12 Thank You

[Lian Hua POV]

From day one, the moment she had walked in with her sky blue dress and her hair braided to the side, I had thought how adorable this little girl was.

My eyes went straight to her. It was as if I knew she was going to walk in right at that moment.

I couldn't see my eyes at that time but if I could, I was pretty sure, they were sparkling like some foolish little boy who met his first crush.

I tried so hard to appear cool and calm in front of her as I made my way towards her. With a big smile on my face, I introduced myself, "Hi! My name is Lian Hua. Let's be friends!"

If only you knew, Airi, I was so nervous at that time to the point that my stomach began to twist. I had thought for a second there, I was gonna throw up in front of you.

And if I did, that would be the day I lost the most important person in my life. So, I was glad, I was truly glad that I didn't lose you. We found each other. We found that one thing that would forever change our life.

Thank you Airi. Thank you for taking my hand that day.

You know, I still remembered when you shook my hand and let out a bashful smile, I thought I had just seen an angel. You had the most beautiful smile I had ever seen.

Now that I thought about it again, it was funny how we had gone round and round when it was clear as the day, we had been attracted to each other the moment we laid eyes on one another.

I was sure of it when I thought back of that bashful smile of yours and the red flush of your chubby cheeks that I found extremely adorable.

Since then, it had felt so natural talking and laughing with you, being around you. There was never a moment of awkwardness between us even though we had started our relationship like everyone else, a stranger. It always felt like I had known you for a long time.

Maybe we met each other in our previous life? Would that be possible Airi?

If I were to say this, would you have laughed at me and said that I was being dramatic?

That would've ruined my cool image in front of you. After all, boys were supposed to be less sentimental than girls.

Well, whatever it was, I was glad I met you, my little Airi. Thank you for walking into my life.

I used to know only one "love". My love for my family. Until I first saw you stepped foot in the kindergarten.

I guessed that was the start of everything after. Slowly, step by step, you introduced a whole new world to me. It was then I came to know another type of love.

It wasn't a love for appreciation. A simple thank you one's said to another. But instead, a love that made your heart beat a thousand times faster. A love that made you suffered from a temporary fever. A love that changed your whole life and felt nothing but right.

A love that would make me do anything to keep that beautiful smile on your face.

A love that made me willingly gave everything up if it meant I could keep your heart beating.

I had won a dozens of medals in competition. I placed first for my entrance exam. I could list down my endless achievements that had made everyone around me proud.

But that was nothing in comparison to how happy I was to be able to hold your hand and called such a wonderful girl as you my girlfriend.

You were my greatest achievement in life. So if there had been a list, you would have surely be at the very top.

Airi, there were a lot of things I wanted to say to you and a lot of things I wanted to do for you. But I guessed time waited for no one.

I regretted it. Everything on 'that day'. Our final time together, alone. I wished it had gone the way I showed you in the present.

I wished I had kissed you earlier, then it wouldn't be just a dream but a memory.

I wished I had played all the songs I had written for you, then I would get the chance to see your smile more.

I wished we had eaten tons of cakes and cotton candies together, then maybe you would always remember me whenever you had your sweets. Wouldn't that be something?

Airi, I had dozens of things I wanted to say to you. But, the most important thing I would want you to know was, I didn't regret saving you. I didn't regret shielding you in that crash.

I saw the horror in your eyes when the crook metal from the truck had pierced my heart. When I saw the tears streamed down your face, I felt my world falling apart.

Airi, it didn't hurt. Believe me, it didn't hurt one bit. I had wanted to say at that time, "It's okay. I'm alright. So please don't cry."

Because when I saw the tears on your cheeks, you made me realized, I no longer had the strength to wipe them away.

'Airi....Airi....I'm sorry I made you cry.'

'I love you. I have always loved you. You're my important first and greatest last.'

'Thank you for everything, my little Airi.'