"Even her family betrayed her," Yujin mumbled.

It has been a week after the huge event that occurred in the school. Byung Soon's 'friends' are nowhere to be found. There are rumors spreading that their family migrated to a different country to avoid the issue. Chaeyeon, Wonyoung, Eunbi, Yujin, Minju, Hyewon, Hitomi and Nako are now sitting on their usual place in the bleachers, reading a news article on their phone on how Byung Soon's parents and uncle decided to put her in a juvenile detention center. 

"It's a relief that her uncle is an honest and fair person," Chaeyeon added. "If not-"

"Hi, guys!" Chaewon came running to them and decided to sit beside the other Chae. "Sorry, I just bought my snack. What are we talking about?"

"Nothing... Just about Byung Soon." 

"You know what, we better not waste our energy talking about that girl. Let's talk about more meaningful things, like... like Christmas," Chaewon suggested. "Speaking of, what are your plans? It's just 5 days before the vacation."

"We'll probably go out of the country... Maybe other Asian countries or Western. Our parents love traveling." Eunbi replied.

"Just thought... How 'bout you all join us?" Wonyoung chimed in. "It would be an amazing time to make some memories. What do you think?"

Chaewon shook her head.

"As much as I would love to, my parents are invited as sponsors for the Christmas and New Year's Eve Fest. We need to stay for the whole vacation."

"Ah, I see... Nako?"

"I can't go, too," Nako declined. "I already signed up for baking classes. We have an annual Christmas contest within my family and I promised myself that I wouldn't lose this year."

"Hiichan?"

"Sorry but I'm going back to Japan," Hitomi answered. "It's been- How long? Almost two years? That I have been away from my family. I really miss them so I'm now coming home."

Eunbi and Wonyoung nodded at her answer as they seemed to understand. 

"Hyewon! I'm sure you're free, right?" The Lit Club president professed, still not losing hope.

"I wish I can... But after my parents found out what happened between me and Byung Soon, they're still scarred. They don't want me to go out because they are scared of what can happen to me. Their reactions we're a year late but I need to obey them, it's my fault anyway."

"What about Yuri-"

"Don't even bother to ask that hamster," Hyewon chuckled a little. "If Yuri can wish in a genie, she would probably go for a year rest. She would rather sleep than travel."

"So almost all of us aren't available..." Wonyoung saddened at the current situation. She then looked at the girl in front of her and even hesitated to ask. "H-How about... you, Yujin?"

The tall girl, that time, is chewing the rice bowl she bought at the canteen. She's about to answer after she swallows her food but...

"Yujin's family has a tradition of celebrating at their ancestor's house," Minju answered, still looking at the laptop she borrowed from Chaeyeon. Yujin lightly smiled at the girl's answer, feeling giddy. "If you're also about to ask me, I need to study the whole time for the finals. I need to pass this quarter."

"I guess no one's free..." Wonyoung pouted.

"Why not ask Chaeyeon to go with you?" Hyewon adviced, peeling a banana and taking a bite off it. "She's your sister's girlfriend, anyway."

 Eunbi choked at her iced tea while Chaeyeon gave her best friend an 'I will kill you' stare. Wonyoung, on the other hand, is clearly shocked at the sudden revelation.

"You two are in a relationship?!?" 

That's when Hyewon and the other knew that they're in great trouble.

"Is that true?"

"Hyewon..." Chaeyeon mumbled.

"Sorry, I didn't know she's unaware-" Chae tried to cover Hyewon's mouth with her hand, which just proved that what she has said isn't just a lie.

"So it is true! Unnie, how-"

"I'll explain everything to you later... Just please, please, don't tell Mom and Dad." Eunbi pleaded to her little sister. Wonyoung is actually surprised to see the Kwon Eunbi beg her.

"Fine, I won't tell... But in one condition," Wonyoung requested before showing a smirk. "Remember that brown bag I wanted to buy ever since last year but I couldn't because it's so damn expensive? I'm expecting that this Christmas, Unnie."

