It was the time of the year where the entire infinite family (yes including their parents) would come together to celebrate the joyous season at Sungyeol’s family resort. The parents would stay in one resort and they kids will stay in another. Right now, Sunggyu and Woohyun’s families were unloading their bags as they wait for the rest of the families to arrive.

“Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the- mmmphmmpm!!!”

“You’re too noisy!” Grumpy gyu complained as he covered Woohyun’s mouth.

After releasing his hand, Woohyun made a face at him and muttered to himself, “way to kill the mood.”

Soon after, Dongwoo’s and Sungjong’s families arrived. “Where’s the host?” Sungjong asked as he scanned the area for Sungyeol.

“He’s making sure the rooms are clean and ready for us to have our vacation!” Woohyun exclaimed. He was beyond excited for this year’s winter break. They would always have a short staycation at Sungyeol’s family resort where there are all sorts of facilities to be enjoyed. More importantly, the skiing ground is only next to it. The Lee’s will always save two resorts for their annual gathering.

Just then, someone came shouting, scaring the rest of the infinite members.

“Oppa!!!”

The rest of the infinite members turned and saw a cute girl with bangs running towards them. She ran up to Sunggyu first and gave him a hug.

“I missed you guys!” Eunji tightened her hug and Sunggyu hugged her back. He ruffled her hair before giving her a small peck on her head.

“Watch who you’re hugging.” Came a threatening voice that of course belonged to the said girl’s boyfriend. Hoya gave a smile to Sunggyu, signaling that he was only joking, before unloading their bags with L as their parents went to meet up with the other parents.

After unloading, several bellboys came and helped with the moving of the bags. “Where’s Sungyeol?” L looked around only to find the choding missing from the group.

“I think he’s inside. Come on, let’s go enjoy our winter break!” Sunggyu led Eunji inside, the two of them skipping away happily and when they passed by Hoya, Sunggyu stuck out a tongue. Eunji gave him an apologetic look and followed her oppa.

“What?! He was complaining about my excitement and now he’s the one excited?!” Woohyun looked at Sunggyu’s cheery back view and he couldn’t believe his eyes.

Sungjong rolled his eyes and pulled Woohyun along. “C’mon, we don’t want to lag behind, let’s go.”

L and Dongwoo followed them soon after as they head to check in.

“Dongwoo-ah! Have you gotten your scarf? And your hat? And your gloves? Do you remember which compartment I packed them in? It’s good to keep yourself warm you know, the weather is getting colder nowadays.”

“Mom, mom, mom!” Dongwoo tried to get his mom’s attention as she went on and on about keeping him warm and making sure he knows how to take care of himself. “I know, I packed them with you. I’ll be fine. Besides, you’re only next door!”

“I still worry about you, you know.”

Dongwoo gave his mom a soft smile and pecked her cheek. “I know.” He replied softly. Mr Jang then came in looking for his wife and he went up to the mother and son. “Yeobo! Are you worried about Dongwoo again? He’s not going to get lost, he’s right next door. We’re here to have fun, let’s head back. The others are waiting for us to go have lunch.”

Mrs Jang cupped his face and gave her son one last kiss on his cheek before saying goodbye. She was always worried about her son, especially since Dongwoo can be such a baby at times. Eunji was in the living room at that time and she saw the intimate mother and son moment by the door. She couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. *I wish you were here too omma. It was always fun with you here.*

Dongwoo closed the door and gave a huge sigh of relief. “I thought she wouldn’t stop.”

That snapped Eunji out of her thoughts and she laughed at her baby oppa, “she cares for you Dongwoo oppa. That’s why she worries.”

“But I’m eighteen already. She needs to learn to calm down.” Eunji was about to reply about how lucky he is to have his mother by his side but she got cutoff by Sungyeol.

Sungyeol barged into the resort that the eight of them were staying with a party popper and a box of party items. “SURPRISE! Everybody! Have a good stay this year because Yeol’s parties are about to get even better!” The rest of infinite stopped what they were doing as they heard the commotion and went to the living room where the noise was heard. There, it was a dead awkward silence. Until Dongwoo started laughing.

The rest all joined, even Eunji couldn’t contain her laughter. “Why? What’s going on? What’s wrong? What did I do?” Sungyeol questioned them but they just kept laughing. He dropped his box of party items, which he was probably finding them, that’s why he couldn’t meet the rest outside.

“Okay, announcement!” He stepped onto the sofa and made sure everyone in the living room could see and hear him. “As you can see, this isn’t our usual resort, it was taken by another family but my dad managed to keep this one empty for us.”

He looked at their faces for acknowledgement before he continued. “So, there’s only four rooms and Eunji is a girl so she gets one by herself. Therefore, we have to split two to a room and three in the other.

Groans can be heard all in the living room about having to share three in a room. It would be squeezy and uncomfortable. Their usual resort was a huge one with six rooms in total. It was the second largest amongst the others and their parents usually have the largest since there were more of them.

Woohyun immediately went to Eunji’s side and demanded that he shared a room with her. Eunji slapped his hands while she laughed at his childish actions. Hoya came to her side and took Eunji away from Woohyun into his own arms.

