Ai's birthday surprise (2)

At first, Ai felt her chest pounding back and forth akin to a drum player passionately beating his beloved drums with his soul. But she was aware of Jun's presence and how he hadn't left his gaze off her even for a second. She softly exhaled a breath and took a second step on the ladder and then on the third.

Jun watched her cautiously placing her steps with sincerity and courage. If it was before, then Ai would have felt dizzy and collapsed. He remembered the time when Ai fell in his condo the night the lights went out, afraid of falling in a never-ending space.

But now her brown orbs shone far from any hesitation as she met her fear of heights head on.

When Ai reached the last step and pulled out the book from the shelf, her face beamed with joy and with stars glittering in her eyes, she looked at Jun. "I did it! Look, look, I took the book all by myself!"