Dear Santa,

Hello… My name is Choi Siwon, I am 7 years old. How are you? How is North Pole? Have you been watching me all this year? I have been good, haven’t I? Since I’ve been good, I hope you could grant me a wish. Can you give me a soulmate? I want to have someone to share my life with. I know I have Mom and Dad, but they’re each other’s soulmate, and I want to have one just like them. So, please give me a soulmate for my Christmas present. Thank you…

Oh, and can I have blue wrappings to go along with it?

Thanks again, Santa…. You’re the best!!

Love,

Siwon

^.^

“Santa, Sir…” A small elf squeaked with a letter in his hand, “This kid, Choi Siwon, he wishes for a soulmate for Christmas.”

The big guy in red suits and white beards turned around and faced the little elf.

“What do you mean a soulmate?” Santa Claus asked in confusion with his thundering voice.

The little elf ran to Santa’s desk, holding out a piece of paper.

“I don’t know, Sir. It just said here that he wants a soulmate to share his whole life with.” The little elf tried to answer.

Santa Claus took the letter from the little elf and read it carefully. A moment later he frowned, causing deep wrinkles to appear on his forehead.

“But we don’t have soulmates here. Just give him a bike!” Santa Claus ordered, “Don’t forget to use the blue wrappings!”

“Yes, Sir!” the little elf gave a firm salute and ran out of the room.

“And Kyuhyun!” Santa Claus called out right when the little elf reached the door of Santa’s study.

“Yes, Sir?”

Santa Claus sighed.

“Can’t you wear green and red uniform like the other elves?” He asked the little elf for what seemed like a hundredth time.

“But Kyuhyun likes blue, Sir.” The little elf answered carefully, looking around at the other elves and then looked down to his own outfit.

Santa Claus sighed again.

He shouldn’t employ this young elf. Kyuhyun had always worked hard despite his young age, there’s no doubt about that. His father was one of Santa’s favorite elves, too. He made the best toys for the nice children. Too bad he died before his time, and he left Kyuhyun in Santa’s hands. It had been a year Kyuhyun worked for Santa. And Santa always felt like Kyuhyun doesn’t belong in the North Pole. He should be somewhere else, doing other things. But Santa didn’t have the heart to send the young elf away. He was a nice guy after all, too nice for his own good.

The night before Christmas came soon, and like the years before, it was the busiest time in the North Pole. Elves were running here and there, some with a list on their hands, some with a pouch of coals for the naughty kids, and the others were dragging bags of wonderful presents to load into Santa’s sleigh, presents specially made according to the good kids’ wish, all except Choi Siwon’s.

Kyuhyun was playing around and joking with Prancer, bidding the reindeer good luck for tonight’s job when Santa suddenly called for him.

“Kyuhyun! You ride with us tonight. Let’s go.”

Kyuhyun stood right up and squeaked in excitement.

“Yes, Sir!!”

That was the first Christmas ride in Kyuhyun’s life. And he was so happy he didn’t realize he had his mouth open most of the time. He was too excited, but he didn’t want to cause any trouble to Santa or the other elves, so he kept quiet and stayed in the sleigh when Santa went down the chimney.

They were on the 40.710th house that night. Kyuhyun was waiting in the sleigh with the other elves, arranging the presents like he had been doing all night. Then he realized that Santa left his hat.

‘Santa couldn’t walk around not in his full attire.’ Kyuhyun thought. So he grabbed the red furred hat and sneak into the grandiose mansion. Kyuhyun went down the chimney and landed almost soundlessly. He brushed the ashes out of his Navy blue tights and stepped out of the fireplace carefully.

“Santa...” Kyuhyun called out in a whisper while tiptoeing across the spacious living room. His small feet sunk in the soft and expensive Persian rug that covered the floor beautifully.

“Santaaaa...” he whispered again, now walking stealthily out to the hall, “Santa... I bring your hat, Sir!”

Kyuhyun knew he had to be really careful not to make any sound and wake the people in the house. That’s why he was moving around very slowly. What he didn’t know was, Santa Claus went back to the roof not long after Kyuhyun left the living room. And since the other elves didn’t notice Kyuhyun had gone inside the house, Santa and the group of elves went straight to deliver presents to the other houses. They need to hurry anyway, many children are waiting in their sleep.

