Work Text:
"This work is perfect as always, Zero! Keep up the amazing work!"
Everyone looked at their teacher as he praised him again…
"Ah…I'm jealous."
"Me too. I hope I can become as excellent as him."
"We just have to work so we can reach his level."
"Right!"
I glanced at my classmates as they whispered then back to the subject of their gossip. Zero is one of my classmates who is recognized for his silent nature but also for his hard work. He was a new student. He doesn't talk very much and is very private about his personal life. He only talks when it's school-related.
That's what I have observed from my perspective…
“Ah...what I was thinking about...I should continue finishing this...” I murmured to myself as I turned back my focus on my paper.
However, I glanced at my side where Zero is seated next to me. Something caught my eyes, and it was a planner opened on the page of this week.
"Happy Birthday" was written on May 5th...
That's in 5 days! I wonder whose birthday it is. His mom? His dad? His girlfriend?
I was cut off from daydream land by the call of my name.
"Alice?" I snapped back to reality and realized that it was Zero who was staring at me curiously.
"Yes?"
"Nothing…" he said then went back to work. I sighed. I really need to stop being curious.
But still...whose birthday is he celebrating?
5 days passed by and I already passed my teacher my essay before the deadline. Thank goodness that he approved it. I don't wish to spend another all-nighter. Perhaps, I should reward myself with a good dinner out to celebrate. Yeah, I deserve it after spending sleepless nights on that essay.
I went back to my desk, taking a glance at Zero's. There on the desk was a small box. Oh yeah, that's right, he's celebrating someone's birthday today. Hmm…how lucky is that person...
Hours passed by and classes were over. I quickly grabbed my things and coat and raced out of school. The restaurant that I usually go to is often packed during these hours.
It was a few minutes away from my school. Unfortunately, when I got there, it was already packed. I pouted. To think, I was looking forward to their special pasta tonight. Sighing, I was about to head out when,
"Alice!" Turning around, I gasped in disbelief. There on the corner of the small diner was Zero, waving at me shyly. I approached him carefully as if he was some sort of predator.
"Hello, Zero. I didn't expect you to be here." I greeted.
"I always go here. Especially since I'm waiting for someone to celebrate their special occasion." He replied. Ahh...that's right.
"Oh…well...I must go now and find another available restaurant to eat. It was nice seeing you." I don't want to bother; thus, I was about to walk away when he called out to me once more.
"But it's you who I'm waiting for."
"What?!" I exclaimed which was a humiliating move because almost everyone in the room looked in our direction. I embarrassingly sat down across Zero and awkwardly coughed, "This is quite unexpected."
He chuckled. This is my first time seeing such a cheerful expression on his face. Somehow that made me giddy.
"It is, but honestly, I've been trying to figure out how to approach you about this umm...topic."
I raised an eyebrow, "What topic?"
"You see. I have coincidentally been seeing you in this after a week after my transfer. I mean, I don't mean to stalk you because I happened to be eating at this very restaurant too." I smiled gently as he tried to explain. So this is how you are.
"Weird that I never noticed you for 5 years," I mumbled to myself, but he heard it.
"Weird indeed. But I don’t really talk to anyone, nor anyone talk to me, so it might be understandable. However, throughout those five years, I have been observing you from afar. I have picked up some of your little habits...wait that sounded weird."
At this point, I couldn't hold in my laughter. The quiet Zero at school is unbelievably shy and blushing. His face was red as an apple. I must say, this Zero was adorable and friendlier than the Zero I see every day in class
"You do sound weird but adorably weird," I told him, hoping that will calm him, but that only made him blush more.
"Umm...what I'm trying to say is that I was waiting for you to celebrate a special occasion." I stopped laughing and tried to listen to him but was shocked when he continued,
"and that occasion is your birthday."
I stared at him in disbelief. I can't believe it. Out of all people to remember my birthday, it was Zero. Truth be told, I have also forgotten that today was my birthday. It's not like it was special in my life. You simply age a year and that's it. There's nothing exciting about it. However, that's not really the reason why I chose to forget my birthday.
