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“Do you really have to go?”
“I have to,” Dan Heng pressed, slinging his dark green duffle bag over his shoulder. Checking his airline boarding pass on his phone, he took a moment to memorize where he’ll be seated for the next few hours. 10A, 10A…that’s a window seat. Looks like I’ll be sitting next to Sunday and
He felt a slight nudge on his shoulder, forcing him to look over his shoulder.
“March, it’s only a week.” He assured his girlfriend, who looked back at him with the cutest, downcast eyes.
“A FULL WEEK WITHOUT YOU!” She cried, shaking his shoulder a little too roughly, tears already streaming down her flushed face. “NO MORE CUDDLE TIMES, NO MORE LATE AFTERNOON WALKS, NO MORE MOVIE NIGHTS, NO MORE SEX—”
“—We’ll still have FaceTime,e and you have my permission to call or text me 24/7,” Dan Heng persisted, his face already heating up as his girlfriend confessed their private acts in public.
Thankfully, it was still very early in the morning with a few stragglers wandering around and waiting to be boarded or waiting for someone. Those who did manage to hear her outburst gave them a mix of pitiful and understanding looks.
“BUT IT WON’T BE THE SAME!” March wailed, and at that point, she was having a full-blown sobbing session.
Dan Heng sighed. Looking around the crowded terminal, he took the opportunity to gently usher March over to the closest column. Once they were out of sight from curious bystanders, Dan Heng embraced his girlfriend tightly.
He could hear March’s surprise gasp and, in no time, responded the same way—arms wrapped around his torso tightly as she tucked her face against his chest.
Dan Heng held his breath, trying his best to keep it together while he allowed his beloved to break and release her emotions.
Deep down, he wished he had a different answer to give her.
Even if he wanted to, there was no way to cancel his flight anymore. Since last month’s meeting, everything had already been set in stone.
He—along with Sunday and a few others associated with Mr. Yang’s animation team—were mandated to travel overseas and attend a convention to reveal their latest NDA project. It had been a long time coming (a good chunk of two years, in fact), and it was thanks to Madam Herta’s sponsorship and the boost of popularity that their animation agency managed to come this far.
Leaning close, he placed his chin carefully atop her pink head. With eyes half-closed, he tightened his hold around her, gently rocking her back and forth in hopes that it might help. He didn't even mind if the front of his black skirt got covered in her muckus or snots. I’ll clean that up later…
“We’ll be together again,” And he meant every word. “Just don’t blow up the kitchen and turn off the stove when you’re done with it. Be sure to turn off the lights in the living room and don’t leave the balcony doors half-opened, or a swarm of flies will come inside.”
March sniffed, looking up and glaring at him. “Now, you’re just bossing me.” Even with her puffy, red eyes and the messy streaks of mascara merging with her dry tears, in his eyes, she was still so adorable. “Damn it, I’m gonna miss that…”
Without thinking, Dan Heng leaned forward and kissed her.
March immediately responded in kind, going on her tiptoes and encircling her arms again around his neck this time. Even after she tried to draw back, Dan Heng kissed her again just as fiercely.
“I’m really gonna miss you,” March muttered, leaning her forehead against his own.
Dan Heng hummed, eyes closed. “I know.”
“Don’t have too much fun without me, okay?”
He chuckled. “I won’t.”
And this time, March broke into a smile. She fished something out from her sweater pocket, then placed it on her boyfriend’s hand.
Dan Heng blinked, head tilted as he tried to figure out what it was. “What’s this?”
“It’s for you!” March insisted, puffing her chest and grinning away.
Dan Heng gave his girlfriend a weird look. While it amused him that she was able to recover so quickly, he still couldn’t understand the thing that she gave him.
It was a small black anthropomorphic puffball (according to March, it was a hybrid between a wolf and dog) keychain.
He continued to stare, impressed by the details as the puffball’s teal green eyes glistened under the blazing lights. It also wore clothing, an adorable set of clothes (a white long coat) and earrings which ironically looked almost akin to what he was also wearing—
Wait a minute.
“March?”
“Yeah?”
“Is this furball supposed to be me?”
He could hear her nervous laughter and right away, Dan Heng knew he hit the mark.
“What makes you say that?”
“It looks like me,” Dan Heng pointed out, even gesturing to his own outfit for the trip. “We’re even wearing the same clothes!”
March puffed her cheeks. “Well, for starters! You two don’t share the same name anyway!”
Dan Heng raised an eyebrow at her statement, intrigued to know. “Oh? And what is it?”
March cast her gaze to the side, her face noticeably red. “Woof Woof Dan…”
Dan Heng rolled his eyes. Figures.
