12 DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS
PLOT
For five years Jaimei had an innocent crush on Herold, but this Christmas she plans on getting his heart. What she doesn’t know is that Herold already likes her, a year before she even met him. Herold goes to Jaimei's flower shop every year just to see her, but now he want Jaimei to see him the way he sees her. Both of them plans on getting the other fall in love with them before Christmas. But what if someone else captures the other person’s heart? Is it possible that they’ll never know the other person's feelings?
CHARACTERS
~*~
CHAPTER 1
JAIMEI’S POV7:45PM, December 12, 2010: A beautiful fireworks display startled me. I was on my way to my mom’s flower shop when I decided to stop by the gigantic Christmas tree on my way there. 12 days before Christmas, that warm fuzzy feeling inside me melted the icy weather this season brought. The colorful skies that lighted up the dark night magically lifted up my spirits. The Christmas tree besides me reminded me of him. Tonight I’ll be able to see him again, the 12th night before Christmas. I hurriedly ran when I saw my watch, 7:55PM, I should get to the shop before 8:00PM or else I might miss him. I ran while the fireworks continue to paint the skies, my heart beats faster every time I heard the booming sounds it made. Everything became music to my ears, the Christmas carols I heard from the children near by, even the chitchats from the ladies buying Christmas presents had their own rhythm. The holiday spirit was everywhere, but as selfish as it may sound, I was actually more excited to see him tonight.
“Jaimei, I’m glad you came back. Why don’t you arrange this young man’s flowers while I go shopping for a while?”I smiled at mom as I saw Herold looking lovingly beside our shop’s flowers. He goes here every year to buy bouquets, it’s been 5 years already, yet I still don’t know whom those flowers are for. But that didn’t matter, as long as I see him every year. I liked how he seems to love flowers; he himself looked like one to me. I walked across the room and took one of the roses to take out it’s thorns as mom waved bye and went outside.
“Ouch!”Herold looked at me for the first time since I went inside. Again I carelessly cut my index finger, blood started to flow like I’ve opened a faucet, it wouldn’t stop bleeding! Herold looked shocked and started to look pale. He didn’t move for a while, I didn’t even try to stop the blood from flowing. Looking at him distracts me too much that I actually forget about myself. He’s snow white skin, hazel eyes and flamboyant charm captured me. Every year he’s looks different, a different hairstyle and hair color, just like the different flowers I’ve prepared for him. I couldn’t take my eyes off him even for just a second. I want to see how he changed. This time his cooper brown hair complemented his eyes, medium-long, layered and with bangs short enough not to touch the rim of his geeky glasses. I wonder since when did he start wearing them. I was still in a trance when I felt my hands being touched and my finger stopped bleeding.
“Be careful next time.”He spoke to me for the first time this year, and I don’t know why but it felt like it was such a big deal. I tried to come back to earth while he was tying a piece of cloth on my finger. I shook my head and eventually realized that it was his handkerchief. I hurriedly slapped myself back to reality. He looked shocked, I smiled trying to make the situation look better but I knew it just made things worst. Now I look like I’m insane. I suddenly wished I should have picked doing Christmas shopping this year instead of looking after our shop.
“Don’t worry, the blood will stop flowing. I’m scared of blood too. I didn’t know you were just as scared. You looked completely shocked and didn’t even move an inch when blood started flowing from your fingers.”He worryingly said. I guess I made the right choice after all. I looked at him and thanked him then apologized for all the trouble I caused. He just shrugged things off and asked me to make Flower Hoop Bouquet using different kinds of flowers available. It took me a minute to finish it, it was the easiest request I had from him. I handed it to him, he smiled then tapped my hands. I cringed a bit. He grinned and asked me to return his handkerchief before Christmas. I shyly nodded as he left without a word. The bell rang as he closed the door, my heart beats along the bell. And even when the sound of the bell faded, my heart just keeps beating louder and louder. I tried to calm down. I felt uneasy as I looked around and saw the unfinished bouquet. I took a pair of scissors and trimmed the last thorn on the roses. I looked outside and saw his car completely disappear.
“See you tomorrow. Sir.”I murmured to myself, hoping he would still hear my words and my heartbeat.
