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Light steps echoed throughout Suletta's trip to Earth House, slightly more secluded than the others, as if hiding from those who have the upper hand in all elements in the hierarchy. She strode happily, humming the GUND-ARM promotional song as it got stuck in her brain with how catchy it was.
It was a team project, the kind she's always dreamed of. How could she not sing along?
Suletta slides the gigantic door open, revealing the members of Earth House sitting on the couch, making themselves comfortable despite how cramped the place was in the first place. Not that there were many people in there anyway.
As she tried to greet everyone and have a friend-to-friend conversation as she’d dreamed of having, her ears caught on to the words spoken to the air. “What about we make some chocolates to celebrate tomorrow?" Aliyah was the first to propose the idea, which gained a few nods from the others.
"Oh, Suletta! How was class?" Greeted Ojelo with a friendly smile. Suletta couldn't reciprocate since her attention was already set on the topic at hand.
Still slightly timid and insecure about her social skills, she lurched forward a bit, as if trying to squeeze her way into the conversation. “Chocolate...? What is it?"
"Ah, Mercury didn't have many resources, so I guess you've never tasted chocolate." It was Nika's turn to comment, aware of her planet's condition since Suletta enjoyed letting others know about her life in a warm place such as Mercury. Despite its extreme weather, it's a place filled with kind-hearted people.
Suletta shook her head. "I've known what it looks like..." Thanks to Aerial's wide database, she was able to access lots of information about different topics, mostly food and lives in other planets. Things a curious kid would be interested in.
With her statement, Lilique stood up, an idea already settled in her mind.
"Then, Suletta, want to try making chocolate with us?"
Elated by the suggestion, Suletta beamed like a kid finally getting to play with her favorite toy. A big smile plastered on her face as she nodded repeatedly. She might not know much about the purpose of the activity, but it sure has to be a good on-
"Oh yeah, why don't you try making some for Miorine?"
"Huh?"
Chuchu, who had been silent all this time with her usual frown on her face and a lollipop in her mouth, suddenly argued. "HUH? You think she'll ever consider lowly Earthian chocolates such as ours?" She huffed. "Surely she has eaten the super expensive ones that make you poop gold bars."
"Chuchu!" The girl only shrugged.
Rather than ask about what type of chocolate could ever make someone do that, Suletta's interest was focused on the reason for such an idea. "Why would I...?" She held back her tongue from further asking, wondering whether her question would come out as rude.
It's not like she didn't want to give Miss Miorine! If possible, she'd give her anything!
Nika seemed to understand, as she started explaining. "It's Valentine's Day. You're supposed to give chocolates to people you cherish."
And so here she was, wearing a raccoon dog-patterned apron and a makeshift cooking beanie out of... some clothes she didn't remember having seen before. A whisk in hand and an aluminum bowl the size of her head.
Only Nika, Lilique and Aliyah stayed in the kitchen to make the chocolates, while the others, using their inexperience with cooking as an excuse, went out to do maintenance on the Mobile Suits.
She's seen people in manga do something with them, which made her assume that's the first step.
"First, we have to cut the chocolates into small chunks." Suletta stood behind Aliyah, who was reading the recipe out loud for everyone to hear. The page of the recipe book was filled with hearts and small, pink-colored patterns, making it stand out from the rest of the pages, which were just white with colored here and there.
Wanting to do a good job for her bride, Suletta read the recipe carefully, word by word. Took it as seriously as an exam until something seemed off about the whole thing.
"Can’t we just give the chocolate bar instead…? We are just melting it and putting it into another mold…” Or that’s what she understood from the steps written on the page. It seemed inefficient. Or maybe melting chocolate gives a different flavor?
“The shape matters a lot!” Aliyah retorted while unwrapping the chocolate bars. “It means you at least made the effort to make it presentable.”
Suletta expressed her understanding with an ‘oh’. That gave the other girls the motivation to set their plan into action.
“Just try to do it while thinking of making Miorine happy!” At that, her ocean blue eyes sparkled with high expectations. The sheer thought of imagining her aloof bride accepting her gift with a smile on her face instead of her usual indifference… it filled her with determination.
And after that, maybe she’ll get a k…
Repeated scenes from multiple angles appeared in her lovestruck head, wrapping her arms around Miorine’s waist, pulling her closer as their bodies collide, fitting each other so perfectly, with only their lips inches apart, slowly closing the gap as both close their eyes…
“Y-Yes! I’ll do my best!”
Suletta was excited.
The fateful day came, which was to be expected since Suletta discovered the meaning of Valentine’s Day just the day before.
As she staggered forward, the wild imagination from yesterday took reigns into her mind once again. Her cheeks felt hot, even though she hadn’t found Miorine yet. She was not even near the greenhouse.
Suletta took advantage of their morning time to get out of Earth House, scrambling around the campus with the heart-shaped box in her arms, hugging it like a treasure. The efforts from yesterday encouraged her to start running just to get to her bride faster, quicker, sooner.
