“So, you are not going to be in Seoul for Christmas. Is that what you are saying?”

I am sitting with Jeonghan in a café across the street from the office I am interning at. This is the first time we are meeting in almost 3 weeks and I know Jeonghan was looking forward to today’s date but I guess I kinda messed it up.

“Well, yes. My brother is going to visit and my parents want me to… visit… too.” I end up mumbling.

“Then why did you tell me you’ll be spending Christmas break with me?” Jeonghan asks in annoyance.

“I swear this was not planned! I was going to visit them for a day or two but I was not going to spend the entire break in Daegu.”

“But now you are going to?”

“I have to.”

I tried my best to ease in the news of the changes in plan but it did not go down as well as I had expected.

“I’ll try to come over for New Year’s Eve. We can celebrate Joshua’s birthday and the new year together.” I try to bargain.

“You don’t have to.” says Jeonghan as he prepares to leave.

“Oh, come on! Jeonghan, wait! I somehow managed to get extra time on the lunch hour just for meeting you.”

“And I drove across the city to meet you. And what do I get in return? You cancelling the holiday plans at the last minute. You knew your brother was coming, didn’t you?”

I look down sheepishly as I am too ashamed of my actions. Yes, I knew my brother would be coming home for holidays but I didn’t