Noelle Chiang had always loved the holidays. Twinkling lights draped over the angsana trees, the cheerful, festive songs blasting out at the malls and the cheerful chaos of her neighbours. Noelle didn't wish for the newest phone or flashy gadgets. Not even for a "perfect" holiday though the idea of fancy lights somewhere far away was kind of fun. What she really wanted was something that made her heart race, a spark, a crush, something that turned ordinary afternoons into moments straight out of the storybooks she loved to read late at night. She wished for romance, the kind that made her heart race and her cheeks warm, just like in the stories she secretly devoured at night.
She didn't expect it to come in the form of her neighbour's nephew.
Being introduced for the first time, she saw him standing on the porch next door, struggling with a suitcase. Han was tall, dark and effortlessly handsome. His dark hair fell in loose waves across his forehead, occasionally brushing sharp, expressive eyes that seemed to take in everything at once. There was a confidence in the way he moved, a relaxed grace that made him look older than his years and even standing there under the bright sun, his smile could have lit up the whole street.
Noelle felt small in comparison. She was slightly chubby, with soft curves and round cheeks that flushed easily whenever she felt nervous. Her dark hair, pulled into a messy ponytail, framed a face she often considered plain, though she knew it was honest and expressive. And right now, standing next to Han, she felt every bit the wallflower she thought she was.
"Hey," he said, glancing at her as she approached. "I'm Han. I'm staying here for the season. My aunt lives here. You must be…?"
"Noelle," she said, caught off guard. "I live next door. Welcome to the neighbourhood." Her cheeks warmed as she stepped aside, trying not to stare.
He smiled, setting down the suitcase. "Thanks. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."
"Nope," she said quickly. "Just… decorating. It's kind of my thing." She gestured to the small string of lights she had draped along her porch railing.
Han laughed, a warm, easy sound that made her stomach flip. "Just in time for the festivities."
"I hope you like it here," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "We've got… um… pretty great decorations this year." She waved vaguely at her front yard, where coloured lights twisted around the porch railing.
Han laughed, a warm, easy sound. "Looks amazing already. Maybe I'll stick around here for longer than I planned."
Noelle felt her cheeks heat up even more. She tried to hide her smile and quickly disappeared into her house. Somehow, in just a few seconds, Han had turned an ordinary afternoon into something magical.
And for the first time that season, Noelle thought maybe her wish might actually come true.
Later that evening, Han popped out when he saw Noelle at her porch. "So, how long have you lived here?" Han asked casually, leaning against the railing as he watched Noelle untangle a strand of lights.
"All my life," Noelle said. "It's… nice. Familiar. You get used to the chaos, I guess."
"I can see that," he said, glancing around at the twinkling lights on the neighbouring houses. "It's kind of… alive, you know? Even at night."
Noelle nodded, feeling an odd warmth spread through her chest. "Yeah. I like it during the holidays. It makes everything feel… exciting."
Han picked up a stone in his side of the garden and fiddled with it, his sun-kissed skin catching the glow of the bulbs. "I grew up in Malaysia but my family moved to Perth, Australia when I was little. That's where I got hooked on surfing… and soaking up the sun." He ran a hand through his slightly bleached hair, a remnant of all those sunny days. "I guess it shows," he added with a grin, glancing at his tan.
Noelle blinked, impressed. "Surfing, huh? That sounds… amazing."
Han laughed, a warm, easy sound. "It is. Perth is pretty laidback compared to Singapore. But I like it here too. Even with the chaos, the streets, the smells. It's got its own charm."
For a quiet moment, they both just listened to the distant hum of the bus along the main street and the twinkle of lights reflecting off nearby windows.
Then Han looked at her with genuine admiration. "Hey, you're really good at this," he said, watching her lift the strand of lights carefully. "I didn't think decorating could be… fun."
"Fun?" Noelle repeated, raising an eyebrow. "It's an art form, okay. Not everyone appreciates it."
Han's grin widened. "Well, I definitely appreciate it now."
Noelle realised they had been laughing and talking for over an hour. She'd never met someone who made the evening feel so… electric, so easy. Of course, Noelle mainly listened while Han went on about describing Perth and Malaysia and why he's spending the holidays in Singapore with his auntie and her family.
As Han watched Noelle slung the last strand over the railing, he stepped back to admire her work. "Not bad at all," he said. "This looks nicer than I imagined."
"No bad at all," Noelle said softly, feeling like she might just float home on a cloud of warmth and excitement.
And somewhere deep down, she knew that this was only the beginning.
As they stepped back to admire the lights, Han scratched the back of his head, looking thoughtful. "Hey… I know I'm supposed to be taking in the sights and my aunt asked if I have any food preferences, but I was wondering… do you know any good places around here to eat? Like, really local stuff?"
Noelle blinked, surprised. "Local food? Oh, there's tons. Depends on what you like. Street snacks, sweet desserts or something heavier?"
He shrugged, grinning. "I'm up for anything. I want to eat like a local while I'm here."
Noelle felt a spark of excitement at being asked for advice. "Okay, then first: there's this place just a few streets down. They have the best satay skewers…you'll know you've found the good one if the peanut sauce makes you sigh out loud."
Han laughed. "Sigh out loud, got it. Anything sweet?"
"Oh, absolutely. You have to try the chendol from the food market near the corner from the satay stall. And the 'tutu' coconut pancakes—they're amazing. Trust me, you'll be hooked."
He pretended to jot notes in the air. "Satay, chendol, tutu… adding all of that to my must-eat list."
Noelle giggled. "You know, you really do look like you need a personal tour guide. Lucky for you, I happen to know the best spots."
Noelle spent the next few minutes excitedly listing off her favourite spots, gesturing animatedly toward the streets where the best local snacks were sold. Han listened, nodding and laughing at the right moments and Noelle felt her heart soar. Maybe this was the start of something; she just knew it.