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Chapter 45: Birthday Wolf Part 2

In April, Keanu for the first time visited the memorial on the second anniversary and met with the people who were affected by the tragedy. They all welcomed him with open arms, including Terrence Browne and the flight attendant's loved ones. Hunter and Kendall accompanied Keanu who brought a bouquet of white roses to lay on the memorial.

After the memorial was covered in flowers, poems, and loves letters, a moment of silence came to pay respect to the fallen passengers and crew of flight 8085. Keanu leaned on Hunter's shoulder and held his hand for comfort. Hunter reciprocated by squeezing his hand gently. Maybe there was still a few hard feelings for Keanu, but he held himself strong. He had someone who he could shoulder on. Hunter gave him a peck on his head.

"It's all right," he whispered. Keanu only nodded silently.

The gathering ended. Some had left and a few remained for a small chat. Some came to Keanu and Kendall about the article they read. It was nice to see and hear from the young wolf he was doing well for the first time after a few years of the events.

Terrence Browne parted from his parents and stopped by to meet Keanu. The ferret was feeling fine and sported a small but warm smile. "How do you do?" he said.

Keanu smiled. "I'm doing great, Terrence. Thanks."

"First time coming here?"

"Yes," he squeezed Hunter's hand, "thanks to Hunter, he helped me to embrace and face the past. It's nice that you came, too."

"Yeah, me too, I was too afraid to come here but my parents encouraged me to do it, they told me it will do me well for better closure. They were right though. Thanks for telling me everything, Keanu. I'll probably... uh, well, I'm glad I'm doing well and knowing what happened to my late girlfriend and all. I can now move on with my life now."

"Me too, Terrence. I'll see you at the next football match. I hope you all win this year."

Terrence smiled. "Thanks." He waved at them. "Later," and marched toward his waiting parents.

Hunter watched the ferret's departure; he was glad to see him making a recovery from his troubles and heard from Xerxes that he was improving his studies and football practices. He was suspended after the small incident in November for one match. He was given one more chance when he came back freshened up for the next game in February. They won and now spring break was coming up soon with another big game coming up.

"You both ready to come back home?" Kendall said to the pair.

The wolves nodded and followed the elder wolf back to their homes. Keanu's shoulders had lightened up to zero and felt satisfied and free from his long dread of the past. He could now move on and have a peaceful life with his friends and Hunter. There was so much to do ahead of him that he wanted to share it with the people who cared and loved the most. He had a life to make the most of it and he knew it had already begun.

...

September arrived and the start of Keanu's second year in college as a sophomore. But before that, today was his 19th birthday! In one year since he moved to Rexville, he saw major changes in his life that turned for the better. He had friends and a boyfriend who loved him with all the bottom of his heart, and he valued and very much appreciated their friendship.

The little birthday party was held in the apartment's outdoor pool in the gazebo. Among the guests were Keanu's first-year students he met and hung out around; Frankie, Oliver, Joseph, Irvin, Yestin, and Robin. Hunter's circle of friends; Milagros, Sergio, Broderick, Sol, Xerxes, Xavier, Natasha, and Topher who Sol invited him along. Keanu's cousins, Jack, and Crystal. Hunter's and Keanu's family, including Kendall's new girlfriend Hannah and her daughter Lizzy, all gathered at the party to mingle and have fun.

There were a few presents here and there, but most importantly a birthday cake with the number 19 in icing and one lighted candle stick in the middle. The invited guest gathered around the picnic table and sang happy birthday together.

The young arctic wolf was so bashful at the attention and finally blew the candle after finishing the song. The guests clapped and cheered. Keanu's tail wagged happily.

"Happy birthday, Keanu," Hunter said, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

"I never thought you'd pull this one off just for me, Hunter," Keanu said.

"I had to; I had a feeling your last birthday kinda sucked."

"Yeah, you're right, but it was a simple birthday Dad did for me. But it wasn't that bad. I'm not very festive myself but thank you though. You really surprised me."

"Heh, no problem. I'm glad you're enjoying it."

"Oh, uh," Keanu leaned closer and whispered, "does your butt hurts from Labor Day?"

Hunter blushed and whispered back with a grin, "A little, but I'm better."

They both chuckled. After their semester ended, they spend their summertime together by themselves or with friends and families. In those times when they were alone, they fooled around in their beds and Keanu did the honors to dominate his boyfriend for the first time and now recently from Labor Day, one thing led to the other and Keanu ruled Hunter's bed. Keanu, of course, was worried if he hurt him, but he knew Hunter was very experienced.

"Come on, let's have fun in the pool," Hunter said.

The party went well. Everyone was having a nice time this early fall. They took pictures, ate slices of chocolate cake, swam around the pool with friends and families, and played some water games such as beachball. It was the happiest time Keanu had ever been and Hunter loved seeing him like that for years to come.

In the pool where half of the guests gathered, Keanu and Hunter wore their swimming trunks and joined to mingle with the others. Good thing Hunter had advised his friends to bring their bathing suits as it was a birthday pool party.

