Yunho never liked Christmas, not because he was an atheist, but simply because it always made an utter mess out of his office as presents get dumped all over the place and his inbox would be flooded with endless festive greetings, forcing him to reply each and every one of them because it was a basic yet necessary customary code of politeness.

It was just 3 days leading to the much-dreaded day for the owner of the Blitz Empire and Yunho was still wondering what to get Jaejoong. The bipolar diva already had everything in life, a fabulous wardrobe, a fabulous job, a dysfunctional fabulous family…

‘Good Morning, Mr. Jung,’ Yunho looked up and saw Louise, his ex-secretary, standing at the entrance of his office, ‘This bag of presents is from the Wardrobe.’

Yunho had to scan his office to find an empty spot for the new gifts, ‘Thank you, Louise. You can hang it on the coat’s hanger to your right.’

She gave a quick nod and hung the bag up, ‘Well then, have a good day, Mr. Jung.’

‘Wait,’ Yunho called out, ‘This is rather underhanded, but have you overheard anything recently about Jaejoong needing or wanting something?’

Louise gave Yunho a knowing look and chuckled lightly, ‘Of course, Jaejoong has always been very materialistic and needy. He wants a house in the Bahamas, he wants to go on a honeymoon, though I think the word vacation would be more appropriate, he wants a bigger office, he wants more…*ahem, you can’t help him in that matter, and finally, he wants more Blitz shares.’

‘Finally,’ Yunho let out a sigh of relief, ‘Something I can give that no one else can.’

‘The shares?’

Yunho gave her a nod, ‘Thank you for your help, Louise. You may go now.’

She bowed and left the office.

Yunho was about to reach out for the pile of files awaiting his signatures when the phone on his desk rang.

Yunho frowned before picking up it up, ‘Jung Yunho speaking.’

‘Yunnieeeeeeee, 40 more days.’

‘Jaejoong, if you have nothing more intelligent to say, then I suggest you hang up now and get back to work.’ Yunho drawled as he opened up a file and began reading the contents before signing at the bottom of the page.

‘Yunnieeeeeee, don’t b-brush me offffffffff.’

‘Jaejoong, don’t tell me you’re drunk during office hours. This is extremely unbecoming of an Editor-in-Chief, because 4 days ago, I caught you watching cartoons during a meeting and just yesterday, you were playing truant by hiding in the toilet just to skip a presentation by the Finance Department.’

‘Swear on your undying loveeeeeeee for me that you’ll never tell anyone of the toilet incident for I will never be able to w-walk around in this building with my head held high.’

‘Jaejoong, even if I announced it to the world, you’ll still go pinching your nose whenever you walk pass people whom you deem hideous because your skin is simply thicker than an elephant’s.’

‘Yunnie, you did not just ing tell the fabulous me off right?’

‘You’re standing in between me and my work.’ Yunho unintentionally broke the pen in his right hand and immediately disposed of it.

‘Do you really want me to come up to your office and make that statement of yours a reality?’

‘Yes please, because what you’re doing right now is jeopardizing Blitz’s name and making me feel extremely disturbed.’

‘And why is that?’

‘Firstly, you’re facing your window while touching yourself when there are buildings opposite ours. Secondly, you’re on the phone with me, and that makes me feel very, very uncomfortable.’

‘Oh, that’s because I was watching and when the actress in there started counting how many times the guy ed into her, I thought of you because, you know, numbers and Math and , so I decided to call you.’

‘Jaejoong, I advice that you hang up, pull the blinds down, sit back on your chair and finish up whatever you’re doing. After which, get rid of the blue film before Louise finds something to email you and cc me about again.’

‘Yunnie, my just flopped. You ing kill joy.’

It was the worst Christmas ever.

And no, it wasn’t because Yunho didn’t receive as much presents as the previous years. Actually, this year was a record because even the unhappy janitors at Blitz, who were infamous for cursing openly every 5 minutes or so while cleaning toilet bowls, smiled and gave him presents while wishing him a ‘Happy Holiday’. Perhaps it was because Yunho docked their pay the previous month for having caught them snapping inappropriate pictures of employees who used the toilet inconsiderately while they did their big businesses, so that’s why they decided to up to their big boss, hoping to raise their pay back to its original amount.

Too bad everyone didn’t know that Yunho would donate every single present he received from Blitz employees (except Jaejoong’s, Kimchi’s and Yoochun’s) to the Salvation Army. Oh, just imagine the smiles on the children’s faces when they receive diamond rings, designer goods and even house title deeds. 

Yunho never celebrated Christmas since he would work from home all day long (Daddy Jung had an old and still in-effect rule of having all Blitz staff take a COMPULSORY day off on Christmas), then cook something a little more special than usual and that’s it, end of the story.

