Streets in Seoul have already freshen up, which is normal because Christmas is in few days, SooHyun raises his head once in front of his building and climbs up until the apartment he shares with one of his friends. The tall dark-haired man takes off his coat and hangs it, his beanie and scarf. There were a lot of people outside, families and couples were walking together while he was alone, far from his family and still single. He collapses on the sofa, next to the younger man.

"How was your afternoon ?"
"Fine, I hung around even if there were people. Yours ?"
"I stayed here. Oh ! Eli called me, he'd like to meet all of us tomorrow at noon, he has a big news !"

The dark-haired man agrees and watches TV, watching a boring coverage they see every year about Christmas illuminations in some of the most beautiful districts of Seoul. He already knew he would have to spend Christmas and New year alone, even if he is used to it. When your name is Shin SooHyun and your roommate comes back home, in another country, every year, and your family lives at the other side of the country, you quickly get used to be alone.

"Kevin, when do you go home this year ?"
"I don't, I'll spend Christmas with you."

SooHyun smiles. At least he will spend fews days with Kevin seing that his boss forced him to take some holidays. If he was lucky, they would hang out, party and he would meet someone who'll make him happy. Crap. The will certainly stay here, watching TV and eating junk food. 

They are all gathered in a small and cosy restaurant. They laugh, waiting for Eli to make his annoucement. The young man wipes a tear on his cheek and gazes at his friends around him, all of them gathered so quickly for him, KiSeop, Kevin, SooHyun, even DongHo. They all keep quiet when he decides to drop his bomb.

"Guys, I've a big announce to say." Eli says seriously.
"We are listening to you." 
"MinJae and I... Are gonna marry !"

Nobody speaks for a moment, too stunned to say anything else. They knew Eli's girlfriend had changed him a lot, helped him growing up, but they didn't expect them to marry ! Still they are sincerely happy for him.

"Well done ! You're the first among us to do it !" KiSeop laughs.

Their meal ends in the same atmosphere, SooHyun watches his friends tenderly. It may be because Christmas is in few days but he is more delighted than before for his friends, they were all blossomed as much in their private life as their working life and Eli is proving it again. His gaze meets KiSeop's one and the younger questions him discreetly.

"And you ? Hasn't find your soulmate yet ?"
"No... And still need some affection."
"You've never thought about going to professionals ?" The younger asks, shocking everyone.
"KiSeop, I didn't know you were this type of person."
"No, you're wrong ! I'm speaking about the hugs bar in town."

The elder stares at him as if he just said the most ridiculous thing he's ever heard. KiSeop instantly understands this concept is not known enough by  his friends thus, this offer seems way more ert than it really is.

"One of my friends works there, it's not ual at all ! You can cuddle someone for one hour while speaking. That's all."

So... KiSeop is offering him a psychoanalysis through contacts. He doesn't want to talk, just to touch, to have someone with who he will spend the end of year. He knows something is missing in his life : being close to someone, someone he can show his weaknesses.

He wasn't convinced when his friend suggested it, so why is he here ? In front of the understated frontage of the establishment KiSeop talked about. He enters and is welcomed by a young woman smiling warmly. He clears his throat and speaks.

"Excuse me, it's my first time so I don't really know how it works."
"Oh it's easy. You can spend an hour hugging one of our employees, they will be listening to you and you can also order something from our menu. We offer you a wide rang of drinks and pastries."
"OK."
"But I'm afraid we currently have only one employee free. He's a man."
"It doesn't matter, it's alright."

The woman takes a menu and guides him in one of the several rooms where a chestnut brown-haired man is waiting, sat on a comfortable looking sofa. He raises his head and smiles reassuringly. He gets up and bows slightly to show his respect.

"Nice to meet you, my name is Yeo HoonMin."
"Shin SooHyun." 

The young hugger sits back on the sofa and nods to offer him to sit with him. SooHyun feels really stupid. He knows since KiBum left he needs and wants a best friend. But he really feels like an hopeless person to look for comfort in such a place instead of meeting a friend. Few minutes spend in silence, until the employee tilts his head, still smiling.

