❝ Nothing lasts forever. Forever's a lie. All we have is what's between hello and goodbye. ❞

-

There's a certain serenity in his laughter. It's like his laughter is a kind of music Aira loves to listen, a kind of harmony she feels wonderful for, a kind of magnet she's attracted to and a kind of pleasure she's willing to experience.

But every good thing is bound to have a bad side. That's what she is scared of.

The feelings that get attached to her obsession with all his little things, can be labelled as "love" too. The pain that comes along with love. Not that she is scared of the consequences she'll face for falling in love, but she's scared as to how will he cope with them.

For nothing is meant to be forever...

♡

"Dude look at us! We'll look so hot as a couple. Don't you think?" Ethan said as a small dimple formed on his left cheek, standing right behind Aira and his arms securely holding her from the waist as they stare at their image in the mirror.

"Yeah, yeah whatever," rolling her eyes she tried to ignore the butterflies that erupted in her stomach as she felt his hot breath on her neck and a proximity too much to handle.

Taking his hands off her waist, she went towards another rack of clothes in the aisle of the shopping mall and started searching for something more casual to select from.

"I mean really think about it. You could even get a chance of changing your last name," he said adding a wink, "Isn't that exciting enough?"

Hearing him, her eyes took the shape of a round sphere due to complete shock.

"Do you even think before you speak, Ethan?" her eyebrows furrowed in confusion and a slight blush evident on her cheeks.

"Well you tell me, isn't that a great idea?" His lips turned into a smirk and mischief written in his eyes.

"No," shaking her head in disbelief, she turned around. But her cheeks were clearly not over with their blushing spree, the light pink colour never left them.

Aira Jones. Aira Ethan Jones.

Now that she thinks about it; it definitely sounds good. It always sounded more than good to her whenever she thought about it.

"One day you'll agree, Aira. One day." She heard him mutter under his breath as a small sigh left from his lips. Her gaze immediately turned towards him to see how disappointment covered his eyes. He gave her a brief smile before turning his attention to the shopping they came to do, just so that he could hide the pain he thought she couldn't notice.

"It's not about agreement, Ethan. I already am willing to share your surname, it's just the forever that I can't promise you. Even if I want to. So badly." She spoke to herself with teary eyes as she hit the exact nerve that made her feel vulnerable. A thing that he wants but she won't be able to give him.

A thing called forever.

♡

"Don't talk to me. You're stupid." Aira stomped her foot in annoyance and climbed up the stairs which lead to her room.

"What did I do this time?" A ten year old Ethan followed her, too clueless about what his best friend was angry about.

Once Aira reached her room, she gave him a look which clearly said she was pissed at him. "What is today's date?"

He had to think twice about what she was indicating. Even after stressing all of his brain cells, he got nothing as an answer and so he blurted, "Its thirtieth of November. Now what?"

Her eyebrows raised at the causality of his tone, her expressions showed annoyance and her eyes held hurt in them. She wasn't expecting him, out of all people to forget about something so important. And then it clicked upon him, a sudden jolt of realisation ran through his nerves and sweat beads covered his forehead due to the second hand embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck and said, "Uhm... Happy birthday Aira..."

♡

"Happy birthday Aira." Ethan whispered in her ears and let the blindfold slip off her eyes revealing them to see the decorations he and other people in her family and friend circle had done.

"Wow. You actually remembered my birthday? Now that's a breaking news boy!" She giggled at the embarrassing smile he had on his face.

"You still hold against my forgetful ten year old self now, do you?" He let out a nervous chuckle as he saw Aira laughing at his awkward state. She pinched his pink tinted cheeks and muttered something about being cute. Giving a tight hug to him, she proceeded towards where her birthday cake was settled and hugged everyone turn by turn who wished her.

"Now blow the candles and make a wish. We are hungry for the cake over here." Alice, her elder sister, teased her and reminded her that people were still waiting for the cake cutting.

Before blowing the candles, she took a quick glance at Ethan and immediately knew what wish she wanted. Closing her eyes she quickly faced herself in front of the cake and wished for the only thing her heart wanted at that moment.

"Just few moments of my remaining life with him that would last and mean a forever for us."