To her surprise, the door was open. Slowly approaching, she peeked inside, unsure of what to expect when Miorine wasn’t usually a morning person. But there she was, her hair well-kept, school uniform clean and her features as cold as she remembered. She was crouching, and from her angle, Suletta admired the curves of her thighs, much more pronounced with the black striped stockings. Her graceful movements as she took the scissors and angled just right and cut, not wasting a single second to set the tomatoes aside and continuing her labor.
In a matter of time, her eyes landed on Miorine’s face. Pristine skin, like a white canvas, Suletta couldn’t help but want to caress. Long eyelashes that gave her a charming aura, so refined she seemed to belong to a whole different galaxy. Her lips, the cause of her many daydreams throughout the day yesterday.
Miorine just looked too pretty.
Too beautiful that her gift felt like nothing in comparison. Suletta slowly retreated, conviction not as firm as earlier. And instead of looking prideful for having Miorine as her bride, she went to class.
Her piloting classes were as hard to understand as ever. Having relied only on her own practical experiences in the mines of Mercury, the theoretical part turned into the mountain she had to climb, constantly studying just to get a passing grade.
This time, however, it helped her to divert her attention from her thoughts this morning. What felt like a successful day suddenly became a labyrinth of distress, looking for a way out to reach whatever is on the other side.
Suletta silently took out her student notebook, a sigh escaped her lips once she saw her empty inbox, assuming that Miorine didn’t even have her in mind on a day like this.
With the box still in her bag, she walked through the campus. Her eyes darted from one spot to another, her mind fighting between going to find Miorine and hiding from her.
Maybe Miorine would be happier with… fancier chocolates?
Maybe she should’ve used Tiko’s milk and made milk chocolate?
Is Tiko fancy in the first place?
“Here you go.”
Just as Suletta’s concern started shifting to something else, a familiar voice was heard nearby, jolting her out of her thoughts, looking around while trying to be as stealthy as possible.
“Huh? What is that?” Her movements halted at the voice of Miorine, which prompted her to hide behind a bush once she spotted her, with none other than Shaddiq Zenelli.
Suletta felt bad for eavesdropping, a habit her mother had always scolded her for. Though that regret soon vanished when she distinguished a rectangular box decorated with a red ribbon on top in his hand, which he was extending for Miorine to take.
Miorine, on the other hand, was frowning, her normal unfriendly look with arms crossed. No intention of accepting the small box whatsoever.
The whole view reminded her of a scene from one of the anime she used to watch with Aerial. It soon dawned on her.
Is this a c-c-c-confession?!?!?!?
“Today is Valentine’s Day on Earth. I thought you’d go along with it since it’s from the planet you want to go to.” Shaddiq’s voice was nonchalant; the same could be said of his gestures, making everything look like a trivial thing to do. Is that why he seemed approachable at first…?
“Leave it to yourself. I don’t want it.” Miorine huffed, an instant rejection thrown his way.
“That’s harsh, can’t it be a friendly chocolate either?” Shaddiq insisted.
“Give it to your crew instead. See you.” Putting a stopping point into the conversation, Miorine walked away, her strides brisk and hasty, soon getting out of Suletta’s eyes as she stood frozen behind the bush.
The rest of the day passed in the blink of an eye, night covered the whole sky like a thick veil of darkness. Haro patrols made their round as the rest of the students swiftly scrambled to their own Houses.
Miorine’s chocolate was still in Suletta’s bag.
Despite having planned creatively about how everything was supposed to unfold, the right moment for her to hand the chocolates was never granted. Her own thought impeding her to even talk to her like she normally does when there are no classes in between.
All she did was stand on the sidelines. She regretted it.
Maybe her assumption was right after all, Miorine deserves something better, unique. But if she already rejected Shaddiq’s gift, which should be really expensive given his wealth, then what is it Miorine likes?
“What is it that only I can give to Miss Miorine?” She muttered, the deafening silence of the room too loud for her to gather her thoughts.
Suddenly, a loud ring was emitted from her student notebook, startling Suletta. She wasn’t expecting any messages or notifications, her heart beating too fast from sheer nervousness.
[ Stay the night with me. ]
Miorine had always been concise with her messages. Beating around the bush was clearly not a habit of hers. Which is why the whole proposition felt more impactful than ever, a first time for Suletta to be invited by her own bride to spend the night together.
Not even caring about being spotted by the patrolling haros, Suletta hurriedly took the scooter and rode towards the greenhouse. She stopped midway after noticing how empty-handed she was, wearing nothing but her pajamas and the bag she unconsciously took on the way out.
Soon the scooter accelerated, passing through alternate routes and blind spots until the greenhouse was in sight.
However, she did not expect to see Miorine at the door, looking right back at her… she looked upset.
Suletta froze, her mind working double time, making a summary of their last few days together to find the reason her bride was frowning so much.
“Get in.”
Obediently, Suletta followed her. The dim lights decorating the floor were bright enough not to trip over any of the plants, each variety already memorized by the amount of time she tends to spend in here.
Once they reached the bedroom, Miorine turned around. The deep frown replaced for a lighter one, and her hands were on her hips, giving a kind of intimidating aura. Suletta instinctively used the bag as a shield.
