Merry Christmas to everybody; not much to say. [Update; it is over but I still post it anyway.]
Part 2: https://realpaulaleah4everwrites05.blogspot.com/2019/12/christmas-writing-post-part-2-edited.html
Disclaimer: This is only a work of a fiction therefore there is no need to take it seriously as if this event actually happened in real life.
This is mainly a work of a fiction additionally this is all my own ideas.
Positive yet constructive criticism are allowed to be on here however all negative comments will consider to be 'reported' and 'blocked'.
Just when I woke up in the morning, I found there is something different in our apartment. Austin not only place a Christmas tree which is decorated with nautical decorations on the tree which does reminds us a lot of the beach on the white and blue decoration on the tree additionally I remember how we need to remember to celebrate Christmas for the very first time.
However my father is no person who may not celebrate Christmas however he did his best to enjoy it with me whenever I am back in Seattle.
Back in the East Coast at home? I don't feel like talking about it.
When it comes to Christmas in California; I am in--with my best friends on both guys and girls.
In Hawaii, way majorly so in and willing to just do it to celebrate Christmas with everybody.
I looked around, Austin has gone out to do his volleyball training; practice: workout and his morning swim of course.
This is the reason why he woken up so early.
As for me, I just slept in and only wake up just when he is gone however thankfully I got the apartment to myself thus I can make myself a cup of moon tea. (*Thank you Michelle for the Moon Tea Inspiration)
I worried if the water in the transparent electric kettle is becoming dirty however I decided to clean the water out of the electric kettle: then wash and clean the kettle along with the dishes we had used.
After that, I arranged the clean dishes in the dish dryer and take out a clean white mug with a slogan written in pink water colour galaxy on simple clean hand writing fonts which says 'Living without regrets' I bought from Target [All of the coffee mugs along with the fancy plates, cutleries; bowls and glasses are bought from Target], planning to pour in clean water into the electric kettle and boil the water.
While waiting for the water to boil, I truly love watching the blue light glow up on the electric kettle while I am sitting on the bar stool we bought from a furnishing store; now reading a book which Michelle bought for me on self-help ever since I am a huge reader.
When it is finished boiling, I got down to make the moon tea beverage by getting a box of Earl Grey Tea Bag from a lower cabinet on a tea bag; a bottle of honey and a bottle of coconut milk from the fridge to make the moon tea.
Firstly, I poured the hot water in the mug then I place the Earl Grey tea bag in the water until it has the right dilute; next step: I get a metal tea spoon to get the tea bag out of the mug when the beverage is properly diluted then I pour half of the coconut milk into the drink before using the same teaspoon to place a teaspoon of honey to the drink before stirring the drink.
After doing the moon tea beverage, I sit down at the island kitchen table while reading the new book Michelle got for me--I realise I need to get some short bread biscuits to go with the tea thus I remember how the girls pass me a box of it as a special present for us.
It turns out it is in another second cabinet where I had kept it hidden from Austin ever since I know both he and Rosey enjoyed it with a cup of hot coffee: and then they always finished the whole box plus this time I have kept it hidden.
Thankfully I found it and take the whole box so I can enjoy it with my moon tea.
(*Thankfully I wear a pair of flared track bottoms yet they are stretchy and comfortable as my PJ pants alongside an old oversized Templer's University Tee I got from Austin as he told me this is a hand-me-down from his sister Gabi.)
~
After my breakfast; I decided to sit down in the living room for a while to rest my full stomach: however there is something distinctive on the coffee table for me. Plus there is a note for me from Austin.
I read the note from him and it says here in a hand written font:
At first I look at the picture, my first reaction is shocked then I start giggling. This is one of the most embarrassing yet one of the cutest photo I have seen in my opinion.
“Agreed, definitely: thank you.”
‘Good morning, beautiful! Ever since it is going to be Christmas; I am going to give you the gifts earlier ever since I decided to get them earlier thus we can celebrate together very soon; our family are coming for Christmas! Sorry about leaving the apartment very early; got to go meet up with the team for morning meeting: then working out in the gym additionally training on improving plus practicing volleyball skills for the up and coming games ahead next year and after that; Brett is bringing me to the John C Argue Swim Stadium [You know this location is my usual place for me to practice] for my morning swim and then we are going down to the airport to pick up our families who are coming for Christmas then later, we’ll go altogether for a Christmas breakfast/ brunch with our families and friends.
P.S Thank you for the sweet gifts [Even though I don't want anything for Christmas anyway. Sorry, however our relationship is best Christmas and birthday gift ever.] you give it to me even though you had to blow your budget by making me happy but I don't think it is important because to me, you are the most important gift to me ever since I know you had to wade through rough waters at times from your past all the way until now, I will always love you; my sweetheart.
Merry Christmas; my beautiful girl.
“Life isn't about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.” ~George Bernard Shaw
‘A smooth, fun sized swells never make skilled surfers.’
~Austin Matautia’
I read it a few times then I nodded with a smile; I felt like Austin is just really sweet for leaving a hand written note today additionally I open my laptop to check my emails. I very seldom check my emails since most of my emails are from subscriptions of companies however today there are emails from my friends who did sent me ‘Merry Christmas’ emails and even one from Austin which says ‘No subject’.
The first email I open is from Dorla which she sends me her Christmas celebration with her family back in New Orleans while her mom who may be battling breast cancer for years however she managed to keep fighting for her life to keep living as her aunt Sophia who used to be in New Orleans then she moved to Illinois long after Hurricane Katrina—she [Sophia] decided to go to her hometown to help with the cooking and they have such a buffet which can pretty much feeds about more than one people.
