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The morning began like any other day. There was no major holiday that the other cells were celebrating. No decorative banners or lights that were strung above the top of the buildings throughout the body. Just an ordinary morning.
However, for one neutrophil in particular, this morning carried significant importance to him. It was anything but ordinary. Instead, it was a special type of holiday for him.
As usual, 1146 had woken up first. AE3803 was still asleep close next to him.
His fingers gently brushed through her hair. And when he touched her cowlick, she lightly stirred in her sleep. She nuzzled against his chest and curled herself closer to him.
He couldn't help but smile as he huffed a subtle chuckle.
He then shifted himself closer against her to give her a tender kiss on her forehead.
Again, she stirred with a sweet smile on her face.
"White Blood Cell…" she softly cooed in her sleep as if he were right there in her dreams.
"Red Blood Cell…" he whispered.
He gave a gentle caress on her cheek. His touch gradually woke her up.
The smile on her face spread a little wider.
"Good morning, White Blood Cell."
1146 pressed his forehead against hers.
"Good morning. It's a special day today, Red Blood Cell."
AE3803 made a content sound as she leaned against him.
"Everyday has been special with you."
"Well then, just let today be more since today is about you."
She let out a playful giggle.
"Fine."
She then gave him a small kiss before sitting up. He rose soon after she did and watched her as she changed into her work clothes.
He sighed and changed as well. She couldn't help but subtly watch him, playfully giggling with her cheeks in a blush.
Once they were dressed, they walked to the kitchen to prepare their morning tea together. He filled the kettle and she clicked it on. Their smooth routine carried practiced precision.
"Since today is your birthday," 1146 stated, embracing her from behind, "Go ahead and make the tea how you want it."
AE3803 giggled.
"But I already do that every morning, White Blood Cell."
"Yeah, well… Today I'm letting you."
They both laughed lightly as he affectionately pressed his lips on the side of her neck.
After a few minutes, the kettle clicked off. He reached up for their cups from the cabinets and she poured the tea into them, handing one to him.
"I made the tea extra sweet since you were so kind to let me make it any way I want it for today," she commented in a playful tone with a soft chuckle.
He simply let out a subtle laugh.
"Fair enough, Red Blood Cell," he said before taking a sip of it.
He never truly minded however sweet she made the tea. Though, he had been more used to making tea on his own on a slightly bitter side. But he had grown to enjoy her preparation style.
The two of them lounged for a few minutes as they drank their tea together. And when they were finished, they cleaned and put the cups away.
They then put on their jackets and shoes. After one more shared tender kiss, they stepped out of the apartment.
"I just want to remind you that you don't really need to get me anything today, White Blood Cell," she told him as they were walking together, "You know all I want is you."
His expression softened.
"But if I do find something for you?"
"Then I guess… But please don't fret over it. We don't want another Christmas panic."
She giggled and gave him a sweet smile to reassure him. However, he was still wanting to at least try.
They continued to walk closely until they finally reached the lungs at their usual spot.
"I'll see you later, alright?" AE3803 said softly, "Be careful on your patrols."
"And you on your deliveries."
1146 watched as she headed over to the task list for her first assignment. And when she was no longer in sight, he turned to start on his own patrol routes.
He took out his radio transceiver and spoke into it.
"This is 1146 reporting in for my assigned sectors for today."
*stch* 1146... Upper body duty. Possible bacterial activity has been detected around the nasal cavity. Patrol the surrounding sectors and eliminate any pathogens encountered. *stch*
"Understood."
He placed the transceiver back into his pocket and began hurrying towards the body's head area.
Within moments upon arriving over to the sinus area, his receptor set off several pings to chime in that bacteria were nearby.
1146 immediately rushed to the site as quickly as possible.
"Target sighted!" he yelled as soon as he spotted them.
With a swift swing of his blade, he slaughtered the small group before they had any time to react.
After ensuring they were dead, his receptor retracted back down. And he took out his hydrolyzing enzyme spray and used it to dissolve the bacteria.
He then took a deep breath and resumed on his patrol through the area. His eyes dutifully focused on his surroundings.
He was diligent as always with his patrol. Every alley and every nook was carefully observed along his route. Even as he turned a corner to notice the cells going about their daily lives as normal, he still kept his guard on high alert.
