The loud humming of the vacuum filled the corners of my living room as I ran the machine back and forth across the carpet. I skirted around the unadorned spruce tree that now resided in one corner, making sure to get all of the thin green needles that had fallen loose from it. Once I finished, I put the vacuum away and pulled out my phone, calling one of the first people on my speed dial.

“Hello?”

“Sooyeon! Are you on your way yet? I seriously need your help.”

“…Am I supposed to be?”

I covered my face with my free hand in slight anguish. “You were supposed to help decorate the tree while I finished the cooking and baking.” I should’ve known she’d forget her promise.

“Oh. So, about that… I haven’t started getting dressed yet.”

I couldn’t help but frown. “There’s no way I’ll finish all of this on my own.” I groaned.

“Call Kyungsoo. He’s good with that sort of thing, and he only lives, like, five minutes from your place.”

“Kyungsoo? But I barely know the guy. Also, why would I have his number?” Kyungsoo was a friend of Sooyeon’s who I’d met maybe two or three times before. He was nice, and I even found him attractive. But I didn’t know him well enough to call him my friend.

“Fine, then I’ll call him for you. I invited him to the party anyway so I’m sure he’ll say yes. Once I call him, I’ll get dressed and be right over.”

“Which means you’ll be here in two hours,” I grumbled to myself before going back to the call. “Okay fine. I’m going to get the food started.”

“See you soon.”

I hung up without looking at my phone, sticking it in my back pocket as I went to the kitchen and brought out all of my ingredients and recipes. Even though I was sure to ask beforehand that each guest bring a beverage or light snack item, I still put together an appetizer menu with some of my favorite bite-sized goodies. I also planned to bake cookies that people could decorate as they pleased, because who doesn’t enjoy playing around with brightly colored frosting and sprinkles every once in a while?

I was almost halfway finished rolling up the mini pigs-in-a-blanket when I heard a knock on the door. Ripping a paper towel from the nearby roll, I quickly wiped my hands and ran to answer the door. There stood Kyungsoo holding a bottle of wine and wearing a red and white patterned sweater that was festive without being tacky. He’d changed his hair since the last time I had seen him; now it was short on the sides, longer on top, and a deep reddish color. I wasn’t usually one for crazy haircuts, but this look really suited him.

I was surprised to see another guy with him. This one was much taller than Kyungsoo, with nicely styled brown hair, ears that cutely stuck out just a little more than most people’s, and wearing glasses that tiptoed the line between dorky and stylish.

“Sooyeon said you might need help?”

I smiled at them both in greeting, standing aside so that they could come in and closing the door behind him. “Not ‘might.’ I definitely need a hand with the food and the tree. I hope I’m not inconveniencing you.”

He smiled back as he slipped off his shoes and hung his coat on the nearby rack. “Not at all.” He indicated his friend who was doing the same. “This is Chanyeol, by the way.”

I introduced myself and offered my hand to my unexpected guest, silently hoping that I had enough food in case anyone else decided to bring extra friends along. With a toothy grin he shook my hand. “Nice to meet you. Where should we start?”

“Can you manage the tree? The lights and ornaments just need to be put on. If you two can do that in the time it takes for the food to finish, that would be great.”

Chanyeol gave me a cheeky salute as Kyungsoo quietly looked on. “Yes ma’am!”

I saluted back, amused by his cheerful attitude. “Everything you need is in the two boxes on the top shelf in the closet over there. Now get going, and don’t break anything.” I pivoted back toward the kitchen, my mind now solely set on food preparation.

Chanyeol grabbed the first box from the high shelf and handed it to Kyungsoo before retrieving the second one. They took stock of the contents and got right to decorating.

“So, that’s the girl you were talking about?”

Kyungsoo’s cheeks turned a light shade of pink but he kept his expression neutral as he unfurled the strand of colored lights. “That’s her.”

“She’s cute –”

“Don’t get any ideas.”

Chanyeol’s eyes widened in surprise. “Easy there, tiger. I’m just saying…”

Kyungsoo sharply turned to his friend. “Just saying what?”

“That she’s attractive…and that if you don’t do anything, then maybe I will.”

The shorter man practically growled. “You wouldn’t.”

Rather than answer, Chanyeol began to hum a favorite Christmas tune and put the first lights onto the tree. He wouldn’t actually be rude enough to pursue his friend’s crush, but Kyungsoo didn’t need to know that. What he did need was a push in the right direction, and Chanyeol had decided to give it to him.

I stuck hot appetizers into the oven and the cold ones into the refrigerator, setting the timer for the ones that needed cooking. “I should probably check on those boys.”

I peeked around the corner and into the living room. “How’s it going, guys?”

They looked up from their work. “So far, so good,” the tall one said. “Kyungsoo and I were just talking about how excited we are for this party. Weren’t we, Kyungsoo?”

Kyungsoo appeared to frown a little at his friend before softening his expression and meeting my eyes. “Yes, very excited. Is the cooking going well?”

“Better than expected, actually! I thought it would take much longer. I still have to bake the cookies, though.” I noticed Kyungsoo open his mouth as if to say something before being interrupted by Chanyeol.

