Christmas Eve was lonely.  There was no tree in her house or festive lights or wreaths to hang up.  The neighbors around had gotten into some sort of competition as to who could decorate the best and brightest.  It was only her house that had no sort of holiday cheer.  Seulgi felt as festive as her house appeared.  

Her father was home.  He had a day off of work and though he’d stayed sober for the most part of the day, Seulgi was still wary around him.  She felt as if something could happen that would trigger a round of beating for her.  She’d spent her entire day, holed up in her room for that reason while her father was downstairs watching sports on the television.

Seulgi could only read or surf the internet even though those were the two things she’d rather not have been doing.  She would have rather wanted to go out and as childish as it sounded, play in the snow.  It made her feel like a child and for Seulgi, her childhood had been the highlight of her life.  When she was younger, her father had been kinder, her mother had cared and Seulgi had been happy.

She laid on her bed and thought about what her friends must have been doing.  Sooyoung’s family didn’t celebrate Christmas so they had probably gone out to watch a movie instead.  Seungwan’s family had the tradition of volunteering for their church on Christmas Eve.  Joohyun would most likely rushing to set up their tree at the last minute.

Seulgi had no idea what Jongin would do.  She smiled to herself, thinking of Jongin.  She saw his dark eyes that were always lightly lined in her mind, the piercing that rested right above of his eyebrows, his round lips that couldn’t keep themselves away from hers, his dark hair that always looked messy.   She found herself becoming flustered just by the thought of him.

Seulgi let herself be selfish and pulled out her phone to call him.  

“Sweetheart, are you okay?” Jongin asked, before saying hello.

“Everytime I call, are you going to automatically assume I’m on the verge of death?” Seulgi questioned.

“Can you blame me?  The last time you called, I couldn’t help you,” Jongin said, worriedly.

“I’m fine, Jongin.  I’m just bored,” Seulgi assured him.

He sighed in relief.  “Do you want to come over then?”

Seulgi bit her lip, touched by his offer.  She knew it would be completely rude if she were to invite herself to his house during the holidays.  

“I want you to meet my dad,” Jongin urged her.  

Seulgi didn’t even try to hide her smile.  He couldn’t see her so she had nothing to be embarrassed about.  Jongin cared about his father and Seulgi could sense how much it would mean to him if she came over.  She had already gotten off her bed and walked over to her closet so she could pick out what wear.

“Jongin,” Seulgi said.  “Thank you.”

She felt the need to thank him for everything he’d done for her.  Without him, she’d have been lying in a hospital due to drug overdose, she’d have been lonely and reserved, she’d have broken down thinking that no one truly cared about her.

“I feel like kissing you right now,” was his response.  

“Ew! You guys are vomit inducing!” Seulgi could hear Mark’s voice in the background.

“Yi En, be polite!” Jongin’s mother yelled back.

“Auntie, they’re being mushy!” Mark yelled back.

“I have to go now,” Jongin’s voice said, flatly.

Seulgi giggled.  “Okay.  I’ll be over in twenty.”

She tiptoed to her bathroom and changed into a pair of leggings and a plaid flannel shirt.  She wasn’t too concerned about looking her best in front of Jongin.  He’d already seen her at her worst and he was still around.  Even so, she wanted to make sure she looked decent enough in front of his parents as well as Mark’s since she knew he was there.  Seulgi took her time to comb her hair and style it.  She let it fall down her shoulders in long waves.  Makeup was too much of a chore so she applied a minimal amount.  

Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she braced herself and opened it bedroom door.  No sounds could be heard downstairs except for the TV.  She went down the stairs as carefully as she could.  Upon reaching the living room, she noticed her f