A Cup Is Better Than Socks

The following weeks were difficult for Hikaru; indeed, his superior took advantage of his position and forced him to work overtime. He returned home devastated and often found Hortensja already asleep. He would then warm up the meal and eat it alone, convincing himself that he would make it up to her. Besides, he had already planned a surprise, but with each passing day he became more and more stressed about whether he would manage to carry it out. He didn't even have time to look around properly for a Christmas present.

Hortensja endured the situation bravely. For the time being, the explanation that it was the end of the year that brought so much work was enough. However, the Japanese saw that this situation was increasingly saddening her and suspected that it was only a matter of time before frustration set in. He gave her false hope, because his superior didn't look like he was going to let him off the hook after the New Year. He wondered if he had ever done anything to him and if it was a form of revenge, or if he was just exceptionally unlucky and had to wait a long time for someone new to appear in the work. Hikaru was glad that Tadao often came, because at least the girl didn't feel so lonely, and she unofficially got money from him for being his assistant. He kept forgetting to ask Akira if it couldn't turn into a regular job. Hortensja also went back to spending hours at the restaurant and was applying herself even more zealously to learning Japanese. So, he wasn't surprised that she didn't have the strength to wait for him, even though she wanted to.

The girl finished making a scarf for Hikaru, but she had quite a bit of fabric left, so she started making another one, which she decided to give to old Akiyama. However, she didn't have an idea for a gift for Matsuo until the last moment. She looked around the shops, and somewhere there she saw a mug with a picture of some grumpy creature. She decided that as a symbolic peace offer it would be enough. The Pole also bought some sweets, which she intended to give to the hotel employees along with her wishes. At least she didn't have to hide when wrapping presents. She could calmly spread out on the floor until everything was perfectly wrapped.

On Christmas Eve, she decorated the apartment, without going crazy because she didn't know if Hikaru liked staying in such overwhelming spaces. She also found a small Christmas tree and put it in the corner on a chair. She didn't need a million lights or participation in a competition for the most decorations and the tallest tree. Hortensja felt the holiday atmosphere because she had someone to spend this special time with. She was only surprised that Hikaru asked her not to make anything for food, wanting to take over at least a small part of the duties, which she had no intention of interfering with in any way. Since this would be the most time-consuming part of the day, she quickly ran out of things to do. Late in the afternoon, she had already put on an elegant dress, put a present under the Christmas tree, and was bored. She suspected that her beloved would not come back from work early that day either.

Hikaru's plan was to get rid of Hortensja from the house for at least a few dozen minutes. He was trying to figure out how to arrange it, when he received a message from the girl that she would quickly pop out to a restaurant with presents and wishes. He breathed a sigh of relief that he didn't even have to try. So, he did some quick shopping with the list he had prepared so diligently, and after making sure that the girl was not in the apartment, he quickly started cooking.

Meanwhile, after a successful visit to the hotel, where she met her favorite bodyguard, the Pole had just entered the restaurant. Old Akiyama was moved when he saw his gift and proudly presented it to his son. Matsuo was surprised that she had something for him as well and opened his gift with some reserve.

“Seriously?”

“You don't like me.” Hortensja shrugged and pointed to the picture on the mug. “I'm just saying that it looks like you. Why should I try harder?”

“Fair enough,” Matsuo admitted after a while.

“If something changes by next year, you'll get something really from the bottom of my heart.”

“Yeah, I can't wait,” he rolled his eyes and told her to go home.

Matsuo's father, of course, wanted to keep her longer, but his son asked him not to. He had talked to a friend earlier and knew that he was preparing a surprise for her, so he asked him to let him know when the girl left their place. Hikaru was happy when he saw how hard she tried to decorate the house, but he didn't have time to admire her efforts. He counted everything he had put on the table again and was relieved to find that the numbers matched. She had just returned and almost threw herself at him when she saw him.

“I was sure you'd be back late today too,” she announced, and only then did she see the table set.

“I didn't manage to prepare a proper dinner for you, but I read a lot and put at least twelve things on the table. I also didn't find that strange white thing, which is supposedly the most important.” He saw her eyes glaze over. “I wanted you to have a bit of your home here.”

“Thank you.” Hortensja's voice was already shaking with emotion. “And we'll deal without the wafer. We can improvise and share bread, for example.”

She explained to him what it was supposed to be, and they exchanged wishes, tearing off a piece of bread from the ones they were holding in their hands. They both put their love, faith in each other, and hope for a future together into these words. Hortensja was grateful for everything, even if Hikaru only kept the symbolism, but no meal since their arrival had tasted as good as this one pretending to be Christmas Eve dinner, eaten with chopsticks but by the Christmas tree. The Japanese guy then remembered the Christmas carols, but the girl asked him not to bother.

Sitting alone at home, she had already listened to everything she could to get into the Christmas spirit. She couldn't wait to give him the gift and watched his reaction carefully. Hikaru immediately tried on the scarf and promised that he wouldn't lose it for anything in the world. He appreciated how much work she had put into it. She didn't expect anything herself, so she almost missed the really tiny box under the Christmas tree. She grabbed it and turned it over in her hands for a moment, making sure that it was definitely for her. The girl felt her beloved's gaze on her as she opened the box with the gold necklace with the pendant in the shape of the letter H.

“Both of our names start like that,” Hikaru explained his choice, blushing. After all, he had never had the opportunity to give any girl jewelry. Hortensja turned her back to him and exposed her neck so that the man could hang the ornament on it. He did so with trembling hands. She waited patiently and turned to him with a smile. “I haven't told you yet, but you look beautiful today.”

“Thank you for everything.” She snuggled up to him. “I want to talk to you about something else.”

“What's the matter?” Hikaru moved away so he could watch her, she didn't look nervous, but he still held her hands.

“Can you help me figure out what she would have to do after the new year to be able to stay here permanently?”

“Are you really planning on it?” he asked, surprised but happy at the same time.

“Of course,” she beamed. “I love you, Hikaru.”

The Japanese needed a few seconds, so her confession got through to him, and he first kissed her and only then realized that he should respond, although his behavior clearly indicated that he felt the same.

“I love you too, Horteni,” he whispered tenderly, looking deeply into her eyes.

She smiled so beautifully, as if only for him, and pulled him closer, asking with kisses if they could allow themselves to go a few steps further that night.