"Guess who..." A mischievous voice in whisper volume tickles Soojung's ear as pair of hands swiftly slide between her head from behind and covering her eyes. Out of reflexes she jerks, slamming her head back and...
THUD!
Immedialy colliding hard with Mijoo right on her face.
"Ouch!" They both hiss in pain.
"Why are you so violent?! Ugh what if my nose broken.."
"Serves you right!" Soojung moves away, still rubbing the back of her head. "Why are you still here?"
"That supposed to be my line! It's Christmas eve! Chriiist-maaas-eeee-veeee. Who makes..." Mijoo pauses briefly figuring out lines and shapes displayed on the screen. "Kitchen, on a night like this?!"
Ignoring the younger girl Soojung goes back to AutoCAD workspace in front of her, dark eyes narrowed as she focusing on the draft she's been working on since afternoon.
"Our junior in college is throwing Christmas party at her place tonight.." Realizing she's been stonewalled, Mijoo reaches out slamming the laptop lid down. "Come with me?"
"No. I don't feel like partying.." Soojung slaps the hand away and opens it up again.
"Fine. Let's just go somewhere else more quiet and peaceful, anywhere you prefer. Just two of us."
"I need to finish this by the beginning of next week!"
"No you don't! The deadline for this project is still far away in January! Oh come on, why so workaholic it's holiday season, unnie!"
"I'm not workaholic, I just like to finish what I need to do as soon as I can, unlike a certain procrastinator here.." Cold voice quips evenly.
Why is this girl so damn stubborn.. Mijoo sighs wearily.
"That procrastinator is just trying to live to the fullest instead of running in pace faster than needed. You're the one who should learn to enjoy your life more! Hey do you even remember when was the last time you smile? Like, really smile and not the ones you faked in front of our colleagues and clients?"
Only noise of mouse clicks respond to Mijoo's questions.
"Look, you being emotionally retarded soul overworking yourself like this is definitely not what your parents nor Myungeun wish..."
"Mijoo we've agreed to not talk about that!!" Soojung thunders, already had a mind to bang the keyboard, but luckily her impeccable self-control took the best of her and saved the poor thing from being victim of its owner lashing out.
"You can go find somebody else to party!" She tries again, in less hostile tone now but still lingered with displeasure.
"I only want you and not somebody else!"
"Well I don't want you, so leave me alone!"
.......
The room falls silent as Soojung's fingers stop typing. She glances slightly and finds hurt evident in Mijoo's eyes, some remote part of her heart subconsciously telling her to apologize, but it's too late to take back the words that have came out, although Soojung didn't actually mean it.
"Okay, I'm sorry to bothering you. Have fun with your kitchen." And with that, Mijoo leaves.

---------------------

An hour passed and Soojung takes a deep breath, finally dropping her head down to the desk. Kitchen set and its peripheral has long gone from her mind.
It wasn't the first time she and Mijoo got into a fight - heck, lately it's actually easier to count how many times they've spent without ended up bickering and bantering. But something about the last blowout tugs Soojung's heart, causing her unable to concentrate on her work. Was it the way Mijoo said 'sorry' - something that she usually never said? Or was it the last sad look Mijoo gave to her?
The two has been friends since they were still using pacifier and wearing pampers, being together for as long as they could remember back in their hometown and also after they moved to Seoul. Same schools, same major in university, and now same workplace; Soojung said 'what a misfortune' to have the younger girl tagging along her the whole time, while Mijoo would always argue 'we're tied by fate'.
She opens the drawer on her desk and takes out a bookmark with pressed dry flower sticked on it, something that used to be very precious memento between them, but right now Soojung can't even remember anymore what was their 14 years old selves said, back then when they gave it to each other.
This is fine.. Soojung tells herself, throwing the piece of paper back to the drawer as she closes her eyes.
On the next moment, she falls asleep.

---------------------

Dark. Pitch black darkness welcomes her as Soojung opens her eyes. She bolts up to her feet in panic, turning head left and right, gasping as she hit something that feels like the shape of chair.

Where is this? What is this?

"Hi!"

Soojung jumps, almost curses out loud when a hand touching her shoulder.

