chapter 1

                         Grey p.o.v

All done. I wrap all my assignments, pack my bag so I don't have to stress out in the morning.                                                         

It's 11 in the night, one more hour for Christmas. And like the past five years, I'm all alone. No parties, no gifts, no dinners with family.

I don't need them anyway. I leave my family not because they want me or I'm any kind of burden on them.

It's just like, I don't feel good living on their money. I'm already twenty-two, I should be able to live on my own. So, yeah I leave my house and started living in this small apartment which was perfect for me.

My parents were against of me leaving their house, they said I'll not be able to earn on my own. Simply, they didn't have any faith in me, they never had.

But here I am, living on my own. Manager of the famous restaurant in this town for two years now. I first started as part-timer there, its maybe luck for me everything goes well and soon the owner of the restaurant offered me the position.

And who'd wants to let pass this opportunity, I'm not an idiot. I knew I'm not a capable candidate for the position at time but I mean who cares. The first principle for any business is don't let any opportunity slides.

I work as a manager there, take classes at the evening and study at night.  It's exhausting but I don't like it, any other way.

I like my work, and the money that comes from it. I've assembled

more than sufficient money for me now. I don't get to spend it on me or anyone else, I don't have time for that. I've dated few girls but they leaves me cause I didn't spend enough quality time with them, that's what they all said before breaking up with me.

Now, I'm happy like the way things are going. I don't need anyone to come in my life like a storm  and crash everything.

I put my phone on the charger , put the dinner on the table, tv is on, now I just have  to eat dinner and shower than finally head to bed.

I'm about to take the first bite when my phone rang. I put the plate aside and take the phone, its an unknown number. I didn't have to pick but I click the answer anyways.

"Hello," I answer but meets with silence from the other side.

"Hello, anyone there." I asked again and this time came some buzzed voice and then some puking noise.

What, are you serious. Right in front of my dinner. Is anyone playing a prank on me? I swear if that was the case.

"H-hello, someone said. Roo, w-where are you."

"I think you dialled the wrong number." I informed him.

"Roo, what are you...you saying aghmgh," came there vomit sounds and I've to put the aside from my ear.

"Hey, you okay." I asked, seems like they're drunk, or maybe sick.

"R-rooo...something keeps coming from my mouth." The person sobs.  "Where are you?" 

"I'm not roo, this is wrong number. I'm hanging up you try again calling this roo."

I sighed, I want to have my dinner peacefully, and not to hear some drunk person sobbing or puking for god's sake.

"What are you saying? It's so cold here, I want to go home. W-where are you?"  The person said and by there voice I can't say if it belongs to a boy or a girl.

How much they have drink and what are doing in this spine freezing cold, like if I care. It's none of my business. But what if just a rough estimate but what if  this roo person wouldn't come to get this person and they stuck in there. Yeah, but umm.. again its not my business.

"Roo, roo say something I can't hear you." They said and than I hear some tiny barking. "No, puppy don't go there, here my jacket will keep you warm."

A pet with a drunk person, is they're on a walk.

"Listen you should take your dog home." I suggest, its not safe outside for them in this chilling.

"No, roo you come and take me and puppy home. You promised me you'll take care of me. " I don't know what the idiot is blabbering about but it seems like their friend or whatever leaves them there, I guess.

"Listen carefully, I'm not your friend roo.

I'm-"

"N0oooo puppy come back!"

What the hell.

"Hey, listen-"

"No, where are you urghhhh,"

"Hey you okay," I asked now seriously worried. I heard crying and sobs mixed with hiccups. What's happening?

"I-i hic I, it hurts." They cried and it doesn't feel right hearing them crying. Seems like they knock over on something.

"What happened, where does it hurt." I asked concerned.

"My-y hand and...and my knee*sobs* and my puppy,"  the crying is loud now. "My puppy run."

I sighed. What I have got myself into. I'm supposed to sleep right now.

Should I just hung up. I don't have to deal with any of this if I just cut the call. But what about them, why I should care. They are totally strangers and I don't even know where they are. But what if they got into an accident, then what.

Urgh, why I should care. There must be other people there, they'll help  and maybe there friend come to get them. If that roo person didn't find them there, he or she must be worried. Should I just hang up?

"R-roo," these sobs are doing something to me. Ahhh, fuck it.

"Where are you right now?" I asked and enters into my room to grab my coat and keys.

"Hey, you listening to me." I asked again but no response.

"Roo where are you." I'm getting frustrated now.

"Stop repeating the same question. Now, tell me where are you."

"I'm on the bench."  And how am I supposed to know where this fucking bench is?

"And where this bench is?"  I raised a question while wearing my coat.

"On the..the road silly." They giggles and I stopped in my tracks. That was the most adorable giggle I had ever heard.

When I snap back to reality I asked again.

"Okay, smartass now tell me on which road  this bench is." I should cross-check before leaving to rescue this damsel in distress. What if he'd way far away from where I'm, then sorry but I may not be able to go. Why should I go help some drunkard?

"I umm wait roo I can't see, its all blurry." Oh, for fucks sake don't test my patience.

"Okay, could you give your phone to someone who maybe be close to you, see if anyone is walking near you." I explain slowly.

"Go give your phone, so I can ask your location."

"NOoooo why, roo you idiot its my phone. I'm not giving to anyone!" The person yelled. I don't know why people drink so much if they can't handle it.

"Then I'm not coming." I deadpanned while opening my car door and sliding inside.

"What, why. Roo I hate you, first you drag me here and then leaves me all here alone in this scary night. Come or I'll kill your fatass rat you love to death."  I chuckled, these ramblings are quite amusing.

"Ok ok if you want me to come and help you, give the phone to the first person you see. "

"Oki~,"  the trouble maker sings for few seconds and then said.

