“Do you remember the vacation plan Hoya and I made?” L. Joe asks as soon as the waiter has served them their hot cocos.

                “Uh huh.”

                “Yeah. It’s on!”

                “Really?” Jinyoung’s eyes go wide instantly. “That’s great. When? Where? WHEN?!”

                “My dad’s going to have to talk with his old friend first, then we’ll know when will it be.” That’s when L. Joe remembers that this vacation plan includes Jiyeon, which is not a problem for Jinyoung, but he always gets suspicious.

                “To talk about what? About the venue?”

                “No. Where we’re having this vacation isn’t the problem. But my dad, he wants to ask his friend to join us.”

                “I see,” Jinyoung nods. “I don’t mind really, as long as I’m out the town. I don’t like this town when it’s Christmas. It’s not that crowded since people have all gone back to their home. Seoul becomes quite for a moment. Besides, there are too many couple holding hands everywhere, I mean look around this café. There’s too much lovey dovey-ness going on. It kinda reminds me of lonely I am.”

                “Aigoo~ Go find yourself a girlfriend then.”

                “I have someone in mind though,” Jinyoung says, running his finger on the table. “Then again, it only stays in my mind.”

                “What do you mean? Is it a one-sided love? Who dares to reject uri Jinyoung?”

                Jinyoung shrugs. “I don’t think you’d understand it anyway.”

                “You’re not gonna tell me about it? Ya!” L. Joe suddenly holds his pendant firmly and shows it to Jinyoung. “Then, does this thing mean only this much to you? Just a freaking pendant? Is that what it is?”

                “No,” Jinyoung sighs. “L. Joe-ah, it’s not like that. And keep that pendant away. People are starting to look at us in a weird way.”

                True. People are beginning to take notice of L. Joe’s sudden outburst. Slowly, L. Joe composes himself as he slouches deep in his seat.

                “Tell me,” L. Joe says in a clipped tone. “Tell me or I’ll go berserk.”

                “Fine.” Jinyoung takes a few breathe in before he proceeds. “I have the biggest crush on someone.”

                Jiyeon. A sweet demure-looking girl who’s been L. Joe’s best friend for years is the first person to cross L. Joe’s mind. But he acts all cool about it and asks, “Who is it?”

                “Aish…”

                “Tell me already.”

                “It’s Jiyeon…”

                L. Joe gives a small nod. “Oh. I see.”

                Jinyoung’s brows faintly collided on one another. “You don’t seem surprised.”

                “Of course I don’t,” L. Joe sniggers. “From the day you met her, ‘I’M A FOOL FOR YOU’ has been writing all over your Goddamn face. I’m not blind you know.”

                Jinyoung laughs shortly as he hears that. “Really? Has it been that obvious?

                “Are you gonna tell her?” L. Joe asks, leaning back against the chair.

                “I think Imma tell her during this vacation, if that ever happens.”

                That will happen, L. Joe thinks. So Jinyoung will confess his feelings for her. And Jiyeon will probably accept him. It’s obvious that Jiyeon has a good impression on a good guy like him. She hardly ever fights with him, and he’s always been sweet to her.

                “I think that’s a good idea,” L. Joe says with a short smile. “If the vacation ever happens.”

                “It will, right?” Jinyoung looks anxious in all of a sudden.

                “It will,” L. Joe nods. “Don’t worry.”

* * *

                Jiyeon sits gingerly on her study desk, leafing through a teen magazine when her eyes look outside the window, coming across a walking figure; hands in pockets and head down, looking at his own shoes. It must be L. Joe. She can tell from the way he walks. She quickly dashes downstairs to meet him after she grabbed something from inside her drawer.

                L. Joe is surprised by Jiyeon’s sudden appearance when the front gate opens to reveal her smiling at him under the night lights.

                “What the f- oh! Hello Jiyeon,” L. Joe gathers himself together. He clears his throat before walking up to her. “I almost cursed, you know.”

                She giggles as she brushes her hair off her cheek. The winds are blowing quite strong tonight.

                “It’s cold,” he says. “Get inside.”

                “I will, but first, here,” Jiyeon says as she hands him a gift wrapped with a silver and pink socks illustration. “Merry Christmas.”

