Treasure
Treasure"Happy holidays, guys! Enjoy your break!" You hurriedly bid farewell to your roommates, grabbing your bags and rushing to leave campus as soon as possible. Winter break had finally begun for you, and the highlight of any getaway from college was getting to see your family. This year, however, was even more special.
"Hey, babe," a voice from behind you filled your ears. A knowing grin spread across your face as your excitement grew.
"Hey," you turned around and greeted your boyfriend with a quick hug. "Ready to go?"
Jaebum linked his fingers with yours, leading you to his car. "You know it."
If there was at least one thing that Jaebum and you had in common, it was that you both loved road trips. This was only your third long distance trip together, but it felt like the thirtieth. This winter break, the two of you were finally traveling home together to see your parents. Your families had always lived in the same town, but they had only become close since the two of you had started dating. Last year they had begun to host a Christmas party, and this year they decided to host everybody at his house.
He slid into the driver's seat, wiggling around a bit to get comfortable. You took your place in the passenger seat.
"Are we sure we have everything?" He asked, looking around the car one last time before leaving.
"I know I am. I spent way too much time packing last night," you sighed with a smile.
"I believe you," he mumbled, glancing at your luggage in the backseat.
"Leave me alone, I like being prepared," you tried to hit his arm playfully.
He laughed, dodging your hit. "Okay, do you have any CDs on you?"
You reached back into one of your bags and pulled out a stack of discs, handing it to him. "You better believe I do."
"Nice," He grinned, leafing through the selection before picking one he was satisfied with and popping it in the car's CD player. "Our voices are gonna be gone by the end of today."
"We'll get sick of each other's voices before that happens," you laughed as the music began to play and he began to drive.
"Not possible," Jaebum sang before turning up the car's volume and belting along. You just shook your head with a smile.
"Let's play a game." Jaebum glanced over at you. The traffic had slowed a bit and you both had found that singing didn't really suit slow cars and red lights.
"Like what?"
"Surprise me."
A couple of seconds passed before you decided. "Alright. Would you rather..."
"Don't pick something disgusting," he whined, and you gave him a frown that he couldn't quite see due to his attention to the road ahead.
"Then it's no fun!"
"Fine," he laughed, "go on."
"Thank you. Would you rather...not have iced tea for three months--"
You were interrupted with a loud gasp, and you unsuccessfully tried to hold back your laughter. Iced tea was his favorite drink.
"--or...uh... a TV remote?"
He shook his head. "That was so lame. TV remote for sure."
"Ew, babe, that's so gross. I so would not kiss you."
Traffic slowed to a near stop on the highway, and he turned to you to respond. "So then, what you're saying is I have to decide between no iced tea or no kisses?"
"If you want to put it that way, sure."
"That's a tough bargain, then. Now I can't decide."
You hit him playfully, turning away with a pout. "No kisses for you, mister."
"You're lying and you know it," he grinned, leaning over and pecking you on the lips.
You smacked your lips together. "Tastes like tea."
He chuckled. "Do you like it?"
"I love it."
The sun had set long ago, and you had taken over the driver's seat for the last half of the drive.
"Babe, you can pull over. I want to drop you off so I can have my car back until we see each other again," he chuckled.
"Okay, good point," you agreed with a smile and got out of the car, walking over to the other side and getting in.
The drive to your home felt too short, and as you heard the gravel on your driveway crackle under the tires, sadness filled the air.
"So." He turned to you once he parked.
"So." You repeated, facing him as well.
You shared a quiet laugh before he spoke. "Let me take your bags in for you. I'll come in and say hi for a minute or two. If that's okay with your parents, I mean. I kinda miss them," he sheepishly grinned. You laughed.
"They'll be happy to see you. Like always."
Once the greetings had been made and it was time for him to leave, you walked him back to the car, not wanting to leave his side. Something about the season just brought you closer to him.
"You should probably get going. I know your parents are waiting," you mumbled with a soft smile, taking both of his hands in yours.
"Three more days," he said just above a whisper, gently leaning his forehead against yours. The two of you stayed like that for a moment, savoring each other's presence, before you reluctantly pulled away.
"Well, I'll see you Christmas Eve."
"If you want to, I could come and pick you up that day if you're not driving with your parents."
"That'd be awesome. They're going over to your place super early to set up, so there's no way I'm getting up early," you laughed.
"Alright then. Sounds good." He smiled softly, and you felt your cheeks warm up when he kissed you on the nose. "See you."
Three days had passed quicker than you thought. It was already December 24th, which meant that it was the day of the traditional Christmas Eve dinner. Your parents had already left the house earlier to go to his parents' house to prepare the dinner, and it was just you at home. You heard a knock on the door, and you jumped up and ran to see who it was, even though there was only one person you were expecting.
"Hey," you swung the door open to find your favorite man.
"I missed you." Jaebum wrapped you tightly in his arms, kissing the top of your head. You embraced him, closing your eyes and breathing him in.
Reluctantly, you broke away. "It's cold," you mumbled as you reached behind him to close the door.
He stuck his arms out, childlike. "Come here. I can help."