"You two are now dating?" Keanu curiously said to Sol and Topher. "Since when?"

"After last semester ended," the maned wolf said with an arm around Sol's waist, "he was very steady around me, but before I would go back to San Diego, he couldn't wait any longer and he was very much in love with me~!"

"You can say that again," Sol said as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Try not to exaggerate much."

"Oh no, you were very dramatic about it." Topher sneered.

"Stop it, please."

Hunter smiled, "I kinda want to hear more, Topher."

"Oh, come on, Hunter, not you, too!"

"This is the first time you're dating someone for real, of course, this changes everything. You said you were going to enjoy your bachelorhood and see other people."

"Yeah, yeah, it's pretty much now an understatement. I can change my mind, you know."

"You know we don't have to be exclusive in our relationship," Topher said. "We can share with other people if that's what you've been wondering."

Sol looked at him in surprise. "W-what? Really? Are you serious?"

"If you want to~." Topher beamed at him; he wasn't kidding.

"Wow, you're full of surprises." Sol smiled.

"Thank you, love, even in bed, you're so full of surprises." Topher leaned on his shoulder as he held his hand underwater.

Keanu smiled and giggled. "I'm happy for you two."

"Thank you," Topher chirped. "Look at you both, you're so cute together. You're so lucky to have someone like Hunter, Keanu."

"Thank you, Topher," Keanu smiled and blushed at the compliment.

On the other side of the pool, Broderick, at last, met his online foe, Ice Master, also known as Jack Winters. Jack had honestly underestimated the situation but despite the reindeer's imposing sight at first, his personality was the complete opposite. He was a complete whining gamer as he remembered from the last time they played.

"So, you're the Ice Master in person? A high schooler?"

"So what?" he crossed his arms, "If you have any dignity left, I'm willing to destroy you."

"What was that?" Broderick raised his fists from the water, challenging him on the spot.

Xerxes the dragon cut in. "Easy, Broderick, he's just a kid."

"A spoil little brat that is," he retorted.

"Thank you, I'm proud of it." Jack smiled smugly. "If you want another online match so badly, you have to kneel before me and kiss my ass."

Crystal cried annoyingly, "Jack! Stop it!"

"I'm joking, Crystal. Jeez." He turned to the big dragon. "And what happened to you? You look like when a red sock ended up into a pile of white underwear on the washing machine."

"Uh, that pretty much sums it up," Xerxes confirmedly joked.

"What, really? Don't tell me, let me guess, your mom is white-scaled and your father's red-scaled?"

"Yup, that's correct. But it's more on the genes and lack of pigmentation, that's all."

"You look cute though," Crystal smiled. "Like a true Cupid."

Broderick laughed. "Ha, she called you a Cupid!"

"I heard many names, Broderick." The dragon shrugged. "It doesn't faze me much."

"Oh, sorry," Crystal guiltily apologized.

"Nah, it's okay. I take it as a compliment," Xerxes said dismissively.

Xavier, Milagros, Sergio, and Natasha watched the silly dispute between competitive gamers. "Look at them, crying over a game we lost." Xavier chuckled.

"Boy will be boys," Natasha shook her head. "So, how you guys been doing?"

"Great, Xavier and I are now going out," Milagros smiled.

"Really? Wow, I didn't take it seriously when you said you would rather date Xavier if any alternatives didn't come around."

"Heh?" Xavier was puzzled.

"Don't listen to her, Xavier, she's just joking. I chose you because I want to, and you took a lot of courage to ask me out. And I know you're very caring of me and considerate when the time was just right."

"Please, stop," Xavier flushed, "I was in doubt about how you were feeling about the breakup of your ex, so I waited when the time was right. I cannot just jump in here and there out of nowhere."

"Yeah, you're right, it took you almost a whole year to ask her out," Natasha teased.

"Ay, por favor, ever heard of patience?"

"Natasha, please," Milagros said, "everyone works their own way in relationships."

"Oh, fine, remind me why I'm single?"

"You're still expecting a Mr. Right, but they're not coming to your door with flowers and chocolates."

"Oof, you're not making this easy." Natasha pouted. "So, uh, Xavier, don't you find it weird if you look a Milagros' face closer, you'll see Sergio's face?"

Sergio, who was listening, gawked at the statement and gave her a disgusted look. "What the hell, Natasha?"

"What? Just wondering."

Xavier made a face at the black cat and dismissively said, "Yes, I know they look alike but was it really necessary to hear that kind of trivial thing?" He didn't need to look at the two coyotes to confirm her theory. He muttered, "Even Broderick asked the same shit."

"I don't know," she shrugged, "I just wondered if you have thought about that."

"Jeez, if that were the case, Xavier would just keep staring at me as a substitute if Milagros isn't around," Sergio said.

"Carajo, Sergio," Xavier cried and cringed. "That's just downright creepy."

"So, you _have_thought about it?" Natasha continued.

"No, I don't think of it much, and Milagros' a girl."

"But what if..."

Milagros cut her off. "Natasha, enough, you're making it weirder than it already is."

Natasha sighed embarrassingly. "Alright, sorry." She muttered something under her breath and none of them didn't hear her.

