Different faces of strangers rushing pass here in there. Some smiling, some rushing while talking on their phones, some had tears in their eyes, and some had this somber look upon their faces.

I on the other hand, looked bored out of my mind as I waited for my flight back to Beijing. I just finished my scheduled photoshoot for Stream in Shanghai. Here I am, people watching to entertain myself.

12 days. Just 12 days before Christmas and I haven't bought any presents yet. No plans, no trip back home, and not even a white Christmas with the man I love.

I sighed. I guess it's going to be a blue Christmas for me. The airport was filled with jolly decorations, but I was in no way feeling the merriment it should've brought.

I read Dylan's message once again.

Sorry babe. I think we have to cancel our date on the 24th. We both are busy filming right now, and I don't think we'll be done just in time for Christmas eve. Let's just celebrate on Christmas day instead.

Sure babe. But what about your birthday?

I guess we also have to celebrate it on Christmas. I doubt I can even get a break just to blow a candle.

Aww. Thay's okay, we'll definitely have fun together on Christmas. Be careful on the set okay? The stunts could be quite tiring.

I can handle myself babe. They love me here.

Ay! Cocky as always. Just be careful, if you even have a scratch like the one you have from Arxan, you're dead meat!

Yes boss! Love you babe! I miss you.

I miss you and love you too. See you soon.

See you soon. ?

See? I've been spending Christmas alone ever since I've moved here in Beijing for my work as an actress. Looks like I'll be going solo once again.

I tried to brighten up my day trying to search for the perfect gift for Dylan, one for his birthday and one for Christmas. I kept searching and searching and everything I found seemed like something he already have or was planning to buy. I just wanted to surprise him.

Then an idea suddenly came to me like a light bulb. I grabbed my ipad to start with it.

I also tried to contact the rest of the F4 to see if they were in on the plan.

If I'm not going to be with him, then I will just do my best to surprise him.

A few hours later, I was back in my own apartment. It was 9 in the evening and I'm a bit exhausted from all the running around we did from the photoshoot, just to be home in time for my filming tomorrow.

I left my luggage near the door, wanting to grab a glass of water first. I was rounding the corner to my kitchen when I saw a lot of paperbags on top of my kitchen counter.

I walked towards it, counting the bags. There were 12 of it, I looked closer to see that it was the rabbit snack from Sichuan that I really loved.

In the middle of it was a folded card, and a stalk of rose beside it. I opened it, reading the note.

On the 12th day before Christmas, I want to grant one of your wishes. I knew you love these snacks and begged me a couple of times to buy you one. I can't really be there, but I'll celebrate the days until Christmas with you. I miss you babe.

Love,

D

I smiled, giddiness filling my heart. Here I was, complaining the whole day of not being able to spend Christmas with him. But he decided to bring Christmas to me. I have the best boyfriend in the world.

Babe! Thank you for the gifts. I love it. I love you! ?

Had to surprise you as much as I can. Enjoy the snacks babe! I asked Ma to buy it for me. Love you too.

Thank Auntie for me.

I will.?

I sighed. I only ever have a single wish this Christmas. I want to spend it with my loved ones, and Dylan.

In the words of Mariah Carrey, Santa won't you please bring my baby to me?

I guess life is really happening to us. We got to do the job we love, we get ot showcase our hard work. But we don't have time to spend with the people we actually love.

Ay! Enough of that Yue! You still have a lot of scripts to memorize for tomorrow. Stop trying to bring your mood down. It's supposed to be a jolly, holly week.

Damn, I would give everything just for even a jolly, holly day.

The next day I was so busy internalizing my character and shooting a bunch of scenes as much as I can. If we wrap up early, I can finally do some Christmas shopping.

If, we did wrap up early. Otherwise the shopping will be left for tomorrow or the day after that.

I sighed. If only I could divide my body into 2, I'll definitely be able to do that.

I was resting in my dressing room for a bit when one of the staffs came to me.

"Yue! This was delivered awhile ago. I guess you have an admirer huh?" The staff teased me, handing me a bouquet of sunflowers.

More like boyfriend, but they don't have to know it. Dylan and I try pretty hard to protect our relationship from the public eyes. The people closed to us are aware of it, but only to such extent.

And we didn't want any more pressures from our own management to begin with. They were completely wary of us being scene together in a reality show. How much more will it be, if they found out that we're actually together. So we kept it under the wraps.