"If there's an active infection going on inside the body," he reasoned with himself, "Then those couldn't have been the only germs out here…"
He paused for a moment only to double-check a quiet alleyway. His instincts kept pulling him forward to investigate. He proceeded. And the further down he went, the higher his caution as the sound of the bustling cells from the busy path behind him lowered.
He then stopped.
Faint traces of movements with muffling sounds came from behind him.
His hand positioned itself over his knife, ready to wield once close enough.
The sounds got closer towards him.
He then pulled out his knife and immediately turned.
"Hey! Whoa there, 1146!" 4989 spoke with his mouth full of a snack.
1146 lowered his fight stance.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
4989 finished his food and licked his fingers before speaking again.
"Patrol. I always go around the nasal cavity during lunchtime. I saw you here and wondered if you needed a hand."
He formed a wide grin on his face.
"I could've killed you, 4989," he said, unamused, "Why were you sneaking up on me?"
4989 placed his fists on his hips, giving him a stern look.
"Come on. You know it's not polite to talk when your mouth is full!"
1146 just gave him a look.
"Manners matter more than your life?"
"No."
A short pause.
"I just have etiquette," he said in a rather confident tone.
1146 just sighed. He turned and continued to walk forward through the alley.
4989 followed along.
He noticed.
"Does it really take two neutrophils to patrol a simple alleyway?"
He opened his mouth to speak. But before he could, another ominous voice spoke first instead.
"We would prefer just one of you…"
The two of them instantly heightened their defense as their receptors began to ping. They searched everywhere around them. But no germs could be spotted.
They then looked upward. And once they did, a group of pathogens fell from above from on top of the buildings. They landed in the alleyway, surrounding the two neutrophils.
"It's an ambush!" 1146 commented.
One of the germs laughed.
"Obviously."
1146 bared his teeth and lunged forward with his blade in hand.
But the bacterium managed to catch him with one of its flagella before his attack could land. It began to constrict him and cackle as he let out a helpless yell.
4989 had managed to dodge another germ's strikes. He then quickly flung his throwing knives at the other pathogen. And at that instance, it loosened 1146 just enough for him to escape its grasp.
"Damn germ!"
Once freed, he immediately leapt at the bacterium and finished the attack with a fatal blow. It then fell to its death.
The other bacterium started to reach for him. But 4989 cut off its flagellum before it could take hold. It shrieked in pain from its loss.
4989 jumped at it, stabbing his knife into the injured pathogen, killing it instantly.
Once again, the alley became quiet aside from the subtle panting from their attacks. With one deep breath, they calmed down as their receptors laid back down behind their caps.
1146 searched all around them—as well as above—to ensure that they had taken care of the invading germs in that area.
"Seems like this area is secured now."
4989 gave a quick nod.
They resumed on their way through the alley to the other side. The cells that were walking along the main route were blissfully unaware of the chaos that had ensued within the small passageway.
They walked along the main route for a while. 1146 was keeping busy with the patrol. But he noticed that 4989 seemed far more interested in scouting the vendors for his next snack than searching for pathogens.
He sighed.
"You should really be looking for any hiding bacteria, 4989."
"But I am," he claimed as he browsed along the stalls.
"You're just looking for your next snack."
"No… I'm multitasking!" he argued, buying a couple steamed buns from one of the vendors.
1146 just rolled his eyes and shook his head.
"I'm not going to be doing all the work here."
4989 gave him a cocky look.
"Who's the one that saved you in the alley?"
1146 narrowed his eyes. But he remained silent.
4989 crossed his arms with a small grin across his face.
"Exactly!"
1146 rolled his eyes and shook his head.
And out of the corner of his eyes, he noticed a familiar-looking cowlick within the erythrocytes that walked along the main route. And immediately he almost did a double-take at looking, his cheeks suddenly feeling a faint tingly warmness.
4989 instantly noticed his behavior and followed his eyes. Once he realized his gaze was on AE3803, a cheeky smirk grew wide across his face.
"Now who's distracted, 1146?" he playfully teased with a chuckle.
1146 shook his head back to the present, quickly turning his attention over to him.
"I'm not distracted!" he defended while tipping the brim of his cap, "I simply… Had to make sure a pathogen wasn't hiding from plain sight…"
4989 just gave him a look.
"I know I like to joke a lot, 1146. But…"
A brief pause.
"…That doesn't even make any sense!"
"It's possible…" he shrugged.
4989 raised an eyebrow.
