Mina's house glowed with warmth and laughter, the Christmas party alive in every corner. Their group had gathered in oversized sweaters and woolly scarves, sprawled across the living room floor with plates balanced on their laps and mugs of steaming hot chocolate warming their hands. The Christmas tree twinkled from its corner, casting soft reflections on the windows, while the scent of roasted chicken, cinnamon, and baked apples lingered in the air like a hug.
"Gift exchange time!" Mina announced suddenly, shaking a tiny bell she'd found in the decorations box. Its cheerful ring silenced the chatter instantly.
Excitement broke out as everyone scrambled for their little wrapped packages. The pile under the tree quickly disappeared, traded from hand to hand amid bursts of laughter. Some gifts were silly—like the hideous patterned tie Jace triumphantly presented, earning groans and giggles in equal measure—while others were surprisingly thoughtful, like the sketchbook Eli had picked out for Mina. She gasped when she unwrapped it, her eyes shining as she immediately flipped through the blank pages.
"Eli, you're the best," she said, leaning over to hug him.
One by one, gifts were unwrapped, each sparking teasing comments or grateful smiles. The room swelled with cheer, their laughter rising and falling in waves.
Then came Kai's turn. Eli hadn't been paying much attention until his own name was read off the tag. He blinked, startled, as Kai slid a neatly wrapped box into his hands.
"Go on," Kai said, his tone calm and casual, though his eyes held that familiar steady warmth that always seemed to undo Eli without warning.
With careful fingers, Eli peeled the wrapping and lifted the lid. Inside was a sleek set of high-quality pens—the exact kind he had admired once while wandering through the bookstore. For a moment, he just stared, his breath caught.
"How did you—"
"You mentioned it," Kai interrupted softly, his lips tilting into the faintest smile. "I remembered."
Eli's cheeks flamed instantly. He could feel everyone else watching, the teasing practically ready to spill out of their mouths. Sure enough, whistles and mock gasps followed, the group quick to pounce on the moment.
"Ooooh, someone's paying attention," Caleb teased.
"Is this what we're calling a study date gift?" Leo added with a laugh.
Eli sputtered, hugging the box protectively to his chest. "I-It's not like that!" he stammered, though his ears burned hot. Kai, on the other hand, didn't flinch. He simply leaned back with that same composed smile, letting the noise roll past him as though it didn't matter.
Later that night, the backyard lit up with sparklers, their golden trails cutting through the dark. The group whooped and laughed as sparks hissed and fizzled, their faces glowing in the brief light. Eli joined in, waving his sparkler through the air, but every so often his gaze drifted. He caught himself watching Kai more than once—how the firelight touched his profile, how calm he seemed amidst all the noise.
And each time Kai's eyes met his, the world seemed to quiet for a moment. Their gazes lingered just a second too long, and Eli's heart thudded harder than he wanted to admit.
By the time he finally returned home, the air was cold, but warmth still pulsed faintly in his chest. His heart was unsteady, yet a quiet happiness followed him through the door like a secret he wasn't ready to let go of.
The next morning, the house was already alive with chatter. His little sister barreled into his room before the sun had fully risen, dragging him by the wrist toward the tree. "Presents! Come on, Eli, it's Christmas!"
Their mother laughed from the kitchen, balancing a tray of hot chocolate as Eli stumbled into the living room, still half-asleep. Together, they tore into ribbons and bows. His sister squealed when she unwrapped the stuffed cat he'd picked out, hugging him so tightly he nearly toppled over. His mother slipped a hand-knit scarf around his neck with a fond smile, while Eli proudly handed her a box of her favorite tea.
The room filled with warmth—the kind that came from years of love, familiar laughter, and small traditions that never seemed to change. And even as Eli soaked it in, letting himself breathe in that peace, his mind wandered back. Back to a gift wrapped in careful paper, to a quiet smile that lingered in his memory.
He had his family's steady love here at home, and yet something new was blooming too, fragile but real—something he wasn't sure he could ignore anymore.