Everything needed to be perfect down to the degree of breeze in the air and the color of the sky. She had been planning for too long for it to not be what she had imagined. She just hoped Roy wouldn't be too shocked or uncomfortable.
The sky was set to a blood orange color when she seeks said boy out on campus when she assumed students would be winding down for the day. She hoped he brought an appetite with him.
"Roy!"
Lilina runs up to him, basket in hand and greets him with a kiss on the cheek. "I'm so so so sorry about missing your birthday the first time. I just... really wanted to do something special now that we're..." She slows her speech, not sure what to call them.
"Anyway, I had been planning things and then life got in the way, but... Oh, just come with me." She takes his hand and leads him away to the scenic and lush spot specifically off campus away from prying eyes ( such as her father, for one ).
The setting was an open field of wildflowers that broke into a pond. Its waters rippled with fish every now and then and its edges were sprinkled with cattails and daffodils. She had heard of this spot in passing by one of the villagers and of course needed to see it for herself.
Hand still clasped in his, she turns to face him. "What do you think? Pretty, right?"
"I thought we could have a picnic here, away from everyone, my father, the professors, other students... Just the two of us to talk, skip rocks, whatever you want to do. Not as two future leaders, but just as we are, even if those moments are sparse."
"Lilina!" Roy had been walking with his nose in a book, but it was no loss to tuck the tactics guide under his arm in favor of Lilina. Her kiss on his cheek made him smile, big enough to be embarrassing. There wasn't time for the awkwardness on his own part to bloom though, thankfully. He widened his eyes and shook his head when she began to apologize for initially missing his birthday— she was here now, so how could he possibly mind? "Please, it's quite alright. There were many pressing matters for us to attend to. I'm just glad we're both safe."
He wasn't sure what to call them either. Something her dad was allergic to.
Roy let her take his hand, elated smile back on his face. "Lead the way!" The setting for their little picnic- date?- no no picnic was safer, was gorgeous.
"Beautiful." Roy was staring at Lilina against the sunset and scenery. His comment could be taken to be about anything in his sight. He reached for the picnic basket but also still held her hand, going in for a kiss on her cheek to mirror the one she'd given him, heart pounding despite how close they were.
"Thank you, Lilina. Even when we are older and have to be the leaders of our homes, let's still have times like this."













