The neighborhood was decorated from the houses to the warm streetlamps that illuminated the sidewalk with yellow lights. The trees that were in the flowerbeds also received special treatment - I mean, special decorations, and some even had LED lights wrapped in the foliage.

The residents were naturally cheerful, and the decorations couldn't be any different.

Addai felt like an alien in that place. He was used to his neighborhood being a little more distant and emptier. On the other hand, in that happy neighborhood, people greeted him incessantly. Some even approached him, giving him a panettone, a bag of candy canes, or even a package of gingerbread cookies. Mine's neighbor met him on the way and gave him some cookies she had made for her grandchildren, and he had no choice but to accept yet another random item that he would have to carry in his bag.

Not that he thought it was bad, but interacting with so many people in a short time was enough for his social battery to run out so quickly.

“Oh” I see my neighbors treated you well,” Mine chuckled. He was waiting for Addai near his house’s front gate with a small girl wearing a red frilly dress. "Ah, sweetie, thank you… Merry Christmas to your family," he smiled, and she dashed away, giggling excitedly with a bag of biscuits Mine gave her.

“Your neighbors are… intriguing,” Addai observed the little girl enter the front house, full of life and joy.

“They’re sure different,” Mine giggled. "Ah, come in!" He smiled and took Addai's hand.

Mine's house was completely decorated.

It must have taken considerable time to decorate.

The tree - situated in its usual spot - was adorned with bright and cheerful colors, flashing intermittently to create a lively and joyful atmosphere. Ribbons were stuck to the drawers, their beauty reflected on Mine's hands with band-aids and red spots from hot glue burns.

'You didn’t need to try so hard,' crossed Addai's mind, who swallowed every word when he saw Mine's hopeful smile, who was finishing arranging some crooked paintings in his living room.

“The decorations are beautiful,” Addai said with a smile, noticing Mine’s expression lighten up.

“Hehe~ my mother gave me a few advice, and I did what she taught me," Mine grinned, a bit blushed by the compliment. “Ah, and don’t worry, you don’t need to show up at the call. It’s gonna be quick though…” he informed, fidgeting his fingers.

“That’s ok,” Addai smiled. “As long as you feel comfortable, it's fine by me. Take your time. I'll be outside when the time comes.”

“Thank you,” Mine grinned bashfully.

“Ah, here,” Addai took a small box from his bag (full of Mine’s neighbors’ Christmas gifts).

Mine took the small box and opened it.

A cute gingerbread house was perfectly up, with two gingerbread men holding their mugs!

It was so perfect that Mine felt guilty to think he could wolf it down in less than ten minutes with a good mug of hot chocolate.

His eyes were sparkly, surveying each and every detail he found.

How could a brute like that make such a detailed - and fragile - gingerbread house?! Well, he had once savored those marvelous cookies Addai baked, so… it wasn't impossible, but it was - at least - something to ponder about!

"Did you like it?" Addai timidly asked, eyes looking to his own hands.

“I loved it!” Mine said without much thinking. “It’s a pity we’ll demolish it…” he pouted.

“I can always bake another one,” Addai offered, still not looking at him with soft, blushed cheeks.

"No! It's too much work," Mine worried. "I mean, I would be very happy if you did so, but I won’t burden you,” he smiled.

“So, I can bake only biscuits then,” he smiled.

"That would be good, but only if it didn't burden you," Mine grinned. "Ah, I'll leave this on the main table so we can appreciate its beauty while dining," he smiled happily.

"Lemme find a good plate then," Addai stood up and took a Christmas-themed plate from his magic bag.

“Huh, you thought about everything then,” Mine teased.

“Of course,” he said proudly.

The main supper table was almost all set, only waiting for the main dish to finish cooking. Mine didn't want to cook too much food, so the supper would be way less bountiful than he was used to.

At least he wouldn’t be alone.

Addai was doing his best to help with cooking and Mine wrote down in his mind that it was the wisest decision to let Addai cook as much as he wanted because he was a natural in the kitchen and Mine, of course, wouldn’t miss the opportunity to have way less work to be done. So, as Addai cooked the dishes, Mine set the table and the gingerbread house.

He sent several photos of the dining table to his family group chat, and it soon flooded with messages and insinuations from his beloved sister, who asked whose arm was in the photo. Mine chuckled nervously and left his cell phone aside, heading to the kitchen where Addai finished the last dish and placed the tablecloth aside.

"I'm happy you came," Mine smiled. It wasn't that bad to have him around after all...

