Synchronized Heartbeats
Written By: Banana007
Chapter 50: Two Years Later
"And Kazuki-kun got me this necklace-you know, I told him not to buy me anything too expensive, but he really insisted and it's not like I could stop him when he did it behind my back!"
"That's sweet of him. It sounds like he's really into you if he's willing to work his butt off to afford that kind of gift for you."
"You think?"
"I know. You're a lucky girl, Hana-chan," Gou sighed into her phone.
"Right?" Chigusa's voice came through as a sharp squeal of excitement. "Can you believe we've been dating ten months already? Ah, time flies by so fast when you're happy!"
A wistful smile pulled at Gou's face in response. "Yeah, tell me about it…"
Although, for her, every day felt like an eternity sometimes.
"And again, I'm really sorry I couldn't make it to your birthday party this year! I just really wanted to spend Christmas with Kazuki-kun since it'll be our first one together as a couple."
"I told you already, Hana-chan, it's fine! It can't be helped that my birthday is on the same day as Christmas. Everyone's busy that day."
"Did you at least get the cake I got you? It was delivered this morning, right?"
"Yeah, thanks for the cake-it looks really delicious. In fact, I'm about to cut it in a moment. Okaa-san is just looking for the matches to light the candles for me."
"Ah, so your mom was able to make it home after all? I thought she was working overtime for the extra pay?"
"No, uh… sh-she finished work sooner than expected!"
"Oh, that's nice! I'm happy for you, Gou."
"Yes, thanks, Hana-chan…"
"Ah! Kazuki-kun wants to take some photos now. Hey, how about I take you to that new coffee shop as a belated birthday celebration, hm? Is next month okay with you? The, let's see… the fourteenth?"
"Next month…" Ah, but she had some volunteer work at the hospital to catch up on after slacking off this month. "Um, how about a raincheck on that?"
"Okay, just let me know when!"
"I will. And thanks for calling me today, Hana-chan." Gou glanced at the cake at her side, the candles almost melted to the frosted layer now. "I gotta go too. Okaa-san is waiting for me to blow the candles now."
"Okay then! Tell your mom I wish her happy holidays for me, all right?"
"I will! Merry Christmas, Hana-chan, to you and Kazuki-kun."
"Merry Christmas and happy nineteenth birthday, Gou!"
As soon as she ended the call, Gou's smile fell away. She turned to the cake before her, the white frosting bathed gold under the waning light of the candles. Another sigh escaped her lips, this one filled with exhaustion and disappointment, although she'd expected something like this from the start.
She sucked in a breath, shaky with emotions that threatened to spill down her cheeks in the form of tears.
"Happy birthday to me," she began to sing softly, her voice filling the empty kitchen. The tick-tock of the clock was her only accompaniment to the song. "Happy birthday, dear Gou. Happy birthday to me…"
She blew her candles without making any wish, and then left to go to bed. Outside, her house could be seen as the only one on the street without any warm lights filling the windows or the sound of families and friends celebrating within. On Fuji street, the Matsuoka house was the only one to remain dark and empty.
A/N: I was actually shocked to find out Gou's birthday is on Christmas! Don't know how I didn't know this until now, hehe...
Also, raise your hand if you know the pain of having to celebrate a birthday/holiday all by yourself!
