An ongoing chiming of bells sounding off just outside their bedroom doors awakens each of the members. Groggily, one by one, they step out from the confines of their bedrooms. A continuous loop of Christmas music plays in the background, greeting the boys as they stand there in awe of the holiday decor which dresses the entire dorm.             Using the back of his hands, Minhyun proceeds to rub against his eyes repeatedly, before slowly allowing them to fall at his side as he stands there, wide eyed and unsure of what exactly it is that he is looking at. Surveying his surroundings, with parted lips, he proceeds to rub his eyes once again in disbelief.   JR: "Unless you're planning on rubbing your eyes right out of your head -- there's no way you're going to unsee -- what it is that you're seeing."              Slowly, he turns to his right, his attention falling on JR who stands just outside his bedroom door, Jason directly beside him.    Minhyun: "so can you tell me what exactly it is that I'm looking at?"   JR: "It's -- it's Christmas... I think?"   Jason: "On crack..."             Both JR and Minhyun turn to face Jason, then return their attention back unto the holiday "extravaganza" before them as they then nod in agreeance. Gradually, following behind a set of slowly moving feet, Minhyun makes his way toward the two.    Minhyun: "I don't understand -- who -- who did this to our dorm?"                 In unison the three of them step forward, the faux snow which litters the ground beneath their feet sticks to the spaces between their toes. Stuffed reindeer, snowmen, and elves scattered about, and a wide array of mistletoes hang from various places all over the ceiling. Boxes, upon boxes wrapped in gift wrapping are stacked beside the large Christmas, stationed in the corner of the living room area.                A clicking sound is heard coming from the same direction of the tree, and from what seems to be the simple flip of a switch, an abundance of Christmas lights which not only dance around the tree, but the entire dorm turn on simultaneously, almost blinding the trio.    Minhyun, JR & Jason: "YAH!!"   Aron: "MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!"         Startled by the combination of the lights and well wishes, They frantically clutch onto one another.   Minhyun, JR & Jason: "YAH!!!"                Aron laughs quite loudly as he steps out from behind the Christmas, donning a rather large red Santa-esque hat, cotton ball hanging from its tip, and swinging from the side of his head. With a cheerful smile he steps further away, raising his arms and basking in full glory of the faux winter wonderland he has created.    Aron: "Christmas Eve but... You get it? -- Right?"               They all nod, watching as he steps hastily from behind the tree into the kitchen.    JR: "Hyung -- did -- did you do all of this by yourself?"               He shouts loudly, trying to speak over the Christmas music which continues to play in the background.    Aron: "eh?"            He steps out of the kitchen holding onto a tray which carries four glasses filled to the brim with a thick creamy liquid. Shakily, he continues to motion toward the others, stopping directly in front of them.    Minhyun: "What is this hyung?"   Aron: "Eggnog."   Minhyun & JR: "eggnog?"   Jason: "That does not look like eggnog."               Aron looks to the glasses, inspecting them carefully before looking back toward the others.   Aron: "sure it does."   Minhyun: "What's eggnog?"   Aron: "it's a tradition where I'm from -- all of this is. Without Baekho and Ren here, we've all been moping around here, showing no Christmas spirit, so I wanted to change that."   Jason: "heh... That's sweet of you."   JR: "Christmas spirit? -- does that mean we need to perform an exorcism to to get rid of all of this?"               He says whispers sarcastically, causing Minhyun to snicker under his breath. A stiff jab at his side by Jason prompts JR to keel over slightly.    Aron: "Here -- each of you take one."              Jason reaches out hesitantly and grabs a glass, Minhyun and JR soon do the same, albeit just as cautiously. As if stitched across his face, Aron continues to wear his smile, unable to contain his excitement.    Aron: "That's also why I invited over a few people."   Minhyun, JR & Jason: "eh?"   Aron: "what's Christmas without family?!"            