L. Joe has just finished talking to Jinyoung on the phone when he himself is ‘rotting away’ in front of the fireplace. Christmas is exceptionally cold this year. Jinyoung tells him about his Christmas and L. Joe feels a little envious of his buddy. He tells L.Joe that he’s out of town right now, celebrating this Christmas with his mom and his other siblings. Jinyoung whines about having to listen to his bald uncle’s long speech over at tonight’s dinner, and how’s he’s not allowed to drink despite he’s an adult now. But L. Joe coaxes him by suggesting to secretly have a drink tonight when all his family’s members are out to church. But Jinyoung has to decline, saying his mom already forced him to tag along to the church. Then Jinyoung has to leave because his little cousins are already bugging him and poking him in his with forks and table knives.

            And when the phone line goes dead, he sighs as he slouches in his chair, wondering why he even bother to wake up this morning. It’s 4.00 pm when he hears a doorbell goes off. He reluctantly gets ups and shuffles over the door.

            “Surprise!” Kyumin excitedly exclaims with his arms open to his son.

Frowning, L. Joe mutters, “Dad?”

“Yes,” then his dad laughs outright. “What kind of dad leaves his awesome son behind on this Christmas Eve?” Kyumin leans in and hugs his son. L. Joe hugs back, faith in his awesome dad restored. As for Kyumin, he embraces his son so tight because he knows he won’t get many of this chance next.

“I’m really glad you’ve come home,” L. Joe says as soon as the hug breaks off and he steps aside to let his dad past him. He’s even taken aback when he sees his dad picks up some bags containing, perhaps, gifts for him and even tonight’s dinner.

“You bought all these?” He asks, following his dad’s footsteps like a little child.

“And it’s all for you,” Kyumin finally says as they both settle for a seat on the couch by the fireplace earlier. “Son, I wasn’t supposed to put my work first before you, I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a lousy father. You deserve so much better and I’m a failure.”

“Dad.” L. Joe’s voice firm. “You’re not a lousy father. You’re not a failure. It’s me. I’m not a good son to you. I haven’t even bought you anything. Yet.” He figures he’d make it if he dashes over to the mall after dinner tonight.

Kyumin’s eyes tear up as he cups his son’s face. He’s gonna miss this a lot. “I don’t care about any other gifts when I know I have a great son like you.”

L. Joe is truly touched by what his dad says. After all the nagging, it feels good to hear some good compliments. “Thanks dad.”

“Quick now, open up all your gifts.”

“But dad, aren’t we supposed to open them tomorrow’s morning?”

“Oh right!” Kyumin laughs off his silliness. “Well at least open some of them. I think I bought you too much stuff.”

“Heyyy,” L. Joe snaps. “You’re not gonna keep half of them for the next year’s Christmas, are you?”

His dad laughs again, tapping his son’s shoulder but L. Joe isn’t amused a bit. Son, I won’t be here when February comes.

“Haishh,” His dad sighs. “It’s cold. L. Joe-ah, I bought us dinner. Go serve them while I take a quick shower.”

“Dinner’s like in 3 hours dad.” But his eyes are eyeing his gift wildly instead of looking at his dad. There are thin Macbook, iPhone 4 and other bunch of cool stuffs in the bags which he used to beg on his knees when he asked for them early this year. “Dad, you’re really givin’ me all of this?”

“Take’m all son.”

“Oh my gosh!” He then takes out a pair of limited edition of Levi’s jeans. “Dad, have I told you I love you yet?”

“No,” his dad admits, shaking his head.

“I love you, dad,” L. Joe says with a cheesy smile as he pulls all his gifts close to his chest.

“I love you too son, a lot.”

* * *

            Hana and Shinhwan are all alone in the kitchen, busy preparing for their family dinner when Hana suddenly suggests that Kyumin and L. Joe should be invited over to this dinner.

            “They are after all, our family, right?” says Hana when she places the salad dressing on the table. “It’d be fun to have them come over, and talk about old times.”

            “You do?” Shinhwan asks, putting the Champagne on the table. “I did think of it, but I didn’t know you’d want to have them here.”

            “I thought we should do it while, you know…”

            “Okay,” Shinhwan nods. “I’ll call them right away. Meanwhile you go serve more plates on the table. It’s gonna be a fun Christmas Eve, I swear.” Shinhwan then leans in to his wife and press a soft kiss on his wife’s lips before going over to the living room to call his best friend.

            Minutes later Jiyeon comes downstairs, looking beautiful in her long sleeved dress that goes just below her knees. The pink dress complements her glowing white skins and her hair is tied back in a knot, making her neck looks slender and some hair strands falls perfectly without much effort. She looks breathless and her mom smiles wide when she looks at her as Jiyeon walks into the kitchen.

            “Am I overdressed, mom?”

            “No. You look gorgeous, sweetheart,” Hana praises with a warm gaze as she smiles at her blushing daughter.

            “I didn’t want to wear this dress at first, but I don’t have any matching dress that suit this shoes, except this dress, so I thought, let’s just wear it.”

            Her mom looks down at her feet and realizes that Jiyeon is wearing the brand new shoes her mom bought her for completing the school.

            “The dress looks great with the shoes, and I’m glad I pick the right shoes for you. I thought my great taste has died down when I get older you know.”

            “Omo…whose beautiful daughter is that?” Shinhwan’s echoing voice becomes clearer as he approaches the kitchen. “I didn’t know we had such stunning daughter.”

