Chapter 25:

That's When I Make the Wish

-x-

It was the very day that he hated the most.

Levi woke up from the sound of his phone's alarm on his bedside table and saw immediately the numbers telling what date it was as the red color of those numbers wake him up. He groaned and rolled over his bed, tucking his head under the pillow. Reflecting on it, he knows that there's no way of escaping the very day that he is in.

The day of his birth.

Sometimes, he can't help but wonder why in the world he was even born and then further ask him why he still kept on living, as though his life was not as shitty as hell already. But then, he decided to stand, fix his hair in front of the mirror and look deeply into his own gray eyes.

He then wondered what his mother could have tell him on his 18th birthday.

Would she push him to go find a girl to date or start thinking for college or what to do after his college years? Or would she busy herself and do something special for him for his birthday?

But then he is reminded that his mother is no longer around to do any of those things and having those thoughts won't make things even better for him so he decided to make himself some tea and pull out some piece of bread. He ate his breakfast in silence and washed the dishes that he had used. For the past days since last week, few and few clients came to him, some days nothing at all due to Christmas shopping or others saving their money for Christmas vacation or other purposes for Christmas.

And that was all it, that this day of his birth has nothing to do to him except for Christmas alone has never been even once been dedicated for him.

It was never meant for him.

After washing his dishes and cleaning his room and bathroom, he looked at the time and sigh. The day is still young and still not yet over, barely even making it to noon time. He decided to check his phone and checks. There were just some greetings from his clients in a slutty way, promising him that they'd need him after Christmas and for more sex soon, from his team but none from Hanji. He had video-called her last night as he did nothing but listened to her excitement in being with her relatives and going out with them in museums and other places. Somehow, he felt the same amount of happiness from her sharing of stories to him.

He turned on the television and only the news greeted him while the other networks did nothing but show more things about Christmas. After clicking and clicking the remote endlessly, he sighed heavily and turned the idiot box off.

He is going to spend his day alone and on his own.

Levi shut his eyes for a while, taking a short nap but was then woken up by the knocking on his bedroom door. Groggily, he stared at his watch and wondered if it's a client for Christmas. If it does, it'll be a record breaker since it was his first time to fuck a client on his birthday so he stood up to the door. So far, it was nice that he doesn't need to fuck and please anyone and do something against his will on his day but thinking of the additional money for him to survive winter would be enough to have some strength and open the door.

But who in the world could it be? Was there anyone wanted sex from him in this time of the year? Aren't everybody is together with their families and loved ones celebrating Christmas all together?

To his surprise, it was the brunette with familiar height and glorious hazelnut eyes that had never failed to amuse him.

It was Hanji.

"Happy birthday Levi and Merry Christmas!" she screamed on top of her lungs complete with that huge smile of hers. She was holding a paper bag on both of her hands and she looked completely dopey because she is standing there with a huge smile on her face, her body being covered by very thick layers of clothing and she looked disorganized but in a cute way, he thought.

Levi is not expecting this, not even properly comprehending the fact that Hanji was out of his door, giving him a goofy smile despite the fact that she looked like she was having a hard time carrying the paper bags that she have with her, and that she is greeting him a happy birthday first than having a great Christmas?

At least, something different is happening today of his very birthday?

Not knowing what he is doing and was even surprised in doing so, Levi automatically wrapped his arms tightly on his thin best friend, now sure that he could call Hanji the best friend that he never had in his entire life.

She was the only person who did this to him, to make him special and wanted and known for even once and everything went different, everything felt different for once in his life.

Hanji in the other hand was taken away of Levi's sudden gesture towards her. It was very surprising but at the same time, sweet despite the fact that Levi is starting to crash her bones and stop her from breathing. Yes they both do embrace sometimes but Hanji is the one who would start the action but never Levi. As she sees the face of Levi, eyes shut after becoming all too big because of her surprise, was alright for her as long as she sees him happy. She had never seen his expression so serene and calm like at the very moment, and so she felt internal happiness coming right thru her veins and heard silent applause from her background in making Levi happy. It made her feel so weird how she also feel so happy seeing Levi happy. Still, she doesn't even know as to why he was embracing her like mad. Was it because he is just so happy and grateful or was her timing is wrong and so he just hugged her because he is about to tell her to go home and ended up not to instead, or was he just extremely surprised?

"What's wrong Levi?" she asked worriedly.

"Just shut up for a minute." He quickly tells her and she felt numb for a second. "Sorry, let's just stay like this for a while." He quickly continued and somehow made Hanji relieved after his first statement.