"You have to come nearer if you want to hug me Sir."
"Ah, sure ! Sorry..." He stutters.
"Be at ease, you're here to relax. I won't do anything inappropriate."
"Hum... Thank you... Please, talk to me like a friend."
"If it pleases you."

The dark-haired man takes a close look at the younger and, unexpectedly, he likes the idea of having an hour with this charming man's arms around him. He lets the other moving until he has an arm around his shoulders, the hugger softly pushes his neck in order to make him leaning on his shoulder. When HoonMin feels the other is relaxed, he puts his second arm around his torso, holding him against his chest. He caresses slowly SooHyun's arm to relax him. He is used to "shy" customers who need to speak, HoonMin decides to start talking even if it's not that subtle.

"You don't look so fine, you can speak with me if you want, I won't judge anyone here. What's said in this room stay here."
"It's nothing. My friends say I tend to dramatize."
"Perfect ! I tone down !"

A small laughter escapes the employee's lips and it reassures SooHyun. Oddly, he didn't want to come here to speak or anything else, but the younger's mood changes his mind.

"I feel... Lonely. In spite of my friends and my roommate."

They stay mute few minutes and SooHyun thinks he's a fool to tell this to an unkwnown person. He is about to tell him to forget everything and he should leave but the caramel colored-haired man speaks quicklier.

"I'm here now."

This answer sounds ridiculous to the dark-haired man who smiles slightly. He stays still until his phone buzzes and looks at it. Kevin wanted to tell him he invited all of their friends to come for Christmas. He sighs and it pokes the hugger's curiosity.

"At least, I won't be alone for Christmas."
"Oh ! It's nice ! I'm new in town, I'll have to find something to do."

The dark-haired man watches him, sure he's on the verge of doing something really stupid. He was right. Spending this day with someone is really significant and he knows that being alone when everyone has a beloved one is a nasty feeling. Moreover HoonMin seems to be one of the nicest people on Earth... He knew it. He offers HoonMin to come spending Christmas with his friends and him before he realizes it.

Those days before Christmas flowed quickly and Kevin's enthusiasm spread. He got used to be alone since he moved here but this year would be different. This year, his rommate spoke about cooking, decoration and outfit with him ! He was so enthusiastic about this party that he forced SooHyun to get up early in order to set up everything. Yet the American is surprised when, around 1:00pm, someone called at the intercom.

"Yeah ?"
"Hi. I'm HoonMin."

Kevin looks at his roommate, showing him an inquisitive look, who gives him a clue to make HoonMin entering.

"OK, second floor."

He goes to open the door after few minutes because SooHyun has hands full of rice. He invites their first guest in their living room, scutinises him when he shows him his back and the elder joins them.

"Hi !"
"Hi, sorry, i'm early. I thought I could help you."
"Thanks, you're really nice."
"You're welcome. I brought takeaway."

Kevin takes his bag and puts it in the kitchen, surprised by the politeness of this unknown beauty. They cook together to prepare several dishes. Both roommates are pleasantly surprised by the caramel color-haired man's good mood while cooking. Once kimbap are ready to be eaten, they sit to eat their lunch.

"Err... So, for how long are you friends ?" 
"Only few days."
"Where did you meet first ?"
"SooHyun came to the hugs bar where I work."
"You went there ? Seriously ?" Kevin laughs a little bit.
"Yes." The elder whispers.

They end eating and start decorating the apartment. The younger had so many ideas they spend three hours hanging ornaments to the ceiling, doors, they set the table where they will eat, they even decorate the coffee table between sofas where they will sit. Their friends arrived all together at 7:30pm.

"KiSeop isn't with you ?"
"He'll arrive soon, his cousin shown up to surprise him."
"They should come together !"

SooHyun takes his phone and texts their last friend to ask him to come with his cousin. Half an hour later, they were in the living room. 