            Jiyeon’s face reddens once again and her mom laughs at her shyness.

            “Oh dad….”

            “You looks great, honey,” her dad compliments as he takes her in his bear hug.

            “Thanks dad.”

DING DONG.

            Their hug breaks off as Shinhwan excuses himself to get the door. He honestly can’t hide his excitement and that makes Jiyeon wonders.

            “Why is he grinning wide, mom?”

            “Who is, sweetheart?”

            “Dad. Did you not realize?”

            “Sweetheart, take this to the table will you?” Hana hands her daughter meat pie. “Guests have arrived and I don’t want the table to look empty.”

            Jiyeon takes the meat pie obediently. “Mom, the table doesn’t look empty. And who are our guests anyway?”

            “Get into the dining room, now.” Hana quickly shuffles upstairs to freshen up and change her clothes. “I need to go to my room first.”

            Jiyeon does as she’s told. She holds the meat pie firmly and walks over to the dining room. She places the meat pie in the center, next to the roasted rib. Jiyeon takes a moment to adore all the delicious food. Yummy!

            “Jiyeon dear, come here and greet Uncle Kyumin will you?” Her dad kindly asks from inside the living room, sending a momentarily shockwave through her body. Uncle Kyumin, as in L. Joe’s dad?

            “Coming, dad,” she answers, but her voice barely comes out. Jiyeon walks past a mirror and her step comes to a halt. Can’t believe she picked tonight to dress so pretty! This is going to be deadly embarrassing. As much as Jiyeon is not a tomboy, she rarely shows her feminine side to L. Joe. She’s nervous about what L. Joe’s going to think of her. He must be cracking up inside when he sees her like this. Oh Gosh!

            She leaves the dining room with her head scanning her own shoes. Every step she takes feel like a small crawl. When did living room feel hard to reach?

            “There you are…” Shinhwan finally breaks the conversation he had with Kyumin when he notices her daughter standing by the entrance to the living room. Jiyeon forces herself to smile genuinely as she approaches the two men in his fifties and one man her age.

            “Good evening,” she greets, meeting his eyes for a while.

            “Good morning to you too,” Kyumin manages with a smile. “Wow, you sure have grown a lot taller, and prettier as well.”

            She wants to thank Kyumin for the compliment, but somehow doesn’t manage to work up the word ‘thank you’ that she seems to just smile away her awkwardness. She surreptitiously glances over to L. Joe, only to find him raising a brow to her. Her gaze darts away from L. Joe that instance and she excuses herself to help her mom set the table.

            To her avail though, Hana comes into the living room, looking all dolled up for the dinner. “The table is set. C’mon now, let’s have dinner. We don’t wanna have a cold dinner, do we?”

            “You looks stunning, Hana,” Kyumin offers another compliment to other gorgeous-looking lady of the night. He then looks over to his friend who can’t seem to take his eyes off his wife. “You’re lucky to have 2 beautiful women in your life, Shinhwan.”

            Embarrassed by the sudden compliment, Shinhwan laughs it off before inviting his guests over for dinner.

* * *

            “Here’s the Champagne Classis 1900. Kyumin insists to bring it,” Shinhwan says to his wife as he hands the bottle to her.

            “Oh you don’t have to trouble yourself, Kyumin.” Hana takes the bottle into her arm to study the exquisite-looking champagne.

            “No. Like he says, I insist.”

            “Thank you so much,” Shinhwan adds. He then looks around the table to find everyone has sat gingerly on his own chair. “Dig in everyone,” he mutters with a big smile. It’s a big dinner anyway.

            Jiyeon helps herself with the meat pie first. She leans hand forward to cut a slice for herself, but she sits far from the center, so the pie is out of her reach. She’ll have to eat what’s closest to her, and it’s the fruit salad first. T.T

            “You want the pie, sweetheart?” Her mom suddenly asks when she notices Jiyeon’s long face. “Honey, would you?” She turns to her left to ask Shinhwan to cut the pie for their daughter, but Shinhwan is busy chatting away with Kyumin that her husband can’t seem to respond to his wife.

            “You want the pie?” L. Joe’s voice startles the ladies, and, Kyumin and Shinhwan suddenly stop chatting for a while to watch the drama.

            “Y-yes...” She swallows hard. “But I’ll eat the salad first. It’s not a big deal anyway.”

            “Wait, I’ll cut it for you.” L. Joe, who seems to lean forward easily, cuts a big slice for Jiyeon and he places the pie in his own plate. Then he holds his plate to exchange it with Jiyeon. “Here. Take mine.”

            Surprised by she just witnessed, Jiyeon takes the plate and she gives her own empty plate to L. Joe. She swears to God she never knew L. Joe could behave like a total gentleman. Wow. She’s amazed by this side of him.

            “Thanks…”

            L. Joe nods to her gratitude, and he gives her a short smile. Then he fills his new plate with ribs, and as he’s about to eat his dinner, he looks up to find his dad and Jiyeon’s parents are looking at him, extremely pleased with the scene just now. He raises his brow, wondering why they’re staring at him.

            “So, do you remember that time when we had…” Kyumin turns to Shinhwan and continues with their conversation earlier while Hana quickly grabs her glass of Champagne and begins drinking.

            “It’s a delicious rib,” L. Joe offers the compliment as he looks up and smile at Hana.

            “Well, thank you. Eat a lot, okay? Help yourself with any food you see on the table here.”

            “Won’t be a problem,” L. Joe answers with a small laugh.