"Right… And Red Blood Cell over there has nothing to do with it."
"Red Blood Cell?" 1146 asked, feigning obliviousness.
4989's eyes dropped pointedly to the faint pink dusting his cheeks.
1146 tipped the brim of his cap lower.
"Just call her over already. I know you're thinking it."
"No. She's busy anyway."
"It's okay to chat for a minute. Want me to then?"
"No! Don't—"
"Hey, Red Blood Cell!" 4989 casually called out as he walked over to her, doing a friendly wave.
AE3803 stopped and turned. She noticed the two neutrophils.
"Oh, hey!" she responded.
"—bother her…" 1146 muttered and sighed as he then followed over.
The three of them met halfway.
It was then when AE3803 noticed a bit of blood splatter from the encounter in the alleyway.
"Are you alright, White Blood Cell?" she asked.
She tried to brush away the spot. But it seemed more of an excuse for an affectionate form of touch than to actually clear it away.
His expression softened.
"Yeah. I am. It's just from some recent bacteria. I just haven't cleaned it off yet."
She smiled sweetly.
"As long as you're not hurt," she gently commented as she then began to unnecessarily straighten his uniform collar.
He gazed lovingly at her as she did.
"How about you, 4989?" she asked him, "Are you doing alright as well?"
A bright grin beamed from his face.
"Yup!" he exclaimed, posing rather proudly.
He patted 1146 hard on the back a couple times.
"I even had to save this big lug just now."
1146 just glared at him.
"By the way," 4989 continued, politely tipping his cap up as he lightly gestured a bow, "Happy birthday today."
He then offered the buns that he had just gotten to her as a last minute present.
"Aww… Thank you, 4989," she smiled as she accepted them, "That's really sweet of you!"
"So has 1146 gotten you anything yet?"
"No. But it's alright if he doesn't."
She then turned to look at him with a fond expression, her tone gentler as she continued.
"I just want him safely home. That would be the best thing he can do for me."
1146 gazed back into her eyes, the corner of his mouth curling upward. For a few quiet seconds, neither of them seemed to need another word.
4989 just looked between them. Apparently, this was some kind of couple thing.
AE3803 then cleared her throat and coyly glanced away.
"Well, I should really be getting back to my deliveries," she bashfully said, letting out a short giggle, "I don't want to get behind."
"Right," 1146 softly told her, "Be careful now, Red Blood Cell."
"You too, White Blood Cell," she smiled.
She turned back towards 4989.
"And you as well, 4989," she said with a polite bow, "And thanks again for the little snack. I appreciate it."
He had a bright cheerful smile on his face.
"Anything for your special day, Red Blood Cell."
She returned the smile just as kindly.
"I'll see you two later!"
"See ya," 1146 said in a loving tone as he watched her return to the crowd.
His gaze lasted for just a moment longer. It was only interrupted when 4989 spoke.
"So you two are really serious together?"
1146 looked over at him.
"Anything that makes you think that we aren't?"
4989 shrugged.
"Just how fine you are at not even getting her anything for her own birthday," he commented, "If she were mine, I'd be showering her with everything she could ever want."
He narrowed his eyes at the very idea.
"I'd be doing that too if she wanted me to," he firmly told him, crossing his arms, "But you heard it yourself… She said that she only wanted me back home safely."
4989 laughed.
"Girls always say stuff like that… Of course she'd want something! She probably just didn't know how to tell you so she was just being polite about it."
1146 just stared at him for a moment.
"I know her. She doesn't want anything tangible."
He began to walk off in an attempt to resume his patrol—but also to leave the conversation.
However, 4989 wasn't done prodding him. He followed him.
"Are you really sure about that, 1146?" he questioned, giving him an odd look, "I mean, if you're like, serious-serious with her, then you ought to get her something even if she declines it. That just shows her you love her. Like 'you mean so much to me that I couldn't resist' or something like that."
1146 just found that absurd.
"Sounds more like going against her wishes to me."
"No, it doesn't!" he scoffed, "She's asking you without asking you."
He turned towards 4989, giving him a strange look.
"That doesn't even make any sense."
"Not really."
1146 let out a sigh.
"Well, what would you get her then?" he humored him, "Specifically."
4989 thought for a couple seconds.
"Well… Something nice."
He looked at 1146.
"You two have been engaged for a while now, haven't you?" he questioned, "It didn't seem like she even had a ring."