Wonyoung then ran with her things to her next class. Everyone was shocked at the sudden event that happened before their very eyes. Kwon's ear turned red and she can only yell one name.

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"KANG HYEWON!!!"

**********

"Yuri, let me-"

"Don't do that again, Kwangbae!" Yuri shouted at her cousin after she surprised her.

"Sorry, hamster... I just need a place to hide." Hyewon reasoned.

"What did you do this time?" Yuri asked in a dry tone.

"I... kind of exposed Eunbi and Chaeyeon's relationship on Wonyoung."

Instead of being worried, Yuri laughed so hard at the girl, even pointing at her.

"Out of all people, you decided to make Eunbi unnie mad? Get outta here, I don't want to be stuck to another trouble-"

"I'm just here to hide because I'm already tired of running... I'm going to face her later. What are you still doing here anyway? Aren't your classes over?" Hyewon asked, looking at the notebook on Yuri's desk.

"N-Nothing! Just writing random-" Before Yuri could even get the notebook, Hyewon has already snatched it. "Yah! Give me back my notebook!"

Yuri tried to reach the notebook but she just couldn't because Hyewon's using her height as an advantage. With Yuri jumping around her, Kwangbae tried to read what's written.

"R-Reasons to h-hate C-Choi Yena-" Yuri preventing her cousin from reading the whole thing, used all her force to reach the notebook and she succeeded. 

"Yah! Jo Yuri, what does that title mean? I thought Yena's a friend to you-"

"She is, okay? She is... It's just that-"

"After everything she has done for you? She saved you from a bunch of girls, helped you in organizing a concert and the latest, she saved you from an almost sure death... you're going to do that-"

"That's the exact reason why I did this!" Yuri tried to explain. "She has done so many things for me... And lately, I've been feeling... weird towards her."

"What do you mean by weird?"

"I don't know... I always catch myself smiling at her picture on my phone- I don't even know why I saved a picture of her on my phone. Also, you know that I don't usually sweat and I'm always confident whenever I'm talking to someone... but she's a different case. Then-"

"Then you feel your heart racing and you're feeling butterflies in your stomach?" Hyewon smirked, knowing what that 'weird feeling' Yuri is talking about.

"Okay, that sounds a bit cliche... but I do. What does that mean?" Yuri innocently asked. Her cousin just chuckled at her and tapped her shoulders.

"That means that my cousin... is finally in love."

"I-In love? With Yena? No way... Y-You must be wrong." Yuri faltered. 

"Why not?"

"I mean... She's the Choi Yena."

"So? Did you just fell in love at her just because of that-"

"No! Of course not!" Yuri denied. "I-I mean I'm not in love with her in the first place."

Kwangbae chuckled again.

"Keep denying, my friend." Hyewon teased. "But no matter how hard you try to hide it, Cupid won't let you."

"Like how you can't escape me, you snitch!"

Kwangbae turned around and saw a raging and sweaty Kwon. The girl immediately held Yuri's cousin by the arm and forcefully pulled her out of the room. The Music Club representative didn't even help Hyewon, she just cackled at the scene in front of her. But before Kwangbae disappeared at Yuri's sight, she left a strong remark.

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"Think about everything we talked about, Hamster! You might thank me one day!"

*********

Five days passed like seconds on the clock. The group bid their goodbyes for each other. Hyewon and Eunbi are now in good terms but Wonyoung hasn't taken down her request yet. The others also teased Minju and Yujin when they wished each other a 'Merry Christmas'... all except one. 

"Merry Christmas, guys~" Chaeyeon greeted her friends. 

The clock strikes at eleven sharp on the 24th of December and the squad is now video calling. It has only been eight days since they bid goodbye temporarily but it already shows that they are really starting to miss each other. 

The other girls on the line also greeted back. 

"Where's Kwon and Wonyoung?" Yena suddenly asked.

"They can't join us," Chaeyeon answered on behalf of the two. "They can't call due to distance. They're in New York right now... as expected."

"Wait... So, they can't video call with us but Kwon can update you... It's due to distance, indeed."

Laughs can be heard from the other girls.

