[twenty weeks before]

She was tired. For all those notifications that poured into her phone daily, she was so, so lonely. The only thing that had made her even remotely happy had been the beautiful atmosphere among the people she was around, but even that had lost its shine for her.

The cold only seemed to get colder, never mind that it was a new year and things were supposed to be better. The only solace she'd found recently had been knowing that her father, too, had been absent in their home as of late. She found him too pathetic to be around. The only form of conversation between them would be the transporting of gifts from one hand to another that were supposed to convey his apologies.

He was a coward.

No. Soft words. Gentle thoughts. Forgiving mind.

Neither of them could have done anything about what had happened. She didn't blame him for that. What she blamed him for was the way he'd walked on eggshells around her as though she were some prize jewel that he couldn't afford to break either. She wasn't a toy, nor was she fragile.

She was just empty because of the distance. That hurt her, she supposed. She knew nobody near her was capable of understanding that, even if they tried really hard. So she kept her own distance; shields up, always professional. A superhero doesn't let others in on their weaknesses.

The soft shutting of a door far below shook her from her thoughts. Wonderful. At this rate, she was sure she wouldn't be able to tell from pretense and reality within her own self.

"Miki?" A meek tap at her door. "I am home now. I have gifts if you would like to see." He never bothered to speak his mother tongue, either. As though he thought it might break some dam inside her and tip her over an edge only he could see.

Out of spite, she cried out, "Okaerinasai, otōsan(1)." She hoped her tone was as frigid as she'd wanted it to be.

There was a pause. "Thank you," he answered heavily. "I will be going back to work. It is a weekend. Please do something fun."

"Don't worry, I will," she muttered darkly. She dressed swiftly, typing as she went, reaching out to Loa for a possible outing.

The house itself was a prison, it being filled to the brim with memories and little things she knew she'd never be able to obtain again. So she'd highly prefer being out in even the coldest of weather if it meant being able to avoid the depressing thoughts that threatened her inside.

"Hey, I want to go shopping," she declared as soon as the other line picked up.

"Ki, I can't today. Don't you remember me telling you about that family reunion or whatever? I'm so sorry, I know that you can't stand being in there."

"It's fine," she declined. "I'll just find something else to do."

"No, no. Why don't you call Bayu? I know he's been meaning to explore anyhow. You two could get to know each other." Was it just her, or did Loa sound vaguely jealous?

"I don't have his number." She picked at her fingernail. Putting the phone on speaker, she crossed her room to a mirror to arrange her hair under her beanie.

"That's fine. The advantages of technology, y'know? I'll send you his info. Tell me how it goes!" In a very Loa-like fashion, the girl disappeared without further notice. On cue, her phone dinged, signalling the promised information. She sighed, waiting almost impatiently for someone to pick up.

"Hello?" A voice asked hesitantly. "If this is a scam or fish-thing, he's not here." There was scuffling on the other end that suggested his preparation to cut the call.

"Wait! It's Miki." This time, she was zipping up her coat.

"Oh? Hey, Miki, what's up?" There was some faint yelling in the background, and Bayu yelled back.

"Um, I was wondering if you were free today to go shopping," she bit her lip. At the tentative silence, she continued quickly. "Loa said that you were going to go into town to see what's around anyhow. I thought that maybe...It's fine if you can't, I just—" She could already feel her pride cracking at her exposed vulnerability.

"No!" His voice neared frantic. He cleared his throat, "No. I mean, I'm free. When do you wanna go?" She smiled softly to herself.

"Just meet me at the school courtyard in fifteen minutes. Oh, and, Bayu?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you." She disconnected the call.

That small conversation on its own gave her enough warmth to keep her hands from shaking until she was three quarters of the way there. Although she had never returned Bayu's gloves, they proved to be of little actual use. Still, it had been a nice sentiment when he'd given them to her, so she kept them anyways.

She kept her thoughts away from anything negative, wanting to be genuinely happy on her day off. Instead, she focused on the way Bayu's eyes made her stomach flip and how his hair looked softer than possible. Even though this was nonsensical, it was better than meeting up with anybody with a scowl on her face.

In the distance getting closer, she could see a car, gas in a dark plume marking its placement. She sped up a little, not wanting to keep him waiting. Once she reached the car, she knocked on the window and slid into the passenger seat.

"Did you walk all the way here?" He sounded astonished. Not unexpected; most people reacted in the same way, if not worse, when they discovered the same thing.