“And check this out!” Once again, March shows off another one of her handmade trinkets—this time, revealing a pink bunny with a pink-blue clover on the left side of its round head. Unlike Woof Woof Dan, this one was ‘naked’ (but doesn’t the pink fur count?)
“This is definitely you.” Dan Heng points out without much thought. “It’s got your face written all over it.”
March beamed at his comment, only to quickly morph her lips into a frown.
“Wait a sec, what’s that supposed to mean?”
Dan Heng gave her a lame shrug. Even so, he couldn’t help but chuckle. Somehow, the tension in the air had dispelled, and now, it seemed like March was back to her regular, silly self.
“You should take them with you,” March urged, eyes slightly downcast. “You know, to remember me by!”
Dan Heng frowned at her poor choice of words. “We’re going to FaceTime, you know. There’s no need to go beyond that–”
“I know, but…” March mumbled, then stepped forward to offer him the pinky bunny. “This is gonna be the first time you’ll be away for a while. I’ll be fine; I’ve got Cal, Stelle, and even Himeko to visit me. But you? Sure, you’ve got Sunday and Mr. Yan,g but you’ll be mostly busy, right?” March reinforced her smile. “Take them! Starting today, they’ll be your traveling buddies!”
Dan Heng managed a small smile. For one thing, it was at least comforting to know that March wouldn’t be alone; she had her girls and Caelus with her.
Peering down, he inspected the two flurry black and pink creatures carefully, gripping them between his fingers.
He reached out to March, presenting her with the Woof Woof Dan.
March caught this and opened her mouth, ready to retort. “But—”
“I’ll take this,” Dan Heng explained, referring to the bunny in his hands. “Keep the other one, so you’ll think of me.” He inhaled a breath, blushing as he added. “And when I have this one, I’ll think of you too.”
Hearing this, March smiled, nodding earnestly.
“Okay!”
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“Take lots of pictures, okay?”
Dan Heng nodded. “I will.”
“I’ll do the same on my end, too!” March assured him, trying her best to lighten the mood. “And text me when you land!”
All Dan Heng could do was nod, receiving permission from the TSA officer to go through the terminal gate.
“I LOVE YOU!”
Dan Heng’s face heated up. This time, he didn’t bother to look back, knowing full well of the many eyes that were on him. A long silence drew out, and as he successfully walked through the gate, he snuck a peek over to the side.
March was still there, watching him and waving him goodbye.
Attached to the side of her pink sweater was the Woof Woof Dan keychain, positioned close to her left side, close to her heart.
Dan Heng caught this and smiled.
He did the same for the March bunny, tucking her in his front left pocket, close to his heart.
Eyes fixed on his girlfriend, Dan Heng mouthed a silent “Love you too” in her direction, raising his hand one last time before making his way further into the terminal.
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Once Dan Heng sat down in his assigned seat, he felt his phone vibrate from his jean pocket.
He was quick to fish it out, and to his luck, his entire phone screen was filled with March’s text logs.
Swiping his phone screen with his thumb, he was quick to press the messenger app.
Pinpointing his girlfriend’s chat log, he was greeted with her usual goodbyes, stay safe, and I love yous.
But one thing caught his attention—it was a popped-up picture of a scenic view of the airport from outside. March was at the center of the photo, and judging by the angle, it seemed this was her attempt at taking a selfie. She held the same black puffball in her hands. Stelle and Caelus were behind her, making goofy faces as they joined in the shenanigans.
Dan Heng couldn’t help but stare a bit longer at this. It was only an hour since they separated, and already, his heart ached for her. He instinctively brought his hand over to his front pocket, locating the March bunny and holding her close.
From the corner of his eye, he spotted the oval-shaped window.
Then an idea hit him. He placed the bunny keychain carefully on the window with the open runway visible in the background.
Holding his phone high, he managed to take a quick picture and then sending it to March.
“What are you doing?”
Dan Heng’s eyes grew wide, turning quickly.
Recognizing Sunday, he exhaled a long breath. “Oh, just…”
“Is that tiny thing supposed to be March?” Sunday pointed out, referring to the pink bunny still on the window.
Dan Heng nodded, blushing. “Hey, can you do me a quick favor?”
“Thanks for dropping me off!”
Caelus grinned, flashing his best friend a quick thumbs up. “Anytime, call us if you need anything, you hear?”
“And I’ll drop by tomorrow afternoon to pick you up,” Stelle reminded her, followed by a wink. “Remember, we got girls’ night!”
March beamed. “Yup! See you soon!”
Waving goodbye to the twins, she eventually wandered back to her apartment, walking slowly and steadily until she made it to the second floor. Opening the front door, she closed it with the side of her left foot, yawning loudly as she made her way through the hallway.
“I’m home!”
No response.
Just peaceful silence.
March bit her lower lip.
That’s right, they were just at the airport a few hours ago.