"Oh, right, it's too dark here.." Sounds of fingers snapped, the whole room turns bright; white and pink walls, neatly made up bed with huge Toy Story Alien plushie sits leaning to bedpost, shelf filled with various kind of books. Soojung inhales the all too familiar air deeply and she remembers now. This is her bedroom in her childhood home.
Then she finds a girl, someone she has never seen before, taking a seat on her chair while scanning photo frames that placed at the desk. This unknown guest is a lot bigger than Soojung despite her youthful face, and she wears long blue mantle with white fur.
"Hmm.. Looks like you didn't grow up much taller.." The other girl comments, eyes glancing at younger Soojung in her family photo then to the present Soojung from head to toe.
"That's not your problem!" Soojung fumes. "Who are you anyway?!"
"You can call me Ryuvely!"
"What?"
"I am ghost of Christmas past."
"What?"
"I-am-ghost-of-Christmas-past. Your-past." She repeats, slowly as if she's talking with little child. "Well that's not the main issue we have here. Come with me, I'm going to show you a lot of things!"
The spirit takes Soojung's hand, gently, not in a forceful way but still not to be resisted.
"Whoa wait! The door is there, or if you suggest we jump off from second floor I'm not coming with you!" Soojung stops as soon as she notices Ryuvely are going to the direction of her room's window.
"Tsk, I keep forgetting you humans are very impractical creature.."

They went out of Soojung house - from door, thankfully - and now are starting their trek along her old neighborhood. Nostalgic feelings embrace her as they pass every streets she already knew by heart; that candy shop, that bookstore, after turning left there will be cafe and restaurants, trees lining on each side of the street, Soojung swears she could walk around with eyes closed and not fall or hit anything. Fresh air, breezing winter wind, everything that wouldn't be found anywhere in bustling city Seoul, and despite melted snow piling up on the ground, the town gives off warmth vibe.

"Ah!"

Soojung freeze in her tracks out of sudden, heart plummetting as they've arrived on the place where herself in past used to came often, a park located quite far in more secluded part of the town. Trees are bare, most flowers and grass already wilted and only some left to outlast winter. Chatters and innocent gleeful laugh heard, and there they are; 8 years old herself and Mijoo, only 7 that time, sitting on square monkey bars in the kids playground corner.

The spirit moves up one step. "Let's get closer. They can't see us."

Soojung isn't someone who reminisce past often, especially the one about her childhood sweetheart story like this. Or more accurately, she avoids it because it gives some horrible guilty feelings on the pit of her stomach. But to see past re-enacted right in front of her, much less by her own younger self, is another level of horrid.

So this is how people feel when they see their doppelganger? Soojung muses silently.

"Wow I can see it from here! The house made by Soojung's dad! Come here and see!" Mijoo says as she reached the top of monkey bar, finger pointing a tall - probably the tallest in the town at that time - municipal office building seen on faraway distance.
"It's not house! Daddy said it's an office, for uh.. People who run this town!" Younger Soojung quirks her eyebrows cutely, trying to remember what her father has explained to her. "And you're the one who should go down here, it's dangerous if you stand there like that!"
"You're just afraid, aren't y... Aaaaah!" Mijoo's tiny feet slipped, almost made her fall 6.5 feet to the ground if not for her excellent ability in athletic and balancing; and Soojung - both the younger and older ones - swear their heart almost jump out of ribcages for a split second upon seeing the terrifying scene that just happened before their eyes.
"What did I just say?!! Get down here now!"
Mijoo quickly complies, climbing down then plops herself beside young Soojung on the lowest bar.

"God, that brat really never changed!" On the other side, older Soojung grumbles while Ryuvely giggling loudly.
"Or not, she did changed from little monkey into gorilla now.." She bites back a laugh seeing how small 7 years old Mijoo, about same height and not yet towering over her like their current selves.

"Soojung, are you going to build tall houses like your daddy too when you're growing up?"
"You have to call me unnie!" Younger Soojung shakes her head. "And no, actually I want to become a singer.."
"Eeh that's cool! Then Soojung unnie will appear on TV?!"

It was the time when she just began her piano lesson, older Soojung remembers. Interacting with music almost everyday had given birth to a small dream inside her, that someday she could stand on a stage and sing her heart out to people who love her.

That dream which crushed and never come true, where had it gone?

