It's cold, I'm absolutely freezing. My shop somehow also feels a little bit colder now, so I wear sweaters inside. The streets are decorated, and the trees outside of my shop were also lighted with coils of little stars ostensibly glittlering with the magic of some fairy dust. It was the beginning of the holiday season. Some houses were already decorated with lights and other crazy structures, such as lighted reindeers and a Santa on his sleigh. Even though this is Korea, we still had the holiday spirit, and many of us are Christian as well. Anyways, my parents insisted that I purchase tons of decorations and put them in my store. Well, I do agree it helped. A week ago, the eleven of us, basically my brothers from several different mothers, worked together along with me to decorate the whole cafe. It turned out pretty nice. I admit, I actually enjoy the holiday season. I love seasonal things, even though they come and go, it just makes me feel like I belong in this time and place more than I would. Especially the holidays. It surely is magical, lightbulbs and cords and all.

Luhan came everyday, and I do mean everyday. He tries to be consistant, but fails, for his schedule is tight and full, so he squeezes whatever free time to get his dear and precious cafe latte. Sometimes he comes as the Luhan, but other times he comes as the creepy guy in a heather grey hoodie, which I had just figured out was him. The heather grey hoodie phase of Luhan used to be so uncomfortable that I lighted candles to ward him off, but now I realize that it was just Luhan, as Luhan, just a boy, as a boy, and nothing more.

I think my regular customers already know that Luhan has his own constant visits, and they have grown accustomed to it. Occasionally, a couple of fangirls would come in and silently squeal at Luhan, who sat at the table closest to the counter. Sometimes, they would ask for his autograph, and of course, he would sign on for them, on their books, bags, his albums, their arms, hands, and even their phones.

It has only been about three months after the grand opening of my cafe, and I certaintly feel blessed for things to be going so smoothly. I recently employed Joonmyun, who was avaliable for part time on the busy days. He's quite the life saver. Joonmyun and I have been friends since junior high. He and I have been academic rivals, and although we were always on the top of the score chart during junior high, we fell down and became 80's students throughout our high school years. He caught up though, unlike me, in our junior year, and followed it throughout senior year. He took several AP classes and competitive classes for science, math, and technology, joined many competitions, and won some or went to the finals for them, so he ended up in a better college than I did. I thought he would continue as a graduate student but he got a good enough job at a company so he decided to just stick to it. Apparently he earns enough to not work as often as he used to, so he was able to help me around. I pay him minimum wage not because I'm a cheap bastard, but because he is a sincere bastard and demands it! Whatever, as long as he wants it; I mean, we're all buddies anyways.

It's so cold... Today is December 12th, 2012. It is twelve-twelve-twelve! The last month-day-year combo in eighty eight years (not a hundred). And there I was, spending it alone... Well, technically, though Joonmyun was here today. When he's here I can take a break outside. The air seemed to be frosted, but there were no flakes falling from the opaque white sky. I just wanted a deep breath of fresh air. It smelled like winter. There is a distinct smell for each season, but for sure, winter is the most prominent one. I like the smell of winter the most, it's so crisp and clear, but also fulfilling, as in a very deep and concentrated sense. The smell of winter is lovely, just the smell and texture of the breeze. I miss it in the summer; seasons will come and go, but they will always arrive back someday.

I looked down the street to my right, there was no one there, just a stop sign all the way down the road. Then I turned to the left and there seemed to be someone walking down towards me. Though, only one person on the road.

"Minseok!" A distant voice called. Most likely to be from the running man with his arm up in the air and flailing. He was wearing a cayenne red scarf, very festive.

The figure came closer, and it was actually a very out of breath Luhan.

"Oh, hello Luhan."

However Luhan did not halt, and instead rammed into me forming a hug that drove me back three steps. I grunted and exclaimed my discontent silently on my face.

"What, I was just greeting you the Luhan way." He panted.

"Yes, of course, always the special Luhan way."

Luhan grinned, "Anyways, I have something to ask you, but can we go inside first? It's so cold..."

I nodded and pushed the doors open, entering with Luhan trailing behind me.

"Cold, right?" Joonmyun greeted me while wiping the counter. His eyes widened a bit upon sight of Luhan, but he just normally greeted him along.

Luhan, however, did not.

"Who is this? A new employee?"

"Yeah, but he's also a good friend of mine."

I mean, I do own a cafe, so it would be normal for me to employ others.

"Alright... Oh! Oh, yes, right."

He grabbed my wrists while we were to the side and held them together, then he asked with glee "You have to, have to, have to come with me somewhere today! You can't say no, you have to go!"

"Why me? I'm just the owner of a cafe. I'm not famous or anything."

"You just don't get it. Just come with me pleeeeaaassseeeee?"

Luhan stretched his plead, and his mouth, showing his white teeth, and the little scar on his lower lip, and his apple cheeks were bunched high into a eye smile, which were also tinted pink, I'm guessing from the cold.

How could I have resisted?

So I agreed with him, and apologized to Joonmyun to extend his shift and close the cafe early. Luhan was pushy all along the way.

"Public transport? Are you sure this is okay?" I asked him, when he brought me to the bus stop. He nodded, as he put on a pair of sunglasses, and then handed me a pair of sunglasses. I made a face of doubt, pulling my opened mouth downwards.

"What?"

I just sighed in response, and put my sunglasses on.

There wasn't even any sun, but for identity's sake.

We got on one of the buses I never take, or have not taken for who knows how many long tedious years. I had no idea where we were going, and Luhan was being very, very quiet about it. But I didn't attempt to initiate any conversations because I was afraid people would recognize him from his voice. He was a singer anyways.

It was most likely around 4:30 PM when we got on the bus because the sky was slowly becoming darker and darker. Oh, winter, it gets dark too fast.

My parents always said "Oh, Minseok, don't go out with random people," or "Oh Minseok, don't go out alone with anyone, no matter which gender"... Annoying... I am an adult now... I can do what I want to do... I am free... I am free, and for the time I was a teenager I was not young, I was not wild, and I was definitely not free, so I'll be young, wild, and free now to make up for it... Yeah... Not that young though... I'm like, what... I'm twenty two, out of my teens, but fresh out of college, still young and unsettled, but not a child... I'm no longer a child... I'm gonna have fun... But I'll be responsible... I'll know what to do now...

"Minseok?" Luhan nudged me. "Minseok? Wake up. We're here."

I jolted awake at that moment and looked outside with my hazy eyes, and all that I could see were thousands of shining lights against a pitch black sky.

"Where is this..?" I rubbed my eyes, but Luhan bumped me with his and forced me off my seat so he could get off as well. Then I was pulled off the bus before it went off without a single word of exchange from the little hallyu star.

I yawned after we stepped off the bus. We were at... The entrance of Everland Amusement Park.

Sorryyyyyy~ I was going to submit this with the next chapter but I thought it was long enough and I also wanted to publish it tonight ^^

The Everland picture is from here! It's not mine. The fennec foxes in her pics are so cute ; A ; <3