Christmas came. With the shivering winds of winter, the blinking star on the pine tree, and the joyful chatting sounds. They are laughing and smiling to each other. To their neighbors, to their friends..... to their loved ones, to their family......

Not with him.

Fire. Screams and yells came from everywhere. The firefighters has arrived and were trying to stop the fire. He stood there, staring. The apartment where he once was living, now became a tower of smoke. There were people, crying, running, screaming for help. It was a chaos, and he was lost.

------

A Saturday evening. A weekend that people are suppose to be relax and hanging out. More important, it was Christmas. A joyful day that most people are happy in their own ways..... Most. He had to work part-time to increase his salary. Just that so special day, he was fired. His filthy boss had decided to kept and apply only "pretty sexy girls" to attract more dirty hands rich people. What a reasonable reason to kick him out. He wouldn't even care. After all, working for a person who only cares for his money worth nothing. And after all, he still have quite an enough cash to keep himself from starving for like a week later.

At last, he nearly have no one to hang-out with. "Might gonna have a cup of hot chocolate for this holiday and relax...."

He was just went back to his only stay, dropping himself on the bed. When suddenly the fire alarm rang, tear the silent of this apartment, and smokes came in. Instinctively, he grabbed his bag and dashed outside.

-----

He looked at what he had just took. There was nothing but his wallet and his nearly died phone. He didn't know what to do. Staring at this apartment won't solve anything. Simply, now he needs help. Family? Since the day his mom died, the 2 annoying brothers would cause more trouble. Coworker? They would see him as a professional waiter, always solve any problems, not someone who is homeless. Friends? He'd never admit he has friends.

He smiled bitterly. The only one who he could really depends on, was him.

Stars were not as much seen as summer. Very few, but, they were still blinking, at the night of the cold sky.

-----

Reaper looked at his phone. It was ringing, and along with a phone number. Very familiar, and it has the birthday of someone he knew for long. How long it has been since then.... 3 years? Right, they haven't talked to eachother 3 years ago. Thinking for 5 seconds, he told his friends , and press "Answer", didn't seemed to expect anything from the other side:

- Hey.

- My house is burning. - No grumbles. Only a calm. yet somehow cold voice said.

- What?? - He nearly jumped.

- Listen - The other voice said quickly - I don't have much time. I need to borrow you some money. My account number is-

Just then, a football player scored, and the whole bar yelled. Reaper couldn't heard what was the voice saying. He looked at his phone and the call is already disconnected. He tried to call back but his phone couldn't reach. He stood up, didn't even care what his friends were wondering why he left suddenly, and quickly head to the parker, drove his car away. Geno, his lover - no, now is his old lover, needs him.

-----

His phone was dead. Damn it. He didn't even finished his words.

- What am I gonna do... - He muttered to himself.

- Geno.

He startled as he heard the voice. He knew this familiar tone he used to heard 3 years ago. No one else, but Reaper.

He turned around in shock to saw Reaper in his black car. Still the black car he used to see, just older. Didn't know what to say, he faltered:

- Wh- Why are you here? And.... how did you found me?

- I asked where has the biggest fire right now. - Reaper joked

- Reaper, this is not funny - Geno said unpleasantly, looked away.

Reaper stared at his old lover. 3 years since then, Geno looked completely diferent. He wasn't raising his hackles at Reaper whenever Reaper did something bad he usually do, 3 years ago. There was only paleness, and tiredness showing in his eye-socket. His dirty white sweater was tattered. And his black pants seemed to bought not so long ago, cheap one. Only the crimson colour of his scarf still there, flying with the winds of winter.

Both stayed silent for a while, until Reaper decided:

- Go inside my car. I don't want you to stand here in this bunch of crazy people and coldness.

- It's warm at here. - Geno smiles, looking at the fire which now getting smaller.

- Soon it'll collapse and you'll end up homeless. And I can't let that happen. - Reaper retorted.

Surprised, he turned his head to face Reaper. So he cares about Geno more than he thought.... but why? He'd never acted like this before....

He has no choice.

- Let get this over with - Geno sighed, walked into Reaper's car.

-----

- Why'd you call me?

Reaper asked when Geno brought 2 plates of steaming-hot spaghetti. They were landed on the diner table, and Geno sat down.

- Do you think I could ask anyone else?

- Where's Ink?

