Nobody notices how Kyungsoo suddenly becomes hyper aware of every single touch Krystal lands on Jongin. Every single one.

From the way her arms wrapped around the other’s neck to pull him into an intimate hug to the way her hands lingered over his face a little longer than necessary after she had of being so dark skinned, Kyungsoo’s eyes never missed a second of it.

Part of him wants to turn away because he knows he doesn’t stand a chance against Krystal. She’s absolutely beautiful and the mere fact that Jongin and her have been friends since diaper days gives her around a million points head start, Kyungsoo has nothing against that. Heck he wasn’t even sure about Jongin’s ual preference, yeah he had kissed him back that first night they went out, but who’s to say that he wasn’t just unsure of what to do under such an awkward situation. Anyone would have been confused.

Kyungsoo’s never been good at competition, he feels like he’s already loosing.

“Hey you,” A voice cuts his train of thought and he finds himself face to face with a slightly tipsy Jongin. “Merry Christmas!” The other greets with a twinkle in his eye as he roughly pulls Kyungsoo into a hug.

The smaller boy stands awkwardly on his tiptoes, eyes wide with surprise. He reluctantly wraps his arms around Jongin just the same but when his gaze meets Krystal’s, his hold never tightens and he settles for a lose embrace as the fiery red haired girl playfully puts a finger to her lips. It’s our little secret! She winks.

Kyungsoo returns her an unsure smile before he is released from Jongin’s hug (far too soon for his liking). He eyes the tanned boy nervously and returns the greeting. “Yeah, Merry Christmas to you too. You reek of alcohol by the way.”

Jongin spreads his arms wide, openly accepting Kyungsoo’s words with a smug look on his face. “Nothing wrong with a little celebration.”

“Alright who wants presents!!!”

All heads now turn towards a chuckling Junmyeon, who barges through the doors with a sack of presents over his shoulder and a santa hat carelessly worn over his head. A series of cheers erupts and everyone makes their way towards their bags, bringing out gifts of all shapes and sizes. Kyungsoo shuffles nervously towards Jongin, who is currently crouched over a paper bag filled with presents wrapped in yellow paper (He guesses that Jongin isn’t much of an artist).

“Jongin.” He whispers, crouching beside the other. “I-I didn’t really bring any presents…” Except yours.

“Hm?”

“I mean- I didn’t exactly know how many were coming…or what we were gonna do…”

“Oh, it’s fine. You Luhan and Sehun don’t have to give anything, we understand. It’s just kind of a thing we do out of habit. Don’t worry no one will take it against you.” Jongin smiles.

 “Actually…well-“

 “Well?”

“I uhm…I do have a gift.”

“You do?”      

“Just…not for everyone.” Kyungsoo coughs, hoping he isn’t blushing profusely.

“not…for everyone?”

“Just one.”

 “Just one?” Jongin grins knowingly, although he does his best to seem clueless. “What a lucky guy.”

 Kyungsoo chooses to remain silent. He’s left crouching where he is when the taller boy suddenly stands, heaving his paper bag of ugly wrapped presents in his arms and walking towards the small crowd of people. Of course, Kyungsoo follows not too soon after.

When all is settled in their places, (Kyungsoo finally getting his long awaited spot beside Jongin, which is unfortunately countered by the fact that Krystal is also seated on the other end) It’s the tanned boy who first speaks up.     

“Kyungsoo’s got no presents!”

“Wha- Hey!!” Kyungsoo’s eyes widen as he attempts to push Jongin over, the other merely laughing.

 “You moron.” Krystal butts in.

“I was just teasing! No one’s expecting anything from you anyway so it’s alright. Right guys?”

A chorus of agreement.

“That includes Luhan and Sehun.”

“Yeah no worries you three we understand.”

“You could just make our next buy in your bakery free!” Taemin exclaims. Kyungsoo laughs at this but then the corner of his eyes catch Luhan and Sehun’s gazes upon him so he returns the knowing look and a silent conversation is suspended in the air between them. It ends with the three of them nodding at each other in agreement.

“That’s fine with us!” Luhan speaks up.

“Wait no no I was just joking!”

“it’s okay”

“But we kind of- well we might not have anything to give you either since we weren’t really expecting extra company…”

“No, really we want to be able to give something, and what you suggested is plausible so we figured it’s the least we could do after you guys have accepted us so warmly today.”  Kyungsoo insists.

