That Christmas Eve

Eve was fidgeting back and forth in her bedroom's balcony overlooking their neighbor's garden. It's 2:14 in the morning and she is wide awake. She is blaming her habit of checking her Instagram posts or her Wechat's daily updates. If only she didn't check it last night. Maybe she should never have read that one heart with a comment. Something from Derick Hill.

Derick Hill, his university classmate since freshman. Derick Hill was, and still his seatmate until now that they are both graduating. Aparently, most of their professors prefer the traditional method for the seating arrangements, which most of the time, they end up being the best buddies. Hill, and then Huo. But all their classmates know that they are just casual with each other. For the longest time, they did not go out together, they seldom talk, he barely speaks, and so is she. Until last night.

"Merry Christmas, Eve! ❤️", it says in the comment in her latest post in wechat.

It was just a simple comment to her family's portrait post over wechat. A typical if you it may seem because most of her friends have posted their greetings online. But this is not s typical thing at all because Derick has never sent her a message, how much more a comment on social media. That was a mind boggling idea. And to add to her surprise, she got a private message.

"Eve, this is Derick Hill. I know your place. May I come over just to say hi?"

That message was sent at 10pm ish last night. And until now, she has not replied.

Her parents left for a late Hyatt check in for the holidays. Her father's bestfriend in college called him and invited both her parents to meet with him and celebrate Christmas. Uncle Peter, as she fondly calls him, had lost his wife and kid a month ago due to a vehicular accident. So dad did not hesitate to tell me that after our Christmas dinner tradition, he and mom need to pack and give Uncle Pete their support. They just know that he needs a companion in times like this.

She was hesitating to reply, because she doesn't know what to expect. This is literally a first. Not to mention that she's the only one left in their three bedroom home. The maids left after preparing for their family's dinner. Her mom wanted them to celebrate on their own with their loved ones so they all left.

She, Eve, is the most strongwilled in their class. Nobody dared to court her because of her personality. Her friends would always say that she is the prettiest among them all, and yet the scariest one of all. But in her mind, she is only waiting for that someone to actually talk to her, because she knows, eventually, her heart will be soft enough to love him.

When she finally felt that she was tired, she went back to her bed and took her iPhone X.

"Oh shoot, I need to charge. My battery's only 13% left. ", she murmured. But before taking the charging cord in her bedside table, she tapped the message and replied.

"If you are still awake, yes you may come here. Merry Christmas. "