He shouts, making sure that they hear him over the music.   JR: "Hyung... Maybe you should lower the music so that we can hear you clearly."   Aron: "Huh?"   JR: "I SAID --               He begins to shout, stopping only once the music suddenly cuts off. Aron, a brow, remote control in hand.   Aron: "No need to shout, I'm right here."                JR clears his throat, then let's out a airy laugh under his breath in an attempt to calm the frustration which he had succumb to.    JR: "uh... who exactly did you invite?"   Aron: "oh -- Just a few people."              Minhyun, while smelling the eggnog, allows his eyes to survey his surroundings.    Minhyun: "Hyung... This doesn't look like decorations for just a few people."   JR: "yeah... Who exactly did you invite?"   Aron: "Just some of the members of Seventeen."   JR: "oh -- "   Minhyun: "How many is some?"   Aron: "Just the ones who couldn't make it home for the holidays."   Jason: "ah -- that's nice of you."   JR: "Hyung... Exactly who couldn't make it home for the holidays?"                  He questions sternly. The tone in his voice causes Aron to chuckle nervously.    Aron: "all of them?"   JR: "YAH!"              Jason places a hand upon JR's shoulder and forces him to look in his direction. Putting him at ease with a simple touch.    Jason: "that was very nice of you Aron. Wasn't it you guys?"            He questions while holding firmly onto a forced smile.   Minhyun & JR: "uh huh"             They say in unison while nodding their heads.    Aron: "yeah? well... I also invited some of the girls of After School."             He says in an unsure tone, wincing slightly as he anticipates the others reactions.    JR: "Yah!"              Jason laughs nervously, placing his hand over JR's opened mouth.    Jason: "what he means to say is -- "   Minhyun: "how are we suppose to fit all of these people in here hyung! -- huh?!"                He shouts cutting him off.   Aron: "I uh... -- I uh..."   Jason: "you guys are missing the point of all of this. Where is your Christmas spirit?"             Both Minhyun and JR turn to face Jason.    Aron: "that's the spirit Hyung! -- that's exactly how I saw it. That's why I also invited Amber, Kevin, and Eric Hyung!"               The three of them sharply turn to face Aron who stands there chuckling nervously.    JR: "we -- "   Jason: "will find a way to make this work."              Jason holds out his glass of eggnog, hoping to persuade both JR and Minhyun to join him. Aron watches, as JR reluctantly places his glass beside Jason's. Aron, cheerfully motions his hand forward, touching glasses with the other two, the sound of clinking glass is followed by the shifting of their eyes to Minhyun who stands there with a look of uncertainty running rampant across his face.    Aron: "what do you say Minnie? -- you down for some holiday cheer?"               Minhyun looks down to his glass, then around at the cluster of decorations before returning his attention back toward the others.    Minhyun: "fine... But let's get one thing clear Hyung... This mess... I am NOT cleaning up, no way, no how!"              They all laugh at his commentary, which causes Minhyun to smile in response to them. He exhales softly, before allowing for his glass to meet with the others. They each retract their glasses placing them to their lips. Each of them shut their eyes and sip from their glasses.    Aron: "Mmmmm!!!"   Minhyun, JR & Jason: "Ugh!!!"             Aron grins widely, lowering his glass to reveal a mustache Formed of eggnog residue.    Aron: "let's go get ready you guys!"   JR: "it's only 10am..."   Aron: "okay... So let's do some other stuff and then go get ready!"                 The others can't help but become consumed by Arons joyful aura. Turning away from the trio, he happily returns to his "winter wonderland". JR, observes him, a smile plastered across his own face.    Minhyun: "I'm going back to bed, all of this is giving me anxiety."   Jason: "oh! Don't be such a grinch Minhyun."   Minhyun: "heh, it has nothing to do with Christmas. I just... -- I just know that I'm going to be the one to clean up this mess."              Jason laughs to himself.   Jason: "we'll all pitch in, don't worry."              Minhyun nods his head as he walks off, returning back to his room. Jason's eyes follow him as he leaves the two standing there, slowly, his attention drifts back toward JR. A smile forms on his own face as he takes notice of the one hanging from JR's face.    