NEW TEXT MESSAGE

From: Hyukjae

Merry Christmas Eve, Hyoyeonnie~^^

Hyoyeon instinctively scowled at the message. She wasn’t particularly thrilled, waking up at nearly eight in the morning to a text like that. Didn’t that boy know better than to disrupt her sleeping hours? Hyoyeon was incredibly thankful for the extra bit of sleep she was getting since CEO Kim Young-min, at long last, decided to give the nine girls two days of no schedules as a break.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The other eight girls displayed their unhappiness loudly. Hyoyeon didn’t mind--she wasn’t a huge fan of Christmas to begin with. The music, the colors, just the traditional yearly festive cheer in the air was all a bit irritating to her. Everyone seemed a bit too happy for normalness, and Hyoyeon didn’t like it. The girls dubbed her “The Grinch”, for her intense hatred, if she could call it that, towards the jolly holiday known as Christmas.

“Unnie, are you up?”

Hyoyeon turned her head to the side to see Seohyun sitting on her bed Indian-style.

She frowned. “Seohyun, what are you doing?”

“Morning exercises and stretches and a little meditation,” the maknae responded with a smile.

Hyoyeon simply rolled her eyes. “Hyoyeon-unnie, it’s really calming, you should try it.”

“Are you implying that I’m a stressful person?” Hyoyeon sat up, folding her arms.

“Well, you’re so grumpy this month,” Seohyun mused, “And this week especially.”

“You know why,” Hyoyeon huffed, “It’s almost Christmas.”

“But it’s such a beautiful time of the year!” Seohyun argued, “And it only comes once a year, so why not enjoy and cherish that magical time while it lasts?”

Hyoyeon merely stared at Seohyun, slightly amused, and climbed out of bed. She walked up to Seohyun and gave her a little pat on the shoulder.

“You can’t change my mind,” the blonde said, as she began forming a reply to Eunhyuk.

Almost immediately after she finished sending the text, she received a reply.

NEW TEXT MESSAGE

From: Hyukjae

How could you hate Christmas so much?! You make me so depressed for you...

Seohyun was peering over Hyoyeon’s shoulder. “I agree with Eunhyuk-oppa. No one hates Christmas.”

“Some people do,” Hyoyeon retaliated, tossing her phone on her bed and not bothering to reply to Eunhyuk’s text.

“Well, even all of the grumpy and mean people turn nice, for one day.” Seohyun pointed out smartly

“I’m gonna go make breakfast,” Hyoyeon responded, ignoring Seohyun’s comment.

“But unnie, no one else is awake yet!” Seohyun called to her, running to the doorway.

“I’m hungry!” Hyoyeon retaliated, holding a hand to her stomach.

Seohyun sighed softly and stepped back into the bedroom. Being the well-mannered and organized person she was, Seohyun began straightening up Hyoyeon’s bed. She fixed the sheets and arranged the pillows in an orderly fashion, but suddenly came across a phone, Hyoyeon’s phone. Out of natural curiosity, the young girl tapped the phone, illuminating the screen. It said that there was a new text message.

From Eunhyuk, Seohyun guessed.

She felt a bit guilty for intruding, but perhaps what Eunhyuk sent was important?

NEW TEXT MESSAGE

From: Hyukjae

Give me like 15 minutes. I’ll make you love Christmas. No, I’ll teach you the meaning of Christmas.

Seohyun tilted her head to the side, confused. What did he mean by fifteen minutes? But the second part, the meaning of Christmas...

That seemed promising, for sure.

Like a sudden crack of thunder in a storm, an unsuspecting voice shattered the quiet of the dorm.

“FOOD! Hyo, gimme!”

“Get away, Sooyoung, I’m not done!”

“But I’m starving!”

“Go back to sleep or I will hit you with this spatula, I am serious!”

“Hm, and everyone says I’m the violent one.”

“Get back to your room!”

“Can you make me some coffee at least?”

“No!”

“Meanie!”

“Your aegyo is horrifying.”

