Monday, February 14
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They kept their eyes on their hands as they methodically prepared the latte for the customer impatiently waiting on the other side of the counter. The sound of feet periodically tapping on the floor and huffed, exaggerated sighs, filled their ears. Cee took a deep breath, brushed their hair out of their face, put a lid on the warm to-go cup, and turned around with their smile back in place.
“Thanks for visiting, and have a sugar sweet day!” C smiled fakely as they said the required phrase. Once the woman turned, they looked back at their coworker with a blank frown. “I hate my life.”
Their coworker, Amara, threw her head back and laughed. “God, you’re funny.”
Cee shrugged and looked aimlessly out the window; they weren’t trying to be funny. Their coworker didn’t seem to care either way, and greeted the next customer that walked up to the register. Cee didn’t look at who had come up to the counter, instead simply began preparing the customer’s order as it was repeated by Amara. It was a tall oat milk latte and two of the frosting-filled cupcake hearts that the coffee shop/bakery they worked at sold. Ce prepared the drink with muscle memory alone, and bagged the cupcakes.
They weren’t looking at the customer; it was nearly 2 PM and the store had been a rush of people all day. However, when they announced the order and looked up to say that terrible, cheesy goodbye, they were met with an expectant smile and eyes full of stars.
Cee nearly dropped the coffee. “O-Orion? I-”
“Hey, sweetheart, want a cupcake?” Orion asked with a grin, holding up the to-go bag they’d abandoned on the counter.
Cee gaped. Time stood still. Then, it all came rushing forward, and they were dashing around the counter to jump into the tall person’s arms.
“Ori!” They cried. The shorter person shoved their face into Orion’s neck while the tall one wrapped his arms around them, lifting them off the ground. Cee couldn’t help but let the tears escape their eyes.
They didn’t let go for a while. Orion didn’t, either. But, soon enough there was an awkward cough from the person waiting in line behind them. Cee reluctantly let go of their friend to pull them aside towards a table. Orion followed, not letting go of their hand for even an instant.
Cee looked back up at Orion; they couldn’t stop themself from reaching up to hug him again. The kinky-haired one squeezed them tight. Cee basked in it.
“You know, I’ve been wanting to hug you for two months,” they murmured.
“Live up to your expectations?” Orion whispered back with smugness in his voice. Cee grumbled into their chest, but nodded.
“Exceeded them,” they mumbled.
“What was that? I didn't quite catch it,” the taller one teased. Cee lightly slapped Orion’s chest. He laughed and called them cute.
“Stoppp,” they whined. Orion pet their hair with a chuckle.
They leaned down to Cee’s ear. “For the record, I’ve wanted to hug you for a while, too. And this definitely beat my expectations,” Orion whispered caringly.
It took the pair another ten minutes before Cee reluctantly pulled away from Orion. “I have to get back to work,” they whined.
Amara shook her head from behind the counter. “Uh-uh. There’s only 45 minutes left of your shift, and no one’s here. I’ll cover for you. Besides, Charvi’s in the kitchen and has nothing else to bake, they can help me if I need it.”
Cee looked at her unsurely. “Are you positive? I can stay.”
“Go,” the long-haired girl insisted. They mouthed their thanks to her, and giddily turned back to Orion.
Orion grinned. “Well? Let’s go, I have plans for us.”
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Cee has been having the best day of their life, and it wasn’t even dinner time yet. Orion had taken them for a walk, and then they had grabbed a light lunch that was surprisingly good for a cheap restart until, and then Orion drove them to a hiking trail— in what they found out was Zhara’s car. It was nice to get out of the city for a bit and take in the sights, even if it was freezing out.
It was okay, Orion came prepared with warm boots and sweaters. Cee wondered if somehow he’d been communicating with Aldar for their size in things. They held hands as they walked along the trail. The trees were gorgeous and huge, and the view of the frozen lake was even more so. It relaxes them, getting away from the noise and just being out in the fresh air. It was a warm day for February, with the sun beaming down on them.
Cee squealed and giggled when they saw a bunny hop across the trail in front of them, unbothered by the world.
“I aspire to be that bunny,” Cee had said. Orion laughed, and pulled them tighter to his side. At the end of the trail was a cute bench on the cliff overlooking the lake. It was a small lake, but beautiful. The ice was visible, a beautiful blue color with cracks in it.
