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Beomgyu silently opened his eyes as he curled into the warm presence beside him. His hand touched the bare chest of the boy next to him, causing him to blush silently as he closed his eyes once more.
“Beomgyu-hyung~” Kai sing-songs into the older boy’s ear, wrapping his arm around the hybrid’s bare chest.
Beomgyu exhales from his nose, lips curling into a smile as his heart flipped in his chest. Oh, how he loved to be loved.
“Hyung, come on, we should go get breakfast.” Taehyun spoke with a slightly hoarse voice, tiredness obvious in his tone, turning his front side to Beomgyu’s chest and wrapping his arms around the other two boys in the bed.
“Too tired. Must sleep forever.” Beomgyu spoke in a deep voice, moving his head to both sides with his eyes still closed.
“Even though we’re having haemul pajeon [seafood pancake]?” Soobin spoke with a slight smirk as he leaned against Taehyun’s and Kai’s doorframe, arms crossed over his chest.
Beomgyu bolted up from the bed with wide eyes, ears popping up as well.
“Haemul pajeon? I’m getting two!” Beomgyu untwisted himself from their covers and quickly ran past Soobin.
“Beomgyu-hyung, I want some too!” Kai pouted as he untwisted himself from the covers as well, running to their door as he yelled down the stairs.
“Relax, there’s enough to feed an army down there.” Soobin yelled after Kai ran past him, relieving Kai greatly.
❄️
When they were done with their breakfast, they gathered in their living room to watch a classic Christmas movie and sip on hot chocolate. This had become their regular routine during the weekends of December, since everyone had the weekends off from work and most of them just wanted to stay with each other during the weekends it had sort of become an unspoken agreement between the five boys. It was almost the end of December, which meant Christmas was only a few days away. Beomgyu couldn’t wait. His first Christmas celebration with the four loves of his life (simultaneously Beomgyu’s first Christmas celebration ever, but he chose not to focus on that).
He watched the movie in a sort of awe, this was the first foreign movie he ever watched. He had been exposed to mostly old Korean dramas his father watched when he was home, but apart from that he had never been permitted to watch TV. The movie was called ‘Home Alone,’ it was about a little boy who got left behind in his home while his family went on vacation; burglars invaded his home, which he had to now defend his house against. Beomgyu failed to comprehend how this was an explicit Christmas movie, but ultimately shut up about it when Yeonjun argued its during Christmastime! Look, there’s snow, and Christmas decorations!
When they all finished the movie, they all dispersed into different parts of the house to engage in their own hobbies or finish up some leftover work they had from the week. Beomgyu chose to follow Soobin, he usually went to make lunch around this time, which Beomgyu always enjoyed helping seeing as how Soobin usually let him taste test as they were cooking. He followed the older boy to the kitchen, sitting down next to him at their kitchen table as he opened his computer. Beomgyu curiously looked at the screen, which held a design for a flier Soobin was working on.
“What’s that, hyung?”
“I’m looking to hire new workers in my bakery, so I’m drawing up a flier to hire new people.”
“Oh. Can I help?”
“Of course. What do you think of the general look of this flier? I think it’s a little simple but I don’t want to take any attention away from the message.”
“Hm. Can I see your computer for a minute?”
Soobin slides the computer over to Beomgyu’s side, the hybrid clicking on the different templates and scrolling through them silently. His eyes sparkled as he found one with a black rim and a mint green design in the middle. He clicked on the design, the words from Soobin’s previous design automatically pasting onto the new design.
“What about this? It’s still simple, but a little classy and professional.”
Soobin stared at the design for a minute silently, finger rubbing his chin.
“I think…it’s perfect! It’s just what I needed. Thanks Beomgyu-ah.”
Soobin ruffled the boy’s hair softly, Beomgyu smiling in response.
“Alrighty! Let’s get started on lunch, shall we?”
Soobin smiled as he closed his laptop, Beomgyu nodding with a smile on his face silently.
“Oop, better take this off, don’t want it to get wet.”