So Kyuhyun was left down in that big house. It wasn’t until he checked all the rooms in the house that he realized that he was left behind, alone in a stranger house. Kyuhyun broke into tears when the realization dawned on him. He crawled under the Christmas tree because it was the only thing that felt like home.

Kyuhyun was sobbing, hiding his face between his knees, when suddenly a pair of strong arms wrapped around his small figure. They were small arms, probably just a tad longer than his own, but it felt strong, and warm.

“Hush now... Don’t cry...” A voice whispered in Kyuhyun’s ear. Kyuhyun turned himself around in shock to see the source of the voice and the sudden warmth.

There was a boy, whose hands was now rested on Kyuhyun’s waist. He has a pair of twinkling eyes, even if they were in the dark. And when he smiled, a pair of holes formed on his cheeks. Kyuhyun studied the boy’s face. Everything seems to be perfectly placed.

“What is this?” Kyuhyun chimed with his sweet voice, hand raised to touch one of those curious holes.

“You like my dimples? You’re so cute! Are you my soulmate?”

Kyuhyun choked and stopped crying immediately.

“Soulmate?” he asked.

The dimples surfaced again as the boy smiled and nodded eagerly. He gently pushed Kyuhyun a little bit away only to get a better look at him. He inspected every little inch of Kyuhyun’s body and smiled in satifaction.

“Yep. I asked Santa for a soulmate. And since you are here under my Christmas tree, wrapped in something blue, so you must be my soulmate!”

“Soulmate....” Kyuhyun muttered under his breath, thinking why the word sounded so familiar, then he suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! Choi Siwon!!”

“You know my name??”

Kyuhyun hid his face and squeaked shyly.

“I – I read your letter...” he said.

Only then did Siwon noticed the strange little boy in his arms. His skin was very pale, almost white like snow. He had round eyes, chubby cheeks, and plump rosy lips. He had brown hair under dark blue bobble hat with little yellow stars around the red zigzag lining. But when Siwon looked closer, he could see pointed ears under the boy’s shiny hair.

“What are you?” Siwon asked as he touched Kyuhyun’s ears. He was looking utterly astonished.

Kyuhyun gulped.

“I – I’m... I’m an Elf.” he admitted in a hushed tone.

“An Elf?”

Kyuhyun nodded.

“Yes, an Elf, I work for Santa Claus.” He answered.

“So you were really sent here to be my soulmate?” Siwon asked rather accusingly, his eyes lit up with happiness and it made them twinkled even more brightly than the usual.

“It’s uh... I’m...” Kyuhyun hesitated, he was afraid the twinkle in Siwon’s eyes will disappear if he got disappointed, but he didn’t want to lie either. But before Kyuhyun could make up his mind, Siwon had alrady cut him short.

“Oh my God... You’re so pretty!” Siwon marveled at the perfection in front of him.

“I’m not pretty.” Kyuhyun argued but blushed anyway. And it just made Siwon chuckled.

“What is your name?” Siwon asked.

“Kyuhyun.” He answered, and blushed again when he noticed that this boy, Choi Siwon, was still holding him. His tears had long dried and forgotten.

“Kyuhyun, “ Siwon started, Kyuhyun finally looked at him in the eye and listened carefully, “My name is Siwon, I will take care of you, please take care of me too. Because from now on, we will be together.”

“Oh, and Kyuhyun is such a nice name. But since you’re cute and pretty, I think I’ll just call you Kyunnie.”

Kyuhyun blinked cutely.

‘Strange boy…’ he thought, ‘but I like him!’

~*~

It didn’t take much convincing to let the little Elf stayed with Siwon, he had nowhere else to go. And Siwon didn’t have to hide him, too. Siwon’s parents were almost never home, and Siwon told practically every employee in the mansion to keep his little secret and never tell anyone about it. So for almost a month, Kyuhyun spent every minute of every hour of every day with Siwon, his supposed soulmate.

They were caught, finally, when Siwon’s parents came home early from their business trip.

It was near the end of January. Siwon and Kyuhyun were sleeping together like always. Ever since Siwon found him under the Christmas tree, the little Elf would only fall asleep if Siwon pet his hair and sing him a song. And after Kyuhyun fell asleep, Siwon would pull him close and wrap him in a hug. And that night, Siwon’s parents found them in that exact position.