“Like you have any!”

Seohyun smiled at her unnies’ little spat. The feeling of family bickering was in the air, and that meant only one thing.

Christmas was right around the corner.

*~~~~~~~*

“You’re the best, Hyoyeon!” Sooyoung grinned cheesily--literally.

The girl was talking with a mouth full of Hyoyeon’s omelets and the chef made a look of disdain. “Sooyoung, gross!”

“Oh, sorry, I always do that.” the shikshin voluntarily swallowed and smiled again, and this time, it was pearly white.

“Hyoyeon-unnie?”

“What’s up?” Hyoyeon turned her eyes on Seohyun, who was entering the kitchen.

“Um, your phone--”

It was then Hyoyeon noticed her phone, being held securely in Seohyun’s hand. She took it out of Seohyun’s possession. “Oh, were you fixing my bed again?”

“Yeah, you have a new text message from Eunhyuk-oppa...” Seohyun spoke awkwardly, smiling.

“You read the text?” Hyoyeon exclaimed, extremely surprised.

Sooyoung raised her eyebrows suggestively and started to hum “Here Comes the Bride” loudly and obnoxiously. Hyoyeon narrowed her eyes and smacked Sooyoung in the arm.

“Quit it!”

“A text from Eunhyuk!” Sooyoung said in a singsong voice, obviously gleeful.

“What is your problem?” Hyoyeon groaned, keeping her eyes down on her phone.

Unlocking the screen, she entered her inbox and checked her messages. As she opened the text, thumping was heard at the front door. Seohyun started to smile to herself and Sooyoung jumped out of her seat, a fork in her hand.

“I’ll get it!” Sooyoung announced, bolting to the door and flinging it wide open.

“Eunhyuk, what are you doing here? Oh, wait, say no more. Hyoyeon is in the kitchen.”

“It’s too early for you to be screaming in my ear.” the sound of Eunhyuk’s voice whined from the door.

“Shut up and come see Hyoyeon!”

The girl in question glanced down at her current outfit; a gray tank-top and Hello Kitty pajama shorts she borrowed from Tiffany. Her hair was a complete mess, some strands sticking up here and there, and her face just looked absolutely horrendous in the morning. She needed make-up, and she needed a hairbrush, some decent clothes...some toothpaste, goodness, that would be important...

Hyoyeon stopped her train of thought and frowned. Why was she even fretting over how she looked? It was only Eunhyuk, that silly kid with the goofy smile and the nice dance moves.

“Nice pants,” Eunhyuk snickered, leaning on the doorframe.

“Get outta here,” Hyoyeon ordered, sticking her tongue out at him before turning on her heel to leave.

A hand grasped her wrist tightly. “You’re not going anywhere, at least not without me. We’re hanging out for today!”

Hyoyeon turned her head to give him an agonized moan. “I don’t want to.”

“Ah, that’s too bad,” Eunhyuk shrugged, “Go put some clothes on and let’s go.”

“I’m wearing clothes!” Hyoyeon said defensively.

“You wanna go out in the cold in that?” Eunhyuk smirked, “Because I’m not the gentlemanly guy who gives the girl his jacket to wear. If you want that, go find Donghae.”

“You’re horrible,” Hyoyeon gave him one last mean look, and retreated to her bedroom.

“You two are so adorable, sometimes, I just wanna--” Sooyoung paused and pretended to wipe a tear away.

Eunhyuk watched Sooyoung overdramatize the situation with fake sobs. “What...are you doing?”

Sooyoung returned to her straight face. “Acting.”

“It kinda .”

“What are you, a critic?” Sooyoung scoffed, “But seriously, where are you taking Hyoyeon? A date?”

“What? No!”

“Then what are you doing?” Sooyoung regarded the older boy with suspicious eyes.

“First of all, you know I’m not a creep so I wouldn’t do anything weird.” Eunhyuk established, rolling his eyes.

“You’re a boy who watches --who knows, really...” Sooyoung mumbled.