"She has gloves on."
"There was no impression of one."
1146's eyes narrowed.
"Why were you looking that closely at her hand?"
"That's not the point!"
1146 just shook his head.
"Come on!" 4989 said, "All you have to do is buy her a ring! Then you have two things solved."
"She doesn't need one."
4989 stopped for a moment as 1146 continued walking forward. A sly smirk then spread across his face.
"Really? Because… That's not what she told me…"
1146 paused a few micrometers away. He turned his head back towards 4989.
"Told you what?"
4989 shrugged casually.
"Just something she felt like confiding in a friend…"
1146 fully turned with his curiosity piqued. He questioned on whether he should ask for more details or not. However, 4989 told him anyway before he had the chance to.
"She said that she wanted a ring. Like that it'd be nice to have one to officialize everything. Said she didn't know how to bring it up with you."
1146 made a quiet sound as his jaw tightened. As if guilt had taken over him.
"But hey," 4989 continued as he walked over to him, "At least you know now. So you might as well take advantage of it and get her one."
"How?"
"I don't know," he shrugged as he resumed walking forward, leaving 1146 behind, "That's your problem now."
A small pause before he briefly turned for a moment.
"…Maybe one of these shops might have something. You can check them out while on patrol."
4989 resumed forward, leaving 1146 to think about everything.
The patrol resumed.
As always, 1146 kept his eyes on full alert for any pathogens. However, mentally, he carried another objective that weighed on his mind.
"A ring…" he thought to himself.
With each passing shop, he couldn't help but subtly glance over in its windows to see if any were having certain jewelry.
Just to check.
He shook his head after looking into one that didn't carry any.
"I really shouldn't be putting so much concentration into this," he tried to persuade himself, "Anything like that is rare enough as it is."
Christmas had already proven that much already. He didn't need another disappointment.
"She explicitly told me that she didn't want anything, so I shouldn't stress out about it," he continued.
He passed another shop. And he glanced into it.
"But still…"
Nothing.
He let out a soft groan and continued forward.
Another shop. Another glance.
Nothing.
"I need to focus on my patrols," he forced himself.
Another shop. Another glance.
"It's not like she has to have—"
He then gasped with his eye widening, immediately stopping in his steps as he locked his eyes on the very item he needed inside the store.
"The ring…" he uttered.
It didn't even look ordinary. It had an elegant swirl design for its band. A line of small crystals rimmed along the swirl, centering a single heart-shaped one in the middle. Simple yet surprisingly sophisticated. It was perfectly her.
4989 stopped and turned back, noticing him gawking into the window. He walked back.
"What is it?" he asked.
"I found it."
"Found what?"
"The ring."
"The wha—? Oh! Yeah, that. You actually found one?"
"It's in there," he said as he pointed in its direction.
4989 followed where he was pointing.
"Impressive. It's like she's in ring form."
"Exactly why I need it."
4989 just looked at him.
"You can't get it now though."
1146 quickly looked back.
"Why not?"
"We're on patrol. Suppose you lost it while fighting pathogens?"
His jaw tightened.
"But I already carry stuff that reminds me of her in my pockets. They haven't gotten lost."
"Are they as small as a ring though?" 4989 challenged.
He paused. And his silence was enough of an answer.
"Just come back after our patrol is done," he suggested.
1146 looked back through the window.
"But what if it's not there when I get back? It's the only one."
4989 stared at him for a moment before glancing over at the ring.
"Nothing you can control then," he shrugged, "Try again next year?"
"It's been months since something like this has been in the body. I'm only lucky that this is here just when I need it. What if I never get this chance again?"
4989 thought for a while.
"Call off the engagement and let me have her?" he playfully teased.
However, 1146 did not approve of the joke.
"Never, 4989," he uttered sharply, his eyes locked in a territorial glare.
His jealous appearance didn't scare him. 4989 had actually been fishing for such a reaction from him.
"Calm down," he chuckled, "I'm only kidding."
Both of them looked back at the ring.
"Look," 4989 continued, "All you have to do is come back in a few hours once patrol is over. Chances are it'll still be there."
1146 lowered his expression. There wasn't much he could do to guarantee that he would have it for later. Both getting it now and waiting carried the possibility of losing it.
"…Fine," he hesitantly said in a quiet voice.