Jason: "You're a good leader."   JR: "hm?"                He turns to face Jason who stands there already staring back at him.    Jason: "I said... You should always keep a smile on that face."   JR: "and why is that hyung?"              Jason raises his hand, reaching outward he pinches JR's cheek playfully.    Jason: "you're kind of irresistible sometimes."   JR: "Th-thanks."               He says softly behind a set of blushing cheeks. Jason turns away, and heads back toward the bedroom. He exhales softly, his hand raised and now placed on his cheek. He continues to stare at the door.   JR: "Aish."                 He mutters under his breath. His concentration only being broken by the music which suddenly begins to play Christmas carols once again, startling him, and shaking him from the trance like state he was just in. Shooting Aron a scowl from across the room, he sighs before retreating back into his bedroom.                           Baekho: "You seem distracted."   Ren: "Me? -- no."   Baekho: "something on your mind?"   Ren: "besides you?"                  Baekho grins, raising his hand, which is latched onto Ren's, their fingers intertwined. Pressing his lips against the back of Ren's hand, he lowers his, while staring longingly at him. Ren laughs to himself, turning his attention from the window so that he is now facing Baekho.    Baekho: "so are you going to tell me what you're thinking about or do I have to keep kissing you until you do?"              He laughs lightly under his breath while playfully leaning forward.    Ren: "I'm just nervous that's all."              Baekho pauses, a wide eyed expression pushing forth as he returns to an upright position.    Baekho: "nervous? -- about what?"   Ren: "being back -- at the dorm."               Baekho nods repeatedly, pursing his lips. He begins to turn away, but is halted by Ren's finger which presses against the side of his jaw, shifting Baekho's attention back to him with the slight push of his finger.   Ren: "hey -- it has nothing to do with Jonghyun if that's what you're thinking."               Staring back at Ren, Baekho chuckles nervously.    Baekho: "then what other reason could there be?"   Ren: "it's just... Things have been going so well for us in our little bubble in JeJu -- "   Baekho: "you're afraid that you won't feel the same back home?"              Ren, using his fingertip, bops Baekho right on the center of his nose, which causes him to laugh is response.    Ren: "you see -- all this doubt you're having... All this doubt that I'm having... We didn't have any of these doubts in JeJu. It's like the dorm is cursed when it comes to us being together."   Baekho: "heh... We can't stay locked away in my parents house forever Ren-ah."   Ren: "I-I know..."                He hangs his head low whilst nodding in aggreance.    Baekho: "well -- listen... If this curse happens to be real -- we can start looking into possibly buying a house in JeJu as soon as possible."             Ren's head raises instantly.   Ren: "seriously?"   Baekho: "nothing is taking you away from me this time. Not even a cursed dorm!"                Baekho's reassuring laughter putting Ren at ease. He turns away and returns his attention back unto the scenery passing them by. A soft sigh escapes him as it all becomes too familiar once the taxi pulls up to their dorm.                      Baekho: "Ren-ah... Would you start unloading our luggage. I'll pay."   Ren: "Sure."               Ren steps out of the vehicle, leaving Baekho to reach for his wallet. While doing so, the eyes of the driver are caught by Baekho within the rear view mirror.   Taxi: "You two must be foreigners."   Baekho: "Excuse me?"              The driver clears his throat before returning his attention back toward the front of the vehicle.    Taxi: "Two Korean men wouldn't behave this way had they been brought up here -- because they would have been brought up properly."               Baekho a brow, wallet in hand. He turns back slightly, catching a glimpse of Ren struggling somewhat while removing the luggage from the trunk of the vehicle. A smile sprinkled across his face.    Baekho: "True love knows no boundaries sir."   Taxi: "excuse me?"   