- Moved away to another country with Error.

- Blue?

- I don't have his phone number.

- Your brother? Fresh?

- You know that answer, right?

- Yea, I know. - Reaper replied, started to ate his food.

This familiar taste. He realized. For 3 years, Geno still remember his taste. Still delicious as always. Making his mind filled with memories. 3 years.....

Geno was a nice, warm-heart person. Romantic, but also realistic. Reaper was romantic, but he was only a playful guy. He used his richness to have Geno as his lover, a kind angel, compared nothing to him. They used to have happy memories with each other, laughed together.... Only ended when Geno moved to his house.

The truth was revealed. Staying in his house, Geno was shocked found Reaper's real face, a selfish and, too lazy, depended on his richness went outside and living messily, including going to bars, parties, and hanging out days and nights. While Geno have to did what his responsibility was. The relationship was breaking more every single day. And the day when Geno found out Reaper was flirting a girl, was the end of everything.

Since then, regretting his mistakes he had made, Reaper changed. He economized his money, never been to bars and parties for useless, and change his habits. But, it didn't change what have been done. For Reaper didn't dared to face Geno..... until now, his old lover needed help, while Geno was the type never needed help from anyone. No one, but him.

---

After finished their meals, Geno couldn't understood why Reaper would go outside when the weather was cold as ice. He only could took some sips from his hot chocolate he had just made for him and Reaper, hearing the wind blew violently next to window, waiting. His mind was still trying to figuring out what was just happened this night. This special night. What was happened went so quickly that his mind didn't catch up enough. First, it's Christmas. Second, he got fired. Third, his home went in fire. Fourth, Reaper showed up as a different Reaper. Fifth, he's in Reaper's new house. Sixth, now Reaper's outside and doing some mysterious things. Quite a lot of things happened.

But, it doesn't matter. As long as he found a new apartment to stay, he would..... live in Reaper's house, for a short time. Only a short time. Yea. He thought so. Bad memories flooded into his mind, making his tears ran on his face, dropped on the floor. He badly wanted to erase it, to forgot everything that happened, that 3 years ago.

He wished that he had never met Reaper.....

His throat choked. With that thought just flashed in his mind. Tears ran down even more.

How could I think so?

No....

I.....

Am I still.... love him?

How ridiculous.... but.....

...

....I still love him....

- GENO!!!!!! WHAT'S WRONG?!!

His thought was cut short. Reaper, who was shivering, snows lied on his shoulder, dashed to him. Geno looked at Reaper's face. In surprise. And shocked. Reaper had never cares like this. He would only slowly walked to him and asked what's wrong. It's the same question, but not coldly like the wind, like he used to be. He's Reaper, but also not Reaper. Not the Reaper he used to know. No.....

He has changed.

- Of course.....

Reaper, gently, placed his hand on Geno's cheekbone. It's still cold. But somehow, in this winter, Geno didn't want it to leave. Just..... he won't let it leaves him...

- I'm sorry.

All words that Reaper could mananged to say.

So simple.

Yet. So meaningful.

Geno, for that second there, bursted into tears. Unable to stop at the moment. He wrapped his arms over Reaper's neck, crying over.

- W-what takes..... so long for.... y-you to...... say that?

- Regretful, sorrow and self-hatred.

Reaper said, calmly smiles at Geno.

It didn't matter anymore.

No.

From now on.

- Let me be with you... - Smiles warmly Geno.

-----

- Don't you think it's too late for a cake like this?

They both laughed happily, looking at the chocolate sticky cake now's quarter empty. Which still dropping on the plate.

Reaper stares at his old lover with dreamy eye-sockets, making Geno blushed and smiled. He then touching Geno's cheek, gently cuddling it as Geno rested his face on Reaper's hand, feeling the cold, yet makes Geno's heart so warm. Just then, the clock pointed at 12, and the fireworks began to blew and making beautiful lights. Reaper smiled at him and quietly said:

- Happy New Year, and welcome back, my little hope....

~~~

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR EVERYONE

YES I KNOW I'M GETTING LAZY AND I WAS PLANNING TO MAKE A LEMON

BUT SCREW IT

I'M TOO LAZY

I'M DEGRADING

SEND HELP

AND I KNOW

CHRISTMAS IS NOT 31/12

BUT

eh

whatever

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!!!!!!!