The day is December 25^th and it is a day worth waking up early to and L. Joe definitely agrees to that. He knows he doesn’t have much to do around the house besides have his usual morning shower, eat his usual breakfast with his usual dad, but he’s thankful enough for that. He has today, and he has loads of new awesome presents from his dad that he hasn’t gotten the chance to open them yet. He knows he has to stick to the old traditional ritual thingy where you could only open your presents in the morning, so that’s probably the reason why he hasn’t managed to find out what other cool stuffs his dad has in store for him. And he has to admit, feeling eager about something unknown is quite a wonderful feeling. It makes you human.

               L. Joe puts on his long sleeved shirt layered a red winter jacket. He’s indoor, but who cares? He makes his own friggin’ rules and no one gets to tell him what to do. Except his dad.

               “You look ridiculous wearing a fur jacket inside the house, son,” his dad simply comments without even tearing his eyes off the newspapers when L. Joe goes downstairs.

               “Yeah, merry Christmas to you too, dad,” L. Joe snaps with obvious annoyance. He pretends like his dad hasn’t said anything about his appearance, and he continues to make way to the big fake decorative Christmas tree in the living room.

               “You have any plans for today?” His dad asks and he joins L. Joe in the living room. He sits in his usual comfy couch in front of the fireplace with hot coco by his right.

               “I don’t know. Everyone has their own Christmas plans. Dad,” he says as he looks up to his dad, holding a wrapped box in his hands. “Christmas is about family, right?”

               “That’s what they all say,” Kyumin answers.

               “Don’t you think it would be, I don’t know- reasonable and most normal if we kinda spend a kinda quality time of dad and son thingy which we hardly had done before..?”

               Kyumin makes it clear on his face when a smile begins to lift the edges of his mouth, fading all the small wrinkles around his lips. “I’m listening.”

               “Great,” L. Joe exclaims as he breaks the news. “So, Hoya and I, and couple of our close friends decide that why don’t we spend this weekend, at some fancy hotel, together with all of our families, and we’re like, going to have some sort of a big vacation, you know, to celebrate Christmas and New Year, together.” He emphasizes the word together particularly.

               Kyumin wears a totally blank expression. He does hope for more time with his son, but not this way, and he thought that this particular idea is bad. He’s dying, so why not attach to more people? -.-

               “What for?” Kyumin asks with a sigh.

               “Spending more time with your family. You know, we can get to know each other better, enjoy each other’s company…stuff like that…” L. Joe’s tone of voice gets lower and his face almost frowns, puzzled. “You don’t like it?”

               “I do want us to spend more time, but maybe it should include just you and me, and a fancy hotel.”

               L. Joe sighs slowly and as he takes in more breathes, he tries to smile big. “I guess it could work. You, me and a big fancy hotel…yeah, it’s not a bad idea actually.”

               “Or,” his dad suddenly says and his expression changes at once. Brighter. “We could still have the vacation, with Jiyeon’s family, right? Right?”

               L. Joe opens his brown eyes wide and his brows collide on each other at the mention of Jiyeon’s family. What the is this?

               “Whaaadt..?” He chokes.

               “What do you mean what?” Kyumin starts to laugh shortly. “I honestly think this idea is terrific. We could still bond, and enjoy each other’s company, like you wanted. There’s nothing wrong with that, right? Instead of having your close friends into this vacation, why not we include your childhood friend. At least I know I won’t have a hard time getting to know them.”

               “Dad,” he says, looking at his dad and looking more serious now than when his dad decided to ground him for a month because he was caught making out in the car garage. “Look, as much as I appreciate having Jiyeon and her family with us on this vacation, but don’t you think it’s more appropriate if you start to get to know my non-childhood friend’s family first? I mean you barely know Jinyoung’s last name.”

               “I know his last name. It’s…” Then Kyumin starts to space out for awhile. “Wait, he’s that kid with awesome, perfectly worked out biceps right?”

               “That’s Hoya, dad.” L. Joe smirks. “Way to go, Mr. Who He Thinks He Knows It All. Look, bottom line is, I would genuinely prefer to have Hoya or Jinyoung with us, and not Jiyeon.”

               “Why?”

               “Because, they’re my best friends, dad.”

               “What about Jiyeon?”