So when Sumire asked if her friends could come over for Christmas, Yunho’s only condition was for her to make sure the ‘party’s venue’ would solely be in her bedroom.

‘Fine,’ she sulked, ‘but what about dinner?’

‘Then you can eat in the dining room, but you will have to find a way to fill you and your friend’s stomachs.’

‘You Fine.’ Sumire stomped back into her bedroom and locked herself in it.

At around 10.30pm, Yunho received a phone call and he wished he never allowed Sumire’s friends into his house.

‘Da-Daddy,’ he could almost see just how horrible she looked with tears and snort decorated all over her face.

‘What is it?’ Yunho frowned.

‘I k-knocked so-someone d-d-down.’

‘How is that even possible when you’re not even operating a vehicle?’ Yunho frowned harder.

‘It wa-was a dare. I drove your c-car.’

‘Pardon my language…’ Yunho took a deep breath before continuing, ‘But what the hell were you thinking?’

‘I’m s-s-sorry.’

‘Where are you? I’m coming to get you.’

Sumire told him the address and an extremely disappointed Yunho immediately put on his coat and burst out of the house.

When Yunho got to the scene, he was slightly relieved that the person wasn’t dead.

‘If you’re going to press charges against Sumire, I’m not going to stop you,’ Yunho told Number 5.

‘And ruin her future?’ Young Mi shook her head, ‘I’m not that hurt, so I won’t.’

‘Don’t get offended, but I’m very glad Sumire knocked you down instead of someone else.’

Young Mi could only muster a weak smile up at her boss.

Yunho called the ambulance as he wanted her to receive a proper medical examination for broken bones and stuff, but mainly because he didn’t want to help her up (no way he was going to touch a woman).

Young Mi’s body was already hurting like a motherer when she was lifted up onto a stretcher by the paramedics, and at the hospital, the doctor said she did have to undergo an operation since she had broken some part of her leg and dislocated her arm.

In the meantime, Yunho banned Sumire from playing the truth-or-dare game until she was mature enough to take on dares that wouldn’t involve lives, and Yunho estimated that the slated date would be when she reached her late twenties.

Poor Sumire had to hide her face in her hands because Yunho was openly shaming her at the entrance of the hospital, telling her off and treating her like an elementary school kid, taking away her ‘lock-the-bedroom-door’ privilege, illegalised the consumption of any form of Super Junior content for a month and banned her from taking any form of transport, which meant that she had to walk to and from school every single day until Yunho was satisfied.

Young Mi stayed in the hospital for the next 5 days and when she was finally able to be discharged, Yunho brought Sumire to her ward once more to make the kiddo apologise.

‘It’s alright, all that matters is that I’m still alive,’ Young Mi smiled and affectionately ruffled the 11 year old’s hair, ‘I forgive you.’

‘I heard you live alone.’ Yunho commented once Sumire straightened up from kneeling on the floor.

‘Erm, yeah.’ She gave the elder a small nod.

‘I am the unfortunate guardian of this menace who almost cost your life, so I have to also take responsibility for her irresponsible actions. Since you are currently mummified, I don’t think it’s ideal that you hop around the house alone. I’m suggesting that you allow Sumire and I to take care of you until you are able to fully function on your own.’

‘Do you mean that I’ll have to move in with you guys temporarily?’ Young Mi asked with wide eyes.

‘Unfortunately so.’ Yunho drawled, ‘Unless you want it the other way around.’

‘Oh, no, no! That would be most inconvenient for you both. I do appreciate the offer, but…’

‘Just say yes so I can get back to work.’

‘But-’

Yunho sent a deadly glare Young Mi’s way.

‘O-Okay, y-yes.’

‘Good. I’ll go call the nurses to help you into the wheelchair.’ Yunho then turned to the kiddo and spoke nonchalantly, ‘Sumire, start walking home first, I’ll see you later.’ 

‘I’m so sorry for ordering you around,’ Young Mi smiled sheepishly, ‘Oh! I’ll need the fish food as well, it’s up in the drawer just behind you.’

‘It’s fine,’ Yunho replied as he opened the said cabinet and grabbed the big container of colourful fish flakes, ‘Anything else?’

‘I’ll just wheel myself into my bedroom to see if there’s anything I’ve forgotten.’ Young Mi said, ‘Why don’t you just hang out in the livingroom first?’

‘Sure,’ Yunho made his way out of the kitchen and settled down on the couch.

His eyes roamed around the room and he couldn’t help but feel a little crestfallen. He realised that even though Young Mi was living alone, her house had this unexplainable homely feel to it, unlike his, which was much more immaculate and stylish yet cold and detached.  