"For y'all information, the last time Eun called me was five days ago... She told me that the call is hella expensive and she needs to save for a bag she's not supposed to buy." Chaeyeon reasoned out, emphasizing the 'not'. 

"How many times do I have to tell you that I'm already regretting what I did," Hyewon replied. "It's Christmas time, please forgive me now."

Kwangbae then pulled out her best 'puppy look' but her friends just laughed at her.

"Stop it, Hye! You really are a cousin of Yuri... You two both look like hamsters." Chaeyeon teased. 

They continued to chat until...

"Hiichan, come here! It's already 12!" 

"Looks like you need to go now, Hii," Minju said. 

"I think so..." Hitomi replied. "Bye, for now, guys..."

.

.

"Hitomi!"

A voice stopped Hitomi from leaving the video call. She looked at the screen once again and looked at the girl who called her name.

"Merry Christmas."

She smiled at a certain musician.

"Merry Christmas, too... Chaewon."

She ended the video call immediately. She's sure that their friends are going to tease them again... She's not complaining, though. She went to the dining room where her whole family is right now. She looked at it from afar and felt like tearing up. God knows how much she missed this place... These people... This scenario.

She ran towards her family and enclosed them into a longing hug. They then decided to eat the sapid dishes waiting on the dining table. While eating, they tried to catch up with one another. 

"Why do you worry about our bake shop so much?" Hitomi's father asked. "You know us... We can handle it. What we need to talk about is your school. Is your school treating you right? We heard there's someone caught for bullying there... Are you a victim of hers? Or maybe you don't have any friends-"

"Breathe, Dad. Breathe." Hitomi joked. "My school is a bit... chaotic, I must admit. But all in all, I'm doing fine, thanks to my peers."

"You actually look genuinely happy now." Her mother commented. "I also heard you earlier. Looks like you have many friends."

"I do," Hitomi answered. "I only have a friend or two at the starting of the year but my second family expanded when I- oh right-"

Hitomi took another rice bowl her Mom cooked before continuing her story.

"I didn't tell you 'til now, right?"

"What is it, Hiichan?"

"I'm the Dance Club's President until next year!" Hitomi blurted. "Isn't that good news? That will surely pull my grades up plus, I'll be doing the thing that I really love!"

The cheerleader took a bite from the chicken, looked up and saw her parents looking at each other.

"What's... What's the matter?" She curiously asked, still chewing the food in .

"H-Haven't Yeri-chan told you? I thought she already sent you a letter."

Hitomi started to become nervous. She dropped the chopsticks on the bowl and clasped her hand together.

"For what, Mom?"

Her parents once again looked at each other. 

"Please don't leave me hanging here... Tell me, what's the problem? Dad..." 

Her father took a deep breath and started to explain.

"Hiichan... You know how much we missed you, right?" Her Dad stressed. "Yes... We know that you are reaching your dreams of attending an elite school and that we shouldn't stop you... But we just can't help but worry whenever there's something bad happening around you and we aren't there to protect you."

"So... what do you mean?" Hitomi asked. "A-Are you saying that you're now going to live with me?"

Her mother lightly shook her head. 

"You know that's impossible, dear. We can't leave the bake shop... It's the only thing your grandfather left in our care. This... This is actually the reason why I told your sister to sent you a letter..."

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"We've already enrolled you.. You'll be studying here now."

************

"Didn't I told you to knock?!?" Yuri exclaimed when Hyewon just casually walked into her room. 

"Shouldn't you just be happy that I'm finally here?"

"Why would I be happy if I already saw your face on the screen earlier?"

This Christmas, their families decided to celebrate together. That time when they're video calling, Hyewon is actually on her way to Yuri's house.

"Whatever you say... Anyways, we're going to give presents to each other now." 

"Just left mine under the tree," Yuri replied in a dry tone. She walked towards her bed. "Tell them that I'm sleepy-"

Yuri didn't even manage to complete her sentence as she felt Hyewon pulling her out of her bed.

"Kwangbae, what the-"

"Get up now, Yuri-ah!" The girl commanded. "You can't leave me alone!" 

