Winter Evening

DECEMBER:

' A month of lights, snow and feasts; time to make amends and tie loose ends; finish off what you started and hope your wishes come true'.

At this time of the year, almost everyone I know wants to stay at home, in their warm bed watching Netflix or sit in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate. But as for me I am on my way home from college. I just submitted my last assignment before winter break. Why can't we just email them? Its way better and easier then walking in this terrible weather. Windy, dark gloomy clouds in the sky, it looks like it will rain in the late evening. I love this kind of weather. I stop by at pizza hut and ordered a large pepperoni pizza and two Choco lava cake.

I know it sounds a lot for one person but trust me I skip my lunch and now I am so hungry. I picked my order and headed towards my apartment. I open the front door and greeted Mr. Morgan, who sat behind the desk in the lobby, he is the new doorman. As I was about to press the elevator button, I remember that it was out of order. I huff in tiredness and open the door that is right next to the elevator which leads to the staircase. My apartment is in third floor, if it was any other day climbing to third floor is no big deal for me but today was different.

I was up late yesterday night and woke up pretty early. And to put cherry on top of a fantastic day, I missed my train. So, I had to walk to my college which is almost 40 minutes from my apartment. My legs were killing me as I put one foot in front of another on the stairs. My backpack on my back, on my right hand I had the pizza packet and on my left hand two shopping bags. After I left pizza hut, I went to Target to buy some household things. The shopping bags were heavy, my hands were killing me and so were my leg. It felt like an eternity to reach my floor.

The first door towards the right A24, I sigh in relief, finally home. As I was about to put the bags down, both of the bags torn from the bottom and everything scattered. I huff, its just perfect, I am really having a crappy day, can this day get any better? I kneel down and started to gather the things. I put the pizza packet aside and put the things as much as I can inside my backpack. As I was about to grab the canned tomato's, a hand grabbed it and give it to me. A boy kneels opposite to me and help me gather my stuff. I smile at him. " Bad day?" he ask.

" More like a terrible day" I said to him. He chuckled. I put everything inside and we got up. " You new here?", " Yup just moved today to A23" he replied and motioned towards his door opposite to mine. " Great we are neighbours. Welcome to the Pearl" I said to him smiling. "Pearl?" he ask with a confused look. " The name of the building is Pearl. Not many people knows about it, just the people who live here. But as you move here you are the new addition to the family" I said and pulled out the keys from my front right pocket. " Everyone is so good here.

I meet Mrs. Gillies from second floor, she gave me an apple pie as a welcome gift. I guess I did the right thing moving here" he said smiling nervously and put his hands in just jacket pockets.

" Yeah you did. I am Phoebe"

" Asher. It was nice to meet you"

" Me too." Oh god he is so cute.

" I should be going. I have a few things to buy. You must me tired too"

" Yeah I am. Guess I will see you around"

" You will neighbour" he said and went towards the stairs. I unlock my door and went inside. As I was about to close the door, he turn around to see me. We lock eyes and give each other a small smile. He went downstairs and I close the door. I walked towards the kitchen to keep the pizza and the other things, with a smile plaster in my face. Maybe today was not that bad.

ASHER'S POV

It's been a few weeks that I have moved from my old, smelly apartment. This one is a total upgrade. Everyone is so good, polite here. I use to share my previous apartment with some other students from different college and let's say that they were terrible for being roommates with. Moving here was the best idea. But a certain someone has caught my eye. Phoebe, curly brown hair, dark brown eyes, she and I are almost the same height, just I am a little taller than her. When I first met her, there was something about her that made my heart skip a beat.

How can someone be cute, adorable, beautiful at the same time. She was having a bad day when I met her, I could see tiredness in her eyes. But ever since that whenever we look at each other it's like we freeze at our places. I wanted to ask her on a date but didn't have the courage to do so. But I guess destiny have something else planned. So here I am standing in front of her door, ready to knock. I have to do it now before I chicken out.

PHOEBE'S POV

I cannot stop thinking about Asher. Ever since the first time I meet him, it's like my heart skip a beat. His cute smile, his honey brown eyes, his short-spiked hair. He is a little scruffy and that makes him incredibly cute and handsome. When we talk to each other it feels like he is hesitating to say something. I too wanted to say something to him but I do not want to ruin our friendship. Since I got to know that we are from the same college and he is my senior. He is in second year and I am first year.

That is so weird that I never saw him on campus or because of many students I might have missed him. But today I will talk to him. I will not back off because these cute talks, looking at each other like there is more to say but none of us couldn't, is killing me and I will explode if I didn't confess to him. I took my phone, keys and headed towards my door. I opened it and there he is about to knock at my door with his stupid cute smirk. " Hey" I said. " Can we talk?" he ask and put his hands in his sweatpants pocket. " Yeah sure" I said and lock the door behind me. We went to the terrace.

Our usual hangout spot. Its quite and with a beautiful view. Sometimes we came at night to see the stars, buildings with all the lights on, car horns at a distance. He open the terrace door for me and I mumbled thanks to him, he trailed behind me. Both of us stand near the terrace boundary wall. " So what do you want to talk about?" I ask and put a stary hair behind my ear. It was really windy, if it was any other day Ash and I would have sat on the ground, he would have put some music on in his phone and just sit there, enjoying each other's company.