Baekho: "What a sad life you must've lived to have never experienced love. I've had to go above and beyond, to hell and back just to get here... And no one, especially not a stranger is going to make me feel bad about being in love. I hope that one day you too will be able to experience this feeling, until then... You just won't understand... Sir..."                The driver scoffs as Baekho pays off the allotted debt. He steps out of the vehicle and makes his way around to Ren, assisting him in carrying their luggage, dragging it from the trunk and onto the sidewalk. The car pulls off and Baekho stands there silently watching as it does so.    Ren: "What was that about?"   Baekho: "huh? -- what?"   Ren: "did he say something? -- I noticed him watching us, and giving us weird looks the whole ride."   Baekho: "ah! -- he just reminded me how lucky I am to have you."   Ren: "Cute!"              Baekho smiles widely as the two motion forward. In unison they pause directly in front of the buildings entrance.    Ren: "we still have time to run off to JeJu~"             He sings jokingly, while rocking from side to side cutely.    Baekho: "heh... C'mon... I've got a curses to kick."   Ren: "fine -- fine -- fine."   Baekho: "Besides, I'm looking forward to a nice, quiet, relaxing Christmas at home."              Ren nods, cheerfully as the two step forth, bypassing the lobby and entering the elevator. As the doors open Baekhos ears perk up slightly, a twinge of a smile flickering as he turns back to face Ren.   Ren: "what?"   Baekho: "do you hear that?"            Baekho steps forth and out of the elevator, his smile widening whilst watching Ren do the same.    Baekho: "it's Christmas music."   Ren: "Christmas music?"   Baekho: "yeah!"   Ren: "How'd you even hear that from in the elevator?"   Baekho: "You're telling me that you couldn't hear it at all?"   Ren: "nope."   Baekho: "well somebody must be having a party for it to be loud enough to hear it in the hallway."              Ren nods, and the two turn toward their dorm. A sudden pause befalls them as they take notice of someone standing just outside their door.    Ren: "Dongho.... Who is that?"             Baekho remains still as Ren leans forward, squinting lightly in an attempt to make out exactly who the person is.    Baekho: "...SeungCheol..."             Ren instantly shifts his attention back toward Baekho.     Ren: "huh? -- how did he know you would be back? -- did you -- "   Baekho: "I have no idea..."              As the two draw closer, S.Coups slowly shifts attention in their direction. A nervous chuckle escaping him as he forces himself to smile in their presence.    S.Coups: "B-Baekho -- Ren -- ah, hey?"   Baekho: "...hey?"                 Ren smiles in response.   S.Coups: "I uh... Didn't know that you'd be here. It's kind of the only reason I told Aron that I'd come when he invited me."   Baekho: "Aron invited you? -- here? -- why?"   S.Coups: "we are friends you know, heh..."   Baekho: "well... Yeah, but... It's Christmas Eve. Shouldn't you be with your family?"   S.Coups: "I have Schedules tomorrow in the am, so I wasn't able to go back home. Aron hyung invited, me, and all the others who couldn't go home for the holidays for the party."   Baekho & Ren: "party?"            They question in unison.    S.Coups: "yeah -- didn't you guys know about it?"   Baekho: "n-no -- "   S.Coups: "oh -- I just thought --"   Baekho: "maybe we should go inside and see what's going on."   S.Coups: "uh... --"   Ren: "Dongho, you can go -- I kinda need to speak with SeungCheol."           Baekho stands there silently, the faint sound of Christmas carols which pour out into the hallway lingers amongst the trio. He turns his head to face Ren, before placing his gaze on S.Coups, releasing a soft sigh as he brings his attention back unto Ren.   Baekho: "uh... -- sure..."              He shifts his attention between the two once again before he allows himself to enter the dorm. Their eyes peer across at one another, Ren's eventually lowering, placing themselves onto the small box being held in S.Coups hands. The faint sound of Christmas Carols grows loudly as the door opens, muffling one again upon Baekhos entrance into the dorm.    Ren: "is that for -- "              S.Coups lowers his attention and looks to the box clutched tightly in his grasp.   S.Coups: "oh -- no -- this is actually for all of you. I didn't know what to get so I just bought something for the dorm. Something you can all use."             