“I gave that up a long time ago, Miss I-Watch--Too-So-I-Shouldn’t-Be-Talking.” Eunhyuk glared.

“It was one time,” Sooyoung hissed, “I was genuinely curious!”

“Sure,” Eunhyuk rolled his eyes again.

“Are we going?”

The bickering friends turned their attention to the door, where Hyoyeon was standing and tapping her foot impatiently. She appeared to not care much about what she was going to do with Eunhyuk, wherever he would be taking her, because she was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt with  medium-dark skinny jeans and sneakers. Her hair was thrown up quickly in a ponytail, and some loose strands of hair hung about her face.

“Yup, let’s go,” Eunhyuk linked arms with her and smiled broadly, pulling her to the front door.

“Have fun, you two!” Sooyoung waved to them as they walked down the driveway.

“Bye, Hyoyeon-unnie, Eunhyuk-oppa!” Seohyun added.

Still linking arms, Eunhyuk was a step or two ahead of Hyoyeon, leading her to some unknown destination. Hyoyeon exhaled sharply, after taking in the fresh air. A puff of whiteness emanated from and this caused Hyoyeon to shiver all over. Eunhyuk felt this and stopped.

“This is why you should’ve worn a coat,” he scolded, poking her face as he did so.

“You were rushing me, and ow!” Hyoyeon rubbed her cheek.

“That didn’t hurt!” Eunhyuk chuckled.

Hyoyeon rubbed her hands together in a futile attempt to warm herself up. “Let’s just keep moving and get to wherever we’re going. My ’s frozen.”

Eunhyuk dug his hand into one of his coat pockets and pulled out one pair of red mittens. “Here, take ‘em.”

Hyoyeon eagerly and gratefully took the mittens and slipped them over her numb hands. “Thanks, but aren’t you cold?”

“I’ll survive and anyways, I’m not as sensitive as girls.” he teased, linking arms with her once again.

“I’m not sensitive!” Hyoyeon cried, offended.

“Oh, we’re almost there; it’s right up here.” Eunhyuk urged Hyoyeon to walk faster, but she seemed to only be slowing down.

“Hyo, come on!” Eunhyuk tried to forcibly pull her along.

“I’m too cold, just let me die here,” Hyoyeon muttered, “I hate winter. I hate Christmas, take me home.”

“This isn’t the usual Hyoyeon I know,” Eunhyuk frowned.

“Because I hate today,” Hyoyeon sank down to a crouch on the ground.

“What will I do with you, Kim Hyoyeon?” Eunhyuk wondered aloud.

“Leave me here to die in peace?” Hyoyeon said jokingly.

“How can you die peacefully by freezing?” he laughed and knelt down in front of her.

“What?” Hyoyeon asked.

“Get on my back.” Eunhyuk instructed.

“Wh--no! I’m too old for this and I’m probably super heavy and what if people--”

“We’re obviously not gonna get anywhere if you just keep laying here and decide to freeze to death,” Eunhyuk grunted, “Just get on.”

“I’m warning you, I’m heavy.” Hyoyeon mumbled, looping her arms around his neck.

Eunhyuk rose to his feet easily and held on to Hyoyeon’s legs. “You’re so stupid.”

“I’m what?” Hyoyeon attempted to kick him.

The male made a whining sound. “You’re so violent!”

“Shut up and hurry. I’m cold.”

“So why didn’t you bring a coat?"

“Like I said, you were rushing me!”

“It takes longer to put a sweatshirt on than a coat.”

“Untrue.”

“True.”

“Hurry,” Hyoyeon half-demanded, half-pleaded, burying her face in the crook of Eunhyuk’s neck.

Suppressing a smile, Eunhyuk quickened his pace. “Fine.”

*~~~~~~~*

“Thank you for agreeing to do this again, Hyukjae-sshi.” a thin lady wearing many layers and thick-rimmed black glasses smiled kindly, and nodded her head.

“It’s no problem,” Eunhyuk bowed respectfully, and Hyoyeon was quick to imitate his actions.

