Edited by: Waning_Crescents

Cal gazed outside at the incessant falling snow that had turned the whole city into a snow paradise. Every house and every street lay blanketed in a stretch of white which sparkled softly in the glow of the moonlight. Though dawn had fallen over the city, the people seemed to not care and instead strolled the streets joyfully while children played happily in the snow. Cal watched all this with a frown, as if he was the only one who was unaffected by this magical scenery.

He turned away from the car window and to Sigal, asking, “So, you really are not telling me where you’re taking me?”

“No.”

Unhappily, he side-eyed his lover, not understanding what was going on. Sigal had made this a mystery since they had left their apartment. When Cal had asked where they were going, Sigal only replied with a, ‘You’ll see,’ and added no more, leaving Cal completely in the dark about their destination.

“Don’t look at me like that. We’re almost there,” Sigal said, and as promised, after only two more blocks, he stopped the car. “We’re here.”

Cal narrowed his eyes, looking through the windshield, not able to spot anything interesting. “Where are we?” They had driven for over half an hour or even more, and after Sigal had taken a few turns, Cal lost track of where they were.

“The part of Colst that isn’t shady,” Sigal said, a hint of smile evident in his words. “Come on.” He opened the door and got out of the car, but Cal, after he opened the car door, kept staring at the snow, as if it were poisonous, not wanting to step on it.

Sigal had moved around the car and now stood in front of him, who still refused to move. “Come.”

“I don’t like the snow.”

“I know,” Sigal said with a soft smile. “But won’t you come out anyway? I promise it’ll be worth it.”

Sigal knew about Cal’s dislike of the deep winter times because he had confided in him about his experiences back when he was in captivity.

In the past, as soon as snowfall started, Axis put his sick sense of amusement into play every time—he would open the small window, which was usually tightly shut, in Cal’s ‘cell’ to let the snow inside. Back then, Cal only had the luxury to wear a thin, tattered linen shirt, leaving him exposed to the deathly cold that slowly descended into the room. The snow that fell on the cold cemented floor crept its way to Cal’s cage, like a poisonous snake that threatened to engulf and eat him alive. He had no way to escape and had to endure this tortuous game from his half-brother. 

Even after he had escaped, this time of the year always put him through the wringer. He had no warm clothes, and his hunger left him weak and exposed to the biting cold. This made it an unbearable ordeal, year after year.

The fear of freezing to death rivaled his dislike of the heat in summer—the two extreme ends. Both times stirred unpleasant memories in him.

When Cal still seemed reluctant to leave the car, Sigal stretched out his hand. “Won’t you trust me on this?”

Cal glanced at him, and after a short contemplation, he nodded in silent agreement before he took his hand. When he stepped on the crunching snow beneath his feet—the snowflakes falling on his head and face—uneasiness crawled under his skin.

“I want to go home.”

“We can, but let me show you something first.” Sigal gently reached for the hood of Cal’s jacket and pulled it over his head. ”If you still want to go home then, we will. Okay?”

Cal sighed. “Alright.”

While Sigal led him along, Cal was certain whatever Sigal wanted to show him couldn’t change his mind. Nothing here could make him want to wander in this poisonous, cold white powder, but when loud sounds echoed from the distance, it stirred his curiosity a little.

What’s going on there?

As soon as they left the narrow street Sigal led them through, Cal’s eyes widened in awe. The place they had entered was spacious with Christmas decorations all over, brightening the place up as if it was daytime. People hustled and bustled around cheerfully, singing along to Christmas songs while drinking or eating from the many market booths lined up the street.

“W-What is this?” Cal asked, unable to grasp what he was looking at.

Cal’s reaction caused Sigal to smile. “You told me once that you never went to a Christmas market, but that you always wanted to see one. And this is the largest one we have in Colst—only open on Christmas Eve.”

“Wow.” Cal couldn’t even have imagined what a Christmas market looked like. He had heard about it, but seeing it in person definitely exceeded his expectations. Just then he noticed something, and he whipped his head to the side, looking at Sigal. “Christmas Eve? Today?”

“Yes.“ Sigal chuckled. “Today is Christmas Eve.”

Cal had never paid any heed to this holiday because he couldn’t even remember the last time he had celebrated it. It must have been with his mother when he was very young, but the memory of it was rather blurry. Afterwards, he never celebrated it again, or rather, the memories of this fest filled him with painful loneliness.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”

“It’s fine,” Sigal said in a soft voice. “Do you want to check it out? Or still want to go home?”