Hanji didn't mind his request since it was all too simple for someone who has a birthday and request something as shallow as that so what she did is, with all her might, she still tried her best to return the warm embrace of Levi. With the paper bags still on her hands, she moved a little from Levi's embrace and placed her paper bags down on the floor. Then as her hands are free, her hands made its way on his hip then making it on his back. She tucked her neck further to his shoulder and head and did nothing but to absorb his warmth in the midst of her thick layer of clothing.

"I don't really know what's going on with you Levi, but you can do anything you want since it's your birthday." She tells him softly on his ear and she felt him nod his head on their embrace. She wonders if anybody would be seeing them like this but she decided to save her questions once she stepped inside of Levi's room.

It was only silence between the two of them that they were sharing, but it was a different silence that plagued the ears of them both. It was purely satisfying and comfortable, no hindrances and just full of warmth. They shared their simple yet serene embrace for over a minute when Levi felt the tickle of Hanji's breath on his neck.

"I am really glad you were born Levi." She tells him whole heartedly, knowing what life would be like if Levi is not around her even if they had just met within the year. "Happy birthday." She whispers again and Levi did nothing but to hold her even tighter. Hanji just laughed from the gesture of Levi and from the fact that she cannot almost breathe already.

Levi then very slowly loosen his embrace on her and they finally parted. The smile that he loved returned on Hanji's face and then he watched her picked up her paper bags.

What were in those bags anyway?

"Can I come in?" she asked softly and Levi nodded in response and stepped aside.

Hanji immediately scanned his room and found that he seemed to have just cleaned not too long ago, the smell of the bleach and some more soap is on the air and everything is in order, including his bed and table and chairs.

"What is that that you have in there?" Levi asked and sat down at the edge of his bed. Hanji then giggled once he asked because she was too excited to surprise him of what she had brought.

"Well first, I have something for you birthday boy." She pulled out a medium sized box under the paper bag in what seemed like a cake.

"ta-daaa!" she tells him and places the boxed cake on top of the table and removed the container, showing a fourteen inch sized cake that is nicely decorated with chopped mangoes on top, chocolate syrup by the side and was covered entirely with icing.

"I hope you like it." She said and slowly turns the cake around, showing a birthday message, Happy Birthday Levi! Was placed by the use of chocolate syrup and at the bottom was written was a love, the Hanji's.

Levi can't help but smile as he watch Hanji stood in front of him and unload more of what she has inside of her paper bags. He never really thought that she would be doing such thing for him, and it is making his heart jump with a different mixture of gratitude and embarrassment. But he still smirked and hid what he is feeling as she watched Hanji continue to surprise him.

"Here's a gift from mom and dad" she tells him and pulls out a box covered with a red gift wrap. "They hoped you liked it, they said."

Levi took the wrapped gift and observed it in awe. He traced the edges of the box and just observed the gift. He was mesmerized as he saw it properly and nicely wrapped, and he likes nice and proper things.

"Go ahead and open it Levi" Hanji encouraged and Levi did so. He wonders what it could be but when he saw the box within it and opened it, he pulled out a white shirt and a navy blue long sleeves with a note attached, for college. He looked up into Hanji whose expression was also surprised and when their eyes met, she just slumped her shoulders indicating she doesn't even have any idea behind those gifts given to him.

"These are nice" Levi exclaims and somehow made Hanji smile despite knowing that Levi is confused as to why he received such gift. To his surprise, there was a second container inside and he held it right in front of his face.

"Oh I forgot, they have given you two gifts." Hanji explains and Levi just let out a silent 'oh'.

When he opened it, a new wave of excitement overwhelmed him since it was a box of assorted leaves of teas. Without out a second, he checked and smelled each and carefully placed them back to where they originally came from.

"This is too much" he tells her and all she did was just shake her head in disagreement.

"You deserve it Levi, you have two reasons to receive two gifts." She assures and that made Levi agree as well in silence.

"Here, open mine next!" Hanji excitedly exclaimed and handed him another paper bag. Unlike the first one, it is not amazingly wrapped in a beautiful wrapper and decided that he should just find out what is inside. His fingers felt an unusual object which has no idea what it could be. He let the mystery go thru his head first before deciding to pull the alien feeling object on his fingertips.

