6 months later…

            “A trip? Now? Why?” I questioned and scanned his face.

            “Just ‘cause. It’s another end of a project and I want to relax and have time to myself,” he explained, as he rubbed my back. Kibum was used to me not being able to breathe in certain moments. He was always making sure I was okay, so he would bring around a water bottle wherever we went, even though I always had one with me. He also made sure he was looking at me most of the time because he knew I wouldn’t say anything if I had a hard time. After catching my breath, I replied to him.

            “But you always go with your parents for your post-project trips,” I said. “also, I have to train harder before school starts again,” I turned to him.

            “We have a week left before classes start again, also you don’t have to train your dancing too much, you’re already good. While we’re on that trip, we can just practice singing instead, so you won’t need a studio for that,” he clasped a water bottle, pondering whether he should hand it to me or not. “Aaaalso, as for my parents, well, I think it’s time to meet them,” he handed the bottle to me before I could react.

            “What???” I blinked about ten times within three seconds, like Taemin Oppa does whenever he…well, does anything.

            “Ellie, don’t freak out or you won’t be able to breathe,” he said in a calm voice.

            “But… is it that time to meet your parents already? Shouldn’t we wait… like… I don’t know… when I’m doing something? When I have a real job?” I looked down.

            “Yah, my parents aren’t like that, in fact I’ve talked about you a lot and they want to meet you already. In fact, they wanted to meet you a loooong time ago,” he closed his eyes as he said ‘long’ to emphasize.

            “Really?” I couldn’t help but smile.

            “Yeeeeees, so are you coming?” he exhaled. I started to nod but before I could even finish the nod, he pulled out something from his bag.

            “Good! ‘cause I already got the tickets,” he wagged his feet in the air and waved his hands around.

            “So, you just assumed I would say yes, is that it?” I gave a ‘hmph’ sound and he stuck a tongue out.

            “Who would resist SHINee’s Key?” he sang.

            “Mmmm-hmm,” I crossed my arms and rolled my eyes.

Since we were leaving in two days, I decided to stay home the day before to pack my things and carefully choose my clothes so I could look presentable. It was difficult to choose outfits for a four-day trip. I didn’t want to look like I was dressing up too much, but I didn’t want to look lazy either. I decided to look up the weather in Phuket before putting anything in my luggage. Since we were flying out on New Year’s day and will be there until the fourth of January, the weather wasn’t too hot. I decided on a couple dresses and a pair of jeans, some t-shirts, shorts, and other usual necessities.

Krrrrrring.

            “Are you done packing yet?” Kibum called.

            “Aaalmost, are you almost here?” I asked.

            “I just parked, I’ll come up,” he said and hung up.

            “Yo yo yo, Ellie Ellie,” he said as he burst through the door in his incredible thick parka.

            “Are you going skiing or something?” I chuckled. He looked down at his outfit.

            “Ey, tsk. It’s neomu neomu cold outside! Finish your packing, I’ll choose your clothes today,” he walked over to my bedroom without letting me stop him. I shook my head and smiled.   

            “Yah! Kim Kibum! What is this?!” I yelled out after putting on the clothes he chose for me. “It’s New Year’s Eve for heaven’s sake! This is a very important night and you’re having me wear this???” I looked at myself in the mirror, horrified at my North American style-thickest-jacket-I’ve-ever-worn-style outfit.

            “Don’t tell me you were planning to wear a dress or some thin blouse, miss Ellie!” he yelled from the other side of the door.

            “Er… no, but my gosh. This is a special night, granted, I don’t know what you’ve got planned, but my gosh, why this?” I shook my head and opened the door.

            “Aigoooooo, so cute! We’re matching,” he jumped and dragged me to the mirror to look at our reflections.      

            “Yeah, we look like a couple of rice cakes,” I rolled my eyes and couldn’t help but laugh.

            “Aniya! It’s really cold outside, trust me, you’ll thank me later,” he winked, so I sighed and gave in.

            “We’ll get there around four with traffic, so you can sleep if you want,” he turned up the heat in the car as we got on the highway.

            “Two hours?! Where are we going??” I looked at him and he didn’t say anything.

            “Eeey, if I told you, then you would search it up and wouldn’t be surprised,” he started to hum a Christmas song.         

            “Aigoo, okay okay,” I gave in again.

