It was December and Christmas was fast approaching. The streets were prepped for the Christmas holiday season. Fairy lights brought the somber, gray streets alive by painting it with a wide array of bright, cheerful colors. Popular holiday tunes reverberated in the air bringing all the listeners in a festive mood.
However, the weather was not as warm as the roasted chestnuts sold on the streets. It was cold and unrelenting. Although there weren't any reports of an upcoming snow, the wind still left a stinging, freezing sensation on Choi Seunghyun's cheeks.
A smile of relief played over his thin lips the moment he realized he already reached the doorstep of his bestfriend, Lee Chaerin's apartment.
After a few soft knocks, the door flew open revealing a girl, dressed in a baggy sweater and skinny jeans. Her golden hair was carelessly clumped in a distressed bun, "I brought wine" he raised up the paperbag he was holding. "I must say. You look like you've been really busy today" he smirked teasingly.
"Who told you to come this early? I haven't even finished cooking yet let alone glam up" she shyly frowned at him tucking some loose strands of hair behind her small ears. "Anyway, it's freezing. Hurry and come in" she held his forearm and pulled him in the warmth of her home.
The inviting aroma of the food she was preparing was a delightful surprise to ever greet his nostrils. As the smell hit his nose, he immediately realized he was already starving.
"God Chae. The food smells great. Is it ready yet?" He asked with enthusiasm as he paced his way to the kitchen.
Following his suit, she grinned, "Not yet, pig. Don't get too excited. If you're already famished, you know where everything is. Just look for anything to munch on while you wait. I'll just go make myself look normal" she her heel to head upstairs.

"So, Seunghyun, what was it you were going to tell me?" Chaerin, who was now dressed in a black one piece casual dress, asked curiously as she plated some food for her guest.
"It's nothing too important. I'll just tell you later. After dessert" He said in a disparaging manner but she noticed that he was somewhat avoiding eye contact. "This chowder is awesome. You seriously got mad cooking skills. Did anyone ever tell you that?"
"Don't change the topic. What is it you're going to tell me? Do you think I have the patience to wait until dessert?" Her face straightened as she looked at him right in the eye.
He waved his hands, "Alright. Alright. Just don't glare at me like that. You're freaking me out"
"Sorry. Now tell me what's this all about" Although her expression softened, she still carried the same sternness in her tone.

Breathing in a lungful of air and huffing out a stressed out sigh he started, "Before anything else. Promise me, you won't get mad at me and you're still going to be my friend after I tell you. Okay. Say you promise"
"You're making me nervous. What did you do? Did you commit a crime? ually harassed a minor or something?" She bit the side of her lower lip nervously as she clenched onto her metal spoon.
"Wh-wha-? Why did you assume that?! And out of all the crimes, why that?! Did you seriously think I'll do that?!" He retorted violently as his head tilted back slightly in utter disbelief.
"Then what's with all the seriousness?" She cocked her left brow. "What did you do?"
"Nothing. What I was going to tell you was... Well...I'm flying to Dominican Republic next week" he said in a restrained, hesitant tone.
hung agape and her brows knitted, "What? Why? For how many months? Years?"
"For vacation. I'll be staying there for two weeks"
She grabbed a fruit from the bowl at the center of the table and threw it at him. She did it too quickly, she didn't know what fruit she used to assault him, "The hell, man? All the dramatic intro just for a vacation announcement? Go. Have fun. Buy me a souvenir. It's no big deal" she shrugged. She knew to herself she will miss him so badly. He was, after all, her best friend and secretly, the love of her life. However, she also knew that the whole drama was a bit unnecessary.
"Thing is, umm, it's not just a vacation" he slowly scratched the back of his head.
"Then what is it exactly?" She asked slowly. Her heart started pounding against her chest. She knew him too well and when he scratches his head in that manner, it's something serious.

"I want you to come with me" his lips were straight and his eyes bore a considerable amount of sternness.

Her eyes glittered in uncontained bliss  but she still felt a tinge of confusion, "Why? Seunghyun... What's going on? This is all too sudden...." Her cheeks flushed with a deep shade of crimson as her heart leapt. After years of longing, was her affection for him finally yielding?

