The streets of Seoul had transford into a quiet winter wonderland. The streets were blanketed in soft layers of snow, muffling the sound of the footsteps of the people walking outside.
Fairy lights twinkled from multiple shopfronts, lamp posts were designed in ribbons, and festive music echoed faintly from cafes and restaurants.
The cold air nipped at people's noses, their breaths visible with each exhale as they bustled through the holiday markets and malls, hoping to buy last-minute gifts for their loved ones.
Unlike in so Western countries, Christmas in Korea wasn't seen as a major family-oriented holiday. Rather, it was often celebrated like Valentine's Day.
Young couples strolled hand in hand, with gifts and flowers in their hands. They go out, take so photos, and eat together in thed cafes or restaurants. For families, it was more low-key. They usually eat dinner at ho and do a small gift exchange with one another.
Many working adults saw it as a brief break or just another day off on the calendar. But even so, the spirit of the season could still be felt in the air.
There was a kind of collective gentleness in the city during this ti. The strangers smiled more, single people went out with friends, and even the cold wind seed less cool under the warm glow of Christmas lights.
anwhile, in a moderate-sized apartnt located in one of the high-rise buildings in Seoul, a man could be seen wandering around inside. The apartnt was just enough, with a bedroom, an open kitchen and living area, a bathroom, and a small balcony.
The walls had posters of movies and gas, so shelves were lined up with figurines and board gas. There was also a small but proud artificial tree that stood in one corner of the living room, decorated in in red-and-gold ornants.
Twinkling lights hung from the curtain rods and traced along the walls, giving everything a warm glow.
On the couch lay a set of matching Christmas pajamas, still folded and waiting to be worn.
"Ha… I can't wait to see their reaction. Since they didn't want to buy matching pajamas, then I bought one for them instead." Jihoon playfully grinned as he nodded his head in excitent.
Just like what he said last ti, he had gone all out, even if the two looked like they were against it. Well now, they can't back out since he was the one who prepared everything.
Jihoon chuckled mischievously as he thought of it. He was in the middle of icing sugar cookies that looked like they were toasted from the outside.
A mont after, he received a loud notification on his phone. Jihoon wiped his hands on a kitchen towel to check on it. When his phone lit up with a notification, he picked it up and read the ssage. It was from their group chat.
[Yura: Stupid, we're in the lobby now.]
[Minjae: Coming up in a few.]
Jihoon's fingers moved quickly as he typed his reply, a wide grin already spreading across his face.
[Jihoon: Okay~ I'm waiting~~ prepare yourselves guys. Mwahahaha.]
He placed the phone down, a low chuckle escaping his lips. He glanced at the neatly folded pajamas on the couch and then back at the cookies he'd just finished decorating.
He can't wait to finally see the two.
- - -
Downstairs, in the lobby of the high-rise building, Yura and Minjae stepped through the glass doors, brushing off a few lingering snowflakes from their padded jackets.
Yura held a plastic bag filled with takeout boxes, while Minjae carried two paper bags, one with hot drinks and the other with freshly cooked fried chicken. The two were dressed casually.
"Do you think he overdid it?" Minjae asked, raising a brow as they waited for the elevator.
"Without a doubt, Oppa. That's why I also bought so desserts in case his baking failed. And I can already imagine that." Yura let out a soft chuckle.
"That's a good one," Minjae chuckled. It seed like the two of them didn't trust Jihoon that much when it ca to these things. After all, he was unpredictable. They don't really know what to expect.
They just hope that it wasn't as bad as they were thinking of.
When the elevator arrived at the ground floor, they stepped in and pressed the button for the 7th floor where Jihoon's apartnt was located.
The ride up was quiet and calm, with only the sound of the elevator. More people entered it, so they weren't alone.
As they reached Jihoon's floor, Yura walked ahead and knocked on the door, shifting the takeout bag in her hands. Minjae stood beside her, adjusting the drink tray in his grip as it beca uncomfortable to hold.