“It’s a bit last-minute, but we still have lots to do.” the elderly woman sighed.

“Sorry for coming so late, I’ve been busy.” Eunhyuk apologized.

“Not to worry at all, I understand. Now, is this your girlfriend?” she asked curiously.

Hyoyeon turned away out of embarrassment and Eunhyuk chuckled awkwardly. “She’s my friend."

“Oh, I’m so sorry. Will she be helping you?”

“Yes,” Eunhyuk turned back to look at Hyoyeon expectantly.

“Alright, come on in,” the lady beckoned the pair into the building.

“This is an orphanage?” Hyoyeon whispered.

Eunhyuk nodded. “My mom is friends with the lady who works here. I help out every year with stuff.”

“What a good person you are, Hyukjae-sshi.”

“I’ll hit you, y’know,” Eunhyuk threatened playfully.

“Who’s violent now?”

“Here are all the presents,” the old lady, who was the head supervisor of the orphanage said, leading the two new workers into a room that looked like a den with a decorated Christmas tree standing proudly in the center.

“Wow, you guys got a lot more presents this year!” Eunhyuk exclaimed, racing over to the toys; Hyoyeon rolled her eyes at him.

“All thanks to your generous donation, Hyukjae-sshi,” the lady smiled appreciatively.

“Oh, man, this is so cool...”

“Don’t mess with them, idiot!” Hyoyeon reprimanded, snatching the toy robot out of his hands.

Eunhyuk pouted for a millisecond. “Okay, let’s wrap these then!”

“You know where everything is, I assume? The kids have just woken up and should be eating breakfast.” the woman informed.

“I think we can finish in time. Hyoyeon’s a really fast learner.” Eunhyuk casually slung an arm around her shoulders.

“Marvelous, thank you so much!” the lady remarked delightfully, scurrying out of the room hastily.

“Let’s hurry, Hyo,” Eunhyuk nudged her, taking the robot out of her hands

“I know how to wrap presents, I’m not dumb.” the blonde retrieved the robot once again and stalked to the corner of the room where a large table was set up.

“Wait, you gotta wear a Santa hat!” Eunhyuk cried.

“I’m not wearing one,” Hyoyeon refused, sitting down in a chair and beginning to wrap the toys.

“But you have to! I always did this with my sister and she’d never wear it either.” Eunhyuk approached the table with two Santa hats in his hand.

“Why not?” Hyoyeon asked to keep him talking while she finished the job.

She didn’t mind wrapping presents. She liked kids, she really did, and helping them was really nice and sweet. But Hyoyeon knew that the sooner she finished, the sooner she could go home and laze around like the usual grouch she was during this time.

“Sora said it messed up my hair.” Eunhyuk grinned.

He sat himself down in a chair next to her and picked a random gift. He put one of the Santa hats on and nudged Hyoyeon again. “Hyo, if I wear it, you have to.”

Hyoyeon snickered at his head. “No thanks.”

“Wear it!” Eunhyuk held the hat out to her.

“Nah.”

“For me?” Eunhyuk pouted and gave her an intense puppy-dog look.

She stared at him and forced her eyes to shut. “Stop distracting me, we have to work!”

“Oh, so this look actually works on you?” Eunhyuk laughed evilly, “Excellent...”

“Lee Hyukjae, get away from my face and start helping children.” Hyoyeon put a hand over her eyes and used the other to push him away.

“Fine, I’ll get you to wear it later though.”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.”

Hyoyeon stared suspiciously at her friend, who was humming a random tune and diligently working on wrapping the presents. Ignoring his presence for the time being, Hyoyeon worked on her part of the job with no complaints. It was silent between the two normally noisy friends as they rifled through different colored wrapping paper and chose cute patterned paper. Some had designs of snowmen or reindeer, but a shiny gold kind of wrapping paper caught Hyoyeon’s eye. She used it a lot, and hoped the kids wouldn’t mind.

