I didn’t realise that I’ve ran around for an hour, I only started to feel the exhaustion when my mind cleared up… this is all a mess… everything… this Christmas… is the worst I’ve ever had.

He checked the time and it was 9 in the evening and there were 10 missed calls from his sister and several messages. He didn’t check nor he planned to, he was still upset to talk to his dad, he didn’t want to see him. Not now, not until he came down to his senses after selling him out to his uncle’s son.

The night was cold and having only his plain pants and polo shirt, his whole body would eventually freeze to death. There wasn’t any snow but the winter breeze was freezing and after running around accumulated sweet in which increased the cold wind’s effect.

“Man… I need… to find a place to warm up…” he looked around and the people around him seemed to lessen since it was rather late. He was shivering to the bones and he needed something to help him survive the cold. He walked further and with luck he found a cosy looking coffee shop, he got inside and the warmth automatically helped his body calm down from shivering.

To top it up the smell of the brewed coffee eased him up a bit; the ambiance was refreshingly great, much like the coffee shop he works in. There weren’t a lot of people around just a few; he then wanted to have a sip of something warm so he decided to get a hot cup.

He got to the counter and looked at the choices, “I’ll have a large macchiato please” the girl at the counter nodded and rang the order while the barista behind her started the order. “That’ll be $1.20” he started to look for his wallet in all his pockets and he couldn’t seem to find it.

The girl at the counter looked at him, still waiting for the payment “Uhm… just a moment” he smiled to hide the distress, “Oh crud… I forgot my wallet at the rack!” he whispered to himself. At that very moment he didn’t know what to do; his mind was at a buzz, “Psst…” a person from behind sounded.

He looked behind him and for a moment, he felt his heart sped up. A moment where time slowed down at the sight of the person behind him, “Here…” he snapped back to reality and the guy was giving him $5.00. He didn’t contradict with what was going on so he took it.

“Uh, here… sorry for that” she smiled and accepted the payment, when he was given the change so was the order since it took him a while.

He then went to a seat near the counter and returned to the guy who helped him out, he was in the first time admiring someone. When the guy got his order he then went towards where Ji was, “May I?” he asked first “By all means”

When the guy sat, Ji couldn’t help but to feel embarrassed “Uh, thanks…” and handed out the change, he smiled and shook his head “Nah, it’s fine… things happen, I was just glad that she didn’t went berserk when it took you long, keep it just in case you want to order something else” he giggled and Ji found it adorable.

“So, may I ask… did you got rob or something?” stunned with what he asked, he slowly picked up why he thought that way, “Oh… no… actually I… ran from home, well not a real runaway you know, uh, how should I say this, I… errr…” the guy chuckled and in an instance Ji felt his cheeks burn.

“I’m sorry, I just found it cute that you were stuttering in trying to answer, I mean, I got what you meant so no means to explain in detail” he composed himself, “S-Sorry… I actually just wanted to warm myself up before I go back. I left in such rush that I forgot to get something warm and also… my wallet”

“Why apologize? People makes mistakes when their emotionally stressed or tensed, what happened to you right now means that something happened between you and your family or so. Don’t worry, I wouldn’t be nosy to dig in to family matters” he took a sip of his coffee and Ji then followed.

Ji was having second thoughts but “What the hell” he told himself “So, were you going to meet someone here?” the guy quickly replied with by shaking his head “I just wanted to go out and have some coffee” Ji felt something in what he said but he shrugged it off “Don’t you want to spend your Christmas Eve with your family?”

A half-hearted smile crept out “I wish I could, but things aren’t what they used to be. My folks aren’t here, their out of the country, half-way across the globe” he chuckled lightly “It’s evening here but its morning at their place. Also, if they were here they’d only up my evening”

“Oh… family issues, sorry I brought that out” he didn’t want to get into the guy’s wrong side “No, it’s nothing. I’ve already accepted the fact that my parents aren’t all that loveable when it comes to me. They’re busy and I’ll only be a nuisance to them”

“I don’t think you’d be” Ji quickly interjected, “To what I see, you’re a good person who’ll be there at times of need” it made the guy smile “Like what I did with you?” he kiddingly said and Ji went beet red “Seriously, no one had ever told me that. Thanks”

It made Ji’s heart run like crazy

Wh-what’s… this sensation? Damn it… it’s getting a lot hotter than I first came here

“Tell you what…” the guy looked at his watch, “It’s already quarter to 10, let’s welcome Christmas together… that is… if you plan on going somewhere else” Ji’s mood lit up and violently shook his head “No! I’ll tag along, if you don’t mind that is”

“Awesome, come on, take you coffee too” he invited and they got outside to his car. Ji sat beside the driver’s seat and buckled up, “By the way, we’re going to celebrate even though we don’t know each other’s name. I’ll start off, Seung Ri, Lee Seung Ri” he offered his hand for a shake.

