Just as I placed the last box in front of me, on the unfolded wrapping paper, ready to do what we did God knew how long, Oliver puffed.

"What's wrong?" I asked without looking at him, gathering the ends of the paper so they could meet and cover the entire surface of the box.

"Off! Will you help me!? I've never been good with duct tape and these things, but that's just ridiculous!" He said irritably.

"Yes, of course," I replied, letting go of the edges, and the paper slid across the cardboard and laid back on the floor.

I looked up.

It took me a few seconds to realize what I was seeing. And then...

Then something bubbled in my chest, rose up, and before I knew it I burst out in a tumultuous laughter that echoed throughout the room and even startled me a little bit, but I didn't stop. I couldn't stop laughing! It was ridiculous indeed.

Every weight and gloomy thought flew out of my mind and only laughter remained in me. My heart, my whole being filled with joy and I just couldn't stop the mirth to pour out of me.

"HA-HA-HA!" My boisterous laughter kept ringing throughout the room, filling it with joy and warmth.

And even though my eyes were almost closed, I could perfectly see what Oliver had done.

His hands were outstretched, every single finger were either wrapped with duct tape or the latter was hanging from the tip of his fingers. He waved one hand frantically, trying to get rid of the pieces of tape, but nothing happend. No, wait! I lied. It did happened something - one piece of duct tape folded and stuck to another on his palm. He snorted and waved the other hand, this time in attempt to remove two golden shimmery ribbons stuck to his index and ring finger, but again to no avail. And speaking of ribbons... There was a red, a green and a blue ribbon on his sweater, spread in a triangular form, a silver shimmery one on his chin, and another on his cheek and even two more - a red and golden one in his hair. And thanks to the shimmers in the foiled ribbons his skin and his hair were shinning with glitter.

In two words, Oliver was so... so... absurdly charming that if I hadn't been overwhelmed with laughter I would have kissed him.

Though it was quite hard, I managed to control my amusement and said, "You're very well-wrapped, mister!" I giggled and added, "But you should know that I won't leave you under that Christmas tree," I nodded to it, "with the other presents!"

"I'm glad," he replied, holding my gaze with his, "Because if there's a tree under which I'd stay as a present, it's yours."

I bit my lip, stifling a smile, and blushed.

"Well... then I think I should get a real Christmas tree instead of the little plastic one I have," I remarked and sighed contentedly at the thought of being together on Christmas morning.

He beamed and said, "A tree that we could choose togeher."

A grin spread across my face, and I felt my muscles hurting a bit of all the smilling which made me smile even wider. I really felt the Christmas cheer with him and it was better than I remembered. I had forgotten how great it was to be filled with mirth, with joy, to feel light and weightless. Actually, I had never felt as good as now. And it was all because of Oliver. He might be the best Christmas present I ever had! And the one I was most grateful for too!

I  just nodded in reply, moved the last box out of my way, got on my knees, and approached Oliver.

"Come on, let's rid you of these... accessories," I joked, and he looked at me angrily, but his beam kind of ruined the 'angry expression' he probably wanted to pull off. I bit my bottom lip, suppressing the urge to taste his smile, to show him how much I agreed with his suggestion.

"I told you the duct tape was evil, but you keep making fun of me," Oliver said indignantly.

"I'm sorry! I keep forgetting about your old feud," I said, stifling a giggle, "Well, at least you finished the presents. And... found a new enemy... or friend, i'm not sure yet!"

I unstuck the ribbon of his chin and showed it to him.

"What are these now for you?"

He looked at it with serious expression and thought for a moment.

"Well..." he said, "it depends on the damage they've done. You tell me, what's their sentence?"

He looked at me and I tried to hide my smile, biting my lower lip again. 

"Hmm..." I started, "I think they are more like a frenemy." He arched an eyebrow and I explained, "You look cute with them," a smile streched my lips, I couldn't hold it back any longer, "but it'll take you ages to get rid of these glitter."

"WHAT!" Oliver's eyes got wide as pancakes and I chuckled.

"Yes, mister! You are heavily covered in glitter, and believe me you'll find it months ahead in impossible palces."

He groaned, saying with no words "What have I done?"

I giggled and started peeling off the tape from his fingers, from his palm, and upper hand and several pieces from his sweater that I had only now spotted. Then I unstuck the rest of the ribbons, until there were only those left in his hair.

I stopped and leaned back a little to look at him.

"Are you ready? Am I clear now?" He asked hopefully.

"Hmm..." was my only response.

"What?"

"I wonder..." he raised a questioning eyebrow once more, an expression that really suited him, he was pretty handsome! I shook my head before distracting myself with other thoughts and repeated finishing the joke I wanted to serve him, " I wonder whether or not to leave these in your hair. Red and gold really look good on you."

Our eyes met, and at the sight of his frown, I burst out laughing again falling forward to his chest. 

He hold me gently and said, "If you like them so much why not leave them?"

I looked at him in surprise, and he added, "But so to you know, I emphasize on 'not'!"

I giggled and reached for the two ribbons. Oliver moved his hands from my upper arms to my waist, sending hot wave throughout my body, and I tried to focus on removing the accessories without pulling his hair. Too much.

When I was done, Oliver grabbed my hands with his and kissed one gently first, then the other, and smiled at me, causing blush to crimson my face.

"I love your laughter! I wish to hear it more often! And..." He reached and touch the dimple in my left cheek, "I love this dimple, I want to see it a lot!" He said, and my heart fluttered.

I smiled shyly at him and his eyes glowed.

"Come on, finish the last box," he added, kissing first my palms and then my knuckles, and I shivered. Amused by my reaction, he continued with wider smile, "and I'll start arranging the finished ones under the tree and then we're clear!"

I nodded and settled back in my seat, my legs felt weak, my heart had turned into a hummingbird fluttering in my chest, and a content grin stretched my lips.

I took the box, but... I didn't even remember how I wrapped it, because I was living in  a haze of love and joy, still feeling Oliver's tender, loving kisses and longing for more.

"Ahh!" I sighed. "I could wrap thousands more boxes if it would make this moment last forever!"

"Me too!" Oliver replied and I looked at him, he was beaming.

No. No boxes were needed. With him by my side, we'd have many more moments of happiness, of shared love and kisses, and just being together. 

I embraced the present moment without any distractions, without letting anything take it from me. And for the first time in an eternity, as it felt, I let myself be truly happy.