Lucky for Tomoe, going to the bookstore gave her a good idea on what to get for a gift.
"How much is this?" Tomoe asked, making sure no one saw.
"$9.50" the man answered. While Tomoe was purchasing her gift, CR-S01, Maria, and Gabriel were going around trying to get ideas. By the way things were going, only Tomoe was the lucky one.
"Phht." Gabriel muttered.
"Hmm…" CR-S01 contemplated. "Maybe…or…"
"Like any of these would be good." Maria groaned. It just so happened that CR-S01 heard the groans.
"Having troubles too?" CR-S01 asked.
"Yeah." Maria moaned. "Sounds like you haven't gotten an idea either." CR-S01 nodded.
"You know," Maria said. "if you told me who your Secret Santa, maybe I could help."
"But you said-"
"I mean I you don't tell your Secret Santa." Maria corrected. "But you can ask a friend for help."
CR-S01 had hard time taking in the term "friend" in. With everything that's been happening lately, CR-S01 had a hard time remembering why he regarded her as a friend. Maria thought of CR-S01 as clueless and often made him do extra work and over time shifts. CR-S01 knew full well what he was doing was actually all the extra work Maria and Gabriel (and several others) didn't want to do, but he still felt compelled to do it anyway. He must have done it for a very long time because lately, he's beginning to wonder why he did it in the first place. CR-S01 knew if he said no, Maria would make a scene. CR-S01 stopped caring at some point about his own safety after some months of torment under Maria, he did, however, care about the hospital's name.
"It's…" CR-S01 whispered.
"Seriously?" Maria laughed. "Why didn't you say that before? I know just the perfect gift to get."
"Really?" CR-S01 stated in surprise.
"Of course!" Maria grinned. "Just remember you owe me for this later." CR-S01 sighed. He knew there was a catch. Maria and CR-S01 walked off the store, making sure no one saw.
"So where are we going?" CR-S01 asked.
"To-"
Since Maria and CR-S01 weren't looking where they going, it wasn't a bit surprising that the two bumped into someone. What was surprising was who they bumped in to.
"Oh," CR-S01 said. "I apologize, I-"
CR-S01 and Maria stared in surprise.
"You!"
Ian brushed off some of the dirt on his knees. "Well, hello again I suppose."
"What're you doing here?" Maria asked.
"I still have a life outside of work." Ian stated. "I was Christmas shopping."
"It's just so happen-"
"I kind of have a hard time believing that." Maria interrupted.
Ian remained silent. "And you two?"
"Christmas shopping." the two answered.
"Why don't you join us?" CR-S01 asked, trying to be friendly. For some reason, that statement seemed to surprise the two.
"W-Wait a minute!" Maria said. "Won't it be a little awkward?"
"How?" CR-S01 asked. Maria and Ian couldn't help but sigh.
…
"Okay," Emma said. "You guys can finish up with frosting yourselves, right?"
"Sure!" Alyssa and Joshua said enthusiastically. Emma laughed before leaving. She had a hard time imagining that the two had once been patients of the hospital in need of dire, medical attention. She was glad they were doing well now but she wished Dr. Kimishima and Dr. Cunningham would just spent more time with them.
"So how did things go?" Darnell asked.
"Everything went just fine." Emma said. "And the party?"
"It was almost set." Darnell said rather grimly. "But we ran into some serious problems."
"What happened?" Emma asked. Darnell lead her to the lobby. Much to her shock, the Christmas tree was over on top of the table of food. The food had spilled all over the floor.
"What happened?" she yelled.
"We accidentally toppled the tree over and…"
"This is terrible!" Emma yelled. Alyssa and Joshua were still in the kitchen but they still heard the screaming all the same. Almost on instinct, the two ran to the lobby.
"Is eve- WOAH!" Joshua said.
"What happened?" Alyssa asked.
…
"Thank you." CR-S01 said. "You still haven't told me why it would be awkward."
"We don't have to tell why it would've been awkward!" Maria yelled. Everyone in the store looked in surprised. Of course, Maria got embarrassed from losing her temper once again and walked out. CR-S01 didn't really understand what was going on but followed out with Maria, ignoring the whispers behind them.
"Is it always like this with you two?" Ian asked.
"Yes." CR-S01 answered. "But no one really reacts."
"Maybe it's because it always happens at work." Ian thought quietly.
"Why are you even here?" Maria asked.
"…"
Maria grumbled.
"Can you say that again?" CR-S01 asked. We didn't hear-" Ian glared at CR-S01 the same look Maria and Gabriel had whenever they wanted him to be quiet about something. CR-S01 couldn't help but react the same way he always had, keep quiet.
"Well then," Ian said. "I'll be going then. Merry Christmas to the two of you, I'm going home."
"Finally…" Maria muttered.
"If you have nothing to do, we're going to a Christmas party at Resurgem la-" CR-S01 said before Maria elbowed his stomach, silencing him.
"Hmmm." Ian thought. "I'll think about it." And the two saw him off.
"Why did you tell him that?" Maria yelled.
"I was doing it in the "Christmas spirit." CR-S01 answered. "Yeah?" Maria said. "Well, don't! Ever!"
CR-S01 was confused. "I thought-"
"Hup!" Maria shushed. "I don't want to hear it!"
"But-"
"SHUSH!"
CR-S01 looked down, both in confusion and slight guilt, which he didn't understand because, technically, he didn't do anything wrong. Still, he decided that since Maria was in this state, a very annoyed state, it'd be best for him to just stay silent until Maria's anger had cooled off.
"Hey you two!" Gabriel called. "Where were you guys?"
"Shopping." Maria answered.
"We saw Ian o- OOF!"
Gabriel and Tomoe jumped a bit after Maria delivered a right hook to the unsuspecting CR-S01 but the two still managed to understand what CR-S01 tried to say.
"So you two saw G-man, huh?" Gabriel commented. "Knowing you kid, you probably invited him to the party."
"Tried..." CR-S01 gasped in raspy voice. "But Maria stopped me…"
"Not liked it mattered." Maria grunted.
"Anyway," Tomoe said. "Let us go back to Resurgem. I promised Emma I'd help her later."
"We'll help t-. OOW!" CR-S01 suggested before being jabbed (Maria) and elbowed (Gabriel). "Will you two stop doing that to me?"
Woohoo! Suggest jokes, pranks and gifts for characters please!