 “Really? I mean you won’t get in trouble for that right…?”

“Yeah we can always pay-“

“You mean you can always pay Junmyeon.” 

“We insist.”  Sehun finalizes with a stern voice. With that everyone nods and smiles in gratitude, whispers of thank you-s and we appreciate it-s passed around to a bashful Kyungsoo. Jongin smiles fondly at him, leaning in closer to whisper into his ear.

"You can give me that gift after we’re done.”

Kyungsoo is so worried he’d hear his rapid heart beating.

"Okay!” Jongin separates and leaves a flustered boy to calm his nerves. “Show us what you got Junmoney.”

“Santa baby hurry down the chimney tonight!”

And the gift exchange begins.

The atmosphere is light and happy as all 8 of them share moments of laughter, teasing and just pure merry making. Though admittedly, Kyungsoo couldn’t manage to be as happy as the rest, Krystal’s voice still vividly etched into the back of his memory. I love Jongin…Always have and always will. Every time it crosses his mind he finds himself having a hard time to smile, there’s a tiny pinch in his heart for each time he looks at the two bickering bestfriends seated to his left. 

When it’s Jongin at the center of the room giving out presents (to which many of them eye disgustedly commenting on how it looks like trash rather than presents), Kyungsoo is driven out of his staring state by the feeling of someone scooting closer to his left. He turns to see Krystal moving towards him, smiling with her eyes glued on Jongin as well. She leans closer to converse with him quietly.

“It’s my turn next.”

“Oh? You and Jongin really come in a package don’t you.”

Kyungsoo lets out a forced laugh which Krystal luckily doesn’t pick up on, the female blushing a pretty shade of pink.

“Everyone knows we’re bestfriends.”

“It’s hard not to guess.”

“Do we really seem that close?”

“You are aren’t you?”

“Yeah. Yeah we are.”

“You know, if I hadn’t known you two were good friends, I might have mistaken you as a couple.”

Ouch. Internally the small boy wonders why he’s adding salt to his own wounds.

“Doll face!” Clapping his hands to garner all their attention, Jongin gestures for the red haired girl to stand. “Stop flirting with Kyungsoo. Come on front and centre. It’s your turn lovely.”

“Wish me luck!” Are Krystal’s last words whispered into Kyungsoo’s ear before she stands and begins handing out her beautifully wrapped presents, Jongin taking his previous spot beside Kyungsoo.

“You alright?” He asks, lightly patting the smaller boy’s cheeks. Kyungsoo merely shakes his head with a smile. No I am not alright but I’ll pretend to be. Jongin smiles back comfortingly hoping it would ease whatever bothered his friend’s mind at the moment. In the background Krystal gives out her gifts, and again, an exchange of thank you-s are thrown around until she holds the final one in her hands. Standing in the centre she smiled a smile that might have seemed normal to most, but to Kyungsoo, it screamed in love.

“Last but not the least, to my cocky, arrogant, stuck up, immature kid of a bestfriend,” she speaks loudly, taking a step closer towards Jongin with each ‘insult’ she throws. “this is for you. Merry Christmas.”

All eyes are focused on the two as Krystal bends down slightly to secure a warm, knitted bonnet over Jongin’s blond hair. It’s a sort of faded colour of red, a puffy ball knitted to the tip making it look ridiculous yet adorable at the same time. Some ask if Krystal knitted it herself, she answers that no she bought it from a store, Jongin smiles and thanks her sincerely, she smiles too and says it suits him. All this happen in a blur to Kyungsoo because wow that hat looks incredibly familiar.

Unconsciously he stands and runs over to his bag, ping it as soon as he crouches down, rummaging through his things until he comes across something faded red, with a puffy ball kitted to the tip.

 “Kyungsoo! You okay over there?” Junmyeon shouts from his place.

“I uhm, I think, I think I have to go. Right now.”

He’s trembling. Picking up his bag and striding out the door like he were suddenly avoiding the plague.

 “Hey- Wait!- Hold on guys, I’ll be right back.” Jongin follows him quickly, scrambling to his feet nearly slipping.

 Though maybe in reality it was no plague he was trying to avoid, but rather his own tears.

“Hey.”

