Interactable Music! ⁀➴

▶︎•၊၊||၊|။||||။၊|။• "ʙᴇ Qᴜɪᴇᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅʀɪᴠᴇ." ๋࣭ ⭑

Maika's Red December #4

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"Lets go have fun, yeah?"

A festive glow subsumed the amusement park beneath a blanket of crisp December air, festive spirit overflowing in every little corner. Garlands of colorful Christmas lights twirled around giant roller coasters, like strings of glittering web spun by an ardent spider. Lining every walkway were snow-kissed pine trees; each branch bore baubles, candy canes, and shining ornaments hung by invisible elves. Receiving guests with painted smiles at the gateways into every different portion of this winter wonderland were sentinels: giant nutcrackers.

The warmth of roasting chestnuts, cinnamon, and chocolate filled the air, wafting from the small, wooden booths lining the promenades. Vendors hawked hot cocoa in steaming mugs with whipped cream and marshmallows on top, bearing festive pictures of Santa Claus. Nearby, children pulled on their parents' hands, wanting to either meet the park's mascot costumed as a jovial Santa or climb aboard the Christmas train, a locomotive decked out in holly and twinkling lights that chugged slowly through a miniature winter village display.

The merry-go-round, painted in festive reds and greens for the season, spun around to the sound of soft holiday melodies, while the Ferris wheel glowed like a giant Christmas ornament against the deepening twilight. Right in the middle of the park stood this gargantuan Christmas tree, its top well above everything else around it. Its branches were dense with ornaments: glittering snowflakes, glass angels, and tiny reindeer figurines, while atop it proudly sat a shining golden star.

Still, with the air of chill around, the park was reverberating with laughter and a humming excitement. Couples strolled hand-in-hand under the mistletoe archways, their breath visible as soft clouds in the frosty air. Families were posing for pictures in front of giant snowmen or animatronic polar bears which waved slowly and wished all a merry Christmas. Above it all, holiday music drifted from unseen speakers, mingling with the sounds of the rides, the hum of conversations, and the occasional thrill-seeker's shriek of joy on the roller coasters.

Snow had started to fall lightly; the flakes caught the shine of the lights, imbuing the whole scene with magic. It felt as though one were walking through a Christmas card come alive, with just the right amount of holiday cheer thrown in for good measure and the mystique of a winter's night.

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Dear Diary,

It's today. I'm going with them to the Christmas festival. Just thinking about that makes my heart pound, so much that I hardly can write straight. To them, it's just not a date or anything—it's just going to this festival—but for me, I always say it could be the special night of my life. I wonder if they saw how my hands were shaking a little when they asked if I wanted to go. I tried to play it cool, but I think I might have stuttered a little. Ugh, so embarrassing! But they smiled, so maybe I didn't mess it up too badly.

It's the little things, like that, their smile, or their laughter, or even just them looking at me, which make everything so much brighter and warmer, like the world is aglow. I know this sounds silly, but they have become a big part of my life.

And yet somehow I don't have the courage to tell them how I feel. What if everything becomes undone? I prefer not to say anything at all and be at their side than risk losing them forever. Sometimes, with respect, I look at them out of the corner of my eye, wondering if they'll ever look at me in the same way that I gaze at them. Then I shake my head and shove the thoughts away. It's better this way, isn't it?

Anyway, I'm nervous. I spent an hour picking out my outfit, trying to find something that feels festive but not overdone. I even practiced smiling in the mirror so I wouldn't look too awkward. I hope they notice—no, I hope they don't notice. Does that make sense? Probably not. The snow's starting to fall, and I probably should get going soon. The festival is going to be beautiful, I just know it. Maybe tonight will be different. Maybe I'll finally have the courage to say something, or maybe I'll just enjoy being with them and keep my feelings to myself a little longer. Either way, I can't wait to see them.

Wish me luck, I'll need it..