The corridors and great hall had been more festive than usual in the largest house and factory up north as everyone gathered around for the newest sensation in the legendary world.

The crowd had pushed and pulled to get the best view, making the bells on some heads jingle obnoxiously. Just when the large built man had told them to calm down, did the crowd silence to only the sound of their breathing. The girl who had been nervously waiting could swear she could still hear the soft jingle of the bells though. And maybe some munching on some cookies as well.

One of the yetis had made its way to Santa Claus and had handed over the book for pledging. With a clear of his throat, the ceremony had officially begun.

The trumpets had played their triumphant melody as she walked forward in a poised manner. Stopping in front of Santa Claus, she smiled as she glanced at the cover of the book of the guardians.

This was her time to make the world shine.

“Will you, Jang Hyunmi, vow to watch over the children of the world,  to guard with your life, their hopes, their wishes, and their dreams? For they are all that we have, are that we are, and all that we will ever be?” her father spoke loud and clear as he held up one of his hands up to pledge while the other held unto the thick book of promises.

The yetis and elves were actually silent this time and looked in anticipation to the answer the girl would give. It would change their whole world as well.

“I solemnly swear I will,” the girl answered with her hand on her heart.

“Congratulations! For you are now, and forevermore a guardian!”

☃️ ☃️ ☃️ 

The girl smiled to herself as she watched all the lights flicker on the large globe in the center of the room, the light of hope, the children. It had hundreds of Christmas that she had assisted Santa Claus. And now it has been almost a year when Hyunmi had sworn to protect the children. In less than a month it would be her first Christmas where she would be in charge for the delivery of joy.

“I can do this,” she mumbled to herself for a pep talk and started to make her way downstairs to the toy factory. The elevator took its time to descend but it wasn’t enough to prepare Hyunmi from what she was about to see. So when the large box came to a halt and the doors slid open, she gaped at the sight and her fingers clutched at the notes in her hands.

The girl that Hyunmi saw in front of her was tucked up in a cloud and the gold sleep sand had fell like rain in a hurricane. It made all her helpers fall asleep instead of building the many toys that were supposed to be ready.

“Heejin!” she wailed frantically as she shook the elves and yetis on her way to the current sleepyhead floating in the air. The golden girl blinked her eyes open and slowly descended with her toes barely touching the floor as she waved sleepily.

“I told you to sleep in the guestroom if you were drowsy,” Hyunmi whined while her friend only scratched her neck nervously in apology.

Heejin wanted to make it up and she moved her hand in an elegant way, making the sand around her swirl. The delicate action contradicted with the conjuring of a golden sandy hammer in her hand.

That ought to wake up the helpers.

With a smile she happily hit the elves in an attempt to wake them up, but her expression soon turned into a face of horror. It had only put them in a deeper sleep to the two girls’ dismay.

“That… was not too smart...” Hyunmi face palmed as she tried to shake the same elf awake again. She swore she saw potatoes circling around its tiny head as the small creature continued its slumber even though she had slapped her lightly once more.

Heejin’s mouth turned into an O as she held a finger up as to say she had another idea.

“Are you sure it is going to work Snoozie?” Hyunmi muttered while she finally managed to get one yeti awake again. Softly asking if the creature could try and wake the others, she had turned her attention back to the girl who this time came with a megaphone in her hand.

Pushing the button happily, sun shower notes floated around her and a soft tune started playing as they popped one by one like fireworks, revealing the melody of hush little baby.

It wasn’t as soothing as it was supposed to be by the loudness of each popping which made all the bodies in the room shudder in shock before they were fully awake again.

“Thank you,” Hyunmi said with a sigh of relief as everyone went back to work again. She glanced around the room and checked some boxes on her notes before walking to the sleepyhead who had collected all her sand.

“Is Hana on duty now?” the Santa girl asked as she proceeded walking along the many toys and checking some more boxes. Hyunmi noted that it was not often that the two Sand girls would come together.

Heejin nodded and skipped after her, curiously looking around. Even though she visited often, the toy factory always amazed her each and every time. It was so tempting to stay and play around, but that would only trouble the girl of the North. She did not want to be any more of a bother than she had been just a few minutes ago.

Hyunmi wondered how it would be if she had a twin as well. One she could share her duties with. Then again, she nodded in understanding since she had two days, two and a half if you would also count Christmas Eve, to prepare for. All the other 363 days were all hers to be certain she was ready.