“I can help with that! I’m a baking wizard.”

I was surprised to see Kyungsoo openly scoff. “Baking wizard? You can’t even make noodles without the smoke alarm going off.”

“It was one time,” Chanyeol grumbled, finishing with lights and putting the first ornaments onto the tree.

“It was three times in the past month.”

I covered my mouth to mask my laughter. These two were hilarious.

“Fine.” Chanyeol huffed. “Then I’ll finish the tree and you can go help with the baking.”

“I will.”

I think I heard Chanyeol mumble “Stupid squishy–” before Kyungsoo cut in with an indignant “Yah!”

“Okay, okay you two. Chanyeol, you’re doing a wonderful job with the tree, so just finish up with that. Kyungsoo, come with me so we can get the cookies started.” Returning to the kitchen, I missed the series of looks being exchanged by the two men behind my back.

Now the sole occupant of the living room, Chanyeol smiled to himself, pleased that his plan seemed to be working.

The cookie baking passed in a delightful blur. Soon, sweet scents were filling the kitchen and overflowing into the rest of my apartment. Baking with Kyungsoo had turned out to be unexpectedly fun, and I was even more surprised by his skills in the kitchen. As we’d rolled out the dough and cut it into various shapes, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. I’d always thought he was adorable with his big eyes and heart-shaped smile, but for the first time I also saw him as a y, mature, but still genial man. We chatted about random topics, mainly just getting to know each other better, and I noticed the pride in his expression when I complimented his baking prowess.

I slid the last sheet of unbaked cookies into the oven, tossing my snowflake print oven mitt onto the counter before hopping up onto the counter. Kyungsoo stood beside me, leaning against the edge.

“So, Kyungsoo.” I let my legs swing back and forth above the white tiles. “What’s with your friend?”

“Chanyeol?” I nodded. “He’s just this tall goofball who could probably make any girl fall in love with him if she’s not careful.”

That wasn’t an answer I would have anticipated. “Oh, I doubt that.”

Kyungsoo looked at me, silently prompting me to explain. 

I kept my eyes straight ahead, legs still swinging back and forth. “He’s seems nice and funny and all, and he is good-looking.” Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the corners of Kyungsoo’s mouth droop just a little. “But I don’t think I’d fall in love with him.”

“And why’s that?”

I turned to him, smiling secretively. “Because I just might have my eye someone else. I’ve only started getting to know him pretty recently, but I think he’s really cool. Actually, he’ll be at the party.”

“Oh.” Did I hear disappointment in his tone? “I see.”

“Yup.” I glanced at the digital clock on the nearby microwave display, hopping off of the counter. “Can you keep an eye on the cookies? I’m going to check on Chanyeol and go change into something nicer before everyone gets here.”

“I think you look just fine.”

My attire wasn’t terrible; just an old pair of dark blue skinny jeans and an oversized grey sweater that my mom had sent me as an early Christmas gift. But it wasn’t festive enough for a party, especially one this time of year. I averted my eyes, taken aback by his compliment. “Thanks, but this occasion calls for something more cheerful, don’t you think? Anyway, I won’t be long. Don’t let them burn!”

I darted to the living room where Chanyeol was adding the last few baubles to the tree’s lower branches. When the final one was in place, he stepped back and stood next to next to me, mirroring me with his arms crossed over his chest and assessing his handiwork. “Wow, Chanyeol.”

“Is that a good ‘wow’?” He asked hopefully, looking down at me.

“Very good. You could be a professional tree decorator.”

He proudly puffed out his chest. “Well thank you. How’s baking with Kyungsoo?”

“It’s great! The last batch of cookies is in the oven now. Has he always been that good in the kitchen?”

“For as long as I’ve known him.”

“I’m impressed. Now that’s what I call ‘boyfriend material.’”

I’d said it with a joking tone, but Chanyeol gave me a weird half-smile in response. “‘Boyfriend material?’” He lowered his voice, quickly casting his eyes toward the kitchen to make sure we weren’t being overheard. “Does someone have a crush on our Kyungsoo?” Chanyeol brought his face close to mine, willing an answer to come out of me.

I couldn’t bring myself to meet his stare. “Well…”

“You do!” He said it a bit too loudly for my liking, so I slapped my hand over his mouth.

“Shhhhhh! Please don’t say anything. I don’t even know if I’d call it a full-blown crush –”

“You should make a move. Do it do it do it do it–” I quickly covered his mouth again.

“Okay okay, I get it! Do you usually push girls you just met onto your friends?”

He moved my hand away. “Not usually, but I have a good feeling about this time.”

“Why this time?”

“Because.”

“That’s so descriptive. Whatever, I’m going to get changed.” I left him standing in the living room.

Things were going even better than Chanyeol had anticipated. “‘Why this time?’” he repeated to himself. “Only because he’s had a crush on you since you two first met and I’ve had to deal with him agonizing over it.”