"There's a old lady eating ice cream, should I give it to her. "

"Yes, go ask her to talk to me." I explained, and there's silence. I didn't hear anything  for some time but then I heard heavy panting.

"Hello," I tried again, but nothing came.

"Hey, you there-"

"Wait for god's sake roo, my palms and knees hurts. How am I supposed to walk fast huh tell me. You just know how to order me around, you're a bad friend I hate you." They rambled with heavy breaths and I was just listening to the rambling, sitting here in my car with a little smile on like an idiot. "Here, I'm in front of her now."

"Great, now give the phone to her." I let out. I can ask to on there location on phone but I don't know if they can do. Who can't dial a correct number, it's best if I ask there exact location.

"Ma'am, I um it's I want to ask that, this umm I," Come on now, give the phone.

"Can I have ice cream too?"

  I fucking told you to give the fucking phone not to beg for useless ice cream. And who eats ice cream on Christmas night, it's so cold, is this lady wants to die early.

"Hey, I asked you to-"

"Oh dear, of course, you can, here I've more in my bag." The lady said.

I'm going insane here and you'll enjoying the freaking useless ice sticks.

"Thank you,  oh here roo wants to talk to you. Roo I'm giving the phone to the good lady now, she gives me ice cream." The trouble maker said to me, and I just hummed.

"Hello." The lady mumbled.

"Hi good evening ma'am. I greeted. Could you please tell me the current location as to where my friend is right now. My friend drinks alot at the party I guess, and now unable to reach me."  I explained and I hope she doesn't get suspicious that I'd never once see this person in my life.

"Of course, sweetie.  We're at the front of a 'delicious munch cafe' and I'd love to help this precious boy. He is just like my grandson, I'm observing him for a little while now. He seems pretty intoxicated, I'll keep a eye on him until you came."

"Thank you so much."  The cafe's not far from here, I can reach there in ten or fifteen minutes. But that's not what going on in my mind but the fact that the person was a he.  So, he is a boy, for a boy his voice sure is softer.  Not like I'm saying that boys can't have soft voice,  I'd a cousin who have a sweet voice for his age and it's cute.

When I reached there, coming out of the car, standing in front of the cafe, I looked around to see the person I'm here for in two degree Celsius.

Ok now what, how am I supposed to recognise him when I'd never meet him before. 

Well,  as much to my luck, it doesn't seem much of a hard work.

"Grandma, the puppy wasn't even that cute, but....though he leaved me all alone, I miss him." I heard the same slurred voice I heard on the way here.

"Grandma, you miss puppy too." I twirled  some more before noticing two shadows on the bench at the end corner of the cafe. Due to the fog, it's not clear but I could recognise these mumblings even in sleep now.

"Yes, dear, I miss him too." I heard the same voice belong to that old from earlier. They are definitely the same, I'm trying to find.

"Hii,"  i said to the lady , who is kind enough to stop and taking care of a stranger in this chilling wheather.

I look at the boy whose head is now resting on her lap, they are sitting at the patio which is covered by walls, so it can protect them from a little from cold but not that much.

"Hello, you are the friend...?" She asked pointed her finger at me with a gentle smile, I nod.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Oh just call me Diana or granny."  She waves her hand.

"Ok so... I'll call you granny."  I smiled at her sweet grin. It feels good to have someone to call granny, if it is only for a moment doesn't matter.

"Yeah, that's much better. Here your friend." She said while removing her hand from his head which is hidden deep in his furry cap.

"Sweety, your friend is here to pick you, come on now get up."

He peeks from his hiding space to look at me. His eyes are red, face and nose flushing red due to cold. Smoke coming from his mouth with every breath. Eyes are barely open and he is fighting hard to keep them open. He looks, I don't know devastating yet so laughable.

He blinks for some time as trying to recognize me, and this part worries me.

What now, if he deny that im not his friend and granny call cops on me. What would I do then? But the worry fly away when he throws himself  straight on me.

"ROooooo....." he sings it like a song. Thank God he doesn't have much conscious to recognise me.

"You can take him home sweetie." Granny said and he latched on me like a monkey.

"Yes, thank you again. You should go too, the whether not decent for your health granny." I said as put my hands on his arms to steady him.

"I'll go when my granddaughter departures from the cafe. I'm going in now," she explained. "I couldn't take him in because he is drunk they wouldn't let him in." She said with a sad face.

"Oh it's fine. When will she leave the cafe. I have brought my car, I can drive you home if you want." I suggest, she helps my so-called friend, I can do that much for her at least.

"It's alright son, we don't live much far from here. It's a Christmas special so the cafe needs more workers, the cafe will close around twelve,  I want to surprise her as a customer." She laughs, she is so sweet. I had never seen my granny, she must look like her, all sweet and precious.

"Bye-bye, take care of him. He is such a cute boy." She said about the trouble maker in my arms. He whimpers as if he can understand something. Granny laughs before going into the cafe. And I looked down at him.

What should I do with you now? I sighed.

He just mumbled some incoherent, bury his face in my chest.

"Where do you live I can drive you there?" I asked, in hope to get some answer from an intoxicated passed out person. He tightens his hands around my arms and looks at me with his half-closed eyes, I also have to tighten my grip around his waist so that he wouldn't fall.

"Mmmghmhfm..." Yes, that's the answer I got before he again buries his face in my chest.

The bell rings from the cafe indicating that Christmas night has begun. I can hear the explosions in the sky. The chattering of greetings, the booming music coming from the nearest bar.

And here I am, instead of celebrating Christmas with my family, standing in the crowd with a total stranger in my arms. But instead of feeling alone,  the warmth coming from his cold body and cold cheeks pressed on my chest giving me the feeling of longingness.

Merry Christmas stranger!.