15 - Back

Giyu changed a lot since his 18th birthday. He became more private, talked less, became more mature

More than anything, however, Giyu stayed the same

"I thought you forgot" Giyu said with a small smile

Shinobu was standing in the dimly lit terrace. She was holding a small gift bag with a small frown on her lips

Giyu went closer, each step made his heart beat faster and faster. In the cold, peaceful night, Giyu's heart was erratic.

"As if" Shinobu rolled her eyes and raised her bag, pushing it against Giyu's chest

Giyu chuckled and looked at Shinobu's eyes, and like that night, it felt like they were in their own world

They weren't in Giyu's room, their song wasn't playing, they weren't in pajamas, and yet, the waves sounded like that song, and Giyu's heart felt the same as it did that night

Like loving Shinobu was all it's ever known, and all it's ever wanted to know

"You're doing that again" Shinobu's voice was soft, light. The complete opposite of her heart

"Do what?" He takes a step closer, taking the bag but not looking away. He won't ever look away now

"Looking at me like that" Their hands brush against each other. Shinobu exhales, composing herself. Giyu smiles softly

"Should I not?"

"Your choice" Shinobu looks away first, "Just open the gift" Giyu smiles and nods

Giyu carefully takes off the tape, careful to not destroy the bag. He was careful not to even wrinkle the gift wrapper of the box inside

It was Shinobu's gift, he needed to be extra careful

Giyu carefully opens the box, and maybe this wasn't the most expensive, maybe it wasn't the most special, and yet he smiled so wide

Shinobu's face flushed red

"It's not that expensive" Shinobu said, downplaying the necklace she gave him

"Help me wear it?" Shinobu laughed softly "Still can't wear necklaces?" Giyu pouted before Shinobu took the necklace from his hand

Giyu sits down on the cushion. His heart is beating out of his chest—no, his heart is everywhere. It's on the memory of his 18th birthday that's on his mind. It's on his warm face as Shinobu put the nacklace around his neck.

Her hands brush against Giyu's neck as she brought the necklace around it. She easily put the necklace on him. Giyu turned around, and they were face to face.

Giyu's eyes felt like black holes. Sucking Shinobu in with no escape, and she wasn't complaining

Shinobu falls

For Giyu, she always falls

Over and over. Nonstop

Because Shinobu will always love Giyu more than anything in the world

Or maybe, it's because Giyu will forever be Shinobu's world

"Don't you dare pretend this didn't  happen tomorrow" Shinobu said as she pressed her lips onto his, eyes closed and gripping the collar of his sweatshirt

Giyu smiles into the kiss and places his left hand on Shinobu's waist, and right hand on her cheek

"I won't" He says against Shinobu's lips

12:00 am

Giyu's phone lights up with greetings, but he doesn't need any of them when she welcomes her birthday with the taste of Shinobu's lips on his

Sometimes, Giyu thinks he's changed so much since he turned 18, but right now, as he welcomes his twenties with a silver necklace and Shinobu's hand on his chest, he finally realizes that some things never change