Thankfully they helped the homeless people by donating the leftovers and old items additionally they volunteered at a homeless shelter every year.
Next is Ava who is now in San Diego; just a couple of miles down from Santa Monica where we are living plus our apartment is located in spend her Christmas with her family in Santa Monica for a couple of days additionally they did fly to Oregon to visit their relatives to do switch the weather from Christmas in July to Christmas in Winter plus they spend so much time playing in the snow, making a cup of hot chocolate indoors then they also went ice-skating which I heard from Michelle as well except it is in a different location.
After that, I read the email from Michelle who spends her time with her friends on spending time with her family and friends additionally growing her company additionally I am happy her company is an independent company as she told me she reunite with her father who now have his kids as her half siblings which surprise me however I remember Michelle does have a father whom I very seldom known however Michelle promise me to meet him very soon.
Thankfully she told me ‘Maybe in the future but you’ll see! I’ll let you know, I promise.’
I send her a ‘Thank you’ email to her before reading Promise's email which it is the same however she did spend time with Michelle as a sister-in-law [Yes, she is married to Michelle’s older brother Steve] alongside Michelle’s family and friends—the two of them have Christmas preparations and they are planning to celebrate Christmas together with the new Em Cosmetics Team together; I am so happy she managed to send me pictures alongside Michelle.
After opening a few more emails from others including Mathieu on how he spent his Christmas with his family, I open the ‘No subject’ email from Austin, I doubt the email is just another spam email—however it turns out the email is a picture of Austin looking like he is taking a selfie however I doubt it because we are still in the dumb phone generation on clamshell flip phones, slide phones and even regular phones we still have from those like Sony Ericsson; Nokia and so on and so forth.
[Author’s note: Actually the generation I am writing is set in the generation of just when we still have dumb phones, how the internet wasn't too much about the dramas; the gossips: scripted reality Tv shows: social media dramas on data breaching, political dramas and so on and so forth. I’d think it might be more in the 2000s for your information.]
It turns out it is a photo of Austin who is looking like he is taking a selfie with a T707 phone [Actually in this story, I have a blue one matching with Austin’s matching flip phone]; he is out of the swimming pool and now sitting on the platform where people use to dive into the pool in the competition—his adorable curly hair is now wet additionally he is still wearing his Nike Goggles over his eyes; his outstretched arm is holding the phone while he is smiling for the {Phone} camera.
However the picture quality is so blurry which is hard for me to look at the photo clearly except if this is taken with an actual digital camera then it would be clearer however when taking the photo with Polaroid camera; it wasn't easy to do it ever since you need a mirror for this kind of photo additionally Polaroid Camera have a viewfinder which makes it a lot tricky to take a photo like that however with the extra hand on helping with the photograph like this—then you'll have luck on your side.
At first I look at the picture, my first reaction is shocked then I start giggling. This is one of the most embarrassing yet one of the cutest photo I have seen in my opinion.
I send him a message on my T707: saying “Boy, you sure tried to cheer me up! Plus I’d think this is the craziest photo I've ever seen in my life.”
He replied back to me, saying: “Oh my goodness; girl! You are such a person who are looking for something unexpected in life!”
I read it a few times then I laughed, oh boy—if this isn't for Austin then I’ll have a very different story in my life.
I replied back: “Austin, you are so lucky!!!”
A few minutes later, he replied to me: “Paula; have you called your dad yet to come down here for Christmas?”
I replied back: “Oh no! I haven’t contact him yet; Austin. Do you want me to contact him?”
He replied “Maybe you can contact him on whether he is coming for Christmas?”
I replied back after a few times coming up with a proper reply on agreeing with his question as an answer:
“Agreed, definitely: thank you.”
I have to thank Austin for letting me know to contact my dad ever since it is going to be Christmas up ahead.
~
As I contact my dad on phone call from the telephone line; he picks up and ask “Hello?”
“Dad, are you coming to California for Christmas?”
“Ah, are you sure you want me to celebrate it?”
“Definitely, everybody is going to California to celebrate altogether as friends and Christmas.”
“I’ll have to check the calendar first, sweetie.”
“Oh . . .”
“But . . . I’ll be coming on the day before Christmas day; my dear.”
“Thank you, dad.”
“Anything for you, my dear because you are my lovely daughter: right?”
“Right. I’ll see you on Christmas Eve?”
“Definitely, my dearest beautiful daughter.”
“Bye dad.”
“Bye my dear.”
After calling my dad, I decided to call Austin on the telephone as well: it takes him two rings before picking up my call on the telephone.
Calling on the telephone to him [Austin] felt different from calling him on the flip phone because firstly when I am calling him on the flip phone then I felt both comfortable and confident however calling him from a cord telephone then it did felt very different.
“Hello?”
“Hey Austin? It’s Paula and I managed to call my dad.”
“Oh, is he coming to our friends and family Christmas time in California?”
“Yes, he is coming; just one day before Christmas Eve.”
I don't know what is Austin's reaction . . . I might think he give a big shout of a happy whooping cheer at first however thankfully his next reaction feels different.
“Yay—I mean I . . . I’m happy to hear this from you; congratulations: girl!”
I laughed then replied “Thank you; Austin: I’ll see you when you are coming home?”
“Definitely, I am now on the way home: girl.”
I smiled and replied “I’ll see you at home?”
“Yep, see you!” Then he blows me a kiss on his end of the phone to my end of the phone.
I blow a kiss additionally added “Bye, Austin.”
“Goodbye beautiful.” He replied playfully then I laughed even much more harder before placing the phone down.
