"This isn't weird at all." thought to herself Kalina Petrosinova as the car drove her back to Asya's house. It wasn't driving only her, to be honest. Bela and Asen were dating for a month now and she'd hang out with them, alongside Gavrail and Vesel to watch their back. Not that things would escalate Romeo and Juliet type of scenario Asya would freak out of course, but she freaked out daily. However, she felt weird, knowing that'd people would talk. She hated the way they talked. They were talking about them daily and she had enough of that by the end of the first month of the new school year, she didn't need more attention towards them. and it wasn't like she wasn't happy about Beloslava and Asen, it was the opposite actually, she was overjoyed that two wonderful people like them were together. The way their faces would light up when talking about one another - she didn't want anything to cast shadows over their happiness. 

Even now, when they were on the backseat of Vesel's car, next to her, they had entered their own world, while she was gazing through the window for most of the trip to the neighbouring town, where the possibilities of meeting people they new, though existing, were significantly lower. Her eyes would sometimes meet with Gavrail's, but both would shift them in the opposite direction instantly. They had been acting as the "messengers" between the couple but during this time they also started chatting about other things, unrelated to them and she did enjoy it. It was rather easy to talk to him, despite her expectations at first. Sometimes sharing with a person you seemingly have nothing in common calms you way more than sharing your worries with those closest to you. Did she like him? Was it early to think about such things? Or was she confusing his good intentions for something more? 

"Is it true your sister is coming home for Christmas?" Vesel broke the silence that was reigning over the past 20 minutes. 

"Which sister are you referring to?" She knew which one he meant, but she would rather have her being referred by her name. After all, both of her sisters deserved recognition for their hard work - Bozhana was currently earning a PhD in Marine biology, while Albena...

"Is your sister, the successful Netflix TV series star, that I may or may not have a crush on, the one and only Albena Petrosinova, the greatest star of this generation gracing this dull town with her presence...

"You are overdoing it!" Stopped him Gavrail. It was fun and Kalina would have liked to see how far he would have gone, but he really was overdoing it. 

"You have a crush on my sister?" 

"Yes. She is a beautiful and intelligent lady, with whom I happen to share many interests."

"First of all, gross! Second, yes, she is. As a matter of fact, she has been home since yesterday. Travelling on Budni vecher would have been stressful for anyone. Also, you know nothing about what my sister is like in real life!"

"She's been here since yesterday?!"

"Yep, and my mother has probably put aunt Delyana in charge of keeping her from eating all the sarmi for tonight."  Bela joined the conversation, with a laugh.

"I don't blame her. Those sarmi are too tasty for their own good."

"Because you never had the ones Asen's mother makes! One time we fought over the last one and I ended up with a black eye." Gavrail had shared that both Vesel and he spend the holidays with Asen's family rather than their owns, because of their complicated dynamics. She never asked what made them like that, feeling like he probably didn't feel like sharing more than he already had. 

"And no one had it, because my dad ate it in the meantime!" 

The whole car burst into laughter. This story was far too ridiculous to be true!

"We are watching your sister's new movie tonight by the way."

"You sure this isn't your first time watching it?" Teased him Asen.

"You mean that cheesy Christmas romance? What was it called, ... Snow for Christmas? Isn't it full with cliches?"

"That was their idea - to make fun at themselves and present us with a light-hearted romantic comedy at the same time."

"Yeah, the only reason she stars in it because last Christmas she lost some bet to Delyana, while both of them were kinda drunk."

"Wait, what? Are you for real?!"

"Yep! My aunt even had her sign some napkin as a proof she wouldn't back off from it when both of them sober up."

"Now that's a Christmas celebration I would like to be a part of! Where do I sign up for next year?" Vesel was sounding so sincere, not even Asen and Gavrail new if he was kidding or not. Maybe he would follow Albena's footsteps and if he's lucky, star alongside with her.

The white scenery and the familiar street made her feel anxious. She knew she'd meet her sisters there and she was looking forward to that, but their age difference and the fact how rarely they were seeing each other recently was making it hard to open up to them fully. The sound of snow crunching under her feet, as she stepped out of the car was drowned by the giggle of Vesel and Gavrail born of the sight of the couple goodbye kiss. Kalina felt her body being pierced by his dark eyes, as she waved back at him as they drove off. 