Serenity. That’s what Cee felt.
They took plenty of pictures as they basked in the view. Then, they walked back down the train, their gloved hands intertwined. Not many words were spoken, even though there were a few that should’ve been said. It was peaceful. Perfect, even.
And then it got even better.
It was late afternoon , and they were sitting in a quaint coffee shop slash bookstore. You would think Cee had had enough of coffee shops, but they only disliked them when they were working a long shift. Orion returned to the table with two warm hot chocolates in hand, because it was “too late for coffee” apparently.
He was probably right, but they didn’t need sleep anyways.
The hot coco was really good, though. They sat at a comfy booth, their warm drinks in hand, and just talked. They talked for what felt like hours. Cee thought they’d heard every story Orion had to tell with how often they talked, but still they found infinite conversation topics.
Then, for a moment Cee just stared at them. Good, they were so much prettier in person. Orion had a dark, coily afro with a thick patch of blond in it that had grown out. His eyes were a captivating dark brown that was so much deeper up close. The blemishes on his darker skin made him so much more… real. And that was beautiful.
“What are you looking at?” they asked with a slightly insecure smile.
Cee shook their head and smiled softly at them. “Just taking you in, I guess.”
“Not much to take in.”
“Shut up, you’re amazing. So, so amazing,” Cee said. They meant for it to be a joke but it came out much more genuine.
Orion looked down bashfully. “You are too, you know. You’re amazing.”
This time it was Cee’s turn to blush.
Suddenly, Orion’s phone buzzed on the table. He checked it quickly, typing out a reply before setting it down. They looked at Cee expectantly.
“It’s time for dinner.”
Orion took them back to the car and drove them to what could only be his apartment. When they got there, Orion was practically bouncing in his seat. Cee couldn’t stop smiling at them, just because they were smiling back and it was wonderful.
The tall one walked around the car and opened C’s door for them. He grabbed Cee’s smaller hand in his and led them inside. Up the stairs— because the elevator was broken— down the hall to the right, to apartment C6.
“What’s with all the secrecy?” Cee asked when Orion made them close their eyes before they entered the apartment. Orion giggled.
“Shh, surprise. Just keep them closed.” They grabbed the smaller one’s hand and led them inside. Cee followed, quite literally, blindly. Orion led them to a room that felt empty, and then finally allowed them to open their eyes.
Cee couldn’t keep in their gasp. Orion’s living room was decorated with a warm string of fairy lights and the occasional candle. The room was dim, and all other lights were off. In the center of the room, in front of the couch that had been pushed against the wall, was a red checkered blanket and a picnic basket.
“I figured it’s too cold out to have a picnic outside, so I thought I’d make us one right here,” Orion explained, nervously rubbing their neck. Cee continued looking around.
There was soft instrumental music playing from somewhere, and inside the open picnic basket was what looked like a delicious dinner.
“You did… all this?” they asked, flabbergasted. “All this… for me?” Cee thought they were going to cry.
“Of course it’s for you, sweetheart. Now, come sit down. Zhara made us pasta.” Orion tugged them down onto the blanket.
The pasta was delicious, but what was even better was after dinner when Orion turned off all the lights and turned on a projector of some sorts. Broadcasted on the ceiling was the night sky.
That was when Cee truly started crying. Tears leaked from their eyes, Orion looking at them confusedly. Cee smiled, still crying, and hugged him.
“Thank you so much, Ori. This is the best date ever.”
“You know, you could’ve waited till I officially asked you. I had a whole thing planned,” Orion said, pretending to be angry.
“Oh, do continue,” Cee smiled.
Orion looked down at his hands. Then, he looked them right in the eyes. “Well, Cee… You’re one of my best friends. It happened fast, but we’ve grown so close and I wanted to ask you… will you let me be your boyfriend?”
How else could they respond but to nod, and dive in and kiss them?
Orion was smiling against their lips, and Cee was giggling with happy tears trailing down their cheeks, and they realized that they were ready. They pulled back not even an inch, so they could whisper to Orion. So they could whisper to their boyfriend:
“You can call me Cosmo.”
─ FIN. ─
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