A while later, the party was in full swing and everyone was enjoying the food, drinks, and conversation. I’d changed from by blue jeans into ruby ones and switched my grey sweater for my favorite bright green Christmas one with white snowflakes and reindeer designs sewn into it; still comfortable, but much more cheerful. I floated around amongst the small clusters of people, making sure that everything was in order. I found Sooyeon, who had finally arrived, and she apologized for not being there to help with the preparations. I told her that it was alright, my gaze momentarily drifting over to Kyungsoo and Chanyeol in my peripheral vision chatting across the room. The former noticed my observing, smiling at me as I smiled back.

I moved closer to Soooyeon. “You were right about Kyungsoo being good at this. He really knows his way around a kitchen…”

“And? I feel like there’s something else to that statement.” She knew me too well.

“And it was fun to finally really talk to him…”

“And?”

“…I’d like to get to know him better.”

“Finally!”

“Yeah it was– Wait, what?”

She rolled her eyes at me, swinging her long hair. “That’s why I introduced you two in the first place, and why I made sure he’d be here tonight. You two would be really cute together.”

I felt my eyebrow quirk on its own accord. “You’ve been playing matchmaker this whole time?”

“Obviously.”

I shook my head and took a sip from my wine glass. “You could have informed me of this a little earlier.”

“Well I’m informing you now, so there.”

“I think she just smiled at me.” Kyungsoo and Chanyeol were holding a hushed conversation by the tree.

Chanyeol shrugged. “Yeah, maybe.”

“Should I go over and talk to her some more? See if she needs help with anything else?”

“Or.” Chanyeol paused to pluck another appetizer from the plate in his friend’s hand and stuff it into his own mouth. “You could just ask her out already.”

“What if she says no? Or thinks I’m weird?”

“While you are weird…” Here Kyungsoo glared at him. “If she says no, then she says no. But I don’t think she’ll say no.”

“But–”

“Just do it!”

The next few hours passed, all of the food was eaten, and everyone decorated their cookies to take home. The designs ranged from neat, intricate patterns (Kyungsoo) to haphazard globs of frosting and clumps of sprinkles in every single color (Chanyeol). Feeling that this party had been a success, I bid farewell to each guest as they gradually decided to venture out into the cold December night.

Once Sooyeon left, the only remaining guests were Kyungsoo and Chanyeol. “Will you need any help cleaning up?” Kyungsoo kindly asked while I picked up a platter to deposit in the kitchen sink until I got the chance to wash it and the other dishes.

“No, that’s alright. You two helped me more than enough earlier,” I called behind me as I carefully set down the platter. A deep voice right behind me made me jump.

“How’s the crush business going?”

“Chanyeol, a little warning next time!” Bashfully, I added, “And nothing’s going. I talked to him a little about how the party was going, but that’s it.”

The tall man smacked his forehead with his palm in dismay. “Okay, that’s it.” He practically stomped out of the kitchen, apparently annoyed.

I poked my head out of the kitchen doorway, wondering what this new mood of his was all about. I saw Chanyeol say something to Kyungsoo that made the latter’s eyes almost double in size before turning back to me as if nothing had happened. “Great party! I need to go make a call so Kyungsoo is going to help you get the rest of those dishes to the sink. Nice meeting you, and if you ever need a pro tree decorator again, Kyungsoo can give you my number.” He quickly donned his shoes and coat and was out the door in a flash.

Now it was just Kyungsoo and me.

I rubbed my arm nervously. “You really don’t have to help me. I won’t start the serious cleaning until tomorrow anyway.”  

“Are you sure? I don’t mind, honestly.”

“It’s fine, really.”

It was suddenly uncomfortably quiet. Kyungsoo opened and closed his mouth, searching for the right words, and I looked at him hopefully, wishing he would find ones I wanted to hear.

 “Are you doing anything else tomorrow?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“Would you like to go out for coffee with me?”

I felt my face flush in both embarrassment and pleasure. “I’d love to.”

His heart-shaped smile was the brightest I had ever seen it as we exchanged phone numbers.

I walked him to the door, sad that he had to leave but excited that I would be seeing him again very soon.

He dawdled in the doorway, plunging his hands into his coat pockets and rocking back and forth on the ball of his feet. “So…I’ll see you tomorrow then?”

For a second I feared that his adorableness was so strong that it would kill me then and there. I met his eyes, grinning. “Yes, definitely. Thanks for all of your help. This party would’ve been a disaster without you.”

“It’s nothing, really.”

Before I could stop myself, I released a low yawn. Being a hostess had turned out to be pretty tiring. The man in front of me chuckled. “I guess it’s time to say goodnight.”

I nodded, stifling a second yawn. He moved to stand just outside the door in the hallway. I stared at him for a moment, marveling at how someone could be so y and cute at the same time. With that thought, I couldn’t resist making a bold move. “See you tomorrow, Kyungsoo!” In rapid succession I kissed his cheek and closed the door, leaning against it and feeling the rise of adrenaline in my veins. I couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

On the other side of the door, Kyungsoo stood with a dazed look in his eyes, a hand on his cheek, and a mesmerized smile on his face.

“Yeah. Tomorrow.”