“I want to check it out.” Though the snow still somewhat bothered him, his curiosity and excitement in his heart prevailed.

“Let’s go.”

The first few minutes, Cal walked carefully along the street, only curiously looking around, but after a while, the excitement took over, and before he knew it, he ran from one booth to the next with sparkling eyes.

Sigal cherished this moment, especially because it seemed as if every hesitation or discomfort about the cold around them had vanished. 

Cal had missed out on so many beautiful things in the world. Things he never got to enjoy to their fullest, and things he had never learned about or seen. Sigal wanted to show it all to him and wanted to replace the bad memories with good ones. Seeing Cal with a bright smile, his eyes brimming intensely with joy, he felt successful.

One step at a time. 

When Cal stopped at another booth, Sigal once more treated him to one of the Christmas delicacies this one had to offer.

“You're spoiling me,” Cal said before he bit into the candied apple; his eyes widened. “This is so good!”

“It is, isn’t it?” Sigal said, taking a bite from his own too. “Come on. We’ll get something else.”

Cal tilted his head to the side questioningly before following after Sigal.

After a short walk to the other end of the whole market, Cal watched Sigal walking up to a vendor that sold Christmas trees. He conversed with the man briefly before the latter handed Sigal a tall, wrapped-up tree.

“You got us a tree?” Cal asked in between munching on his candied apple.

Sigal nodded. “Did you ever decorate one for Christmas?”

Cal shook his head.

“You want to?”

“Yeah.” Cal smiled.

On the way to the car, Cal’s former frowning, reluctant expression from when they had arrived completely vanished and was replaced with one of joy.

“How’re you feeling now?” Sigal asked.

Cal caught his drift. He had completely forgotten about the snow that had bothered him for the longest time, and when he looked at Sigal’s eyes, only warmth filled his heart. “I think I’m fine.” He shook his head, correcting himself. “No, I know I’m fine.”

***

After they got home, Sigal put the tree up, and as soon as he cut the ropes that held it together, it unfolded majestically, taking up the entire space beside the TV unit. Cal watched from the side, his eyes plastered on the tree while Sigal left the apartment, only to come back with two boxes full of ornaments.

Cal curiously looked at the contents of the boxes. “What are we going to use?”

“Use whatever you like. It’s your decision how we decorate it.” Sigal said.

Cal pondered while he carefully went through everything in the boxes until he decided on two colors: crystal blue and red. “Will that be fine?”

Sigal’s lips curved up in a little amusement. “Of course.”

Cal sorted out everything carefully in these colors before laying them on the floor. Once again, he lost himself in the excitement of something new.

Sigal’s heart skipped a beat as he watched Cal. The past three years, he himself neglected Christmas time, not feeling like celebrating it. The only tradition he kept alive was bringing food to the orphanage on Christmas morning.

Today also marked a special day for Sigal, because Cal’s presence changed everything for him. Cal released him from a solitary life, and Sigal wanted nothing more than to make him happy while showing him the bright side of life to heal him like he had healed Sigal.

In only moments, the bleak tree transformed into a festive one. Crystal blue and red ornaments hung from its branches while garlands of the same color were wrapped around from top to bottom. In between, Sigal carefully placed the Christmas lights before he let Cal put the big star on top of the tree.

When everything was set, Sigal turned off the lights in the living room before he pushed the button that turned on the lights on the tree, which transformed the whole apartment into something of a fairy tale.

Cal stared in amazement. “It’s so beautiful.”

Sigal, who stood beside him, only briefly glimpsed at the tree before his eyes landed on Cal. “Sure is.”

Overwhelmed by all the emotions residing in Cal’s heart, he turned to Sigal before he tiptoed and wrapped his arms around his neck, hugging him tightly. “Thank you so much for everything today. I’m so happy to have you by my side.” He gazed into his lover’s eyes as he continued, “You’re more than I’ve ever wished for; more than I’ve ever asked for.” Tears tugged at the corner of his eyes. “You’re my everything, Sigal.” 

“So are you.” Siga leaned down, kissing him while he held him tightly in an embrace.

Both had disliked this day because of their own reasons, but together they defeated the darkness’ hold on them and transformed it into something wonderful that only belonged to them.