"I want to become house builder just like your dad when I'm big!"
"It's called architect, Mijoo."
"Yes, aztec!"
"Ar-chi-tect!"
"I will become great aztec and build a castle for Soojung!" Pronounciation and honorifics be damned, Mijoo grins widely showing a set of white teeth.
"What was that they say in the movie.. Ah! And we live happily ever after!"
Both Soojungs immediately feel rush of blood springing to their cheeks upon hearing Mijoo's proud declaration.
"Can you not say embarassing thing?!" They shout almost simultaneously, and Ryuvely burts into fit of laughter only intensifying red hue in the older one's flushed face.

"Time for us to go.." Ryuvely takes Soojung's hand. "Don't ever let go of my hand until we arrive."

As they move - the spirit walks half-running pulling Soojung along - all their surroundings also changing very fast magically. Roofs and walls vanished and reappeared, edifices shrunk and reconstructed into newer, modern styled buildings. Everything's making her vision blurred and head spinny so Soojung opts to look downward, shutting her eyes and let Ryuvely drags her until they come to a complete halt.
Suddenly it's no longer cold, is the first thing Soojung notices as she slowly opens her eyes, one by one. They are now standing on a daisy field located in the back of Soojung's school. And just like before, another younger Soojung and Mijoo are there too. Judging from their short-sleeved junior high uniform and bed of flowers spreading around, it's probably spring or summer.

Oh..
Soojung realizes.
It was her 14th birthday that day.

"Mom didn't give me pocket money as punishment.." Mijoo sulks, hanging her head low.
"Serves you right. Who told you pulling a stunt like that on school was a good idea." Soojung replies calmly.
"Well it was fun! Didn't you see seonsaengnim's face that time?" There's no sign of repentance at all, the older girl can only sigh.
"What are we doing here by the way?" Soojung has found a slightly crumpled paper with messy handwriting slipped between her textbook after lunch break. 'Come to our usual place ;* ' was written on it.
"Oh, yeah I almost forgot! I've been looking for the prettiest bloom here..." Mijoo holds up a small, fresh bloom of white flower. She then takes Soojung's left hand, tying its stem around the ring finger.
"Happy birthday, Soojung." Bright smile appears, albeit a little nervous, and Soojung's stomach does a weird somersault.
She is so beautiful..
"I'm too broke to buy any good birthday present, so.. guess this will do.. Uh.." Mijoo clears . "Until I can give you real diamond ring.."
"Stupid.." Soojung murmurs, her free hand tracing Mijoo's jawline, then rests behind her neck. Softly she pulls Mijoo's head, their eyes fluttered shut. "I don't need diamond or anything as long you're with me."

Older Soojung turns her back just right before the pair close their distance. "Can we just go now? I don't think I would want to see this anymore.."
"Why? Isn't this like the sweetest first kiss ever.." The spirit immediately stops seeing Soojung's indignant expression.
"Well actually I'm about to tell you we're going to move again. But brace yourself, the next one will be even tougher for you."

Once again they go through the same process of time travelling. Soojung can already guess what she would see soon, and it definitely don't do anything but worsen her already battered nerves.

Nauseating guilty sensation surges as Ryuvely takes her to see the scenes she had kept buried deep down inside her; love that she had once thought would be unbreakable, dreams and promises, how she, who had been used to be a nice child and hold true feelings in front of her parents, started quarreling with them regarding her future. Soojung planned to continue studying vocal and piano on music college in Seoul while her father insisted she enroll to architecture major, plus demanded her to cut relationship with Mijoo.

"We didn't raise our daughter to be an abnormal!" She heard her father's voice, then followed by a sound of door slammed harshly by her past self.
That was the last time Soojung heard her father's voice.

