Christmas eve

Severa's POV

Christmas Eve.

It was supposed to feel different.

Growing up, Christmas had always been a grand affair—elegant dinners, expensive wines, sparkling chandeliers, and carefully wrapped presents stacked under a massive tree. It was the kind of celebration that looked picture-perfect from the outside, but for me, it had always felt a little… empty.

This year, however, was different. It was simple, quiet, and—if I was being honest—unexpected.

Eugene and I woke up late, thanks to the bottle of wine we finished last night. I barely remembered the last part of Home Alone—just Eugene's warm presence beside me and the comfortable silence between us.

The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the sunlight streaming through the curtains. The second thing was the faint sound of knocking.

"Sev," Eugene's voice came from the other side of the door. "Get up. We're going swimming."

I groaned, pulling the blanket over my head. "No."

"You don't have a choice."

"Pass."

"We agreed last night."

"Lies."

"You literally said, and I quote, 'if I'm still alive tomorrow, sure, let's go swimming.'"

I sighed dramatically, forcing myself to sit up. "That was the wine talking."

Eugene chuckled. "Then blame the wine, but we're still going. Get up, or I'm carrying you."

I rolled my eyes but dragged myself out of bed anyway.

By the time we got to the beachfront, the sun was already high, the late morning heat pressing against my skin. The beach was quieter than usual, most people probably resting before the big Christmas Eve celebrations later that night.

Eugene stood beside me, arms crossed.

"You don't have to act tough," I said, smirking. "I know you hate the ocean."

Eugene shot me a look. "I don't hate it."

I raised a brow.

"Fine," he sighed. "I don't like it. But I know how to swim."

I snorted. "That's like saying you don't like vegetables but you eat them anyway."

"That's because vegetables are necessary for survival," he deadpanned.

I laughed, kicking at the sand. "And swimming?"

He shrugged. "A life skill. Doesn't mean I have to like it."

I shook my head, amused. "Then why are we even here?"

He glanced at me, a smirk playing on his lips. "Because you like the ocean."

I blinked.

Something about the way he said it—so casually, like it was the most natural thing in the world—made my chest tighten.

Instead of responding, I ran straight into the water.

We swam for a while, mostly splashing at each other like kids, before eventually getting tired and heading back to the hotel to prepare for the evening.

---

By the time the sun had set, Eugene and I had already finished setting up dinner in my room. We had bought ingredients from the town center yesterday, but neither of us were in the mood to cook anything complicated, so we kept it simple—grilled seafood, pasta, fresh fruit, and another bottle of wine.

It was… nice.

No formal table setting, no extravagant menu, just the two of us sitting on the floor with our plates, laughing about the most random things.

At some point, I glanced at my phone. 10:48 PM.

"Hey," I said, setting my glass down. "Wanna go out?"

Eugene raised a brow. "Where?"

"The town center," I said. "It's Christmas Eve. People are probably gathering for the countdown and fireworks."

He stared at me for a moment before smirking. "I was just about to ask you the same thing."

---

By the time we reached the town square, it was already packed. Families, couples, groups of friends—everyone was here, waiting for midnight. Christmas songs played in the background, the air filled with excited chatter and the scent of street food.

Eugene and I found a spot near the plaza fountain, standing close enough to feel the buzz of energy around us.

"I haven't done this in years," I admitted, glancing around.

Eugene tilted his head. "What? Spend Christmas Eve outside?"

I nodded. "I was always stuck at family parties. You know, formal dinners, wine tastings, networking." I made a face. "Not exactly the most exciting way to celebrate."

Eugene smirked. "No surprise there. You always hated those things."

I blinked up at him. "You remember that?"

He shrugged. "I remember a lot of things."

My chest tightened again, but before I could say anything, the crowd erupted into cheers.

11:59 PM.

The countdown had started.

"Ten!"

"Nine!"

"Eight!"

Eugene turned to me. "Before it hits midnight…"

I glanced at him. "What?"

He pulled something out of his jacket pocket and handed it to me.

A small, neatly wrapped box.

I stared at it. "You're giving me my gift now?"

He grinned. "What better time than Christmas Eve?"

I hesitated for a second before taking it. Slowly, I unwrapped the box, lifting the lid—

Inside was a delicate silver bracelet, simple yet elegant, with a single charm in the shape of a seashell.

I swallowed. "Eugene…"

"I saw it at one of the stalls," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Thought it suited you."

My fingers traced over the charm. "It's beautiful."

"Glad you think so," he muttered. "Wasn't sure if you'd like it."

I glanced at him before taking a deep breath. "Here."

I reached into my bag and pulled out my own gift.

Eugene blinked. "You did get me something."

"Shut up and take it."

He chuckled before opening the small box. Inside was a leather watch, simple yet classic.

He exhaled. "This is…"

"Don't make a big deal out of it," I muttered. "I just figured you needed a new one."

He turned it over in his hands, his expression unreadable.

Then, before I could react, he reached out and pulled me into a hug.

I froze.

"You always surprise me, Sev," he murmured against my hair.

My heart pounded.

I wanted to say something, anything, but then—

BOOM!

The sky exploded with color, fireworks bursting above us in brilliant shades of red, gold, and blue.

The crowd cheered.

Eugene pulled back slightly, just enough to look at me, the glow of the fireworks reflecting in his eyes.

"Merry Christmas, Sev."

I swallowed. "Merry Christmas, Eugene."

And for the first time in a long, long while—

Christmas finally felt like Christmas.