Saddest Christmas Eve

The days have passed by faster than anyone expected. It's already Christmas Eve, the coldest weather of the year, which hits the same day. Everything around her glistening in different colors as the Christmas decors can view throughout the roadside and street side, those sparkling Christmas lights that are well-decorated in other establishments surrounding the streetlights and trees, the Christmas carols that echo everywhere she goes, and the joyous and delightful laugh of the people she passed by seem genuine.

Christmas was supposed to celebrate as other people do. But Georgina couldn't even let out her genuine smile. It's the first Christmas without her father. Even Coleen didn't let her see Warren or answer the phone call. Though her friends and former co-student council member texted to greet her, it was not enough to make her happy unlike everyone.

Like the weather, this is the coldest Christmas she experienced.

Since the incident happened in the garden pavilion, Georgina made sure not to meet any member of the Jung Family unless she was coordinating the upcoming wedding. But more than it, she tried hard to avoid it. Upon waking up early this morning, Georgina didn't see any of them. She used the chance to get out of the house. She's walking, sitting, thinking, and walking again for a long time.

Amidst walking, she saw an empty community playground, so she walked towards it and sat on the swing while rubbing both hands to keep it warm.

There's no one around.

The noises from the main road were the only thing you could hear. Besides, it's rather dark in the area. You can only see a single streetlight in the far corner.

In the middle of the deafening silence, she got startled when her tears fell from both eyes while watching the stars. An awkward, forced laugh escaped her mouth as she wiped it. But the tears fall one after another, and rubbing it out becomes useless. 

"Pitiful. Y-you're too pitiful, Georgina." She mumbled to herself.

"You're pitiful." Georgina jolted out when she heard a familiar voice from behind. She turned to where the voice came from. But as their gaze met, all she could do was weep.

"S-Stealer..."

"I've been following you for a while, but you didn't notice. You're too focused on something." He said while sitting on the other swing—next to her. "You looked lifeless, so I got worried and unconsciously followed you. I'm pathetic, right?"

It's Jaceriel Yuson. The last time she saw him was at Kiela's birthday party. It's been a while, but his mere presence made her bursted out crying.

Jaceriel glanced to her side as a brief smile escaped his lips. "I can't be your shoulder to cry on. It isn't for me. But I won't stop you from crying. You can cry as long as you want. At least you're not alone, right?"

Those simple words comforted her. She cried for a long time. No words. It's just silence, and her unstoppable weeping reverberates in the playground. Amidst it, Jaceriel didn't leave and stayed in the swing while looking at nowhere—listening to her painful cries.

It took a while before Georgina calmed down. Those weeping sounds turned silent, so Jaceriel finally looked at her with a calming smile.

"Are you done?"

"I-I'm sorry."

"You're always apologizing to everyone, Gina. Did you do something unforgivable to someone? The person I met a few months ago isn't weak or a type who'll give up easily, that person, I adored her so much." He said. "Where did she go? Did she hit the bottom that she forgot to stand up again?"

"Y-you're thinking highly of me. The person here now was the real me. A helpless woman in disguise."

"I'm not thinking highly of you. It's just like, you're the one looking down on yourself," Jaceriel said, chuckling before he looked at the vast skies. "You're full of mystery, Gina. Sometimes you're like an open book, but there's a time when you seem untouchable. Once you want to protect someone, you have a strong eagerness in both eyes. If you see someone you treasure get hurt, you have that unexplainable painful look. And whenever you don't know what to do, you have that same troubled face full of sadness and loneliness."

Georgina's about to say a word, but she pursed her lips—swallowing the words she was about to utter and staring down.

"I promised not to talk to you, but I can't leave you in that situation." He added. "Gina, if you're having trouble moving forward and don't know where to walk anymore, try to remember for who and why did you start to take this path?"

"W-who? W-why?"

"Do you remember what I told you before? You and Giovanni built up an iron wall where only the two of you could enter. Why did you build it up? Is it to protect him or to protect yourself? Who do you want to protect?"

"I-I don't understand you. What do you mean?"

Instead of answering, Jaceriel smiled before he stood up. "It's already midnight. A woman shouldn't stay outside alone. You should go home."

