She liked walking around town on her days off.
"You know, I kinda wondered why I haven't seen you in a while. I guess we've been so busy," she told him.
He agreed. "I'd like it if we hung out some more."
Ever since Kamil asked her to go for a walk, they tried to make it a part of their routine. A quick "Hi, nice to see you" turned into "Maybe just a few minutes", which turned into "When's your next day off?". It got to the point where Annie and Kamil would spend what felt like hours just talking. However, their schedules would allow an hour at the most. What they talked about didn't matter – they were simple topics, usually just about their day – but maybe that was a sign of how comfortable they became around each other. The two didn't realize how easy it was to talk to each other, as if they had known each other for much longer.
Moreover, Kamil made sure not to pry. He talked to her carefully and at the same time, objectively. He wouldn't let his personal feelings get in the way from getting to know Annie. Maybe that's also why she would accept his invitations. One time, Nadi even joined them after seeing how lively they were, sitting by the lake and his usual fishing spot.
Fritz was their topic for the day. Good things, good things, Annie reassured Nadi when they explained to him what they were talking about.
Nadi scoffed, plopping down beside Kamil. He crossed his arms over his chest. "Seriously though, what is his deal?! Every single day, if he sees me, he talks to me all politely, like I'm just part of his daily routine. I keep telling him not to talk to me, but he does it anyway! It's getting really annoying."
Annie gave him a questionable look as she asked, "Don't I do the same, Nadi? Do you find me annoying?"
"I… I'm not going to answer that."
She gasped in genuine shock, "What?!"
Kamil, sitting in between the two, stifled a laugh, being used to Nadi's bluntness. He cut in, "Nadi, have you ever thought that maybe Fritz wants to be your friend? No one's forcing him to talk to you. He wants to."
Nadi couldn't help but pout slightly, "He's so energetic and outgoing, I get mentally drained just thinking of keeping up with that kind of energy."
Annie leaned forward so she could see past Kamil and meet eyes with Nadi. She smiled, "I think if you got to know Fritz and I, we'd all be good friends."
Nadi averted eyes nervously. "I suppose…"
Kamil glimpsed at both of them before adding, "Well, when I look at Fritz, I can't help but recall a friend of mine back in my hometown... He's super-friendly and he always talks to me, even if I don't talk back." He smiled. "Just like my friend back home."
"Ah, is he the guy you sometimes talk to on the phone?" Nadi asked. "What was his name again?"
He paused for a moment. "Ash," Kamil answered happily. He faced Annie, whose attention was on the lake in front of them. "I think you two would get along with him."
But she would sometimes gaze at the lake, humming a rustic, simple tune that Kamil swore he recognized.
She liked entering the cooking contest over all the other tournaments. She had an air of confidence with everything she did.
"Do you know what day it is, Kamil?" Melanie asked excitedly, even though she knew the answer.
"Hm, maybe Valentine's Day?" Kamil guessed, even though he also knew the answer.
"Yes! Valentine's Day! Oh, I should play cupid! Will you or Mr. Nadi take my sister on a date please?"
"Melanie!" Lillie said in exasperation, blush dusting her cheeks and her ears. Nadi ignored the little girl's request and looked away to the side in embarrassment.
"Oh," Lillie groaned into her hands, "now I feel so embarrassed giving you two your Valentine's chocolates… but… here." She passed the two young men two small chocolate bars, wrapped in pink paper and tied with a red bow. She waved her hands weakly. "D-don't stare at me like that… You don't have to take me on a date, I'm not looking for one."
Melanie giggled, "I have chocolates for you too! Lillie helped me!"
Kamil laughed softly, accepting both. "Thank you, you two. I appreciate it."
Nadi gave a small smile. "Yeah, thanks."
Melanie puffed her cheeks out. "I can't wait for White Day! I want to get some yummy chocolate. Maybe Raeger has some extras he doesn't want! He always gets a lot!"
Their laughter was interrupted as Annie walked into the inn, holding something behind her back.
"Hello," she said as she entered, "is this a bad time?"
"Not at all," Lillie smiled reassuringly. "Come on in!"
