AUTHOR'S NOTE: Happy Valentine's Day! Here I am, sitting alone in my room writing this in my laptop... all alone... *Sniff anybody have a shoulder that they can borrow? I need it to cry on...
Anyway! Did you know that this chapter was posted her eight months ago!? It was my first attempt at making a confession scene, so yeah. Consider this as my Valentine chapter and please, leave a review so I can return the sweet words to you!
If you guys are familiar with modern Korean culture, does anybody celebrate Black Day? (The day where all the single people eat black bean noodles and mope about being single) If you do, I know a black bean noodle restaurant that makes REALLY GOOD noodles that we can feast upon.
It has been a week and a half since the incident of Cindersap Forest. Jade seemed to have adapted to society well enough for her to walk around the town on her own. She even helped on James's chores like watering plants or taking care of chickens. Between the times, James had been preparing for the Stardew Valley fair. He remembered watching an episode on Livin' Off the Land about how various items will ensure the judges' scores to rise. Thus, he prepared an iridium ingot and a high-quality frozen tear and stored them in the freezer. He had nowhere else to store them. James also asked Robin for a barn and Marnie for two more chickens and four cows. He named the chicks Arcturus and Sirius while the cows Ganymede, Io, Callisto and Europa. His farm was now a home to various crops, most notably pumpkin and grapes.
James started the 13th of Fall by taking a look at the calendar. Something startled him. 'IT'S ABIGAIL'S BIRTHDAY?!' James thought. He rummaged through his desk to find his phone. He found that Sebastian and Sam had made a private chat in Facebook that had the title of 'OPERATION: OCCULT SURPRISE'
James Suh- Dudes, what's happening?
Sam Arvidel- bro, it's abby's birthday
James Suh- I know that. What's going to happen?
Sebastian Callahan- We're going to surprise the woman. We'll commence it at 8:00PM. James, I remember her going bananas for pumpkins and I saw your farm growing them. Bring it. Sam, you get chocolate cake. We all like it.
Sam Arvidel-We're also going to do it in the beach.
James Suh- That's what she said.
Sebastian Callahan- Shut up
James Suh- Alright, I'm going to start working. See you at Sam's house
James locked his phone, grabbed his watering can and went to work. Rooting his pumpkins from the ground, James decided to keep two of his finest pumpkins: One for the Fair and one for Abigail. Placing the two pumpkins on the porch, he set off to the barn where his cows reside only to find Jade playing with them. "So, having a good time with them?" James asked.
"Well, yeah. She's so cute!" Jade replied, rubbing Callisto's back. "Oh yeah, I've put the hay on the mangers. Now wait as I go to Sebastian!" She added.
"Jade, I'm thankful that you're helping me with the cows, but I don't think stalking a friend during work is a good idea. In fact, I don't think he is right now…" James said. "Hey, uh… it's my friend's birthday today. Abigail's the name. We're going to go prepare something. Wanna come with me?" He asked.
"Sure!" Jade replied, and followed James out of the barn after opening the shed gate for the cows to breathe fresh outside air. James instructed Jade to stay on the porch while he rummaged through his mailbox. He found two in the mail. He opened one to find the address of the General Store written on.
Dear James
It looks like you are going along well with the community. I've heard from my daughter that you've made a lot of good friends during your stay. However, I'm sure that you have some more feelings for a person in our community. Fear not, for I sell bouquets for a fair price of 200 Galleons for people with big hearts. Specially for you, I have a store of flowers that you have harvested during your stay in Cerulean Farm. I will make you a bouquet out of it if you're interested.
Give the bouquet to someone you're interested in and she'll understand what you mean. See you soon!
-Pierre Berneau
James folded the letter and placed it on the porch fence and took out the second letter. It was from Leah.
James,
We have been good friends since you came here. I want to return the favor of the kimchi you gave me at Spring. It's really delicious!
Anyway, the Kjellsten family is actually famous for our vineyards. We especially make wine and beer with my great-great-great grandfather's specially designed keg. I want to share the blueprints of this keg to you. I hope to taste your finest Stardew Vintage Wine one day! Toodles!