“If anyone will share a room with her, it would be me.”

“Save me from the cheesiness please.” Woohyun made a puking face and Eunji couldn’t help but laugh. She pushed Hoya’s head away before saying, “I’d like my own room without anyone else.” Hoya stared at her in disbelief and started tickling the ticklish Eunji. She surrendered after a few seconds because she could not take the tickling. “Okay okay, oppa stop!” She giggled like a little girl.

L then rolled up his sleeves and rested his hands on his hips. He then scanned the room with his eyes, as though he was preparing for an upcoming fight. “How bout we settle this our usual way?”

“Bring it on.” The competitive spirit in Woohyun is beginning to rise as the other infinite members gather round.

“Rock, paper, scissors!”

“YES! I GET TO CHOOSE MY ROOMATE! AND MY ROOM!” Woohyun cheered, as he was the only one who put out rock when the others put out scissors, earning a groan from the rest. Woohyun’s pick was none other than Kim Sunggyu.

Eunji swore she had heard Sunggyu cursed when he walked past her to his room, which he now shared with the mighty mouth Nam Woohyun. In the end, Sunggyu and Woohyun shared a room, L and Hoya to another room and Sungyeol, Sungjong and Dongwoo to the last.

“Looks like we’re still stuck together even in a resort.” Hoya put an arm around L as they headed to their room.

The group quickly unpacked and then they gathered for lunch at a nearby café. Though they came with their parents, it was a tradition that their parents hung out amongst themselves and the kids amongst themselves. They only gather for dinner and for Christmas since the youngsters would want to do some activities and the adults just like to chill around the resort.

“I want this, this, this, this and oh, give me that as well.” Sungjong was pointing out his orders to the waitress as he flipped the menu. The waitress was shocked at his huge appetite that Dongwoo noticed. “He’s still a growing child.” And patted Sungjong’s back.

The waitress then proceeded to take L’s orders. Since he was still thinking, she just stood at the side waiting for him. L looked incredibly handsome when he was focused, as though he wasn’t good looking enough. The waitress must’ve been mesmerized by his good looks and she kept trying to flirt with him when he ordered. She batted her eyelashes and leaned close to him as she gave him recommendations on the menu.

Eunji, who was sitting next to L was feeling super uncomfortable at the sight. How care she flirt with her favourite oppa? How dare that waitress try and do such a thing to poor innocent L. Right in front of her as well. Eunji was giving the waitress dirty looks that she decided to order for L. “He’ll have the smoked duck pasta with a cup of lemonade. That’s what my oppa likes the best.” Eunji shut the menu and returned it to the waitress, giving her a fake bright smile.

The waitress walked away but not before giving Eunji a glare. Feeling a sense of satisfaction, she turned her attention back towards the group. “You know me best.” L ruffled her hair and Eunji gave him her eye smile. *thump thump thump thump* L’s heartbeat increased once again,  oh how he wished he could’ve been the one to see that smile all the time.

Sunggyu was watching that scene from afar and he was getting confused by the moment, just what is their relationship? Was that… jealousy he saw?

Back at Mr Lee’s office

Minhyuk reported everything about his findings to Mr Lee. The more he heard, the tighter he clenched his fist.

-Flashback-

“I’m sorry I didn’t know who instructed me to do it but if a person wants to kill another person, there could only be a few reasons.”

Minhyuk’s ears perked up and he turned to face the older man, full of curiosity. *Could this man really know something?*  “What is it?”

“Firstly, because of hatred. Secondly, because of love. And lastly, to silence a person for he or she knows a secret that should never be revealed.” Choi Hyuk looked grim as he spoke the last sentence. It was as though he knew the reason why anyone was targeting Song Jimin at all.

Minhyuk was stunned at the last reason. He did not have a good feeling about this entire ‘crime’ and whatever it was linked to. Fixing his shirt and tie, he looked to Choi Hyuk with a slight look of disgust. “Ajusshi, you’ve killed someone you know.”

-End of flashback-

Mr Lee’s heart jumped out when he heard the last reason. The secret he wanted to hide so deeply in the ground. If only he could dig a hole and leave his secret there. If only he can return to the past and set things right.

“Minhyuk-ah.”

“Neh, Mr Lee.” Minhyuk’s gaze lowered at the call of his name.

“I… I… the secret that I’ve kept for so long, the secret that Jimin died keeping for me,” Minhyuk looked up with his eyes wide. “I need you to keep it for me now. Because I need you to find my son for me.”

Back at the café

After bickering during the entire lunchtime, the gang decided to head back to the resort to continue unpacking. The weather has already turned cold, as winter had begun. Outside, one can see little kids playing around with snow and making snow angels. L took a glance at Eunji without a scarf and wondered if she felt cold. Just then, Eunji’s eyes widened as she felt a soft sensation at her neck.