The walk home was silent - Bela was absorbed into her daydreaming, while Kalina was making up an excuse that would sound passable in front of Asya...and Delyana. Damn, she really had her way of knowing when someone was lying. They'd just have to roll with whatever she had come up, as they had reached Asya's house where the whole family were going to spend the holiday. Kalina had told her older brother Vulchan, that she'd hang with Belosalva and go there with her after they're done, instead of going home and leaving with him. At 33 years of age, he had already become a principal of Suntolia High school - the very same school both girls were studying at, as well as him and their sisters, had attended. Gone out for a smoke, his blonde hair was slightly showing under the hat he had put on, it's pink colour giving away the fact it was borrowed from someone else. His eyes sparkled with warmth the moment he saw them and his lips shaped into a smile. His little sister hugged him tightly, ignoring the smell of cigarettes. She rarely had the chance to do that anymore. And if he was here, that meant that Albena and Bozhana were inside.

"There are two surmi missing! I counted them just a while ago! Delyana, I asked you to keep them safe them from Bena!" Asya's voice was so loud, they heard it from inside even before opening the door. Striving to be the best hostess she could be, she hated when someone messed with her work before she was completely done and everything was set in place. 

"Sorry, I was busy making the pitka!" Delyna's voice one the other hand was a mixture of annoyance and desire to finish with whatever task she was given to do as fast as she could. House chores were just chores for her, not a sourse of joy. 

"Every year it's the same." Vulchan signed as he took off the hat and ran fingers in his golden hair. 

"Part of this family's traditions!" responded Beloslava, who was hanging her jacket up, imitating the usual tone of her mother's voice.

Both siblings giggled a little due to the spot-on impersonation. Making their way to the kitchen to great Asya and Delyana, being lead there by the different scents that had mixed with one another. 

"Delyana ate one, too, you know?!" A taller, older and sharper version of Kalina was sitting next to Delyana, folding the tikvenik! 

"Traitor!"Responded Delyana.

"If I am going down I am taking you with me!" Albena smirked as her eyes revealed a mischievous spark. 

"Stealing sarmi? Oh, what would your fans think if they could see you know, miss movie star?" Kalina hugged her older sister from behind, while Bena turned her neck enough to give her a slight kiss on the cheek. Her perfume smelled nice. Truly, how would have Vasil reacted if he could have seen her? Would he keep his cool, or would have

"Thinking that I am just as down to earth as they are, probably?" 

If all of them were here, in the kitchen, that meant that Bozhana was upstairs, either video calling her boyfriend or hiding to study even a bit. Or both, he was getting his PhD, as well. 

"The sarmi, the bean stuffed peppers, the bean, the zhito, the tikvenik, wine, the garlic ... O, Bozhe Gospodi what am I missing out!" Like every year, even with a menu, she had planned one weak ahead, Asya was still freaking over the number of meals. Their number had to be uneven!

"The pitka, oshav, turshiya, honey, nuts, maybe?" In the meantime, Bozhana, lovingly nicknamed by family and friends "Bozhe" had come down. If Albena was an actress, Bozhana could have become a supermodel had she wanted to. Tall, blonde, with contrasting brown eyes and perfect skin, she'd get offers by some agents while grabbing coffee or hanging at the mall as early as age 13. But she was much more interested in the problems of the current world than walking the runaway, so she'd always turn them down. 

 "Nine, ten, eleven, twelve...that makes twelve! We need one more!" Declared Asya, after finishing the counting with her fingers. 

"Can't we put onion or fruits?" Proposed Vulchan, while getting himself and Bozhana, who had wrapped one of her long arms around Kalina, a glass of wine.

"Ok, with the tikvenik baking, we are all set! We can start setting the table! Girls, you know where the table cloth is! Don't forget to use place the Christmas napkins!" Both Kalina and Beloslava knew it was an order directed to them, so they got to it as fast as possible. "Vuchan, have you placed the budnik in the fireplace? Yeah, I thought so." Guilty, he left the wine he hadn't even tasted yet and made his way out of the room to do the one task he was given. As he was exiting the room with the corner of his eye, he saw how Bozhana passed it to Delyana swiftly. 

The table being set with thirteen dishes and the Christmas napkins Asya insisted on being used and the budnik burning in the fireplace, the whole family was ready for this years Budni vecher's diner. Asya started by going around the table with tamyan, Kalina wasn't sure whom she was trying to scare away - the evil spirits or her own sister, who absolutely hated the smell of it. Vulchan proceeded with breaking the pitka and leaving the first piece for Bogorodica and the house. The coin was in this piece, which meant they would be lucky. Also, it was better than last year when it ended up in Delyana's piece, who actually had marked where she had placed it while making it. With that done, Albena and Delyana were free to attack the plate with the sarmi, while the rest, had to satisfy themselves with the bean stuffed peppers, and the pitka off course.

Bozhana and Vulchan were telling fun stories, Delyana and Albena were on their way to make a new bet, while Kalina and Bela were speaking over something only they understood. And Asya? Asya was happy, truly, by the lively sight before her eyes.