The general mood has been tense over the past few months. Håvard hasn’t communicated with Rainbow, Nighthaven wasn't meddling in their business, and he wasn't going to break the long silence. But it was so crazy out there! Some mercenaries are literally waging war against them; their leader was killed not long ago (or maybe it was a long time ago�"Håvard is no longer sure. All the news about Rainbow makes him worry, and that feeling is unusual for him and therefore not pleasant). They killed their recruits in South Korea, shooting them right during training. That sounds scary. When the news reached Nighthaven, Håvard had an unsettling thought: "Does Nienke train the recruits?"
When their organizations collaborated, Nienke and Håvard worked together amazingly quickly. They were the perfect team. In training, they showed record levels of speed and productivity. Their gadgets were simply designed to work with each other. Did their successes mean anything?
But Nighthaven did not interfere. "Until the price exceeds the risks." He's heard it too many times already and doesn't ask anymore. Håvard doesn't want to�"and doesn't dare to�"contradict Jaimini. The last time he'd asked, she'd raised a suspicious eyebrow. He walks on thin, very thin ice.
Håvard hid behind his usual mask of self-confidence, waiting for news from Rainbow. Maybe their cooperation would resume someday soon.
Waiting had blurred the dates in his head, and Håvard hadn't even noticed how Christmas had crept up on him. He had the opportunity to go home, and he decided to take it. The trip would involve several flights, but it would be worth it. Håvard hadn't been with his family for a long time.
Airport by airport, Håvard seemed to have traveled halfway around the world. Every airport he visited was decorated with at least two Christmas trees: garlands, stars, paper snowflakes, tinsel. It wasn't annoying, but it was definitely overwhelming. The halls were crowded with people�"or rather, groups: families, couples, groups of friends. Håvard felt so… alone. In this crowd, he was like a ghost�"invisible and not needed. That's a disgusting thought! Håvard clicked his tongue and quickly checked the display board.
Håvard squeezed the strap of his bag until his fingers crunched. He had one last flight to make to Oslo. How could circumstances fail him? His eyes ran over the line. The delay is six hours. Håvard's going to explode.
"To hell with the airport," Håvard hissed as he headed for the exit.
The man was lucky to be stuck in London. It wasn't his favorite city, yet the place evoked distant memories. During his time with Rainbow, when Håvard happened to work in Hereford, he traveled to London and some other nearby cities more than once�"out of curiosity or boredom. During one such trip, by pure chance, Håvard crossed paths with Nienke. It was a silly coincidence, but how happy he was then (even though he didn't show it)! After that, they traveled to London together several times, chatting about everything that came to mind. Håvard once claimed that he always choses the perfect gifts and that no one was better than him at this matter. They decided to have a little friendly competition over it. But there was no reason for gifts, and neither Nienke nor Håvard managed to win the argument. They still had many similar unfinished competitions: Who's the best at shooting on the move? Who's the best at running? Who's the best at fixing vehicles? Who's the best at cooking? Håvard had to win arguments�"always�"but with Nienke… it wasn't important. He just wanted to spend time with her�"talking, having silly arguments or debates, discussing travel or scientific theories. At least at work. Just.. with her.
Håvard was already sick of these thoughts. All along the way, he (quite involuntarily�"that's for sure) imagined Nienke sitting next to him on the plane as they discussed what would be on the Christmas table (Håvard was sure that his dish would be the best; Nienke laughed and disagreed with him). She is confident in her skills. They sit in cafes at airports. When Nienke brings a cup of latte to her lips, she looks indescribably cute. Håvard doesn't hold back and comments on it. Surprised, Nienke's face blushes in embarrassment�"a wonderful contrast to her pale skin. Loneliness does not torment Håvard, and he knows that when they get to Oslo, he…
...he'll do what?
This is where the work of his imagination ends.
Håvard wanders aimlessly around London. Passersby look happy, and the man envies them. The cold air calms him down and gives him melancholic thoughts. Håvard hadn't planned it; his feet had brought him to familiar places where he and Nienke had walked in the past. His eyes scan the windows of small cafes and shops, and then he notices…
"This must be a mockery or a bad joke..."
There are snow globe, large and small, in the showcase�"Christmas characters, animals, and just little people. In one snow globe that stood to the side, there is a small cosmonaut. The surface he is standing on looks like the moon. He has a star in his hands, the same as at his feet. If you shake the snow globe, they will circle around with snowflakes.
