translated ♛ || a. griezmann

•trente cinq•

A/N: There are some pretty juicy scenes in this chapter so prepare yourselves ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)no smut though, so no worries.

Very long chapter!

When I step out of the bathroom, my eyes land on the girl who has been clouding my thoughts for so long. Her smooth hair cascades down the sides of her shoulders, and her hazel eyes twinkle softly under the dim light of the now emerging sunset.

"I'm ready for you," She smiles gently.

I will never get over how simplistically beautiful this girl is. She doesn't dress extravagantly over the top, yet she manages to captivate me with her unending charm. Like now, for instance. Her dress is just the right length and just the right, simple color for a special night. It's nothing fancy, just a small detail. And sometimes that's all that really matters.

"Alright, lead the way." I return the smile to her.

She leads me out into the large corridor, before we head downstairs towards the balcony on the backyard.

"Close your eyes, Antoine. I'll guide you the rest of the way." She says, taking my hand.

"You sure?"

"Yes."

I let my eyes close as she guides me outside. She didn't introduce me to this part of the house yet, but I let her take me anyways, the soft touch of her hand lingering on mine.

The small breeze hits me as we exit the house and step onto what feels like the balcony. The weather is perfect for a night in late March, as it's not too cold but not warm either.

"Ready?" I ask.

"Yeah. Open your eyes on the count of three. One..., two..., three." She says.

I let my eyes flutter open and my breath hitches in my throat. My jaw drops open slightly as I take in the miraculous view in front of my eyes.

The part of the lake extending beyond the balcony is showered with red and white roses, and is surrounded by an array of candles sitting on lilypads. The balcony itself is decorated so thoughtfully, as pictures of us smiling on many different occasions and little mementos that remind me of intimate moments we've shared are strung up along the rails and above our heads.

The beauty of the sight is exemplified by the now glowing sunset as the golden hour strikes, the red, orange, and golden rays now reflecting off the lake and giving the whole area a magical glow.

Words fail me, and I can't tear my eyes off the sight before me.

"Rose, I... This..."

"You like it?" She chuckles softly, walking up behind me and wrapping her arms around my torso.

"This is... I don't..."

I draw in a shaky breath as a flock of birds fly through the gorgeous canvas, adding to its beauty.

"Happy Birthday," she says, planting a small kiss on the back of my neck.

There are a million things running through my head right now: the thoughts of how lucky I am to have been paired with her as my language partner, how lucky I am to have met her, and even how happy Belle must feel now, knowing that I am in good hands.

Yet the constant, nagging thought that we might not have much time left together sits in the back of my head, and before I know it I've turned around and kissed her.

She seems startled at first, but that doesn't hold me back. I can barely control the pure emotions flowing out of me, as I pull her in closer. When I kiss her, I feel a deep, urgent need to have her as close to me as possible, and I'm holding onto her as if she'll disappear any second.