"Soojung, are you seriously won't go? It's Christmas dinner, your family must be so upset without you.." Moving to the next scene they are already enveloped in warmth spreaded from fireplace in Mijoo's family room.
Younger Soojung is tucked beneath thick blanket in a comfy couch, finally shuts completely down her phone that has been ringing for the umpteenth time, then throw it to the table in front of her.
"No, they will be fine. They don't want a daughter like me."
"Hey, don't say such thing! You know they actually love you so much."
"And Myungeunnie will be sad.." Mijoo appears from kitchen, walking towards the couch she brings two mugs of freshly made hot chocolate then gives one to Soojung.
"You're right." Remembering her little sister, Soojung frowns. "I'll give her a call later."
"I still think it's best for you to go home as soon as possible." The younger girl sits, voice a bit hesitant, but still she's fixing Soojung with steady, serious gaze. "Actually, your mom called me this afternoon.."
"Really? Why didn't you tell me? What did she said?" Soojung is gobsmacked.
"They are sorry for everything they said to you yesterday. Your dad will reconsider about the college.."
"And about us... I promise I'll try all I can to make them accept us. I'll proof him I am good enough for you." Mijoo takes Soojung's hand to her own, smiling reassuringly.
"So, let's go home tomorrow morning?"
It takes some seconds before Soojung finally nods, then brings herself forward to a comforting embrace of her lover. They stay hugging each other for a while until loud sound from the front door startling them.
The first three times are knocks, then next, the guest bangs their door.

"No! Take me away from this place I don't want to see this again!" Older Soojung begs, holding the spirit's hand tightly but she doesn't budge at all.

When she opens the door Mijoo finds Myungeun, her eyes swollen from crying, all damp and disheveled after running in cold snowfall for good half an hour.
"Why didn't you answer your phone?!" Myungeun screams angrily to Soojung. "You've been comfortably having fun with your girlfriend here all this time! Do you even know what happened to mom and dad?!"
"What.. I don't understand, Myungeunnie.." Soojung shoots confused look to her sister.
"They had car accident!"

The room falls eerily silent.

"Okay, first you need to calm down! Where are they now? I'll call a cab now!" Mijoo attempts to settle the situation while Soojung's still froze in shock.
"It's too late!" Myungeun shoves Mijoo's hand that tries to comfort her, tears overflowing her face.
"They are no longer live in this world.."

And finally for the first time since they started their journey through her past, older Soojung breaks down. Letting out all the excruciating pain and sadness she's been holding back for years. Since the day of her parents' funeral. Since the day police stated that reason for their death was because her father distractedly drove while trying to make phone calls; trying to reach his daughter, who was 'comfortably having fun with her girlfriend'.
She cries until her breath hitched and her face all soaked, until she thinks she can't possibly shed anymore tears. It's probably been some minutes, or maybe half an hour, she doesn't realize how long time has passed.

"I just wanted one chance, one last chance to say sorry to them..." Soojung manages to blurt out between sobs, balling her hands tightly into fist.
"And all this time I've been trying to be a good daughter they always wanted, to be a dependable older sister for Myungeun. Are they watching me from up above there?"

"But you being like this isn't what they wish.." Weird. The spirit's answer sounds very familiar to Soojung.

When she finds enough strength to rise to her feet again, Ryuvely shows Soojung her last day in her hometown. A year has passed since her parents passed away, her life has drastically changed. She began to work part time here and there to earn enough fund for herself and her sister's so they won't burden their relatives when the money their parents left all used up. Instead of her first choice, she ended up entering architecture major in one of the best university in the country.
There wasn't any words of 'break up' spoken but Soojung and Mijoo drifted apart, despite the younger's desperate struggles to keep their relationship.

"You forgot this."
Younger Soojung is standing in platform waiting for the train that will take her to Seoul when Mijoo comes running with a piece of small carton paper. She gives it to Soojung again, the tiny white flower, Soojung's 14th birthday present, already dried and sticked into bookmark.
"I'll follow you soon in a year. Wait for me, okay?"
There's no answer, but Mijoo never stop trying.
"I love you. I'll always do."

"Let me tell you what's your parents last wish.." Ryuvely takes Soojung into her arms in attempts to soothe her. "They want you to live happily. Following your heart, doing what you love, with someone you've chose. They regret everything that has happened and ask you to forgive them. Also most importantly, to forgive yourself."
Soojung looks up to the taller girl. "Can I?"
"Yeah, for sure."
"It's time for us to bid goodbye." They hear sound of bell ringing ten times, announcing it's now two hours before midnight. "Don't ever forget.. Mistakes were mistakes, but you should never torment yourself with past."
"Merry Christmas, Soojung."

---------------------

When Soojung opens her eyes, it still wet with tears. Feeling disoriented and mortified as if she just had a terrible hangover, she stands up looking around; laptop, mouse, pencils, tons of papers. It's her office.

