Christmas Surprises
Results announced:
First place: Senior Three Class 10
Second place: Senior One Class 8.
Third place: Junior Three Class 6.
"Didn't make it," Brian shrugged.
"No way, she lost," Jackson thought he had explained the reason.
"And didn't you lose too?" Alicia replicó.
"Please come to the stage to receive the awards, class monitors," the principal announced. The applause for the three class monitors filled the room.
The class monitor of Senior Three Class 10 was a polite and charming blond young man, whose dimples appeared when he smiled. The class monitor of Senior One Class 8 was a talkative boy with no hoarseness in his voice due to an Adam's apple, and he had a British accent.
The above description was given by Lily Potter, the class monitor of Junior Three Class 6.
After receiving their awards on stage, they began the gift-drawing process. Alicia drew a white ball with the number 10 from the jar held by the student union members, Jackson drew 20, and Brian drew 77.
Following the principal's instructions, all the teachers and students orderly stood up and proceeded to the five gift storage locations outside the auditorium.
"Number?" was displayed on the screen of the table. Alicia entered "10" on the keyboard, and a robot arm on the opposite side of the table retrieved the number 10 gift from the cabinet. There was no name on the gift, just a pink wrap.
Alicia returned to the classroom and waited for the two boys to come and open their presents.
...
"Finally here!" Jackson opened the portal and entered the classroom.
"It took you so long," Alicia pointed at the clock. 20 minutes had passed.
"Why… didn't you just let me… use the portal?" Brian, panting after running four floors, stood outside the classroom door.
"You're a great runner, so you need to work on your stamina," Jackson gave a nearly perfect respuesta.
"Damn it…" Brian found a chair and sat down.
"Alright, time to open the presents," Jackson happily announced.
Si...
¡Wow! Alicia covered her mouth with excitement. Her gift was a pure white MP3 player with wireless earphones inside a translucent cover, and the cover on the handle featured a picture of Michael Jackson wearing sunglasses.
"So lucky" ¡Only rich kids can afford such stuff! Jackson only noticed the MP3 player, not the Michael Jackson picture that Alicia noticed, "This one's mine." Jackson took out his gift, a blue gaming tablet, "Isn't it cool?"
"Yeah, oh, this one's mine". Brian's gift was a brown winter jacket with a bunch of fur on the collar.
"Congratulations... "Oh, I'm leaving now," Alicia checked the clock and got up.
"¿Where to?" Jackson asked.
"Disciplinary Committee" patrols.
"You're very dedicated, I respect that.
"Don't mess around, you're coming with me".
"Damn it".
"Goodbye~" Brian said as he watched Jackson being dragged away by Alicia, his tone a little teasing.
***
Alicia was wearing the MP3 player, listening to Michael Jackson's "Beat It," and walking on the thick white snow.
"Hmm?" Alicia noticed a girl standing in front of her near the security hall.
"Alicia". The girl's voice sounded familiar.
"Lily". The Lily that Alicia mentioned was the girl in front of her. She took off the wireless earphones and asked, "What's up?"
"Um… do you know Brian well?".
Alicia was puzzled by Lily's questions.
"Of course, we've known each other since we were kids." Alicia put the wireless earphones back on and walked past Lily.
¡Wait a minute! Lily seemed a little anxious, making Alicia stop temporariamente.
"What's the matter?" Alicia asked.
"That... do you... do you like Brian?"
...
Alicia was taken aback by the question, and her face turned slightly red as she looked at Lily.
Lily anxiously waited for an answer.
***
Janice saw a light in the darkness, and it gradually became clearer as the light enveloped her.
Bi, Bi, Bi, Bi… ¿Was that the sound of an EKG machine? Was she lying in the hospital?
She sat up and looked around. Aside from resting people and various medical equipment, there was only one man sitting on a stool, reading a book as thick as a dictionary.
The man had a mustache and a beard, but his eyes didn't have the usual laziness.
"Uncle Michael". Janice called out the man's name.
"You're awake?" Michael finally noticed her.
"Do you believe in Christianity?" Janice pointed to the "Bible" in her hand.
"It's the only book that interests me."
¿Interested in the Bible? "That's a joke from which era?"
"It's not a joke, and I'm actually very interested in becoming a Christian right now."
"...Thank you."
"For what?"
"…Ever since I was in a coma, I thought I wouldn't survive, but you made me pull through, right?"
"…You know about the chip."
"I even guessed that you removed the chip."
"..."
"Even though it would make me lose my superpowers, thank you".
Michael noticed a warm smile on Janice's otherwise cold face.
"..." Michael closed the book, stood up, and patted her head, "You're welcome."
This gesture made Janice blush, and if Michael had noticed the EKG at that moment, her heart beat faster.
She looked down, unable to meet Michael's gaze directly.
He suddenly handed her a box. Janice opened it and ¡found a teddy bear inside! Janice hugged it with excitement.
"Merry Christmas". Michael looked at the childlike girl and felt the joy of being a father for the first time.
Even though he wasn't her father.
He sat back down and continued reading the Bible.
***
Alicia stood there, stunned, looking at the girl in front of her.
"Do you like him?" That was all Alicia noticed.
"No! I... anyway, do you like him?" Lily's blushing face was accentuated by the white snow.
"So what?" There was a mischievous glint in Alicia's eyes for a moment.
"Um, well, you see, I..." Lily suddenly became flustered.
"Hahaha, don't worry, I won't steal him from you," Alicia chuckled, "I have someone I like, and we're just friends. Don't worry, I won't interfere with your love." With that, she left, continuing to listen to Michael Jackson's songs.
Lily let out a sigh of relief, and Gracie, a friend hiding nearby, was even more delighted.
The question just now was posed by Gracie. Although Lily felt embarrassed, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and ask. Clearly, the result was favorable.
***
"What gift did you receive?" Gordon asked Elena, who was beaming.
"Doraemon." Elena took out a doll.
"Are you still a child?" Only kids like those things.
"Hey, I just love childish things... Oh, what did you get?"
"The Complete Works of Running Man."
"Wow!"
"Wanna come to my house and watch it together?"
"Sure!" Let's go!
"Hey! Don't push me!"
***
The news reported that this Christmas Eve was the safest in history, but it was followed by a report of a traffic accident, leaving Michael with a guilty smile.
"A peaceful Christmas Eve? Yeah, right!"