"For those who don't know him, here is my cousin JaeSeop."
"Here is HoonMin."

They take a drink and start to talk, JaeSeop and HoonMin are the main subject because the five others wanted to get along with them. KiSeop's cousin is really a funny person ! He has a great sense of humor and hold a series of jokes and stories about KiSeop's childhood. HoonMin already cares a lot about everyone, he pours drink in empty glasses, except DongHo's one because he is still young. 

"Otherwise, do you work out ?"
"Noooooooooooooooo !" JaeSeop yells, making everybody laugh.
"I do ! I spend almost all my free time at the gym. I almost did taekwondo as professional."
"Waw, I love you !" Eli states high-fiving HoonMin.
"They will spend all their time at the gym together."
"Yes, MinJae and SooHyun will be glad."

The elder doesn't know how to answer KiSeop's joke. He must admit that during their party, he also got to know HoonMin and he enjoyed it, but he also wanted to integrate him to their group of friends, not only keeping him for himself only. Eventually he simply answers after drinking his whole drink, drink his new friend immediatly fills with a slight grin. Kevin and KiSeop jump on the opportunity to .

"Please shut up !"

All of them giggle, even SooHyun. The evening went really well, they laughed spontaneously, the elder felt a warm feeling inside of him : this feeling of completeness. A whole new mood establishes between them, he knows it. Something had missed since two of their friends left but HoonMin's and JaeSeop's presence give them a revival, fill this empty blank.

"Can we go out ?"
"Yes, it would be fun !"

They wear their coats, go out from the building and are stunned by this snow-covered scenery. They walk all together until a small garden and play with snow. They may be adults, they feel like kids, having fun together. This Christmas is way different from others and SooHyun particularly enjoys it. His thoughts are interrupted when a weight imposes itself on his shoulders. 

"Photooooo !"

The dark-haired man turns his head and catches sight of a smiling HoonMin. The hugger holds his phone in front of them and touches his cheek with his soft lips before taking a picture. Their gazes meet and they share a smile. If KiSeop ever told him he would meet such an handsome person, he would experience such a friendly love at first sight, he would feel complete again, he would have never waited to go there ! The caramel color-haired man then moves, proud of their picture and drags SooHyun away to walk while holding his arm, just like all physical contact was normal for them.

"Thanks for inviting me."
"My pleasure. And their too." The dark-haired man answers and shows his friends.
"They are really kind."
"They aren't my friends for nothing. I feel comfortable with them."
"I understand it easily."

They stand still, one against the other, watching Eli throwing a snowball, intercepted by JaeSeop, on Kevin, laughing because KiSeop is having fun by making an angel in the snow despite a bullying DongHo. Suddenly, the younger's face is wet and SooHyun laughs because the other is so shocked, his cute features covered by a thin sheen of snow.

"I'll take my revenge !" HoonMin yells at Eli.

Kevin comes near from the elder and casually leans on him. SooHyun easily feels that his roommate wants to say something so he pokes his ribbing to make him spilling the beans.

"Is your Christmas pleasurable this year ?"
"Of course. Thanks for staying."
"You're welcome but I feel like he's the one you should thank."

The elder thinks Kevin's grin is a little bit too teasing when he shows HoonMin but he decides to keep it to himself. Instead, he puts his arms around his roommate's thin torso and hugs him to convey his thankfulness.

"Thank you. A lot."
"Merry Christmas SooHyun." 

Both friends look at each other and something flutters in their gaze. SooHyun was aware that Kevin intended to stay because of him and Kevin really cared about him. However, their moment stops when a storm knocks them down and they are inside of DongHo's arms, then KiSeop's one, eventually they all end hugging.

Yes, this Christmas is new for SooHyun but also for the others. Now, they are seven. Seven young men bounded by their friendship. During this Christmas, they start writing a new story.

___

Here I am ! I hope you enjoyed it and my English isn't bad. I have a second one shot, a sequel to this one. Would you like to read it if I have time to translate it ?