Is it over? Everything was just a bad dream after all?

"Hello there.." Comes a voice of woman from the cubicle next to hers.

...... Nope, it's not.

The spirit who visits her this time seems very friendly, with cute eyesmiles and round face resembling adorable hamster. This girl looks exactly like doll with pink and white fluffy robe she's wearing.
"I'm ghost of Christmas present, or usually others would call me Flower Kei."
"What is it with you ghosts and tacky nicknames?" Soojung mumbles in low volume.
"Hm?"
"Nah. So, where are you going to take me?"
"You'll see. Come.." Kei reaches out her hand.

"Jin-ssi, your performance this night was awesome!"
"Ah, thank you very much!" Myungeun - now more well known with her stage name Jin, solo singer with golden voice - bows deeply to the seventh person who came to the dressing room to either congratulate her on her succesful first concert or compliment her flawless stage.

"Wow.. Some good sister I am, huh.." Soojung huffs mocking herself. "I didn't even know she has cut her hair."
"She sent you photo last month when she just cut it." Kei reminds her quietly.
Ah, probably buried below tons of work related emails from clients. Soojung pressed her face into palms, mind finally registering everything she has lost.

Since when have we been down to this sickening situation?

She stares blankly, contemplating the scene before her; another woman probably around same age as herself just entered the room - Yoo Jiae, Soojung recalls, the one has been introduced to her as Myungeun's manager when her sister finally clinched contract with pretty huge music label a year ago - after put down plastic bag containing foods and drinks onto the table, she runs to help Myungeun removing makeup and changing outfit.
Then Soojung tries to remember the last time Myungeun came to her for consolation, or just light chatter about daily life, or whatever moment when they actually talk and not just exchanging "How are you?" with "Busy. Sorry, I'll call you later."; nothing comes up to mind. Seeing how they're comfortably talking and joking, this Jiae probably has became more a sister to Myungeun than herself now.

"Jealous?" Kei inquires, observant of Soojung's facial expression.
"No." A distraught reply. "I've never been there for her, it's only natural if she found another figure to replace my role."

Things went downhill as soon as they lost their parents; time they spent together started to lessen thanks to Soojung took as many part time jobs as she could handle, caused her had to juggled from school to workplaces to cram school preparing for college exam. Then got even worse after she left their hometown while Myungeun moved in with their close relatives. Daily phone calls slowly turned into talking with voicemails, then occasional texts, and now unread messages sinking in the bottom of Soojung's inbox.

"She probably hates me.."
"She clearly doesn't." The spirit gestures to Myungeun's direction, signaling her to listen at their conversation.

"Our crew will take care of everything here. We can go home now." Jiae says. "I'm not going to bother you for a whole day tomorrow. Enjoy your Christmas dayoffs!"
"Where are you planning to go, by the way?"
"I don't know actually.. I really want to meet my sister, but she haven't even replied text I sent her last week." Myungeun gazes at the dressing room door, her eyes lack liveliness. "Sometimes, whenever I heard sound of that door cracked open, I wish it would be her coming with all smiley face. It's fine even without flowers or present, I just want to see her. Jiae unnie, have I ever shown you my sister's photo? She's so pretty when she smiles..."
"Sorry, I was rambling.." Myungeun stops and gives an apologetic smile, realizing her manager has had their belongings packed, ready to leave the venue.
"Nah, it's okay. You even talked about her in interview, you must be miss her.."
"So much." Myungeun completes the sentence. "But I think she doesn't even remember about me."
"You know, you can tell me anything. I'll listen to your story." Jiae puts her coat back to the table and sits beside Myungeun, face laced with concerns to the younger girl.
"My sister was the one who taught me about music. Back then we would sing together, pretending we're having our own concert in the backyard of out home.." Dark brown eyes identical to Soojung's drop down as she starts her story.
"But then my parents passed away. And so did my sister. She lives but it feels like she doesn't live anymore."

I have to be strong, Soojung always told herself. Thus she never cries. Not when she went back all exhausted from college just to found empty apartment. Not when she couldn't make it to her sister's graduation ceremony. Also not when she had to ditched invitations to spend Christmas together on their hometown and chose to work overtime.
The thing she didn't realized was how she had mistaken the meaning of 'strong', and unconsciously she ended up hurting her only family left instead of protecting as she intended.

