Hara stared out of the frosted window, tracing patterns on the glass with her finger. She shivered slightly and drew her shawl closer to her body. Cold. Everything was so cold. The house, the weather... Her heart. Hara let her hand drop and buried her face in her knees. Loneliness gnawed at her when he wasn't here. How long has it been since he went on a course? Two, three months? Hara lost count. All she knew was that she missed him.

She sighed. If this was what loneliness felt like, I wouldn't have let him go in the first place, she thought bitterly. However, she instantly regretted thinking that. He's pursuing his dreams, doing what he really loves. Who am I to hold him back? This is not the kind of girlfriend I want to be. I want to be supportive, and I would welcome him back with a big smile...

A draft of cold wind startled her out of her reverie as the door to the house she shared with him creaked open behind her. Hara straightened up, her eyes widening. Could it be-?

"Hara!"

Hara's shoulders drooped as she turned around to greet the person that was not who she was hoping for. "Hi Yoseob," she greeted miserably.

"I came all the way here and that's the attitude you're giving me?" Yoseob chided, poking at her cheeks with his gloved fingers. Hara tried to force her frozen lips into a smile, but it came out more like a grimace. Yoseob winced at her expression. "On second thoughts, never mind."

"What are you doing here?" Hara asked, tilting her head curiously.

"To bring you out, of course!" Yoseob replied, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I did promise my best friend that I'll keep that beautiful smile on your face when he's not here. What if he comes back and finds you all chilled out on Christmas Eve?"

Hara perked up. "He's coming back?"

Yoseob hesitated before he flashed her a smile. "Come on, grab your coat and scarf. We're going shopping!" He scooped Hara up from the couch and carried her in his arms till he reached her room, ignoring his protests. "And remind me to buy you something to eat. You require some fattening up!"

--------------------

Bright lights lit up the whole town, and the streets were filled with little kids belting out their own rendition of christmas carols. The sight was enough to put a smile on anyone's face, with the exception of Hara. She was as stony as ever, just walking beside Yoseob quietly, her eyes on the snow laden ground.

"You know, the streets are filled with yesterday's snow. Do you think we'll have a White Christmas?" remarked Yoseob thoughtfully. Hara shrugged.

"Does it truly matter? Christmas is just another excuse for people to get together with their loved ones," Hara said, her tone harsher than she intended. "Like they even need an excuse if they love each other."

Yoseob held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Hold up there, miss! I was just saying, wouldn't it be prettier?" He received another indifferent shrug and he clicked his tongue in exasperation. "I'm trying to cheer you up here, so could you at least try as well?"

"Sorry," Hara apologised, immediately feeling guilty. Yoseob was right. She shouldn't just mope around like some old maid on Christmas Eve. It wasn't what he would've wanted. And furthermore, she owed Yoseob. He was the one who supported her when he was first gone. The corners of her lips lifted a little, and Yoseob grinned when he saw it. The both of them were headed happily towards a cake shop when Hara froze.

"Hara?" Yoseob asked, confused. They were right in front of the shop, and yet... Yoseob frowned at Hara. Her gaze was fixed several metres away, and Yoseob followed her gaze... To see Junhyung laughing merrily with another girl. 

Yoseob's head whipped back to Hara, but she was already slowly backing away. She shook her head in disbelief... This cannot be happening. He wasn't there.... She turned and ran just as Yoseob shouted, "Hara!"

She ran and ran, all the way to the town's port. Her cheeks stung as the icy winter air beat against it. She doubled over when she stopped, trying her best to blink her tears away. Gripping the railings tightly, she cried. He wasn't supposed to be here. He never told her. Not even Yoseob knew, if not he would've told her. Was I worth that little to him? Just a little time spent away from each other and he forgot me? 

So engrossed Hara was in her thoughts that she didn't notice three guys creeping up one her from behind. Only when one of them spoke did she look up.

"What are you doing here on Christmas Eve alone, little girl?"

Hara whirled around, her heart pounding. Her teary eyes widened with shock as she took in the people standing before her. They were leering at her with menacing smiles on their lips. She tried to back up, but her back was already pressed against the railing. Hara sneaked a peek over her shoulder and cringed when she saw the rolling back waters beneath the port. She faced the punks again and tried to raise her chin defiantly.

"What to you want?" Her voice came out as a squeak. The men sniggered when they heard her.

"Nothing much, just some company," they hissed, advancing slowly on her. "Isn't it lonely? I bet you just got ditched by your boyfriend too..."

"You were saying?" A new voice entered the fray. Hara's breath caught. That voice. She could recognise it anywhere. Junhyung stepped out of the shadows. His face was hidden by the darkness, but his dangerous aura could not be mistaken. 

"I am giving you three seconds to step away from my girlfriend," Junhyung growled. "Three, two..." The men fled. Hara exhaled her pent up breath and smiled at Junhyung before she remembered what happened. She turned her back stiffly on Junhyung. 

"What are you doing here?" she asked flatly. This time, her voice did not fail her. 

"Hara, I-"

"You what?" Hara glared at Junhyung, who dared to walk up beside her. "You decided to come back here to celebrate Christmas with your new girlfriend without telling your EX?" Her voice rose with every word. "No mails, no calls, and you just waltz back into town with another girl on Christmas Eve and expect me to forgive you? Whatever happened to 'being on course'?" Hara paused for breath, and Junhyung took the chance to interrupt.

"Yes, I know I didn't call and reply your mails, but that was only because I know you would spend all your time mooning over them. That was why I got Yoseob to be the messenger. Am I wrong?" Hara opened to deny it, but when no sound came out, Junhyung pressed on. "That girl you saw just now was my cousin. I wanted to come back here to surprise you, and she was helping me pick a present for you, Hara. My course isn't over yet - there's still a month more to go. But I wanted to spend Christmas back here, in this town, with you. Hence I worked hard for this opportunity."

"Really?" Hara asked doubtfully. She could fel herself softening, but was that girl really his cousin? It was a little hard to believe. 

Junhyung nodded eagerly and took her hands in his, warming them up. "I told you I have a cousin who lived here, remember? And why are your hands so cold?"

Hara smiled sheepishly. "I lost my gloves a week before and I haven't gotten round to replacing them yet."

"Then I've got the perfect Christmas present for you!" Junhyung withdrew a small package from his backpack just as a bell in the distance chimed. 

DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING DING. Twelve times.

"Merry Christmas, Hara," Junhyung smiled, handing the package over to Hara. She gently removed the packaging and her face lit up when she saw what was inside.

"Mittens!" Hara laughed, already putting them on. She threw her arms around Junhyung and nuzzled into his neck. "Thank you," she whispered, her lips moving against his neck. "Thank you for coming back, and I'm sorry for doubting you." Then she pulled back with a start. "I didn't get you anything!"

Junhyung pressed a kiss onto her forehead and gazed deep into her eyes. "Just being here with me is the best present you could ever give me." He leaned closer to Hara, and their lips were about to touch when something cold dropped on Hara's head and she gasped, breaking the perfect moment.

"What's wrong?" Junhyung asked, when something cold dropped on his nose as well. A delighted grin spread across his face. "Snowflakes!"

Hara let out a squeal of delight as she tilted her head to the sky. "Seems like it's going to be a White Christmas after all." 

"And we should really get back to what we were doing before," Junhyung hinted. The two lovebirds stepped into each other's arms once more, and their lips met in a satisfying kiss as the snow began to fall.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL!!! :) 

Thanks for being so patient! :D