Christmas Present
Title: Christmas Present
Pairing: Marius Yo x OC (Akimoto Chimari)
Narration is according to Marius' point of view.
All I could see around me are Christmas trees. Extravagantly decorated trees and cakes showing the spirit of Christmas as well.
While I walk along the pavement, I search the windows of the store for the perfect gift for my best friend, Chimari. She always seems to know what I want. Every year, her present is absolutely perfect. I'm just afraid that what I give is not enough.
It might seem weird that my best friend is a girl. Since I'm a member of Sexy Zone, you'd think that my best friends are a bunch of guys. Well, no. Chimari and I have been like this for as long as I can remember. And she's been so perfect for as long as I can remember as well.
"Marius! Are you done window shopping?" Shori calls out from behind me.
"Ahh, no, not yet." I answer.
"Still searching for that perfect gift for her?" asks Nakaken.
"Yeah. Can't seem to find anything she'll like."
"She really is a special girl. For you to fuss about something like that," Fuma comments.
"Yup! She's Marius' girlfriend!" Sou exclaims. Everyone around us stares. I cover Sou's mouth in shock and embarassment.
"Baka! She's not my girlfriend!" I say loudly so everyone can hear.
"Really? Sure seems like it," Sou says innocently.
All the other members giggle from behind me. I shoot them a look and they immediately shut up.
"It'd be weird if she became my girlfriend. I treat her like my sister," I say.
"Ooooh! Then that'd be incest!" Sou exclaims again while all eyes are glued to us once again.
"Baka! Stop making those kind of comments!" I scold.
I never want to think of us together. In an intimate relationship, that is. It'd be too weird. Or am I just too afraid to destroy our friendship? I've never thought of it before, though. Me and her, boyfriend and girlfriend. I've always seen us as friends and nothing more than that.
"Sou, you better be quiet 'cause people are starting to stare," Nakaken whispers.
"Ahee~ gomen~" he bows slightly.
We continue walking down the pavement. Still no luck. I can't find a gift good enough for her.
"You know, Marius," Fuma begins. "You should be searching for the one thing to give to her that money can't buy."
"I bet she's tired of those common things," Shori says.
"Then what am I suppose to give her?" I ask.
"Think. Search your heart. You'll find out." Nakaken places his hand on my shoulder.
I'm about to ask again when my phone rings. Chimari's name is displayed and I immediately pick it up. Raising my finger to the other members as if to say excuse me.
"Got me a present yet?" she jokes.
"Just wait. I'll find the perfect present for you," I assure.
"Good. 'Cause I already have one for you~" she says.
Great. Just as expected. I'm never reliable with this kind of stuff. And here she is, a day before Christmas. Shopping on the last minute and she finds the perfect present for me.
"Good," I say flatly. I'm running out of time. It's just a matter of hours before Christmas and I haven't got a clue to what she wants.
"Be sure to have one for me tomorrow, ne~?" she says.
"Yeah, yeah," I say.
"Hmp, Mr. Grouchy! Bye bye~" she says then hangs up.
The call ends and I see a message from Shori. 'Marius, we're going to go on ahead. Good luck finding a present from your heart.'
I walk down the pavement again. But not to go windown shopping. Instead, I try thinking of a gift for her. A gift from my heart. What they possibly mean? From my heart? How could I give something from my heart?
When I think of heart, I think of love. Give her love? How is that? The only I'm able to show is as a best friend. My stomach feels like it's full of butterflies. Warmth fills my heart. I've never felt this way before. To feel like this, an emotion filling you that's completely alien, is quite scary.
I shake it off and head home. Thinking that I may have a better chance of getting a gift while resting on my bed. My mom sees me pass by from the kitchen. She probably noticed how gloomy I look. Concern clouds up on her face when she calls me.
"Anything the matter, baby?" she asks worriedly.
"I can't find a gift for Chimari. She always finds the perfect one for me. Though I can't seem to give the perfect one for her."
"Give her something only you can give."
"Like what?"
"You know her better than anyone else. Think, baby. Give something from your heart."
From my heart. There it is again. The feeling of warmth in me, butterflies fluttering about in my stomach. What is this? It'd be weird to ask my mom, so I just nod in agreement.I head up to my room and plop myself on my bed. Not bothering to change my clothes or anything.
'Search your heart. You'll find out..' Nakaken's words echo in my head. I think of what I know about Chimari. I start with the basics. Her brown eyes with incredibly long eyelashes that never fail to attract me. Her smile that brights up the room no matter what the atmosphere is. Her gentle hands that take care of me regardless of my condition. Her hair that's as smooth as silk.