I smelled the flowers, loving how it somehow refreshed my already tired mind. The bouquet has 11 sunflowers on it.

I searched for any hidden spots where a note may be tucked carefully, away from curious eyes. True enough, there was a rolled up note clipped inside the ribbon holding it, one you wouldn't notice if you didn't look for it.

Unrolling the note, I found Dylan's lovely handwriting.

11 sunflowers for the 11th day before Christmas. You brighten up my day ever since we've been together. Let me brighten up yours today with your favorite flowers. I love you babe!

Love,

D

I kept the note inside my wallet, carefully smoothing it out. I'll probably keep it inside my diary, and probably grab a petal of the flower. I've seen someone preserving it by keeping it inside a clear folder, pressed and sealed.

Well this kind of surprise is definitely something one should keep for a very long time.

He really knew how to melt a girl's heart. I remembered the day I said yes to being his girlfriend as clear as yesterday.

Contrary to what Lei's character gave me in Meteor Garden, I actually love sunflowers. And Dylan seemed to have took note of that, since he filled my room with the very flowers I'm obsessed with.

"I've never had a girlfriend before. You are the first Yue. I don't really know what to do, I can be extremely childish, so are you sure of your decision to be with me?" He told me embarassedly when he confessed to me after our filming in London. "Of course I am, why wouldn't I be? I know you can be a little childish, but that's part of who you are. You are true to yourself, and that's what I like about you. But if you want I could take my answer back." I teased him. He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him, hugging me tight. "Ay! I was just making sure you really want this Yue. I don't want you to regret anything." He murmured on top of my head. "I do Dy! What else can I do for you to believe me?" I asked him. He pulled back, looking at me intently. "Kiss me?" He requested, raising his eyebrows at me. I hesitated because I think it's too early for that. Well yes I know we've already kissed a couple of times, but that was in the drama. This was our reality. This was Dylan and me and not our on-screen characters. "Here." He motioned at his cheek. I obliged and tiptoed as he leaned forward to make it easy for me. I kissed his cheek as I felt him grinning, happy that I gave him one. I tried to cover my embarassment by looking down for awhile. "You just wanted a kiss didn't you? You're already satisfied with my answer but you still wanted a kiss. So you pretended." I chastised him, softly slapping his arm. "I wouldn't say sorry. Of course I'll want a kiss from my girlfriend." He said smugly. I looked at him, wanting to chide him even further but his smile prevented me from doing so. Gosh, how can I, when he looked this adorable and handsome. So I just let the butterflies march around inside my stomach singing to the Queen's We are the Champion. Cause I felt like one, having Dylan with me that time.

Smiling at the memory, I picked up my phone to leave him a message.

Babe, thank you for the sunflowers. It really did brighten up my day. I love you! ?

After a few minutes, I received a call from him.

"Hey, I'm glad you liked it babe. There's more to come." He told me.

"Aww, I don't even have a gift prepared as many as this. Jeez Dy you're spoiling me so much."

"Of course I will, my job is to pamper you whenever I can. And don't worry about the gifts, I don't need one. My wish already came true." He reminded me.

"And what would that be?" I clarified.

"You."

"Ay! You're so cheesy. But this is too much. Aren't you busy?"

"Just please allow me to do this for you. I already planned everything. I'm not a busy person when it comes to you." He said tenderly.

"Alright, alright. I could hug the life of you right now, you know that? Why do you have to be so cute?" I teased him.

"Excuse me, I am far from being cute woman. I am HOT and HANDSOME." He boasted.

"Ay! I already know that, you narcissist. You don't have to remind me everytime. I see your face EVERYWHERE." I retorted.

"Alright. Aren't you happy though? That you have a boyfriend like me?" He said cockily.

"Yeah yeah. If that's what makes you sleep at night."I teased.

"You wound me babe." He said childishly.

"Aww. Sorry babe. Don't you have any filming to do?"

"Yup. I'm just resting for a bit." He said.

"Then rest. Don't tire yourself out too much." I ordered.

"Yes boss. I love you." He muttered.

"I love you too." Then I hang up.

Maybe Christmas isn't just about spending time together. Maybe it's in those little moments we remember the person we love, and try to show them how much we treasure them.

Maybe it's about celebrating Christmas in our hearts even if there's a significant distance between us.