*You’re looking for your friend when you spot the open door to his sister’s room.* *Selena stands at the balcony, bathed in cold winter light, her back to you.* *She’s on a call, her voice dangerously low.* “I’ve told you. Do not text me again.” *She hangs up, her knuckles white on the phone. Slowly, she turns—and her sharp green eyes lock directly onto yours.* *For a moment, her cool mask falters. A faint blush touches her cheeks, and she looks down, suddenly unable to hold your gaze.* *She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, a nervous habit you’ve never seen before.* “You… you heard that,” she murmurs, her voice softer now. *She glances toward the hallway where her brother might be, then back at you. Her usual arrogance is gone, replaced by a shy, hopeful uncertainty.* “Are you… looking for my brother?” *she asks quietly, the question hanging in the air between you, heavy with unspoken meaning.*

⋆𝄞𝄢 **Opéra Garnier, Paris, France, December** 𝄞𝄢⋆ *The rehearsal was already teetering on the brink of chaos. The snow machine had malfunctioned again, dumping a blizzard across the stage that made the Nutcracker soldiers slide like ice skaters. Somewhere, a flutist was still stubbornly playing Jingle Bells, and the timpani had acquired a mysterious dent from Dariusz’s over-enthusiastic baton flourish.* *You stormed to center stage, pirouetting through snow and scattered sheet music, and planted yourself directly in front of the conductor.* “Dariusz!” *you shouted, trying to be heard over the flutist’s jingling chaos.* “This is a rehearsal, not a winter circus!” *Dariusz froze mid-gesture, one arm outstretched like a storm cloud about to unleash a symphony. He tilted his head, eyes sparkling with mischief.* “Ah, my dear étoile,” *he said, voice dripping with theatrical flair,* “but chaos… is the music!” *You crossed your arms, trying not to slip on the stage floor.* “The music is supposed to follow the score, not your ego!” *He gasped dramatically, staggering back as if you’d struck him.* “My ego? Darling, my ego is merely the instrument of genius! And genius… is unpredictable!” *Before you could respond, a soldier tripped over his toy sword, sending it flying across the stage and hitting the timpani with a perfect thwack. Dariusz threw his hands into the air.* “Exactly! The universe itself conspires to create drama!” *You threw up your hands in exasperation.* “Or we all die trying to survive it!” *He laughed, swooping down to whisper conspiratorially.* “Ah, but surviving is boring. Thriving in the madness—that, my dear, is art!” *And just like that, another rehearsal disaster became yet another legendary moment under Dariusz’s wildly flailing baton—and you weren’t sure whether to laugh, cry, or faint. Probably all three.*

𐂂⋆˚𝜗𝜚˚⋆⋆꙳❅**Your house, Chelsea, London, UK, December**⋆꙳❅‧͙❆ *Riley is at the kitchen island pretending to read the financial section, which is impressive considering the paper is upside down.* *You’re pretending to text the school parent group, except your phone keeps buzzing with encrypted alerts.* “Busy morning,” *Riley says casually, sipping coffee.* “Very,” *you reply, equally casual, while deleting a message labeled **XENO–URGENT**.* *Tallulah squints at both of you.* “Why do you both look like you’re lying?” *Riley smiles.* “We’re not lying.” *Elliot tilts his head.* “You just didn’t answer.” *You and Riley exchange a look—too long.* *Riley clears his throat.* “Daddy has… work things.” “And I have… lawyer things,” *you add quickly.* *Tallulah nods thoughtfully.* “That’s funny.” “Why?” *you ask.* “Because Daddy’s watch just beeped when you said ‘lawyer,’ and your phone beeped when Daddy said ‘work.’” *Riley’s smile freezes. You choke on your coffee.* *Elliot climbs onto a chair.* “Also,” *he adds helpfully,* “Daddy checked the windows twice and you hid something in the biscuit tin.” *You and Riley speak at the same time.* “That’s normal.” “It’s called adulthood.” *The twins exchange a look that says we know everything.* *Tallulah grins.* “Okay. But if this is a surprise for Christmas, we want a puppy.” *Riley exhales in relief. You nod immediately.* “Deal,” *you say.* *As the twins run off, Riley leans closer and murmurs,* “We’re raising tiny interrogators.” *You smile tightly.* “Yes.” *Both your phones buzz again.* *You both ignore them.* *For now.*

*sounds of the cars passing outside is barely hearable. The snow and wind outside create a soothing harmony in your ears. A tv show is playing on the tv. You close your eyes and suddenly feel a weight of a head on your lap. You open your eyes to see two loving eyes locked on yours. Its your girlfriend Luna.* Im cold. Can i lay here for a while? Pretty please? *she bats her eyelashes and makes puppy eyes. Fully aware that you cant resist them*

*Dakota saw the hesitation in your eyes, his head drooping as a soft sigh left his lips.* “Look, it’s Christmas Eve and I don’t want you to freeze your a$ off. So either hop in the car, or i’m going to make you.” *Dakota grumbles out the last part, his usual expression still on his face. Grumpy eyes with an upside-down smirk.* “I have a present for you?…” *He murmured out, trying to bride you to get in the car. His lips formed into a awkward smile, not knowing how well this was going for him..*

}?" *She asks, sauntering over to you.* "You've certainly grown since I last saw you. I hear our dear, late grandparents left this whole place to you." *You step back from her a bit, but there's no room to move. She places her hand on the wall behind you, trapping you there.* "Grandma never seemed to understand how much this place can sell for, but maybe you and I can come to an agreement."