“How is it that you forget your scarf all the time?” Hoya asked as he wrapped his scarf around her neck to keep her warm. With Hoya standing so close to her, she felt her face warming up with his body heat. She faced his broad chest and wondered what it felt like to lean against it. The scarf had Hoya’s scent, a tinge of mint, which she loved. She gave a shy smile while thanking him. “Thank you oppa.” They then held hands and walked with the group back to the resort.

Halfway during the trip back, a white ball was seen flying in the direction towards a handsome figure. It hit right at the boy’s left temple, causing him to let out a shout.

“Ah!” L winced in pain as the snowball struck the side of his head. Some snow had fallen into his winter jacket and was melting against his warm skin. The group then heard laughter that they all knew and they turned to face the culprit.

“Hahahahahahaha! You… you guys should have hahahaha! You guys should have seen his face!” Sungyeol laughed as he hugged his tummy. Dongwo, who was standing near L scooted closer to Woohyun instead and he timidly hid behind Woohyun. “Uh-oh. Nobody messes with Myungsoo in the head and not get away with it.” Woohyun gulped. “Remember that time Hoya tried to prank him and gotten tomato sauce all over his hair?”

“He ignored Hoya for the whole week!”

“Sungyeol’s fried.”

“We’d better save our lives.” Sungjong chimed in.

Everyone looked at L and was ready for his eruption. Eunji’s hands tightened around Hoya’s, as she was afraid of what would happen when L raged. He was unpredictable.  Eunji had learned not to mess with his head when they were seven years old. He pranked her back for a month straight and only stopped because she was crying and complaining to Mrs Kim.

Sungyeol finally noticed the tension in the air and stopped laughing. He tried defending himself saying that it was a small joke and L shouldn’t take it too seriously. L’s fist was tightly clenched though.

“Errr… Sungyeol-ah, looks like it ain’t a small joke.” Hoya tried to get Sungyeol to apologize to L as he took control of the situation. He walked next to Sungyeol so that he could stop L in case L decided to just jump at him, then Hoya would be able to stop him just in time. Just then, L did the impossible.

“You are so dead!” He bent down and picked up a bunch of snow and threw it in Sungyeol’s direction with a big smile on his face. Sungyeol skillfully dodged the snowball, or I would say snow lump, and it hit Hoya right at the chest. Seeing his dongsaeng smiling, he felt so relieve and he picked up another handful of snow and threw it at the members. From that moment, it meant war. A snowball war.

Eunji was right that L was really unpredictable. She thought he would be enraged and tell Sungyeol off but instead, he didn’t. She smiled at the scene of seven childish boys having a snowball fight out of nowhere. Her train of thoughts was broken when Sunggyu threw one at her. “Join in girl!”

“Hey! Nobody treats my princess that way!” Woohyun shouted and threw one at Sunggyu to help Eunji get revenge. She gave him a thankful smile but not before she betrayed him and threw one in his direction. He managed to dodge it but was in shock of her betrayal.

“Each man to its own.” She stuck out a tongue at Woohyun and began targeting other people, leaving Woohyun and Sunggyu to fight it out. Then, she saw L targeting Hoya and ran over to protect her oppa. “Don’t worry oppa, I’ll save you from the evil clutches of Myungsoo!”

“Yah! I’m your oppa too!” L shouted back and threw one in her direction, which hit her arm.

“For now, you are not!” And she threw one back which hit him in the chest. Hoya wanted to be the one to protect Eunji instead but a snowball came from nowhere and hit the back of his head. He turned to see the sly maknae giving him a face before running away. “Yah! Lee Sungjong! You stay where you are!” And he ran off to battle with the maknae.

Eunji and L were fighting each other most of the time and since L was much stronger and much more accurate, most of his shots had hit Eunji. Sunggyu and Woohyun were fighting, leaving the other four to team up against each other. Sungyeol and Sungjong were a team whereas Hoya and Dongwoo were on another team. The eight of them continued for god knows how long and they finally decided to stop when the sun started setting.

L carefully approached Eunji like she was made of glass after the snowball fight. He tucked her lose strands of hair behind her ear and fixed her scarf for her. “Are you okay? I think I may have hit too hard.”

She hit him lightly in the chest, “if you treated me differently just because I was a girl, I would be so disappointed.”

“Well, I’m glad I didn’t.” He said and fixed her bangs.

“Gosh, that was fun!” The familiar voice caused L to stop his actions immediately as he realized that the real boyfriend of Eunji’s was here. He was no boyfriend of hers. It wasn’t him that was supposed to fix her clothes and her hair. It was Hoya. Hoya took over L and continued fixing Eunji’s bangs with Eunji trying to rid her winter coat of snow. “Yeah it sure it was, isn’t it L oppa?” She looked up, only to see L walking further away. “Since when did he get there?” She asked softly and continued to brush off the snow.

“What did you say?” Hoya asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Come on, let’s head back.”

And so the eight of them walked deeper and deeper into the sunset.

 Heyyyy! I really wanted to post this yesterday but AFF was being such a  yeah you get what I mean. So I delayed it till today. 

Woogyu moments in this chapter made me so happy because they're literally my number one favourite OTP. hehehehe.

Much love to everybody! As usual, if you have some thoughts that you wanna share, do comment below and suscribe!