Thirty minutes flew by in a flash and Hyoyeon was completely finished. Eunhyuk was finishing up one last present, trying to make it perfect.

“Hurry up, I hear kids coming.” Hyoyeon tapped his shoulder impatiently.

“This one...has to be...perfect...” Eunhyuk held his breath.

Hyoyeon observed the package he was wrapping. “Why is it so special?”

“It’s my album!” Eunhyuk grinned like a dork.

“Sorry Sorry, huh?” Hyoyeon laughed, “You’re so biased.”

“I loved these times,” Eunhyuk said quietly, turning serious for a fraction of a section

Hyoyeon sympathized with him, understanding what he meant. “Those were fun times, huh?”

“Yeah...”

“Hyukjae-oppa!”

Hyoyeon turned around first to see a petite girl no more than six with black pigtails running into open arms. Eunhyuk was grinning widely; he lifted the girl into the air and hugged her small frame to his chest. Hyoyeon couldn’t help but smile at the scene unfolding before her.

“Hey, Hyomin-ah,” Eunhyuk ruffled her hair, “How are you doing?”

“Mm, good!” she chirped happily.

Little Hyomin noticed the tall, pretty blonde girl standing off to the side silently. “Oppa, is this your girlfriend?”

Hyoyeon’s attention was grasped and she was at a loss for words. She laughed instead and Eunhyuk smiled, shaking his head at Hyomin. “No, she’s a friend. You can call her Hyoyeon-unnie.”

“So Nyuh Shi Dae?” Hyomin shrieked, trying to wriggle out of Eunhyuk’s arms then, and alarmed, Eunhyuk set her down.

“I’m part of the group, yes,” Hyoyeon nodded, squatting down to Hyomin’s level.

“Unnie, I’m your biggest fan,” Hyomin said shyly.

“Aww,” Hyoyeon cooed, falling for the small girl’s charm.

She embraced Hyomin and hoisted her up in her arms. Eunhyuk scoffed and folded his arms, not at all amused nor impressed. “Whatever; Hyomin-ah, I’m still your favorite oppa, right?”

“Hyoyeon-unnie is the best!” Hyomin giggled.

Hyoyeon grinned complacently at the dejected Eunhyuk. “You heard her, I’m the best.”

“I’ve known her since she was a baby, not fair!” Eunhyuk pouted, whining like a child younger than the one in Hyoyeon’s arms.

“Act your age, please.”

“What fun is that?” Eunhyuk countered.

“Hyukjae-sshi,” the same old lady called, bustling over.

She gave a thin picture book to him. “Read this to the kids, will you? A couple just came by and I’ll need to talk to them.”

“Come on, Hyoyeon, let’s read to the kids!” Eunhyuk grinned widely again, gums showing, and dragged her to the rocking chair by the Christmas tree.

“I thought we were done here!” she griped, still holding Hyomin in her arms.

Eunhyuk pushed Hyoyeon into the chair and sat on the arm of it. The kids chattered excitedly and gathered around the chair, waiting for “story time” to begin.

“Make sure to read with the voices,” Eunhyuk reminded her with a gentle nudge.

“What did you get me into?” Hyoyeon muttered.

*~~~~~~~*

“Ah, kids are so cute,” Hyoyeon sighed, shoving her hands into the only pocket of her sweatshirt.

Eunhyuk chuckled, “Yeah, they are.”

“I want kids,” Hyoyeon pouted.

“Aren’t you a little young?” Eunhyuk snorted.

She shrugged in response. “I guess I am, but I won’t be young forever.”

Silence passed between the two of them, until Hyoyeon broke it. “So where are we going next?”

“The mall,” Eunhyuk rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, “I always like just going there and being in the happy atmosphere.”

“Oh, crap,” Hyoyeon slapped her forehead, “I totally forgot to buy Min Gu a present.”

“Your brother?”

“No, my cat,” Hyoyeon retorted sarcastically.

“Well, let’s hurry!” Eunhyuk tugged on her arm and pulled her along with him.

