Christmas Day

The early morning sky is covered in golden shades by the rising sun. Not a single cloud can be seen, only the last pieces of the night's darkness which slowly fade away. Some birds are already chirping their melodies, little fogs in front of them indicating the coldness of the raising day. The view is more than beautiful, perfect even. But I have no more time to enjoy this calm scenery as a piece of wrapping paper flies across the air, forcing my concentration on something else. My little brother Akira is kneeling in front of the christmas tree in our living room and unwraps all of his presents in a new personal recordtime. It's just so typical for him and his curiosity not to wait patiently until he receives them one by one. Picking up several pieces of wrapping paper, I walk over to the tree as well where my mother awaits me with an amused smile. My father has just entered the room, yawning loudly enough for everyone to hear what my grandmother comments with a frown. She has been up quite early already in order to prepare our traditional christmas breakfast which is now waiting on the table. But it'll stay untouched until all presents were opened. Akira opens his last present while I'm given my first one. My mother blinks while I carefully unwrap it.
"I hope you like it."
Satinpaper flows to the ground as I look at my present with happiness shining in my eyes.
"Ayumi-san's latest album in its limited edition. Wai, thanks mum!"
I embrace my mother tightly, all the while gazing at the CD in my hands. This CD is one of the few things I have wished for this christmas. I'm not the type of girl who wants to get many presents at once, I'm happy about a few but precious ones. Unlike my brother who could never seem to get enough. He's about to run off in order to try out his new GBA game when my grandmother takes his hand and draws him towards the table.
"But I wanna play!"
"After breakfast, no second earlier."
"Unfair! This is just unfair!"
My father rolls up his eyes while I can only giggle at this scenery. The same procedure as every year. I truely doubt that it'll ever change. We cherish the moment of a harmonic family breakfast for some time until Akira interupts.
"What's with that present?"
My head turns slightly, looking over to a present which seems to have been forgotten. It cannot be mine however, I received all of my presents already. My father raises an eyebrow and places down his coffee cup.
"Kyoko dear, isn't that the one which you found this morning?"
"Oh my, I truely forgot about it."
Gulping down the last piece of jam bread, my mother walks over to the tree and picks up the forgotten present. Only to lay it on my lap. My eyes move from the present over to my parents and back. How can this be? My father shakes his head and points at my mother who seems a bit excited.
"Don't think this present is by one of us. I found it this morning."
"You .... found it?"
"Yes, it was laying on the veranda within an extra plasticbag. Someone didn't want it to turn wet, that's for sure.
I still look quite surprised. Of all things, I never imagined something like this to happen. "Why don't you open it? Maybe then you get an idea who may have given it to you?"
A slow nod is the only answer I can give. My hands shake as I unwrap the present, why they do I cannot explain. The paper falls aside and I lift the cover of the box. Only to be left in a state between eternal joy and shock. Yellow and white satin material is shimmering in my eyes. My grandmother looks over my shoulder and smiles brightly.
"A dress. And a very pretty one as well."
"No, really?"
My parents stand up and look at the mysterious present as well, even my little brother does though he always says how much he hates girly stuff.
"Amazing! That's pure silk."
"Looks pretty expensive. Do you know who has given it to you?"
Even if my head knows what it wants to say, my lips cannot seem to form the words. I just sit on my place for moments, too surprised by that present. Then I finally find my voice back but my words give no explaination. If it all, they give further secrets.
"Would you excuse me? I want to try it on."