"Alice," Zero called out, making me return back to reality, "I remember during the first 3 years, you would bring a mini cupcake then light up the candle then blow it. That action alone was enough for me to know that you were always celebrating your birthday alone. Then last year, you didn't do it. Then I thought that you were feeling so lonely that you didn't want to celebrate it at that time. It honestly pained me to see you sad at that time. So, I gathered up all the courage to celebrate it with you. But don't mistake it as pity but I simply want you to be happy."
I felt that tears fell down my cheeks. Oh gosh...this guy might be a man of few words but when he speaks, he knows his words when he's not flustered. He may not be close to me, but he was kind-hearted enough not to know on my own birthday.
"It is true that I didn't celebrate my birthday last year due to the insufferable pain of loneliness I was experiencing. Since then, I told myself to forget my own birthday to avoid the pain. Since at a young age, my parents couldn't celebrate with me because they were always busy. I didn't have any friends since I have trouble interacting with people. Well, there was a point in time where I had a friend but, in the end, that friend has taken advantage of my kindness and has betrayed me in the end. So, since then, I could no longer trust anyone, leaving me incapable to make friends.
I became that girl who only focused on their studies. I thought that I probably don't need anyone in my life to be happy, but I was wrong. I grew sadder each day that I have to my own happiness fake to not bother anyone with my problems. I see myself as a burden you see," I said the last part jokingly, trying to keep my remaining pride in me but Zero didn't seem to be happy with my "joke".
"Firstly, if I apologize to you for having this kind of life, then it will only make you mad at me since you might think I pity you which I don't," he started off. Good because the last thing I need is someone pitying me, "I want to tell you something that someone might not have never told you before. And that is that I am proud of you." he said, warmly smiling at me.
I stared at him, puzzled. Proud?
"I am proud of you for being strong despite all the pain and hardships that you went through. I am proud that you didn't give in to the darkness but continued walking on the straight path. Also thank you. Despite that we don't know each other very well, thank you for entrusting me in telling me. It takes a strong person to do something like that."
Then he gently grabbed my hand, rubbing the back of it with his thumb as an action of comfort...something that I was longing for so long.
We stared at each other. This man right here was finally someone that I was waiting for so long…
"You're a strong woman, Alice...and I'm proud of you because of that…"
After the emotional moment we had (and I went to the washroom to fix my messy face from embarrassingly crying in public), the food that he ordered arrived just in time. Zero is such an attentive person. He must have observed what I ordered for the past five years for him to correctly buy the exact same food.
The feelings that I was feeling at the moment were overwhelming but for the first time in my life, I was happy.
By the end of the dinner, Zero brought out the box.
That’s that box that I saw on his desk earlier. He shyly gave it to me.
"Here, I worked really hard on what to give to you as this is my first time giving someone a gift."
I chuckled and opened the box, gasping as I saw what was inside. I gently grabbed it as I was afraid to break it because it was very beautiful to be said in words.
"Do you like it?" he asked, rubbing his nape, embarrassed.
"Like it? I love it very much!" I cheerfully said, giving him my best grin.
"Figures since I see your desk almost filled with it." He teased me. Oh, Zero…the longer I spend time with you, the more I find more interesting sides about you.
"Hey! Snow globes are beautiful and enchanting." I playfully glared at him for mocking me.
I love snow globes but this one on my hands was a cherry blossom one. It was so beautiful that I couldn't really explain how magical it was.
"Why cherry blossoms though?" I asked curiously.
"I don't know if you know but you're not the only one whose colleagues think who looks cold. But unlike me, you're oblivious of how the people in our office think of you." Now that he said it, I do see our colleagues whisper such things about me, but I was too focused on my work to even care.
"Still, that doesn't explain the cherry blossoms."
"I chose it because that is how I want to see you right now and from now on, smiling lovely like the cherry blossoms, and I'm glad to make it happen."
I blushed furiously. Oh man...I don't know if I can get used to him being like this. He was a sweet talker when he was comfortable.
But it made me happy that the both of us, two people who only show others our mask, were able to finally take off that mask to each other. This crystal globe wasn't only the gift that I have received from him, but I received his friendship.
"Zero...thank you for giving me a reason to celebrate my birthday again."
"Happy Birthday, Alice. I hope for the cherry blossoms to continue blooming in your life."