"*Huff Huff Huff*....He isn't getting up." Kate thought as he sat beside Brandon after giving the CPR.
It was getting darker and as the sun was setting, the entire snow covered forest lit golden and orange in color.
The frozen lake reflected the infinite and silence spread throughout the forest.
Kate continued with the CPR and rubbed Brandon's hands and feet to keep him warm.
He removed his gloves and wrapped them around Brandon's hands to keep him warm.
'NOTHING IS WORKING! I CAN'T GET HIS HEART BEATING.' Kate thought.
'Wait...I still haven't tried one thing yet!...'
Then, he pushed Brandon's chest upward towards his neck while pressing his abdomen.
'I remember they taught this to us in a workshop.' Kate thought as he continued.
Finally came an instant, when Brandon suddenly took a deep, forceful breath as his chest puffed out. He inhaled the air but breathing now seemed painful for him. He was breathing, however, he was still uncomfortable and unconscious.
"OMG! YES YES YES!! IT WORKED!!"
Kate said and started rubbing Brandon's feet. Soon Brandon was breathing normally and seemed at peace. His heart was beating normally too.
Kate picked up Brandon on his back and started walking towards the unknown.
The fog had reappeared and the wind grew colder. So cold that it could pass through your bones.
Kate walked and walked without any sense of direction.
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"Tomorrow is Christmas eve, huh?" Zalia said as she looked at the setting sun.
"This year has ended so awkwardly." Louise said.
..........
.
"Louise, did you find Harry and the others?" Zalia said.
"It's getting foggy, I can't look for them anymore. Maybe they went back home?" Louise said.
"AS IF! NOW I'M WORRIED. IT'S GETTING DARK AND THIS FOREST IS HUGE AND DANGEROUS! WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM?!!" Zalia said.
".....But it's too dark and cold." Louise said.
"Take this torch! Let's go!" Zalia said and marched towards the forest as Louise followed her.
The evening grew darker and night drove in.
On their way, Zalia and Louise met Jaden and Harry. They told them about what had happened with Brandon and Kate.
All of them started searching for Brandon and Kate together.
Louise found a way down the cliff, but now there wasn't any trace of Kate and Brandon there.
"Damn! They must have gone somewhere." Louise said.
"Thank god! It means they are still alive." Harry said as he joined his hands.
"We must find them." Jaden said.
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Kate walked through the thick snow. His feet were out of strength but still he was walking with Brandon on his back.
"I'm hungry....I can't.... walk anymore. I want to stop…
I guess we're lost....." Kate said and fell down.
He lay on the snow and covered Brandon with his coat "Just wait a moment.... We'll be there soon." He said.
As Kate said this, small pieces of snow landed on his pale face.
He looked up and said....
"Oh no! It's snowing..."
He quickly picked up Brandon and started walking again. Soon he was surrounded by a blizzard.
He couldn't walk properly anymore. He stood on his knees.
He had lost all hope until he saw an old cottage.
He somehow reached the cottage and opened the door.
It was an old and weary cottage which was maybe built years ago for travellers to stay. It had no furniture. It just had a wooden floor with a mantlepiece present inside the living room with some logs beside it.
"...We're saved…Brandon." Kate said as he looked at Brandon who was still unconscious.
Kate looked around the kitchen and found an old box of matchsticks.
He lit a fire and sat near it to warm himself.
"I think, I should get some more logs to last throughout the night." Kate said as he got up.
Brandon was lying near the fire. Kate looked at him then went outside the cottage to collect some twigs and wood.
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"Jaden, what are we gonna do now?" Harry said as he looked outside the window of his house.
Since it had started snowing heavily and their car was roofless, Louise decided to drive back home.
"WHAT ARE WE DOING? THEY NEED US!" Harry said.
"Harry, don't be foolish, you cannot find them in this weather." Louise said.
"BUT-"
"Harry....you have seen worse" Louise said as he patted Harry's head. "It's alright, I'm sure they are fine. You are my strong little brother, aren't you… Harry...."