               “Yeah, she’s too, but in a different way. First of all, she’s a girl. Girls do girly things, okay. Second of all, you already know her family. And lastly,…no offence but, would it kill if you start to know what Jinyoung’s last name is and find out how Hoya got those perfectly worked out biceps?”

               Kyumin rakes through his grey hair. He pauses for seconds. If he agrees to L. Joe’s, he’ll get more bonded to more people, which he least prefer now that he knows he’ll die any soon. And it’s more likely that L. Joe will spend more time with his buddies instead of him in this so-called family vacation. Then the bulb lights up and he knows jus what to do.

               “Fine,” Kyumin finally says and this causes a big smile drawn across L. Joe’s handome face. “We’ll do both.”

               “Huh?” He loses his dad’s point.

               “We’ll do both. You can bring your friends and I can bring mine. Fair and square. And this idea truly rocks, I know.”

               “For real? Like, you’re really serious?” A smile on L. Joe’s face changes his entire countenance, totally different from how he looked when he first mentioned this vacation idea.

               “I am, son.”

               “Okay,” L. Joe says. “This ides truly, dad. Thanks.”

               And his dad raises his brow to it.

               “So when can we start packing?”

               “I’ll talk about this to Shinhwan first. Then we’ll decide the date. But it won’t be long. I don’t suppose there’re many available hotels right this festive season.”

               “It’s okay, dad. I know you have your own way on getting the rooms. But, do you think Jiyeon’s family is going to agree with this?”

               “I believe so.”

               “Okay then.” L. Joe proceeds with unwrapping gifts which he left earlier. “Wait.” He raises his head again. “Is this a deal?”

               “It is.”

               “You rock, dad. And merry Christmas.”

               “Merry Christmas to you too, son,” Kyumin wishes back with a small smile, but it brings an endless amount of love and hope for his son.

* * *

               That night, L. Joe receives a text message from Jinyoung when he is playing video game.

               Get your out here, man.

               “Jinyoung?” He mumbles for a second before replies to his friend.

               Out where?  is his reply.

               Another text from Jinyoung is received a couple of seconds later. Out here in front of your house. Come quickly!

               Oh! Jinyoung’s back! L. Joe gets up to his feet quickly and dashes out into the front yard. He smiles big when he sees Jinyoung waving at him, looking just as excited as he is.

               “My baby~” L. Joe runs towards his best friend and he hugs him even before Jinyoung opens his arms to welcome him in. L. Joe literally throws himself into his hug, causing Jinyoung to move back a little from the force.

               “Ya!” Jinyoung yells but there’s not a note of annoyance in his tone. “You missed me, eh?”

               “Crazy jerk!” L. Joe yells as well. “Do you have any idea of how I’ve spent my Christmas? Do you know how lonely I feel? I can’t believe you were willing to follow your mom and leave your best friend here all alone.”

               “I’m sorry,” Jinyoung mutters, grinning. “I’m back now aren’t I?”

               “I see,” L. Joe nods with a cold look as they break the hug off. “So, what finally brings you here?”

               Jinyoung smiles at L. Joe and he suddenly breaks into a short laughter when he remembers what makes his mom comes home early. “I threatened my mom, you know. I told her, if we didn’t manage to come back to Seoul this evening, I would go back alone. And also that I would never acknowledge his boyfriend as my step dad.”

               “You said that?” Unconsciously L. Joe begins to smiles genuinely and street lights capture his eyes and they shimmer in the dark like little child’s eyes. He feels really good about tonight. He has his best friend now. Jinyoung has always spent his Christmas with L. Joe, but when Jinyoung said that he had to follow his mom; celebrating Christmas away from here, L. Joe feels sudden emptiness. There won’t be any Christmas for him if he’s going to celebrate it without his best friend. Besides, Hoya isn’t as sensitive as Jinyoung.

               “I did,” Jinyoung smiles.

               “Awesome best friend is awesome!” L Joe shouts as he offers Jinyoung a high-5 and he takes it gladly. Then they both laugh.

               “I can’t let you spend another worthless Christmas, you punk. What would that make me? You have only me, right?”

               “Don’t crazy-talk, man. Where should I place my dad if I only have you?”

               “In his office.”

               Then they crack into another hysteric laughter. What a fun night, L. Joe thinks.