Soobin removed his ring from his finger and set it on their kitchen table, Beomgyu’s smile widening ever so slightly. Each boy wore that ring on their fingers every day after Beomgyu gave it to them; he was glad they fit each boy perfectly, as he took an estimate of their finger sizes when he made them. He was appreciative of how they all took care of it so warmly.
❄️
Once they finished lunch, Beomgyu felt the need to take a cat nap with his Yeonjun-hyung. So, once they dispersed again to pursue their own hobbies, he followed Yeonjun this time. He followed the older boy into his shared room with Soobin, the older boy standing behind him with his arms crossed and a smile on his face, Beomgyu gazing at the wall above their shared bed.
His eyes sparkled as he gazed at a framed acrylic painting of Soobin that he made. He made it for Soobin’s birthday, he wanted to show how much he loved the older boy’s smile. Soobin cried when he unwrapped the painting, eyes wide and mouth ajar. It was by far one of the most thoughtful gifts Soobin had ever received in his lifetime. Beomgyu knew he thought highly of the gift, but not highly enough to hang it above his bed frame in his shared room with Yeonjun.
Beomgyu walked closer to the bed, reaching his hand out with wide eyes as he continued to gaze at the painting. He touched the bottom of the frame as he smiled beautifully, eyes sparkling with unshed tears. He turned back around to Yeonjun, the same expression on the older’s face.
“You guys framed it?”
“Of course. It’s a work of art, it deserves to be framed. I could argue it deserves to be put in a museum; but then again, I don’t like the idea of millions of people staring at one of my boyfriends.” Yeonjun smirked, winking to Beomgyu playfully. Beomgyu smiled back at his hyung, tears diminishing in his eyes.
“I love you, hyung.” Beomgyu held out his arms to Yeonjun on the bed, the older boy immediately running over and hugging him back.
“I love you too, Beomie. Now, come on, let's cuddle!” Yeonjun fully pushed him down on the bed, Beomgyu laughing softly in response.
❄️
Beomgyu really enjoyed painting. But, if you asked him why, he couldn’t tell you. Maybe it healed his broken inner child who never got to draw his heart out as a child. Maybe it was another way of expressing his deepest thoughts. Beomgyu didn’t get too caught up in the details. He just knew he loved to draw and paint different things he wanted to. Especially the four loves of his life. He never received professional training, or even went to an art class. All he had was his iPhone and art videos of someone else painting to go off on. Yet he still exceeded expectations when it came to people’s standards.
Beomgyu quit his cleaning job at the beginning of December. Part of the reason was that he had saved up enough money by now and wanted to spend more time with his boyfriends. The other part of the reason was because Beomgyu was tired of cleaning random peoples’ houses (even if it did pay well). The day he quit, he went to their local art store and bought acrylic paints, varnish, canvases of various sizes, an easel, painting knives, brushes, sponges, and a palette to make Soobin’s gift. He found all the materials he needed from a single Tiktok. He felt the creativity flow out of him as he felt the brush glide across his drawing on the canvas. Even though he drew from memory, he drew it perfectly resembling Soobin when he smiles. He didn’t expect it to be perfect at all, many videos warned him of how artists’ expectations were crushed after their first acrylic painting. But, when he looked at it, he became intrigued. He smiled as his eyes sparkled. Maybe it was because his subject was Soobin, but the painting looked beautiful. He was a little worried because he was crunched for time, but he finished it in merely three days. Considering he was just beginning, it was a feat in itself, but Beomgyu merely shrugged it off when the others mentioned by saying well, my inspiration for the painting definitely helped, as he held Soobin’s hand with a soft smile on his face. Soobin tearfully smiled at him, before kissing him on the lips deeply. He loved how Soobin loved his gift so much.
When Beomgyu was painting, he created new worlds in his mind. The real world and his fantasy worlds collided. He did not know where he stood in between the two worlds. But maybe that was okay. Because there were four other boys standing in between both worlds with him. They stood beside him; between his fantasies and realities. They told him he was safe here with them. And that was just okay for Beomgyu to feel.
