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~It was a cold, snowy winter day. Chester was at CandyLand. Meeple was sitting on a bench in the cold, looking around. A little snow had accumulated on their head. They didn't notice each other until Chester finished his shift and went outside.~
~Chester was walking outside wearing a coat and a scarf. As he looked around, he saw Meeple sitting alone on a bench. Chester was also alone, like Meeple. He stood there for a while. Then, deciding to annoy Meeple, he went and sat on the bench next to them.~
🃏🎉- Good evening, you silly billiard ball. What are you doing here?
🎱🎲- What's it to you what I'm doing?! Why did you come here?!
🃏🎉- For the same reason I come here, you idiot. Do you want some candy?
🎱🎲- No... Get out of here.
~Chester didn't answer, but he smirked slyly. Suddenly, he got up from the bench, scooped the snow from Meeple's head into his hand, and crumpled it into a snowball. He took a few steps back and threw the snowball right at Meeple's face. But Meeple became even angrier and tried to attack Chester.~
🎱🎲-Do you realize what you're doing?! I'm already freezing and you're still throwing snowballs at me!! I'll hit your brainless head! Idiot! Moron!
🃏🎉-Okay, okay! Don't attack! Don't attack me like a rabid animal!
🎱🎲-Shut up!
~Meeple placed their left pawn hand on Chester's neck and pulled his head down. With their other pawn hand, they hit Chester on the head. They fought, shouting at each other for a while.~
~After a while, Chester managed to escape from Meeple. He knew he had angered Meeple greatly, but he wasn't sure what to do.~
~(A few days later.)~
~Chester was sitting on his bed in his room. Opposite him was a partially wrapped gift box. Chester rested one hand on his knee and the other on his chin, looking at the gift box and questioning himself. Chester had bought a gift for Meeple, but he was torn between giving it to them or not. He was somewhat afraid that Meeple might attack again, and he wasn't sure why he had prepared the gift in the first place. In the end, Chester decided to give Meeple the gift.~
~Chester was out walking around at lunchtime. He had a gift for Meeple with him. His eyes searched for Meeple. For a while, Chester looked for Meeple in the places in the center of StarrPark with the poorly packaged gift in his hand, but he couldn't find them. Finally, he went to ToyLand, which was still under construction. As Chester walked, he noticed Meeple sitting alone on a bench near ToyLand, examining the small notebook they kept hidden on their back. They looked calm and peaceful. Chester stood there for a while, watching Meeple's peaceful and calm expression with an indistinct feeling he couldn't name. After about 5 minutes, Chester mustered the courage and went over to Meeple. When Meeple noticed Chester, they stood up to walk away, intending to distance theirself from him.~
🃏🎉- Hey Meeple... How are you...?
🎱🎲- Huh? What? What are you doing here?!
🃏🎉- I just came to apologize for upsetting you last time... I know I was selfish and stupid. I'm sorry.
🎱🎲- You're absolutely lying to me. The Chester I know is a complete idiot and doesn't come to apologize for upsetting people. What's that gift package in your hand? Is it another one of your pranks?
🃏🎉- No, no, no, no... Just trust me for once. There's no prank in the gift package. Open it and find out for yourself.
~Chester smiled foolishly and extended the gift to Meeple. Meeple hesitated between Chester and the gift he offered. They stood there for a while with a suspicious look. Finally, they took the gift from Chester and opened it right there. Inside the gift box were a few card games and a small board game. Meeple was surprised to see them. They was practically in shock. They never expected Chester to give them such a gift. Meeple involuntarily smiled from the sudden shock and looked at Chester.~
🎱🎲- Did you really buy these for me? I…
~Meeple thought for a moment that Chester was going to play another prank on them, and their expression changed.~
🎱🎲- Why did you buy these? Or are you going to invite me to a game night, bringing along Mandy, Ziggy, Draco, Janet, Buster and Fang and then make fun of me by saying you bought me this gift and that I accepted it like an idiot?
🎉🃏- What? No! I'll never do that again! I promise. You won't accept my gift...?
🎱🎲- No, I don't believe you. I never will. Take your gift and leave me alone.
🎉🃏- But I...
~Meeple shoved the gift box into Chester's lap and angrily walked away.~
~(Approximately two days later, at the game night Mandy and Berry were having at CandyLand.)~
🍬👑- Chester, go get those board games. I'll get the chips and drinks.