It was a tea set, its design were gold on white and blue, its colors perfectly blending each other's colors. The texture of the tea cups and little plates and spoon seemed like diamonds, and he aced so badly to touch them right away. He stared in awe, it was so beautiful that he would have the time of his life as he drinks his tea because usually whenever he drinks his tea and then looks at his cup, he would tend to be frustrated and annoyed as he sees the cracks and dirty white color of its body, not even sure if it could still withstand the heat of his tea. He can't even bring himself to drink anywhere else other than a decent tea cup.

But now, he doesn't need to worry about such problem anymore since he now officially owns a royal designed tea set that he will never afford to brake or even scrape a color or design of it. He slowly fingered each of it, too delicate for his nasty hands he thought and that his hands never deserve to touch such beautiful piece or art.

It was just perfect for his newly received tea leaves as well, a perfect combination.

Hanji kept on staring at Levi as he looked in utter awe on her gift and she felt ultimately happy and satisfied that her efforts were not wasted. She saw the tea set in a small newly opened shop and instantly without a second thought, bought the set since Levi was the first person that she came to think of after seeing the marvelous tea set. It was wonderfully made and designed royally so she immediately bought it, not minding how expensive it could be. It was all for Levi anyway and right in time for his birthday.

"It's beautiful" he muttered, his mouth still slightly opened as he observed the new tea set that he can't believe that he already is having.

"Thanks Hanji" he said wholeheartedly and looked at her with soft eyes. Hanji had very seldom see his eyes show its soft side but she felt her heart melted on how she had felt Levi's gratitude.

"Don't thank me yet." She said as Levi's face turned surprise.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because that is just my birthday gift to you" she said excitedly, can't wait to get and give him her second gift.

"What do you mean?" he asked wide eyed.

"Yes because that is my birthday gift to you and this one is my Christmas gift to you." She explains as she extended another paper bag, the last one on her grip.

"I hope you like this one as much you like that one." She said and Levi looked at it wide eye, can't believing that it is happening.

With very careful handling on his new tea set, he returned the tea cups and saucers back to its box and carefully placed it on his available tiny cupboard on his dirty little kitchen that he had always maintained to be clean and went to accept Hanji's second gift. He looked at her then back to the gift then to her. Was she really serious? Why is it that she is too kind and is determined to do this all for him? Was he really that worthy for her?

"Open it" she encouraged as he took another smaller paper bag from a known boutique shop labeled paper bag and peaked inside. When he took the fabric out, he is happy to have another three set of white plain shirts.

"I know that you are not much into designed fabrics and that you needed a few of those so I decided to go for that because I know that you will be using them." She tells him as she watch him look at each part of the shirts, making sure they are all in good condition and just looked at them with gratefulness.

"You know, giving gifts that are something functional is better." She added and watched Levi in awe.

He had always hesitated in buying more to himself since he still has two that he would always use as an undergarment of his uniform and when going out. It was just what he needed and wanted, she is right and he has no words to tell her how thankful he is. When he looked at her to thank her, she was fixing something on his table, a few containers on her hand and is opening each one of them.

"I hope you don't mind a few leftovers from home but I promise you that they are all good and still delicious!" she explains as she exchanged glances from him to what she is doing. "We had a lot of food yesterday from our relatives' home and gave us a lot in which we also have our own food at home so I took some for us to eat here and some food that mom prepared for today. She told me to bring some to you as well."

Levi just kept on looking at her, watching her as she prepares food for the both of them. It was not the food that his problem is but her. Why? Why is she doing all this things for him? He did not asked for this but can't afford to say no to her. She is not like the other girls who would please him with random gifts but will surely make him feel guilty and force him to do what they wanted since they offered him something in advance and or bribe him. Hanji has never been anything like them, but he still feel guilty for having trouble herself just for his sake.

Hanji popped each container on his old microwave that he tried to maintain despite it almost wearing out. He had requested from the brothel manager for a new one but a few months came and nothing still came. He uses it for himself mainly but he reason out that some of his clients has food and tends to want their food be heated, but not all of them.

Slowly, he places his new shirt back on its paper bag and made his way towards Hanji and watched her work her ass off in reheating the food that she had brought with her. She opened and tucked each food one by one while Levi decided to help and prepare some plates and utensils for the two of them after giving the food a quick look. After everything was done and settled, he let Hanji take a sit and he too soon followed after quickly finishing a pitcher of orange juice, while Hanji did nothing but smiled at him.

"Alright Levi" she begun and Levi made himself comfortable on his chair and actively listened to what Hanji was about to say. She first pointed at the Tupperware on the right which Levi seemed to know what is inside but still let her talk and explain.