He stops, his back to the tanned boy who now closes the door quietly behind him, before stuffing his hands in his pockets and watching Kyungsoo’s still figure. “I’m gonna ask you again, are you alright?”

The smaller boy breathes in deeply, praying to the gods that his tears don’t fall just yet. He turns around with an unsteady smile. “Oh- yeah. Yeah I’m fine. I’m sorry it’s just I uh…I suddenly remembered that my brother-“

“Seungsoo?”

“Seungsoo. He’s probably back by now. The countdown event is over and I just, he’s probably alone I should go make sure he’s okay.”

“Oh. Do you want me to walk you home?”

Kyungsoo eyes him warily, as if to consider. However one look at the knitted hat he wears and his chest is suddenly constricting painfully. “No.”

"We’ll go.”

Two extra voices suddenly add into the conversation as they’re joined by Sehun and Luhan, who both seem ready to call it a night, their bags slung over their shoulders. “We’ll take him home.”

 “Oh. Well. Okay, Merry Christmas, Kyungsoo. I’ll see you around?”

“Merry Christmas.”

He nearly runs down the hall.

***

“It’s not ing fair!”

“Please calm down someone could see you.”

“I bought the same hat! Out of all the damn things, I was supposed to give it to him!”

"Kyungsoo! Stop!”

“This- Was- Not- How- I- Imagined- Christmas- Eve!!”

“Kyungsoo- Kyungsoo Just- Just stop punching the trees goddamn it people will wonder why they’re still dead by the spring time!”

“Let go of me!”

“No not until you calm down!”

***

“I don’t think I want to see another fuzzy hat in my life ever again.”

“Don’t you think you’re oh I don’t know uhm overreacting just a tad bit huh kyungie?”

Kyungsoo groans loudly before stomping as far away as he can from the wide display of winter hats behind the glass windows, Luhan following not too far behind him, rolling his eyes in obvious annoyance.

It’s the Sunday after Christmas week and the streets have been growing less and less crowded, the end of the holiday season nearing as a brief period of calm dawns on the entire city, a brief calm before another ecstatic boom of celebration which is the upcoming new year.

Kyungsoo had woken up last Christmas morning with a heavy heart and bruised fists, if it were not for Luhan stopping him, he might have caused permanent extinction to the entire row of trees that lined the park’s walkway. Around 3 of them suffered under the merciless punches he threw in rage, and as a result, another 3 in close proximity will never again bloom under the warm spring sun.

He avoids Jongin for the next few days. Several missed calls and unanswered texts later, the tanned boy finally decides to back off himself, giving Kyungsoo the much needed breathing space he needs. (although he admits being half disappointed the first morning he wakes up to a silent and notification-less phone)

Now He and Luhan walk down the sidewalk towards a small cosy looking home.

“Have you even opened that gift he sent you through the mail?”

“I don’t want to open it. He probably gave the same thing to Krystal anyway.”

"Kyungsoo now you’re just being ridiculous.”

“I just really wanted to be the one to give him that gift okay? It’s not just a hat.”

 “What, it’s supposed to remind you of your first date or something?”

 “…Yes.”

"Are you even sure he’s the kind of sentimental guy to treasure at things like that?”

“Forget it, It was stupid of me to think he would.”

"You’re chickening out even before you confess anything.”

 "It’s not that easy!”

They both stop in front of the wooden door, knocking on it politely, once, twice, before banging it repeatedly with their fists. “Oh Sehun get off the ing couch and Answer the ing door!”

If I do will you shut up! A muffled shout exclaims from the inside. It doesn’t take long for a groggy looking Sehun to pop open the door and stare at his two friends with something in between disgust and disapproval. “I hate both of you.”

“Sweetheart that’s not what your lips told me last Christmas eve.” The doe-eyed eldest smiles sweetly, before pushing his way past the blushing boy and welcoming himself into the warmth of Oh Sehun’s residence. Kyungsoo shrugs apologetically, before shuffling inside as well.

The trio make their way into the kitchen where Sehun goes about making coffee for his guests (rather forcibly) while Luhan and Kyungsoo take a seat beside each other, resuming their previous conversation.

“I kind of figured something out.”

“Should I be scared.”

“Depends if it’s true.”

“Okay…”

“I think it’s not the hat you’re upset about.”

“What?”