-Your friend, Leah Kjellsten
James found a large piece of paper folded into the size of the envelope. As soon as he unfolded it, his mouth opened widely. It was the keg that Leah had wrote about. 'Perfect! PERFECT!' James thought as he ran into the house and placed the blueprint in his desk. He then opened a chest full of various gemstones and minerals he had found in the mines and took out the biggest amethyst he had. Signaling Jade to follow him, the two set off for Pelican Town. However, as he thought about the surges, something sparked in his mind. The surge was getting closer to his heart. In short, he was in love with Abigail. Now, even thinking about the girl made him blush and activate the surge. His heart skipped beats. Perhaps that's why he wanted to give her his best pumpkin and amethyst.
After being briefed about how the gang will surprise Abigail, James permitted Jade to stay in Sam's house with Sebastian. He had other things to do that had correlation with Abigail's birthday. He first entered the General Store. He wanted to buy the bouquet. As he approached Pierre, questions started to flood his mind. When will he confess? What if she says no? What if it's too late? His mind was spinning around. He was sweating like a flash flood. He could only return to reality thanks to Pierre. "Hey, James! Are you okay?" Pierre shouted.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm okay, Mr. Berneau!" James replied. "I…I… I wish for a bouquet! The special one!" He added, stuttering his words.
"Ah, you have read my letter, eh? I understand. I was nervous when I confessed to my wife. It's the beauty of love, James!" Pierre said with a smile while he packed a bunch of flowers on a wrapping paper. As he handed it to his customer, James's memories started to resurrect. He remembered plucking these flowers from his farm's soil. "Yeah, thank you. Here's the money!" James said as he handed out the cash and received his bouquet. He placed the bouquet in his bag and set off. His next stop was the blacksmith's. He wanted to do something with the amethyst, but didn't know what. Clint immediately greeted him as soon as he entered the shop.
"Oh, hello James. What do you need?" Clint asked.
"Well, I uh… need your help on this." James replied, handing him the amethyst. Clint approached him and took the amethyst.
"Hmmm. This indeed is a large amethyst. Do you want to carve something on it?" Clint asked as if he read James's mind.
"Y…yes! That's right! May I borrow your chisel?" James asked. Clint nodded, handing back the amethyst. He walked to his tool box and threw a orchid-colored chisel.
"It's my best chisel, made of pure iridium-200. It can carve the hardest of gemstones! Good luck with it!" Clint said and returned to work. James shrugged. What will he carve on this gemstone? He looked through his phone's photo album to find a smiling picture of Abigail.
'Yeah, this will do.' James thought as he got to work.
Meanwhile, Jade brought some of the firewood from James's house and dropped them in a ring of rocks in the beach. Sebastian and Sam were raising the banner that read 'Happy Birthday Abigail' up on two poles. As they finished, Jade approached Sebastian. "Hey, where's James? I thought he would be here by now?" She asked.
"I know. We need him to make the food for the campfire!" Sebastian replied, scratching his head.
"Bros, I'll take care of that! Where are the skewers?" Sam said with confidence.
"Go to hell, Sam. Remember what you did at my birthday two years ago when you knocked over the soup pot, burning my legs? I nearly lost my… seeds." Sebastian said, flipping him off. Sam pouted and walked away. Just as Sebastian checked his phone. It was 6 o'clock. 'Damnit, where's is that bastard?' he thought. Suddenly, he heard someone running towards the beach. It was no other than James. "What took you so long? You've been out for seven damn hours!" Sebastian scolded him.
"Sorry, man! I've been… working on another present for Abby." James replied.