                “Oh wow. Gee, thanks a lot.” Feeling embarrassed about himself for not having her gift in his pockets right now, L. Joe wears a genuinely guilty look upon his face as he runs her gaze towards her smile. “I- I don’t have your gift with me…”

                “It’s okay. It’s still Christmas until New Year comes by.”

                “I’m really sorry.” L. Joe runs his fingers apologetically against the plastic wrapper that it produces a squeaky sound and startles almost both of them. “Sorry,” he adds.

                “It’s okay. I know you too well. Just bring your gift tomorrow to my house. We’re having our annual Christmas Open House, and obviously, you’re invited. And FYI, I’ve also invited Hoya and Jinyoung as well. So, maybe you guys could come together tomorrow, and bring more gifts with you.” And then she snorts to her greedy self.

                “Awesome,” he breathes out with a great relief. “Guess I’ll-I mean, we’ll see you tomorrow.”

                “Guess you guys will. Goodnight, L. Joe”

                “Goodnight.”

* * *

                                The guests in Jiyeon’s house are getting into a larger number when the sun sets for the night. It’s eight 0’clock in the evening and Hana is busy welcoming all the guests while her husband is chatting away with old friends that he hsan;t seen in ages.

                Jiyeon on the other hand, is definitely having a good time on her own doing some dinner work in the kitchen. They don’t get much help from the caterers, so Hana asked her daughter to personally prepare any light desserts for the guest.

                “How are you coping, sweetheart?” Hana’s sudden voice makes Jiyeon’s heart jump that she almost loses grip of the tray that bears two jugs of orange juice.

                “Barely, mom,” she sighs. “I need to take this outside.”

                “Lemme handle it,” Hana says to her sweating daughter as she takes the tray from her. “Go outside and entertain your guests.”

                “My guests?”

                “I think L. Joe has arrived, with his dad and a couple of his close friends, I suppose.”

                “Oh.” She gasps. “My guests. Okay then.” Jiyeon hurriedly walks away but her mom somehow manages to stop her.

                “What’s wrong?” Jiyeon asks.

                “You’re sweating. Wipe your sweat off first, sweetheart.”

                Jiyeon carefully takes out her mom’s handkerchief from her own dress and keeps it back to where she took it.

                “Isn’t that mine?” Hana narrows her eyes. “And it’s pure silk from India!”

                Jiyeon says nothing to her mom but chuckles her way out of the kitchen. She only takes a couple of steps before bumping into Jinyoung. What a pleasant surprise!

                “Hi,” Jinyoung quickly manages as he straightens his loose tie.

                “You look great in tux,” she compliments unconsciously. WAIT. Jiyeon frowns as she lowers her head. That was embarrassing, she thinks.

                “Thank you. You look gorgeous by the way.”

                Jiyeon gives him a small smile. “Huh. I doubt that.”

                “No,” Jinyoung’s voice is firm. “I’m being honest. You look really beautiful this evening.”

                Slowly Jiyeon runs her gaze to meet his. “Thank you,” Though the words barely make it out from .

                “So,” Jinyoung grins awkwardly as they both walk away together. “Merry Christmas.”

                “Thanks. Merry Christmas to you too.” Jiyeon is very much self-conscious about her flaming red cheek every time she looks him in his eyes.

                “I’ve got a lil sumthin’ sumthin’ for you.” And then, Jinyoung shyly takes out a small box from his back pocket.

                “Oh God.” Jiyeon carefully takes the small box into her hands and hold it firm. There’s no way she’s letting that go for tonight. “Thanks a lot. I have a lil sumthin’ sumthin’ for you as well, but it’s up in my room. Can you wait for a bit?”

                “Y-yeah okay. I’ll wait.”

                She grins stupidly at him before rushing upstairs in her red dress. “I feel so silly.”

                “It’s okay. I’ll wait here.”

                “Where’s she going?” Hoya comes from Jinyoung’s behind, holding two glasses of eggnog, each in his one hand.

                “Two eggnogs?” Jinyoung raises his left brow.

                “Cuz they’re super delicious.”

                “Why can’t you drink one at a time, Hoya?”

                “Because, that way, I won’t live.”

                “Whut?” Jinyoung’s small eyes get even smaller.

                “Cheers,” Hoya raises his eggnogs to his confused friend before he walks away. The eggnog in his right hand is almost out.