            “Gyeonggi-do?” I read the sign. “Why here of all places? Actually, I don’t even know what’s here,”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cqbw-n6B7U (play as soon as you reach this part)

I looked around as we entered the city of Yongin. Since it was New Year’s eve, a lot of people were walking around under lit up trees, holding hands. Unlike where I came from, all stores were closed by this time on New Year’s eve and the only people on the streets were the ones going to party it up in a club. In Korea, it seemed more like a romantic holiday. Couples were walking around, laughing, feeding each other, taking pictures…

            “Oh my gooooooosh! Omo omo! It’s so pretty, no way!?” I gasped and looked at the big sign ahead of us. “Everland?!?!” I looked straight ahead at all the lights visible from the parking lot.

            “See?! It was worth the travel! Omo! I’m so excited, oh my gosh,” he parked the car as soon as he found a spot and ran to the trunk to get our jackets. He opened my door and handed me my thick jacket, as he wore his. We put our hoods up, wrapped wool scarves around our heads and we looked like every other couple heading towards the entrance; matching outfits and completely bundled up. I wore my sling bag and we left the car.

            “Can you breathe in there?” he asked, looking at me. “Let me know if you get really cold or if you get uncomfortable okay?” he looked at me straight in the eyes and waited for me. I nodded and smiled.

            “Wait here, I’ll get our tickets,” I said, leaving his side quickly and lined up to get tickets. If we both went, he could be recognized, so I left him by a tree. When I came back, he was gone. I pulled out my phone but before I could, somebody put their hands in front of my eyes. I could smell the cologne and it was clearly Kibum.

            “Aiyooooo, are you trying to act like we’re in some drama right now?” I chuckled and turned around to hug him.

            “Aniya, I just wanted you to hug me like this,” he wrapped his hands around me and kissed the top of my head. I pulled away and we walked inside and I gasped at everything I saw.

            “Oh my gosh! It’s so pretty here! Omo omo, let’s take picture over there! And over here and like, just by that store, wuaaaaah,” I jumped up and down, holding his hand. I expected him to laugh at me, but he was acting the same way I was.

            “Have you never been here before?” I asked after we’ve both calmed down.

            “I never really had reason to come,” he looked at me lovingly.

            “Never brought a girl here before?” I eyed him.

            “I think I did bring uh, what’s her name again? That-,” he looked at me to see my reaction before he finished his sentence. “Juuuuust kidding!” I stopped walking and put my hands on my waist. “You’re so cute! Hahaha, who wouldn’t have fun teasing you?” he held my hands and chuckled. I whined while he laughed at my reaction.

            “Oppa! Oppa! Oppa!” I called out to him from where I was.

            “Can you just call me ‘oppa’ everyday like that instead of it being a ‘spur of the moment’ thing,” he shook his head, walking towards me with two cups of hot chocolate.

            “Thank you,” I said and took the cup of hot chocolate from him with two hands.

            “Your hands are so cold, are you okay?” he grabbed my hand and put it against his face.

            “I’m okay! Don’t worry,” I took my hand back and sipped.

            “I don’t think so, looks like I’m gonna have to keep your hands in my pocket,” he grabbed my hand and we held our hands inside his jacket pocket. I giggled and bumped shoulders with him. But with my strength, he was pushed harder to the side.

            “You know, when you do that it’s not like those cute dramas where the guy and girl are walking by the sidewalk, right? It’s like… hitting me with a boulder,” he joked with a serious face.

            “Are you serious? You really just called me a boulder?” I glared at him and he couldn’t help but laugh.  

            “Aigoo! You’re so cute, I wanna hug you forever,” he kept an arm around my shoulder and I gladly snuggled into him. I think it was the atmosphere, but it felt somewhat like a first date because my insides were twisting and I was fluttering all over.

            “Do you want me to drive?” I asked, as we walked back to the car.

            “Aniya! This is a date! I drive, you sit and relax,” he kissed the top of my head and opened the passenger door for me.

            “Oooooooo, what a man you are,” I eyed him and he just laughed.

"Did you think it was just this? You're joking right? I'm the Almighty Key, honey," he stepped back and acted offended.

"Yeah yeah okay, Mr. Almighty Key, what do you have planned? This was already pretty great, you know," I walked closer to him and intertwined my hands behind his neck.

"You're very touchy today, Ellie-ssi you know that?" He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "It makes me want to just-," I stopped what he was going to say with my index finger.