Ren nods suspiciously, raising his attention from the gift back onto S.Coups.   Ren: "...thanks."   S.Coups: "...yeah."               He clears his throat before extending his hands outward in an attempt to hand the gift over to him.    Ren: "what're you doing?"   S.Coups: "I can already see that my being here is making things a little weird... Just tell Aron hyung that I wasn't feeling well but that I came to drop this off."           Ren reaches out, grabbing a hold of the box. S.Coups bows awkwardly before stepping past him and down the hall toward the elevator. Ren allows for his eyes to close shut, listening to the descending footsteps behind him.    Ren: "SeungCheol... Wait..."   S.Coups: "huh?"            The elevator doors open, S.Coups stands there silently staring down the hall toward Ren who slowly turns to face him.   Ren: "don't... -- don't go."             As he steadily approaches S.Coups, he watches the elevator doors slowly close shut.    Ren: "Don't leave... I want you to stay."   S.Coups: "you do?"               His brows raise as he questions Ren who now stands before him.   Ren: "yeah..."             Once again the two are met with silence as they just stand there exchanging awkward glances back and forth.    S.Coups: "you don't have to say that... I'll go, there are no hard feelings, really."   Ren: "Dongho told me... -- He told me everything."   S.Coups: "e-everything?"                Ren laughs lightly under his breath whilst clutching the gift against his chest, as he attempts to ease the tension between the two.   Ren: "you know... About you actually being in love with -- "   S.Coups: "Aish! -- he wasn't suppose to say anything!"              He cuts Ren off before he can finish speaking, prompting the two to laugh.    Ren: "and that's why I wanted to talk to you."   S.Coups: "if you're trying to play match maker -- "   Ren: "no... What I wanted to do is say... Thank you..."   S.Coups: "y-you're thanking... me?"              Ren nods in response to his question.   S.Coups: "why?"   Ren: "you and Dongho... At the end of the day... Though you had love for each other... You were both in love with other people."            Nervously, S.Coups  begins to fidget with his hands, tucking them into his pockets as to not draw attention to his nervousness.   S.Coups: "you're right... -- sometimes when I look back on how things happened... We were just two lonely hearts who just happened to be there for each other."          Ren nods.    Ren: "and that's why I'm thanking you. If it hadn't been for you being there for him, I don't know what he might've done in order to keep away from me. He might've just run away back to Jeju for good if it weren't for you."              S.Coups smiles softly, lowering his head and looking down to his feet. Ren extends his hands outward, S.Coups looks to the gift held in them before raising them back into the eyes of Ren.   Ren: "you can give this to Aron hyung yourself."             S.Coups smiles softly as he then reaches out and grabs a hold of the gift, retrieving it from Ren's hands.   S.Coups: "are you sure that you want me to stay?"   Ren: "you aren't going to purposely stand under a mistletoe all night waiting for Dongho are you?"   S.Coups: "w-what?!"              His question littered with laughter. Ren smiles back at him.   Ren: "just something I might've done."   S.Coups: "I'll avoid all mistletoes just for you."   Ren: "good, then I think that we should head to the party."               The two laugh softly as they trudge down the hallway and reach the dorms entrance. Gradually, the knob turns and the door is pushed inward, allowing for safe passage for the two to enter. With raised brows they take notice of Baekho who has yet to further venture into the dorm due to his placement at its entrance.              They look to each other and laugh before standing at his side and observing the look of awe running rampant across his face. Gradually, they both shift their attention to align with his, and with widened eyes they too then take notice of the Christmas spectacle which has possessed the dorm.           Artificial snow flurries drizzle downward, falling before their eyes as the two stare forward. Slowly, S.Coups and Ren turn to face each other once again before joining Baekho and shifting their attention back toward all of the others within the dorm.    