"I'm used to it," she shrugged. "Did you wait long?"

He ignored her question. "I could've saved you the trouble and picked you up!" To her surprise, he seemed somewhat angry. More at himself, if anything. Now that was new. She trembled, relishing the warmth for a bit.

Startling the both of them, she poked his cheek and retracted her hand so fast that it almost felt like it hadn't happened. "I said it's fine," she grinned. "I'll call with directions next time then." The car purred to life as if in response.

"Deal. Why're we going to the mall again?" He risked a quick side glance at her, only to find a devilish grin on her face.

"To have fun," she intoned ominously. At his horrified appearance, she laughed. "I'm kidding! I have to get some new clothes and you need to have a tour sometime or another anyway."

"Oh, okay." That left them in a middle ground between an uncomfortable silence and a nice one for a bit.

"You need to make a left here," she inserted promptly, finding them already at the front of the outlet. "We should park as close as we can get so that we don't have to worry as much about finding the spot again." Bayu heeded her instructions, easing into a full stop in a rectangle of paved road surrounded by high banks of snow.

"Man, the winters here must be really cold," he observed with a shiver. "Let's get inside really fast." The pair hurried through the snow already piling up again on the sidewalk. It was starting to come down harder and she had never been so glad to see a floor in her life.

Her phone vibrated rapidly as soon as they passed the frame of the automatic doors. She slowed her pace and turned it on to find a long list of notifications for her to answer. On a second thought, she put the phone on silent, tucking into her pocket and caught up with Bayu, who was waiting for her patiently. Nothing to bring her down today, she nodded internally with a firm resolve. They shook the excess snow off their bodies together. She took her beanie off to brush it down and adjusted it into place.

"Sorry," she blushed sheepishly. "I'm not the most invisible person around, unfortunately." She closed her fists around the gloves inside her coat pockets for a bit of comfort.

He didn't reply to her and alternately asked, "What superpower would you want if you could have any in the world?" She mulled over that, thankful that he hadn't pried into her comment. While she thought, they climbed a few escalators and ducked into a store.

All the while, they chattered about everything and nothing at all. She pointed out her favorite movies and posters and in turn, he directed her to things he loved to spend time doing. She laughed far more easily than she had in months. This was a luxury she rarely could afford, knowing that many had a critical eye on her at all times. She'd indulge in this for a small span of time longer; didn't she deserve it?

So rather than starting to shop immediately, she let Bayu wander and took him up and down the mall and into different departments and shops. Equipped with her allowance, she could buy them a snack and have enough left over for whatever she wanted for later.

"Uncle Charles'?" She elicited in an attempt to break up the quiet that had overcome them. "My treat." Her tempting proposition won him over. He inclined his head, excitement in his eyes. She got them pretzels and they slowed their stroll to get started on them. Finally, they approached her go-to store for clothing and by then, their pretzels were long finished.

"I think," she started slowly, going through racks of clothes, "that I'd want the power to be invisible. A super spy, y'know?" She grinned up at him brightly. A befuddled air came about him and she waited until it cleared up to reveal understanding.

"I'd think that most people would want attention," Bayu raised an eyebrow. "And you'd prefer invisibility?" He began thumbing past shirts as well.

"Yeah, it lets you go by unnoticed where others would be stopped. I mean, that's just how I think. What about you?" She paused, pulling out a pair of high waisted jeans. She anticipated his answer as she held the pants to her form, noting its length.

"Hmm," he hummed. "I'd want to be able to know how to make people happy. Like, look at a person and instantly know what they're feeling and how to make them feel better than that." He held out a solid colored shirt to her and she took it in approval. Soon, in both of their hands, there was a stack of clothes to satiate her need.

"Fair enough," she yielded. "C'mon, I think we have enough to clothe an army." They made their way to the fitting rooms where she cajoled him into judging her outfits.

"You owe me some more of those pretzels," he warned. "My judgement is never free." Bayu slouched in his chair, a smile on his face despite his words.

"Deal." She disappeared into the room for a minute and strutted out, in a playful model mode.

"Ten outta ten would want that for my girlfriend if I had one," he crowed proudly. "And that's one I picked! Gotta admit I've got style." She pretended her heart didn't jump at the sound of that.

"No comment," she taunted, twirling out again in a different set. They went back and forth like this, him giving his input and her making the ultimate call. Soon, there were two piles: one that she would not part with and another she could live without, however difficult it would prove to be.