"I'm happy too," Addai smiled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “Ah, can you follow me to a place before we dine?”

"Where to?" Mine asked, confused about the sudden and weird question.

"I know you don't trust me," he started, "but can you trust me with this little secret?"

"I…"

Trust me

This sentence was maculated with two different voices saying it at the same time. One was velvety, with bits of illusions and bitter flavor. The other was deep but gentle, not that Mine hadn't heard harsh words coming from him, but they didn't burn like the other.

Which voice to hear?

"Mine?" Addai called.

"A-ah… hahaha… sorry," he laughed his confusion off. "I… I'd like to stay…" he fiddled with the cup in his hands.

Why are you like this?

Why did you spoil the ambiance?

"I understand," Addai nodded, but he didn't seem down. "So… can I lit an incense? Don't worry, I'll put it outside," he grinned.

"Ah… ok…" Mine nodded, and Addai took a sole incense from his bag and the incense burner.

He headed outside and found a beautiful spot at Mine's Garden. So, he took the stool Mine brought and placed the incense burner. He was silent for a while before lighting it.

"You can come closer," Addai chuckled at Mine, who was peeking from a certain distance.

"I-isn't it personal?" Mine asked.

"Nah, she would be glad to meet you," he chuckled again.

It was very personal, and Mine didn't move an inch, especially after the sight he witnessed.

He didn't know how to explain the phenomenon, but it seemed that Addai's smile reminded him of a child's smile, the pure and innocent one. He usually saw him with a frowning face or pouting one, but that time he could perfectly identify all his dimples and teeth, the best smile Mine could tell.

It seemed that Addai's shoulders weighed tons less, making his smile as shiny as possible... And Mine found himself wishing that his smile could last for some more time.

"Come here," Addai took Mine's hand, and Mine followed him. "My mother loved Christmas. That's why on every Christmas Eve, I light an incense for her, and once I'm not at home… I'm glad you let me do my feeble ritual at your place," he grinned again.

"Oh…" Mine voiced, and he noticed the incense's smoke made different shapes from the ones he used to light.

It danced beautifully, swaying in the air like a ballerina.

An indubitable elegance and grace.

Addai watched the smoke with a smile, as if the son watched his mother dancing freely and happily so, one day, he could be proud of her steps. But this time, the child couldn't join her waltz. All he could do was watch from a distance. Yet, he silently cheered for her to keep dancing, smiling, and following her own life's clock and book…

… even if it hurt.

"…" Mine hesitated and gathered no courage to speak.

"Merry Christmas, Mother," Addai whispered lowly but loud enough for Mine to hear. "So, let's head inside?" he grinned, blushed cheeks from the cold weather.

"Y-Yes. I… hum… M-Merry Christmas Mrs.…"

"Aria," Addai chuckled. "Her name was Aria. She changed it after… after a few things," he went silent for a second.

Mine couldn't help but smile fondly before speaking. "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Aria!" He beamed joyfully. "Ah, and Mrs. you need to know a few things about your son. He's damn stubborn and-"

"Oi."

"But that's true! She needs to know how her son is also mischievous before Christmas ends! So, Santa could gift you a big bag of coal."

Addai grumbled more and slapped Mine's neck, who slapped his forehead in return. The incense smoke then swayed once more, flooding the air with its fragrance. If you paid enough attention, a faint chuckle could be heard from the leaves rustling as the duo bickered.

The call time was approaching, and so was the supper.

Mine was nervous.

It had been a while he didn't feel that way.

On the other hand, Addai was weirdly relaxed… or was he as nervous as Mine and tried to not show?

Yeah, he may be as nervous as him, even if he wouldn’t show up on the call.

They were both silent and staring at the clock while the television was on a random Christmas special show.

Mine hated feeling anxious.

It made his stomach funny and his hands cold; not only that, but that stupid feeling tore all his inhibitions and showed his most vulnerable side and awkwardness. He needed to be in control and relaxed…

... maybe a glass of wine could do the trick.

“Do you want wine?” Mine asked, already biting his nails.

“It would be good,” Addai replied, his voice telling his bottled-up anxiety was as bad as Mine’s.

Mine took the glasses, filled them, and after cheering, they chugged down the liquor. Mine foresaw his sister telling him to not rely on alcohol to ease his anxiety, and he made a self-note to apologize to her later.

Three glasses.

It was still not enough.

"Want some more?" Mine asked, and the bottle was already almost empty.