               Jinyoung takes out something out if his winter jacket pocket and he hands the small box to L. Joe. “Merry Christmas, you sad scumbag.”

               “Ya!” L. Joe playfully shoves Jinyoung backwards before he takes the box in hesitant. “What’s this?”

               “Well, it is Christmas. So…”

               “You got me a freaking gift?” L. Joe eyes the box intently. “Ya! Why did you get me such a small gift?”

               “Just be thankful, okay?” Jinyoung scoffs.

               “I will, if you give me a bigger one.”

               “!” Jinyoung spits under his breathe and causes L. Joe to chuckle.

            “Don’t be mad,” he purrs. “Kumapta-ing~” L. Joe whispers the word in a bright expression. “Can I open it?”

            “You can,” Jinyoung shrugs.

            “Ohoho~ I wonder what you have here for meh~” L. Joe tears the green wrappers with little Santa cartoon on it and he can’t help but smile all the way until he finds a small box in it.

            L. Joe opens the box and he finds a silver letter ‘B’ attached to a black leather string. He takes the ‘B’ pendant and holds it in front of his face. A pendant?

            “A pendant?” He says.

            “Yes,” Jinyoung agrees. “I got you a freaking awesome pendant with a freaking awesome letter ‘B’. You don’t like it?”

            “For a minute there I thought you were gonna propose to me or something,” L. Joe breathes out his relief.

            “You crazy punk. Why in the world would I propose to you?”

            “Cause’ you’re crazy in love with me,” L. Joe coolly says without tearing his eyes off the sliver pendant. “What does this ‘B’ mean?”

            “. Bastard. And pretty much Byunghun. It’s your name.”

            “Tctch!” He scoffs and smirks at Jinyoung. “Ya! ? Bastard? Are you losing your sanity?”

            “Hehehe…” Jinyoung sniggers. He shrugs before take the pendant from L. Joe’s hand. “Well, ’B’ stands for Byunghun. Best friend. And-”

            “And?”

            “I’ve told you. . Bastard. Gosh, what did you expect?”

            “Jerk,” L. Joe glares at Jinyoung, grabbing back his silver pendant. “This is mine. And I’ll only agree to accept Byunghun and Best Friend.”

            “Okay,” Jinyoung smiles at him. Then he holds up his hand. “Now, gimme my gift.”

            “You see, I have a funny story regarding your Christmas gift…” L. Joe says matter-of-factly as he puts his arms round Jinyong’s shoulder and they both walk outside the lawn. “One day, I thought of buying you gift for this Christmas. However, I kinda forgot to buy you one. The end.”

            “What?” Jinyoung gives out a humourless laugh. He squints his eyes to L. Joe; who doesn’t show a bit of sympathetic expression. “YA! You…ah fine, I got it. Okay, fine. Goodbye. You’ll never heard of me anymore, you ungrateful punk.”

            “Ya Jinyoung-ah! I was kidding!” He runs to catch up with Jinyoung. “Don’t go! Gosh, how sensitive! Look, I was just kidding!”

* * *

            “Here you go,” L. Joe places a wrapped box in front of Jinyoung. “Merry Christmas, my dude~”

            “Crazy,” Jinyoung says as he takes the box. He tears the wrapper away and discovers a wooden box engraved a letter J on it. “You made me this box?”

            “It was specially crafted. I asked some guy at the antique store to get it done for me. I’m sorry I don’t carve woods, dude,” he says regretfully. “It would’ve been much more valuable if I did it for yah.”

            “It’s okay,” Jinyoung shrugs as he eyes the box carefully. “I didn’t make you the pendant. We’re even I guess.”

            “I guess so,” L. Joe says with a big smile. “You can put just about any thing you want in it. Keep some of our memories in it. We’ll be on our ways when it’s time to go to college, right?”

            “Aww man,” Jinyoung sighs. “It’s always the college, right?”

            “I know right…”

            “Thanks dude,” Jinyoung looks at his best friend with a genuine smile. “I really appreciate this.”

            “Just don’t in that box. It’s not normal,” L. Joe teases.

            “Yah!” Jinyuong flashes L. Joe a warning look. But that only makes L. Joe bursts out laughing.

            “Oh God, it’d be really funny if you actually pooped in that.”

            “Ya Lee Byunghyun! Stop it, you disgusting lil’ troll!”