“Well, guess it’s just you and me,” March murmured, removing Woof Woof Dan from her sweater and placing him on the dining table to keep an eye on him.
Suddenly, she felt her phone vibrate. Eyes wide, March was quick to take it out from her purse, and as soon as she unlocked the phone screen, her heart swelled with joy.
It’s only been two hours since she said her goodbyes, and already, she was getting spoiled with so many pictures from her beloved.
March couldn’t help but laugh as the first picture happened to be a nervous-looking Sunday holding up the March bunny keychain. Then came Welt, Nihiliux, and Mr. Screwllum, each posing differently with the keychain.
What followed were a series of different scenarios—of March bunny next to the airplane screen playing a robot commercial, of March bunny perched next to the scrumptious airline food, of March bunny sitting on the airplane window, one depicting the railway and another of the night sky and twinkling lights.
March cracked a smile, and before long, she reverted into a sobbing mess.
She took the Woof Woof keychain and held it close to her heart,t and before long, erupted into laughter as warmth seeped inside her.
“You idiot! At least show me your handsome face!”
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Every morning, March would be greeted by a picture of March bunny on a messy bed with a messy postcard saying, ‘Good morning’ and ‘How are you?’
Almost every two hours during the afternoon, March would be swarmed by tons of behind-the-scenes takes and short videos of the convention. Sometimes, Sunday and Mr. Yang would show up, saying hi to her and even Screwllum giving her a brief acknowledgement.
During the late hours, she’d get a few pictures of their meals, and as always, March bunny would be there, sandwiched between the drinks and the delicious meals.
And every night, Dan Heng would keep his promise by FaceTiming her, sharing stories of what happened so far—describing the long crowded queues for their panel and the surprising appearance of a seven-foot-tall Starblazer cosplayer onstage, which turned out to be quite the showstopper for their premiere.
And every time, March would try her best to stay up and listen to him, only to be the first t knock out, her phone pressed close to her face.
If only she knew the kind of face her boyfriend would make as he watched her sleep soundly, how he’ll pretend that he’ll be there with her, kissing his phone screen and fondly caressing it as if he was really there, holding her close and touching her face.
If only she knew that he’ll get extra vulnerable with her, murmuring soft “I miss yous’ and ‘I love yous’.
“I’ll be there soon, love.”
If only she knew…that every night, Dan Heng would purposely leave his phone on, the March bunny situated between the pillow and the phone, as he stared at his girlfriend’s drooling face…until finally closing his eyes to rest and do everything all over again for her.
It was late Saturday night with March catching up on her favorite cartoon show.
Snuggled on the couch with a big bowl of sweets and wearing one of Dan Heng’s old sweaters (it still smelled like him), she kept the Woof Woof keychain close to her. One more day left, and it’s back to the routine. She reminded herself with a wistful smile.
Apart from her friends constantly checking in on her and the recent girls’ night out she went to the other day, her favorite parts would be when she’d be alone—either waiting to call or get messages from Dan Heng, sleeping, doing chores, or just reading in the study room to pass the time and distract herself.
Placing her sparkling water on the coffee table, March puffed her chest.
All right, everything’s good to go!
“Oh, wait!”
Pulling out her phone, March took a second to capture this fleeting moment. With a smile, she tapped her phone screen a few times, already prepared and excited to share what she was doing in her favorite chatlog.
Except, something else beat her.
Blinking, March eyed it carefully.
Even with her glasses, she was trying hard to make sense of the dark picture.
No doubt, she could still see March bunny, albeit a bit blurry, in full view, but the background…looked awfully familiar—
Her heart skipped a beat.
“What…”
She wasn’t able to send her picture.
Because a few seconds after, she received the best one of all.
—Of Dan Heng this time (he finally showed his face!) posing with the March bunny, standing next to their front door.
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March bolted out of the living room. Nearly tripping over herself, she rushed her way toward the front door. She opened it haphazardly, but she didn’t care.
And there he was, shining under the dim lights, hair slightly tousled by the wind. His eyes were directly on her, flooded with enduring warmth and love.
March smiled, choking up from her tears. “But it’s Saturday–”
“I couldn’t wait,” Dan Heng cut her off, dropping his bag and advancing, hugging her instantly. “You were right.”
March blinked, only to reinforce her smile as she went on her tiptoes, reaching over to fondle his messy black hair. “I was?”
“Mr. Yang booked me an early flight back to surprise you,” Dan Heng murmured, burying his face deeper along her shoulder. He tipped his head to the side, proceeding to sneak kisses along her nape. “I missed this, I missed you.”
March giggled, tickled as he showered her with kisses. “I missed you too.” Leaning over, she captured his lips, heart soaring as Dan Heng reciprocated twice as fiercely. "Welcome home."