Sunggyu's mother gets in on the act.

She sends him a long email saying how she absolutely understands that he can't make it back for Christmas and that she's looking forward to seeing him in the New Year. How his noona's bring her husband and their pet cockatoo and isn't it so nice to have someone to bring home for Christmas? How she hopes her son isn't being too much his introvert self over Christmas because it's so important to meet people and be with friends at this time. And if Sunggyu just so happened to meet a nice girl to spend the holidays with, then that would be marvellous. No pressure though, because Sunggyu's mum is modern and doesn't believe in putting pressure on her children to marry. (Even though it's so nice that his noona's found herself a husband and she's positive there'll be a new member of the family come the following Christmas). By the way, Eunmi, the Lee's daughter is working up in Seoul as well - close-ish to Sunggyu's workplace as it happens. Not only that, but Hwayeon, doctor Shim's daughter, will be back in Jeonju around the same time as Sunggyu. Apparently, she's broken up with her soldier boyfriend. Isn't that interesting?

Anyway, no pressure, because Sunggyu's mum is thoroughly modern. It's simply that it would shatter her poor heart into a thousand pieces to think that her only son and youngest child was lonely for Christmas, lonely and cold. Till the New Year. Kisses. Umma ❤

Sunggyu gawks at the email for too long, jaw slack. Why is the world against his plan? He's gong to go to midnight mass on Christmas Eve. He'll sleep in the next day and eat turkey fried rice. In the evening, he'll go to a bar - only for a couple because he's a slightly responsible adult who doesn't want to crawl into the office on St. Stephen's Day with a hangover. This plan is flawless, surely. 

Interestingly, while his mum has added her voice to the 'find yourself a girlfriend' chorus, Sunggyu hasn't heard a word from Bora all day. The woman finally corners him at five minutes to five, alone in the copy room. 

"Should I tell Hyolynnie it's a 'no'? Just making sure." 

"Yeah. Yeah, it's a 'no'. Sorry. I'm sure she's as lovely as you said, but-" 

"No, I get it, Sunggyu-sshi," Bora cuts him off, holding her hands up, "You said you weren't interested and I didn't listen."

Her emphasis on 'listen' makes Sunggyu worry what she's getting at. He dismisses the thought and gets back to his copying. She's still hovering nearby, so he promises he'll be quick, assuming she's waiting to use the machine. Although, she's not holding any documents...

"Oh, don't worry about it," she says, waving off his concern. "Hey, Sunggyu-sshi, if Dongwoo offers to set you up with one of his dance buddies, it's best to say 'no'. I've met them. The pretty ones are dumb as doorknobs and the not-so-pretty ones are mostly oddballs. Dongwoo's got weird taste, OK? Just a warning."

With a sweet smile, she's gone, leaving Sunggyu wide-eyed and frozen.

~.~

Woohyun finishes early that day. Sunggyu's not sure how much earlier, but when he leaves work Woohyun is waiting outside the main door to greet him. He's wearing black jeans with a stylish black coat and a wooly jumper. At a quarter past eight on a midwinter evening, he's also sporting sunglasses. He looks exactly like an idol trying to be incognito except, and most tragically of all, for the single red rose he's carrying.

"A token for my prince," he announces, handing the flower to Sunggyu with a flourish. Sunggyu plucks it, in it's crinkly plastic wrapping, from Woohyun and bops the man on the head with it.

"What are you even saying?"

Woohyun grins and shrugs,

"Nothing much. There was a woman selling them to couples. She looked cold so I bought one. Why... Are you embarrassed, My Prince?"

Sunggyu scoffs,

"As if someone could be embarrassed by someone as stupid as you," he - rather nonsensically - shoots back. If Woohyun takes offense, he doesn't show it. He takes Sunggyu's hand and starts to lead him down the street.

"Would it be alright with you if we met one of my friends? He finishes work soon and I thought we could eat with him before I take you home."

Sunggyu nods agreement, although he's perturbed. Meeting new people takes energy and expending energy isn't something Kim Sunggyu is big on at the best of times. Plus, for whatever reason, he really hopes that Woohyun's friend likes him. Of course, he keeps all this to himself. He trots along with Woohyun, one hand in the chef's, the other loosely holding his briefcase and the red rose.

~.~

It turns out that Woohyun's friend - a noisy, wiry man named Kibum - works at a Singaporean style cafe. They slip in just after it closes. Kibum gathers them an assortment of whatever's left in the kitchen and chats to them while he cleans the public areas. Sunggyu has mixed feelings about dining from a tray that includes kaya toast, luke warm bak kut teh and a serving bowl holding the dregs of several types of noodles all mixed together. Despite this, he ends up eating a lot. He doesn't say a lot, because Woohyun and Kibum are clearly very close and Sunggyu doesn't feel he has much to add. 

Kibum is slowly working his way through a degree in stage production. He has water colour style tatoos on his thin arms, chestnut hair tied up in a ponytail, and a sense of humour that Sunggyu doesn't really understand but which makes Woohyun giggle. (However, Sunggyu supposes, Woohyun giggles for a lot of reasons that Sunggyu can't figure out. So maybe Woohyun's just weird like that). Sunggyu decides he likes Kibum, but is marginally intimidated by him. 

That night, Woohyun drops Sunggyu off at the door to his apartment building. He places a hand on Sunggyu's arm to steady him after Sunggyu hauls himself off of Mimi. 

"Did you like Kibum? I'm sorry if it felt awkward." So sincere does the chef look in both the question and the apology that Sunggyu is quite taken aback. He tries not to show it and gives Woohyun what ought to be a reassuring smile. 

"Sure, I liked him. And I'm the one who's sorry. I'm not good with new people. If you felt it was awkward, that's my fault. But no, it was fun, Woohyunnie." 

Suddenly, Woohyun is grinning at him. Gleaming, even. (These emotional swings, Sunggyu contemplates. No wonder he's been getting flustered around the younger man). Woohyun kicks his bike into life. Bidding goodnight to his 'Gyu-hyung', he speeds away. 

It's over an hour later, when he's wrapped in bed, reading webtoons on his phone, that Sunggyu hears his own voice replaying in his head. It was fun, Woohyunnie... fun, Woohyunnie... Woo-hyun-nie.... Sunggyu sprawls on his mattress, intensely disgusted with himself. 

XXX

The Christmas Eve chapter is super short, so I'll probably put it up later today ^^