19th of December. 6 Days to Christmas. 
Christmas Tree. 
 

Its winter again. 
Winter. 
Cold Cold Winter. 
Except for HyoLin that is, winter wasn’t full of snow. It was full of tears. Tears from the skies. 
She put out one hand to feel the sorrow raindrops. She lightly twist her hand, letting her whole hand be soaked. She witness the falling of a raindrop onto her hand and as she twists her hand, it slide off smoothly and proceed with another round of free falling, before hitting the ground.

Just like the raindrop, she has gone through two rounds of free falling and with every round hitting the ground.

She shuddered from the cold that the rain gives.

"I’m Sorry.." a tear slid down her cheeks. Or was it the rain?

Her heart suffers from another round of familiar aching. Apologies seems to only be heard when mistakes are done. Yet when they are hurt, nothing may change. Only regret and guilt to haunt them for life.

She sat under a tree. 
Their Tree. 
Well, at least it used to be.

She was lightly shielded from the downpour, part of her jackets were soaked, but not as soaked as her face. 
Tears always seem to find way to her face whenever she thinks of him.

Today, was their annual promise. They promise to carve a letter on the tree every year. 
Until they are fifty.

Fifty Letters.

What could be form with fifty letters?

HyoLin knows, her first eight letters will be, “I am Sorry.” 




 

Its winter again.
Winter. 
Happy Happy Winter.

For MinHo that is, winter was full of joy. He absolutely loves winter. Why? He wondered. 
There’s something magical about the season that makes every frown a smile. It is that magical. 
At least to him.

It started raining. 
In the place he lives, it rarely snows, it normally faces showers instead.

He cringed his face at the skies. He loves Christmas, but he absolutely detest the rain.

With both hands barely sheltering his head, his eyes caught on to a tree, it wasn’t that near, but a good place to be sheltered for the time being…and ran straight to it.

"Aigoooo…." he finally reached the tree and he gave a sigh. 
His clothes were already soaked.

No.1 reason why he hate the rain.

He patted off the raindrops on his coat. To the best of his ability that is.. how can he ever dry his soaked clothes in such a weather?

He patted the ground to find a suitable place to sit, he placed himself down and stared at his surroundings.

Rain. Ughs. 
They ruin the winter mood so much.

Hey… 
There’s someone there under the tree…

That tree.. 
It looks so …familiar.

That girl… 
Ugh.. the rain has form a thick curtain… he could barely make out her face…

but.. she looks sad.

Was it because of the rain?

He didn’t know what came to him. 
He would never have done this.

but he did it now.

He charged forward against the rain, letting himself get soak again and ran towards, that tree.

He pretended he had run for a good distance and was shocked when he saw her. He bowed as a form of greeting and pretended to be busily drying himself. 
Well.. he was really drying himself. Damn the rain.

She was shocked. 
She seemed like she was disturbed from her thoughts by his presence. 
He felt bad. 
Was it a wrong decision?

"Hello.. " Minho started out.

She kept silent for a while and studied him.

"Hi" she replied.

His heart.. 
fluttered.

He has not felt it for so long.. but it just fluttered at her words.

"The rain.. " he pointed to the skies, " is something right? " he joked.

She smiled,
“Its crying.” her voice felt so sorrowful.

His heart ached.

He cleared his throat, “Why are you under a tree?” 
She shot him a look. 
He was taken aback, “I mean.. were.. you.. oh.. well neverminds. ”

It is so hard to start a conversation. 
But she feels strangely.. familar. 
She’s gorgeous. 
That’s for sure.

But.. he has this weird feeling.. 




 

A boy came under our tree. 
He.. looks kind of like you.

Her heart ached at the sight of him. Shock yes, but.. more of pain.

I didn’t want to see you.

"Hello" he said. 
No.. don’t talk to me. 
Damn.. his voice sounds like you too.

He.. has your eyes. 
Your.. lips. 
Your nose.

He looks just like you. 
Jaki.. is that you? 

"Hi," I shouldn’t be rude.

"The rain.. " he pointed to the skies, " is something right? "

You smiled. 
Of course.. 
It was always his way of expressing himself.

"Its crying" 
My love is crying.

He cleared his throat, “Why are you under a tree?”

What?! He…can see this tree?!

"I mean.. were.. you.. oh.. well neverminds. "

No.. wait..
Why didn’t it hit me? 
He could see me?! 
He can?

"I.." you don’t know how to explain.

"Its okay" he smiled.

You studied his face again.

Jaki.. are you coming here to be with me? 
Its your way of keeping your promise for me even though I had hurt you..? 
I’m.. sorry .

You cleared your throat. 
And explain your annual promise under the tree to him.

He kept silent.

"Who’s he? " he asked softly.

"He’s.. the one that caused the skies to cry. "

He bit his lips.

Did you scare him? Ohdear..

"Then.. why are you here?"

"I…" you paused to think, "to keep my promise."

"But he left, right? "

Your heart ached.

"Because I told him to. He.. had to. "you ended off silently. 
 

Silence. 
The sound of rain. 
The tree was good at sheltering both of you. 
Jaki.. are you doing this? 
 

" Why don’t you start another promise? "

"Huh? " you turned to look at him.

" With me? " he smiled. 
“In this rain” he pointed to the skies. “So.. every year this year it wouldn’t hurt”

He.. looks sincere. 
Jaki.. 
Is that you?

"What shall we do?" you asked.

He thought for a while. 
He grinned.

He took your hand.. his touch..

Both of you ran in the rain.

It.. felt just like you’re here, Jaki. 




 

I brought her to a tree. 
My favourite tree in the world. 
Christmas Tree.

It is green. 
It is fine. 
It looks as jolly as Santa.

The rain has gotten lighter. 
Our visions are cleared.

"TADA! " I dramatically gestured to her.

She.. looks confused.

"What’s this? "

WHAT?! She.. doesn’t know what’s a christmas tree?

" Christmas Tree?"

"Christmas..?" she asked softly. 
“What’s Christmas?”

He tried to swallow his shock.

"Christmas is celebrated on 25th December. A season of giving"

She smiled. 
“It sounds really nice.”

He laughed it off. 
“Here..” he passed her an ornament. 
A ballerina, as beautiful as her.

"Hang it there" he pointed.

She carefully took the ballerina, tipped her toes. 
He stared at her perfect form.. 
Her delicate features.

He didn’t realise she had already hung it. She spun around and faced him with a smile. It was contagious. He found himself smiling.

"There… so hang one ornament every year on this day for fifty years! You’ll have the prettiest Christmas tree" 
 

She smiled.

"I’m HyoLin"

"That’s.. a pretty..na-me" he found himself smiling.

"I-I am MinHo" he brought out his hand.

"That’s a nice name too"

he.. blushed. 
Did he just blushed?

She smiled.

" I..like this tree " she faced the half decorated tree as she tried to start a conversation.

"Me too! Christmas is my favourite season!" he explained.

She smiled.

"This is my new favourite tree. " He turned to face her. 


 

Merry Christmas MinHo. 
Merry Christmas Jaki.