“How was class today?”
“Huh?”
“Were the classes too difficult?” Though her voice was the same as always, Suletta picked up a hint of concern. Platinum eyes looking straight into hers while demanding an answer, patiently, gently in her own way.
Suletta lowered the bag, timidly. “Ah, no. I mean, it was hard to understand but not too hard…?” She tried to explain.
Miorine sighed, whether it was relief or disappointment, she didn’t know. It took her a minute to speak again. “I was asking because you didn’t come to me today.” She looked away.
Memories from earlier came back as Miorine said those words, a bit of discomfort in between the lines that Suletta couldn’t quite pick up. But still ended up with the same conclusion.
She wanted to be honest with her.
“Well…” It was easier said than done. “I had planned on seeing you the entire day.”
“Then why didn’t you show up?” Miorine blinked, her gaze ever so slightly softer than before.
Words died in her throat, unable to do anything but look down, regretful of her poor decisions. She didn’t know that explaining would be so hard, so hurting. Just as painful as not being able to be by Miorine’s side.
There was a silence that stretched for too long. Her vision stuck on her own feet that didn’t notice Miorine walking away for a split second until a small box was presented to her.
Suletta’s eyes widened, surprise evident on her face as she looked up to see Miorine, her professional and talented and cool bride, blushing. Slight red covering her cheeks.
“Here.” She pushed the box closer to her chest. “You might have heard it from the others, but today we’re supposed to share chocolates.” She added.
Dumbfounded, Suletta accepted the gift, the wrapping paper smooth on her fingers and decorated with care.
Though she had no time to spare, as Miorine quickly asked to unwrap the box, which she clumsily did, almost feeling bad for ripping the wrapping paper off.
Inside, there was an assortment of chocolates, each one with different shapes and colors, giving an enticing look that got Suletta staring in awe. Was this the chocolate Chuchu was talking about? Will she also poop gold once she tries one of these?
“Making chocolates seemed like a hassle, so I just bought them. It’s nothing much.” Those words weren’t registered by Suletta, as she kept looking as if the box were a treasure.
And it was, in a way. What other way could she describe it other than a treasure?
Just before she dared to put a hand on those chocolates, she recalled her own objective for today. Carefully, Suletta set the box on the bedside table and started rummaging through her bag, touching all the schoolbooks before her fingers brushed the smooth paper covering the heart-shaped box.
Suletta offered the present. “I also wanted to give you chocolates…” Hands slightly shaking. “But I thought you might want something… more valuable. That’s why I didn’t do it sooner.”
But here she was now, handing the chocolates to her bride. That simple act made her chest feel warm, too tight, too full. So many emotions as once, but the look on Miorine’s face was enough to make her melt.
A gentle smile curving her lips up, so subtle she might have missed it if she wasn’t close, so cute. Suletta felt her own face redden, the fact that both were thinking about each other could easily send her to the moon and back from happiness.
“Idiot.” Miorine smacked her head with the box, it didn’t hurt at all. “Anything that comes from you is enough.”
Suletta wanted to believe in those words, so she took it by heart, nodding multiple times.
It was a secret of some sort, one that she decided to keep for herself.
That below that cold surface, Miorine was the most caring and considerate and kind person she ever met. A small laugh escaped Suletta’s mouth, wondering whether she’d get mad if she were to tell her.
“Let's eat the chocolate before we sleep.” Miorine suggested, prompting Suletta to grab the one on the table, unable to decide which to eat first. From the corner of her eye, she could see Miorine sighing hopelessly, the slight smile still on her face.
Such an alluring sight, she thought.
“Is it good?” Miorine asked, curious. Suletta felt like dying as more new sides of her bride were revealed to her alone. The distraction was too much, the chocolate tasted like nothing, tasted like air. Her mind was somewhere far away, too occupied to make use of her senses.
Still, Suletta nodded vigorously.
She tried to enjoy each bite, some of her faculties finally coming back and allowed her to taste the sweetness of the chocolate, the right amount of richness and creaminess.
“Ah, I almost forgot.” As soon as she heard those words, slender hands roughly tugged on her collar, snapping her out of her delusions. Only for her to smell the fragrance of lemon and mint, leaving her in a daze while something soft and warm pressed her lips. Tender and gentle. It felt so nice, just like how she imagined kissing Miorine would be.
…
Wait.
Before she could freak out, Miorine broke the kiss, blushing to her ears.
“W-W, t-that was…” Suletta blurted out nonsensically, words refusing to come out as she stumbled upon each one of them with complete surprise and panic. Her heart felt like it might explode soon. Or maybe get so heated up to the point of fainting. Or maybe both. She wasn’t sure anymore.
A finger was pressed on her lips, shutting her up in the most effective way her heart was currently able to handle. Suletta was simply at her mercy, obediently doing as she requested. Ocean blue eyes staring at platinum.
Instead of giving her a girlfriend-like smile, Miorine just frowned. A cold demeanor to hide the warmth in between.
And honestly, Suletta didn’t mind it at all.
“Happy Valentine’s Day.”