As a descendant of Sandman, they had to keep up with all the children from all over the world every day, all day. As at one place it would be time to wake up, somewhere else it would be time to sleep.

It made her wonder where her other guardian companions were.

“What? Did you ask if Woohyun came by?” Hyunmi exclaimed out of the blue and laughed nervously. “Why should he? I mean- you all visit quite often… I haven’t seen him lately… Where is he?”

In only a few sentences did her mood change and she already halted her steps to look at the girl in front of her in a questioning way. As if she would know where the bunny was.

And as reply Heejin only shrugged, but the slight smile on her face already gave some of it away. They must be here somewhere.

Hyunmi tried to calm her heart and not look too over enthusiastic when she turned around, but she could not mask the disappointment as the cause of all coldness stood in front of her. It wasn’t him.

“Expecting someone?” Minseok asked amused as he casually leaned on his wooden staff.

“Nope,” the Santa girl denied as she looked everywhere but him.

Minseok waved happily to the girl behind her and Hyunmi didn’t even have to look back to see literal hearts floating above the sleepy girl's head. She was such an open book.

“I was looking for you,” Minseok mouthed but it had made Hyunmi frown as it did not match his voice. In fact, she was sure it was not his voice. It had made the girl from the North frown in suspicion.

It was confirmed as soon as the guardian of fun stepped away and made it to the side of the dreamer girl. The first thing the girl spotted was the smug grin of the person she definitely did not want to see. But who was she actually kidding?

Bunny.

“You were looking for me, Woohyun?” Hyunmi asked amused, ignoring the beating of her heart for him and the slight irritation that the two boys were playing with her.

“Actually, I was not really looking for you since you are always locked in here,” he retorted and stepped forward.

Their faces were inches apart from each other as he bend down to match her height.

“I’m a busy woman, unlike someone who is merely gardening and tinkering with paint,” she said nonchalantly.

“That is some tension,” Minseok murmured with a chuckle which made the girl on his side silently giggle.

“Well, what do you have on your toilet roll list? Need some help since you can’t do it alone,” Woohyun dared as he eyed the notes in her hands.

“Actually, I need to take the sled for a test ride. You know? Just in case,” Hyunmi grinned and showed her notes, tapping the said to-do activity with her candy cane pen.

“I’m in!” Minseok cheered and started racing with Heejin to the sled.

Woohyun gulped as he saw the excitement and joy from the others. The air was not his element at all. He preferred to be kept on the ground on his own two feet. But the smug look on Hyunmi’s face had temporarily numbed his fear as he only felt a certain drive to not get owned by this woman. Their bickering would not end with him on the short end of  the stick!

He skipped past her and jumped into the sled. With a nervous glance, he saw the yetis holding onto the ropes as the reindeers pounded their feet against the ice, excited to get their exercise.

Hyunmi calmly took her seat in front of the sled and thanked her friends as she took over the ropes.

“Do you need a paper bag?” she asked innocently and fluttered her eyes, making something stir in Woohyun. Clearing his throat as to clear his mind, he tried to quickly think of something witty to say.

“Just get on with it,” he complained in the end, wanting to slap himself for replying so weakly. It was what she did to him. Sometimes!

“As you wish bunny,” she sang and waited for the yetis and elves to take on a safe distance before the girl raised her hands and stirred the ropes.

The reindeers tapped their feet in slow movement, gradually going faster and faster as they entered the many icy tunnels, making the sleigh err left and right because of the ice.

If Hyunmi and Minseok didn’t cheer with such volume, Woohyun could have sworn the Santa girl could practically hear his grip tightening while his nails accidentally scraped the fine polished wood.

But the girl didn’t need to turn back to know Woohyun did not have the time of his life. And so she sped up as they exited the tunnels and hovered over nothing but the wind, soaring higher and higher in the cold and just below the clouds.

It had stopped snowing as they looked around to the white scenery. Even though most of it was white, you would almost say boring, Hyunmi saw the wonder in it all. The snow glistened in the sunlight and you could see small specks of darkness of the earth where the snow did not manage to trap the other colours.

“You alright there?” Minseok asked amused as Woohyun hung over the edge with his head.

Patting the back of the bunny, Heejin showed a gold earth carrot to throw at him if he wanted to sleep. That way he couldn’t get more nauseous.

“Better to let it all out outside than inside my sledge,” Hyunmi chuckled. This was the first time she had seen him so shaken up. Usually it was her who ended up embarrassed. It was such a nice change of scenery.

