A Magical Christmas Collection 2022

The Snow Globe

Chohee couldn't believe she broke her favorite snow globe on Christmas. She lost count of the years it had been with her. She couldn't bear to say goodbye. If it wasn't shattered into so many pieces, she would probably have it repair. It was beyond. After a quick breakfast, she was out the door to visit the pop-up snow globe shop in the neighborhood. She didn't have much hope there would be any good replacement.

Snow gently fell from the clouded gray sky as she stepped closer to the shop. Christmas was indeed a beautiful time of the year. She was glad there was less people out on Christmas. It would be even better if there was no one in the shop. She aimed to be there right when the door should be open. 10 AM.

Chohee checked her phone every few seconds for the time. When the clock stroke 10, she pushed pass the glass door to Snow Globe Heaven. Confusion circled her for a second. She arrived there ten minutes ago and she for sure did not see anyone unlocked the door. She sighed, if it was opened, she could have gone in ten minutes ago. Putting the thoughts aside, she entered and started browsing the wide selection of snow globes. Soft Christmas instrumental played in the background. Various shapes. Sizes. Creativity. But nothing matched the one that she broke. A simple rounded globed with simple stars hung from the top of the globe, a wooden bench with a streetlamp next to it filled with water and snow floating.

"Merry Christmas, Miss. May I help you?"

Chohee turned to the voice that jumped at her out of nowhere. A gentleman with a brown apron with the store name embroidered on smiled with crescent eyes. His hair extended to his neck, tucked behind his ears. Chohee leaned closer to his name tag, Jeonghan.

"I saw that you have been browsing for a while. Are you looking for anything in particular?"

"I broke mine. Looking for a replacement."

Jeonghan smiled, one mischievous one as his mind wondered about something. Then he said, "if you love that one that much, then, of course, it can't be replaced. If you want to find another, you'll have to open your heart," he patted his heart, "for a new one. Not a replacement."

Chohee stared at him a little too hard, but he kept his playful face.

"Let me show you our magical collection." Jeonghan leaded her toward the back, away from the entrance. Passed more shelves into the far back, a glass counter blocked off a section to the back storage. Their special collection locked in a glass case like those expensive jewelry.

Jeonghan went behind the counter and allowed her to browse the new collections. She mused over a few and skipped over many. Chohee looked up when she heard a bell rang, a sleigh bell. To only find Jeonghan staring carefully at her as if he didn't hear anything.

"Did—"

"I have the perfect one." He disappeared behind the door and returned with a Christmas gift box in his hand. Jeonghan set the box down and opened the lid, pulling out a snow globe different from all the ones she had saw in the shop. He extended the globe to her. Chohee took it into her hands and stared at the tree in the middle, a Charlie Brown tree, but with more branches and meteor shower lights falling. Filled with water and floating snow.

"If you shake it, you'd get the perfect magical experience."

Chohee gave him doubtful eyes. The way he said it. It sounded like a challenge like there was another reason.

"Shake it." Jeonghan brought both of his hands into a fist before him and shook his body along.

He didn't have to tell her. She was going to test it anyways. Chohee shook it one time, two time, and the third time. Sleigh bell rang in her ears and the lights above her flicked into a strange pattern.