But his parents waited till morning to ask him about the strange little boy he slept with. And they had to keep a poker face when they saw Siwon came down for breakfast, hand in hand with the other boy.

“Good morning, son...” his father greeted, “How was your sleep?”

Siwon’s face lit up when he noticed that both his parents were actually there, bidding him a good morning.

“Appa! You’re home early! I didn’t know...” he ran to hug his father then turned to hug his mother.

“Umma, I miss you!!!” he squeaked.

His mother had to giggled. Unlike her husband, she wasn’t very good at keeping a straight face.

“I miss you too, my Siwonnie...” she beamed, but then she glanced at the little boy in the corner who stood in silent watching the Choi family moment, “But who is your friend? Why don’t you introduce us?”

“Ah!” Siwon exclaimed and ran to grab Kyuhyun’s hand then dragged him to his parents, “Umma, Appa, this is Kyuhyun, but I call him Kyunnie, he is five, and he is my soulmate.”

Siwon was clearly radiating with pride as he introduced his little soulmate to his parents, but his parents were looking kind of shocked. And it wasn’t until a solid minute later did they gained back their ability to speak.

“Uhm... uh...” Mr. Choi cleared his throat and looked at Kyuhyun awkwardly, “Hello, Kyuhyun... How are you?”

“Very good, Sir. Very nice to meet you, and you, Ma’am.” Kyuhyun sang and bowed deeply. He didn’t see Mrs. Choi’s eyes soften towards him.

“Can I talk to you for a little bit, Siwon-ah?” Mr. Choi said again, and forced a smile to Kyuhyun, “Please excuse us for a moment, Kyuhyun...-gun” he added nervously.

Kyuhyun nodded and smiled when Siwon told him he would be back shortly.

Mr. Choi brought his family out of the room and into the library. He then closed the door and told Siwon to sit down on the reading couch. His wife soon followed.

“Siwon, am I not mistaken to hear you said that he is your soulmate?!” he went straight to the point.

Siwon nodded eagerly.

“Yes, yes, yes!!” he chirped, “It’s kind of a long story, but I know he is.”

“Oh, and he will be staying with us from now on.” Siwon added before any of his parents could utter another word.

“He what?!” Mr. Choi exclaimed.

“Live with us. He doesn’t have anywhere else to go. Plus you don’t just abandon your soulmate, do you? They were created to be with you anyway. So, please, Appa?” Siwon begged and showed his full dimpled smile.

And that was it.

Mr. Choi stared at his son in disbelieve. Then he turned to his wife, only to find another pleading smile plastered on her face. He should know this would happen. So in the end he could only sigh.

“Alright. But we can’t just keep him here. We have to look for his family as well. His family might be looking for him, too.”

Siwon squealed from happiness then went straight to hug his mother and father before dashing out back to where he left Kyuhyun. He stopped at the door and winked at his parents.

“Thank you, Appa. Thank you, Umma. You guys are seriously the best! I love you!” he said. And then he disappeared.

Mr. Choi sighed again while his wife was giggling. ‘That dimpled smile is going to be the end of me.’ He thought and cursed at his son’s adorable perfection.

“Our son has a soulmate,” he said to his wife, “and it’s a mysterious boy. Are we spoiling him too much?”

His wife only smiled.

“We are his parents, we have the right to spoil him.” She said, “But Kyunnie is rather pretty, don’t you think? I’m so happy you let him stay. I can’t wait to go shopping with him and dress him up. Ah, he will be so cute!”

Mr. Choi raised his eyebrows at his wife. She was smiling dreamily to herself. He shook his head but smiled with her at the end. It looked like they were falling for the little Elf, as hard as their son did, without having to know who or what he was.

~*~

“Hi, Santa!”

The big guy jumped from shock. Who wouldn’t be shocked if you were just sneaking out of the fireplace, trying to be as quiet as you can, then suddenly someone came up and nudged your shoulder?

“What the – ?! KYUHYUN!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE??” Santa Claus was too suprised to keep quiet.

“Ssshhhh.....” Kyuhyun shushed the big guy, “You’re gonna wake the people.”

“Okay, okay... Sorry.” Santa Claus muttered, “I can’t believe I found you here. I thought you fell off my sleigh! Mrs. Claus cried for 3 days. She loves you so much, you know. So you’ve been here all this time?”

