Season for choices: Bound by duty, Freed by love

"Seriously, Mira. You told me to come to your house urgently, and you're nowhere to be found." Audrey said to her caller over the phone. She went to her friend's house when she was called urgently, but her friend was nowhere to be found. She had to leave to have coffee in a cafe close to the house. "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't know you'd come so early. I'll be home soon." She heard Mira say, but she couldn't wait any longer. She had important work she had to finish so she could have time for her boyfriend's birthday coming up in two days. "I can't wait again. I'll come tomorrow. We need to plan Dylan's surprise birthday." She said before hanging up. She was pissed she came for nothing. She took her hot coffee, stood up, and turned around to leave, but mistakenly bumped into someone and splashed hot coffee. "Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry." She exclaimed. She quickly took some wipes and used them to clean the stains, but she only made it worse. She noticed a part of his hand where the coffee splashed on had become red. She heard the cool voice that sent shivers down her spine, saying, "It's fine." She looked up to see a dark-haired, handsome guy with hazel eyes staring at her. He was wearing a sweatshirt and joggers. She was so lost in his captivated eyes she didn't realise she had been gawking at him for a long time. She only came back to reality when she saw him leave her sight to go to the counter. Gosh! She also left the cafe and went back home. ** She quickly took her laptop to start working. She couldn't miss her boyfriend, Dylan's, birthday party. They have been together for two years now, and she could say it's been the best years of her life. They both do things together and even work together in the same company, even though she's been noticing he's been acting distant lately. Perhaps she's also been so busy with work. But it won't be so again. Dylan's birthday and the Christmas holiday would bring them closer, and she'll make sure of it. Her parents had invited them for the Christmas holiday, and she had also planned to go on a cruise tour for the new year with him after that. She kept smiling as she worked on her laptop. And as expected, her mother's call came in. "Hello, my dear. How are you doing?" "Hello, Mum. I'm fine. And you?" She asked with a smile. She knew exactly why her mom called, and as expected, the woman said. "I'm good. Did you tell him? You both should make sure you come." "Yes, Mum. We'll both come." She said. She knew why her mom was always like that. Her cousin, Kayla, always brings her boyfriend every year for the holiday, and it always makes her mom worry about her own relationship life. "Good. I'll be expecting you, dear. Love you, baby." *** He walked through the driveway into his house. His eyes were fixed on his phone, and he didn't notice the man standing beside the door. "It's the weekend, and you're not at the pack's house. I'm surprised." He looked up to see his dark brown-haired friend with dark eyes smiling at him. "Why are you standing here? You could have entered." Elvis pushed the door open, and they both entered. "I didn't know you took walks on a weekend. I thought you went to the pack's house." Ned, his friend, said, looking at the coffee cup in his hands, but seeing that he didn't say anything, he continued. "Aren't they planning a party for the holiday? Or have you started to go against your father?" Ned kept smiling, but Elvis was expressionless. "It's not your first time coming here during weekends, and if it's about the party being planned, You can go to the pack's house and help out." "You know that's not possible. Your dad hates me. He thinks I'll teach you to rebel against him." He said, making Elvis finally chuckle. "Maybe he's not wrong." He stood up. "I'm sorry, I have things to do." "Wait." Ned quickly stopped him. "What do you think about doing what we love this holiday?" Elvis looked at him, confused. "What are you saying?" "You've always attended the pack's boring party every holiday. Just... you know... do something for yourself. Go to the club. Enjoy. Get pretty ladies. You know what I mean." "You want me to ditch the pack's party?" Elvis asked with the same cold expression. "Not really... OK, yeah. Just this one time, Elvis." Ned smiled, but as expected, Elvis turned around to leave. "I'm not interested." "Gosh! You're so boring." Ned complained with a frown. "What about before the party? Come on, just to chill. You've never been to a club in your life. Try something new." He persisted until Elvis finally agreed. He doesn't wish to go, but with Ned, he always manages to convince him. "I'll go, happy?" He asked, to which Ned only smiled. "Yes. And don't worry, your dad won't find out." He shook his head and left the room. "I have things to do." He left the room before he could change his mind. The thought of his father finding out he would go to a club worries him, but there is nothing he can do, especially when he already agrees. Perhaps he only agreed because he also wished to try something new.