"I have some Valentine's gifts," Annie said sweetly, as she revealed the chocolate cookies that she hid from them. "Kamil? Nadi? I hope you like them. It's my way of saying that I treasure our friendship and I appreciate you!"
The two had their arms full of chocolates now, but their hearts were just as full with gratitude. It wasn't every day they got spoiled like this.
"Thank you!" they said together.
Kamil quickly skimmed the little message Annie wrote on the packaging.
Happy Valentine's Day, Kamil! I know you're not a huge fan of desserts, but maybe today you can indulge me. Spoiler: it's mint chocolate. Hopefully that's bearable.
Kamil let out a short laugh under his breath, surprised she remembered his likes and dislikes. He accepted the chocolate whole-heartedly anyway.
"Annie," he began, "thanks for putting so much effort into my gift, even with your busy schedule. That's really admirable. I'm sure this could win in a dessert contest!"
"Oh, it's nothing, really!" she said modestly.
But she would nervously tap her fingertips repeatedly on the seams of her skirt when Kamil complimented her work ethic.
She enjoyed finding beauty in life and verbally expressed her delight over even the smallest of things. When she laughed, her eyes crinkled, and her smile was wide.
It was the night of the Starlight Gala, where all the townspeople would watch the stars together. Some made wishes on a shooting star, others would simply enjoy the beautiful view. Kamil didn't go with anyone in particular, but was invited by a small friend group, consisting of Raeger, Fritz, and Nadi.
"I can just imagine all the angry Raeger fangirls after finding out he went to the Starlight Gala with a bunch of guys," Fritz joked, laughing.
"It isn't funny, Fritz," Raeger sighed.
"Ugh, you always brag about how girls are throwing themselves on you. I think I'm gonna cry, you're the bane of unpopular guys… Pass me my hankie…."
"Stop saying that, Fritz, it sounds weird! And I don't brag about it…"
"But you admit that it happens to you, right?"
"How noisy… You two should just shut it and make a wish!" Nadi hollered at the friends bickering and teasing each other. Kamil was amused by the two as well, before he heard a voice behind him, "You guys look like you're having fun."
"Ah, hey Annie," Kamil greeted her, turning around to the source of the voice. "Enjoying the Starlight Gala?"
"Yes. Made a wish yet?"
"I'm about to…"
"Me, too."
They gazed at the sky, waiting for a shooting star. There was a streak of light in the sky, as a shooting star passed them, then disappeared in the blink of an eye. Kamil closed his eyes once he saw it. I wish…
"Are you going to tell me your wish?" Annie whispered to him, but Kamil kept his eyes shut and shook his head.
"I won't say mine, or else it won't come true. Isn't that how it works?" I wish for happiness and health… for all of us.
After a slight pause, Annie commented, making him finally open his eyes and face her, "You look much happier, Kamil."
"Oh?" He tilted his head. "What makes you say that?"
"I don't know, I think for the longest time, I had that awkward, homesick florist image in my head. You're more than that, Kamil. I'm glad to see you out of your shell."
Kamil had a feeling of déjà vu. He replied with a nostalgic smile, "I think I went through the same thing back in my old town. I was shy there too, but then a close friend of mine helped me get out of my comfort zone… When I moved here, I had to start all over. But also, it was like I forced myself to forget who I was back in Bluebell." He looked up, admiring the stars that were so far away, but still were so bright in the night sky. "Here, I learned that I have to keep those memories with me – good or bad – because they're precious. I think I've come to accept the person I am today, both before, in Bluebell, and now, in Oak Tree Town."
"That's admirable. You may fall a lot in life, but it's how you get back up!"
"And I think fate brought me here…" Kamil said gently. "It made me meet you."
"Oh." Annie's face flushed a light pink, reaching her ears. "Well, Kamil, I… I'm glad you're here." She gave him a smile, her mouth closed, her lips stretching from ear to ear. Kamil, surprisingly, did not feel flustered. This wasn't Kamil's first attempt at flirting and this also wasn't the first time a girl had told Kamil this.
But sometimes there was something about the way she smiled that looked like she was hiding her pain.
a/n: kamil's starting all over with annie but is picking up on some little things along the way...