“There’s nothing to let out,” Woohyun retorted with a slight pout as he glared at her. He hung his head low again right after to keep the nausea from coming back with full force.

His unspoken plea did not go unanswered as he wasn’t given the time to recover. Minseok had already jumped out of the sleigh, making it move from side to side.

As soon as he did that, Hyunmi had sped up so quickly that Woohyun bumped against the seat and Heejin threw her hands in the air. They were racing to his utmost horror.

Everything after had almost been a blur for him as they returned to the Santa base. At least he didn’t vomit, he noted as everything was still clean. All the action had made him on the verge of forgetting the most important thing today. Why he actually came to visit the girl.

So when Heejin bid them all farewell for her duty as guardian of dreams, Minseok had left as well to cause more fun for everyone. In other words, snow days.

“It’s back to work once we’re inside for me. You know where the exit is,” Hyunmi spoke and took her schedule in her hands again. She checked the box in front of ‘take the reindeers out for exercise’ and looked up to see the Easter bunny still in her domain.

“You know where the exit is right? Or are you still dizzy? Do you need help?” she asked with feigned innocence.

“I actually need some of your time,” Woohyun declared which made the girl frown in confusion.

They could not remember when they were together. Alone. Not counting the yetis and elves since they were everywhere in her house.

“I don’t have time. I’m behind schedule,” Hyunmi reasoned, but she couldn’t help but be curious what this was all about. “It’s all for Christmas.”

“Actually you’re in front of it,” Woohyun said smugly and she couldn’t help but roll her eyes at the lame comment. The schedule was in front of her and truthfully she had been ahead of the schedule as well.

It was her precise method of work that had managed this all. But still, she could not afford to lose any time. It was better to be done before departure than having it done last minute. You would never know or expect what could happen in between this short amount of time. She needed to use it all.

“So what do you say? Care to give me some time?”

“I can’t,” she sighed. “Everything needs to be checked to the dot of the i before festivities take place.”

“I actually had counted on that,” the boy said which made Hyunmi blink in confusion.

Why did he ask her then? Was it just to joke around?

“Then why are you asking me, know it all?”

“Just to assess my options,” he said with a grin and ruffled her hair as he walked past her. “Good luck with the Christmas preparations!”

And with two taps on the floor the bunny jumped in to disappear right in front of her eyes. The hole closed up before Hyunmi could yell after him and she sighed. The girl picked up the flower that had grown at the place of the hole and proceeded with her schedule.

☃️ ☃️ ☃️ 

She wanted to believe that the next few days were occupied by the guardian of hope, because she was carrying the flower around with her. It was amazing how it could withstand the cosy warmth of her mansion and the severe cold whenever she went outside. The tiny green had a strange way of giving her energy.

But even if she wanted to believe it. It wasn’t the flower that had kept the bunny in her mind, it was the grin and the mischief that he showed. She was on guard, anticipating him to come from any corner to surprise her.

It had been almost a week and he still had not come to visit her again. Had the sleigh ride been too much for him?

She was sure not to be eager for his presence, but she could not contain it. In turn, the disappointment of his absence was turned into a drive to work more.

“She must miss Woohyun,” Minseok commented as he sat relaxed on the top of the large globe with Heejin by his side eating a candy cane. The elves were always so nice to give them something, especially the one with the derpy face.

The girl nodded in agreement and watched the Santa girl busily walking around to check everything. Releasing the sweets from between her lips she grinned at Minseok and her eyes twinkled as they knew more.

“You’re right, it’s time to leave this somewhere,” he said excitedly and poked the large basket next to him.

With the crooked end of his staff, Minseok lifted the basket and skipped down the huge sphere from the other side where Hyunmi was currently at. Placing the basket in front of her office door, such an obnoxious place, there was no way she would miss that.

Heejin watched in horror as Hyunmi had started her way to the office. Hyunmi didn’t have to know that they were helping Woohyun, so she quickly slid down the globe as well and tapped Minseok to make a run for it.

“No thank you, I think I had enough cookies for today,” the Santa girl said with a chuckle as she politely declined the offer of her elf. Looking up again, she stopped in her tracks as she saw a large basket in front of her office.

Some elves had already gathered at the peculiar object and grabbed at the wrapping paper surrounding it. The sound of torn paper was heard and it revealed a tree. Before Hyunmi could say anything, the small creatures had pulled on the hanging objects.

“What is that? Where did it come from?” she wondered out loud as she accepted one of the items from her elves.