S.Coups: "woah... -- so this is what an American Christmas looks like?"   Ren: "...no... -- this is what it looks like when Christmas throws up."   Baekho: "I love it!!!"          He shouts emphatically before taking notice of the two standing on both sides of himself. He steps forward, and turns to face them. His eyes survey them, as he rocks from side to side allowing for his eyes to scan them.    Baekho: "are we both good? -- I don't see any bruising, or -- "            Ren playfully swats at Baekho, hitting against his arm.   Baekho: "YAH!"   Ren: "Do you want to die!"             Baekho rubs against his arm jokingly. Turning his attention solely toward S.Coup in an attempt to gain some sort of compassion. Ren turns his attention toward S.Coups and nods, the motion prompting him to then also swat at Baekho, hitting against the opposite arm.    Baekho: "AISH! -- alright, alright -- I see how it is now, the two of you teaming up against me eh?"             As the trio laugh in unison, Baekho reaches outward, grabbing a hold of Ren's hand and tugging at it gently, pulling him into himself.    Baekho: "well, if you two don't mind me breaking up this tag team... --"   S.Coups: "r-right."              He stares ahead, watching as Ren and Baekho fawn over each other whilst delving further into the dorm, and into the cluster of guest within it. He lowers his eyes, staring at the box at hand, releasing a gentle sigh as he clutches onto it even tighter still. A soft kiss upon his cheek breaks his concentration, which causes him to jerk back slightly and turn toward the culprit.    Aron: "caught you under the mistletoe!"          With a set of flushed cheeks he looks to Aron and chuckles nervously as he stares at his hyung who is dangling a mistletoe playfully over his head.   S.Coups: "ah! -- hyung!"              Aron laughs cheerfully, as he looks to the embarrassed expression running across his face. He lowers his attention to the gift being held in his hand and pushes forth, handing it over to him.    S.Coups: "here -- this is for you."   Aron: "oh! -- you didn't have to -- "   S.Coups: "it's no big deal."               Aron smiles whilst clutching onto the gift with one hand and extending the other which holds the mistletoe out in the direction of S.Coups.   Aron: "here -- you take this."   S.Coups: "A mistletoe hyung?"   Aron: "yeah -- and you can only pass it on after you've kissed someone beneath it."   S.Coups: "An American tradition?"   Aron: "no -- more like... A new tradition that I just started."               S.Coups laughs under his breath lightly, the mistletoe being held in his hand. He looks to Aron who gradually steps further away from him. He looks to the mistletoe once again as he too then begins to motion forth, further into the dorm. The sound of the door slamming shut behind him draws his attention, prompting him to spin on the balls of his feet and face the door.                His eyes widen slightly as the sight of Junghan standing at the entrance causes him to stand there somewhat paralyzed. The other members begin to enter aswell behind him, but his focus is held tightly onto only him. His eyes shift to the mistletoe once again and a smile begins to form on the crook of his lips as he slowly returns his attention back unto Junghan.              Jason: "you can't avoid them all night you know."   JR: "I'm not..."   Jason: "so why are we in this room and not out with the others?"   JR: "I know why I'm in here -- you're the one who felt the need to follow me in here."   Jason: "yeah -- to make sure that you're alright."   JR: "Well you didn't have to -- and you don't need to be here now checking on me... "              Jason scoffs as he raises from his seated position beside JR atop the beds surface. A light sigh escapes JR as he reaches out and grabs a hold of Jason's wrist.   JR: "I'm sorry hyung... I didn't mean that."              Standing still, and remaining in JR's grasp he just stares back down at him.    Jason: "you did... And you're right... I don't know why I followed you in here. It was silly of me to be worried about you."               With a quick tug, he pulls away from JR and motions toward the door. JR jumps up and rushes forth in the same direction, grabbing a hold of his wrist yet again and pulling him into himself. Their bodies collide, JR re