He looked at the ring one more time before his radio transceiver gave an incoming message.
*stch* All neutrophils in the head area report to the frontal sinuses! Sightings of streptococci have been reported! *stch*
4989 received the same message. He looked over at 1146.
"You definitely can't get it now, 1146. Duty calls."
"Yeah."
With a last look at the ring, they rushed over up towards the sinus area.
1146 and 4989 soon arrived at the frontal sinus. Cells were scattering around as multiple neutrophils and macrophages fought against the terrorizing streptococci bacteria.
They immediately got to work killing off as many pathogens as they could.
The battle wasn't overwhelming. But it did last for several minutes longer than it really should have.
There were only a few stray bacteria remaining.
As 1146 was scanning around, one of them lunged from above him, pinning him down to the ground.
It made a sadistic grin as it raised its claw above him.
He gaped for a fraction of a second before baring his teeth and pulling out his knife. In an instant, he slashed the creature in half.
He then pushed the dead bacterium off him and stood back up. He looked around for any more of the pathogens. It seemed that 4989 got the last one in full berserk mode, cutting it up as if doing so made it even more dead than it already was.
1146 walked up to him.
"You know, it's already dead, 4989."
"Just making sure…" he responded, pulling off one of its claws and biting into it.
Before the conversation could go any further, 4989's radio transceiver went off.
*stch* 4989… You're needed over in the throat for an arterial patrol. Report to the superior thyroid artery. *stch*
"On my way," he spoke into it.
He turned towards 1146.
"Did you want to come along?" he asked.
"No. They didn't ask me to patrol over there. So I'll have to stay around here."
"You stick to too much protocol, 1146," he commented in an unamused tone.
1146 crossed his arms.
"Protocol is what protects this body and maintains hemostasis."
4989 just laughed.
"I know. But you still need some fun in your life."
"Is that why you always mess with me?"
"Yeah!" he proudly exclaimed with a light chuckle.
1146 wasn't as accepting. But he said nothing about it any further. He simply hadn't expected anything different from him.
"Anyway," 4989 said, "I'll be in the throat if you ever need me up here."
"Yeah."
With that, 4989 headed off to his new patrol route down in the throat.
As he walked down to the throat, he passed by the same route that he and 1146 had been patrolling earlier. Though, completely unintentional.
He paused in front of a vendor and ordered for a snack.
While he waited for it, he turned to notice a familiar store next to him. And he wondered why it looked rather recognizable to him that moment. He didn't recall ever going in it before.
Once he got his food from the vendor, he walked up closer to its window and looked inside at the various displays of knick knacks. And that's when he noticed it.
The ring.
For a few seconds, 4989 thought about it as he took a bite of his food. His eyes stared at it with intense curiosity.
"Why am I so focused on that thing?" he thought to himself.
Then he remembered about earlier. And it hit him.
"Oh, yeah!" he chuckled, "1146 wanted that ring for Red Blood Cell."
With that, he formed a playful smirk on his face.
"Well… Since I'm already here, I might as well…"
The rest of the day felt agonizingly longer than it should have been for 1146. He could've sworn an additional patrol had been tacked onto his shift. But no, the shift had been as normal as every other day.
He had just finished slaying a bacterium.
"You've been working really hard today," a nearby macrophage complimented.
1146 took a deep breath.
"I had to," he said.
"Yes," she agreed, "We all must do our part in keeping this body of ours well-protected."
He simply looked at her for a moment.
"Yeah… That too…"
His voice was quiet, too low for the macrophage to pick up.
He gave her the dead bacterium for antigen records.
"Thank you," she said, "You've been very busy. I bet you're looking forward to resting."
"Yeah."
"I guess you're done for today then, Mr. White Blood Cell."
His shoulders eased just slightly.
"Thanks."
With that, he briskly made his way toward the shops, just restrained enough not to appear in a rush. And once he was out of sight, he broke into a run.
In his mind, he couldn't help but wonder.
"What if I'm too late and it's gone by the time I get there?" he asked himself.
The thought almost terrified him. He had to get that ring for her.
He then picked up his pace to a quicker sprint towards the nasal cavity shops.
A few minutes later, 1146 arrived in the nasal cavity. He quickly retraced his steps from earlier that day to find the shop. He found a bit of relief once he found it.
However, that relief was short-lived once he looked into the window.
His eyes widened and his lips parted slightly open in disbelief.
