-Chapter XI-
Katniss is now on her way to the cemetery to visit her husband. Today is Cato's birthday. It's been two years since, and the love she's feeling for him is still the same. She knows that Cato's looking after her, and in return, she's doing her best to stand on her own feet. Katniss now only thinks of making her husband proud.
By the time she arrived at Cato's grave, she sees a bouquet of tulips resting on the tombstone For the past two years, since she first started to visit Cato she would arrive there with a bouquet of tulips already placed on her husband's grave and she have no idea where it come from. She tried asking her friends and they all denied visiting Cato's grave alone without her.
She sat on the grass like she always does. Set up Cato's framed photo stare at it for hours. Katniss can't help but smile while staring at the photo. Cato's faced looks refreshing. He's all smiles, his blue eyes is stunning, and his hair is messy but fits him perfectly. Cato's chiseled jaw that she loves so much and his lips that showers her sweet kisses every day.
Katniss placed her own bouquet of flowers besides the other one, "Looks like there's something you're not telling me baby." Said Katniss.
She sighs and pick it up. And she saw inside, a card. Katniss reached to retrieve it and search for any note, but there's none. With a slight disappointment, she put them down but kept the card on her hands.
It's already noon when Katniss decided to leave and head for Cinna's boutique. By the time she arrived, Johanna and Gale is there, "What are you both doing here, I thought you're on a date?"
Gale and Johanna started to date each other, two months after Cato's funeral. Katniss is happy for them, even if their personalities is totally opposed with each other. But it may have been a good influence for Johanna, she stopped hanging out on bars and clubs like she always does.
"Cinna called us. He said, you invited him and Madge for lunch." Said Johanna.
"So, we decided to join." Gale said as he approach Katniss and hug her tight.
Katniss groan, "Gale- I can't breathe."
Gale let go of his cousin, "Sorry, we just missed you so much."
"I missed you too." Katniss smiled at her friends.
"Okay," they turn and see Cinna and Madge standing behind them, "Should we go?"
They all head for a diner just two blocks away from Cinna's boutique. This is the first time they all ate together since Cato's passing. Katniss can't deny how much she missed the feeling when she's with her friends. They are happily eating and telling stories about their respective days. When someone approached their booth.
"Katniss?"
They all turn to see who it is. Katniss felt quite shocked to see who is it, "Mr. Mellark." She stood and shook Mr. Mellark's hand, "I didn't expect to see you here."
Mr. Mellark smile at her, "Yes. It is rather a pleasant coincidence."
Katniss turn to look at her friends who's eyeing her, she cleared her throat and introduce them, "Um- these are my friends."
"It's a pleasure." Said Mr. Mellark, "Well, I'd better go. I don't want to spoil your meal. Good to see you again Mrs. Hadley."
Katniss just nod and smile at Mr. Mellark. She settled in her seat and see that her friends are still focused on her, "What?"
"Okay, who is this Mr. Mellark?" asked Johanna, "Kinda old for you babe, don't you think?" she remarked with a smirk on her face.
"Shut it Jo." Gale elbowed her.
"Ow!" she roared at Gale, then turn to Cinna and Madge who's raising their eyebrows at her, "What? I'm just saying. You're all thinking about it."
Katniss sighed. Nobody knows, even her family that she agreed to donate Cato's heart to save another person. And now, she's sure that the people she's with now would not let her off easy.
"It's not like that."
She stopped and look at her friends who's eagerly waiting for her explanation, "He's the father of Dr. Plutarch's patient."
"Who's Dr. Plutarch?" asked Gale.
"Cato's doctor." She said, "Anyway, Dr. Plutarch has a patient who needs to undergo a heart transplant, but they can't find a donor. So…"
"You donated Cato's heart." continued Cinna.
Katniss stare at her friends and see them having the expression of disbelief, "Did I made a wrong decision?"
The four of them looked at each other which made Katniss felt a little off. The way their responding to her makes her think back if what she did is right two years ago.
"Not at all," said Cinna. He reached for Katniss' hand, "I think what you did is a very brave thing."
"You think so?"
"Yes," said Madge, "We just can't believe that you can make such a decision." Katniss shifted to Madge, her stare questioning, "You know," Madge continued, "Letting go of Cato's heart."
Katniss shook her head, she never thought of it that way, "I didn't. I could never."
"What pushed you to agree to that?" Gale asked.
Gale, Cinna, Johanna, and Madge, looking at Katniss intently waiting for her answer. Katniss stare back at them searching for the words to say.
She exhaled harshly and cleared her throat, "I don't really know. Look, I could never give up Cato. I love him. Even until now, I still love him so much. That time, when Dr. Plutarch asked me about donating his heart to his patient. It just felt like I have to do it. You know, to help."
Katniss shut her eyes and continue, "I realized that for the past 20 years I've known Cato, I never really got the chance to do anything for him. I realized that I was that one who's depending on him. And every time I see him at the hospital, I feel mad about myself because even at the last moment of his life, I'm still not able to do anything for him."
She opens her eyes and see her friends watching her as tears slowly starts to creep its ways of her, "I decided to help that man who's needing Cato's heart so that even for the last time, he's able to save another man's life."
Katniss bites her lower lip to keep the tears from falling. Johanna grabs her by the shoulder and hug her, "You know, you may not realize it but you have always been Cato's remedy."
She looked at her friend who's studying her, "What do you mean?"
"It means, you're the reason why Cato is such a good man," answered Gale, "So, there's no reason for you to regret what you did. Not now, not ever. What we think, doesn't matter."
She smiled at them, she can't help but feel that her friends is protecting her from the pain, hurt, anger that she's feeling towards herself.
"Thanks guys."
Johanna let go of her, and they all resume eating.
"We can be your substitute Cato if you want." Johanna whispers to her. She just let out a small laugh.
After eating, the five of them decided to part ways. Gale and Johanna proceeding on their scheduled date, Cinna and Madge returning to the boutique, and Katniss decided to pay Cato a visit again.
Katniss parks her car to a spot with only a few feet away from her husband's grave. She quickly get off her car and make her way towards the grave while holding the picture frame. She nearly there when she sees a man setting a bouquet of flowers in her husband's tombstone.
Katniss stopped with a few feet away wondering who this man is.
"Excuse me? Who are you?"
She completely startled the man as he hastily fixed the flowers before turning slowly to her. As he turn to face her, Katniss felt the air is slowly getting out of her reach. She never felt this breathless for someone other than Cato.
The man in front of her have his eyes locked on her. This man have the most beautiful blue eyes she has ever seen and it's staring directly at her grey ones. She feels like she's being pulled in.
Katniss shut her eyes and shake her head. Trying to steady her breathing. She can't explain the feeling she's feeling now.
"Are you alright?"
Katniss opens her eyes slowly to see the man is looking at her with worry. She quickly avert her stare to avoid locking eyes at this man, "I'm fine."
"Are you sure?" the man asked.
She tried to calm herself. She softly inhaled and exhaled before turning to face this man, "I am. You didn't answer my question, who are you?"
Katniss can't help but observe the face of this stranger as she eagerly waits for his response, the earlier established blue eyes, chiseled jaw, pinkish lips, and his ashy blonde hair that falls in waves over his forehead. This man is clearly handsome.
"Oh- I'm sorry. You must be Kat- I mean, Mrs. Hadley." the man gently wipe his hands at his jeans and offered it to Katniss.
"I'm Peeta. Peeta Mellark." He said with a smile on his face that clearly made Katniss melt inside.