A/N: I almost wanted to publish this at New Year, but then I realized, crap, the song doesn't fit one bit! So yeah, here you go, Mijammie. =)) Oh, and this is roughly based on the music video of the song itself. ;)

Enjoy!

#5: Shake Up Christmas

"Shake up the happiness!"

For Mei Vir D. Ripper—I love you, Mijammie. :3

Christmas.

Almost everyone I meet says that Christmas is the special moment where people give and take without any complaints. People from all walks of life share their blessings mutually—some not even expecting anything in return. It's the time of year when people get sincere for at least when they give presents. For me, it became the most memorable time of year when I met the most wonderful girl that Santa ever gave me as a gift for this season—with God's grace, of course. It was as if destiny played with us because it was too cliché and unrealistic to come true, yet when I think about it, I could say that it really happened.

I could say that Christmas is the only season in the year where I get too lucky to the point of being surreal. It was Christmas when I got the dream job I wanted, when the situations I've always wished for all year happened—I guess it's God's way of giving me things that I want in the most passive way possible.

But of all the things He ever gave me, I stumbled upon the best one ever—and that was last year.

Her name's Hotaru, and she owns the silkiest hair I've ever touched in my whole life. She also has this piercing gaze in her amethyst eyes that just makes you want to confess to her everything you know about life. Even though she always has this blank, calculating look whenever she looks at people, I could somehow crack her mask and invade her real self when I get the right chance. Her skin is so pale—like that of an albino—and I know how conceited this sounds, but it somehow fits with my light, sun-kissed skin. Her hair is raven in colour, and she has this bad attitude of blackmailing people.

But I love her the way she was, is, and will be.

Our first meeting was purely fleeting and almost imaginary, but I had a really great time.

It was Christmas Eve when I decided to camp outside the movie house to watch a really cool movie called Yogi Bear when I first saw her. I was so pissed off at that moment because the ticket man just told me that all the tickets were already sold, and that they will no longer sell one until Christmas day itself—and because I really intended to watch the movie at that exact moment, I just slumped on the wall outside the cinema and waited for anyone generous enough to give me a ticket; I even remembered laughing at myself because I knew that no one in their right mind would ever give me such.

I turned to the side and that was when I met her.

She was talking to someone on the phone, anger evident in her voice—don't get me wrong, I wasn't eavesdropping, it was either her voice was too loud or she was just standing so close to me. As I overheard her conversation with some unknown person on the other line, I realized that she got stood up by her boyfriend—and it wasn't the first time! I felt sorry for her and I got a little bit angry at the guy for what he did. She ended the call abruptly and turned around in my general direction that I felt my cheeks burn for a fleeting moment. Her cold gaze met mine, and for a second, I almost felt like she wanted to tell me something but refused to do so at the last minute. I stood up, and neared her as she tentatively took a step back.

I laughed.

"What are you laughing at?" she quirked her eyebrow while crossing her arms—it was as though we have known each other for so long. I just shrugged and looked at the tickets she was holding.

"T'was already sold out," I meekly said and pointed to the ticket booth just behind me. She nodded in apprehension and walked towards the entrance as she gave two tickets to the man in charge.

I felt so glad that if it was okay to hug her, I would have done so.

"Who are you, by the way?" she faced me, and that was when I realized how lovely she looked that night, with the flickering light on the projector and the darkness engulfing us. Her skin was like porcelain, her mouth like a rose, and her eyes like twinkling stars accentuating the sky on a moonless night. She was like a sculpted model of a perfect maiden, and I was this lowly slave enthralled by her mere presence. I wasn't just amazed by her, but her attitude itself. She may have this cold aura around her, but she was like an unquestioning Samaritan when she helps others. I knew it wasn't even that much to give—the ticket, I mean—but I could see that my impressions of her were true. I felt like kissing her—because even though she was a complete stranger to me, she was no complete stranger to my heart.

It was like my heart recognized her existence.

Basically, I just fell in love with her at first sight.

"I'm Nogi, Ruka Nogi," I replied after a long silence. She tipped her head in recognition and extended her right arm at me.

"Imai, Hotaru Imai. Nice to meet you, Ruka," and I shook hands with her, knowing that our first meeting will never be our last.

And no words could ever explain how thankful I was for the gift I received last Christmas, and up till now, I still am.

Snippet End

Reviews are much appreciated, so is a well-written concrit. :)

Happy Christmas! XD

Ria x