❄️
The next day, the five boys all go out somewhere new to Beomgyu. The sign of the building reads ‘Nana’s Photography Studio’. The building is similarly structured to his Yeonjun-hyung’s workplace. He curiously looks at it from the car window, eyes sparkly as his lips fold together. They all exit the car simultaneously, Beomgyu wrapping his hand around his Yeonjun-hyung’s right arm. He thought back to yesterday night when they were all eating their dinner together.
“Beomgyu-ah, what do you think about going to a photography studio and taking pictures of yourself tomorrow?” Soobin asked with a small smile on his face, turning to face the hybrid next to him. Beomgyu finished eating his rice before turning back to him with an intrigued expression.
“Like…professional pictures? The stuff you see in magazines and stuff?” He innocently asked the question as he tilted his head, Soobin still smiling at him.
“Mm-hm. We go to this studio every year to take photos for our Christmas postcard to our friends and families. It’s usually a group picture of all of us, but we were thinking of changing it up this year and sending another postcard of just you to introduce you to our closest friends and family. Do you think you’d be comfortable doing something like that?” Kai continued on, tilting his head as he stared at the hybrid with an excited expression.
“You guys are coming with me…right?” Beomgyu nervously asked, eyebrows furrowing up in worry as he looked around at all of them.
“Of course we are. But, do you think you’ll be nervous knowing it’ll be sent out as a postcard?” Yeonjun asked curiously from across the table, a hopeful expression on his face.
“I’ll have you all. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Besides, it sounds like fun!”
They all smiled widely, Soobin patting Beomgyu’s hair softly.
“And don’t worry, my friend from college runs the studio. He’s pretty friendly, I think you’ll like him.” Yeonjun smiled warmly at Beomgyu, the hybrid smiling back softly.
“It’s okay, Beomgyu. I told you yesterday, he’s a friend I know from college. He’s really nice, I have a feeling you two will become quick friends.” He patted the hybrid’s hair softly as he spoke.
Beomgyu nodded silently in response, cheeks slightly reddening. They all entered the studio with smiles on their faces, Beomgyu looking around the studio silently. Finally, he locked eyes with an unfamiliar man walking closer to him. He was slightly surprised, straightening himself as he looked at the man. The roots of his hair were white, with the ends turning into a medium-dark brown. Beomgyu wondered if he got it colored to look like that or if it was his natural hair. When he gazed into his white eyes which also faded into a medium-dark brown, he thought for a moment it must’ve been his natural hair.
“Wowww! This must be the legendary Beomgyu I’ve heard so much about!” He smiled as he stood in front of Beomgyu with an excited smile, Beomgyu looking at him with wide eyes silently.
Beomgyu silently took in his scent, his ears popping up in response when he smelled the scent of lavender on him. The man flinched, before smiling as his bunny ears popped up from his head. Beomgyu exclaimed as his eyes widened, pointing to the man’s bunny ears in response.
“I’m sorry, I’m being rude. My name is Na Jaemin. I’m a cashmere lop bunny hybrid, and also a photographer. It’s nice to meet you, Beomgyu, I’ve heard a lot about you from Yeonjun-hyung.” Jaemin held his hand out for Beomgyu to shake, the other hybrid doing so with a sparkle in his eyes.
“Wow. I’ve…never met another hybrid like this before. I…really like your ears.” Beomgyu smiled widely, eyes still sparkling as he showed the other hybrid an excited expression. Jaemin returned his expression with the same excitement.
After they spent a while just talking and getting to know each other, they decided to start the photoshoot for the boys’ regular Christmas postcard.
“I put your outfits in the big changing room behind that curtain, they should be in the bag that you dropped off on Friday, Yeonjun-hyung.”
“Perfect, thanks Nana! We'll get changed real quick!” Yeonjun smiled before they walked to the big changing room.