Kyuhyun nodded.

“Yes, Sir. For exactly a year now.”

Santa Claus hugged the little Elf. He must be scared and sad, he’s just a kid. Santa felt guilty for not knowing how or where he left Kyuhyun behind. At least this house looked big and comfortable enough for the Elf to hide and reside. But it will all be over now. He smiled at the young Elf and patted his head.

“Come on, help me put this present for the kid then let’s go home.” Santa said.

Kyuhyun frowned.

“No.” he said rather firmly.

“You don’t want to help me set the present?”

“No, it’s not that.” Kyuhyun answered sadly.

Then what is it, boy?” Santa frowned at the little Elf.

Kyuhyun pursed his lips.

“I… I can’t go with you. As much as I like working for you at the North Pole, this has been my home for a year, and it will continue be my home from now on.” He stated.

Santa Claus stared at Kyuhyun for a full minute, then his gaze soften. He paid attention to the young Elf and noticed the changes in Kyuhyun’s physical appearance. He should know this would happen, far before he lost the Elf last Christmas.

“Look at you, boy... You’ve grown taller and wiser than most Elves your age.” Santa smiled and caressed Kyuhyun’s soft brown hair, “I see you have found the place where you belong. I hope you find happiness here.”

Kyuhyun smiled back and hugged the big guy whom he always looked up to.

“Thank you, sir... Don’t worry, they treat me very well here.”

“I can see that.” Santa smiled again and motioned Kyuhyun to help him set Siwon’s present under the huge Christmas tree. Kyuhyun obeyed gladly. This might as well be the last time he works for the nice big guy. Once the present had been set nicely, Kyuhyun walked Santa back to the fireplace and hugged him one last time.

"I guess I'll see you next Christmas. Until then, be good." Santa Claus said when they finally let go of the hug.

"I will miss you, Santa..." Kyuhyun replied, trying to hold back his tears with all his might, convincing himself that it will only be a year till he sees the big guy again. And it wasn't really that long.

"Oh and remember, Elves are very special and very pure, when an Elf gives its heart to something else, they will be it. I see you are changing, so this should be the beginning of the phase. Be ready, and be careful." Santa said as he was climbing into the fireplace.

"I don't think I get what you mean." Kyuhyun wanted some explanations. But Santa Claus decided otherwise.

"You will understand in time." the big guy said warmly. And with a light 'whoosh', he's gone up the chimney, moving on with his annual duty.

~*~

It was winter again, ten years after Kyuhyun met Santa Claus by the Choi’s fireplace. He never saw the big guy again since then, not even once. But Kyuhyun knew he had been watching over him, because he would always find a letter from the North Pole on the nightstand by Siwon’s bed everytime he woke up on Christmas morning. As so that morning.

Kyuhyun’s eyes fluttered open slowly. He looked to his left, Siwon was still sleeping, hugging him protectively. He always did that. Kyuhyun lifted Siwon’s arm carefully so not to wake the older guy. Siwon shifted a little bit, but didn’t wake up. So Kyuhyun hurried to climb down the bed now that he was free from Siwon’s hug.

He smiled as he stood by the bed and watched the sleeping figure.

‘I should tell him soon…’ Kyuhyun thought to himself. He picked the letter addressed to him in familiar handwriting and slipped out of the room.

He then quietly sat near the Christmas tree and began to read his letter. A few minutes later he broke into silent sobs. It went on for another few minutes, before Kyuhyun finally rose up and brought himself to the nearest mirror.

He just stared at his reflection, touching some parts of his body absentmindedly every once in a while. The words that Santa Claus wrote in the letter were playing in his head. Santa Claus had told Kyuhyun when he was 10 years old that he had grown taller than any Elves he knew, and it will likely continue on before the growth stop at some point.

“I’ve always felt that your place wasn’t in the North Pole with me, you belong somewhere else. But know this, my dear Kyuhyun, Elf or not, you’ll always have a spot inside my heart. I hope we can meet again someday, but if we don’t, then good luck to you, boy... I wish you a happy life.” Kyuhyun recalled what Santa Claus wrote in the letter.

He didn’t exactly know why, but he felt like it was gonna be the last time he would receive such letter from the big guy. And that thought alone caused more tears to leak down his almond-shaped eyes.

“What are you doing here, Kyu?”

