Cece the penguin was born in the icy northern part of the valley, where her friend Coco the wolf lived. Ever since Coco gained the power of immortality, she had been miserable, feeling exhausted from all the praise and celebrations that came with it. Whenever Coco came over to Cece's igloo for their playdates, she always seemed so tired that her parents would often take her home after just an hour.
One evening, Cece was leaning out the igloo window, eagerly awaiting her usual playdate with Coco, when her mother called from the kitchen, "Cece, dinner's ready!" Cece waddled over to the kitchen, her flippers making small thudding sounds on the floor. She struggled to climb into her dining chair, so her mother helped her up.
"Do you think Coco will be able to join us?" Cece asked, a hint of concern in her voice. Her mother chuckled softly. "You're always worried about Coco, sweetie."
Cece pouted as she looked up at her mother. "Mom, haven't you noticed how tired Coco has been lately? She deserves at least a warm meal."
Her mother hesitated for a moment before agreeing. "I suppose you're right, dear," she said, quickly preparing an extra plate.
Soon after, the doorbell rang. Cece looked out the window to see Coco waving tiredly. Coco retrieved the spare key hidden under a fake rock. She opened the door and walked in with her parents. Cece helped her into a chair; they always shared the same seat while eating.
"Thanks, Cece," Coco said softly, her voice weary. Cece noticed the dark circles under Coco's eyes.
"Hey, are you okay, Coco?" Cece asked, worry in her voice.
"Cece, I'm okay. My parents just have me on a new sleep schedule, and I'm still getting used to it," Coco replied, but Cece wasn't convinced, and deep down, Coco knew it too.
After dinner, the two friends sat on the cozy couch, reading a book together. Cece's mom was surprised to see Coco managing to stay for over two hours. Cece snuggled into the warmth of Coco's fur, while Coco found comfort in the coolness of Cece's flippers.
When their playdate eventually came to an end, Coco prepared to leave. As a goodbye, she gave Cece a playful lick on the cheek, knowing it would make her blush. Cece's face turned bright red, making Coco chuckle—it was something she found adorable. Coco was testing boundaries, but when she noticed her parents stiffen at the gesture, she realized they might not approve.
Cece, still flustered, caught her mother's smirk and quickly covered her face with her flippers, trying to hide her embarrassment. She wasn't ready for her mother to tease her, especially after Coco's bold gesture. Coco couldn't help but smirk as she watched Cece's reaction, knowing that her kiss had left a mark. But what really flustered Cece wasn't just the kiss itself—it was the mix of her feelings for Coco and the surprise of Coco making the first move.
It was almost demeaning in a way, the outgoing wolf always going after the meek and shy penguin. "Why do you have to do this to me, Coco?" Cece muttered aloud without realizing it.
This time, it was Coco's turn to blush, her cheeks flushing as red as a tomato. When Cece realized what she had just said, a sly smirk spread across her face.
"Revenge," Cece sing-songed, clearly satisfied with turning the tables. Coco, now the one blushing furiously, crossed her arms and tried to hide her embarrassment.
"Shut up, Celia," Coco mumbled, but her reddened face only made Cece's grin widen.
"Ever heard of the phrase, 'what goes around comes around,' Coco?" Cece teased, giggling at the situation.
"Whatever, Celia," Coco muttered, still blushing furiously.
Cece's smirk only grew. "What, not calling me Cece anymore?"
Coco huffed, clearly annoyed, her cheeks still as red as a tomato. She refused to look at Cece, but the flustered look on her face only made Cece giggle more.
"Coco, you love me. I know you do," Cece whispered softly, her voice barely audible, meant only for Coco's ears.
Coco froze, her blush deepening as she processed Cece's words. She turned to look at Cece, caught off guard and unsure of how to respond. The teasing smirk was gone from Cece's face, replaced with a gentle smile that made Coco's heart skip a beat.
Coco's blush deepened, turning a shade as red as blood, just as Cece leaned in and planted a firm kiss on Coco's muzzle. Coco's breath hitched, and she stood there frozen, eyes wide in shock as her mind struggled to catch up with what had just happened.
Cece pulled back, her cheeks pink but her expression confident, a small smile tugging at her beak. Coco, still blushing furiously, looked at Cece, speechless and flustered, her heart racing as she tried to process the unexpected boldness from her usually shy friend.
Cece just smirked, satisfied with the effect she had on Coco, before turning and waddling away to her room. She left Coco standing there, frozen like a statue, her face burning red and her mind racing. The shock and excitement of Cece's bold move overwhelmed her, and she felt a sudden, urgent pressure, as if she might just pee herself from sheer surprise and joy.
Coco couldn't move or speak—she was completely caught in the moment, her mind replaying Cece's kiss over and over again as she tried to regain her composure.
Cece's mother, busy in the kitchen, couldn't help but notice the scene unfold. She glanced over just in time to see Cece's smirk and the way Coco's face turned a bright shade of red. A knowing smile crept across her face as she watched Coco standing frozen, clearly flustered by Cece's unexpected kiss.
"Looks like someone's got a crush," she thought to herself, stifling a chuckle. It warmed her heart to see her daughter so confident, and she made a mental note to talk to Cece about her feelings later. For now, she enjoyed the sweet moment unfolding in front of her.
As Coco was about to leave with her parents, Cece emerged from her room, a mischievous smirk on her beak. She couldn't help but wonder how else she could make Coco blush.
"Hey, Coco!" Cece called out, feigning innocence. "Don't forget your homework for next time!"
Coco turned around, her cheeks still flushed from the earlier kiss, and raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
Cece stepped closer, leaning casually against the doorframe. "You know, the homework on how to handle a penguin who clearly has your heart," she teased, her eyes sparkling with playful mischief.
Coco's face flushed even deeper, and she stammered, "I—I don't have any homework like that!" But the smile on her face betrayed her embarrassment, and Cece couldn't help but giggle at the effect she had on her friend.
After Coco left, Cece chuckled to herself, "Elementary school's going to be fun tomorrow." Her mother, overhearing her daughter's statement, couldn't help but smirk. It was clear that Cece was blossoming into a confident young penguin, and now seemed like the perfect time to have a chat with her.
"Cece," she called gently, beckoning her daughter to join her in the cozy living room. Cece, still wearing a playful grin, waddled over, curious about what her mother wanted to discuss.
"Can we talk about what just happened with Coco?" her mother asked, a knowing look in her eyes.
Cece's smile widened, but she felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. "What do you mean?"
Her mother chuckled softly. "You know exactly what I mean. You're getting bold with your feelings, and I want to make sure you understand them."
Cece's eyes sparkled with a mix of pride and embarrassment. "I just… I really like her, Mom."
Her mother nodded, pleased to hear her daughter's honesty. "That's great, sweetie. Just remember to be kind and respectful. It's wonderful to have feelings, but it's also important to make sure Coco feels comfortable too."
Cece nodded, absorbing her mother's words, feeling a warm sense of support and understanding. "I will, Mom. Thanks!"
"However, I'm still going to annoy her with this," Cece smirked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Her mother laughed softly, shaking her head. "That's the spirit! Just don't overdo it, or you might scare her off."
Cece shrugged playfully. "I can't help it! Making Coco blush is too much fun."
Her mother smiled, appreciating her daughter's youthful exuberance. "Well, just remember to balance it out with some sweetness, too. A little teasing is fine, but make sure she knows you care."
"I will, Mom," Cece promised, her smirk still in place. "But I'm definitely not going to stop anytime soon!" With that, she turned and headed back to her room, already planning her next playful move to keep Coco on her toes.
End of Chapter One