"Are we done?" He feigned exhaustion, draping a dramatic arm over his head. "I don't think I'm ever gonna go shopping with you again."

She bumped shoulders with him, swinging bags hanging from her hands. "That's a lie. You'll come again if I ask you to." They both knew it. It had been over six weeks since they'd met, but it had felt like lifetimes that they'd known each other.

"Your point?" He lightened her burden and took a bag in each hand. "You literally said that clothes weren't enough. You just had to get shoes too. Are you sure you aren't spoiled?" They laughed together.

"You love me too much to let me go alone," she giggled. "I can't believe you've gone so long without exploring anywhere, though." They stopped just outside the mall entrance, not wanting to brave the cold just yet.

"Hey, it's been really really really cold, y'know? All I've been doing is staying at home, trying not to freeze to death." Bayu quaked all over, exaggerating his statement.

"Please, you just don't like talking to people," she retorted. "Even with me, it took a good two weeks before you actually started to find me out of your own will. And even then, we never got to talk much."

"You right," he caved with a roll of his eyes. "People are just too much of lowly peasants for me to associate with."

"Oh, your royal highness," she mocked, bowing slightly. "Care to join me on the adventure to the car or shall I have to carry you there?"

"Let me be the gentleman and warm up the car for you," he replied seriously. "I'll text you when it's nice and toasty."

"Wait, what?" She exclaimed, shock written all over her. "You're so stupid!" He dodged her pinch and ran through the door, leaving her standing there.

If she didn't know any better, she'd call that a sign of whatever was blossoming. But they were just friends. It would be stupid to think that anything could come up in just over a month and a half between two people that had been strangers not so long ago. He made her happy, though. Happier than what she had thought she had been capable of.

A lightning of red passed her vision, shaking her free of herself. Although Christmas had been a few weeks ago, the holiday music still stayed. Strange how she had only just started to hear it. The colors continued to come, never staying longer than a second but always coming back. She lost herself in the music, the colors, and the rare feeling of content.

"Hey." Somebody snapped their fingers. "Miki, wake up." She sat up with a jump. When had she fallen asleep? How long had it been?

"I'm so sorry," she cried, marking Bayu's snow covered figure. "I never answer, did I? And you're going to be so wet!" She reached out to brush the snow away. A hand, somehow warm and dry caught her wrist before she could get to his face.

"It's okay," he sighed gruffly. "I just thought you were in danger or something. Let's go, the storm's actually letting up for a bit."

"Sorry," she whispered again. "I'll pay you back." He didn't say anything, just taking her hand and lead her through the snow. She hadn't even seen that he'd taken all the bags as well. The ride home was as silent as a graveyard, more unfriendly and untouchable than the amicable silences from before. She spoke solely to guide Bayu to her home, and they sat in her driveway, the car sputtering idly.

She could only think about all the kindness he'd shown her without even a doubt, something that nobody else had shown to that extent.

Unable to hold back the tears dripping from her eyes, she tried to wipe them away discreetly. But of course, she couldn't even do that without him seeing.

"Why are you crying?" There was too much concern in his eyes, too much emotion. Some part of her saw how cute he was, uncertain about what to do with this bawling girl.

"N-nothing," she hiccuped. "I'm just not used to this much consideration, I guess." She attempted a half-hearted smile, not getting any further than a twitch of the corner of her lips.

"I wouldn't expect anyone to go out into the cold that long for you," he smiled wryly. "Makes me special, doesn't it?" That rewarded him with a small curve of her mouth.

"I guess it does." Her tears slowed to small drops. "Thanks for doing this for me. I really owe you." She made to open the door. A hand on her own stopped her in her tracks.

"Just stay happy," he murmured, "As my favor. And don't shut this part of you away from your friends. That'll be enough." Her eyes narrowed a little, processing his request. That wasn't an everyday demand that people asked for.

"I'll think about it," she exhaled. "See you around, big guy."

"See you, aking pinakamamahal(2)."

"I'll get you back with my Japanese," she promised, her tears almost dry.

"I'll be waiting."

She hurried indoors to see him off through the window, the car fading with the snow. Back inside her prison, but it didn't matter so much to her anymore.

She left her bags by her desk, hugging herself in the middle of her bed. She didn't feel how she had in the morning. She was warmer by herself in that moment than she had been when her father had stood at her door. She was still smiling even in the atmosphere that sucked most joy out of her life.

She was going to be okay.

1. japanese: welcome back, father

2. tagalog: my well beloved