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Henry, Kelsey, Aubergine and Basil all stared at Sunny. Sunny couldn't pinpoint what emotions they were supposed to show, here. Looks shocked.
"So, let me get this straight," Aubrey started, hesitating to restart the conversation. "You really made an attempt at these terrific cookies, just so that Santa munches on them?"
Sunny nodded with a little "Mhm," with the unsaid 'Duh' that was clearly implied in his (lack of proper) response.
For this Christmas week, the five of them decided to hang out at the Rodriguez' house to celebrate it. Sunny and his mother were originally about to stay at the city to celebrate together until they got invited by Kel and Hero's mother. Apparently some things came out, and the Rodriguez' extended family couldn't make it this year.
The cookies that were just mentioned were a batch made by Sunny and his mother right before they came back to Faraway Town. And to be honest, they were fantastic and well done enough that Hero complimented him on his improvement.
Now that the truth of Sunny still believing in a red-and-white weirdo going out once in a year went out, his friends stood still, not exactly sure how to react. Aubrey was this close to burst in laughter, but she held back in time, ready to give him the truth.
"So, you see, Sunny, Santa do–"
Aubrey got interrupted by Kel going in front of Sunny with a big smile. "Santa will be happy with your gift to him! Great job, Sunshine!" He headpatted him before pulling everyone else away, leaving Sunny a bit confused.
The younger sibling whispered low enough so that Sunny couldn't hear him. "Aubrey, what the fuck were you thinking? Don't break my man's innocence like that!"
"Kel. Language." Hero's warning got ignored.
"I'm sorry but I can't, he's 17 and he should know that this fat scam-looking man imagined by Coca Cola does not fucking exist!"
Basil got lost in the confusion. ".... Coca Cola created Santa?"
"No, but they sure damn pictured it like the weirdo we now know."
"Today, I learned," concluded Hero, not sure what to do with this cursed information.
"Sorry bro, but it needed to be said, but we ain't breaking this baby's innocence. You're with me right, Basil?"
"Y-you do realize he'll find out soon or later… We should break it to him now…" Basil sheepishly glanced at Sunny. The raven-haired buy was minding his own business, munching on the last cookie before he let the rest of the batch to Santa.
"BASIL?" Kel felt betrayed.
"Let's avoid doing this now, maybe after Christmas so he could forgive us for not breaking his Christmas spirit," advised the young adult to the group and with an uncontested smile, he went back to check on Sunny.
"Bro, you're my savior…"
Tomorrow will be the gift giving session for the group of friends. Sunny had a gift for everyone, and asked his mother to keep them in the car to avoid his gifts being spoiled by curious eyes (aka, Kel). He got for Basil a few plant seeds that weren't available in Fix-It, a cute flower pot with a sunflower on it, and a little notebook. Aubrey will get a whole kit of self-care and candies. Hero will get a recent yet very popular cookbook which was a veritable pain to get a grab on and Kel's getting a self-made hoodie (there's a 'Kel' in the back while in the front, a little drawing of Hector) and, to everyone's soon-to-be dismay, a batch of Orange Joe cans.
Getting ready on the bed with Kel, he was excited to see how tomorrow will turn out to be. The night sounded already promising as he got to cuddle with Kel.
He was hoping to fall asleep right into his dreams to see Mari, yet he found himself in White Space. Maybe Omori wanted to speak to him, after all he was fucking silent all day, not even a remark.
That's when he found him. Still cliff-faced gremlin. But this time with a horribly made red and white costume. The dude also had a long white barb and mustache. Looks like something clicked in Sunny's mind.
"...."
"...."
"Your imagination forgot how Santa looked like."
Sunny no longer believes in Santa. The sight of Omori-Santa traumatized him enough.