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❝Crystal Snow❞

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 【Pink】 

11:46 AM.

Walking around the camp alone with Cole—it reminded me of when I first met him a year ago, for some reason.

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It was on the night of Christmas Eve.

I had just saved myself from my family's typical yearly Christmas tradition back at my home. My house being near downtown, I decided to go out for a walk there.

The outside was the complete opposite of my warm cozy home.

The winter breeze blew against my ears. My cheeks tinted a bright shade of pink from the cold. Half of my face was buried behind my scarf, which my grandmother had knitted for me last year. Despite having gloves on, I could still feel the cold crawl unto the tips of my fingers.

It was only a short five minute walk, but it felt like an hour or so.

Lights from lampposts flickered everywhere as soon as I reached the nearby park, each covered in dusts of snow. The brick path made way, slightly covered by thin layers of ice.

There were a few people there, all bright and happy during this holiday—young and old, couples, families, children, adults.

I continued walking, my hands cupped together as I tried to keep them warm. I let out a breath, cool air showing itself to the world. I scanned the area, trying to look for an empty bench.

This park is packed... Well, it's a holiday, after all.

There it stood, that one empty bench, under a broken lamppost.
And a lone teen sitting on the right end of the bench, bathing himself under the darkness of the lamppost. 

I walked towards it. This was the only other empty bench.

I cleared my throat, though it still sounded slightly husky. "Excuse me?"

The boy didn't respond. His face was covered under his scarf, so I wasn't exactly sure if he was sleeping or just didn't hear me.

I bit my lip and raised my voice a little higher. "Excuse me."

He still didn't respond, and at that point, I just wanted to sit down. "I'm going to sit down right here." I gestured to the other end of the bench opposite to him, then I realized he wasn't looking anyway so I sat down.

I didn't know I was tired until my legs finally buckled as I perched myself down the end of the bench.

"Ah. That feels good." I stretched my arms and legs. My pink hair, which then wasn't dyed mint by the ends, tumbled down my shoulders. "I wonder what everyone's doing back at home... Probably eating some of that gross salad again."

I had a habit of talking to myself, so I continued rambling on. 

I glanced at the boy beside me, who hasn't budged a bit for the past ten minutes.

"Hey there."

No movement or answer.

God. Is he really sleeping? He'll catch a cold out here.

I slowly and carefully inched closer to him, though kept a good distance and poked his shoulder. "Hello?"

The boy sat up quickly, slapping my hand away. I flinched at the action and backed away too, moving myself back to the end of the bench.

He looked confused. Though I wasn't really sure without the light. "Who are you?"

"Um, you were sleeping?"

"What?" I could hear the husk in his voice.

I nodded as I came to a conclusion. "You'd catch a cold out if you sleep out here."

"I wasn't..." He trailed off. His eyes were a dark shade of blue with no light. His whole face suddenly seemed to drop, the color draining out of them. He buried his face under his hands. "I'm sorry."

I hesitated. "Why are you sorry?"

"I'm just," He took a deep breath. "I didn't want to. It didn't have to happen, but... it did. It's my fault. I should have done a better job. I'm sorry."

I blinked, not knowing what he was talking about. "Do you... need help, or something?"

"I guess I do. I've lost everything. Now I lost her. I don't know what to do, honestly."

"Ah..."

Something in my mind clicked. 

I see.

"You..." He sounded lost, and seeing this person at this state made me feel bad for him. I chose my words carefully. "All is not lost, so long as you're here. So long as you're breathing... there's more to come."

It felt slightly awkward giving love advice to someone I didn't know, yet at the same time, it felt... right? I didn't know what I was saying. I didn't know where I got those words, but they just came right out.

"Just because someone who meant... the whole world to you, it doesn't necessarily mean your whole life exactly has to fall part." He glanced at me and I bit my lip. "Just because something ends... it doesn't mean everything else has to."

"To an end, there comes a beginning." I said. "Brace yourself."

The boy raised an eyebrow then let out a small laugh. "That's the first advice I've heard today, and it's... Well..."

"Unoriginal," I said, nodding. "The one who usually gives me romantic advice is my best friend, who doesn't even date anyone. Still, she's full of knowledge."

"Even so," He looked down at his hands, which were covered with his gray gloves. I doubted they kept him warm by the way he was shivering. "Even just a little, it comforted me. Thanks."

I smiled. "Anytime! Though, since we don't know each other, I guess this will be the only time."

"Hm," He hesitated for a bit. He then let out his hand. "Cole."

I slowly reached for his hand then shook it. "Pink."

"Pink? Like the color?"

"Cole? Like the one you use to burn stuff?"

For the first time I've seen him, a bright smile crept up to his face. The broken lamppost above us flickered on and off once, and for a second, I thought I saw what looked like a tear roll down from his icy blue eyes down to his cheek.

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