It was a partridge in the shape of an egg. The girl was able to recognise the particular colour patterns of the bird by its stripes, just like a zebra. Looking around she noted the green eggs in the other tiny hands.

“A partridge in a pear tree...” she mumbled to herself, but shook her head. It couldn’t be. They were just a bunch of eggs in a tree.

☃️ ☃️ ☃️ 

Doubt had risen more after she got another present the next day. Hyunmi had looked around and had questioned all yetis and elves. How did he come inside without her noticing? She didn’t want to admit it, but she had anticipated his visit still. Nevertheless there was no flower on the ground, grown from a warp hole. How did he do it?

“Is someone helping that Easter bunny?” Hyunmi had asked again, but the others were only breaking the two eggs she had received, yet again in a basket. The sides of the egg were splattered with black, white lines separating them, creating dots.

Turtle doves.

It was when she got five Christmas wreaths decorated with golden rod ribbons on the fifth day that the girl was sure Woohyun was reenacting the Christmas carol.

Is he suggesting he is my true love?!

Her mind went rigid at the thought and she tapped her cheeks. They had become much too hot for her liking, as if she was affected by that bunny. What was he thinking? Doing such outrageous things for her. To her! And what was she thinking for blushing like this and losing her cool?

She gradually calmed down as she thought about the recent times. He had sent her gifts, which the elves and yetis ate. She didn’t mind really since she would have too much eggs if he gave everything in a hard cooked egg shape.

“Do you think she misses his presence or is there something more?” Minseok asked as the boy and the sand girl sat high up again to watch the girl pace around.

Heejin’s face lit up and a heart appeared above her head. Whether it was for the boy in front of her or for his question was up to interpretation though.

He simply chuckled at her reaction and patted her head before turning their eyes downwards again.

“Now it’s time for Woohyun’s next idea,” Minseok spoke up unbeknownst to the longing Santa girl.

☃️ ☃️ ☃️ 

After the golden rings from the fifth day she had not received anything anymore. Was it her mind filled with Christmas that she had made such assumptions with the Christmas carol? Was it just a coincidence then? That she received those painted eggs? They were decorated with such precision to match the appearance of the birds. It couldn’t be a fluke. She refused to believe that.

But the absence of the gifts…

Hyunmi took the flower that she had gotten on the first day that the eggs started coming. It was always with her, safely tucked in the pocket of her red cardigan. Hyunmi’s eyes widened and her fingers stopped to carefully rotate the flower between her fingers. The girl had realized she just wanted a sign of him. It wouldn’t matter if it was a gift or just something random.

But if she had to be honest to herself, the presents didn’t matter to her. The gesture was sweet and it was a sign of him. But what she had came to realise was that the Santa girl would rather see him visit her again than have more presents.

Hyunmi had missed the smirk with such charm on his face she was not able to resist, his way of talking like there was something hidden behind every word. It scared her yet intrigued her as well. It made her think of him all the time, in the back of her mind of course since she was far too busy. But still, the bunny jumped about and around in her thoughts.

It was a good thing that Christmas took so much time from her.

Even if she had admitted this to herself, she was never planning to admit it to him. It would be too embarrassing and probably get straight to his head as well. Her desire to see him was not as strong to fuel his ego.

If she ever got the chance again to see him that is.

☃️ ☃️ ☃️ 

The days had been well, everything had been according to schedule too, they were even earlier with packing all the presents. It was all ready to get loaded to the sled and the snow globes were ready as well. As presented on the schedule, depending on what time it was, they would throw the snow globe on the floor to make a portal to the sled. That way they could transport the gifts in a fast pace and also store the empty packs away again.

Hyunmi could feel a sense of excitement in her belly as she held the ropes for the reindeers. This would be the official take off, the start of Christmas, the start of wonders.

“To a safe and merry flight!” she announced happily and motioned for the reindeers to move.

The elves and yetis cheered at the departure and the volume for Christmas songs turned up a notch. With every change of the huge bags, the music stopped almost like the chair dance. But whenever the music stopped you had to throw in a bag in the portal instead of racing for furniture. It was a fun game for them all really and the days and nights had continued like that in the north.

The time kept moving forward while the countries that she visited went from one hour earlier to two hours as she travelled through time zones. It was a strange side really as it was all evening time. It was sure a peculiar concept, time. It was only because of Christmas that she used it.

The wind against her face was refreshing, although soon enough she found that she prefered being indoors more. Still, she kept pushing for the children, for the people who believed in her and who she could give the gift of wonder. It was truly an astonishing task she had.