You couldn't help but giggle. "Gladly. Wait for me on the couch, I'll get some blankets."
"Just get one, we can share." You gave him a look, earning you a cute laugh from him. "I'll find something for us to watch," he called as he grabbed the TV remote.
You soon returned, tossing a blanket on him. He patted the spot next to him, and you crawled onto the couch as he pulled you to him. You rested your head on his chest. His heartbeat was steady, calming you. His fingers mindlessly weaved through your hair, and you let your hand rest on his stomach. This was where you always wanted to be, you thought. Him loving you, you loving him, being together. This was where you always wanted to be.
"Babe." His voice broke through your thoughts. The feeling of the vibrations from his voice electrified you, and you wished he had spoken longer.
"Hm?" You shifted your position a bit and placed a hand on his shoulder, quickly pressing your lips against his neck. He lazily grinned, turning his head to kiss your jawline. He stayed there for a moment, giving you small, slow kisses, before you remembered that he had something to say. "Sorry, you were saying?"
He chuckled. "I'm not sure how great of an idea this is to ask you now, but do you want to stay over at my place tonight?"
You shifted your head to look up at his sparkling, deep brown eyes, raising your eyebrows with a laugh. "Sure, but why?"
"So we can wake up on Christmas morning together and open presents and spend the whole day together. It'll be fun and completely innocent." He adjusted his head slightly. "What do you think?"
"Awesome. Have fun trying to keep it completely innocent, though."
"Give me some credit," he joked as you took his hand and kissed it.
After several moments of cuddling and watching lots of television, he gently lifted you off of him. You quietly whimpered at the loss of warmth.
"We should probably leave soon, though," he responded to your unspoken protest. "Go get dressed and all that stuff."
You nodded reluctantly. "I'll try to hurry."
"That's okay. I'll be here, waiting." Jaebum smiled up at you from his spot on the couch, and you laughed.
He pulled up to the house and parked in the driveway. His parents' house was decorated with garlands and strings of glowing lights. A festive, cheerful air surrounded the house, raising your mood.
"You excited?" You asked him, stepping out of the car and grabbing your bag.
"Definitely. Especially because you're staying over." He walked around the car to help you grab some of the luggage.
"Wait, babe?"
"Yeah?"
"If my parents are staying over too, then that means they're taking the guest room."
He nodded.
"So that means there's only your room left."
"Yes, and your point is..."
"I get to sleep in your bed? With you in it?"
He stayed silent for a couple seconds before his eyes widened and he put his hands up. "If you want, I can sleep on the couch!"
You laughed, appreciating his generosity. "No, I'm okay with it, but will our parents be?"
"Ah, that's what you're worried about." He nudged your shoulder playfully as you walked side by side to the door. "They trust that we won't do anything weird in there."
"Of course we wouldn't, not in the bedroom you lived in for all of your middle and high school years. That'd be weird."
"Oh, don't let me prove you wrong," he chuckled, earning him a light slap on the arm from a furiously blushing you. He wrapped his arm around your waist as he rang the doorbell. Out of excitement, you knocked on the door a couple of times as well.
After a few seconds, his mother opened the door with a smile. "Come on in, kids. Always wonderful to see you, dear," she embraced you tightly upon seeing you, and you happily did the same. His father was close behind, and made sure to give the both of you a hug.
As you followed Jaebum into the living room, your parents appeared, greeting you quickly before hugging him and showering him with questions as usual. You beamed at the sight, taking it in for a moment. It felt like home with all the people you loved around you.
You looked in Jaebum's direction and saw him talking with your dad. They looked like they were in deep conversation, and you decided you didn't want to bother them. Grabbing your bags, you headed up to his room to put them away, anticipating dinner.
Dinner was over, and after you had helped clean up, you had retired to his room to rest. All the events of the past couple days finally hit you, and you were feeling exhausted. The glass or two of wine you had managed to consume at dinner didn't help your condition either.
"You comfortable?" Jaebum asked as he entered the room in his matching flannel pajamas.
"Very." You glanced up at him, giggling at his appearance. "You look cute."
He struck a pose in front of you, making you laugh even more. "Thanks. Not as cute as you, though," and with that, he tumbled onto the bed, tackling you for a kiss. Your eyes fluttered closed, resting your hands on his biceps, before you pulled away with a laugh. "You smell like wine," Jaebum chuckled after he pulled away. Shrugging, you decided there was nothing you could do about it.
You snuggled up next to him, closing your eyes. "Jae," you murmured, leaning your head on his shoulder.
"Yeah?"
There was something on your mind, and as you spoke, a voice in the back of your mind faintly told you that you shouldn't have had that second glass of wine. "Have you ever thought about us?"
He chuckled. "Of course."
"I mean...our future. Us being together for a really long time."
He paused for a second, taking a strand of your hair between his fingers before responding, "Yeah, I have." Another pause filled the air. "Have you?"
You nodded sleepily, letting the silence hang over you two before you mumbled, "I love you a lot, Jaebum," and snuggled into his chest.
The last thing you heard before you fell asleep was, "I love you a lot more, sweetie."