He took notice of quite a number of photo frames by the window still and wondered why one was faced down.

Like a ninja, Yunho scanned for the all-clear sign before he swiftly made his way across the livingroom to take a peep at it.

It was a photo of what seemed like a giant hall in the background- Yunho presumed that it was most probably taken during her college days, and Young Mi was smiling brightly while the guy beside her had his arm draped casually around her waist.

‘Shoulder means friend, waist means going steady, means tied for life.’ Yunho couldn’t help but remember Jaejoong going on and on about the placement of hands on the opposite party.

In a flash, Yunho was back on the couch as Young Mi wheeled her way into the livingroom, ‘Sorry for the wait. I’m done, we can go now.’

Yunho nodded a little too enthusiastically, ‘I see that you’ve got many photos around, you’re not going to take any with you?’

Young Mi made an ‘o’ shape with before scanning around the room, ‘Right, let’s see…err…’

Yunho waited with bated breath when Young Mi’s eyes fell on the faced down one, lingering a little longer than on the rest, but she slightly shook her head before looking back at the elder, ‘No, it’s okay. Let’s go.’

Yunho caught a flash of sadness in her eyes for a second so during the car ride back home, he made sure to keep his mouth shut (wasn’t a hard thing to do since he wasn’t one for small talk) so she could take some time to sort out the thoughts in her head.

‘Is there any house rules that I should know of?’ Young Mi asked as soon as she was wheeled into Yunho’s massive monochromatic themed apartment.

‘Just don’t sneak into my bedroom.’ Yunho replied.

‘Right,’ she laughed, ‘Oh, and can I put the fishes by that window still? They’ll look pretty by that vase of hydrangeas.’

Yunho frowned, ‘I was about to throw those away.’

‘Why? Didn’t you painstakingly raise them?’

‘That was a Christmas present from Jaejoong. I wonder why he gave me flowers that look so dead.’ Yunho frowned, ‘And why did you call them pretty anyway?’

‘The skeletal-like form of hydrangeas during winter has its own unique beauty, don't you think?’ Young Mi commented off handedly.

‘Really?’ Yunho was now studying the said vase of flowers.

‘For a start, the flower expresses the giver’s gratefulness of the recipient’s silent yet never-ending devotion.’

‘Hmm…’ Yunho’s voice trailed off.

‘Perhaps-’

‘I guess this represents me better than when they are in full bloom, with annoyingly vibrant colours and all.’ Yunho said in a small voice.

Young Mi just smiled, ‘Well, Jaejoong does know you best.’

‘Yes, he does.’ Yunho smiled to himself, ‘Come, let me show you to your room.’

‘You’re awfully quiet,’ Young Mi spoke during dinnertime.

‘I don’t want to say anything that would add on to my punishment,’ Sumire muttered and the Fashion Assistant laughed.

‘This pasta is really good,’ Young Mi commented and Yunho gave her a small nod in appreciation.

Then, it was back to the light sound of utensils coming into contact with the porcelain plates that filled the dining room.

‘Are dinners usually this quiet?’ Young Mi asked, feeling extremely awkward with the silence surrounding the trio.

Yunho just hummed in response, eyes never leaving his plate.

‘Daddy keeps quiet while I chatter away…on normal days.’ Sumire answered in a small voice.

‘Right.’ Young Mi nodded, ‘Well, erm, since I live alone and all, I would eat while watching the television so I would feel less lonely.’

‘Daddy doesn’t allow me to watch tv while having di-’

‘You want to watch the television?’ Yunho cut in and looked at Young Mi, ‘I’ll get the remote control for you if you want to.’ 

‘That’s unfair,’ Sumire muttered under her breath and Yunho looked at her.

‘I’m sure she can eat without messing the place and her clothes up while watching the television. Can you?’ Yunho drawled.

‘I rest my case.’ Sumire looked away in embarrassment.

HELLO READERS AND BELOVED SUBBIES!

I WROTE 23 VERSIONS OF CHAPTER 1 AND I AM STILL UNSATISFIED WITH THIS ONE.

BUT I AM TOO TIRED TO WRITE THE 24TH ONE, *SIGH.

AND YES, I CHANGED THE TITLE OF THE SERIES.

AND YES AGAIN, IT BUT I HAD TO RENAME IT DUE TO MAJOR PLOT CHANGES.

IN THIS SERIES, YOU WILL SEE A MORE 'HUMAN' SIDE OF YUNNIE.

DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S A GOOD THING OR NOT... *SHRUGS.

ANYWAY, DO COMMENT! 

REGARDS,

SIMS.