The Grand Mall’s glittering chaos faded behind us as we stepped into the crisp, chilly night, the city’s hilltop with an excitement to see fireworks. The air was cool, a refreshing bite against my skin, carrying the faint scent of grilled food and sweet cotton candy from the stalls lining the path.
Families bustled around us, kids giggling as they clutched glowing toys, couples strolling hand-in-hand, their laughter mingling with the soft hum of anticipation.
Sara led the way, swinging as she whistled, her energy a relentless spark in the night as I and Aeri walked side by side
We reached the entrance to the hilltop clearing, a wide, open space dotted with stalls and buzzing with people, a massive signboard planted at the gate, its bold letters proclaiming the event. I stopped, my eyes narrowing as I read the details, the truth dawning.
"Festival? Project the government launched? This is far from the truth," I said, my voice flat, suspicious, turning to Sara, my hands still in my pockets, my brow raised, knowing her half-read poster had led us here under false pretenses. Though the fireworks is happening for sure but not the reason is pretty different.
Sara, mid-whistle, shrugged, her grin unfazed, her boots kicking a pebble as she waved a hand. "It doesn’t matter," she said, her voice airy, "Let’s walk and grab the best seat available!" She took off, running ahead, her jacket flapping.
I exhaled sharply, my breath visible in the chilly air, shaking my head as I fell into step with Aeri.
"She’s impossible," I muttered, my voice low, my sneakers crunching, my hands burrowing deeper into my pockets, the signboard—apparently, a luxury brand was opening a store in the city, sponsoring this public event with the city for branding and goodwill, not some grand festival or government project. Typical Sara, jumping in half-informed for the ride just because of the word fireworks.
Aeri giggled, her sweater brushing my arm, her eyes scanning the stalls, their colorful displays piled with cotton candy, popcorn, the air rich with the scent of caramel and grilled meat. "Damn, lots of good food everywhere," she said as she eyed a pink cloud of cotton candy.
I glanced at her, a half-smile tugging at my lips, my tone teasing. "You’re still hungry after all that eating?" I asked, my eyes flicking to her, remembering the pasta, the ice cream, the chaotic meal we’d shared.
"Yeah, but we spent energy as wel—" she started, then stopped, her eyes widened in realization and a bright red blush crossed her face glowing red, her sneakers skidding as she shoved me hard, knocking me to the ground. "Go away, idiot!" she said, her voice a mix of embarrassment and laughter, her sweater swaying as she spun and marched ahead towards Sara.
"Ouch!" I groaned, landing on the ground, my hands catching my fall. "What did I even do now?" I muttered.
I got up, dusting my hands, and walked behind them, Sara and Aeri now walking together, their chatter a lively hum, their silhouettes framed by the twinkling lights of the stalls.
Sara’s boots clicked, her fingers pointing ahead, her voice cutting through the crowd. "Over there!" she called, gesturing to a spot near a railing, where a soft mattress was spread out, a security guard in a black jacket guiding people to prime viewing areas, the city skyline looming below, ready for the fireworks.
"Let’s sit here," Sara said, her grin wide, her jacket creaking as she plopped onto the mattress, patting the space beside her, "We’ll see it perfectly from here."
"Okay," I said, nodding slightly, my hands still in my pockets, my sneakers scuffing as I settled beside Aeri, her sweater brushing my arm, her warmth grounding me.
We settled onto a soft mattress near the railing, the city skyline sprawling below, its lights twinkling like a sea of stars waiting for the fireworks to steal the show. I sat on the far left, my long black shirt and t-shirt swaying in the breeze, a fluffy pink cotton candy in my hand, its sugary strands melting on my tongue.
Aeri was in the middle and Sara sprawled on the far right, her red-painted nails tearing off bits of her own cotton candy, her chatterbox energy filling the space.
Aeri and Sara were deep in conversation, their laughter bubbling as they leaned close, their voices weaving through the crowd’s hum.
"Remember that girl from college, Petra?" Sara said, her grin wide, her boots tapping the mattress. "She totally eloped with her boyfriend last week. Just packed a bag and poof—gone!" Her red nails waved dramatically, her eyes sparkling with gossip, her cotton candy dangling forgotten in her hand.