You woke up facing Jaebum's chest, his arms wrapped securely around you. His expression looked peaceful, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was steady. Though it was Christmas morning, you weren't rushing to get out of bed. He looked too comfortable, and you felt too warm.
"You awake?" You whispered, and he nodded, still with his eyes shut.
"Don't leave," he mumbled, securing his grip on your waist.
You couldn't help but smile at Jaebum's words. "I won't." You laid there with him, enjoying the moment, before you asked, "Do you want your gift now or later?"
With a sudden burst of energy, he sat up. "Now!"
"Thought so," you giggled, reaching behind you into one of your bags. He sat facing you, waiting expectantly, before you handed him a wrapped box. "Don't expect too much, it's sort of a handmade thing."
"Even better," he responded as he tore apart the wrapping paper excitedly and opened the box. You carefully watched him, hoping his reaction would make up for the time you spent making the gift. Inside the box was a clear jar stuffed with small, folded pieces of paper. He looked at you questioningly.
"Go on, open it," you told him. He did as you said, and as he pulled out a piece of paper and unfolded it, a wide smile spread across his face. You laughed gleefully at his reaction. Written on the papers were memories that the two of you had made in your three years of dating. On some of the papers were pictures that you printed out of you and him together. It took painstakingly long to put everything together, and you were hoping he appreciated it.
"So?" You leaned towards him, trying to gauge how he felt about the gift. "What do you think?"
"Babe, this is awesome." He looked up at you, eye smile and all. Before you knew it, you found his lips on yours. Well, I guess the gift was pretty nice, you thought as you kissed him back. Once he pulled away, he whispered, "Merry Christmas," and you giggled.
"So, do I get a gift?" You joked, and he stared at you for a moment.
"Remember how last night you were talking about being together forever?" He smiled softly at the bed sheets in front of him, and he rocked back and forth playfully.
Your smile faded slowly. "Not...not really, no."
He stifled a laugh, getting out of bed. "Your gift's downstairs. Go ahead and shower, I'll meet you downstairs."
Your brows were creased in worry as you stood up, grabbing some clothes. "Jaebum, what exactly did I say to you last night?"
"Don't worry, it was nothing bad."
"Well, I know that, but what did I say? I don't remember."
"I knew you shouldn't have had that second glass last night."
"Im Jaebum!" You hit him with the shirt you were holding, and he laughed.
As you walked down the stairs, you saw Jaebum was sitting on the floor by the Christmas tree. You slowed your steps, looking around for your parents. They were nowhere in sight. Strange, you thought.
"Okay," you said slowly, a bit confused. "You said my gift was downstairs. It better not just be you." That earned you a laugh from him as he gestured for you to come over to where he was.
"I have something to tell you."
"Okay." You sat down in front of him and crossed your legs.
"I...I want to be with you forever." The temperature of your face rose, and you looked away from him, trying not to smile wide.
"Is that what I said to you last night?"
"More or less, yeah."
You groaned at your previous actions. "That's embarrassing."
"No, it's not." He paused. "I'll take back what I said if you didn't mean it."
"Wait, you were serious?"
"Of course," Jaebum pouted.
"I was serious too!" You quickly said, and he grinned at your eager response. Reaching behind him, he pulled out a box and handed it to you. Excitedly, you opened it, and gasped when you saw a gorgeous ring inside. "Jaebum, this is so beautiful," you whispered, looking up at him.
"It's a promise ring," he explained with a smile as he slid it on your ring finger. "I bought myself one too. Yesterday, I talked to your dad really casually about marriage, and we came to the conclusion that we're too young to do anything that serious yet. So this is almost like we're engaged to be engaged. Unless you don't like that. In that case, it's just a ring." You laughed.
"No, I love it. You're the best, Jaebum. I love you. I really do," you hugged him tight.
"I love you too," he whispered before tilting his head and sweetly taking your lips with his. You kissed him back, happiness welling up inside of you. Three years of being with the best man in the world, and he still made you feel like you were floating on the clouds.
"Jae," you murmured once he pulled away, "don't you just feel so grateful for everything?"
"Yeah," he nodded, wrapping his arms around your waist, "I do."
"Yeah," you repeated with a smile, and in that moment, you knew you had everything and more to be grateful for.
this was supposed to be way shorter but if you know me you know that I get carried away lol. it's 2AM on Christmas Eve as I finish this okay so if it's crappy cut me some slack. I just came up with this y title too like idek dude I'm sorry
you guys have no idea how much I rushed to get this up before Christmas omg. (well now you do bc you know what time is rn) I'm not even satisfied with it. I didn't even decide who was gonna be the male lead until the day I finished it. yesterday I had decided on Hyuk (my vixx bias) as the main but then yesterday night as I was laying in bed JB just kinda came to me and then I was kinda like "that's him. he is the character I was writing. it is Im Jaebum." lol he's not even my bias. well I guess he kinda is. he was my JJ Project bias but as for GOT7...that is not a conversation to be had rn
anywho, comments and advice are very appreciated!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR, LOVES <3
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