"Really? Show me, then. Let's see what you've been making." Sebastian said, holding his hand out. James hesitated. Should he reveal his affection towards the birthday girl? He decided that he should. He had felt this for three months now. He pulled out the amethyst, now hanging from a golden necklace. The purple gem had the face of Abigail along with the words: 'Abigail , la jeune fille qui a volé mon coeur' and '나의영원한사랑, 아비게일' engraved on it. Sebastian, looking at the gemstone closely, had his jaws drop open. "Oh, my god. H… How… You like her?" He asked. James nodded, blushing. His surge has seemed to cross its limits. Sam, curious of the situation, walked to the two. He too, had his jaws dropped. "Jesus Christ, James! Did you make this…. Hot damn!" Sam exclaimed, grabbing the necklace for close inspection. "Damn, bro! I never knew you were in love with the local occultist!" Sam jokingly remarked. James gave out a smirk and flipped him off.
"So, uh… where's the meat? The vegetables? The noodles?" Sebastian asked. James walked to the wooden table on the sand and placed down everything his friend asked for.
"…The fire?" James asked with a sneer. Sebastian nodded and quickly worked on the campfire. "Oh, yeah. We're going to need another fire. We need space for the pot." James said. Jade responded by placing some firewood beside the campfire and Sebastian poured some kerosene on it. He then lit the wood on fire with his lighter. James squatted next to the fire.
"You know, it's strange for her to call me 'Robo-buddy'." James said, impaling some chicken and shallots on metallic skewers.
"Really? I find it cute, though. You're the one with the robotics!" Sam replied, squatting next to James. James gave a smirk.
"Well, I guess you're right." James said, placing down his readied skewer and picked up an empty one. He noticed that Sam's eyes were glued to the uncooked food, drooling. "Hey, if you're just going to sit here mucking around, perhaps you might wanna help on this?" James asked, holding out the empty skewer. Sam happily took the skewers and asked for instructions. "Shallot, chicken, carrot, chicken and shallot. One mistake equals one punch with this hand." James jokingly threatened, clenching a fist with his cybernetic hand. He felt relaxed to not cover with a glove.
"Yes, sir!" Sam replied, sweating. He immediately started impaling ingredients on the skewer. James smiled and continued with his work.
It was eight o'clock. Abigail would be here at any moment. Sam was making final preparations to his birthday song with his acoustic guitar. James's heart raced as he observed the black waves hitting the moist sand with the crashing sounds of the waves. He had never felt this way before, not even to Jade four years ago. He started to plan things out. First, he would bid Abigail a happy birthday and cook up the food. Then, the chocolate cake with Sam's birthday song will commence. When everyone is eating the cake, he would approach the girl and give her the necklace and bouquet. Possibility of success: 50%. 'Okay, that'll do it. Now for her to come.' James thought. But he checked his clock. It was 8: 30 PM. Something was wrong. He turned and walked to the campfire where Sebastian and Sam were making final preparations. "Hey, where the hell is she?" James asked.
"Dunno, she should have read the papers I've posted by now." Sebastian replied. Just then, Jade signaled everyone to be quiet. Confused, Sam, Sebastian and James all shut their mouths. Jade then pointed at the entrance of the beach. They could hear shouts. A feminine voice to be exact.
"Nobody understands me! I've never seen my friends today! Why is everyone against me?!" The voice screamed. It was later followed by a yell. James knew who's voice it was: Abigail Berneau.
"Guys, I think something's wrong." Sam said as everything became silent.
"I… think she didn't read the note. It was nailed on the bulletin, though." Sebastian said. Something sparked in James's mind. He took off from where he was and ran towards the town. "Hey, where are you going?!" Sebastian exclaimed.
"I'm going to get her!" James replied.
"Looks like chivalry isn't dead. I've never done that to Penny." Sam chuckled at James's efforts.
James ran around the town in search for the birthday girl. What happened to her? Does she think that nobody remembered her birthday? She wasn't in the town. He ran to the mountains and eventually near the carpenters' shop. There's no way that she could be inside. Abigail must have lost all of her trust by now. Something snapped in James's mind. He remembered that Abigail always wanted to venture in the mountain caves during their hangout in the graveyard. He immediately rushed to the mines, when he suddenly heard a scream followed by countless squeaking of bats. James pulled out his shotgun and stormed in. He had loaded it with incendiary scrap made with Thermite. "ABBY!" James shouted as he pointed his gun on the bat swarm converging onto the corner of the wall. The bats, hearing James's shout, diverted their attention to him instead, readying their fangs. James fired away, cocking the gun each time he pulled the trigger. The fiery shrapnel hit the bats, setting them on fire. The fire then spread to the other bats, creating a chain reaction.
