The view of the falling snow from the 20th floor was amazing. It’s my first time seeing snow so I was excited to play tomorrow. But…

“I need to focus! It must be perfect so Li will praise me!”

I raised my sharpened knife and plunged it deep into the flesh and with a skilled slice, I perfectly cut thin slices of ham. Then in a hot frying pan, I placed the thinly sliced ham and sprinkled it with sugar.

“It’s cheap ham so it’s good for this!”

After caramelizing half of the ham, I took out the roasted chicken I placed in the oven earlier. Dressed with well with garnish and placed it in the middle of the table. Beside, a smorgasbord of different kinds of vegetables.

“Crap! I forgot to buy cheese!”

It was supposed to be our family’s traditional Christmas dinner! How could I forget?! It’s our first Christmas dinner together after 10 years so I hoped that I could make it perfect.

Oh well, as long as Li brings cake.

After setting up the table, I set up to make hot cocoa in the stove. When she arrives, I’ll light up the stove and by then, it’ll be almost done!

With this, even without cheese, it’s perfect!

Then Li’s typical knocking sound can be heard from the front door so I turned on the stove and left for the door.

“Coming!”

I tossed the apron on the kitchen counter and excitedly opened the door. In front of me was a cold Li, a white box of what seemed to be a whole cake and 2 kids. No, twins.

I was petrified for a good couple of minutes at the sight of the twins. Who are they? No, I mean, why are they—?

“Hey. We’re cold.”

As cold as her words sounded, she lightly poked my forehead with her cold hands. The twins held on tightly on her clothes with a synchronized shiver.

“Ah, right. Shit! I have hot cocoa on the stove!”

I ran leaving the current problem behind. I mean, my cocoa is more important. Yes, it’s important!

“Wow! Chicken!”

The two synchronized voices of the twins resound loudly in the dining room. We were in a small apartment so their voices can be heard anywhere inside. I took a peak from the kitchen and saw the two then happily smiling at the dining table.

I turned off the heat from the stove and pour the hot cocoa on mugs and delivered them on a tray.

“Li, who are they?”

My words sounded annoyed but I wasn’t really, well a little bit. I mean, I expected Mary but not twins, and kids at that.

“Hmmm… your Christmas present?”

She tilted her head and answered with a question.

Tell me, dear sister, why are you unsure?

It was typical of her but I still can’t get used to it after so many months of finally being together again. I know I can’t complain because I forced my way to be with her, but…

“They aren’t your kids right? You can’t say that you had a kid when you were 8 or something?!”

“Oh.”

What do you mean ‘Oh.’?! So you really plan to claim them as yours?!

She answered with a disappointed face, like I’ve seen through her plans before she could execute it.

“Then, siblings. Merry Christmas Lu!”

She smiled sweetly. The sweet smile she rarely shows the one that says she’s really happy. That’s unfair Li, I can’t say no when you smile like that!

“Hey, hey! You’ll be our big bro right? I’m Aiden!”

“Yeah, our big brother! I’m Nadia!”

The twins smiled sweetly. That sweet trinity of smiles was the final blow. I can’t say no anymore.

“Y-yes. N-nice to meet you! My name’s Lucas and we’ll be siblings from today onwards! Merry Christmas!”

“Merry Christmas!”

The three answered happily and we started to eat the dinner I worked hard at. I guess, I’ll just leave it to the future Lucas to solve the problems for this one.

We ate dinner heartily and cleaned up together. As forced as this siblings thing may sound, I guess Li and I were just looking to build back the family we lost.

“Li, what about Mary?”

“She said she has an appointment, so she can’t come.”

Mary was our acting mother for Li’s cover and our guardian but, she can never be family. She’s too distant, but I guess she does her job well as our guardian.

“Lu, here. Cake.”

She handed over the white box she brought earlier and a beautiful cake with chocolate shavings and cherries on top, dusted with powdered sugar was inside. It was a black forest cake, my favorite!

“Wow! Thanks Li! You still remember my favorite cake!”

I giggled and happily and sliced the cake in equal sizes and served them. I love black forest because of the cherries cooked in alcohol and the combination of the chocolate sponge and fresh cream. It painfully reminds of of home.

“Lu…”

Suddenly, tears fell from my eyes. The memory of that night, Li’s wounds and the streets we lived together for a short time was painful. It was so painful that I hated Li for leaving me.

“I’m sorry Li. I didn’t mean to say those things to you. I’m sorry…”

She stood and patted my head, softly and gently. Soon, two more hands were patting me in the back. My sobs filled the room and tears fell down even more, then two more sobs followed suit and that sobbing chorus became our Christmas carol.