“You’re not upset about a silly hat Do Kyungsoo,”

"You mean the fuzzy hat that pretty girl gave Jongin last Christmas eve?” Sehun interrupts, bringing three cups of fresh coffee mixed just the way they each prefer. Extra milk for Kyungsoo, black for Luhan. The smallest takes a big gulp while eyeing him, not so amusedly.

“Do Kyungsoo” Luhan begins, “You sir, are Jealous and Insecure.”

Kyungsoo nearly chokes. Luhan shows no sympathy however.

“So this Krystal girl gives Jongin the same exact gift. Sure no big deal. If only she weren’t a living doll, if only her hair wasn’t so soft and vibrant, or if only her face wasn’t so pretty and perfect, it wouldn’t have been a problem right?”

“Yeah-“

“WRONG.” Luhan snaps his hand on the table causing the two to jolt in surprise.

“You idiot, You can’t make the decision. Look at you you’re already giving up, and you haven’t even tried to win Jongin’s affection. You see a little competition and you crawl back into your tiny rabbit hole, well nope I am not letting you go back in there nu-uh it’s been for-ever since you’ve last shown interest in someone this intensely before. So what you’ve got a pretty little vixen seducing your prey well newsflash you’re not so bad yourself. You’re adorable Kyungsoo, and Jongin clearly sees that so why can’t you? Fight for something! You don’t make the decision here Jongin does, your role is to convince him you’re the right choice.”

 “Hate to say this but Lu hyung is right.”

Kyungsoo fiddles with his hands as he watches Sehun feed a cookie into Luhan’s mouth, wondering how it would feel if Jongin did the same to him. His cheeks feel warmer at the thought, and suddenly Luhan’s words make a whole lot more sense than anything at the moment.

“You really think I have a chance.” He all but mumbles. “You know I’m still scared. There’s still that possibility he won’t accept me, I’m not normal. I still think of what happened to mother, I still can’t forgive myself.”

“We’ve accepted you, haven’t we? You’ll never know if you don’t try.”

“Krystal is a nice girl…Won’t I be kind of, cruel, to take her first love away?”

“Wouldn’t she be cruel if she took yours? Time isn’t the basis of who you’re destined to be.”

Kyungsoo blinks a few times, staring at his friend as though he were a stranger. After a moment he picks up the eldest’s coffee mug, curiously sniffing at it and taking a small sip.

            “Sehun-ah, give me some of this coffee will you? It seems to make people smarter.”

***

Jongin stares at the blackboard full of scientific terms, the professor’s words nothing but a series of garbled jibberish to his ears as his eyes constantly flicker to the blank screen of his phone. Tapping his ballpen repeatedly on his desk, he seems to be unaware of the highly annoyed Taemin who sits beside him, obviously trying and failing to concentrate to the lecture currently going on.

“Hey!” Jongin shouts when Taemin suddenly snatches the ballpen away from his grip and throws it to the table beside his, which startles a poor studious Kim Junmyeon.  

 "Will you knock it off it’s annoying!”

“How am I supposed to take notes without a pen?”

"You weren’t taking notes in the first place!”

 “Silence please.” The professor announces, causing the two boys to bow their heads discretely before resuming their conversation in a low whisper.

“If you’re so bothered about Kyungsoo why don’t you go see him?”

"I don’t know, he seems mad at me.”

“For what reason?”

"I don’t know.”

“Just ask him.”

“But what if he is mad?”

“For what reason?”

“I don’t know!”

“Then why would he be mad!”

 “I don’t know!”

"Silence please.” Taemin smiles briefly at the professor before turning back to his friend with a glare.

 “…He hasn’t texted or called you back yet?”

 Jongin shakes his head with a pout.

“Well, he could be busy you know…with the bakery and everything.”

“He couldn’t be that busy…besides, I’d rather he tell me he can’t talk than he ignore me like this.”

“When was the last time he talked to you?”

"Christmas eve party.”

"Did you say anything? I mean he did seem to rush out all of a sudden.”

“No, all he said was that he was worried about his brother that’s it…and I thought he brought me a present…”

"Huh. You got him something too didn’t you?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you give it?”

“I was supposed to, but he left so suddenly so I just sent it to him.”

“How’d you know his address, stalker.”

"I asked Luhan hyung!”

“Sure.”