"Isn't it actually just an excuse?" Kei pivots on her heels, turning her back to Soojung as she snaps her fingers. In a blink of eye, they have moved to another place; comfortable bed, lots of dolls, posters of popular idol group, their family photos, Soojung recognize it as her sister's bedroom.
"Successful and ability to provide  a decent life for someone else don't always mean strong, Soojung. So doesn't loneliness. Don't you think you're just running away all these time?"
"That I am." Soojung swallows hard, admitting her defeat.
"I don't know how to face her or everybody else! Our dreams, her image of happy family, all shattered, and the accident.. It was all my fault!" She can only look down, feeling small and pathetic under heavy gaze of the spirit. "So I guessed this is the best I can do for her.."
"But turned out it didn't work out as I thought it would be.. And I don't know what else to do! Maybe I'll forever become an older sister she could never rely.."
Her voice silenced by sound coming from another room. Kei has opened the door and now leading them slip into the living room.
Around 5 or 6 filming crews crowded the place with Myungeun sits beside a huge piano in the corner, beaming to the camera that is recording her for some sort of visit-your-idols-home program.

"Are you playing piano too, Jin-ssi?" The interviewer asks.
"I practiced once in while.. This piano was my sister's actually. She's the one who motivated me to sing." Myungeun replies with sheepish grin.
"Whenever I was in slump, I'd play this and lose myself remembering our time together. Currently she's living in a faraway place, and we can't meet often, but thinking about her always helped me to keep going on with my music." She adds. Proudly. Not even single sign of grudge or hatred.
"Sounds like a wonderful sister.."

"No, I am not.. I am a very, very terrible sister."

"She is!"
Myungeun makes her way across the room towards a Christmas tree. She takes a paper out from large socks hanging on the wall beside it.
"It's my habit since I was little.. Christmas wishlist for Santa!" Myungeun innocently laughs at her own childishness.
"My wish this year, I want to spend more time with Soojung unnie during Christmas holiday next week!"

The interview keeps going on but their conversation has started fading away in Soojung's ears.
"I've told you so many times Santa is not real, Myungeun.." She whispers, voice cracking between laugh and held back tears.
"They aren't, but I am here to fulfill her wish.. Bringing her sister back to her side." A hand rests on Soojung's shoulder. Kei smiles warmly giving her soft pats.
"I've seen a lot of humankind.. And most of the time, they who say 'no' to helping hands are the ones who actually need help. You don't always have to be strong and reliable. Once in a while you can be honest and lean on her too."

"My time is up. Soon my friend shall pick you up to the next destination so worry not.." Just like before, Soojung hears clock bell ringing again as the spirit holds her dearly and bids goodbye.
"It's fine to be sad, to grief over loss and regret things. But don't you ever turn your back to the people who love you. Don't you ever forget that."
"I wish you a very merry Christmas, Soojung."

---------------------

Loud blaring Christmas songs wakes Soojung up. She squints her eyes to get accustomed with blinding light, the place looks like cozy living room of a quite big house and apparently party is being held here. Around 10 or 12 people are chattering and enjoying snacks but Soojung can't recognize any of them. More weird, the banner sticked onto the wall isn't said 'Merry Christmas' but 'Farewell' instead.

"Yo! Over here!" Someone's calling her from the corner.

God.. Can't this be over already?

"I guess my two friends who visited you before already told you who am I, right? I'm ghost of your future Christmas." The spirit approaches her, way taller than Soojung, her eyes round and big, and she's wearing simple green robe.
"So, what's your name?" Soojung expects another hilarious nickname just like the other spirits who have met her before.
"It's Jisoo."
"... Just Jisoo?"
"Yeah. Why?" The spirit arches an eyebrow.
"Uh.. Nope, nevermind." Soojung waves her hand dismissively.
"This is in the future? What year is it now?" Years of work experience in home designing related field has got her some habit of observing structure and decoration first thing she enters any kind of building. The furnitures and household items seem not too different than the ones humankind use at recent time, nowhere near anything she saw in futuristic sci-fi movies.
"Four years ahead from your recent time."
"Oh.." And still she can't help but notice the bright yet simple style the house posseses, colour selection for every single element on it, a bit touch of Japan inspired design that favors wide space and nature essence; this house is probably made by Mijoo.