They all started to get changed, Beomgyu taking off his shirt as he reached into the bag for his outfit. A pair of arms slithered around his waist, causing him to jump as his cheeks turned pink.
“Eh––Kai––what do you think you’re…that tickles!! Hey!!”
He started laughing loudly, bending over as Kai lessened his grip on Beomgyu’s stomach.
“You’re just so huggable, hyung, I can’t help it!”
“Come on–– I–– we have to get changed!”
Beomgyu slipped from Kai’s arms and slipped on his Santa outfit quickly, before Kai wriggled his arms around his waist again. He fully changed into his outfit, before turning to the others changing into their outfits. His eyes widened as they put on reindeer costumes, a confused expression taking over his face.
“Aren’t…we all Santa? What’s with the reindeer costumes?”
“Beomgyu-hyung, you’re so silly! You’re the main character for our postcard this year, of course only you would be Santa! We’re just your reliable reindeer!” Kai smiled as he changed into his reindeer costume, flipping the hood over his head as he looked at the hybrid.
“What? I thought we were all gonna be Santa for this!” Beomgyu pouted as he slightly smiled, even in reindeer costumes they still looked as fetching as they always did.
“Besides, you look good in your costume, hyung. It suits you perfectly.” Taehyun continued, a warm smile on his face as he gazed at the boy with all the love he held in his heart conveyed through his eyes. Beomgyu blushed as he smiled shyly, eyes curling up as he became bashful.
They all headed back to the photoshoot area, Jaemin setting up his camera and some of his assistants setting up a makeup station for the boys.
“Ohh, cute! Hmm…okay. I’m thinking for now we just do some base makeup on everyone and add freckles on the others wearing reindeer costumes.” Jaemin smiled at his assistants, both of them nodding silently before leading the five boys to the makeup booth they set up for them.
Once they applied the makeup to each boy’s faces, Beomgyu felt his cheeks heat up as he stared at the four of them. Wow. So this was the power of makeup. If Beomgyu didn’t love his boyfriends more than anything in the world already, he would tell them how utterly ethereal they all look.
“You guys look…”
They all smiled curiously, intrigued as to what the hybrid would say next.
“Beautiful. Simply…beautiful.”
His eyes sparkled as he smiled dreamily, rose-tinted images of his boyfriends engraving onto his occipital lobe. They all smiled widely, eyes curling up in glee as they gazed at the shy hybrid.
❄️
When they finished taking the pictures for their regular yearly postcard, the boys went to the editing stations with one of Jaemin’s assistants while Beomgyu and Jaemin set up for his solo photoshoot.
“Okay, we’ll start by taking pictures in this outfit first. Then, we can get you changed into the next outfit and do more makeup. Sounds good?”
Beomgyu nodded silently, a small smile on his face. He stood up from the floor, Jaemin instructing him on how to pose before taking a few pictures. They tried a couple of more poses before Jaemin nodded silently to himself.
“Okay, let’s move on to the next outfit. Everyone get ready for a scene change!” Jaemin smiled as he turned to his assistant, nodding silently as Beomgyu went to get changed.
Once Beomgyu came back out of the dressing room, the others had finished editing their photos with the other assistant and were making their way back to the studio while Beomgyu was getting his face makeup done for his reindeer outfit. He turned his face to them as the assistant finished, a smile on his face. Yeonjun stopped in his tracks, eyes sparkling as they widened silently. Beomgyu’s smile widened, his eyes sparkling with curiosity as he stared at the older boy. Oh, how he loved him so much.
“Wow…you look…amazing.” Yeonjun smiled as his heart settled in his chest, going to kiss the younger boy as he wrapped his arm around Beomgyu’s waist. Beomgyu’s smile widened as his eyes curled up and his dimples popped out. He loved when his Yeonjun-hyung complimented him because his Yeonjun-hyung always meant it from the bottom of his heart.
