Winteren var faldet tungt over den lille by, hvor snefnug dansede i luften og lagde sig som et blødt tæppe over hustagene.

Winter had settled heavily over the small town, where snowflakes danced in the air and lay like a soft blanket over the rooftops.

Inde i skolens lange gangene summede eleverne af spænding over den årlige julefest, der nærmede sig.

Inside the school's long hallways, the students buzzed with excitement over the approaching annual Christmas party.

På opslagstavlen var der opslag om festens tema: Det skulle være en traditionel dansk jul, fyldt med hygge og varme.

On the bulletin board, there was a notice about the party's theme: It was to be a traditional Danish Christmas, filled with hygge and warmth.

Kasper stod og betragtede det.

Kasper stood and admired it.

Hvordan kunne han gøre denne fest til noget særligt?

How could he make this party something special?

Han vidste, at budgettet var stramt.

He knew the budget was tight.

Men Kasper elskede julen og ville ikke lade det stoppe ham.

But Kasper loved Christmas and wouldn't let that stop him.

Han gik hen til Freja, der som altid stod omgivet af en flok venner.

He went over to Freja, who was, as always, surrounded by a group of friends.

Hun smilte bredt og vinkede ham over.

She smiled broadly and waved him over.

"Hej Kasper!"

"Hi Kasper!"

sagde Freja med sin sædvanlige entusiasme.

said Freja with her usual enthusiasm.

"Er du klar til at få planlagt en fantastisk fest?"

"Are you ready to plan an amazing party?"

Kasper nikkede og svor, at han ikke ville lade sig distrahere af sit bankende hjerte.

Kasper nodded and swore that he wouldn't let himself be distracted by his pounding heart.

"Jeg har en idé," sagde han og trak en liste op af lommen.

"I have an idea," he said, pulling a list from his pocket.

"Vi kan bruge det vi allerede har.

"We can use what we already have.

Vi kan lave julepynt af gammelt materiale og bage pebernødder og æbleskiver selv."

We can make Christmas decorations out of old materials and bake pebernødder and æbleskiver ourselves."

Freja kiggede overrasket, men imponeret.

Freja looked surprised but impressed.

"Det er en god idé, Kasper!

"That's a great idea, Kasper!

Vi kan også lave julehygge-kroge i gymnasiet – måske med tæpper og stearinlys?"

We can also make Christmas hygge-corners in the gym—maybe with blankets and candles?"

De gik straks i gang med at planlægge.

They immediately started planning.

Der blev foldet origami-julestjerner, og eleverne begyndte at øve julesange.

Origami Christmas stars were folded, and the students began rehearsing Christmas carols.

Duften af kanel og gran fyldte gangene.

The scent of cinnamon and fir filled the hallways.

Kasper og Freja arbejdede godt sammen, selvom Freja nogle gange svingede lidt for meget med pyntens placering.

Kasper and Freja worked well together, although Freja sometimes fretted a bit too much about where to place decorations.

Men da selve dagen kom, gik alt galt.

But when the day itself came, everything went wrong.

Midt under festen, mens musik og latter fyldte det dekorerede gymnasium, gik strømmen pludseligt.

In the middle of the party, while music and laughter filled the decorated gym, the power suddenly went out.

Al belysning og musik stoppede brat.

All lighting and music stopped abruptly.

Der var et kort øjeblik af panik.

There was a brief moment of panic.

Uden at vente sprang Kasper til og fandt Freja blandt de forvirrede elever.

Without waiting, Kasper jumped into action and found Freja among the confused students.

"Lad os finde ud af, hvad der er galt," sagde han bestemt.

"Let's find out what happened," he said decisively.

De fandt vej ned i det dunkle kælderrum, hvor sikringsskabet var nabo med skolens opmagasineret juletræslys.

They made their way down to the dim basement, where the fuse box was neighbor to the school's stored Christmas tree lights.

Freja holdt sin telefon op, så lyset skinnede over Kaspers hænder, mens han rodede med sikringerne.

Freja held up her phone, so the light shone over Kasper's hands as he fiddled with the fuses.

Det var her, imens de arbejdede side om side i mørket, at Kasper fandt modet.

It was here, while they worked side by side in the dark, that Kasper found his courage.

"Freja, jeg har noget, jeg skal fortælle dig," startede han tøvende.

"Freja, there's something I need to tell you," he began hesitantly.

Freja så spørgende på ham, hendes øjne skinnende i telefonens lys.

Freja looked at him questioningly, her eyes shining in the phone's light.

"Hvad er det, Kasper?"

"What is it, Kasper?"

"Jeg kan virkelig godt lide dig," mumlede han, pludselig meget opmærksom på hendes nærhed.

"I really like you," he mumbled, suddenly very aware of her proximity.

"Og ikke kun som ven."

"And not just as a friend."

Freja blev stille et øjeblik, så brød et smil frem på hendes ansigt.

Freja was silent for a moment, then a smile broke across her face.

"Kasper, jeg kan også godt lide dig.

"Kasper, I like you too.

Mere end du tror."

More than you think."

Netop da sprang strømmen tilbage, og gymnasiet blev igen fyldt med lys og glad musik.

Just then, the power came back, and the gym was once again filled with light and cheerful music.

Kasper og Freja gik side om side tilbage til festen.

Kasper and Freja walked side by side back to the party.

Deres latter blandede sig med de andre elevers, og snart dansede de under de selvlavede julekranse.

Their laughter mingled with that of the other students, and soon they were dancing under the homemade Christmas wreaths.

Julefesten blev en stor succes, måske netop fordi den bragte folk så tæt på hinanden – også Kasper og Freja.

The Christmas party was a great success, perhaps precisely because it brought people so close together—including Kasper and Freja.

Kasper lærte, at det at tage chancer kunne føre til noget godt, og at troen på samarbejde kunne give uventede forbindelser.

Kasper learned that taking chances could lead to something good and that believing in teamwork could create unexpected connections.

Mens natten skred frem, blev sneen udenfor liggende som et skinnende tæppe, mens Kaspers hjerte føltes lettere end det længe havde gjort.

As the night progressed, the snow outside remained lying like a shimmering blanket, while Kasper's heart felt lighter than it had in a long time.

Det var en sand dansk juleaften, hvor både kærlighed og hygge var i overflod.

It was a true Danish Christmas Eve, where both love and hygge were in abundance.