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"What? I don't think there are animals in this forest! Are you saying this to scare me?" I said grabbing his hands.

"Are you scared already?"

"Who's scared? I'm not scared."

"Just a while ago...you had said that you are timid—now I get why you said so. You might be courageous in front of those kidnappers but here you are getting scared."

"Okay, Fine. I'm scared. Happy?"

"I'm happy that you trust me." He said proudly.

"How does that mean that I trust you?"

"Why are you holding my shoulders then?" He winked.

"Whatever. I'm not leaving you. What if I get lost?"

He began laughing at this, "Your terrified face is adorable! I don't want you to leave me either. So, keep getting scared, my brave girl!"

Oh please...! Someone tell him to stop saying such things. Does he care about anyone's heart?

"Let's go," I said looking around.

"After you." He said gesturing me to move forward.

"Stop this! I'm walking beside you. Don't waste time. Let's go." I said dragging him alongside.

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"There! I think that's the road." He said pointing towards a bright beam of light.

"Yes...I can even hear voices."

"What if...it's the voice of the kidnappers?" He chuckled.

"Don't be so pessimistic," I said slapping his shoulders.

"Ironic. I see you are being quite optimistic." He said in a dramatic voice.

Right.

It could be.

"It's Christmas sounds. Listen..." I remarked.

"Yes..right. But, if I go there...won't the people recognize me?"

"Don't worry about that," I said proudly.

"You have a plan?" He chuckled.

"Yes! Don't you trust me?"

"Of course, I do, my saviour."

"Then...follow me," I said proudly moving forward.

"Whoaa...now you are not scared?"

"No."

"It was better when you were scared."

"Why?"

"You were walking beside me."

This boy leaves me speechless with such lines.

"Anyways...I don't have a problem in following you. I can follow you forever." He said.

Why?

Why doesn't he care for my poor heart?

"Now...hide here. Just stay here, alright?"

"Are you planning to get rid of me? You'll leave me here alone and run away?" He said widening his eyes.

"I wish I could."

"Take it back."

"What?"

"Take your wish back."

"Why?"

"Don't wish such unpleasant things on Christmas. What if Santa grants your wish?"

Right.

If Santa can grant my wish for wings...he can even grant this wish.

But... don't I want to get rid of him?

"Take it back fast." He said shaking my shoulders.

"Alright. Alright. I take my words back."

"Great." He said with a sigh..."I...I didn't expect you'll take your words back." He said and looked around.

Was he BLUSHING?

DID I MAKE THE TEENAGE SENSATION BRAYDEN RENNER BLUSH?

"What? Why are you staring at me like that?" He said in a low voice.

"I..I..I'll just go and come back. Wait for me." I said.

"I hope you come back." He said when I turned away.

"Trust me, I'll come back," I said swirling towards him.

"I trust you." He smiled.

I quickly went into the market area which was sparkling with lights and bought a mask and cap for Brayden.

Then I sprinted towards where I had left him.

Should I accept that I was a bit afraid that I might not see him when I go back?

Maybe I was.

That's what mostly happens in the movies where the girl leaves the boy with a promise to come back but she never comes back or vice versa.

Am I already assuming us to be the lead couples?

We are not even a couple.

What kind of a human I am? Just a day with him and I am already scared to lose him.

No.

No way.

I don't care about him. We are not even friends. We are just normal strangers who are simply trying to get out of a problem so we have to be with each other.

"Brayden. Come out now." I said, searching for him among the bushes, "Brayden...where are you?" I said ..as my heartbeat began to beat faster.

"Stop fooling around. Where are you? Brayden." I said as tears began building up in my eyes.

"Brayden? Brayden!!"

"My name sounds soooo good when you say it!" A voice said.

I swirled around, "Where are you?"

Of course, the voice belonged to Brayden Renner.

"I'm here." He said as he appeared from inside the forest.

"What were you doing there? I told you to wait here!" I shouted at him.

"There were..." He blinked his eyes.."Are you- crying?" He came closer, "Yes, you are crying? Why are you crying? Did you hurt yourself somewhere?"

"No...I'm not crying and I'm fine."

"What are these then." He said wiping away one of my tears,
"Sweat."-I replied

He raised his eyebrows, "Oh...I never knew that eyes sweat."

"Where were you?" I said pushing away his hands.

"There were mosquitoes here, so I went inside." He said rubbing his hands.

"Are you serious? Won't there be more mosquitoes inside the forest?" I said gnashing my teeth.

"I didn't think that much."

"Of course, we need a brain to think. How could you think?"

"What would that mean? I don't have brain? Why are you being so angry over this?"

"I'm being angry?"

"Yes..firstly those mosquitoes have stung my hands and now you are getting angry at me." He said making an upset face.

"Do you realise your words stung more than those mosquito bites? You should care about others as well and not act so innocent." I said, still gnashing my teeth.

"Ahh..you are so grumpy."