What is this feeling that keeps on giving me this warm feeling? It's so cold because of the weather. Snow falls nonstop from the sky. But why am I feeling this warmth in me? Does this have something to do with her? No, it can't be. She's my friend. Nothing more, nothing less. If I go beyond that, everything will be ruined. The trust that took years to form. The friendship that took years to nurture. Everything we have right now, it'll all be gone in a second if I don't ignore this feeling.
But it feels so good, so warm, so welcoming. I don't want to ignore it. I wanna keep this warmth in me. Better yet, I want her to share it with me. Do I love her? I've always loved her. She's my best friend, how can I not love her?
They always tell me that I love her more that I think I do. What's that supposed to mean? Maybe everyone thinks I love her. Not just as a buddy, but as someone special. As a lover. Everyone seems to see that way, think that way. Everyone knows this. They're sure that I love her as a lover. Everyone knows this. Everyone except me.
I toss and turn under my covers. Now that I'm sure that I like her. No, I don't like her. I love her. Now that I'm sure I love her, I think I have the perfect gift. A gift that you can't buy from the store. A gift definitely coming from my heart.
The next morning, I wake up with tears in my eyes. I try to remember the dream I had last night. And I see it all vividly. I'm just about to give my gift to her when she refuses to accept it. My bright, excited face shows sadness and defeat.
Maybe I'm not ready to give it to her. Maybe my dream was a sign to not go for it. Failure is one of the things I'm terribly afraid of in this world and failing in this attempt to give my gift to her and for her to accept it is something I can't bear.
My mom gently knocks on my door and cause me to snap back in reality. She comes in when I say its open.
"Going somewhere later?" she asks.
"Yes. Why?"
"Nothing. Gonna give Chimari your gift?" she smiles.
"Y-Yeah. How'd you know?"
"I didn't. What is it anyway?" she asks again.
"Etto.. It's a little embarassing to tell you.." I avoid her eyes.
"I think I know." She smugs.
"You do?" I say, sounding more shocked that intended.
"Yeah. You know, I'm surprised it took you just now to realize to give her that." She crosses her arms across her chest seeming to scold me.
"Yeah," I scratch my head. "I'm surprised it took me this long, too."
I get out of bed as my mom leads me to the kitchen. She prepared corn soup in favor of the weather. It has a soothing feel to it. You can feel the warmth travelling down your chest that spread s to your entire body. I clear my bowl when mom starts to talk again.
"I wish you the best of luck~" she says.
"I'm a little afraid, though."
"Don't be." She smiles.
"Why?"
"Just trust me. I have a good feeling you won't be disappointed with her reaction."
What does she mean? Surely it's not something just to make me feel better. My mom isn't that kind of person. She doesn't tell lies just to make you feel better. So there must be something behind her words, I just can't process it right now since I'm too nervous.
She waves it away so I go to my room and dress up. I leave home so that I can get to Chimari's and my meeting place on time. I see her sitting on the bench and I the sight of her makes the butterflies in my stomach return.
I approach her with second thoughts, but going for it anyway.
"Ahh, you're late." She frowns.
"No, you're just early. See?" I proudly show my watch to her.
"Fine, fine. I'm early, okay," she gives in.
"Ah, where's my present?"
"Sou da!" Her eyes widen as she reaches for her bag. "Hai, dozo~"
I see the present, a small box in wrapping paper. I rip the cover and open it to see a small box covered in dark blue velvet. I flip the lid open and see a ring with the letters MC on it. Marius and Chimari. Perfect, like her. My eyes gaze directly into hers. No need for words for her to know I'm thanking her.
"Where's my present?" She pouts.
"Close your eyes and hold out your hand," I command. She immediately follows my orders.
My hand reaches for hers. The moment I grab hold of her hand, I pull her into my arms, making our lips meet. I could feel her inhale deeply, probably in surprise. But she relaxes and cherishes the moment as well. I separate from her and she avoids my gaze.
"You don't like my present?" I pout.
"B-Baka! Don't say stuff like you know everything!" she exclaims.
"Then you do like it?" I smug.
"J-Just a little.." She blushes bright red. I pull her into my arms again and wrap her there for a while.
"You know what that kiss means right?"
"Y-Yes. That you like me."
"Wrong!"
"Wrong?!" She separates from me, eyes growing wide.
"Wrong! I don't like you! I love you!" I announce.
"B-Baka! Don't shout! You're embarassing!" she covers my mouth but still smiling.
"But I want everyone to know that I love you!" I shout again.
Her face turns tomato red but she just laughs it out.
"I see he finally had the guts to tell you, Chimari," Shori says from behind me.
"So everyone knew all along?" I ask.
"Yup," Sou answers, "Everyone but you."
I laugh and take it as a joke.
"Yeah. So that's what you guys were referring to.. Something from my heart.." I look at Chimari again. She runs to my arms and embraces me, not ashamed even though everyone is watching.
"You beat me at presents this year," she murmurs as she stays in my arms.