As soon as she spotted him walking towards her, she shot up and put her hands behind her back. The grin on her face didn't fade, it couldn't.
"Why are you looking so chipper today?" he asked when he stopped in front of her.
She laughed. "Chipper is such a funny word."
His heart ached at the sound of her joyous laughter. Music, absolute music. The kind that gave you goose bumps and filled your mind with happiness.
He smiled softly. "What's up with you, Rainy?"
"Choose a number between one and ten!"
"Random but okay, " he paused. "I choose 8."
"Why that number?" she cocked her head to the side in curiosity.
He blushed profusely and scratched the back of his neck. He didn't know he would have to explain.
"Well, um..."
She raised an eyebrow at him. "Was it just a random number or...?"
"No, um, I chose it for a reason, " he cleared his throat. "The 8, if you turn it sideways, looks like an infinity sign and that was the first thing I thought of..."
When I was looking at you, he thought to himself.
"Wow, Cig. I'm impressed, " she smiled at him and he felt his heart beat faster.
Oh, God, that smile...
"Um, thank...thank you, " he stammered.
She nodded, excited. "No problem."
"Why'd you ask me to choose a number?" he asked and she shrugged.
"For fun, " she grinned. "Now, close your eyes and give me your hands."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, sorry. Close your eyes and give me your hands, please."
"No, not that, " he chuckled lightly. "Why do I have to close my eyes and give you my hands?"
"I can't tell you!" she exclaimed as she barely held in her eagerness.
He furrowed his eyebrows. "Why not?"
"That'll ruin the surprise!"
"Surprise?" His eyebrows now rose in shock.
"Yes! So, close your eyes and give me your hands, please!"
Slowly, he did as she ordered.
A few seconds later, he felt something heavy in his left hand and something cold in his right hand.
"Okay. Now you can sit down and open your eyes, " she murmured and he nodded.
He sat on the grass and looked at the items in his hand. Then, he chuckled.
"Really, Rainy?"
She grinned. "I couldn't help myself!"
In his hands, there were an elastic cloth bandage and an ice pack. Perfect materials to reduce swelling and pain for a sprained ankle.
He sighed. "I told you I was fine. You didn't have to do all this."
"I'm not one to listen, " she shrugged and he nodded.
"Yeah, I noticed."
"So?" she fluttered her eyelashes innocently. "May I please be your five minute doctor?"
He tried his best to ignore her eyes. Her beautiful, beautiful eyes...
"Um, yes. You may, " he gulped but she wasn't aware of his nervousness.
She was too busy smiling and preparing the materials for his ankle. Once she was ready, she took a deep breath and flashed that smile once again.
"Okay. So, let's see your leg."
He nodded and stretched his leg, rolling up the end of his jeans.
She frowned. "It's more swollen than I thought."
"Really? I thought it wasn't too bad. Not the worse I've seen, " he shrugged while her frown deepened.
Curious, confused, and concerned. The three horrible C's. The worst combination of feelings she has ever experienced so far.
But she didn't ask him about it. Some things were better left alone.
"I can work with it, " she said instead and picked up the ice pack. Then, she looked up at him with a playful smile. "Prepare for the cold!"
He took in an exaggerated, deep breath and nodded, playing along for her. "Okay, I'm prepared."
She placed the ice pack on his ankle and held it steady. At first, he grimaced at the cold but eventually accustomed to it. Her fingers lightly touched his ankle, which got his attention more than the ice pack did.
"Can you hold the ice pack, please?"
"Oh, sure."
For a moment, he hesitated. Then, he reached for the ice pack and slowly put his hand over hers. Their hands lingered in that spot before she pulled away to focus on the elastic bandage.
"How did this happen, Cig?" she questioned as she stretched out the bandage.
He shrugged. "I just went for a jog and accidentally tripped. No big deal, really."
"Your ankle says otherwise, " she murmured and he chuckled.
"Don't worry about me, Rainy. I can handle a little sprain."
"I don't doubt that. Now, put the ice pack to the side and lift your foot a bit, please, " she instructed and he did exactly that. "Alright. I'm going to wrap this around your ankle. Tell me when it's tight enough, okay?"
"Got it, " he nodded.
She began wrapping the elastic bandage to his ankle and waited for him to say something.
"That's good, " he finally said and she stopped.
After making sure it stuck, she looked up and smiled. "You're all fixed up, Mr. Cig. You'll be good as new in a week or so."
"Thanks, Doc. It already feels much better."
"My pleasure, " she grinned while holding the ice pack on his ankle.
"Will I have to use an ice pack everyday?" he raised an eyebrow at her.
She shook her head. "No, no. Just for today."
"Oh, alright."
They sat there, directly in front of each other, for the rest of the day. Like every other day, they talked, they smiled, they laughed, and they were happy.
The little things were the best, though.
Like how she would occasionally touch his hand when they joked around.
Or how he would stare deep into her eyes when she spoke, listening intently.
And how they'd feel the same burning intensity between them.
There, together, as they simply looked at each other, was what made their hearts open up.
Their hearts that were once locked up, slowly were opening again.
But what will they do once their hearts are fully open, fully exposed?
They didn't know, nor did they care. How drunk they were, filled with happiness.
For now, Cig and Rainy couldn't be any happier. And for now, that was all that mattered.