"I'm grumpy? I was worried for you and you are calling me grumpy! I could find you nowhere and I thought that I lost you." The words automatically left my mouth.

I froze when I realised what I had said.

He only stared at me, not speaking anything.

For a while, none of us spoke.

"I...I'm sorry. Don't worry, you won't ever lose me." He said breaking the ice.

Why?

Why does he say such things?

What if my innocent heart takes his words seriously? He speaks with such sincerity—my heart might start dreaming.

"Let's go," I said clearing my throat.

"Yes. You..you said you had a plan. How can I go there?"

"Ah..yes. This—wear them." I said, handing him over the mask and shades.

"Okay."

"Listen, I'll be back in a while. Wait for me and...don't cry this time." He said patting my shoulders and going away.

After a while, he came back.

"Where did you go?" I asked him.

"I made a call to my parents."

"Do you have your mobile?"

"No...I asked someone if they could lend me their phone to make a call."

"Oh..so, what did your parents say? Did you tell them what happened? Are they coming to take you back?" I questioned, somewhere expecting him not to go back.

What if he goes and we never meet again. Was this our last conversation?

"No.." He said

"What?"

"No, I didn't tell them what happened."

"Why?"

"Think of it-if I tell them what had happened- they'll immediately contact the cops who'll then inquire you and me both about how we escaped."

"So..what's the problem?"

"I thought you said that I didn't have a brain. Now, I'm doubting whether you have a brain or not?" He chuckled.

"What do you mean?"

"If they question you-how did you enter inside? What will you answer them?"

"Wings.."

"Do you expect that they'll believe you? They might as well doubt your intentions. So, it's better if I don't tell my parents."

I was so anxious about him leaving, that I probably actually lost my brain for a while.

"But..that's dangerous if you don't tell anyone. What if those kidnappers try to harm you again."

"My dear fairy, you actually worry a lot about me already. Have you fallen for me?"

Have I?

"No...I'm worrying for you just out of humanity. How could a person fall for someone within a day."

"We can fall for someone within a second and we both have had a lot of conversations already and known each other pretty well within a day itself."

"I don't think so."

"Whether you think so or not. It cannot change the truth." He said wiggling his eyebrows.

"Whatever. Don't change the topic. Tell me.."

"Listen. We'll think about informing them afterwards. First, let's not ruin our Christmas."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean..let's watch the Christmas festivities around the city."

"Are you not leaving?" I said almost jumping.

"Are you happy?" He said with a glint in his eyes.

"No..it's not like that," I said trying to hide my happiness.

"Alright. I won't make you awkward." He chuckled, "Let's go."

We walked around for some time and visited various shops.

"Let's play some games," I said, pointing towards the gaming area.

"I don't have money." He said.

"I have money," I said taking out some money from my pocket.

"How come? You don't have your phone but you have money?"

"Well..my parents and relatives gave me in the morning. So they were left in my pocket."

"Okay."

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I must admit-I haven't been happier in my entire life. I never thought that Christmas was this exciting. The games, the sound of the ringing bells, various men dressed up as Santa— distributing gifts and the chatting of people..their laughs which seemed like music to my ears right now were all magical.

Added to everything— the boy standing beside me—who jumped with joy at winning the games and screamed with happiness as if he has won the gold medal for our country-was a whole new realm.

Enjoying in little victories and being happy in little things..it's actually cute. That's life after all.

Everyone has their problems in life, but not everyone laments over them. I was so busy crying over silly things that I never enjoyed the joy of little things.

"I'm grateful to you." He said, turning towards me.

"Why? You have already thanked me for saving you."

"No..not that. I'm grateful to you because I could enjoy this Christmas only because of you. Thank you for staying here with me, playing games with me and keeping me company."

"You don't need to thank me. If not me.."

He interrupted, "No...if not you- there would have been no one letting me enjoy this Christmas."

"Don't you usually visit around on Christmas?" I questioned with confusion.

"I do. But this year- ever since I gained the unexpected fame, I haven't been able to go out and celebrate. Had it not been for you, I would have been cooped up inside my house, watching random movies and munching on popcorns."

I could see the sincerity in his eyes.

"It's okay. Even I'm grateful to you and to Santa for letting me enjoy Christmas and for changing my views regarding everything in my life. You know theirs this turning point in everyone's life when they suddenly have an epiphany and the realisation changes their life completely. I believe today was that turning point. If not for you...I too would have been sitting inside my room, reading some random novel and spending today just like any other normal day. Thank you." I said with a smile.

'Grateful' was a word that never existed in my dictionary. I had what he didn't have- freedom.
I know it's ironic, right?
Yet, I never valued anything. I just kept on being pessimistic and pitied myself.

"Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas." A voice said.

We looked over in the direction of the voice-A man dressed up as Santa was giving gifts to kids.

I wish that I always stay grateful and delighted in my life and that magic always stays with me.

"Merry Christmas!" The man came towards us and gave us a scroll, "Merry Christmas." We both replied to him.

"What's this gift?" I giggled.