Kyuhyun snapped and turned around to find Siwon leaning over the door.  He was standing casually with arms crossed on his well-built chest. His usually styled hair fell rather messily around his eyes. His pajama pants wrapped sinfully around his long legs. He looked too damn good for someone who just woke up.

He was smiling, but his smile immediately faded when he noticed the tearline streched down on Kyuhyun’s cheeks. He found himself by Kyuhyun’s side in a blink on an eye with arms around the younger boy.

“Have you been crying, Kyu? What happened?” He asked the Elf. Both of his hands had moved to Kyuhyun’s cheeks, gently caressing and wiping away the tear stain.

Kyuhyun stared into Siwon’s dark orbs as they stayed still in silence. Kyuhyun could literally heard the erratic beatings in his heart. With such a close distance, their breath fell on each other’s faces, sending warm shivers down their spine. Kyuhyun knew it was time.

So he took one deep breath and spoke.

“Siwon,” he started, “Have you heard a story of an Elf who fell in love?”

Siwon tilted his head sideways, trying to figure Kyuhyun out. He decided to shook his head in response.

“Well, I was told that an Elf will become whatever it falls in love to. For example, when an Elf falls in love with a deer, it will become a deer in time.” Kyuhyun said shyly, “And because I’m falling in love with you...”

“You’re becoming a human?!” Siwon cut in and asked excitedly. His eyes were twinkling with hope.

Kyuhyun took Siwon’s hands and led it to his ears. Siwon felt the Elf’s ear and was taken aback when he touched Kyuhyun’s ears.

“Your ears... You’re really becoming human, are you?”

Kyuhyun shrugged. The next thing he knew, he was already pinned down on the carpeted floor, with Siwon hovering just a few inches away above him. He tried to avert his gaze from Siwon’s face, but those damn dimples were too inviting.

“So you love me?” Siwon asked with a smirk.

Kyuhyun blushed. He couldn’t say anything at all. He was too embarrassed to even move. But Siwon wasn’t waiting for Kyuhyun to say it twice, he heard it well before, and the crimson blush on Kyuhyun’s cheeks kinda confirmed it anyway.

“I’m in love with you, too... My soulmate! I always have. And no matter what happens, you will forever be my dear ELF.” Siwon whispered near Kyuhyun’s ear. And if it was possible to blush more than he already did, Kyuhyun would have done so.

So Siwon kissed Kyuhyun in one swift move.

The kiss was so gentle, and light, and long. It wasn’t one of a lustful kiss, it was pure love, simple, but no less passionate. Both Siwon and Kyuhyun enjoyed what they thought was their first kiss, although it actually wasn’t. Siwon and Kyuhyun secretly liked to kiss the other while the other was asleep, and neither of them knew about that. But it doesn’t matter.

It felt different when the person you kiss is kissing you back.

They pulled away several minutes later to catch some breath. But they stayed within arms-reach, though. Neither of them found the will to let go. It’s not like they have to let go anyway. Everyone in the Choi Mansion knew how close Siwon and Kyuhyun were. And it wouldn’t even e weird to find the boys hugging. They did that all the time, well, Siwon was hugging Kyuhyun all the time.

“Thank you for dropping by in my life.” Siwon said with a warm smile.

“Thank you for taking me in.” Kyuhyun replied with a slight blush.

They were just started kissing again when a familiar voice interrupted their intimate moment.

“Aaaawww… You guys are kissing under the mistletoe!!” Siwon’s mom squealed like a little girl. She was giggling happily at the view while Kyuhyun and Siwon turned red. They looked up and realized there’s indeed a mistletoe right above them.

Siwon groaned.

“Who put the mistletoe there?”

“I did.” Came Siwon’s Dad’s voice, “I always knew this would happen sooner or later. Right, honey?”

His wife nodded repeatedly. A clear smile was still plastered on her face. Siwon snorted at his parents while Kyuhyun curled into a ball. That could easily be the most embarrassing moment in his life. But it wasn’t. Because a second later, he felt himself being pulled into a hug. And right there in Siwon’s arms, he finally felt like he was in the right place, it’s where we belong.

“So, forever?” Siwon asked, stretching out his pinky finger on Kyuhyun’s face.

Kyuhyun hooked his own finger around Siwon’s and said with a wide grin.

“Forever.”

~The End~