After a forever, there were no more bats observable. The thermite had melted the bats, creating a viscous fiery biomass scattered on the bloor, emitting a odor resembling cooked chicken. James walked to Abigail who was crying with her face on her knees. "Hey, are you okay?" James asked, withdrawing his shotgun.
"Yeah, I'm okay." Aibgail replied, sobbing. James lent him his hand and she used it to get up.
"What happened? Why are you here?" James asked. His face blushed. The surge was overwhelming his tolerance.
"You see, I've came to a fight with my parents about stereotypes and nobody replied to my messages. I decided to celebrate my birthday in the mines." Abigail replied, holding out her black sword. "…but I got scared. I was unprepared for bats." She added, sniffing. James's heart sank. He felt sorry for not being able to protect her, for some reason. He pushed the thought away. "I guess I'm not as brave as I thought I would be…" Abigail continued. James thought for a second. He needed to say something to soothe her and make her follow him to the beach.
"Abby, it's not what you think. You may think I am some kind of robo-macho who is determined to do anything, but I get scared too. You don't know how scared I was when Jade almost killed you guys." James said, placing both his hands on Abigail's shoulders. She flinched when his right hand touched her shoulder. It was cold for her sweaty body.
"I guess everybody is scared to lose what they love so much…" Abigail replied, blushing. She turned her head to the cave ladder. She then faced James, looking directly at her eyes. They both started to blush. James's surge seemed to have reached its limit.
"Hey, uhh… may I have a word with you?" James and Abigail said at the same time, their faces turning ruddier. "Ladies first." James said, giving Abigail the first move.
"James… I, I really like you. Not as normal friends." Abigail said, stuttering her words. "You know that, right?" She added. James's heart skipped a beat. "What am I saying… I've been like this ever since you first came in my room. I just can't take it anymore." She added. She turned back and rummaged through her backpack.
'Now's my chance.' James thought, blushing. He, too, turned around to get something from his backpack: The necklace and the bouquet. When James turned back to James with the bouquet on hand, his jaws dropped. Abigail had also turned to him with a bouquet on her hand. Their faces turned dark crimson. "Abby?" James asked. Abigail was all ears. "…Will you be my forever partner?" He asked hesitantly, handing her his bouquet. Abigail gave out a gasp.
"Y…Yes! Yes! Yes!" She exclaimed, receiving his bouquet and handing hers to him. James accepted it with shaky hands and embraced her. "You've made my day! I'm so happy!" She said, burying her face on James's chest. James gave a smile and reached for his pocket. He then slipped the necklace on the girl's neck.
"Happy twentieth birthday, Abby." James said as Abigail released him to see what was on her neck. It was the amethyst necklace with her face and the words engraved. "You've made me the happiest man in Stardew Valley." James added.
"I love you…" Abigail whimpered. James grabber her chin to make her face him. They approached even closer for the most passionate kiss that ever existed. James didn't want to let go. He was happy that there now was nobody to stop their train from rolling. He felt a thousand fireworks around him and his stomach made somersaults. It felt like an hour had passed when they released their lips as James's phone rang. It was Sebastian. James received his phone to have Sebastian yell at him.
"HEY, WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU? IT'S 9PM!" Sebastian yelled.
"Bro, I'm sorry! I found her! I'll be there ASAP!" James replied, laughing. He put his phone back in his pocket. "Abby, there are more things awaiting you in the beach. Should I, Sir James Suh, escort you there?" James asked, Abigail, lending his hand.
"Of course, Robo-baby!" Abigail giggled, accepting her new boyfriend's hand. They both exited the mines and walked down to the beach, gazing at the moon.