So you really build a castle huh?

"Then, where are we going now?" Soojung shakes that thought out immediately.
"We're not going anywhere. Take a seat and be comfortable." Jisoo states calmly, leading Soojung to the empty seat that suddenly appears out of nowhere.
She obliges while frowning in confusion. "But I don't know anyone here?"
"You'll see soon.."

And just right on the next minute, two familiar faces enter the room.

"Ooh our superstars tonight has came!" A man announces, and everyone cheer loudly.
Mijoo and a girl Soojung remembers as one of their junior in their college named Jung Yein make their way to the middle of crowd then sit on couch. But one thing that perks Soojung's interest is the two are holding hands closely, and she can notice there are same rings adorning their fingers.
"It's a pity that you two will soon leave us.. Who else would be the moodmaker when Mijoo isn't here." One of their friend says.
"Don't worry, we're moving to the U.S and not Mars, we're gonna go home once in a while or you guys can come visit us anytime!"

"Oh God.. Don't tell me they are what I'm thinking they are.." Realization finally dawns upon Soojung.
"You two rarely contacted each other after Christmas four years ago. She gave up on you and those two started dating not long after." Jisoo explains.
"What's myself doing right now?"
"You let her go. You were too coward to do anything." Soojung winces at the spirit's calm but sharp answer.

It isn't supposed to be this like this, is it?
There's this saying, if you tell lies to yourself enough times, you will end up believing them.
'This is fine.' Soojung kept saying to herself; when she rejected sincere care Mijoo gave her, when distance started forming between them and growing farther, when she forgot that she has a heart. And for once, Soojung thought she'd came to believe it completely, that she does not love Lee Mijoo.

"Four years ahead from recent time, Lee Soojung isn't part of Lee Mijoo's life anymore."

She supposed to be happy to hear that, no?

"No, this is not fine! I don't want this!"

"Are you sure? You will have a great career. In three years you'll manage to make a name for yourself and establish your own company.. There's a lot of people who's willing to kill to have such achievement in your age."
"And if we go further to the future, you'll eventually find someone else, you can get married and have family just like everybody else."

Future holds few options for human to weigh. And Soojung realizes she's holding two choices in her hands at this time. The first one Jisoo just whipped up before her sounds appealing; decent job, husband and children, normal life just like her parents and society has taught her.
But then again she look up to the figure sitting not too far in front of her, someone who was so close yet now feels like stranger. Mijoo who smiles lovingly at someone that is not her, who has dream that isn't including her, who's holding hand that isn't her hand, surrounded by people she never know; Mijoo who is not part of Soojung.

She can already decide.

"I don't want anything else, as long as I have Mijoo beside me."

Jisoo's lips curl into kind smile. "That's the answer I'm waiting for."
They hear bells ringing twelve times. "Now that you've finally found yourself back, it's time to go home."

"You once asked, where had dreams that dies before ever come true gone.." The spirit wounds her arms around Soojung smaller body and kiss her forehead goodbye. "I'll tell you the answer. They actually never die, they went back to the place where they were born.. Your fearless heart. They wait for you to remember and call them out once more."
"If one day ever you wonder same thing again, when you think you are losing way, and hardships blind you, remember this spell.. 'I have a dream.' It will guide you back to the path you've chose."
Jisoo's words start to fade gradually as Soojung falls unconscious.
"Have a merry christmas, dear Soojung."

---------------------

Soojung bolts upright the second she's awake, kicking her desk in the process but doesn't even bothered by sharp throbbing pain that is now creeping over her knee. She checks the clock on her computer, sighing in relieve because it says '2015 December 25'. That means she had been slept for just three hours. The longest three hour ever passed in her whole life.
Mijoo's face floats through her mind, and wasting no more time, Soojung grabs her coat and runs leaving her office.