Seung Ri… I’ll… definitely remember that name

He reached out for a shake and felt a jolt of electricity surge through the initial contact, “J-Jiyong… Kwon Jiyong” he stuttered, a giggle sounded out from him “Let’s make things clear, now that we know each other, don’t be shy with me alright?” slowly Ji nodded

“Okay, now that introductions are done, let’s head on” with that he started the engine and they went off and same goes with Ji’s heart. Like a locomotive, it was bustling about inside his chest.

Meanwhile

Seunghyun was currently at a bar, after breaking up with his girlfriend felt shattering. What they had wasn’t all act or show, it was real and they’ve earned the trust in each other through the years of spending time together.

They knew each other well and they held each other’s heart, so breaking up with her was something he would really suffer for.

This is a waste, why… do I have to get married? Why now? Why when I was about to ask her to marry me too? Why… why would I need to marry someone I don’t know? Why marry a gay guy? Was I a bad person in my previous life to have this kind of punishment?

He looked at the small box he wanted to present to her but right at that moment, it held no significance anymore so he stored it back to his pocket.

He took another shot of vodka, in total he had already drank 6 shots ever since he came. “Another shot here” he called out to the bar tender, “I’ll also have what he’s having” a voice butted in. He looked at the person “Tae… what are you…?” he sat at the vacant seat beside him.

“Heard from Chaerin that you broke up with her” he gave out a breath with what he heard, “Wow, word spreads quickly…” he jokingly said but in a bitter way “Let me cut to the chase, what went wrong between the two of you?”

A faint smile showed, “Nothing, we… we were perfect in every way I could look at our relationship” it puzzled him to hear those words, “So… what’s the point in breaking up with her?” at that moment the bartender then came with the shots and Seunghyun took his but didn’t drank it, he only looked at it as if was a person.

“Tae, you’ve been a close friend of mine, ever since high school we looked out for each other like brothers. I know I can trust you but I also know that you’ll do everything to patch things up between me and Chaerin, so before I tell you. I want you to promise me, to please, don’t try and fix this problem”

In a way, Taeyang was having second thoughts of agreeing. A moment of silence between the two, “F-Fine… I give up” he then took the vodka and drank it and after emptying it he made a thud on the counter “Alright, spill the beans”

“I’m getting married sometime earlier next year… things aren’t clear yet with the time we’ll get married but,  it’s certain that I’ll be tied up with someone” it was a shocking thing to hear for him “What? With who… is she someone you got pregnant? I mean, it wouldn’t be like that if she ain’t”

With that he laughed and it confused Tae, “What’s so funny?” he continued to wonder “I wish that was the case… the only problem is if he’ll get pregnant” Taeyang’s eyes widened at the statement “Y-You have got to be ting me… y-you’re going to get hitched with a guy?”

Seunghyun resentfully nodded, “I’ve been arranged even before I was born, well, if he didn’t turned out gay he wouldn’t be arranged for me to marry. I for one wouldn’t mind if we both grew together or something, you know me, I don’t discriminate people’s preferences. Everyone has a choice”

“But things just gotten all crazy after my dad’s closest friend had a problem with his company and he came to the rescue. In return he agreed with dad’s looney idea of me and his friend’s fruit son. But for my dad, I’ll bear with his decision. This is the first time he ever asked something for me, I won’t turn down this single request”

“Wait up…” he interrupted “You’re saying that since this is the first time your dad asked something of you, you’ll comply with it without having second thoughts?” Seunghyun took a look at him, showing him that he is certain with his decision.

“I could never resist my dad, you know that. Besides I’m more concerned with Chaerin, she’ll suffer more than I would. She doesn’t deserve this… she doesn’t have to experience such thing” his eyes started to water. “M-Maybe there’s a way… another way for you to escape this so~” he stopped as soon as he saw him shaking his head.

“Don’t think of anything stupid, you already gave your word that you wouldn’t interfere with this decision of mine. So stop thinking of a stunt that’ll make things more complicated” it made Tae turn in silence.