Aeri giggled, her hand covering her mouth, her sweater sleeve slipping. "No way! Petra? She was so quiet in class," she said, "Didn’t she say she’d never leave her mom’s house?"
"Yeah, well, love makes you do crazy shit," Sara said, shrugging, her jacket creaking as she tore off a piece of cotton candy, popping it into her mouth. "Her boyfriend’s some artist guy, right? Probably convinced her to run off to paint sunsets or whatever." She rolled her eyes, her grin teasing.
I ignored them out, casually eating my cotton candy, the sugary fluff dissolving as I scanned the crowd—families with kids waving glow sticks, couples sharing blankets, teenagers snapping selfies under the string lights. The stalls glowed with colorful signs, their lamps casting a warm haze, the air alive with chatter and the sizzle of food.
Suddenly, the stall lights and lamps flickered off, plunging the clearing into darkness, the crowd falling silent, a collective hush settling over the hilltop. A man’s voice boomed from below, amplified through a megaphone, cutting through the quiet.
"The fireworks about to begin in 10, 9, 8..." The countdown echoed, kids squealing, couples leaning closer, the anticipation electric. "...2, 1!"
A single spark shot upward, a small, glowing light climbing into the black sky, and then—*BOOM*—it exploded at its peak, a massive, sparkly burst of red and gold, raining down like a dragon’s fiery breath, the light shimmering across the city below. The crowd erupted in *awes* and excited screams, phones and cameras flashing, capturing the spectacle.
My mouth hung open, a piece of cotton candy forgotten at my lips, the sheer beauty of it stealing my breath, the sugar sweet on my tongue as the sky lit up.
More rounds followed, bursts of green, blue, and purple, some forming the logo of the luxury brand sponsoring the event, others shaping hearts, stars, and swirling patterns, each explosion louder, brighter, the crowd cheering with every blast.
"Damn, so cool," Sara said, her voice casual, leaning back on her hands, her cotton candy propped on her knee, her eyes reflecting the colors.
"It’s...so beautiful." Aeri said, her voice soft.
"Indeed..." I said, setting my cotton candy aside, the sticky fluff forgotten, my eyes on the sky, the explosions a temporary shield against the weight in my chest. I leaned back.
Aeri turned to me, her smile nostalgic, her voice quiet but clear over the crowd’s murmurs. "We used to go watch fireworks a lot when you were a kid, remember?" she asked, her eyes soft, her sweater sleeve slipping as she tucked her hair behind her ear, her blush faint but warm, her memories of me—adopted, hers—filling the space between us.
"Yeah..." I said, my voice low, a faint smile tugging at my lips, the memories surfacing—her hand holding mine, the bright bursts calming my childhood anxieties. "You said..it used to calm me down from anxiety." I glanced at her, the fireworks reflecting in her eyes, her love for me steady, unshakable, despite the secrets I carried.
"Hmm," she hummed, her smile widening, silent but full of meaning, her sneakers scuffing as she shifted closer, her warmth a quiet tether, the explosions above us a shared moment that felt like ours alone.
Then we watched fireworks in utter silence, enjoying the peace and warmth which only lasted for few seconds because my attention again drew towards Aeri.
I turned my face to her, my gaze lingering, drinking in her beauty—her soft eyes, the gentle curve of her nose, the glow of her skin, the way her hair framed her face, the fireworks’ light dancing across her features, her smile a beacon in the dark. She was breathtaking, always had been, her love the one thing I couldn’t lose, even as the guilt of Sara’s cubicle gnawed at me.
Slowly, catching my glance, Aeri also turned her face towards me. Our eyes locked, the world fading—the crowd, the booms, Sara’s presence—all of it dissolving as we stared at each other, the fireworks a vibrant backdrop, the moment stretching, heavy with unspoken love.
Sara, on Aeri’s other side, glanced at Aeri’s back, her eyes catching the way Aeri stared at me, the intensity of our gaze, her eyes turning sad, a quiet shadow crossing her face as she looked down, a small, bittersweet smile tugging at her lips and hairs covered her eyes in silence.
Neither Aeri nor I noticed, lost in our moment, the fireworks painting the sky, a flicker of loneliness she hid behind her chatterbox facade, the night’s beauty a fleeting cover for the truths we all carried, unshared, as the sky exploded above us.