And so, Beomgyu started the photoshoot in his second outfit, a reindeer outfit just like the others were wearing for their group postcard. They shouted compliments at him as Jaemin took pictures of the other hybrid, causing his cheeks to redden as he smiled widely.
“Guys, I need to focus! Hahah please!” Beomgyu settled them down as he laughed, eyes sparkling with unshed tears as his laughing increased.
Once they settled down again, they continued Beomgyu’s solo photoshoot. He felt warmed by the others smiling and softly encouraging him on the sidelines as he continued on in a different outfit. These boys were so precious to him.
When Jaemin exclaimed that he was satisfied, Beomgyu followed him to their editing station to see what the postcard would be like as the others followed both of the hybrids. They played around with a couple of templates before Beomgyu ultimately chose one to send out, Soobin patting him on the head as he conveyed that was a good choice.
Once they were done editing Beomgyu’s postcard, Yeonjun paid Jaemin for his time and they all hiked their way back up home.
“That was fun, wasn’t it? I don’t think we’ve had so much fun making our holiday postcards before.” Soobin smiled as he looked at his younger boyfriends from the front seat of the car.
“Yeah! I’ve never experienced something like that before! Plus, Jaemin is really cool. I can’t wait to visit him some more!” Beomgyu exclaimed from the backseat, smile wide and eyes sparkling.
“Yeah, we’ll have to visit him and his owners on one of their days off. Though, I’m glad you had fun, Beomgyu.” Soobin continued, satisfied smile on his face and body relaxed.
“I actually still can’t get over Beomgyu’s freckles. Ahh, couldn’t we have just kept them on for a couple of more hours?” Yeonjun pouted from the driver’s seat, eyes still trained on the road.
“Haha, did you really enjoy them that much, Yeonjun-hyung? Hmm, maybe I should stop lightening them then…” Beomgyu teased his older boyfriend from the backseat, a smirk on his face.
Everyone’s eyes silently widened in the car. Taehyun, Kai, and Soobin turned to the hybrid with flabbergasted expressions on their faces. Huh? Had Beomgyu said something wrong?
“Wait. Gyu, are you saying you have freckles? Like… actual freckles?” Yeonjun looked at the hybrid with wide eyes through his rearview mirror, Beomgyu looking at him silently.
“Yeah. They’re really faded, but if you look closely they’re still there. My father didn’t usually like seeing them so he would chemically peel them off. And then…I started using a fading cream for them when I was 14 or 15. It doesn’t do much, but if I put a little makeup on them they’re barely noticeable. I guess…I’ve been doing it so long I never thought you guys might like it.”
Everyone in the car stays silent for a moment.
“Well…I think they suit you.” Taehyun smiled as he laid his hand on Beomgyu’s cheek, laying his lips on the older’s as he finished his sentence. Beomgyu kissed him back softly, smiling as he closed his eyes and sighed relievedly.
Everyone chimes in with light mutters of agreements. They all continue driving home silently.
❄️
Finally, the day had come. December 25th. Christmas Day. The first celebration Beomgyu would spend with the four loves of his entire life. After 22 years of no celebration held in his honor, he would be so lucky as to spend his first with four boys who meant more to him than the world itself. Screw the presents, he was just excited to see their reactions.
So, when he woke up the morning of, he immediately smiled widely as his four boyfriends were still sleeping beside him.
“Its Christmas! Its Christmas! Its CHRISTMASSSSS!!” He yelled, an excited tone in his voice as he turned to his boyfriends with wide eyes, jumping softly on the bed. Soobin groaned, eyes still closed as he clutched them tighter in response.
“Five more minutes, Beomgyu-ah...” He groaned groggily, turning to Yeonjun’s side as the older continued to sleep.
“Noooo, come on! Let’s go downstairs! Come onnnnn!” He pouted loudly, jutting his lip out as he tilted his head. Taehyun’s arms quickly wrapped around his waist, pulling him back down into the bed.
“Five more minutes, hyung. I swear we’ll get up in five minutes.” Taehyun spoke deeply, voice still laced with sleep. Beomgyu pouted once more before nodding silently, closing his eyes again.
