Lav & Maya's Trip —
They wandered through the local streets, shops glowing with fairy lights and loud bargaining voices filling the air. Maya was in her full shopping mode — stopping at every second stall.
"Just five minutes," she said for the fourth time.
Lav didn't even argue.
He stood there holding three, then five, then somehow eight bags — looking tired but trying very hard not to show it.
"Are you okay?" she asked sweetly.
"Of course," he replied immediately.
He absolutely was not.
"Wait here," she had said.
Lav blinked at the sudden command but obeyed.
Since Lav's birthday was coming up, Maya secretly picked up a titanium kada — fire resistant. She slipped into a small shop while he waited outside stretching his shoulders dramatically.
"Forever, idiot," she made them write.
Small letters. Neat. Hidden on the inside of the titanium kada — where only he would see it if he ever looked closely.
Maya flipped it in her hand, already imagining him pretending to act cool about it and secretly fighting a smile when he read "Forever, idiot." She knew he'd read it twice.
And Maya had planned something else too.
A tiny drama.
A tiny experiment.
She was going to pretend she forgot his birthday.
No hints. No early wishes.
Just to see his reaction.
Just to tease him.
When she came back out smiling, Lav narrowed his eyes slightly.
"What now?" he asked, suspicious but soft.
"You'll see," she replied, walking ahead.
He shook his head, smiling despite himself, and followed her with all the bags still in his hands.
He had no idea what she was planning.
And honestly?
He was definitely going to sulk.
Just a little.
The next morning, Lav stood in front of her — almost bouncing like a little kid waiting for something.
Waiting for her to say it.
Waiting for that one line.
But Maya just looked at him normally.
"What's wrong?" she asked casually.
No message.
No wish.
Nothing.
She acted like it was just another regular day.
Lav blinked.
"Nothing," he said, trying to sound normal.
"Why are you so quiet today?" she asked, tilting her head innocently.
He forced a small smile. "Just a regular day, isn't it?"
There was a tiny hint of sadness in his voice.
Maya almost felt bad.
Almost.
Then she suddenly snapped her fingers. "Oh wait, wait! I almost forgot
Lav's eyes widened.
Uff… at least you remember now, he thought.
"Yes, yes! There's some fest happening today. We should go," she continued excitedly. "Thanks for the reminder, Lav."
His face fell again.
That wasn't it.
That wasn't what he was waiting for.
Slowly, the evening passed.
Still no wish.
Still nothing.
And just when he had completely given up, Maya turned to him and said softly,
"I want to go to the hilltops."
He looked at her, confused.
At this hour?
But he nodded anyway.
Because if she asked, he would go.
He had no idea what was waiting for him up there.
They finally reached the hilltop.
The city lights shimmered below, and the night breeze was colder than expected.
Maya turned to him.
"Bend a little."
Lav blinked. "What? Why?"
"No questions. Just bend."
Suspicious but curious, he leaned forward slightly.
Before he could react, she wrapped a soft cloth around his eyes.
"Lav!" he chuckled. "What are you doing?"
"Just shut up and follow me."
He tried to peek.
"Hey! No peeking or I'll cancel the surprise."
"Surprise?" he repeated, confusion mixing with a small smile.
She held his hand and slowly guided him forward.
"Careful… one step… okay, stop."
There was a small pause.
The wind grew louder.
"Okay," she said softly. "Now open."
He removed the cloth.
And then—
Fireworks burst across the sky.
Bright colors exploded above them, reflecting in his widened eyes.
"Happy birthday, Lav!" Maya shouted over the sound, laughing.
Behind him, soft music started playing from a small speaker she had hidden. A simple dinner was set up — fairy lights, candles flickering in the breeze.
Lav just stood there for a second, stunned.
"So… you remembered?" he asked quietly.
Maya crossed her arms dramatically. "Ya, of course I did."
He looked at her again.
Then at the fireworks.
Then back at her.
And that smile — the one he tried to hide all day — finally broke free. "Thank you!"
They stood there together, fireworks lighting up the sky, soft music playing in the background.
After a while, Maya told him she was going to the washroom.
Lav nodded, still smiling from the surprise.
On her way, a random guy stepped in front of her.
"I've been trying to look away," he said with a small smirk, "but it's impossible. You're the prettiest girl here."
Maya gave him a flat look and tried to walk past.
But he stepped slightly closer.
"If I don't talk to you tonight, I'll regret it. Can I at least know your name?"
Maya didn't even stop.
She ignored him and walked past.
A few minutes later, when she was heading back, the same guy suddenly appeared again.
But this time, his face looked… different.
Slightly swollen.
Like he had just been punched.
"I'm really sorry, sis," he said quickly. "I'm really, really sorry."