                “Where’s he going?” L. Joe asks from Jinyoung’s behind, holding two slices of apple pie, each in his hands.

                “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

                “What?” L. Joe raises his brow.

                “Nothing. Aren’t you gonna get some more pie? You’re one bite away from that pie in your left hand- wait, do you eat with your left hand?”

                L. Joe flashes a warning look at Jinyoung for giving him such an absurd remark. “I don’t eat with my left hand. It just happens that this pie in my left hand is slightly more delicious that the other one.”

                “Whut?” And again, Jinyoung narrows his small eyes. “Just- leave, please.”

                “Whatever.” L. Joe then walks away.

                “Hey,” Jiyeon greets from Jinyoung’s behind, and he swears he feels more at ease.

                “Hey,” he greets back.

                “So, here’s your gift. Ta-da~” Jiyeon opens up her palm to reveal a chocolate bar. A small red and green bow is glued on its shiny wrapper. “I meant to wrap it, but wouldn’t it be obvious that I gave you a chocolate bar, so instead I bought this small ribbon and glued it on its wrapper. I hope it looks sincere though.”

                “So sincere,” Jinyoung teases as he takes the bar from her pink palm. “Are you cold?”

                “No,” she blushes. “My palms happen to be in this color.”

                “I see,” Jinyoung smiles. “Thanks for the chocolate.”

                “Oh there you are, sweetheart,” Hana suddenly calls from behind and both Jinyoung and Jiyeon turn away to Hana.

                “Mom,” Jiyeon says. “What’s wrong?”

                “It’s…” Hana then realizes a handsome young man is standing to her right, smiling a little awkwardly at her. “Oh, is this your friend, or L. Joe’s?”

                “He’s Jinyoung. My friend, and L. Joe’s.”

                Jinyoung offers a handshake to Hana and the woman accepts it as she gives her a friendly eye-smile. “Hello, I’m Hana.”

                “Jinyoung. Very nice to meet you.”

                “The pleasure’s mine, young man. How do you enjoy this small gathering? I hope you don’t find much trouble. We’re a bit short of help, you see.”

                “It’s very lovely,” Jinyoung says politely.

                “Thank you,” Hana smiles. Then she turns to her daughter. “Oh dear, I almost forgot. Jiyeon, your grandma calls for you. She wants you in the living room. We’re putting on our home videos on the big screen tonight. You grandma insists it.”

                “Home videos?”

                “Jinyoung-ah,” Hana then turns to Jinyoung again. “You don’t want to miss this. You get to see your friend here,” Hana slightly nudges Jiyeon in her elbow. “how naughty she was when she was little.”

                “Really?” Jinyoung couldn’t help himself from grinning wide.

                “C’mon now. Let’s hurry up or your grandma might shout her lungs out for you.” Hana grabs both of Jinyoung and Jiyeon’s hands into the livig room. When they arrive, people are already gathering in front of the big screen. All eyes on scree, including L. Joe’s and his smiling dad.

                Something feels bad, Jiyeon thinks and she watches on the video. When the video finally stops, she thought it was over, until another scene comes off from the big screen. There were two kids, all dressed in muds and dirts and they both waved in sync at the camere.

                “Hey what’s up...it’s L. Joe-gun~” Little L. Joe came up close into the camera, flashing his one missing tooth. It wasn’t long before little Jiyeon shoved him out of the view.

                “Move, you big-headed alien. Do you want to scare ghosts away with that ugly set of teeth of yours?” Then Little Jiyeon quickly grins in front of the camera, shyly she begins, “Please forgive my ugly bestfriend. Oh by the way, I’m Jiyeon.”

                And the whole group of people start to laugh, especially Jiyeon’s grandma. But the situation becomes silently awkward between Jiyeon, Jinyoung and Hoya. L. Joe, on the hand, keeps his cool as he chews on the apple pie. His eyes are still on screen even though he could sense glances from the corner of his eyes.

                “Dude,” Hoya whispers into L. Joe’s left ear. “I see little you in Jiyeon’s home video. Dafuq is that, huh?”

                But instead of looking back at Hoya, L. Joe turn sideway to notice Jiyeon looking in his direction while Jinyoung is looking in her direction. She looks genuinely surprised, and a little panicky.

                “Out of other ordinary days,” L. Joe sighs. “Today should be the day when everything is revealed? Oh brother~"