It was Christmas Eve, and snow was falling like powdered sugar over the town. Twinkling lights lit up the streets, but your heart felt a little dimmer than usual. Everyone was out with someone—lovers, families, friends. And you? You were curled up on your porch steps, bundled in a hoodie while your parents were out on business trips as usual. They promised that this December was the day for them to have a family Christmas eve, but something 'came up'.

You weren’t expecting anything.

So when Raymond showed up with a pink pastry box tied in red ribbon, cheeks flushed from the cold, you blinked in surprise. "Why the long face?You’re not supposed to be out here, you know.” he said softly, grinning as he sat beside you. “And I’m definitely not supposed to be doing this.”

Before you could even respond in confusion, he opened the box, revealing four perfectly decorated Christmas cupcakes—green frosting trees, tiny snowflakes, and little sugar stars. Your jaw dropped.

He laughed, brushing snow off his eyelashes. “You looked sad yesterday, and I wanted to see you smile more than I wanted to keep my job.”

Your heart did a full somersault.

You looked at him, eyes wide. “You’re literally a criminal.”

He leaned in closer with that soft bakery-boy smirk. “Then arrest me—with a hug, preferably.”