The next few days passed, but nothing felt the same.
Maria tried to act normal, but her silence said otherwise.
She stayed in touch with a few people, like Ivan, but her conversations were short and distant. She barely spoke to Jasmin after that day.
As the days went by, the nights grew colder. Christmas was near—only a few days away.
Ivan's dad was getting better, tho he was still unable to walk but he could speak now. Seeing which Ivan was so happy.
"Dad's condition is much better now… he can talk too."
He let out a quiet breath.
"And the money is almost ready. Just a few more days… I'll clear everything."
Soon after finishing his line, his phone starts ringing
" Who's calling now! " He picks up his phone and it was the man from whom Ivan took the money.
" Hello sir, I will return your money in a few days, i mean on Christmas Eve i w-"
Before he even finishes
" No need!"
" Huh ? Sir I have the money, I can clear it"
" I said, no need "
Ends the call
"What‽ All the sudden he doesn't want money? That's so weird"
Ivan didn't see this coming, Ivan froze, staring at his phone. he kept thinking why he said that but there was no clear conclusion for that.
" Anyways, if he doesn't want then fine, but still I won't spend these money in all sudden, may be he can ask anytime and then I need this money, so i gotta use them carefully"
Tho he asked to not to return the money, but still just to be cautious, Ivan didn't would save that money.
A few hours later, Ivan met Maria at a quiet park.
She was already there.
She was alone, sitting on the bench... Staring at the blue sky.. Then someone sits beside her and says
She sat alone on a bench, staring at the sky.
Someone sat beside her.
"Strange, isn't it?"
"The moon… even in daylight. Hmm isn't the moon beautiful?
" Well .. it is beautiful "
The moment Ivan turns his face towards maria..
She kisses him
The moment Ivan turned toward her—
she leaned in and kissed him.
Ivan froze for a second, surprised.
When she pulled back, a small smile formed on her face.
Ivan froze, his heart pounding.
For a moment, everything else faded—
it felt like the happiest he had ever been.
"My first kiss… it felt really special," Maria said quietly.
"My first kiss… it felt really special," Maria said quietly.
"Y-yeah… you're right," Ivan said, still flustered.
She laughed.
"Hey, don't laugh… it's not funny."
"Okay, okay, I'll stop… but that was really funny," she said, trying not to laugh.
"Say it like that again."
She couldn't hold it in and laughed again.
"Can I ask you something?"
"You're already asking," she said with a small smile. "Go on."
Ivan hesitated for a moment.
"Let's go on a date tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?"
"Yeah… it's Christmas Eve."
She looked at him for a second… then smiled.
"Alright."
The next evening, the city felt brighter than usual.
Lights hung across the streets, and the cold air carried a quiet warmth.
Ivan met Maria near the park entrance.
"You're on time,"
she smiled.
"For you? Always."
They walked side by side, stopping at a small café. Ivan ordered for both of them and paid before she could say anything.
"You didn't have to," she said.
"I wanted to."
They sat together, talking, laughing softly.
For a moment, everything felt simple—like nothing else in the world mattered.
As they stepped out, the cold air brushed past them.
Maria slowed down a little.
"Hey… um… can we go somewhere else?"
Ivan looked at her. "Where?"
She hesitated, avoiding his eyes for a second.
"…The beach."
"The beach?" he repeated, slightly surprised.
"Yeah… I mean, it's Christmas. Everyone's probably busy celebrating… so it'll be quiet there."
She paused, then added softly,
"…I just want to spend some time with you. Alone."
Ivan smiled a little.
"Alright… let's go."
They walked side by side, as the night grew darker with every step.
"Hey, Maria… I wish we could just keep walking like this.
We don't even need to talk… somehow, the silence brings us closer."
She smirked
" That's true tho "
Then they stood by the bridge, the night calm around them.
Maria was looking ahead, lost in thought.
Ivan watched her for a moment.
Then, quietly—
he stepped closer and kissed her.
"Tomorrow… it's Christmas," Ivan said softly.
"I'll take you to the beach. It'll be fun."
His voice was steady—
but his eyes weren't.
"Oh my God, I'm so excited!" Maria smiled.
Then she paused.
"Wait… why are you crying?"
She gently wiped his tears and pulled him into a tight hug.
From a distance, a boy stood beside his bicycle, watching them.
From a distance, a boy stood beside his bicycle, watching them.
…and smiled softly, though something in his eyes lingered..