"So that is some lasagna and the cheese is just perfect I promise you and there's the buttered chicken and over there are some yummy salad of dad with his very own Italian sauce that I am sure you're also going to like and mom also insisted that I should bring you some of her glorious mashed potato and her own potato salad as well." The food that she had brought doesn't deserve to be called as left over since they are the usual size of big sized food that he orders outside and eat. If this is left over, he doesn't know what to call the food he usually eats everyday then.

"I also managed to bring some sliced fruit." She continues and brings out another container with a visible assorted chopped fruits inside. He bets it's delicious since the color and the look are just exquisite.

Silence then fell between the two of them, only Hanji's goofy smile making him feel uneasy. Nevertheless, her smile feel so soothing and comforting that he cannot afford to return it back. After he does so, she then declare for them to eat.

"Bon appetite, monsieur Levi" Hanji greeted gleefully, even if she somehow felt a jolt unknown uneasiness as she saw the smirk that Levi usually gives, even if she would always feel it and wanted that weird feeling to go away and used to his smirk.

No wonder most girls would die for this little Grinch, she thought. Levi is good looking and handsome despite being small and always grumpy, no doubt.

"Let's eat." Levi said and together, they placed alternately all of the food that Hanji had brought and to Levi's surprise, they managed to make their plates full. To his delight, he started to munch his way down to the tiniest bit of his food without a halt since it never felt like he was eating the leftovers of Hanji's family, but rather a more fancy food in a restaurant. The taste was great, the spices were splendid as well as the mixture of flavorings of everything.

"Wait, I almost forgot the steak. Sorry it is not that big though" Hanji butted in the middle of their eating but Levi was immediately mesmerized by the smell and how it looked.

"It's for you Levi" Hanji said and popped her fork full of food into her mouth.

"We can share" he tells her and cuts the steak for the both of them.

Hanji in turn looked happy seeing Levi enjoying his meal. At least she felt that all of her surprise efforts were executed well. All she ever wanted was to make Levi happy and let him feel that he can trust somebody despite the kind of job that he has. That was and had been always what she had in her mind, she would gladly do it until she losses her will to do so. Just seeing Levi smile, happy and contented makes her feel the same thing as well.

"Stop smiling and start eating" he said in between munches and spoke again. "You're letting the food cold" he complained and devoured on his meal again.

After eating their meal, they helped each other clean the table and wash the dishes like they usually do when eating together here in his place. But afterwards, Levi doesn't know what is supposed to happen or rather is worried that Hanji might leave him just right away and Levi thought of just letting her stay.

"You can stay here for a while if you wanted to." He tells her and she looked at him with those chocolate hazel eyes of hers. He's not expecting her to do since she might wanted to go back to her family and spend Christmas together, but a part of him wanted her to stay even if he is not used having his birthday with someone.

"Really?" she asked and could feel the tiredness and sleepiness on her body.

"Yeah I mean, take a rest first before going home." He tells her, somehow hoping he could convince her. He doesn't want to say it out loud but he doesn't want to be alone for his birthday again. She had started to make him feel special and he just wanted to feel more of her on his special day, which she was the reason why it is special now.

After a few seconds of waiting in agonizing silence, she agrees.

"Okay" was her only whispered response.

Together, they talked endlessly on Levi's bed, talking about the time she had spent with her family and relatives and the latest news on some people on their batch at school even if they talked on phone during the days of their break until Hanji drops her eyes and closes them. For the past days of celebrating and enjoying her time spent with her family and relatives, she suddenly felt the tiredness on her body.

"You sleepy now four eyes?" Levi asked and catches her sudden slipped.

"Yeah" she murmurs, while Levi slowly places her softly on his bed and she gripped on his pillow. After a few more seconds, she was soundly asleep. Levi can't help but smirk to that and slowly, he brushed his fingertips on her cheeks and brought his lips on her ears.

"Thank you so much, Hanji" he tells her, not having the will to say so if she was awake, not knowing why but it would surely make him feel awkward and she might not act properly well since she tends to be moody, sometimes serious but most of the times, not.

Maybe he can tell it later once she wakes up again.

He watched her shifted a little on her place as she deepened on her sleep and her fingers lightly tuck on the hem of his sleeves. He had never felt so warm ever in his entire lifetime in all of the birthday that he had. And as he looked at the sleeping girl beside him, he believed that he had received the best gift on his birthday.

After all, this is the first and ever only best birthday he had ever known in his life.

-x-

Author's Notes:

Right on the 25th chapter for Levi's birthday! (December 25th) haha This is not done in purpose and I feel really happily surprised haha.

Happy holidays to everybody! J