When Beomgyu did wake up again, a sweet smell immediately filled his senses, causing him to sit up in the bed immediately as he looked around the room silently. The bed was now empty, causing him to immediately untangle himself from the covers and run downstairs. He immediately locked eyes on their Christmas tree, now filled with more than just the four presents he put down there last night. He turned his head to both sides before locking eyes on his boyfriends, sitting at their kitchen table with wide smiles on all of their faces.
“You should’ve woken me! You didn’t open any without me, right?” Beomgyu pouted as he walked to their kitchen table, sitting down in his usual spot for breakfast.
“Hyung! Do you know what kind of psychological torture I had to go through during the last ten minutes? Of course we didn’t open any without you!” Kai pouted back at him, a cute expression on his face. Beomgyu smiled, ruffling his already messy bedhead with an endeared expression.
“Alrighty, I just finished the last batch. Let’s eat!” Soobin set the last set of pancakes on a plate on the counter before sitting in his seat next to Beomgyu. They all dug in happily, Beomgyu stamping his feet underneath the table as though he was a child.
When they all finished eating, Beomgyu was the first person in front of their Christmas tree, hugging his knees with a glint in his eyes and a cute smile on his face. They all smiled as they sat down on the floor next to him, Soobin pinching his cheeks softly as the hybrid continued to smile.
“Aigooo…since our Beomgyu is so excited, we’ll let him open his presents first.” Soobin indulged the hybrid’s excitement.
“No, no! I want you guys to open my presents first!” Beomgyu shook his head with the biggest smile on his face, going to grab his presents from the furthest corner of the tree. The others looked at each other surprisedly, before smiling widely and taking Beomgyu’s presents as he handed them out.
Kai opened his present first. He looked at the hybrid silently, Beomgyu encouraging him by silently nodding back. Kai smiled, opening the box shaped present with an excited smile.
“Oh, headphones!! Thanks Beomgyu-hyung, this is just what I needed!” Kai excitedly gushed, eyes sparkling as his smile widened exponentially.
“Uh, maybe look inside. Make sure everything is good.” Beomgyu shyly spoke, rubbing his left ear, a nervous habit they had all learned long ago.
Kai silently opened the box with his smile still on his face, the sparkle in his eyes diminished ever so slightly. He took the headphones out of their case, before his eyes widened silently and the sparkle in his eyes was replaced by a curious twinkle. There was a picture of a sunset on the outer cup of the headphones, the other side holding a sunrise in opposition. Kai’s mouth fell ajar as his eyes silently widened, feeling like they’d fall right out of his head.
“Beomgyu-hyung…this is…” Kai’s tone is astonished as he gently runs his fingers over the painted part of the headphones.
“I remembered how you said you like sunrises and sunsets…so when I saw these I thought it would suit them well.” Beomgyu nervously fiddled with his fingers as he shyly smiled into his lap, silently hoping the younger boy would like the gift. Kai immediately wrapped his arms around the hybrid, causing Beomgyu to slightly flinch back before hugging him back.
“They’re beautiful, hyung. I love them.” Kai kissed him on the cheek as he left the hug, tender tone in his words.
Soobin went next, holding up a big, rectangle-shaped present with wide eyes and the tiniest smile on his face. Beomgyu smiled silently, excitement evident in his expression. Soobin slowly began unwrapping it, knowing whatever Beomgyu got him he would probably enjoy.
His eyes silently widened as his jaw fully dropped, beyond shocked expression on his face. He ran his fingers over the soft lacquer of the large board as his eyes immediately welled with tears.
“Beomgyu…” He whispered, eyes glossy with unshed tears.
“Remember after that bad storm…how your sign was ruined? I wanted to do something about it…so I designed this. Jaemin helped me get all the materials together and we made it. Do you like it, hyung?”
“I…I love it. It’s perfect, Beomgyu-ah.” Tears fell from Soobin’s eyes as he held his arms out to hug the hybrid, Beomgyu immediately doing so and taking in his love-filled scent.