🃏🎉- Okay, fine.
~Mandy went to the kitchen. Chester went to his room to get the board games. Chester felt a little tense and uneasy. Because Meeple was there too, and they was much quieter than usual. They hadn't even asked what they were going to play. They was so quiet that it felt temporary.~
~When the game started, Chester kept focusing on Meeple. Meeple was silent. They had been silent all night. They hadn't even cheated.~
~When the night ended, everyone left CandyLand and went their separate ways to their homes in StarrPark. Just as Meeple was about to leave, Chester noticed them and stopped her by calling out to them.~
🃏🎉- Hey, Meeple! Can we talk for a bit?
~Meeple stopped for a moment when they heard Chester's voice. Then they turned around and looked at Chester strangely.~
🎱🎲- What's wrong?
🃏🎉- I... I just wanted to ask why you were so strange and quiet tonight! You were really creepy. You cheated and didn't even object...
🎱🎲- What's your purpose? Why are you after me?
🃏🎉- You just changed a lot after you rejected my gift... I... I don't know, Meeple. Is it regret, or guilt, or something else?
🎱🎲- The board game you brought was the one you wanted to give me as a gift. What does that mean?
🃏🎉- I thought maybe you'd want to take the game after playing it once...
🎱🎲- How can I believe you...?
🃏🎉- I... I don't know, but I want you to trust me...
~Chester and Meeple were silent for a while. Then Chester hugged Meeple tightly.~
🃏🎉- I really want you to trust me, Meeple.
~Meeple was surprised for a moment. But their face softened, and they hugged Chester back.~
🎱🎲- Okay, I forgive you. But if you break my trust, I will never forgive you again.
🃏🎉- I promise I will never break your trust. Hehehe...
~Chester's hands moved from Meeple's shoulders to their waist. Chester started tickling Meeple with his fingers. All of Meeple's tiredness vanished instantly, and they burst into laughter.~
🎱🎲- Chester! Hehehe-! Stop it!
🃏🎉- I like you like this more... If you want, let's play another round of board games. As I promised, agreed?
🎱🎲- Hehehe, alright then.
~Chester excitedly grabbed Meeple's pawn hand and ran back to CandyLand. They spent the entire night playing board games and talking about their past memories and themselves.~
🎱🎲- Really... Why did you want to make up with me? I mean... Wasn't I just an annoying or stupid billiard ball to you...?
🃏🎉- S-So...
~Chetser was surprised to hear this question. The first time, he had dismissed it as "guilt," but he didn't know the real answer himself.~
🃏🎉- I... I don't know... There was a feeling inside my chest, and it felt like there was actually a fist inside my chest. Believe me, it was very frustrating.
🎱🎲- So, doesn't it have a specific name?
🃏🎉- If I had to give it a name...
~Chester lifted his head and turned it towards Meeple's face. For the first time, Meeple was smiling genuinely at him. This smile warmed Chester's heart. It was a sincerity and happiness he hadn't even felt from Mandy. Just as he was about to speak, his head lowered again.~
🃏🎉- I think I've finally been able to put a name to this feeling... This... I don't know how to explain it. I'm afraid I'll lose your trust in me again... I... I think I like you, Meeple...
~Meeple froze for a moment upon hearing these words. Unconsciously, her face had turned bright red. Chester was surprised when he lifted his head again. Because Meeple was looking at him hopefully with bright eyes, their face flushed with embarrassment and joy.~
🎱🎲- S-So you have feelings for me...? I...
~Chester suddenly hugged Meeple tightly, and they both fell to the ground and rolled around. Meeple suddenly burst into joyful laughter and hugged Chester tightly in return. Chester didn't understand what had changed in Meeple's feelings, but Meeple's happy laughter made him laugh too.~
~They laughed together for a long time like children who thought the world was only made up of rainbows and happy creatures. While laughing, Meeple suddenly started kissing Chester's cheeks. Chester froze when he felt the kisses.~
🎱🎲- Chester... You can't imagine how comfortable I feel with you right now... I haven't been this happy since I opened my eyes in StarrPark. I... Thank you.
🃏🎉- W-I mean... Well... You're welcome. Making you happy makes me happy too.
~That night, Chester and Meeple had fun until dawn like children who thought the world was only made up of rainbows and happy creatures, and after that, they happily went on dates together. Angelo gossiped with Mandy about them.~