Addai took the bottle from his hand and placed it on the tea table. When Mine was about to reach for it, Addai gently took his hand. "We can't be drunk," he said wisely. "What would your parents say? Wouldn’t they be worried about you?”

"I… I'm used to drinking alcohol to relax. It wouldn't be a big deal," Mine said lowly.

“Your hands are cold,” Addai said, heating Mine's hands with his.

"I… I'm just anxious, that's it," Mine replied, glancing at the bottle of wine on the tea table. "I hate this feeling. I hate dealing with it."

“Me too,” Addai confessed, stroking the back of Mine’s hand. “We can do other things, so we won’t be anxious, like… drawing. I draw when I’m anxious.”

“You… draw?”

"Yes, I do," Addai smiled. "Umbra is my best cat model, by the way," he chuckled. "What do you do when you're anxious besides drinking?"

“I… go for a stroll,” he answered.

“We have about… one to two hours before the supper. Want to go for a stroll with me?” Addai asked.

Mine looked at the clock, then at the table. Then, Mine glanced at the bottle of wine and, then, at Addai again.

“… I would be glad,” he replied.

“Good,” Addai smiled. “Let's go to the big Christmas tree at the park here nearby.”

The small park wasn’t as crowded as Mine thought it would be, but it was as beautiful as he remembered. The huge Christmas tree in the middle of the plaza was stunning, and the kids, couples, families, and friends took a spot on it for mandatory Christmas photos.

Even though the park wasn’t that crowded, Mine’s breathing was still erratic and his hands, cold. His chest was tired from the heart beating quickly and anxiously, but he had to bear with it and swallow every uncomfortable sensation he felt. His eyes couldn't focus on a specific spot, and the lights started to mix, forming an unpleasant and nauseous view.

“Can I hug you?” Addai asked, with his cheeks blushing.

"Ah?" Mine looked at him, confused, back from his nauseous trip.

“Hug,” Addai opened his arms.

"…" Mine looked at him.

His mind was tired from spiraling, and his throat was tired of locking and unlocking. His eyes told his tiresome after a harsh anxiety attack was apparent, but he could say he handled it well and endured the best way he could without a drop of extra alcohol.

“Hm,” Addai wiggled his open arms.

“…” Mine approached and weakly hugged his friend.

Addai wrapped his arms over Mine, hugging him tightly.

It was cozy, safe, and tender.

Mine nuzzled on Addai’s chest and rested the weight of his head on it. Addai stroked Mine’s hair and caressed his head and neck, massaging the once stiffed muscles of his.

A giggling kid approached them, and what was once a single giggle turned into three, so they had to pay attention to the giggling ones.

"Hey, misters! Look!" the little girl pointed to something up.

A mistletoe was hung above their heads, and it surely was the kids' doings. Mine and Addai blushed the moment their eyes witnessed it.

“Where there’s a mistletoe…” the small boy approached, hiding the mistletoe's levitation spell trace, "… the couple needs to kiss!" and both boys gasped.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" the kids started cheering while the duo flushed even more.

"E-Erm… close your eyes, Mine,” Addai asked, and Mine yelped.

"W-W-What?! Y-you'll r-really do what the kids are saying?!” he flushed.

"They are cupids," Addai whispered in Mine's ear. "Don't worry, and trust me," he winked.

“…” Mine looked at him and frowned.

Addai slowly approached and kissed the back of Mine’s right hand. Then, he slowly pressed his warm lips on Mine’s cold, soft cheek. His heterochromatic eyes met Mine’s, which were widened, and dusts of a brighter pink painted the iris. Addai chuckled and softly kissed Mine's cheek before he could speak.

Mine didn’t know how to react, so he was stunned and flushed!

“Yaaay!!” the kids cheered! And oh, they cheered!

“Let’s go Mariel! We still have work to be done!” the small boy took the mistletoe and giggled.

The group of kids disappeared the same way they came: out of nowhere.

“Ugh!! Tricky creatures!!” Mine started grumbling endlessly, kicking a feeble pebble on their way home.

Addai pulled Mine by the waist and stole a kiss on his cheek. Although it was quick, Mine could perfectly feel the warmth from the lips, which pressed against his skin, and, once again, he was left stunned and flushed.

But then he charged his special move: flee!

Well, if it wasn’t for the master to choose the “flee” movement, they wouldn’t have arrived home in time for the call. Let’s call it a Christmas miracle.

------- ☆*。*.・+★ ------- III ------- ☆*。*.・+★ ------- III ------- ☆*。*.・+★ ------- III ------- ☆*。*.・+★ ------- III