Aselia couldn’t sleep after that, she tossed and turned but the stinging feeling in her heart didn’t go away. She picked up her phone and checked her messages. He hadn’t texted her lately, she wanted to text him but his harsh words sounded in her mind and she refrained from doing so.

She opened her gallery and skimmed through their pictures, both of them smiling in each other’s arms. A sadness settled in her heart and refused to leave. She placed her phone back and got up to approach her cupboard.

Opening the door she saw the white cloth which held his precious hair. Gently she opened it and stroked the silken strands, just to feel close to him. Tears burned the back of her eyes, she wrapped the cloth and closed the cupboard before returning to her bed. The morning came as she kept staring at the ceiling, thinking of him.

Rony stirred from his basket and she reached out and cuddled him. He placed his small paw on her face as if trying to calm her down. His face nestled with her cheek.

"Rony, I miss him terribly. Why he had to say those things to me?" Rony only stared back at her with his beady eyes.

There was a small knock on her door and she asked: "Who is it?"

"It’s me Yurian," his cheerful voice sounded.

"Come in," Aselia sat up in her bed and shifted Rony to her lap.

The door handle to her room rattled and Yurian stepped inside with a chocolate cake in his hands and a birthday candle that read 26. A beaming smile played on his young face.

"Happy Birthday big sister," he chanted while carrying the cake to her, Aselia couldn’t help but laugh at his action which he did every year while Rony’s ears perked up at the sudden commotion.

"You never forget, do you?" she asked nonchalantly and he smiled mischievously at her.

"No, it’s not possible to," he hugged her and sat down in front, taking out a pocket knife from his pants he handed it to her.

Aselia gladly took it and blew out the candle before cutting the cake as Yurian held it in his hands. He sang her happy birthday again while she cut out a small piece of cake and gave him the first bite. Yurian gladly took and did the same.

Both of them casually sat there, eating the cake and laughing. He had lifted her sour mood, as he told her jokes, especially his missions with Wasp. Rony listened very attentively to the stories as if understanding every word they said.

After eating the cake, Yurian told Aselia: "We will be leaving at noon and heading to Hambaria (an adjoining city to Tetrois). I have already taken permission from Aldridge that I am taking you out today, so get ready."

"Why are we going to Hambaria?" Aselia asked putting Rony back in his basket.

"It has an adventurous theme park with better attractions so I thought we will check it out," Yurian got up with the empty cake plate, they had eaten the whole cake.

"Alright, I will be ready in an hour, will drop Rony off with Panda. He adores Rony and will take care of him in our absence."

"Perfect, I will go get changed as well," Yurian left the room with the plate and Aselia took Rony’s basket and his food bowl to drop him off with Panda.

After coming back to her room she took a bath and dried her hair. Aselia changed into simple black jeans, a white turtle neck, and a white leather jacket on top. She completed her look with a white beanie and knee-high black leather boots. Putting on some moisturizer, she grabbed her phone and wallet.

Yurian fetched her soon after, he was wearing blue jeans and a grey jumper. "You look stunning partner," he complimented her as they made their way to the parking area.

"Thank you," Aselia wanted this day to be happily spent. They met Black Raven and Wasp on the way, he had recovered from his injuries and was back to his missions. They had been partnered again.

"Happy Birthday White Falcon, heading out?" he wished her with a smile.

"Thanks, yes we are going out to celebrate," Aselia answered as Wasp gave her a disdainful look.

"Have fun," he waved at them while Wasp silently watched as they passed and reached the parking area.

"Your former partner didn’t look pleased, I hope she doesn’t have a heart attack by the time we return," Aselia couldn’t help but laugh making him laugh too.

"Yeah, she is not thrilled that you have attained your previous status and have been partnered with me," Yurian approached his silver-grey car and opened the passenger door for Aselia.

"Well, I am going to arrange training sessions soon, she will be more pissed when I will make her train for hours," Aselia shrugged her shoulders as she settled inside the car and Yurian took the driver’s seat.

"Yes, I hope she will learn a thing or two and not be a liability to her partner," Yurian added while starting the car and taking it out in the open. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Talking of partners, how did Aldridge have a change of heart I wonder, did he feel pity for me?" Aselia questioned in a glum tone.

"Not sure, maybe it was discussed in the meeting after we left," Yurian took a left turn so they could reach the highway.

"Hmm, anyways. I am just glad we are back to being partners," Aselia turned on the music and began to hum to the fast beat of the song and drummed her hand on her leg. Yurian was the only person she allowed her hoarse voice to be heard. She never did that with Xiran except when he was sick, for she was embarrassed by how bad her voice was while how melodious he was.

Her phone rang in that instant and taking it out she checked the caller ID and smiled before answering it.

"Hello!"