---------------------

"Had a rough day?"
Mijoo opens her already heavy and stinging lids caused by glasses of alcohol she has swilled down in the past two hours.
"It's Christmas, cheer up a little!"
"Christmas huh.." The tall brunette chuckles at the sound she recognized as voice of bartender. "Christmas is the worst holiday ever."
"Hey, give me another shot."
"No."
"Why?" Mijoo complains as the bartender takes her Martini glass away instead of pouring more drink.
"Because your girl right there looks like she would kill if I let you down anything alcoholic more."

---------------------

Mijoo's gaze flicker over her.. Lover? Ex-lover? She can no longer describe their relationship status. The shorter girl walks over and takes an empty seat, her expression unfathomably solemn, and it takes all the last remaining thread of sanity inside Mijoo to not lurch forward and hold her tightly.

"So you finished your kitchen?" She forces a smile, shaky at best.

"I'm sorry."

A choked sob. And it sobers Mijoo right away to see lone tear escapes, falling through Soojung's cheek.
Lee Soojung never cries. Not in front of her.

"Soojung unnie, what's wrong?"

"Do you remember when I left to Seoul? When you told me to wait for you? It's actually not me, but you who's been waiting for me. Since I left, part of me died one by one, I always denied it but I.." Flood of tears erupt from dark brown eyes.
"I foolishly missed you. Like, you were always in front of the door but I never let you enter. I missed how we would go home together holding hands, I missed how you called my name without honorifics, and those time where you would ask me to sing you to sleep.." Soojung immediately pulled into strong arms, and on the next second she realizes Mijoo has been silently crying too.

I have a dream..

"Can we start over? I've once took you for granted, but this time I promise, I will never leave again."
Soojung feels the grip on their laced fingers is tightened, as the girl she loves so much nods and smiles at her.
"Yes." Mijoo whispers. "Yes. Thank you for coming back to me."
"I love you. I will always do."
And that's the only answer Soojung needs. Eyes locked at each other, they melt into the moment, then close their distance in passionate kiss.

My dream is us, live happily ever after.

---------------------

The next morning...

"Don't tell me you're working on another draft or I swear I'll uninstall every single interior designing programs in that freaking laptop."
Mijoo wakes up finding warm soul she held all night long has been replaced by pillows, and can't be more annoyed to see the so called warmth already moved to her working desk.
"Dummy.. I don't want to see CAD tools anymore either." The older girl retorts, dragging herself back to their bed she shows her laptop to her still sleepy lover. "Okinawa's temperature barely falling below 15 degrees during winter. Sounds good?"
"Oki.. What?"
"I'm booking our flight. Since you dislike cold, I looked up for a place that isn't too far but has warmer weather." Widely spreaded beach surrounded by coral reefs and white sands displayed on the screen.
Lee Soojung extends leave to go on vacation with me... Lee Soojung who was more willing to do college paperwork rather than play with me. So Christmas miracle does exist...
Mijoo is at loss for words, blinking and mouth gaping slightly. She probably looks like stunned-to-death fish right now because Soojung then stammers, "Uhm.. I mean.. Only if you want and have enough free time.." What if Mijoo has had another plan already?
"Let's go together, just two of us?" Realizing she just decided things one-sidedly, this time it's an ask instead of statement. Soojung has her lips adorably pressed together, shy eyes rolling to any direction but girl in front of her, and oh Lord is she actually fiddling her fingers like a literal nervous child? Mijoo almost burst squealing.
"Of course I want! God I love you so much how could you be so cute.."
"Stop saying embarassing thing!!" Soojung whines but doesn't resist when arms winded around her, bringing her down to the bed and kiss planted on her lips. "I love you too.."
"Wait.. Mijoo, stop!" The shorter girl suddenly extricates herself and pushes Mijoo slightly. "We have promise to meet Myungeun this afternoon!"
"What time is it?"
"Half past 11."
"..... Okay let's get moving now!"

They hastily spring out of bed to bathroom, bickering about who get to use it first and shoving each other playfully in front of mirror while brushing teeth, then back to joyful laughter.

Nothing better than holiday season.

---------------------

Merry Christmas everyone!

I went on xmas vacation with my family, actually planned to finish and post this during the trip but turned out I couldn't find time to write at all, so sorry for being late! I hope you like Souljoo Christmas Carol (another apologize for loads of grammatical mistakes, writing 6000++ words long story is definitely not something I excelled lol) Comments and critics are very appreciated!

As always, thank you for reading and subscribing >_<