When they let go, it was Yeonjun’s turn. He smiled silently as he looked at the shoebox-like present. He began tearing away, smiling widely as he gazed at the Nike logo on the box.
“Nice!! I was just thinking of upgrading my Nikes, this is perfect!” Yeonjun held them straight up to his eyeline.
“Look at the sides of the shoes, hyung.” Beomgyu rolled his eyes as he spoke with sarcasm in his tone.
Yeonjun softly gazed at the designs on the sides of each shoe, it had vines running across it just like his studio, this time with added flowers of various colors. His eyes sparkled as his lips tightly curled into a smile, wonder and intrigue bursting through every corner of his body. Wow, how could anyone not love this boy more than life itself? He was so full of raw talent it astonished Yeonjun every single day. He could just tell he was on a different level even from this gift.
He stared at the hybrid silently for a moment. Beomgyu silently tilted his head in response. Then, he laid his hands on Beomgyu’s cheeks and deeply kissed him on the lips. Beomgyu immediately kissed back, both of them closing their eyes. When they finally let go of each other, Yeonjun breathes heavily before speaking softly.
“I’m so in love with you.” He whispered, wonder still leftover in his eyes and warm sparks on his lips. Beomgyu smiled easily, breathing out of his nose silently.
“Pfft––HAHAHAH, I’m so sorry but Soobin-hyung’s face––HAHAHA it’s so funny! Oh my god!” Kai burst out laughing, clutching his stomach as he couldn’t stop laughing. They all immediately started laughing softly, Soobin holding his hands above his head in defense with a nonchalant expression.
“Jeez, here I am trying to have a heartfelt moment with Beomgyu and you have to ruin it.” Yeonjun teases his youngest boyfriend, ruffling his hair before tackling him to the ground, the youngest of the group laughing in response before Yeonjun kisses him on the lips.
Taehyun was the last to open his gift from Beomgyu. He secretly hoped the younger boy would like his gift the most. It was a little bit like the other gifts he already gifted the others, but this one was Taehyun’s favorite book from his collection so Beomgyu decided to take a little creative liberty to alter it after he finished reading it. It was a hardcover fantasy book with things like fairies, elves, even hybrids who shapeshifted into animal forms. Taehyun had read it countless times since Beomgyu had come home, Beomgyu easily deduced how he loved the fantasy genre more than any book genre. He was a little worried Taehyun wouldn’t react like he expected him to; he liked keeping his things in their original condition as best as he could, especially his books. The younger boy started unwrapping the present silently, expectant expression on his face as he opened it.
When he finally did open it, silence immediately filled the room. Beomgyu looks down to his lap as he rubs his left ear, a somewhat nervous smile on his face.
“I––I hope you like it. I know you like to keep things in their original condition, but after I read it I saw this clear image in my mind so I thought––” Beomgyu nervously rambles, nervous tone being conveyed through his words before he is abruptly stopped. Taehyun’s lips crash deeply into his as the younger wraps his arms around the hybrid, Beomgyu slightly flinching back before kissing him back. They both relax in each other's arms instantly, before leaving their embrace. Taehyun lays his forehead on Beomgyu, the hybrid doing the same as he closes his eyes.
“It’s the most amazing gift I could’ve gotten, hyung.” Taehyun whispers as his hands lay on Beomgyu’s cheeks, relieving the older boy greatly. Beomgyu smiles silently before gazing into Taehyun’s sparkly eyes. He dries the tear slowly falling on his cheek, before kissing the boy softly underneath his eye.
❄️
Once they were finished having their moment, the others grabbed their gifts for Beomgyu from underneath the tree. Beomgyu opened Soobin’s first. He gasped before laughing softly, holding up an apron that read my favorite sous-chef in bold letters.
“Oh my god, this is awesome! I love it!! Thanks, Soobin-hyung!” He sounded genuinely excited, causing Soobin to ruffle his hair softly.