It didn't even take a few monts before the door opened. Behind it, Jihoon stood there proudly. He was wearing a bright red pajama decorated with tiny reindeer prints. A fluffy white headband with antlers was placed on his head.
"You just arrived in ti, guys," Jihoon showed a wide grin on his face as he showed his overall outfit as if he were proud of it.
"Oh my god." Yura blinked once, then twice, before laughing loudly.
"Jihoon…" Minjae let out a sigh as he stared at him for a second. "You weren't kidding about going all out.
"Tsk, tsk," Jihoon shook his head, refusing to hear any side comnts from the two. Instead, he quickly took the food bags from their hands, helping them.
"Thank you~ Feel free to go inside." Jihoon turned around, letting them inside his apartnt.
Jihoon quickly placed the food on the table before returning to them. He grabbed two folded pajama sets from the couch and handed them out like prized goods.
"This is for you two."
"What's this?" Yura raised a brow. She already had a hunch on what is it based on the color.
"It's matching pajamas!" Jihoon announced proudly. "You guys said no, so I said yes for you. Now you have no choice but to wear them."
Minjae looked down at the red pajama set with candy cane patterns that was in his hands. He shook his head in disbelief.
"You even got our sizes right…"
"Of course, Hyung. It's best Jihoon, that we're talking about," Jihoon said as he puffed his chest, standing proudly. "Now go change, hyung. Just this once, alright? You too, Yura."
"Fine. But let's not take any pictures. This is embarrassing," Yura sighed, accepting her pajamas with mock reluctance.
"Don't worry Noona," Jihoon said without hesitation, then added with a grin, "Now go on, I'll wait here."
Yura and Minjae disappeared into Jihoon's bedroom one after another to change. The bedroom door clicked shut, muffling their brief complaints as they tugged on the new pajamas.
"I swear, if this ends up on Wintergram, you're dead, Jihoon" Yura grumbled from behind the door.
"Noona, we're not even that famous," Jihoon's voice ca dryly, followed by the sound of rustling fabric.
A few minutes passed before the door creaked open again.
Yura stepped out first, fidgeting with the oversized sleeves of her pajama top. She looked holess with her clothes as it was too big of a size for her.
"Jihoon…" Her gaze turned sharp as she glared at Jihoon who looked like he was stopping himself from laughing on the other side.
"What kind of size did you get ? This is huge!"
Jihoon burst out laughing the mont he saw them. "AHAHAHA! Noona, you look like a walking gift bag!"
"It's not funny," Yura shot him a glare, though she was trying to hide the small smile tugging at the corner of her lips.
"The truth is, it was buy 2 take 1, noona. But the sizes were all for n, so I had no choice." Jihoon revealed the truth, even laughing even further.
"This stupid…" Yura let out a sigh.
After a few minutes, Minjae walked out right after her. His pajama set fit a little better than Yura's. It was slightly loose, just enough for it to be comfortable so he had no major complaints.
Still, Minjae gave Jihoon a flat look, then glanced down at the candy cane print across his chest. He had no complaints except for those loud prints.
"Minjae hyung, look at you! You look adorable. Absolutely adorable." Jihoon couldn't stop grinning.
"You're lucky we're in your house." Minjae just shook his head.
"Aw, don't worry. I know you two like ." Jihoon chid, looking far too pleased with himself. "Now that we're done changing, let's sit and eat. I also bought so drinks for us to share later on."
Minjae and Yura just looked at each other before following Jihoon. The three settled onto the couch and floor, the food spread out between them, the twinkling lights around the room cast a soft, golden hue over the scene.
"Let's have a feast!" Jihoon's excited voice echoed through the four corners of the wall.
Minjae sat quietly for a mont, letting his gaze drift between Jihoon and Yura as they bickered lightly over who would get the bigger piece of chicken. There was sothing simple and endearing about the scene.
He hadn't realized until now that Christmas could feel like this.
Not loud. Not extravagant. Just warm.
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