Then it was opening the few presents, Keanu and Hunter didn't force anyone to bring him presents but his family members simply broke the rule out of habit as some of them still see Keanu as their little pup by the eyes of his father, uncles, and grandparents.

He picked the first one from Lizzy. "I hope you like it; it's a new manga book series."

Keanu ripped the wrapper and read the cover. "Starship Rangers, huh?"

"It's a sci-fi and space adventure, you're gonna like it," Lizzy said.

"Thank you, Lizzy." Keanu smiled at her. "It's really cool."

Hunter brought over the next gift; it was a colorful shopping bag as a present. "Here, this one is from Crystal."

Keanu opened the bag and pulled out a watermelon-shaped pillow with one hand. "You got me a watermelon pillow?"

"I won it from a huge claw machine last week," said Crystal, "and I remembered you said you wanted a watermelon pillow."

Keanu chuckled embarrassingly, he always wanted one to go with his Zorion plushie. "Thanks, Crystal." He smiled.

Then Hunter brought the next gift, a sort of big rectangular one. "Here, from your grandpa."

Keanu smiled at his grandfather before he ripped off the wrapper to see the box and read, "A lava lamp?" Keanu was puzzled. "But I already have one."

Kendall looked at his father with a perplexed look on his face. "Dad?"

"I thought kids like vintage things nowadays." He shrugged.

Jack called out, "He also gave me a lava lamp, too. A big one."

"Okay... but thank you, Grandpa. I know you're trying, and I love you for that."

The old arctic wolf flushed embarrassingly, looking away. Now Hunter knew who he inherited it from. Small, trivial family traits would never die.

Then the last two gifts were from Aunt Sophia and his grandmother: some nice clothes, a teal button shirt and a navy-blue sweater with white horizontal stripes, respectively.

"How nice, thank you." Keanu smiled at them. "Is that all?"

"Nope," Hunter cheerily said and handed him a small one. "I've been saving this one for last."

"Oh, you shouldn't have." Keanu pulled off the ribbons and lifted the top lid of the flat box and found two tickets. "Concert tickets?"

"Read them," Hunter said as he waited for the moment.

And Keanu read them as he picked it up, his eyes boggled, and shouted loudly, "You got me tickets to see Zorion's upcoming live concert?!"

"Hell yeah! This weekend! The two of us!"

"No way!" Keanu jumped from his lounge chair and hugged his boyfriend with a crazy wagging tail. "No freaking way, you got me tickets! I FUCKING LOVE YOU!!!" Keanu was at a loss for words on what he was holding, not believing he would see his favorite pop singer.

Hunter laughed as he hugged him back and everyone followed by his priceless reaction. Milagros caught it on video as she smiled and laughed. This was a funny and wholesome moment of two excited boyfriends going nuts.

"Ha! Keanu said a bad word!" Jack pointed next to River. It was true, Keanu rarely said a swear word.

Keanu split from the hug from Hunter and curiously asked, "How did you get it? They were sold out before I could blink."

"I know a guy." Hunter shrugged.

"You know a guy?" Keanu cocked an eyebrow as he doubted.

"Okay, it was Rylan who got me the tickets."

Keanu turned at Rylan who was whistling and looking away. "Thank you, Rylan. You like Zorion?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, I bought some tickets for me and my friends, so I got them when Hunter asked me where I was and asked me to buy two more." He turned to his older brother. "You owe me thirty bucks."

"Sure, I'll pay you back." Hunter laughed sheepishly.

"Oh, this is sweet! I'm gonna see Zorion in person!" Keanu couldn't stop hopping like a little pup with a helicopter tail. He was fanboying too hard.

"Save your energy for the concert, son," Kendall said, "or you'll get drained and tired during the whole concert."

And he did, the live concert came around the next weekend. Hunter, Keanu, and Rylan's friends joined for the big musical event. The famous popstar singer Zorion Villalobos was heavily advertised all over the Coliseum Center inside and out. A big line of thousands of spectators gathered up to see the live concert.

"Are you ready?" Hunter said.

"Ready when you are." Keanu smiled, grabbing his hand, and together went inside the concert. "I already said this before, but I'll never trade this timeline for anything. I'm so happy to have met you, Hunter."

Hunter smiled, squeezing his hand. "Me too, love, me too. And together, we're gonna write our own story as you said." Keanu nodded happily.

Together watched the live concert. Zorion was sexier in person, wearing stylish clothing for the event as the cameras focused on his face to show it off on the giant screens and the huge crowd cried and chanted loudly as the Iberian wolf sang his first song on stage. It was the best night of their lives.

Keanu and Hunter reminisced the time they spent together from the day they met, having fun hanging out with their friends, studying together, dancing on Halloween, having a blast at the amusement park, their first kiss, becoming boyfriends, and struggling with their emotional troubles, bonding and learning deeper into their relationship, making love for the first time, and now finding closure of their past. They were one for another, and they would always be together and support each other no matter what would come to them ahead.

They would have a happy, blessing life together for years to come.

The End.