“I’d only wish that, I could take away Chaerin’s pain right now… that’s the only thing I want to happen” he watched Seunghyun cry in silence, he couldn’t do anything, he couldn’t interject. All he could do is watch his best friend be devoured by the pain he was going through.

Meanwhile in front of Seoul Tower

“Wow, they made the tower glisten right now” Jiyong marvelled at the sight inside the car. “Haven’t you seen it yet? I mean, it’s been there for a long time” he looked with disbelief at the way Ji was amazed with the tower, “Frankly, I’ve been busy with work and stuff that I forgot how to take a break and roam around” he seriously said as he continued to look at the lights.

Seung Ri’s eyes were locked onto him, he watched carefully how innocent he looked at that moment. “Want to take a closer look?” Ji snapped his head to him “Really…?” he sounded excited.

“Sure, we are here aren’t we?” he giggled and with that they got out of the car. They leisurely made their way near the tower, being it pass 10 in the evening, they couldn’t go up there at that moment. There were lots of lights around the place, trees had Christmas decorations and lights hanged at the branches that make a falling start like effect while some are flashy and blink from time to time at the trimmed bushes.

He was entertained by the sight of Jiyong’s amaze expression, such pure joy written all over his face. He couldn’t understand why of all sudden he felt his heart hasten whenever he’d see him smile or he’d witness a sparkle in his eyes. It was an unfamiliar feeling but it felt so comfortable and easy to cope with.

For a few minutes of walking around the place, Jiyong sneezed and sniffed. Feeling the harsh cold weather whispering its breeze onto his thin clothed body, he felt he’d catch a cold. With an unexpected thing though, he was then covered cosily with a nice and warm coat and was also offered with a scarf.

He stood speechless with the way he was offered to use the scarf, “Here, you might catch a cold so you better wear this” he blinked several times before he came into his senses and took the offer. “B-But… how ‘bout you? Wouldn’t you catch a cold?”

“I’m a tough guy, I can handle the cold” it made Ji smile and slowly he wrapped the scarf around his neck, feeling the warmth from its owner. The cold winds didn’t made him shiver any longer, “Thanks” he kindly said and then turned to take a look around once more in which Seung Ri was thankful for, in an instance where he gave his thanks, his face turned bright red.

“W-What’s… going on with me…?” he wondered to himself. After a minute, he composed himself and saw Jiyong staring at the top part of the tower. Curious with what’s running inside his head, he approached him, “You know… I dreamt of one day, on a snowy Christmas day that the person that I love would take me to the top and would tell me “Merry Christmas Ji… I love you” and then we’d celebrate together, no fancy stuff, no grand party… just a simple moment with just the two of us together”

Seung Ri couldn’t help but to feel blissful with what he said, “That sounds… endearing, I think… I’d like that to happen to me too, maybe not tomorrow or the year after but one day… maybe one day” Ri didn’t tore his gaze at Ji’s face as he looked at the tower while the lights are blinking at its sides.

They just stood there basking the good view together, a moment of tranquillity between two people who just met. A solemn time wherein their mind have nothing to be bothered with, also nothing to trouble the moment of peace and no disappointment in their lives, just a fantasy of the future that lies ahead of them.

After a short while, Seung Ri’s phone vibrated. Ji still being taken in by the feeling stayed fantasizing. “Merry Christmas Ji…” it broke his moment of illusion and he turned to face Seung Ri, a certain rush went through his system “M-Merry Christmas to you too Seung Ri”

A simple exchange of greetings

It wasn’t long until Jiyong’s phone vibrated as well, “Um… just a moment” he excused himself and brought out his phone, “Hello? What? W-Where?... Alright, I’ll head on” the sound of his voice made him worry.

“Did something bad happened?” he saw the distress in Jiyong’s face, “I’m sorry but I have to go, it’s my dad, he’s at the hospital right now” he was starting to panic, “I’ll take you to where he is” he offered, “No, you’ve helped more than enough and~” he was cut off as he felt Seung Ri’s hand grasp his arm.

“This isn’t the time to argue with that, like I said, you don’t have to be shy. Tell me what hospital he’s in so we can get there” he didn’t have a choice there, so he agreed and made their way to the car.

Please… don’t let it be serious… please, if something were to happen to dad… I don’t think I’d forgive myself for the rest of my life.