Two years.
Two years since she left. And almost another year yet again.
The room is warm, the fireplace blazing, fairy lights sparkling and the furnishings snug and inviting. The table is laden for two, but there is only one person.
Because she's not here.
Sehun stands on the balcony, neat in a crisp charcoal-grey suit. There's no one this year to straighten his tie and fondly tell him how glad she is to have him. And perhaps not the next year, or the year after. Perhaps, never again.
In his hand, he clutches a bouquet of pink camellias. They were her favourite flowers and ironically, a symbol of longing. Longing for her.
It was his fault she left. He told her to, in his anger. And she did, wheeling her suitcase out and disappearing from his sight. Gone. But now that anger has dissipated, and all that remains is an aching want for her to be by his side again.
There's familiar music playing faintly in the background.
我望眼欲穿,
看我看不到的你
And they used to dance to music, on the balcony, swaying in each other's arms. She would laugh, smiling and moving to the lulling tune. But now he can't hear her. Or see her. He can't hold her in his arms, or smell her comforting scent when she came close.
He can't.
He's at the same place as two years ago, yet his world is now colourless and dull. The landscape view is more bleak than ever, and there is no beauty in this place anymore. Not since she walked out of his life.
His life may well remain the same without her. He looks into the distance, and he sees the grey sky above with the silhouettes of the skyscrapers. It looks desolate, like his future. There is no light.
And the first snowflakes of a white Christmas begin to fall. Softer, chaster than her kisses, resting in his hair and on his clothes. The wind begins to blow, a light chilly breeze sweeping the flecks of white around in a mesmerising whirlstorm.
The small chimes on the door ring. He remains with his face upturned, feeling the coolness of Winter settle on his face. Only when he hears the sound of keys clink together and the door opening does he turn around.
Dressed in a white trench coat, a familiar figure walks in from the hallway, a cream umbrella in hand.
His eyes widen. She couldn't possibly be here. He expects her to flit away or vanish before his eyes, like a mirage. Fleeter than the first fall of snow.
"Leia," he breathes, disbelievingly. They walk towards each other, and he envelopes her in a tight hug. He nuzzles his face into her neck, inhaling in her sweet scent. She's back. She came back to him.
A smile appears on her beautiful face. "Sehun," she says, leading him back inside.
"You're back," he says, getting her to sit at the table. He can't believe this. It's like a miracle.
A miracle in December.
"Are you real?" he asks, hesitantly reaching out to her.
She touches his hand. "Yes, Sehun. But do you want me to be real?"
He can only nod. She's been gone for two years. But she has returned, more stunning than ever.
Her smile, that was so bright, dims as it turns sad. "Have you moved on?"
He shakes his head. "No, Leia, I couldn't even I wanted to."
Sehun gets up and goes to the christmas tree, decorated with baubles and tinsel, and retrieves a small wrapped box.
Her eyes fill with tears, but she's laughing. "You got me a present?"
"Of courthe. There wath one every year for you even though you left. I regretted making you go," he whispers, handing her the gift.
She starts to open it, but he puts his hand over hers. "Not yet." She nods and puts it down.
He takes a deep breath and hands her the camellias. "Your favourite, Leia. I remember."
A single tear slips down her cheek. "Oh," is all she can say as she smells the flowers.
"They're lovely, Sehun."
He allows himself a small smile before asking her to unwrap the present but not open it. She does and gives him the box when she's done.
Sehun takes another deep breath and calms his shaking hands before descending on one knee, presenting her the opened velvet box, a ring glinting in the light.
She gasps, and all she can do is stare in shock. A ring. Was he?
He confirms it. "Will you marry me, Leia?"
She covers her mouth to silence her sobs. "Yes, yes, Sehun, yes," she manages tearily.
He takes her hand and slides the diamond-studded white gold band onto her slender finger. It fit perfectly.
Sehun is smiling now. There's light and colour in his world again. He leads her onto the balcony and together, they waltz slowly to the soft music.
He believes in miracles now.
His angel has returned to him, and he will never let her go again.