Håvard shakes his head and walks away. He's not a teenager anymore; he can restrain himself. Or not…
The walk takes Håvard to a small square where the Christmas Market is located. Bright lights of garlands dance over the stalls, catching snowflakes. Håvard looks at the crowd�"happy, together with someone. The only singles are those who did not have time to buy a gift for a loved one for Christmas and now wander around the market, sorting through trinkets. Snowflakes land serenely on the tops of the swarming people. Håvard's gaze follows the snowflakes. From the sky to the people's hats. One, two, three. A snowflake lands on a bright red hat with Norwegian flag on the side. Håvard can't believe his eyes. Short, white hair sticks out from under the edges of the red hat. Håvard looks closely, waiting for the lady to turn around. And as soon as she does, Håvard, almost jumping up, dashes faster than lightning into a shop with snow globes. He leaves a large bill to the shopkeeper without even looking at the price of the globe and runs back, hoping to see her.
He is afraid of not finding her. Fortunately, her red hat is easy to spot. She is walking along an empty street by the park, and Håvard manages to catch up with her.
"Ni�""
She's turning around! He was not mistaken! Håvard runs as fast as he can. He is in such a hurry that the snow globe slips out of his hands and flies down. Both reflexively try to catch it, but unfortunately, it is too late: the globe touches the ground and cracks. Sighing, they get to their feet. Their gazes cross.
“Håvard Haugland... What are you doing here?” Her eyes are surprised and so beautiful. “No, really, how did you end up here?”
It is only because of their intertwined fingers that the snowball doesn't fall apart. Their palms get wet from the water escaping from the snow globe.
"Did you cut yourself?"
"I asked the question first," Nienke retorts.
“Well, my plane was delayed. I decided to take a walk," Håvard smiles. Nienke likes to see him like that (and who doesn't?), and she smiles too, blushing slightly.
“Oh, I see," she giggles. “Did you bring the snow globe with you from another country?”
“Oh, well... what about you?" Håvard quickly dodges the question.
There is a gift bag hanging on Nienke's wrist, water dripping from its corner.
“Oh, damn it!”
Unfortunately, the snow globe has to be sent to the trash. Håvard didn't want to break the touch so much…
Before throwing the lower part of the snowball into the trash bin, Nienke took out the cosmonaut figurine from it and puts it in her pocket, after which she takes out a cracked snow globe from the bag. When Håvard dropped his own, Nienke reacted too quickly, and the bag hanging on her wrist met the ground. Nienke awkwardly hands the ball to Håvard, carefully holding the crack.
"Here. Merry Christmas, Håvard."
There was a little alpinist in the snow globe who was on the top of the mountain. In his hand there was a star, which it seemed he took out of the sky. There were more similar stars at the bottom of the globe. If one shakes it, the stars spin along with the snowflakes.
“Apparently, we both lost.”
“Huh?”
"Our little competition about the gifts, remember?" Nienke said as she brought the ball toward the trash bin, releasing a crack. The water quickly ran out of the globe to the bottom of the bin. "It was the worst gift-giving in history, don't you think?"
“Well, why is that? It has its own romance!”Håvard could not believe Nienke remembered. Can this night possibly get better? It’s already has everything Håvard dreamed of.
They laughed. Håvard carefully took the broken snow globe from Nienke and extracted the alpinist figurine from it, quickly putting it in his pocket.
"Your fingers are icy cold," Nienke remarked. "How long was your plane delayed? Why don't we go get some coffee? There's a place nearby."
“I remember," Håvard interrupted. "We went there every time we came to London."
"Oh, right," Nienke giggled. "Then it's fate."
"Or a coincidence."
“You don’t believe in fate?”
“Do you?”
They walked slowly by the park, not holding back their loud voices and giggles.
“I can't say... No. I don't think I do," Nienke shrugged. "My mom often says that if you think about something a lot, it will definitely come true. Well, or it will appear in life."
"Oh, my grandmother told me something like that," Håvard nodded. "'If you persistently ask the universe, it will definitely answer.'" They laughed at his imitation. "I don't think it works... Wait, wait!" Håvard stopped abruptly. "Does that mean… you have been thinking about me a lot?"
Nienke stopped and blushed. Snowflakes slowly fell on her eyelashes, hiding and merging with them.
“Yes. And why would I not?” She smiled mysteriously. That sly fox!
Håvard laughed. He leaned forward and pulled her into his arms. Nienke, confused at first, fidgeted but quickly resigned herself and hugged Håvard in return. They both won the argument. It was the best Christmas present imaginable for both of them.
Fin.
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