FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

He lit the last candle and inhaled to smell the scented candles. The fragrance in the air smelt of vanilla, cinnamon, rose and lavender. With a satisfied smile playing on his lips, he watched the lighter in his hand, the fire dancing in a rose gold shade. The room temperature was warmer now, with so many candles gleaming around. 

Shutting off his slim windproof cigarette lighter, Hunter looked around and admired the little decoration he had arranged for Hera. It was his Goddess' birthday, after all. He had filled the flower vases, water jugs and glasses in his room with purple orchids, and his bed looked extra colourful with red rose petals scattered on it. 

His phone went off, and so did the vintage wall clock in his adjoined library. It was twelve 'o'clock at night. 

He placed the lighter next to the gift boxes on the glass table and walked to his bed. Switching the bed lamps off, he climbed on the bed. Now the fire shimmering from the candles illuminated the room with a soft orange glow.. 

"Happy birthday, Goddess," Hunter whispered into the air. His lips stretched, his smile grew wider into a grin, his eyes smiled along as he eyed the girl sleeping profoundly on his bed. She looked so peaceful and so at home. Bending his head down, he touched her temple with his lips, placing a soft, gentle kiss. 

He wanted to wish her a happy birthday, exactly when the clock would strike at midnight. So he stayed up, but Hera fell asleep. 

With his lips pursed, he sighed. He was disappointed because Hera didn't see the arrangements and wasn't awake to appreciate his efforts. The cake stayed untouched on the glass table, along with the bouquet of red roses and her birthday gifts. All he needed to do was wake her up so he could wish her a happy birthday and ask her to cut the cake. 

But how could he? He didn't have the heart to disturb her sleep. She looked so serene while sleeping. 

Hera turned on to her back, and all the disappointment disappeared from his chest when he saw her beautiful face. The sight was so beautiful that Hunter had to swallow hard. 

His heart missed a beat. 

'How can I resist this angelic beauty? Sometimes I wonder if you're really a human. You're a celestial creature, Hera Hunter.' 

He kissed her on the forehead, whispering a happy birthday once again. Hera sighed in her sleep and kicked the blanket off with a protesting groan. Hunter had closed all the windows, and the air conditioner was off. He noticed the room temperature was turning too warm, and Hera was not comfortable. 

He switched the bed lamps on and left the bed.

"Wish you could see all this, Goddess," he mumbled, and with a long sigh, he blew the candles out one by one. All his hard work went in vain. The smell of the burnt candle wick and the melting wax lingered in the air, so he opened all the windows to get rid of it. 

When he returned to bed, he saw how the hem of her nightdress rode up, revealing her inner thighs. He was surprised that, for once, she had dressed in her own clothes. Otherwise, he had always seen her in his shorts and T-shirt. He couldn't understand why she even bothered to pack her clothes before coming to stay with him on weekends. 

The black sleeveless lace dress looked cute on her. Hunter fixed her clothes, concealing her exposed skin and draped the blanket over her. Checking his phone one last time, he placed it beside his pillow and joined Hera on the bed. 

Sliding under the blanket, Hunter placed his hand on her middle and pulled her closer. Burying his face in the crook of her neck, he inhaled her scent and closed his eyes, allowing the sleep to consume his consciousness. 

A while later, something disturbed Hera's sleep, and she squinted, prying her eyes open. She frowned, looking to her right as she found Hunter groaning in his sleep. Alarmed, she tried to get up only to find herself trapped in his hold. His grip on her waist was a bit too strong, and he sighed against her neck. 

Hera noticed the lines of worry forming on his forehead and guessed he might be having a nightmare. The air running around in the room felt chillier. Hera glanced at the windows when the curtains flew up in the air, and the rustling sound was too loud for Hunter's sharp ears. 

Turning to her side, Hera pulled Hunter into her arms. He was shivering in the cold. She scowled while mentally cursing herself because she had the whole blanket trapped under her body. It was clear that he didn't have anything to keep him warm. Running her fingers through his hair, Hera planted a kiss on the crown of his head. She smoothed the lines of worry on his forehead, whispering comforting words into his ear. 

Once she made sure Hunter went back to dreamless sleep, she kissed him on the cheek and removed herself from his embrace. She pulled the blanket over his legs and covered him till his neck. 

Hera thought of closing the windows and proceeded to do the same when a strange smell drew her attention. She sniffed the air and smelt the burnt candlewick. She could also detect the faint fragrance of the scented candles. 

"Oh, my God!" Hera whispered while her eyes scanned every corner of the room. 

Shutting the windows close, she turned around, admiring the sight around her, the candles, and the flowers and lastly, her gaze fell on the gifts on the table. Her heart cried at the realisation. She instantly knew Hunter had lit them all only to snuff them out. She jogged her way back to the bed and noticed the rose petals scattered around. 

Turning around, she smiled while her eyes watered. She realised she just walked on the rose petals. Hunter had spread the rose petals everywhere on the floor too. 

"Thank you, Mr Hunter," she whispered before placing a soft peck on his lips. 

Deciding not to disturb his sleep, she walked back to the table to check the gifts. She almost felt bad for walking on the petals and tried her best to avoid crushing them under her feet, but her heart somersaulted anyway. 

Hera picked up the bouquet of red roses and inhaled their fresh fragrance. She was desperate to open her gifts, but that had to wait. She found Hunter's silver coloured shiny lighter on the table. Kissing the roses with admiration, she put them back, and her fingers grasped the lighter. 

'You have done all this for me. How can I not value it?'

She could tell why he had snuffed the candles out after lighting them. She looked at her sleeping boyfriend. 

'You didn't want to disturb my sleep and wake me up. So you let your efforts go waste just like that?'

Warmth filled her heart that he treasured her so dearly. With a pleased smile brightening her face, Hera lit all the candles one by one. The fragrance filling in the air spread all over and wooed her heart. Hera took a deep breath and grinned in appreciation. She cupped every flower vase with her palms one after the other and kissed all the pinkish-purple orchids. 

"Time to open my gifts," she whisper-yelled and took a seat on the sofa. 

She picked the smallest one first, a tiny rectangular box with shiny silver wrapping. She opened it to reveal her sweet messenger. He had written the message on a thin white paper. Hera eyed the sweet it was a plain milk chocolate bar. 

She took a bite and munching the sugary treat, Hera read the message. 

Goddess Hera, 

Life with you is special, 

Because you always make every day special. 

Thank you for coming into my life. 

You mean the world to me. 

I love you so much. 

Happy birthday, Goddess. 

Hera bit her lip and glanced at Hunter. Eyes filled with happy tears, she whispered to him, "I love you too, Hera's Hunter." 

Her eyes widened in appreciation as she eyed the lovely flowers, and the smile wouldn't leave her face. Her jaw already hurt with grinning so wide. She noticed a little card attached to the bouquet of red roses and opened it to read another message. 

Goddess Hera,

The light in your eyes makes every path under my feet brightest. 

And the smile on your lips makes every moment of my life happiest. 

Keep smiling, my love.

I wish you the happiest birthday, dear Hera Hunter. 

Hera giggled and wiped her tears with the back of her hand. The tears wouldn't stop, but she didn't mind them for once. 

Another white box revealed a long satin dress in pure white, bridal wear. It was sleeveless with a thin strap on one side to support the dress at her shoulder and had ruffles in the middle from top to bottom. 

Hera picked up the pack of hard candy sticks from the box hidden under the dress. 

She quickly grabbed the message card attached to it.