**​Her Pov** *The café is thick with the spirit of Christmas. The rich, spiced aroma of plum cakes and gingerbread cookies lingers in the air, weaving through the festive decorations. I see you walk in, and my heart immediately hammers against my ribs. I fidget with my dress, desperately hoping you won’t notice me, my entire posture turning rigid with nerves. ​You excitedly order a Christmas chocolate brownie along with a few drinks. When your order arrives, you take a bite, clearly savoring the flavor. Then, your gaze shifts and falls directly on me. I gulp, quickly looking down and pretending to be deeply occupied with the chocolate pastry I ordered. ​How could I possibly make eye contact or speak to you? My heart is heavy with guilt for everything—for even entering your life. I was the worst thing for you, wasn't I? You never deserved the burden of me. You are handsome, smart, talented, creative, and adventurous. ​"You are the light, while I am the shadow. Shouldn’t the light receive all the glory and brightness it needs? Why must a shadow exist at all?"*

}... You did make it after all. It's so nice to see you again.” *She smiles warmly, but her voice softens.* “Christmas feels… quieter this year, doesn't it? I saw you hanging out here alone and thought you might want some company.” *There's a certain glint in Bianca's eye as she speaks. One you definitely recognize. It's that attraction you seem to have for each other coming up again... and now you're alone for a bit of time.*

}-senpai~? *She sticks out her tongue* Hurry up, close that book! I'm hungry! Let's go eat Ramen, you Loner!"

The "Glacial Gala" tent is a cathedral of cold, filled with the scent of frost and the sound of chisels singing against ice. My piece, "Solitude's Echo," is nearly complete. A perfect, intricate, hollow sphere within a sphere. Critics will call it a commentary on isolation. They’ll be right. It’s technically flawless. And it feels as empty as I do. Then, you walk in. You’re not with the press or the other artists. You’re just… exploring. You stop in front of a competitor’s cheesy ice swan, tilting your head with genuine appreciation. You don’t see the clumsy lines; you see the effort. When you finally reach my station, you go utterly still. You don’t say anything. You just look. You look at my sculpture for a full minute, your breath making little clouds in the air, and then your eyes find mine. In them, I don’t see critique or awe. I see a profound, gentle understanding. As if you can see the hollow sphere in my chest, too. “It’s the most beautiful, lonely thing I’ve ever seen,” you say, your voice soft but clear over the ambient noise. It feels like a chisel strikes directly into my ribs. No one has ever seen it so clearly. “It’s missing something,” I hear myself say, the words leaving me before I can stop them. “What?” “I don’t know yet.” The competition rules are strict: no assistance. But inspiration isn’t against the rules. You become my muse. You return every day, always with a hot coffee you hand me wordlessly, your own hands wrapped around a cup. You don’t offer suggestions. You just are. You talk about the winter light, about the smell of snow, about your childhood memories of building forts. And as you speak, I begin to carve. Not on my competition piece. On a small, secret block off to the side. The night before the final judging, I’m alone in the tent under the work lights. My competition piece is ready, a monument to cold perfection. But my heart is hammering. I send you a single text: "Come. Now." When you arrive, wrapped in a scarf, your cheeks flushed from the cold, I don’t speak. I simply take your hand—my own finally warm from work—and lead you to the hidden corner. I pull away the drape. It’s you. Not a literal portrait, but an essence. The flow of your hair in the wind, the curve of your smile, the graceful line of your neck. I’ve carved you in a pose of joyful abandon, arms slightly outstretched as if catching snowflakes. It’s not flawless like the sphere. It’s alive. It’s full of light and movement and warmth, despite being made of ice. You bring a trembling hand to your mouth, tears welling instantly. “Julian… you…” “The competition piece is empty,” I say, my voice rough. I step closer, the cold of our creations swirling around us, but all I feel is heat. “Because I was empty. And then you walked in, and you… you thawed me.” I reach out, my thumb catching a tear as it falls. “I don’t care about the grant. I don’t care about winning. I carved this for you. Because you are the only permanent, beautiful thing I have ever wanted to hold onto. Everything else can melt.” You look from the sculpture of yourself, back to me, your eyes shining. “What are you saying?” “I’m saying I forfeit.” The words are a liberation. “I’m saying my greatest masterpiece won’t be in some gallery. It’ll be the life I build with you.” I cradle your face in my hands, my sculptor’s fingers infinitely gentle. “Let me be your artist. Let me spend a lifetime learning every curve and line of your happiness, and crafting my world around it.” You don’t answer with words. You rise onto your toes and kiss me. In a tent of ice, it’s a blaze of summer. It tastes of hope, of coffee, of a future I never dared to design. When we break apart, you press your forehead to mine. “Don’t forfeit,” you whisper, a fierce, loving command. “Win. For us. And then let’s build that life together.” And in that moment, holding you amidst the glistening ice, I know I already have.