In two and a half days she had managed to travel the whole world, going to every corner of land and sea to celebrate the days spent with family and friends. Although the gifts under the christmas tree were nice and were for the believe of children, it was the company that made the national holiday so special, she thought as she headed back to her den.

Before she could think of the preparations for next Christmas, her thoughts got interrupted as she saw Woohyun stand beneath the shining globe. Her heart felt calmness come over her like the soothing water against the shore for seeing him once more. At the same time she felt like her chest was going to burst. How did he manage to do that to her?

The thoughts did not get to keep her occupied for long as she eyed the easter bunny. Hyunmi had to giggle at his attire, a green and red sweater and he was wearing a red nose with antlers on his head. The transition from his black hair to the dark colour of brown was so nicely made that it looked like he was a hybrid.

“Merry christmas,” Woohyun exclaimed as soon as he saw her and walked up to her.

“Merry Christmas to you too. Do you have more eggs for me?” she asked with a raised eyebrow.

His smile widened and he shook his head and motioned her to walk up to his side. She did as told and followed him along the hall. It felt weird to her to follow someone in her own mansion, as if she didn’t know her way around. Then again, Woohyun had surprised her more than once. What could it be now?

“So how come you have infiltrated my manor when I was gone?” Hyunmi teased as they walked to her office.

“I gave one of your elves potatoes,” he said simply and chuckled.

She knew which elf that was and made a note in her mind to speak to her.

“Well, here is my last present for you,” Woohyun said proudly and motioned his hand to the corner of the room. “Tell me what you think.”

With wonder in her eyes did she approach the mannequin that was dressed with a dress just for her.

“Fortytwo B five F C,” the girl muttered and touched the fabric. It was soft to the touch like wool but smooth like silk.

“Don’t go colour code on me,” Woohyun whined softly and stood by her side. “So… do you like it?”

For once he felt nervous around her and wanted her verbal approval.

“It’s not red,” Hyunmi commented as she eyed the outfit once more. It was a simple sky blue long sleeve dress complemented with brown high heeled boots. Then she smiled.

“But I do like it.”

Her words had calmed his nerves instantly and he stood proud again.

“You must be tired to wear only red and white. I thought you wanted to try something new, or actually, I insist you try it. The colour would compliment you,” the bunny said eagerly and ushered her to take the dress from the doll.

His antics made her chuckle and she agreed with feigned annoyance before she playfully led him to the door.

Woohyun gladly followed her out though as he wanted to see her in her new outfit as soon as possible.

“Don’t even try to peek!” came her muffled voice as he closed the door on her already.

“Yeah yeah! If you don’t hurry we’ll be late,” he sang and went off to play with the partying elves and dancing yetis. It was after all, two days of freedom for them.

He did not catch her voice as she asked where they would be late to. And he had her at that, because Hyunmi truly disliked to be late. Late for what? That was still a mystery to her.

Changing into her new attire she looked at herself in wonder. She quite started to like this new colour and she grinned in joy. It was even the right size for her and a perfect style! Did he concile the elves for the size and such? It must’ve been Maerin again as she was always quite mischievous and quite liked Woohyun. She made a note in her mind to thank them all later.

Hyunmi let her fingers slide in her hair to smoothen it out and did one more once over before opening the door to find Woohyun eating cookies with the yetis.

His eyes had turned to her the moment she had opened the door despite the noisiness of the room. Was it her presence he could feel?

“I’m ready to go, where it may be,” she said and smiled bashfully as he kept staring at her. The girl had to chuckle when he shook his head to get it together.

“Alright! Let’s go then. I just need one thing from you,” Woohyun instructed while he cleaned his hands from the cookie crumbs before stepping up to her.

“Shoot.”

“Trust me,” he said with such gentleness and smoothness in his voice that Hyunmi couldn’t help but nod in return.

She could feel it dissipate as soon as she felt a cloth in front of her eyes.

“I don’t have that much trust in you for you to kidnap me.”

All dark around her, she felt around as in not to panic. A rough hand but soft touch held her hands steady, turning them into jelly and stopping her defiance.

“It’s not kidnapping when you just gave me your absolute faith in me,” he retorted which made her unknowingly pout as he was right.

One of his arms went under her knees while the other supported her back and she got carried in his arms. Hyunmi wrapped her arms tightly around his neck as not to fall. Sooner than she could bring up an argument, she heard the dreadful sound of his foot tapping twice against the ground. As much as Woohyun disliked flying in the sleigh, she was not fond of the tunnels that went underground.