"It's gone…" he uttered lowly, "I'm too late. Someone else must've bought it…"
He leaned his forehead against the window. He had missed his chance to get something truly special for AE3803. Something that had seemed so perfectly her.
Up ahead, 4989 was walking along the path. Finished with his patrol, he was returning to the area for his usual evening snack. And he noticed 1146, still sloped against the store's window.
"What's with you?" he curiously asked as he approached him.
1146 clenched his fists against the glass, fully disappointed in himself.
"It's gone," he uttered.
4989 looked at him in confusion.
"What is?"
There was a small pause as he took a deep breath before answering. He shut his eyes tightly. It was painful for him to say it out loud. Acknowledging it made his stomach sink.
"The ring."
4989 was even more puzzled as he glanced inside the window for a moment.
"Hmm? The what?"
Then he almost immediately remembered.
"Oh! Right! The ring! You really wanted that thing earlier, didn't you?"
He then looked back at 1146.
"But… I thought you said that you didn't need it. That Red Blood Cell said that she only wanted you."
1146 couldn't argue that. But that didn't take away the fact that he had found something so perfect that if she had known, she would have definitely wanted it.
"I know that," he explained, "But something like that really would've made everything even better for her. She'd get something more than she expected for her birthday. And she'd have something to symbolize how much I love her."
He dipped his head lower.
"And I missed my chance at getting all that for her… Someone else got it before I could."
"Yeah, I know," 4989 said in a casual tone, "That's usually what happens when things are bought. And it's been that way since earlier."
His words and how he said them caused 1146 to give him an off look.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
4989 was still nonchalant about it.
"Well, I figured that since Red Blood Cell only wanted you for her birthday, it seemed that you didn't have any interest in the ring. So I bought it."
1146 narrowed his eyes as he turned towards him.
"You… Bought it?" he questioned in a flat tone.
"Yeah!"
He took a deep breath, trying to prepare himself for the answer to his next question. Somehow he had a feeling that he wasn't going to like it. Especially since 4989 didn't simply offer him the ring to have.
"Why?"
"I didn't think those buns I gave Red Blood Cell earlier were a suitable present. So I wanted to give her something much nicer."
It took so much willpower for 1146 to restrain himself from destroying him.
"So you figured giving a ring to my fiancée was a good idea?"
"Yeah!"
1146 took in a sharp inhale as his hands fisted to his sides. His eyes were tightly shut for a moment before he glared back at 4989.
"Why do you think that would be a good idea, 4989?"
He did a simple shrug.
"Because she and I are close friends… She is allowed to have guy friends, right?"
His eyes still locked on him in a defensive glare.
"Not when they're pursuing her…"
4989 laughed.
"I'm not pursuing her."
1146 just narrowed his eyes, knowing that he was just denying it. He wasn't convinced.
"How do you even expect to give it to her if you've had it almost all day?" he questioned, crossing his arms, "Don't tell me that you lost it."
"Of course not!" he said sternly with a wave of his hand, "I'm not careless with such small things like you are!"
"Then how?"
4989 simply chuckled, holding up his hand.
"Like this…" he said, taking off his glove.
And on his pinky was the ring.
"See?" he commented with a proud chuckle, showing 1146, "No way of losing this if it's on me like this!"
However, 1146 was not impressed. If anything, he was more irritated than before.
"Why are you wearing it?"
"Duh! So I don't lose it!"
His mouth flattened.
"You idiot…"
"Hey, not my problem you didn't improvise like that."
1146 just lowered his shoulders in frustration.
"Just give me the ring," he told him, holding out his hand.
"What?! No way!"
"4989!"
He then reached out to grab it, only for 4989 to pull his hand away.
"I'm not going to give it to you if you're going to be acting like that," he scolded.
"And I'm not going to let you give it to Red Blood Cell!"
"Why not?"
"Because you don't give someone else's fiancée a ring! She might get the wrong idea if it came from you!"
"No, it wouldn't!"
4989 gave him a firm stare as he tried to think of a compromise.
"Look... If you want this ring that bad, then the only right thing is to pay me back for it."
1146 had a suspicion that whatever he was planning can't be good.
"What do you want for it?" he asked in a flat tone as he sighed.
4989 thought for a moment. He didn't really think 1146 would accept it that easily—or at all.
"Hmm…"
A playful smirk then spread to his cheek.
