bags under them. Has he not been sleeping? "Ke'ri…?" He looks at me, but not really.

"Lon...qu?" I ask tentatively, wondering who this girl is.

His chest starts heaving, his mouth breaking into another rare smile and pulls me close. He kisses my shoulder. "Ke'ri, I missed you much…" Lon'qu starts to sob quietly. Is Ke'ri his girlfriend…? I feel guilty for witnessing him like this, when it's clearly for someone else.

"I...I'm so sorry." I run my fingers through his hair, hating that I'm leading him on. "But I'm not…"

"Not what?" Lon'qu pulls back a little.

I bite my lip. "I'm not...Ke'ri."

The man pulls away even farther to look into my eyes, like really look. He realizes his mistake and his face falls entirely. "Olivia…? What are you doing?"

Tears spring to my eyes. "I-I-I'm really sorry, b-but you were screaming and I came to check and…"

Lon'qu looks at me as if he lost the girl again. "I...I apologize for the disturbance." His voice sounds hollow, but his eyes are glassy. "Go back to sleep."

I furrow my eyebrows. "Lon'qu...you can let it out." I put a hand on his cheek. That breaks him. He pulls me close again, crying heartbroken tears. I pet him in comfort. It feels like hours before his sobs subside.

"Thank you...Olivia," he finally says, pushing me away a little.

I nod. "Would you...like to talk about it?" He doesn't look at me as he shakes his head. "Okay...I'll let you be."

I move to get off the bed, but Lon'qu's small voice pleads, "Please don't leave."

Surprised, I meet his eyes. "Are...you sure?"

He gives a curt nod. We both know what this would imply usually, but it's clear he needs someone to hold, regardless of his fear. I move to lay by his side, becoming aware at the last minute that he's shirtless. I blush, but I remind myself, We're just sleeping. We snuggle close enough that I can hear his heartbeat and I kiss his shoulder. He lets out a short breath and kisses the top of my head. Slowly, we fall asleep.