Christmas Day

White fog appears in the air as I try to warm up my already icy fingers. It's entirely my fault that I forgot to take the gloves with me and that only because I was in a hurry to avoid any great crowds in the stores. Looking around I notice that it was all for nothing. It still amazes me of how many people are doing their last christmas shopping on Christmas Eve, just a few hours before the stores close for the next days. I've seen it way too many times. Husbands who are buying the most expensive piece of jewlery they can afford only to show their wife how much they care and kids who grab the next best piece of parfum for their parents. Shaking my head I shove myself through the crowd, continuing my way towards the last store on my list. I choose my presents wisely about a month before this special occasion, yet I don't take them with me immediatly. They wait patiently in the stores until I come to collect and place them under the christmas tree once I'm home. That's my method to avoid that my beloved ones discover what they'll receive and it has worked out well the past years. Still, sometimes I think I should change that behavior. I step aside quickly as another stressed person crosses my path avoiding a possible collision. Leaning back against the glass wall of a coffee shop, I close my eyes and try to collect myself. As much as I love shopping, this is definetly something I hate about it. I take in a deep breath of the fresh air and decide to go on. The sooner I'm out of here, the better. My hand reaches out to push open the door of my last destination but I don't even get that far. All of a sudden, the door is thrown open, sending my straight down onto the cold slabs of the sidewalk.
"Ouch! That hurt."
"Geez, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do that."
A hand reaches to help me up and my eyes widen in surprise when I finally notice who is responsible for my current situation. One of my fellow classmates.
"Tatsuki?"
Now it's his turn to look quite surprised. Obviously, he didn't recognize me until now even though we're attending the same courses and even sit beside each other all of the time.
"Akimi?"
He pulls me up and hands me one of the bags which has fallen out of my hands. I wipe away possible dirt from my backside and scan through my belongings. Luckily enough none of the presents I have bought so far is broken. I sigh in relief and look at Tatsuki who seems to be quite embarassed.
"I'm very sorry, Akimi."
"It's okay. Nothing happened after all."
A nearly uncomfortable silence settles between us and I notice that this must be the first time we have ever talked alone, without any of our friends around. Somehow it feels strange. As much as I enjoy talking to him at school, right now I have no real idea of what to say. And so I speak out the most silly question I can think of.
"What are you doing here?"
"Just .... christmas shopping. And you?"
"The same. Well, actually it's only collecting of christmas presents."
"So, I see."
And we're back to the point where we've started. Aren't two schoolfriends supposed to have more to talk about? Tatsuki coughes lightly and points over towards the nearby coffee shop.
"Want some hot chocolate? It's freezing cold out here and I owe you something after all."
My face lightens up and I nod in response.
"Sure."

While the hectic world continues outside, Tatsuki and me are sitting in a coffee shop with cups of hot chocolate in our hands. Even if I don't admit it, this break is certainly good for both of us. I'm free from all these heavy bags for some moments and can finally warm up my icy fingers. What may explain why I'm currently holding on my cup instead of drinking something.
"Let me get this right. You only collect your presents on Christmas Eve because of your little brother."
"That's right. Akira is way too curious for me. When he was younger he messed up the whole house just to find his presents.
Upon hearing this, Tatsuki giggles and carefully sips onto his drink. My eyes focus on him in a nearly strange way. This is the first time I really look at him when he's laughing and I realize that it fits to him. It's just overly cute. My thoughts are interrupted by him returning my gaze straightly.
"What's the matter? Is something on my nose?"
A furious blush covers my cheeks and my eyes fall down onto my hands and the hot chocolate.
"Nothing. Just thinking."
Quickly, I raise the cup to my lips and drink with great gulps. Finally he turns his view over to the windows and I cool down slightly. The chocolate was truely hot. I'm feeling as if I'm burning inside.
"This is just silly."
"Pardon?"
"All the people I mean. They're acting as if Christmas arrives completely surprising every year and leaves them no time for preperation."
My thoughts exactly. Looking outside myself I notice the same. Stressed people everywhere, arms full with presents, some big, some small. I couldn't do that to myself. Tatsuki looks down at his watch and over to me.
"You still need to collect one present, right?"
I stare at him blankly for some seconds before the realization hits me. The cup is placed down more or less abruptly and I start to gather my things.
"Oh my, I nearly forgot!"
"No need to rush things. You still have enough time."
Tatsuki gives me a warm smile and mentiones the waitress to come over.
"I'll accompany you."

"Finally it's done!"
A reliefed sigh escapes my lips as I the last present disappears in the bag. Tatsuki nods in approval and pushes me towards the escalators. Seemingly, he's in the same hurry to leave the store and all the people behind as me. My feet touch the step and I relax slightly.
"The same procedure as every year."
"Amazing enough that you can survive that. I'm always near to go crazy with all the people around me."
Looking up I see his tensed face as he scans the area and I have to laugh. When I learned one thing in my life than that the majority of all men hates shopping, especially at times like this. And Tatsuki is no exception. His eyes look at me in a nearly hurt manner which I shove away with a single blink.
"Nothing personal."
"If you say so."
We reach the first floor and start to fight our way towards the exit. But shortly before we reach it, my eyes lay themselves onto something so beautiful that I stop dead in my tracks and change the direction. It doesn't take long until Tatsuki notices that I'm no longer following him. He looks over his shoulder and searches for me.
"Akimi? Akimi, where are you?"
"I'm here!"
My left hand lifts up into the air and waves franticly while the other one is caressing the silk material of the dress of my dreams. I feel like in heaven. That I love clothes is nothing new but I've always been searching for something special, something unique. Exactly like this dress. It seems to be made only for me, with all its beauty. Pure yellow silk with a white transparent layer above. It's truely destiny that I discovered it. Tatsuki appears beside me and whistles.
"Whoa! Pretty."
"Nee? This dress is just perfect. And it's my size as well, imagine that."
"Then, why don't you buy it right away?"
"Yes, why ..... not."
The happiness in my voice is replaced with open resignation once I see the price. Too expensive, way too expensive. In order to buy this dress I would have to save my money for at least four weeks and until then the dress will be gone. My hands let go of the dress and pick up the bags instead. Without another word I walk away, a confused Tatsuki following me.
"What?"
"It's too expensive for me. I cannot afford it, not in this lifetime."
"I'm sorry."
I look over to him, surprised to hear that. He doesn't have to be sorry, it isn't his fault after all. A light smile appears on my lips.
"Don't be. There'll be other opportunities and beautiful dresses for me."
"True. But ...."
A moment of silence follows in which we walk through the exit and onto the busy street. He wants to say something but doesn't continue.
"But?"
"Nothing. Just forget it, okay?"
"If you want me to."
"Good. I'll bring you home since the bags are way too heavy for a girl."
With that, he takes the bags I'm carrying and heads towards the road which leads to my home. For some moments I'm too surprised to react but when I do I start running after him.
"Tatsuki! It isn't that heavy."
"Don't you lie to me. This is heavy."

Christmas Day. What's up with the present for Akimi which her mother found on the veranda earlier that morning?