"You didn't answer me yet," She said, unconsciously grabbing his hand.

"Gina, clear your mind. Stop overthinking things a lot. Instead, broaden your thoughts without pressuring yourself." Jaceriel removed her hand and tousled her hair. "The two of you should lower the iron walls and let other people help you. It's good that you want to protect each other in your way, but too much of it will only hurt you. You'll keep pressuring each other inside it."

"D-do I need to let go of him?" She asked with those urging tears in her eyes.

"If I were him, I must realize it too. For who and why did I start to take this path? I don't know why you're doing all of this, but if it's too hard for the both of you...then you must show that you can live apart from each other without forcing yourselves." He said. "Besides, the greatest revenge you can give to someone isn't winning by proving them how strong you are but rather winning by proving them they're wrong to use your weakness."

"S-Stealer..."

"You shouldn't be afraid to take a step forward. There's someone out there who'll watch you."

"Hmm..."

"Merry Christmas, Gina. Don't stay here any longer and go home."

She watched him walk away. It's the same back who turned to her during the camp. No ill feeling lingered between them, but she felt like whenever he was walking away, he'll never go back again.

He's a precious friend to her. A one-in-a-lifetime friend who was always beside her whenever she needed it without telling her anything.

Georgina clenched her fists before standing and facing him. "S-stealer, c-can't we become friends?"

Jaceriel stopped walking upon hearing her voice. He didn't turn back, but he chuckled before heaving a deep sigh.

"Gina, do you know the feeling of falling in love out of nowhere? I-I fall in love with a woman who won't love me back." He said. "I'm stupid to love someone like her, but I never regret it. She's like a short-time happiness for me, and even if she wouldn't love me back, I still want to treasure her as I always do."

"I-I'm sorr—"

"Gina, don't apologize. I didn't regret meeting someone like you, so give me time. I can be your friend once I move on, but now it's impossible."

"Hmm..."

"You're a crybaby whenever I see you. I hope the next time I'll see you with a genuine smile. Anyway, congrats on your upcoming wedding."

"I-it's..."

"I need to go. Bye." He waved his hands and walked away without turning back, so Georgina didn't say anything and pursed her lips.

Once he was out of sight, she sat on the swing again and spent a few more minutes in the playground staring at nowhere.

Amidst the silence, she heard a footstep striding towards her direction. She's about to stand when someone stops in front of her. The person seems like a man based on his body proportion and tallness—wearing a facemask, a long beige coat, black pants, and a red beanie.

The two stared at each other for a few seconds. It's as if waiting for who'll talk first. Not until the man removed his facemask. Her eyes widened when she saw it. Georgina hastily stands, clenching both fists. It's Henrick Jung, the man she wanted to avoid. She was about to leave, but he grabbed her wrist.

"Where are you going?"

"It's none of your business, bastard. Don't ruin my day anymore, and let go of me."

"Gina..."

Before he can finish his words, fireworks light up in the skies one after another. They both got startled and looked at the sky.

It's already Christmas.

"Henrick? You're there. You vanished out of nowhere. I thought you left, let's go. The others are waiting for us." Georgina looked behind and saw Kiela dressed up well.

"It seems like your little sweetheart needed you." She said while removing his hand. 

"Gina? You're here. I didn't expect it. How are you?" Kiela strides towards them and clings to Henrick's arms. "Henrick came to accompany me. You wouldn't mind, right?"

Georgina chuckled. "What are you doing? A few months ago, you were head over heels for Van, and now you changed your target?"

"What are you talking about? I'm just doing the things you've done before. You clung to my former fiance even though we're engaged, and now I'm doing the same thing for you to feel it." Kiela said, sneering. "How does it feel? Good?"

"Let me clear something Van didn't love you a bit. You're not even worth it of his love, such a b*tch like you. Anyway, you two suit each other. Go on flirting as long as you want. Who cares?"

"Gina."

"What? Are you going to scold me for talking bad about your sweetheart?"

"Tsk. Let's go, Kiela."

"You're a f*cking bastard." She whispered, but Henrick heard it. But he continues to walk with the woman.