1146 swallowed as 4989 chuckled.
"What?"
"I figured out a trade," he said in an amused tone.
He held up his hand with the ring still on his pinky.
"This ring… For one date with Red Blood Cell."
"No!" he immediately yelled, glaring at 4989.
He simply turned and crossed his arms.
"Then no ring…"
1146 let out a low frustrated growl. His fists trembled as he tried to maintain control.
4989 noticed. But he had no fear.
"Calm down, 1146," he told him, "All I want is a nice afternoon with her. And you'll be getting this ring to let her have forever. Sounds like you're getting the better side of the bargain to me."
1146 narrowed his eyes. He didn't know how to respond to that.
"I promise… Nothing serious is going to happen…" 4989 said, his smirk returning to his face, "But don't blame me if she finds me irresistible."
1146 tightened his fists, unamused by his comment.
"Was that last bit even necessary to say?"
"Call it a disclaimer…" he explained, turning to face him, "So how about it? This ring for a couple hours with Red Blood Cell."
There was silence between the two neutrophils as 1146 hesitated.
"Come on, you know she'd never seriously cheat on you," 4989 commented, "And all I want is just a fun evening with her."
1146's mouth flattened, still highly uncomfortable with the idea. But he knew that he didn't have much of a choice. He could simply walk away. AE3803 had already told him she didn't need anything. He knew that. But his gaze drifted back toward the ring on 4989's finger. It was perfect for her.
He took in a deep breath and sighed.
"Fine…" he uttered.
4989 grinned. But before he could say anything, 1146 had more to say.
"But nothing romantic!" he added, his tone defensive.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah…" 4989 casually said with a wave of his hand, "I got it, Mr. She's-mine."
He then proceeded to pull off the ring from his pinky and hand it over to 1146.
"Here."
1146 sighed in relief as he held the ring in his possession. He closed his fingers around it.
"Thanks," he quietly said.
"No, thank you," 4989 playfully responded with a matching chuckle.
1146 just gave him a stare before finally turning to take his leave, heading back towards the apartment.
Some time along the way, 1146 looked at the ring curiously before scanning around himself to see if anyone was paying attention to him.
"I wonder…" he thought to himself.
He then pulled off one of his gloves and tried to put the ring on his own pinky. But it didn't fit.
His mouth flattened. Why did he even think that would work for him?
He pulled his glove back on his hand.
Still, he wanted to make sure the ring made it home safely. If he were to lose it, then he'd be faced with nothing and he'd still have to comply with the date he had just permitted. But he didn't want to just let it be loose in his pocket.
He stopped walking for a moment as he patted his pockets to try to find a way to carry it.
In one of them, he felt paper. He pulled it out and unfolded it. His eyes softened as he looked at it. It was a copy of the photo strip that he and AE3803 had taken back during their outing on Christmas. She looked so happy with him as playful as their poses were. And he felt a faint stir in his chest the longer he gazed at it. At her.
He placed the ring over the photo and began to fold it back up again. He took out a pen from another pocket and wrote a small note on the back.
Afterwards, he put the pen back and placed the photo back into the pocket he took it from. And as he did, he looked at it once more.
"Why didn't I think of doing this earlier?" he asked himself, frustrated that doing that in the first place would've saved him so much trouble.
He sighed as he resumed his way back home.
AE3803 had already arrived back to the apartment first by the time 1146 walked in.
"Oh, hey, White Blood Cell!" she cheerfully greeted from the kitchen, "I hope you don't mind, but I just got back and went ahead to make our tea."
He finished putting his boots away and walked into the kitchen. He embraced her from behind.
"I could've made it for you," he said softly with an affectionate nuzzle.
She made a soft sound as he did.
"By the way, check out what Senpai got me," she said as she rummaged in her pocket.
She pulled out a small thick booklet.
"They're coupons for free frozen glucose at the vending machines. Now I can have as much as I want until this runs out!"
The smile on her face beamed radiantly.
"Oh, and my little Kohai gave me this too."
AE3803 pulled out a little charm on a keychain. It was of a cell figure of a neutrophil. With how NT4201 felt about white blood cells in general, it was quite surprising to see such a gift.
"I know she doesn't really like immune cells," she said in a softer tone, "But I think she still respects the fact that I love you."
His eyes softened.
"That's good to know."
"Yeah," she agreed, "And I know where to put it."
