Odori Park is magnificient and joyous. Tourists from all over the world fill half of the enormous park while half of it is dominanated by local people. Everyone seem happy and in their New Year mood. Jiyeon, Jinyoung and Hoya saunter along the perimeter of the park, hoping to get away from the loud crowd while the grown ups and occupy themselves with the buzzing stalls the open across the park.

 The highlight of the night is that, despite being in New Year mood, the Snow Festival still lives on because, obviously, it is still winter time. Trees along the park are illuminated and they shine bright across the Sapporo town. Jinyoung says that the event is called white illumination between two streets, that are on each side of the park. However the roads tonight are closed for New Year event. The big stage is set up right in front of the clock tower, displaying the ticking digital clock in big red letters.

It is only less than 7 minutes until the final countdown, and the crowd begins to close in and gather around the big stage. Kyumin and the gang stand on the leftside of the audience where they have big screen flashing numbers in front of them. Jiyeon beams instinctively as she turns to Jinyoung and Hoya. Them three may not be as close as they're all with L. Joe but they appreciate evey moment and enjoy one another's presences.

Jinyoung, who happens to stand between Jiyeon and Hoya, raises both of his hands and put them around their shoulders, pulling them in. Hoya raises his gaze over at his best friend and tilt his head a little.

"First countdown ever without L. Joe," Hoya says. "Not bad."

Jinyoung laughs humorlessly and nods his head. "Yeah, but let's not tell him this."

 "I won't," Hoya mutters, and bends slightly forward to look at Jiyeon. "And what about you? How do you think about tonight's celebration? Better than your last year's?"

 "I don't know," Jiyeon shrugs as she glances at Hoya under the bright illuminating white lights."I've never celebrated New Year with friends. I always keep it low key with my family."

 "You mean you never hang out with your friend on countdown nights?"

 "Nope," Jiyeon shakes her head. "I wasn't much of a people person back in high school."

 "You mean you don't have real friends?" Hoya asks bluntly with wide eyes. Then he retreats and composes himself after Jinyoung gives him a warning look. "I mean, why didn't you mix around like a normal person?"

 "Hoya," Jinyoung says firmly, clenching his jaw.

 "I mean," Hoya chokes, his voice cracking."Why...?" Jiyeon grins at Hoya's distinct change of face expression.

 "It's okay." Her voice is gentle and comforting. "I did mix around, but I guess we didn't get too close."

 Hoya nods and keeps his mouth shut until the rest of the last minutes of 2012. The crowd finally cheers when a western old man comes up on stage with a microphone. He begins talks about days he lived for the past months, and reminds everyone to live every moment to the fullest because you don't know when you will go, or when someone you love will go. And life's about give and take, he says, as things in life go around and come back around. You give respect, you gain respect and if you give attitude, you gain attitude. Crowda are cheering and clapping enthusiastically when he ends his short speech to give way to countdown.

 Hoya lifts his gaze from his phone and turns to Jinyoung. He leans close into his ears. "Who's he?" Hoya shouts underneath the loud chant. "He's too famous for a guy who gives some mushy speech off of the internet."

 "Some guy from the gabenor office."

 "How do you know?"

"I heard whispers."

 "Right," Hoya drawls and continues with his texting. "But he doesn't look Asian enough to me."

 "I don't know," Jinyoung shrugs. "Maybe he has enough Asian inside him."

"Don't troll me, Jinyoung." Jinyoung and Jiyeon turn to each other and burst out laughing.

Then some lady on stage dressed up in Japanese traditional kimono begins to bang a gong to start the final countdown. The countdown begins from second 20. Soon enough the crowds begin to yell the number down in synchronization. They all raise their arms and throw their arms upwards as ecstasy is overflowing from everyone's New Year spirit.

 "10...9...8..." The crowd all cry in one banging voice.

 "7...6...5..." Jiyeon gives Jinyoung a toothy grin, feeling excited from the whole merry situation.

"4...3...2..." Jinyoung curls his fringers around Jiyeon's and raises one brow at her. "ONE!" The cheer is then followed by a loud continuous rumbling of the firecrackers in the night sky that go off briefly afterwards. "Happy New Year, you guys!" Hoya leans in close towards Jiyeon and Jinyoung with a big smile plastered across his handsome face.

 "Happy New Year, Hoya," Jiyeon nods and gives him a friendly hug. She then turns to Jinyoung and flungs open her arms and embraces Jinyoung. "And a very Happy New Year to you too, Jinyoung. Thank you for being my good friend." Jinyoung smiles with an embarrassed look on his face as he slowly lets go of the hug.

 "You too."

 "C'mon now," Jiyeon says after a fixing the crease on her jacket. "Let's find my parents."

 ***

Jinyoung and Hoya both bid Jiyeon goodbye and goodnight once they both pass her room. Jiyeon goes in as soon as she waves them goodbye. Hoya then puts one arm around Jinyoung's shoulder and gives him a playful raise in his thick brows.