Comfortable is something I associate with silk. The material flows with every move and seems to fit its owners body perfectly. Just like this christmas dress. Carefully I slide the white transparent layer over the yellow dress and tug it into its place. When I finally look into the mirror to check my appearance, my eyes are sparkling like stars themselves. Out of joy. As I had known from the start, the dress is made for me. So entirely perfect that it nearly hurts. I turn around and smile happily while doing so. Of all presents I've ever been given this one is the best. But who could have given it to me? The dress is horrible expensive after all. My eyes fall down onto the floor of my room and suddenly I notice a white piece of paper lying half under my bed. Picking it up, I realize that it must have fallen out of the dress. I open it and read through the lines, immediatly understanding who my christmas angel is.
"Tatsuki."
His name leaves my lips ever so gently like no name ever did before. Closing my eyes, I place a light kiss on the letter, silently thanking him.
"Does my beloved granddaughter have a boyfriend?"
"Grandma!"
I nearly jump upon hearing my grandmother's voice. Under normal circumstances I would have heard the door to my room open but in this case .... She takes my hand and looks at my closely.
"It's truely perfect. Who has ...."
"Tatsuki."
"So I see. A guy from school. But how did he know?"
I sigh in a nearly hearttearing manner. Somehow I feel that I have to thank Tatsuki and that as soon as possible. My view trails over to the clock hanging above the door. It isn't even 8am but still. I have to try.
"I have to go and thank him. Now."
A knowing look is my response and the only encouragement I need.
"Then go. But put on a warm coat. And your elegant white shoes."
"Thank you for understanding!"
Within seconds I'm on my way down the stairs, not really recognizing that my heart is beating faster than before.

"And now I don't know what to say anymore."
Out of frustration I start to chew on my underlip. I stand directly in front of Tatsuki's home and can clearly hear the laughter from inside. My hand is nearly touching the bell but I cannot jump over my shadow and finally ring. Everything I wanted to say, it all disappeared once I stepped onto the threshold. Now I'm here, freezing in a way too thin but pretty dress and try to figure out of what to do next. I cannot stand here until someone finds me, that's for sure. And so I take a deep breath and force myself to ring. Once I hear the melody my nervousness raises to a point which I can only escape by running away. But I can't. My feet remain at their place.
"I go!"
Heaven must have heard my prayer. Tatsuki is going to be the one who opens the door. The next thing I notice is his more than surprised voice upon seeing me.
"Akimi?!"
"That's me. Good morning, Tatsuki, and Merry Christmas."
I look up at him and to my very own surprise I see a blush covering his cheeks. My tensed body relaxes a bit. At least I'm not the only one of us two who is feeling uneasy.
"I .... I wanted to thank you."
Tatsuki blinks several times, obviously not understanding what I'm pointing at.
"What for?"
"For the dress, of course. See?"
I turn once, letting the dress fly and once I meet up with his eyes again, I'm smiling brightly. Maybe I'm wrong but his blush seems to have deepened.
"It's the best present I ever received."
"How did you ....?"
"I read the letter."
"Oh."
Like yesterday we reach point where no one of us knows what to say. I'm thinking over the same sentence in the letter over and over again, not sure if I should mention it now. On the other hand, this may be the only chance I have.
"Did you mean it?"
I can feel the heat running up my body and I'm sure that I'm blushing from head to toe. And regarding the look Tatsuki is giving me he must feel the same. The whole situation is embarassing for us but we need to get trough this. For our sake.
"Yes. I didn't know how else to tell you. I .... mmm .... it's not that easy you know. The afternoon yesterday, I guess it made me realize it. And the dress was the perfect opportunity."
"I see."
Somehow I feel bad for not having a present for him either but then again, I suppose the only present he truely wants for christmas is something I can give him easily. If I can only build up the courage.
"In that case, I can give you my present too."
"Huh? Which present?"
Gathering all the courage I own, I step closer towards him and raise to my tiptoes. My arms find their way around his neck, my eyes close and I place a soft, tender kiss on his lips. A kiss which lasts for just a short moment but seems like an eternity. My head moves away a few inches only to tell him the depth of my present.
"Love you too."
Upon hearing that, Tatsuki smiles warmly and embraces me tightly. Like I thought, this is the present he truely wanted. My head rests against his chest and I let myself fall into the river of joy I've been walking by for so long. His lips kiss my head gently before they form the words he never had the courage to say.
"I love you, Akimi."
Christmas is said to be the time of love and joy, a time of miracles even. And on a time like this you can find love, if you only believe. And now that I experienced it myself, I believe.