"Well. I know it's too sudden. This is just a secret. Not even my parents knew about this."

"What are we doing in Dominican Republic...with just the two of us?"

"No it's not just the two of us. Dara and I... We're getting married and we were hoping you'd be the maid of honor"


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"I thought things aren't serious with Choi Seunghyun? You didn't even tell me you two were dating" the brown eyes of Seungri - which he was quite known for - deepened in color. He ran his fingers through his hair, shoving the ebony strands away from his face.
Dara bore a soft smile on her small face as she waved her hands, "We're not dating, Ri. Otherwise, you should have known by now. But we decided to skip the whole dating thing. We realized we're so right for each other, why bother going through dating? We've known each other for quite some time now and we're both complete grownups to make such decision, right?" the glimmer in her eyes as she spoke of her lover was similar to the lights reflected off the tiny Christmas tree decors.
 “People don’t date just to kill time, Dara..." He paused to huff a sigh. "They date because it is important in the concept of togetherness” he waved his hands in circles as he tried to find the right explanation on the top of his head.  “What I’m saying is, isn’t this a little too rushed and…spontaneous? Shouldn’t you two get to know each other more?” He lifted his brow but there was an apparent hint of desperation across his face.
“Yes. It is spontaneous. But life will be too bland without a bit of spontaneity. You were the one who told me that, remember? That was why we had random weekend road trips in the past” she smiled thoughtfully at the reminiscent memory.
“But Dara, marriage is no road trip. If it was, I can assure you, the path will be rocky as hell. You still need to think this through. You’ve only known him for a year. You still need a lot of time to contemplate on whether he’s the right one or not. Divorce is expensive. I’m just saying”
She let out a soft chuckle. A chuckle he loved hearing whenever he cracked jokes. But this time, he did not appreciate it as he wasn’t even joking.
“I’m certain we will not get a divorce. He’s the right one, Seungri. When I’m with him, I just forget who I am but at the same time, I become so sure of myself. I can’t explain it. Do I make sense?”
He nodded faintly. Admittedly, she did make sense. After all, that was exactly what he felt around her as well.
“I know you’re disappointed in me for not telling you until now. I’m truly sorry. Please don’t feel as if I betrayed you or anything. Not in a million lifetimes would I do that to you. We just wanted to keep this a secret for the mean time. Not even my parents know about this. I just told you because I simply can’t hide things from you”
“It’s not because I’m disappointed. More like, I’m worried you’re hasting on the wrong decisions” he mumbled begrudgingly.
“Don’t worry. I can promise you, marrying him would be one of the best - if not the best decision - I will make in my life. If ever – which I highly doubt would happen – we end up getting a divorce, you’re allowed to laugh at me as much as you want. But for now, as the friend I love the most, can you understand me and be happy for me?” she tilted her head searching for permission in his eyes.
“This girl. I’m happy for you. I always tell you if you’re happy-”
“You’re happy” she finished his statement off as she held his face with her hands. “Thanks Ri. You’ve been nothing but kind to me. And you’ve done so much for me. I don’t know how I can ever repay you. It's a bit embarrassing. I'm the older one but you're the one who's always taking care of me”
“You can repay me by…not marrying him and loving me back?” he asked with pleading eyes.
A cloud of silence formed over them for a moment. With a wrinkle on her nose, she pushed him by the shoulders, “This ! I’m being sentimental here and you’re cracking jokes? When will you ever take me seriously?"
"You're just being too corny I can't stand it" he waved his hand.
She shot him a deathly glare, "Fine. I know you’re already cringing inside. I’ll just cut the crap. I guess drama doesn’t exactly mesh well with our friendship. So are you going to be the bestman?”
“Gladly” he smiled but an icy sharp pain stabbed through his chest.
A soft grin stole on her lips, “Ah, Lee Seunghyun. Come here!” she spread her arms wide and enveloped him in a tight hug "You're seriously the best. I love you!"
“I love you too” he muttered on her hair as she hugged her small frame closer.