Jongin lightly kicks his friend’s chair earning him a threatened punch, which once again catches the Professor’s eye. They immediately sit back and appear as angelic as possible, zipping their lips and smiling sweetly, though as soon as the professor’s back is turned, Jongin visibly deflates and leans his head in his hands. When his eyes land on his phone however, he couldn’t help the grin that spreads across his face.

It vibrates, the name he’s been waiting for since days ago flashing brightly on it’s screen.

“Hey, would you look at that.”

“He’s calling!”

“I’m not blind.”

“oh , how am I supposed to answer it when eagle eye’s watching.”

 “Restroom?”

At the suggestion Jongin immediately raises his hand, waving it frantically for the Professor to see.

“Yes, Jongin?”

“Restroom Sir?”

“No.”

“What do you mean no?!”

“I mean no Kim Jongin, don’t think I haven’t noticed you fooling around with Taemin.”

“B-but I really need to go!”

"No you don’t mr Kim sit down.”

Jongin leans back on his chair, ruffling his hair frustrated.

“What kind of professor is he I could be having gallbladder problems because of him!”

 “Just your luck, look your phone stopped vibrating. Poor kyungsoo, ignored again.”

“But-“ The tanned boy groans, his forehead hitting his desk with a loud thump. A minute or two passes by like this, Taemin sighing at his friend’s misfortune before returning to his notes, Jongin wallowing in misery. It doesn’t take long however, for his phone to come to life once again with another call from Kyungsoo. Jongin nearly scrambles to pick it up.

“Hey look life’s givin you a second chance you- hey- wait!!”

This time however he doesn’t give a second though when he grabs Taemin’s tumbler off his desk and spills water all over his own pants.

“What the ?!”

Jongin ignores his friend’s protests as he raises his hand again, in a hurry.

“Yes, Jongin?”

“Sir,” He stands, a chorus of gasps and giggles erupting as several eyes set on his soaked pants. It wasn’t exactly the most attractive sight to set on. “I peed my pants.”

His straightforwardness had caught the professor off guard, the poor old man blinking in surprise as the held back snickers from moments ago now erupted into a roar of laughter.

 “O-oh. Well, I guess you may go now.”

Jongin couldn’t care less however, grabbing his vibrating phone and sprinting his way out the door and into the silent hallways, the laughs dying down behind him and later muffled behind the classroom’s closed doors. He immediately presses the ‘answer’ button, hoping he wasn’t even a millisecond too late.

“Hello?”

Luckily, the familiar, sweet, soft voice that speaks on the other end has him smiling goofily to himself.

“Jongin-ah?”

“Hey, you called? Sorry I couldn’t pick up the first time I was in class.”

“Ah, I’m so sorry! Am I interrupting??? I can call later!”

He chuckles. “It’s alright, I’m out now. What’s up?”

“U-uhm, actually I just wanted to apologize…I mean I know I haven’t been picking up your calls or answering your texts for the past few days. I’m sorry.”

“You make it seem like I did something wrong. Did I?”

"No. No of course not. I’m just…I just needed to think.”

"Think?”

“About things. It’s complicated. But I’m so sorry.”

“It’s alright. I’m glad you called.”

“Yeah, t-that’s all actually. I mean- you’re free to stop by the bakery anytime.”

“Oh- did you get the gift?”

“Gift? O-oh! Yeah I did! But I haven’t had the time to open it..”

“That’s alright, is it with you right now? Where are you?”

“It’s in my bag. Work.”

"Me and my friends will come over after class. Can you wait to open it till then?”

“E-eh?”

“I want to see your reaction hyung.”

The line on the other end grows silent, And jongin could only wish it were because Kyungsoo was blushing. “…Can i?”

“Okay.”

"Okay. I’ll see you later then.”

“Okay.”

“Good.” The tanned boy bites his lips and tries to surpass a grin, his heart pounding loudly in his ears.

“Oh- Jongin?”

“yeah?”

A series of rustles erupt on the other end as another mumbled voice now joins Kyungsoo’s. Jongin’s expression turns curious as he recognizes the female voice.

“Hello? Jognog?”

 “Krystal? Wait- what are you doing there? You’re with Kyungsoo?”

“I’m free at this time remember, so I thought I should visit to claim that free buy they promised us. Will you be coming over later?”

