The announcement came so casually, as if it was just another activity to pass time, yet somehow it stirred something different in the air.
The class teacher stood at the front, smiling in that knowing way teachers do when they think they are about to create "memories."
"We will be playing Secret Santa."
A soft murmur spread across the room instantly. Some got excited, some confused, some already planning what to gift and to whom.
Lu leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling as if this decision alone had the power to decide his fate.
Alex suddenly clasped his hands together dramatically, eyes shut tight
"God… please… let a pretty girl pick my name…"
At the exact same moment-
Lu lowered his head, whispering just as intensely
"God… anyone… anyone except Zhan…"
From beside them, Shaan sighed, rubbing his forehead before muttering under his breath
"God… please let the wishes of these fools remain unfulfilled…"
Lu and Alex snapped their heads toward him.
"What…?"
Shaan raised a brow, completely unbothered
"I never said your names. I said fools. So… are you two admitting something?"
Lu straightened instantly
"Of course not- what do you mean- totally not- right Alex?"
Alex nodded aggressively
"Yeah, yeah, definitely not us."
A pause.
Then Alex smirked
"Then technically your wish won't be fulfilled either, Shaan… so why bother praying?"
Shaan stared at him for a long second.
"…you really thought you did something there, didn't you?"
Before the chaos could continue, Lian quietly stood up and walked toward the teacher's desk to pick his slip.
He returned.
Expressionless.
Alex leaned forward eagerly
"Lian, who did you get?"
Lian blinked once, then answered flatly
"Yue… I don't even know her that well."
Alex froze.
Then grabbed his head dramatically
"YOU ARE SO LUCKY! she's so cute...why is life like this, wait my turn, wish me luck-"
He rushed forward like his life depended on it, picked a slip, opened it-
And immediately his entire expression changed.
He came running back, holding it tightly.
Lu narrowed his eyes
"Who did you get?"
Alex shook his head, suddenly mysterious
"Can't tell. Sorry."
Shaan leaned in slightly
"Is it one of us?"
Alex didn't answer.
He just gave a slow, suspicious smirk.
Lu didn't like that. Not one bit.
"My turn…"
He walked up slowly, fingers already crossing unconsciously
Not Zhan… not Zhan… not Zhan…
He picked a slip.
Opened it.
And the world ended.
His face drained of color instantly.
Shaan didn't even need to ask
"…you got Zhan."
Lu didn't respond.
He couldn't.
Shaan patted his shoulder like a man offering condolences
"Stay strong."
His own turn came next. He picked, opened, and sighed in disappointment.
Zhan walked forward last.
He picked his slip quietly.
Opened it.
And for a moment- just a moment- his fingers tightened around the paper.
No one noticed.
Or maybe they did.
"Who did you get?" someone asked.
Zhan simply looked up.
Cold. Silent.
And that was enough to end the conversation.
The teacher clapped once
"You may give your gifts anywhere you like. But remember, only to the person you picked… and I will be watching."
That last line lingered.
For reasons no one understood.
The class dispersed, excitement filling the air.
But Lu…
Was already suffering.
What do I even give him…?
A watch? Too formal.
Perfume? Too personal.
A chain? Too… suspicious.
Couple bracelets--…
He froze.
What am I even thinking?!
That night, sleep didn't come.
Not even close.
The next day passed in a blur of laughter, decorations, lights, and warmth.
At home, everything felt simple again.
His little brother, Yuze, clung to the tiny teddy bear Lu gifted him, biting its nose before planting a soft, clumsy kiss on Lu's cheek.
And for a moment-
Everything felt… normal.
Until reality returned.
Christmas Eve.
No gift.
Lu sighed and stepped out into the evening streets.
The city was alive.
Lights draped across buildings like stars brought down to earth, laughter echoing from every corner, couples walking hand in hand, their eyes holding quiet promises.
"I never thought I'd spend Christmas Eve like this…" he muttered.
Then something caught his eye.
A small shop.
Seashells.
Chains.
Handmade pieces, each one carrying a piece of the ocean within it.
He stepped inside.
And found it.
A simple chain.
A seashell pendant.
Not flashy. Not loud.
But… it felt right.
Like it belonged to a story much older than this moment.
He bought it.
And stepped back into the night.
That was when the first snowflake fell.
Landing softly on his nose.
He blinked.
Then looked up.
Snow.
Falling gently, wrapping the world in quiet magic.
And when he looked down-
Zhan was standing right in front of him.
For a second, Lu forgot how to breathe.
The lights.
The snow.
The silence between them.
"I'm going to die…" he thought.
Zhan stepped closer, holding something in his hand
"I'm sorry it's late… but Merry Christmas, Lu."
His voice was softer than usual.
Careful.
"I thought of many gifts… but I chose this."
Lu didn't even care what it was.
He was here.
That was enough.
Still, he opened it.
And his eyes lit up instantly.
Tickets.
To his favorite band.
His favorite.
How did he-
Lu looked up, stunned… forget what to say... suddenly...
"Merry Christmas, Zhan…!"
His voice carried a brightness he couldn't hide.
But then-
He hesitated.
His gift suddenly felt… small.
Insignificant.
But Zhan was already watching him.
Waiting.
Curious.
And that look-
That look-
Made it impossible to hide.
Slowly, Lu handed it over.
Zhan opened it.
And froze.
The seashell pendant rested in his palm.
Simple.
Quiet.
Yet-
His eyes widened.
Something deep.
Something buried.
Something ancient-
Shifted within him.
His fingers tightened slightly around the chain.
And for the first time-
Truly-
He looked… happy.
Not the quiet smiles.
Not the soft ones.
But something real.
Something that reached his eyes.
"…this…" he whispered.
But didn't finish.
He didn't need to.
Because Lu saw it.
Felt it.
And somehow-
That was enough.
Snow continued to fall around them, soft and endless, as if the world itself had decided to pause-, just for them.
And somewhere deep within that quiet moment-
Something began.
Or perhaps-
Something that had started long ago…
Finally found its way back.