Her voice was louder than she had wanted, but she had no control as their speed made the wind flow around them. The grip around him didn’t loosen either as she felt them going round and round in the tunnels.

Then Hyunmi felt the sudden halt and the familiar cold and fresh air. It was a miracle that her food didn’t come up, she had thought. She could feel a small thud against her and she was glad when she noticed that Woohyun had made her sit instead of stand after that wild ride.

“Thank you for travelling with Easterlines. We have now arrived in Germany,” the boy chuckled as he took off the blindfold and she couldn’t help but feel better already. Whether it was him speaking or laughing, his voice had always the ability to soothe her.

He had given her a coat even though she was unable to feel cold. But he argued that it was a camouflage just in case the people could see them, when they believed in them. It would be odd to see  a woman walking in this cold and only wearing a dress after all.

“Do you ever wonder why you were chosen into the North’s family?” Woohyun asked as they started to walk out of the park.

They watched the lights around them change as it reflected against every small white petal of snowflakes that fell from the sky. Minseok had done a good job with the weather.

“Ever wondered how you entered the family of the Easter Bunny?” Hyunmi shot the question back. It wasn’t often she was able to hold up such a personal conversation. Most of the year was busy anyway.

“I’m a beginning to everything good,” Woohyun said with a grin. “Just like spring.”

“I guess I would be the warmth during winter that could make every blue day shine like the sun again,” she argued.

For a moment, the two of them walked in silence but Hyunmi grew the courage to ask him on of the question that had been bugging her.

“So… how were you the past few weeks? I haven’t seen you around. Or the eggs for that matter.”

“Did you like those presents as well?”

“I think the elves enjoyed them more than me,” she said with a chuckle which made him make the angelic melody as well.

“I figured, since you were too busy to do something together it would be better to support you in those busy moments. You do remember what I asked you before right?”

“You asked for my time,” Hyunmi muttered, recalling the conversation.

“I did. And i figured I could take some of your time. And I’m pretty sure you would enjoy it, but once we would get back… I know I would’ve caused more stress in your mind, because you were not able to work on the preparations. I was still selfish enough for wanting you to think about me though,” he admitted sheepishly.

And thinking about him she did. She still wondered if he proclaimed himself as her true love, but it would be too blunt to ask maybe. His answer words made her realise how good he knew her and she appreciated it dearly.

As they made their way to several alleys, they came out at a mainstreet which made the Santa girl look around in awe. It was different to spend your time on christmas days actually making it happen than spending your time to enjoy christmas.

There was a large christmas tree already visible in the distance and she remembered the news. It was the christmas tree that was most lit with lights. Hundred and fifty thousand to be exact. It was amazing what some humans did to celebrate her days.

“So what are we doing in the city? What are you trying to do?” Hyunmi asked with a smile as she enjoyed watching all the ornaments and many lights around her. The true feeling of Christmas was still here. At this part of the earth, it was still Christmas although it was almost over.

“Well, it would be sad to celebrate your day all alone. Wouldn’t it? Everyone is celebrating with family and friends. Or lovers. You’re making it all more fun for them. But all these days is also, after all, all about you. You should enjoy it as well.”

Gratefulness was what she had felt towards him for thinking about her. But Hyunmi eyed him, trying to decipher his last few words without blushing. She could use the excuse of make up or maybe cold. He was clever enough to know she couldn’t feel cold though so that wouldn’t work.

“So I’m celebrating with you. You’re not a family member so the only choice you give me is being my friend or lover,” she reasoned, not giving an extra option of rivals or anything.

“What would you like me to be?” Woohyun avoided the question and instead just averted the attention to her again. It was so frustratingly clever, a strategy only one would know when they talked too much, she believed. She had used it when she talked with him as well.

Hyunmi’s mind went blank at the question. Should she lie and deny her desire? Should she be honest? The right answer, but oh so difficult to tell him?

Just when she thought she had resolved the dilemma in her mind, did the church bell ring as it was midnight.

“Mistletoe,” Woohyun softly whispered. She could barely hear it but when she followed his finger that had pointed upwards, she understood. He was right. There was a mistletoe hanging above the two of them and it made her cheeks flush again.

“It’s not Christmas anymore,” Hyunmi retorted back as she nodded to the clock that kept resonating it’s loud tune.

“Do you care?” he asked with a smirk and stood closer to her.

If she wanted she could still push him away. That was his nice personality, not pushing anything on her and giving her room. But truthfully?

She didn’t care.