 "Apart from getting a pair of knitted gloves that you keep away in your pockets, you also managed to get a hug from your crush as another New Year's gift. I would say, not bad, my friend. Not bad."

 Jinyoung gently shoves Hoya's arm and inserts a key into the keyhole to the door. He unlocks the door and they both enter. "She hugged you too, Hoya," Jinyoung says as-matter-of-factly, though there isn't any trace of jealousy or disappointment on his face.

 "Well, yeah she did," Hoya shrugs as he takes oh the outer layer of his clothes and hooks it to the coat hanger. "But I bet the feelings were different. She must have liked it more when she hugged you." Jinyoung's face starts to turn red.

"You think so?"

 "I know so."

 "Thanks buddy. And a Happy New Year." Jinyoung walks over to Hoya and hugs him tight.

 "I'm touched by your kind words as I find it rare for you to utter such words."

"I know," Hoya nods once, giving a pat on Jinyoung's back. L. Joe, who emerges from the kitchen with a glass of warm milk in his right hand, smiles a erted smile upon catching his two best friends make out in front of the shoe cupboard.

 "Wow, okay I'm feeling a little left out here," L. Hoya pulls his mouth into a pout as he approaches them two. Hoya pulls himself back slightly and throws one arm open.

 "I honestly don't mind if we group-hug for New Year's sake," says Hoya.

 "Oh my God okay I love you guys but I won't hesitate to kill you guys if you tweet about this and ruin my reputation." L. Joe then throws himself into the big hug and embraces his beloved friends.

"Oh my God, I'm tearing up a bit over here," Jinyoung says with fake soft sobs.

 "Lemme kiss that tears away," Hoya purrs as he brings his face close to Jinyoung's.

L. Joe playfully shoves Hoya's face away to save Jinyoung. "Don't," L. Joe yells. "He's mine! Only I can kiss him!"

 "No," Jinyoung then makes a getaway from the two erted beings who start to run after him.

"I give up," Hoya stop halflway, panting, and then finds a soft spot to land his tired body. "He's not yours, L. Joe."

 "He is so." L. Joe shoots a love-wink right away to his smiling Jinyoung before gazing back at Hoya.

 "No," Hoya argues. "He's Jiyeon's. He's totally hers when she gave him a hug just now at the coutndown."

That is when L. Joe stops smiling and abruptly turns to face Jinyoung.

"What?" L. Joe tries to control the tone of his voice. "What was it that you said?"

 "I said," Hoya breathes out. "Jinyoung is totally Jiyeon's."

 "What do you mean?"

 "She hugged her just now. And he has mentally gone wrong ever since. He totally forgot what floor we live in. Can you believe this lovesick over here?" Hoya grabs a pillow and throws it over to Jinyoung.

"Shut up, Hoya," Jinyoung smiles sheepishly as he catches the pillow and hugs it. "It was a friendly hug. I mean, come on, she hugged both of us."

 "I saw her whispered something in your ear," Hoya snaps. "Besides, me and L. Joe already knows how much you like her. Why didn't you tell her you like her?"

 L. Joe's face turns even paler at Hoya's outburst question. If anyone actually pays close attention to L. Joe, his face is white as sheet and it's not from the fever, but from the stopping blood flow to his head.

"I will, soon." Jinyoung then gets up. "C'mon now, it's late. Let's sleep."

 "So you can have more time to dream about Jiyeon," Hoya chortles gleefully as he pokes into Jinyoung's red cheek before making an escape into his room.

 "Shut up, gosh, you're annoying." Jinyoung rolls his eyes. He turns around when he realizes L. Joe is still sitting on the couch, spacing out. Jinyoung waves his hand twice before L. Joe startled.

"What?" He asks blankly.

 Jinyoung raises his brow in appraisal. “What do you mean, what? It's late. Let's hit bed right now."

"Oh," L. Joe gasps. "Okay. C'mon."

***

 The next day, Tuesday is a cold, slightly snowy day. Jiyeon decides to get ready early for this morning trip to the Mount Moiwa for breakfast. She personally looks forward to this one because in order to get to the restaurants at the upper station at Mount Moiwa, they first must ride on cable car, Morris. It has been awhile since she last rode one, so she really looks forward to experience it once again, what more in this snowy weather. The view must be breathtaking, she's certain. Jiyeon puts on the warmest outfit for today, a white Kappa sweater, a pair of blue denims and a sleeveless, orange winter jacket with furry hooded. She takes a pair of hot packs and stuff one each into her jacket pockets. Jiyeon glances at the watch around her wrist. The time is 7.12 am, and she assumes that everyone is still in bed. The breakfast date is at 9.00 am anyway. She has some free time to herself for the time being, and she doesn't mind going out of her room now to take some private tour around Grand Hirafu Resort. The time is 7.30 when she leaves her room.

I know it's a lil late, but, HAPPY NEW YEAR YOU WONDERFUL READERS <3

Giving you guys a double update as my New Year gift :3