CHAPTER ONE: SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

This story is about a certain couple that I know,

The weirdest couple I have ever seen if I could say so.

Well, they weren't really a couple; they were just mere friends,

Friends that would be there for each other till the very end.

One friend was a girl; the other was a boy,

One's life was filled with tragedy and loneliness and the other's with love and joy,

So the two friends were opposites and having nothing in common this pair could have never come together,

But on the contrary, they did, on the gloomiest day in the coldest of weather.

Now the real story begins:

DECEMBER 24RD 2004

"Burr! Where is he? I'm freezing out here." Rika said agitatedly rubbing her cold hands together.

It was Christmas Eve, the day before Christmas, and 17 year old Rika Nonaka was standing in the middle of the Shinjuku Park. She had been freezing her butt off waiting for 17 year old Henry Wong. Henry was Rika's best friend, whom she has none for the past 7 seven years of her life and not so long ago, he had contacted her and told her to meet him in the park.

Rika tapped her foot impatiently and breathed a puff of hot breathe as she checked her watch. It was 10:45 pm, and Henry was supposed to be there before that.

"Grrrr! Henry, where are you? You sounded so urgent on the phone just now," Rika mumbled, thinking back to the moment when Henry had called her at home.

Flashback:

RING! RING!

"Hello. Nonaka Residence, Rika speaking," Rika spoke into the phone.

"Rika! Oh Rika thank god you are home," came the exasperated voice of Henry.

"Henry, is everything alright? You sound…tense," Rika said worriedly.

"No, everything is alright Rika," Henry answered reassuringly, "It's just that…"

"Just that what?" Rika asked.

"I need you to come to the Shinjuku Park in the next ten minutes," Henry answered quickly.

"What? What for?" Rika asked curiously.

"You'll see, just be there at 10:40," Henry said.

"Oh….alright!" Rika answered in defeat as she hung up the phone and quickly went to get her coat.

End of flashback.

"He was supposed to be here," Rika thought, shivering.

Just then, Rika heard a voice behind her shout, "Hey Rika!"

Spinning around, Rika saw the cheerful face of her best friend Henry Wong racing towards her.

"Hey Rika, you're a sight for sore eyes," Henry said with a smile.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Rika answered dully, "so what's the urgency Henry?"

"Urgency? What urgency?" Henry asked with a sarcastic grin.

"Don't play games with me Henry Wong," Rika said seriously, "now why did you tell me to come here in the middle of a cold snow fall on Christmas Eve."

Henry chuckled.

"I thought you would never ask," he said with a smile.

Henry then took Rika's hand in his and began pulling her towards a pair of nearby bushes.

"Henry, where the heck are you taking me?" Rika asked sternly.

"Ha! You'll see," Henry answered with the same broad smile.

Rika snorted aggressively.

"You'll see? You'll? When will I see?" Rika asked impatiently.

"Right now." Henry answered pulling Rika through the bushes.

Rika blinked through a load of leaves before looking up at something infront of her and nearly fainting. Standing infront of Rika was the most magnificent thing that she had ever seen in her life. It was a gold and bronze carriage which was decorated with beautiful bouquets of red, white and pink roses. And leading the carriage, there was a pretty well-groomed white stallion horse.

Rika stared wide-eyed at this horse and carriage before staring back at Henry almost speechless. Henry chuckled at Rika's shocked expression. When she was finally able to speak, Rika muttered almost squeakily, "Oh…my…god! Henry…did…you…do this?"

"Yup! I arranged this whole horse and carriage just for you;" Henry answered with a smile, "do you like it?"

"Like it? I love it!" Rika exclaimed walking over and petting the horse.

"Ha! Thought you would," Henry said.

"So…what's the occasion for all of this?" Rika inquired continuing to stroke the horse's mane.

"Hey, can't a guy take his friend somewhere nice in the city on Christmas Eve in style," Henry said grinning walking over and wrapping his arms around Rika's waist.

Rika beamed. "It depends," she answered, "where exactly are you taking me my dear good friend."

Henry smirked at Rika before rubbing his nose against hers in an Eskimo kiss. "You'll see," Henry answered with a wink.

Rika looked up at Henry before rolling her eyes and smiling at him. Henry then took Rika's hand.

"Come on Rika," he said, "you do want to see the rest of your surprise, don't you?"

"Do you even have to ask?" Rika answered grinning. Henry smiled at Rika before he took her onto the gold and bronze carriage where they both sat next to one another.

"Joseph. To Passion Peak please," Henry said to a goateed man at the front seat of the carriage.

"Yes Mr. Wong sir," answered Joseph as he pulled at the horse.

Rika smiled broadly at Henry as the carriage began moving and they rode off into the city together.

Hmmm? I wonder what other surprises Henry has in store for Rika. Check out "Chapter Two" to find out. Don't forget to review either.

Puppychild.