Leanna-Chapter 266: [EMERY] Winter Garden

I rubbed my hands together, hoping the warm knitted gloves would get even hotter. The cold was biting even after all the preparations and research I did.

Oh, how I wish that someone would invent heated gloves and jacket.

Winter in Hokkaido sure is harsh.

Even with all the winter clothes and mufflers and coats and boots and earmuffs and gloves, the cold still penetrated me to the bones. The layers of clothes on me weren’t enough to combat the cold.

I was used to winter, and harsh cold climates since New York also have this kind of weather during winter, but the cold right now was much harsher than the previous years. I thought I was well prepared until it bit me on the face.

Global warming. I thought.

I glanced at my surroundings. There were a lot of people, mostly tourists and locals, enjoying the winter garden view in one of Hokkaido’s favorite tourists spot.

The trees glittered like crystals, and even though it was not snowing, the place was covered in snow. The lake froze, and most children were playing skates on the frozen water.

This freezing weather wasn’t enough to stop the people from touring, that’s for sure.

I ignored the admiring stares thrown at me. I got used to it a log time ago.

I was never boastful since most of this, I owed it to good genes and the wealth we had to maintain it. Those trips to spas, saloons and derma were no joke.

I know I look beautiful –– I made sure of that.

This was Lance, and my first winter holiday vacation –– everything must be perfect!

I was wearing a winter Russian black hat partnered with puffy warm comfy earmuffs. A black chequered muffler and a dark Burberry below the knee winter coat paired with thick black warm winter leggings and comfy winter boots and gloves.

I look like a Russian doll.

Beautiful, fragile, and delicate.

I nodded to myself. Giving myself an imaginary pat on the back for a job well done. I spent hours to look this good and it was reassuring to know that a lot of people were looking my way.

That means that all those hours spent in the mirror was worth it.

"Em, here."

I lost myself briefly when Lance ran towards me, all sparkling and handsome in his winter clothes. The background dimmed in comparison and all my eyes saw was him.

He is soooo dreamy.

I sighed.

He was wearing a simple winter white earmuffs, a dirty grey muffler, a beige winter coat, a black pants, and winter boots. But even so, he was so handsome that all the girls and even some boys could not help but stare, even the older ones.

My boyfriend.

I giggled.

"Aw!"

I rubbed my forehead when he flicked it with his finger.

"Stop fantasizing and put this in your pocket."

Lawrence handed me a heat pack. Those little things that were handy and emitted heat. It was a life saver in this kind of climate.

I grabbed the heat pack and put it in my pocket. The heat that spread in my hands was heaven that I slightly shuddered at the warm comfy feeling.

After finally savoring the long awaited heat in my fingers, I wondered why Lance only bought three when he should have bought four.

He placed the other two inside his coat’s pocket and before I could ask –– he held my hand and put it inside his pocket together with his hand, intertwining our fingers along the way.

Now I know.

I giggled and embraced his arm.

"Let’s go."

He did not mind me clinging to him unlike before that he was still not used to being affectionate in the public.

Like that, hand in hand, inside his warm coat’s pocket, we strolled at the frozen winter wonderland garden.

His hand alone intertwined with mine, and his small gestures of love were enough to fill me with warmth.

Then I stop when we were about to cross a small wooden bridge under a large cherry blossom tree with the view of the crystal clear river under the bridge.

"What is it?" Lance asked as he glanced at me.

"You know . . . there is an urban legend that if you kiss the one you love on this bridge under this cherry blossom tree, your love with each other will remain forever until the end of time . . . ," I said instead, looking at the river the whole time before returning his stare with shining expectations in my eyes.

Lance frowned. "If you think that I’ll kiss you in front of this many people, you are mistaken," he said with a firm voice.

I did not answer and just look at him with puppy eyes, yet he held his ground –– not backing down.

We stared at each other, me with my shining adoring love for him, and him with his natural annoyed face.

. . .

. . .

Lance exaggeratedly sighed as he gazed over at the sky before grabbing my mufflers with both hands and pulled me to him in a sweet kiss.

The kiss was so gentle and soft. Like a feather that grazed my lips. He then licked my lips before he pulled away and grabbed my hand.

"Come on. We still have places to go," he said in a somewhat embarrassed tone as he pulled me along.

I giggled when his face turned red. I hopped to his side and hugged his arm.

"I love you." I declared in a happy tone.

"Mn . . ."

"I love you."

I tugged his arm, urging him for a declaration of love.

"I know."

He merely replied as he remained walking, eyes on the pathway.

I pouted and look at him aggrieved.

"I love you," I repeated once more.

Lance sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Alright, alright . . . I . . . I love you too . . ."

He shifted his eyes, avoiding mine. His face was red in embarrassment that I giggled nonstop.

I cuddled his arm in pure happiness.

I love you soooo much!

I did not know that I could love this guy even more than I already did.