She then skipped over to her pouch on the hook by the door. She clipped it onto its zipper.
"There. Now it can be like you're following me whenever I do my deliveries."
1146 glanced away slightly with a sheepish chuckle.
"Ye—yeah…"
Fortunately for him, she didn't catch it.
She went back to him, wrapping her arms over his shoulders.
"But this is my favorite gift of all," she hinted by giving him an affectionate coy look.
He pulled her close and the two of them shared a tender kiss.
The kettle then clicked.
AE3803 gave one more peck before resuming on making the tea. She poured it into their cups, handing one of them to him.
"It's a nice evening outside," she commented with a smile, "Want to have this tea out on the balcony with me, White Blood Cell?"
He smiled back.
"Sure."
She opened the back door and the two of them stepped outside.
A small breeze momentarily flew by them. And as it did, AE3803 gently closed her eyes and lifted her chin up against it, letting the strands of her hair gently drift with the air.
1146 watched her in adoration.
His heart pounded hard inside his chest as he tried to formulate his words.
"I know another gift that you'll probably like."
She turned to look at him curiously.
"Hmm? What is it?"
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the makeshift photo envelope.
"This," he said, holding it out to her.
She looked at it as she took it.
On it, she read what he had written on it earlier.
"I want to be with you not only today but forever."
She gently unfolded it and saw the ring surrounded by their silly Christmas photos. Her breath caught.
"I know you didn't really want anything today, Red Blood Cell," he told her, "But when I saw that, I knew you had to have it."
"White Blood Cell…" she said softly, almost choked up from the gift, "I… I don't know what to say…"
He simply let out a small chuckle as he picked up the ring. He held her left hand and gently caressed her ring finger with his thumb, keeping his eyes on it.
"You don't need to," he told her, placing the ring on her finger, "I just love you, Red Blood Cell."
She watched as he did before glancing up into his eyes. She leaned her forehead against his.
"And I love you, White Blood Cell," she whispered.
The two of them shared another kiss, one with more passion in it than earlier.
AE3803 then read the note once more and let out a giggle.
"I can't believe you still carry this," she commented, "I mean, I keep mine on our fridge. I've been curious on where you've kept yours."
"I keep it where I always keep you, Red Blood Cell," he said, gesturing over his left chest pocket.
She immediately understood his meaning. She gently folded it and placed it back into his pocket.
"And there I'll always be, White Blood Cell," she whispered, leaning herself against him.
1146 rested his head on top of hers and held her in a gentle sway.
She smiled as she gazed lovingly at her new ring.
"By the way," she began to ask, "What made you think of getting me a ring?"
"Well, 4989 spilled it out earlier."
She then looked up at him in intrigue and confusion.
"Huh? '4989 spilled it out?'" she questioned, "What do you mean?"
He looked back at her.
"He told me that you wanted one because you didn't have one after I asked you. That you confided in him about it because you couldn't tell me."
"I… Did?"
She looked even more confused.
"But… White Blood Cell… I never told him anything like that. You know I'd never keep secrets from you."
1146 just stood there, wondering if it was possible to annihilate 4989 for what he had to go through that day.
She noticed his stillness.
"Are you alright?" she asked in concern.
Her question pulled him back to the present.
"Uh, ye—yeah… It's just…"
"Just… What?"
1146 sighed.
"Just…" he hesitated, "…I made a trade in order to get you that ring because an idiot told me that you needed one."
"What was the trade?"
There was a brief pause before he finally admitted it.
"4989 wouldn't give me the ring unless I let him go on a date with you."
AE3803 laughed.
"That's all?"
He just looked at her.
"Don't be so jealous, White Blood Cell," she tried to reassure him, "4989's just a good friend to me. He could never replace you. Even if he were to give me this ring himself."
1146's mouth drew into a thin line at that last part.
"I'll go on this little 'date' with him," she continued, "But I promise you… Nothing will become of it."
She then gave him a tender kiss as if to seal in that promise to him. And he soon returned it just as lovingly.
A coy smile then formed on her face as she became increasingly more affectionate towards him.
"There's one more thing you can give me, White Blood Cell," she whispered in a hinting manner, "Something that both of us can enjoy together."
He picked up on exactly what she was implying and chills ran down his spine.
Their passion grew more intimate as they disappeared back inside the apartment together, leaving the quiet balcony behind.
--