".…Yes." Harry said.
Jaden smiled and looked at Zalia.
Zalia smiled back.
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Kate opened the door and quickly ran inside the cottage. His head was covered with a pile of snow.
As he looked at the mantlepiece, his eyes widened from shock.
Brandon sat near the fire while rubbing his hands. He turned towards Kate and said "Oh...Katty-"
Kate dropped all the wood logs and ran towards Brandon.
He embraced him with his cold fingers into his cold arms.
"Kate-"
"I'M SO GLAD!! YOU'RE ALIVE!!" Kate said.
"Err...Well, was I supposed to die?" Brandon said.
"NO! YOU'RE NEVER GONNA DIE!!!" Kate said as he hugged him tighter.
"OW OW KATE! WAIT!!!" Brandon said.
"W- What happened?" Kate said as he moved away from Brandon.
"I think I hit my head somewhere….I have a bump on it."
Kate touched Brandon's head and smiled, "You're right! Ha ha, what is this? Such a weird shape!"
A perfect dimple appeared on Kate's left cheek as he gave a smile.
Brandon blushed and pressed his finger on Kate's dimple.
"Huh?" Kate said as he looked at Brandon.
"...You smiled at me....for the first time, you smiled."
"Well....that's not such a big deal." Kate said as he averted his eyes.
"No... " Brandon said as he moved his hands from Kate's cheeks to his ears and his hair.
"It is a big deal...at least for me. That dimple is so illegal, you're not allowed to show that to anyone otherwise you'll be guilty as charged." Brandon said.
"Guilty...of what?" Kate said.
"Of being too sexy." Brandon said as he brought his face closer to Kate's.
Kate blushed as he looked into Brandon's crimson eyes.
"Say Kate...Were you worried about me?" Brandon said.
"Un...I..…Yes, I was....Is it so wrong??!!" Kate said.
"I never said it's wrong. Why are you so nervous? Are you...expecting something?" Brandon said as he intensely stared into Kate's eyes.
"....Y-Yes, I.... am" Kate said as his face turned red.
Brandon brushed his fingers across Kate's hair, closed his eyes and gently kissed him, on his lips.
'HUH?....KISS?.....' Kate thought.
BUT, I'M NOT DISGUSTED...
IF ANYTHING.....'
Kate closed his eyes and wrapped his hands around Brandon's neck.
Brandon opened his eyes suddenly and turned red.
Then, he slowly wrapped his hands around Kate's waist as he pulled Kate towards himself until Kate was sitting on his lap.
Finally when they moved away. Kate covered his lips and said "My...F- First kiss...."
"Huh?" Brandon said as he looked at Kate. His face turned bright red. He tightly hugged Kate, and pressed his face on Kate's chest, trying his best to hide his face...
"Not just kiss....Kate, I want to be your first everything."
"That is...." Kate said as he covered his face and Brandon snuggled inside his jacket and hugged Kate tighter.
"What are you doing?" Kate said.
"Kate....Don't you ever let anyone else...make you have these feelings." Brandon said.
"What are you saying?-"
"I love you...is all that I'm saying." Brandon said.
"Well...that's…."
'YES! I CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT!!!'
"Un...I....I like....Y-Y-SANTA CLAUS!!!!..." Kate said as he clenched his eyes.
"......."
"......."
"Ha ha... thank you, Santa. This is... the best birthday gift and Christmas present ever!!" Brandon said.
"HEY, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN??!! ARE YOU TREATING ME LIKE A GIFT?!!"
Brandon started laughing loudly.
"I'LL KILL YOU!! DIE AGAIN, YOU ASS!!!!-"
"Let's sleep." Brandon said.
"Yes." Kate said and turned towards a mat.
"…That's all? We'll freeze to death!" Kate said.
"We won't." Brandon said.
"What-"
"We'll be warm tonight"
-To be continued