There are a few times that we don't have to say things out loud. We just give each other a look and understood what we have to say. But this time is different. Ash was looking everywhere but me. I was also kind of ignoring eye contact because if I say something and he didn't feel the same way it will be awkward or whatever. But I cannot take this anymore, I have to get the thought out of my chest. " Hey" both of us say at the same time. " You first" he said. " No you first" I said. " You know what screw this" he said. I look at him with a frown, not sure what he was talking about.

He walked towards me, grab my face and kiss me. It took me a second but I kissed him back. He slide his hand down and hold my waist to pull me close. I put one of my hand on his shoulder and other one on his left cheek. The feelings that both of us had been holding back came out. The kiss was passionate like when a puzzle finally found its missing piece. I pulled away from the shortness of breath. He pulled me one last time and pecked my lips. I open my eyes to found him already looking at me. " You have no idea for how long I wanted to do that" he said smiling.

" I like you" there I said it " So much that it hurts when I think that one day you will be with someone else and I won't be able to tell you how I feel" I look at Ash with pleading eyes, thinking what his reaction would be. He was just staring at me, a small smile appears in his lips and he hugged me tight. The warm from his body covered me and I feel oddly secure, he pulled away and kissed my forehead. " I like you too. But I am an idiot, I should have told you something sooner but I was too scared and thought it might ruin our friendship.

The thought about you being with someone else haunt me for days. When I am with you it feels like my---" " heart is glowing" we said simultaneously. " Yeah. So, will you go on a date with me?" he asked. " I would love too" I replied smiling. " Okay. Now let's go inside. I don't want you to get sick" he hold my hand and walk towards the door. " aww you are so cute" I said and pinch his cheek. " yeah okay. But you are cuter" he said and we went downstairs.

ONE YEAR LATER

Last day of winter break. Winter has always been my favourite season. And today it's a little bit extra special. It's been exactly one year today of Ash and me being together. It feels like yesterday we meet. After we confess our feelings that day on terrace, everything changed. After a few weeks both of us decided to move in together. We moved to apartment 30A, that is on the fourth floor. The apartment is really cute. Two bedrooms with attached bathroom, kitchen, living room and a balcony. We also brought some other household and kitchen items.

Today I have planned a surprise dinner for him. I brought his gift, a canon camera. He is very into photography and he is good at it but his last roommates broke his camera. So I thought it will be the perfect gift. I brought all the essential items for the dinner. Since the morning I am pretending to Ash that it's just simple last day of winter break. He texted me that he went to his friend's place and he will come around 6:30pm. That gives me plenty of time to prepare the dinner. I reach home around 5 pm. The lift's door opened on the fourth floor.

I walk towards our apartment and took out the keys from my jacket pocket and unlock the door. As I went inside it was dark, I close the door behind me and switch on the lights to see a trail of rose petals on the floor. I smiled and followed it and saw Ash cooking in the kitchen. He turn around and said " Miss Smith, A+ for your acting skills". " Mr. McBroom so are yours" I smiled and kept the packets in the kitchen counter and hide his gift behind the couch . He came and pecked my lips and hugged me. " Happy First Anniversary babe" I said.

" Happy Anniversary baby. This one and lots more on the way" he said. " Now go freshen up and wear something comfy". " But I was about to make special dinner for you. I also brought all the things" I said. He cupped my face and said " We can cook together" and kissed my nose. I said okay to him and went to our room, freshen up and wore black shorts and one of Ash's white t shirt. I went into the kitchen and help him with the cooking. I told him to set the table while I check the chicken parmigiana. After everything was set on the table, we sat down to eat.

Songs were playing slowly in the background; a candle was placed in the middle of the table and the table was filled with both of our favourite food. When we were done Ash told me " Are you ready for desert?". " Yeah" I said smiling and took a sip of wine from my glass. Ash got up and went to the fridge, opened the icer and took out a small ice cream cake with WE sign made with white chocolate. " Babe" I started to say. " I made this myself. So hope you going to like it" he ask with a nervous smile.

I asked him about the sign he replied " It represents us. WE and it also means Winter Evening. The day we meet". " I love it" I said and ate the delicious ice cream cake. " I have a gift for you" and gave him the packet that I hide behind the couch. He open it and said " Babe thank you" and kissed my temple. " my turn" he took out a small box from his pocket and took my left hand and slide a ring into my index finger. " Its a promise ring. I promise you that as long as I am with you no harm will come to you. I will be beside you no matter what".

Tears were forming in my eyes, I cup his face and kissed him. The song Perfect by Ed Sheeran came next. That was our song. " Will you dance with me, Miss Smith" he ask. " I would love too Mr. McBroom". We slowly moved along with the song. My head on his chest, hearing his steady heartbeat, his chin on top of my head, he is humming along with the song. " I love you" he said, it was the first time he said that to me. I looked towards him and said " I love you too" both of us smiled at each other and he kissed me. The kiss, our song, the moment was just PERFECT.