"I do want a lot for Christmas- there're sooo many things I need- I do care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree- all I want for Christmaaas- are my gifts- yeah yeah!"
Ray's falsetto voice penetrates through every membrane of the high-ceiling house as he bounces off the last few steps.
Christmas morning at Aidan's house could not have been merrier. I was astounded to learn that Aidan had stopped celebrating Christmas for a few years now. When I bugged him about it, he just shrugged, deepening the ache I last felt on our outdoor date. He did not say anything more about his sister. I thought of asking Ray but he had been away for work and only came back in the early hours of the morning. I am also aware that his loyalty to his brother and King would not let him tell me anything without the latter's approval.
"You are aware those are the wrong lyrics right?"
I chortle while emerging from the kitchen.
"Happy Christmas to you too! And FYI those are the correct wordings of the song." He adds and hugs me.
"C'mon! Presents' time!"
He drags me to the living room where the Christmas tree was adorned.
"Great job on deco by the way! Never thought I'd see the house so.. decked up." Ray compliments me.
Muttering my thanks, I look around the high-ceiling room. Garlands of green pine entwined with LED lights run along the perimeter of the grey-white walls. Big stars hang at every intersection. The fireplace is surrounded by a similar garland, only this one also has artificial pine cones. We even hung socks over it. Though he was hesitant at first, he finally agreed to decorate his house. Part of me thinks he was compensating for the fact that I would not be celebrating Christmas at my house with my mom. My mother had to work at the hospital due to it being short-staffed.
Ray and I walk to the lush green Christmas tree which, next to the window splattered with snow, was prettified with white, gold, and red ornaments. Ray is already tearing through his packages. Apparently, gift exchange is the only tradition the brothers follow.
"Merry Christmas" Aidan whispers from behind and my heart skips a beat.
When will I become used to his presence?
"Merry Christmas to you too"
He bends a little and pecks me on my lips.
"Opened your gift yet?" He asks me.
I shake my head. I had been waiting for him.
We sit on the rug near the fire. Aidan checks out his gift with fascination.
"Since I've never seen you use one" I got him a dark grey leather-bound wallet with his initials on the cover. What do you get someone who has everything? A little bit of covert observation told me how he did not have a wallet.
Aidan gifted me a bracelet with a diamond sun-like shape in the middle. Tying it on my right hand, he cooes,
"Promise me you'll never take it off"
Without blinking, I promise him. Had he given me even an elastic band with a pebble in it, I would have kept it close to my heart.
"Open mine!" Ray orders us.
We open his gifts to us-
"T-shirt- how original!" Aidan taunts his brother.
Rolling his eyes, the latter adds,
"Read what's written on it"
My eyes clench shut in embarrassment when I read the labels on our t-shirts, prompting Ray and Aidan to roar in laughter.
Aidan's t-shirt read: 'I make cheesy jokes'
Mine read: 'Not lactose intolerant'
(P.s this is only a joke. I don't intend to hurt anyone's sentiments)
YOU ARE READING
Eclipsed
Werewolf"It's called running away Hazel! Don't try and justify what you did!" Aidan bellowed on the phone. I flinched, even though I was miles away from him. "You held me captive in the house! What did you expect me to do?" my voice quavered, giving away my...