"Why not?!?"

"Because you know them! They will just ask me about Byung Soon and stuff..." Hyewon explained. "Wait, why would I even need to explain? Yuri, you need to go down the living room because it's Christmas-"

A loud ring stopped Hyewon from talking. She looked at Yuri's phone which is currently at the small table beside the bed and smirked.

"So, that's why you want to be alone-"

"Kwangbae, it's not the case... I-I just really want to sleep-"

"Okay, fine... I'll let you and your phone alone." Hyewon then winked at her cousin before leaving.  

Yuri facepalmed. Why does she even have to message me this time? She thought. The hamster took the phone and opened it.

Merry Christmas, Yuri! Sorry to disturb you... but I just want to ask you 

for some love advice (I know it will sound weird)

Yuri was shocked at the message she received but she decided to reply.

Why me? Shouldn't you ask Sakura? I mean she's your best friend...

She's probably busy studying for the exams... Besides, that girl

doesn't even know anything about love. You're the only one I know 

that's good at advice... Please :((

Okay, fine... What is it you need to ask?

Well, my parents are invited to the New Year's Eve Fest but they 

can't attend so they just gave me the tickets. And, well, don't 

tell anyone but, I'm actually liking someone. I really want to 

invite her since I know that she'll love the event. Only problem

is, I don't know what I should say when I ask her. What do you 

think? Thank you soooo much, Yuri~

Yuri's eyebrows scrunched. She closed her phone immediately as soon as she finished reading the last message. She stood up and walked back and forth across the room until her eyes caught her reflection on the full body mirror.

"Why are you sad, Yuri?" She asked herself, even pointing out. "You should be happy that your friends are liking someone! C'mon, Kwangbae's just teasing you... You're not really... in love." 

She became stressed and just decided to go out.

"Are you already done sleeping?" Hyewon cousin. Weirdly, the girl didn't even tried to defend herself.

Yuri doesn't seem to be in a good mood. She just remained quiet throughout the opening of gifts that even her parents noticed. they asked her but she just gave them a faint smile. After some time, Hyewon's family decided to go home.

"Are you really okay? Am I teasing you so much?" Her cousin started to get worried.

"No, it's not about you..." Yuri answered. "It's about Ye- I mean me."

Kwangbae just ruffled Yuri's hair. "Whatever it is, fix it now. And don't forget to smile, it's Christmas time."

The hamster went back to her room after. She opened her phone and found out that she has five missed calls. Good timing, her phone rang again. Yuri hesitated if she'll answer it.

Whatever it is, fix it now.

Hyewon's words repeated in her mind and she decided to answer.

"Hello..." 

"Yuri!" Yena exclaimed. "Why aren't you answering my calls?"

"Sorry, I just went somewhere..." The girl replied dryly. "What is it that you called?"

"You... haven't answered my question yet." The duck explained. 

"Umm... Sorry Yena, but I can't answer you right now." Yuri reasoned, trying to avoid the question. "I'm really, really sleepy-"

"Please, Yuri! The fest is getting near and I really need your help..." The duck said with desperation. "I really like this person so I want it to be special not just for her, but for me, too. Should I buy her flowers? Chocolates? Is it better if I invite her at public or private-"

"'You and me, New Years Eve Fest... I'm Choi Yena so you better go.' Just say that!" Yuri replied in an irritated tone. She doesn't know why she said that but she just wants the conversation to end. The duck didn't speak after. The hamster is sure that the other girl is now mad at her. She's asking properly but you're just going to say those things... Good job Yuri, good job.

"I..." Yuri said in a small panicky voice. "I'm really sorry, Yena... I'm just tired and I don't know what to say. I didn't mean to be rude or-"

"Yuri,"

"W-What?" The girl is actually scared. She knows what Yena can do when she's mad. She can forget your whole friendship with one big mistake.

"I actually want this to be sweet and to be an unforgettable moment but you told me this so..."

.

.

.

.

.

"Jo Yuri... You and me, New Year's Eve Fest... I'm Choi Yena, so you better go."