"Sssh!" I looked around and people were starting to stare. Well, who wouldn't? We were looking super affectionate in the middle of the theme park.

"Okay okay, i'll save it for later," he winked and I let go of my hold. I scoffed at his nonchalant behaviour.

"Who knew I'd spend the holidays here again? With you?" I asked rhetorically.

"Who knew I'd spend the holidays with someone I loved so much? It's usually pretty lonely during Christmas for me," he replied and we swayed our hands unnecessarily. "Who knew I'd spend the first fall of the snow with you? Go on a trip with my parents with you?" He suddenly stopped and cupped my face with both his hands.

"I love you so much," he kissed my forehead and I exhaled nervously at his sudden action.

"I love you so much too," I tried to reach his forehead to kiss him back but ended up brushing his lip. "Omo, sorry," I looked down, embarrassed. He laughed and lifted my face up.

"Why are you sorry for kissing your boyfriend, you goof," he kissed my lips quickly and looked around to see if anybody was watching.

"I'm glad we weren't recognized at all today," I smiled and walked towards the exit, following his lead.

"Yeah, we look like a regular couple, I mean look around," I gestured around us. He chuckled because everyone around us were couples and wore overkill matching outfits. We looked pretty regular with our puffy, thick, parka jackets.

"Come on, let's go before we jinx it," he held my hand and we rushed to leave the theme park.

"No. Way! It's so far! We'll be so tired by tomorrow!" I jumped excitedly when I got out of the car. He jogged towards me and pulled my hood up.

"It'll be really windy, will you be okay?" He asked.

"Well, it's too late to back down now, is it?" I said sarcastically. "But no, I love it, let's goooooo!" I ran ahead of him, spinning around, acting like I was in some drama. "I can't believe you brought me here!" I looked at him lovingly and he stretched out his arms so I could grab them.

"Thank you," I gave him a side hug and we walked towards the place.

"What are we betting on?" I looked at him as I grasped the sides of the go-kart, getting ready to accelerate.

"Mmmm, what are you thinking?" He asked skeptically, regretting bringing up the game.

"Okay, how about, whoever loses has to dress super ugly tomorrow when we fly out?" I said and as I finished my sentence, he already looked like he saw a ghost. I started to laugh as fog escaped his agape mouth.

"Are you forgetting i'm an idol???" He looked at me seriously.

"Are you saying you're gonna lose this bet?" I smiled mischievously and he scoffed loudly.

"I don't plan on doing that, so have fun meeting my parents for the first time in ugly clothes," he started to position himself in our imaginary starting line. I followed suit.

"Ready..."

"Set..."

"Go!"

Off we went. Obviously, I won because I was better at handling the 'hoverboard'-ness of the LED go-kart. He was a sore loser and blamed the go-kart instead of his driving abilities.

"Thank you for taking me out on a date tonight," I held his hand and he kissed the back of mine.

"You don't have to thank me for that, you goofball," he chuckled lightly. We walked around the track of the go-kart and lost track of time, just talking about whatever came to our minds.

"How are we gonna drive home at this time of the night? We'll get home at like two in the morning, maybe three and we have to be at the airport by 6," I started to make a timetable in my head.

"Relax, it's okay, you can sleep in the car, my parents already drove to my apartment tonight so they're ready there and you're done packing right? Then we c-"

"I'm not done packing, oh my gosh..." I looked at him and covered my mouth.

"Are you serious? Babe, you had aaaaaall day," he laughed nervously.

"Well, I didn't think we'd get home by two in the morning. I had no idea you were bringing me to Daegu, you handsome man," I said the last part cutely so that he wouldn't get annoyed.

"Aigoo, okay okay, i'll drop you off at your house then pick you up tomorrow morning, yeah?" He said calmly. "I wanted to spend the night together... Aish," he mumbled to the side. I snorted then ended up laughing.

"Kibum-ssi, we're going on a four-day vacation, away from home, without worries, without interruptions, without practice and without schoolwork... I think we'll have a few nights together," I winked and kissed his cheek. He smiled uncontrollably until he looked like a ert. "Yah! What are you thinking, you weirdo!" I hit his arm and at the same time, we reached the car. He jumped into the driver's seat and I sat in the passenger seat.

"I'm not thinking about anything, just you," he smiled weirdly again.

"Oh hush, you ert," I laughed and hit his arm.