 “Y-yeah I uh, I just- Why didn’t you tell me you were heading there?” He says in a tone of slight frustration.

“Actually, Kyungsoo invited me over.”

 “What?”

“You heard me, I guess he likes me a little bit more.”

 "Hey!”

“Now if you’ll excuse us, you’re interrupting our date.”

  “You-“

“Bye bye!”

"No- Krys- wait!”

The line is cut.

Jongin blinks a few times before staring at his phone in disbelief. Throwing his hands in the air he shakes his head in disapproval, striding his way back into the classroom and all the way to his seat, unmindful of the eyes that followed him. He throws his phone back onto his desk, a strange, unfamiliar feeling bubbling up inside of him. Somehow, he doesn’t like the thought of Krystal and Kyungsoo alone together. In her self proclaimed ‘date’.

It takes him a while, but when he finally lifts his eyes up, he’s only met by a scandalized looking Taemin.

“What?”

“You’re disgusting…You could’ve at least dried out your pants!”

***

Seated by the window, Krystal takes a sip of the hot chocolate she’s served with and thinks that the weather is lovely today. The phone in her hand flashes the time, over a picture of a happy looking family with two little boys. She observes it for a minute longer before the slice of delicious looking cake placed in front of her takes her attention away from the phone wallpaper. She smiles sweetly at the boy who sits opposite her, handing him the device with a soft thank you.

“Is that your family?” She asks, pertaining to the picture on the screen.

Kyungsoo takes the phone and tucks it safely back into his pocket. “Yeah.”

“Your parents, They look lovely.”      

“They’re dead.”

 “Oh.” The red head flashes an expression of concern. “I’m so sorry.”          

"It’s alright. My older brother is still around and I’m grateful for him.”

“I’m sure you are.”

"Were you able to talk to Jongin?”

“Yes, Thank you for lending your phone to me by the way.”

“You’re welcome.”

 "He says they’re coming over.”

“ah, yeah he mentioned that.”

"I hope we aren’t keeping you from work”

“No no, most of the work needed are the orders for new year, and I’m still pretty ahead of time. Luhan and Sehun are helping each other out for the deliveries for the time being. So don’t worry, you’re not a bother.”        

“So what’s up? Why did I get the sudden invite”

“I wanted to tell you something.”

“Really?”

“Yes. About Jongin.”

“I see…” Shuffling a little on her seat, Krystal smiles to herself, biting her lips before looking the other in the eye. “Actually, I’m quite glad you invited me over. I wanted to talk to you about a few things as well. Also about Jongin.”

Kyungsoo blinks, silently urging her to go on. “You see I was thinking you could help set us up on a date.”

“D-date?”

“Yeah, Like something romantic. We go out alone together a lot of times before, but it’s always been the friendly type of gimmicks. I mean I want something like, a night alone in the movies, or maybe a romantic dinner…maybe you could somehow convince him to give me flowers or I don’t know…I just like the idea of…”

She continues. Her voice slowly fading far into the background as Kyungsoo’s mind refuses to register any more of her words. He stares at her intensely, watching the way her cheeks flush a deeper shade of pink each time she brings up her bestfriend’s name, the way her eyes light up at all the scenarios she comes up with in her head and the way moves as she just keeps talking and talking and talking about endless fantasies with Jongin. It’s obvious she’s dreamed about them for quite a long while now. It makes Kyungsoo realize that he doesn’t like the idea of Jongin going on romantic dates with Krystal (or with anyone else as of that matter), he doesn’t like it one bit.

“I like him.”

The red head abruptly stops her chatter, the sudden silence awkwardly hanging in between them. Her smile is still there when she asks “What?” But then it fades, his words a little clearer to her now.

“I like him too.” Kyungsoo repeats firmly, gaze unwavering. “I like Jongin.”

"B-but you…you can’t like him…”

“I like Jongin. And I’m sorry, But I can’t help you.”    

A/N: omg this took so long for me to write orz i'm sorry. Idek if i made a lot of grammatical errors but i'm just gonna apologize for them anyway. I'm sorry if the events seem kind of rushed but i just dont know how people make creative transitions im used to only thinking of the key happenings and then once i'm writing i end up thinking, 'but how did __ advance to ___' and after an hour or so of figuring it out i end up with a 'meh, asterisks do your thaeng' OTL