Maya blinked.
Sis?
She looked around immediately, searching for Lav.
And there he was.
Standing a few feet away.
His eyes were locked on the guy — sharp, cold, warning.
A pure death glare.
The second his gaze shifted to Maya, it softened instantly.
Like nothing had happened.
He even smiled.
Maya walked up to him slowly.
"It's you, isn't it?"
Lav blinked innocently. "Me? I'm just the birthday guy. Happy birthday to me," he said, doing a small dramatic spin.
She narrowed her eyes.
"No. The guy you gave a warning to."
Lav sighed lightly. "Yeah, of course. How dare he flirt with my wom—"
He stopped mid-sentence.
Maya's eyebrow lifted slowly.
"Your… wommm?"
"Nothing," Lav said quickly, gulping. "I meant… my… uh… my friend."
She folded her arms.
"Friend?"
He swallowed again.
The fireworks were nothing compared to the sparks between them now.
"Anyways," Maya said casually, pulling out a small box, "I bought you a kada."
Lav raised an eyebrow.
"It's titanium," she continued proudly. "Doesn't burn."
She stepped closer.
"But your poor heart definitely burned after you saw him talking to me."
She leaned in slightly and waved her hand in front of his face.
"I can literally sense a little smoke here."
"Oh, it's you, Lav," she added dramatically.
Lav kept a completely blank face.
Two seconds.
Three.
Then he suddenly laughed.
"Okay. Enough."
Maya laughed too.
"Here. Wear it."
She held it out.
Lav crossed his arms. "No."
"No?"
"You wear it for me," he said calmly.
Maya blinked.
"Fine," she shrugged. "I'll just give it to that flirt guy then."
She turned slightly as if to leave.
"Woah, woah, okay! Fine. Just give it to me," Lav said quickly, grabbing it before she could move.
She smirked.
"Thought so."
He looked at her suspiciously.
"You enjoy this too much."
"Maybe," she replied sweetly.
Then her expression changed slightly.
"But you shouldn't beat someone on your birthday, Lav."
Lav blinked. "Beat who? Me?"
"Yes, you," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Don't act innocent."
He scoffed softly. "I didn't beat anyone. I just gave him a warning."
"A warning?" Maya folded her arms. "He looked like he got punched."
Lav shrugged. "I got a call. I took it and left him there."
Both of them stared at each other for a second, confused.
Lav frowned slightly. "Wait… he was beaten?"
Maya blinked at him. "Yes, dumbo. He looked like he got punched."
He looked genuinely puzzled.
"You literally gave him a death stare when I came back," she added.
Lav ran a hand through his hair.
"Okay, that was… out of rage," he admitted. "I didn't even notice if he was actually hurt."
Maya looked at him carefully.
"Out of rage?" she repeated softly.
Lav's jaw tightened for a second before he forced a casual shrug.
"He crossed a line."
There was a brief silence.
The kind that said more than words.
Maya tilted her head. "And what line was that?"
Lav's eyes met hers.
"Don't act like you don't know."
His tone wasn't loud.
But it wasn't light either.
"And who's that bastard who punched him before I do?" "I got an important call, so I left him for a second."
Maya looked at him for a second.
That sharp edge in his voice wasn't playful anymore.
So she stepped slightly closer, her tone softer now.
"Hey… it's your birthday."
He didn't answer.
His jaw was still tight.
She glanced at the sky, fireworks blooming above them.
"Look at the evening," she said gently. "I planned all this for you to enjoy… remember?"
The music floated around them, the city lights glowing below.
Lav exhaled slowly.
His eyes shifted from the distance… back to her.
"I'm fine," he said quietly.
Maya gave him a small knowing smile. "Good."
Before he could say anything else, Maya slowly slipped her hand into his.
Lav froze.
Her fingers wrapped around his.
Warm. Certain.
And then she gently pulled him closer as the soft music played in the background.
They started swaying — slow, simple, just the two of them under the fading fireworks.
Lav was completely stunned.
Maya… she's holding my hand?
She's dancing with me??
His brain stopped working for a full five seconds.
"W-What are you doing?" he whispered, almost breathless.
Maya didn't look up.
"Saving your birthday," she replied calmly.
And he forgot every single reason he was angry.
The music faded into the background.
The fireworks slowed.
For a moment, it felt like the entire hilltop had gone quiet.
They didn't say anything.
They just… looked at each other.
Maya hadn't planned this part.
The dancing was supposed to be a distraction.
But now her fingers were still in his, and his hand hadn't let go.
Lav's gaze softened.
And somehow, in the middle of laughter, fireworks, and unfinished sentences —
Neither of them realized that this was the moment everything quietly changed.