~*~
HEROLD’S POVJaimei Lim, I’ve liked her since high school but I don’t think she remembers me. I often gaze at her from our classroom window while she and her friends eat lunch beside a big old tree. Her innocent smile and long black wavy hair reminded me of my sister in Greece. That fact alone made me curious about her and the more I tried to get to know her the more I like her. But I never had the guts to get closer to her. I was always looking at her from afar until one day my sister called from Greece and asked me to give her a bouquet when she comes back home for Christmas. I saw a flower shop near our school decided to buy there and to my surprise I saw Jaimei inside making bouquets of flowers. I then heard from my friends that her family owns that flower shop, she seems to love flowers too, just like my sister. Five years had passed and yet I still remember everything.
“Welcome back young master.”Mrs. Emerald greeted me with a smile as soon as I got out of the airport. I asked her to tell the driver to take me to the flower shop today. She smiled as if I didn’t need to tell them. I’ve been doing this for five years already, what’s new? I went inside the car, the cold air outside was intensified when I got inside. It made me long for Jaimei’s warm welcome and beautiful smile. I couldn’t hear a single thing inside the car, the busy streets and even the booming fireworks. But I could tell that it was jolly night, just the thought of Jaimei smiling tonight made me feel better. Although I hope she’s not late this year, I made it a point to get there at exactly 8:00PM, just in time for Jaimei’s shift. Although with such busy streets, I wonder if Jaimei lost herself and played for a while before coming there. I got there a few minutes before eight, the sound of the bell welcomed me. I looked around but Jaimei wasn’t anywhere in sight. I greeted her mom, she seems pleased to see one of her regular costumers again. I asked her if she can make me a Pomander Bouquet using red and white roses just to kill time. The bell rang twice, people went in and out. A few minutes had passed, I heard the bell rang again. Her mom started calling her asking her to finish making my Bouquet. I smiled to myself but tried my best not to show her. I was excited to see her but couldn’t look at her. I was able to gaze at her for a few seconds. Her long wavy hair was cut shorter, slightly below her shoulders. She looked cute and a little younger. Moments later her mom left leaving only the two of us left inside, my heart couldn’t control itself. She awkwardly trimmed the roses, the beat of my heart followed her trimming. She carefully trimmed the thorns. I was just about to break the ice when I saw her fingers bleed. My eyes widen, my mouth dropped. I was afraid of blood so I couldn’t help but turn pale. I saw her uneasy expression, was she afraid of blood too? I tried to have a little courage, I can’t let her candle-like fingers get injured like this. I took a deep breathe and looked for something to cover her wound. Inside my pocket I saw the handkerchief my sister gave me last Christmas. I guess she wouldn’t mind me letting someone else borrow it. I hurriedly tied it to her finger. She looked a bit confused with what’s happening. I looked at her wanting to comfort her.
“Be careful next time.”But that was all I could say. When I finished tying the piece of cloth on her finger, she just smiled at me, my cheeks flushed. I couldn’t look at her. I sincerely hoped she didn’t notice.
“Don’t worry, the blood will stop flowing. I’m scared of blood too. I didn’t know you were just as scared. You looked completely shocked and didn’t even move an inch when blood started flowing from your fingers.”I told her to clear the situation. Although it was embarrassing to just assume everything. Still she thanked me and even apologized. I told her she didn’t need to do that. It was my fault she got a cut. I saw the unfinished Pomander Bouquet, I felt the need to apologize to her but I was too shy to do that. I couldn’t pick the right words.
“Can you make a Flower Hoop Bouquet instead? Can you help me pick out the flowers?”I asked her, it’ll be easier to make that kind of bouquet especially with her current situation. I know that cut isn’t that deep but I just didn’t want to trouble her anymore. She immediately finished the bouquet. I looked at her finger, tapped her hands and told her to return the handkerchief before Christmas. I really wanted her to keep it, but I couldn’t say that. My sister would throw a fit if she finds out I gave away her present. I looked at her for moment, she didn’t even look back. I wanted to say good bye but I didn’t want to look like a fool. I left without a word and even outside I hoped I could hear her asking me to come back again, even as a customer.
I got inside the car, I was still thinking of her. Somehow I suddenly felt like she was still trimming the thorns in my heart. I smiled thinking that even if she doesn't ask me to come back, I guess I still will.
~*~
Poster coming soon. 