The mall wasn’t too far, thankfully, but once they reached the entrance, Hyoyeon wished she were back with the adorable children.

Red, gold, and green was adorned everywhere. Mistletoe hung from the ceiling in every inch of every store and Christmas music was blasting from the speakers. Ribbons and wreathes were tied and hung neatly on the doors. The worst part was that the entire mall was packed tightly with people. Kids were being dragged along by impatient parents and frantic shoppers were bustling around quickly, doing last-minute Christmas shopping, no doubt.

Hyoyeon got bumped into more than twice, which she wasn’t happy about. “Where are we going?”

“You tell me, you need a present for your brother after all,” Eunhyuk shouted back, to make his voice heard over the other shoppers.

“Let’s go to the electronics store then.”

It was quite a bit of a walk to the designated store, Hyoyeon grumbled in her head. Much to her pleasure, there were only two other people in the store when they arrived.

“My ears are pounding,” Eunhyuk said loudly, unintentionally.

“Shush!” Hyoyeon hissed, putting a finger to her lips.

“Sorry, sorry,” Eunhyuk apologized with a grin.

“Help me find a new phone for him.” Hyoyeon instructed, turning around.

“Hey, this one is pretty cool!”

“You know, you worry me, the way you touch everything you think is cool.” Hyoyeon laughed at Eunhyuk, who was already on the other side of the store.

“I hope one of the guys got me a new phone.” Eunhyuk sighed wistfully, tapping a nifty one with his index finger.

“Hey, help me!” Hyoyeon joined his side to see what he was looking at.

“Um, actually, I need to run to the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” Eunhyuk dashed out hastily.

“Weirdo,” Hyoyeon murmured, suppressing a sigh.

“May I help you find something?” a male clerk approached her with a wobbly smile.

“No, I’m fine, but thank you,” Hyoyeon laughed amicably.

GIRLS BRING THE BOYS OUT!

“Eh, sorry,” Hyoyeon laughed again, whipping her phone out and holding it to her ear in an instant, silencing the noise. “Hello?”

“Kim Hyoyeon, where are you?” Taeyeon yelled through the phone in a motherly tone.

“The mall?” Hyoyeon answered with raised eyebrows.

“With who?” the leader interrogated, her voice calming a bit.

Hyoyeon paused before responding, “Eunhyuk.”

“Excuse me, did you say Eunhyuk?”

“Lee Hyukjae, Eunhyuk, Myeolchi; yeah, him,” Hyoyeon smiled without realizing.

“And what,” Taeyeon exploded, “Are you doing there with him?!”

“Taeyeon, calm down, he just took her out on a date,” Sooyoung’s voice said nonchalantly in the background.

“A date?!” Taeyeon spluttered, gasping.

“Please don’t listen to Sooyoung, she’s demented.” Hyoyeon rolled her eyes.

“Do I need to send someone to fetch you? What are you doing there? And with him, of all other guys? Tiffany told me there was something going on between you two, but I didn’t think you’d actually go behind my back and get a boyfriend! And him, of all people! I don’t trust Eunhyuk, he seems like a player and he’s a ert too! You’re better off with--”

“Taeyeon!” Hyoyeon called through the phone, in an attempt to stop the leader’s rampage.

“Yes, Hyoyeon?”

“I’m not dating him, I’m Christmas shopping for Min Gu, and Eunhyuk’s not a player.” Hyoyeon grumbled, her grumpiness back.

“Oh, thank goodness. I almost had a heart attack, Hyoyeon, geez.” Taeyeon exhaled deeply through the phone.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back really soon. And please, do not, I repeat, do not listen to Sooyoung.”

“HEY!”

Click.

“Eunhyuk, where are you?” Hyoyeon whispered, stowing her phone back in her pocket and glancing out of the store.

---

So I decided to split this up into two parts, because it would flow a lot better this way. This part is 3,748 words of awesomeness, and it's only half of it. :)

Sorry for the late update, but it's still somewhat near Christmas, right?

Pointing out any typos and errors would be awesome. :)