Beomgyu went for Kai’s next, the boy unusually quiet in the moment.
He unwrapped the tiny gift box before gazing into it curiously, holding a guitar pick up with a glint in his eyes. He smiled curiously, looking at Kai who wore a somewhat guilty expression. His heart immediately tenderized, Beomgyu bringing his hand up to the younger’s cheek.
“There were actually supposed to be two parts to your gift but…the other part isn’t ready yet. I have to pick it up next week. But…I thought I should at least give you one part now.” Kai guiltily smiled at the hybrid, Beomgyu looking at him silently with an incredible amount of love in his eyes. How could he be disappointed when Kai wore that expression?
“That’s okay. It’s a really pretty pick! Plus, I’ll have something to look forward to next week!” Beomgyu smiled widely as he spoke, an excited tone in his voice, causing Kai to relax. He hugged the boy tightly, squeezing all of the love out to his arms and into the boy.
“Here, Beomgyu-hyung.” Taehyun handed his gift to Beomgyu next, the hybrid setting the pick box down and grabbing Taehyun’s gift. He ripped it open, eyes going wide as he gazed at an art workbook titled Different Painting Mediums for Beginners. He gasped as he looked at Taehyun, an interested look on his face.
“I thought it would be useful if you want to ever expand outside of acrylic painting.” Taehyun smiled, content that the older boy enjoyed his gift. Beomgyu immediately smiled back, arms wrapping tighter around his waist every second they embraced.
“And this is from me, Beomgyu-ah.” Yeonjun handed his present to Beomgyu with a cool expression on his face. The hybrid took it with the smallest smile on his face, unwrapping it before slightly laughing at it.
“Pencils!!! Yay, I was just thinking of buying some actually!” Beomgyu laughed loudly as he waved his arms victoriously in the air. The others laughed along with him, the hybrid’s smile was so contagious among the four of them.
“You’ve been using that pencil from my studio for so long, it’s time for some proper artist materials.” Yeonjun smirked, a cool expression still on his face. Beomgyu smiled back, hugging his Yeonjun-hyung silently.
❄️
Once the others were done opening their gifts from each other, they all smiled silently at each other, mentally preparing themselves to clean all of their trash up.
“Oh? Looks like there’s one more gift for…Beomgyu-hyung. Here hyung!” Taehyun smirked at the others, each of them smiling in response as they knew what was about to come.
“Wow, it’s big! I wonder what it could be?” Beomgyu helped Taehyun pull the large present from behind their tree, an intrigued expression on his face.
He began to silently unwrap it, immediately realizing what it was. He took his painting out from the large box, which was now framed unlike the last time when he showed the canvas painting to his boyfriends. It was the first painting he ever showed them; a watercolor one; a client had gifted him the materials after one of his cleaning jobs. He figured he shouldn’t let it go to waste, little did he know where he would end up after he finished it. It was a painting of a bridge overlooking a river, with the sun setting in the background and trees on each side of the river. It wasn’t his favorite work, but it was exceptional in his mind considering it was his first time painting something in his life. It unlocked something deep in Beomgyu that demanded to be felt.
“You guys…you got it framed?” Beomgyu speaks with a tender, sweet tone in his voice.
“Mm-hm. Look at the bottom right corner of it, Beomgyu.” Yeonjun smiles as he gestures to the bottom corner of the painting. Beomgyu looks at it confusedly, eyes widening as there is a tiny gold plaque. The gold plaque is engraved with the words, Sunset over the Tranquil River, Artist, Choi Beomgyu.
“Eh? This…this is…” Beomgyu looks at them confusedly, eyes silently welling up with tears.
“We talked to a local art director and…he agreed to show it in an auction. It’s tonight. Surprise!” Kai smiled excitedly, with a somewhat nervous tone in his voice as he didn’t know how Beomgyu would react.
“Eh? But––I––what if––”
What if people don’t like it?
Beomgyu never thought about showing his artwork to other people. That’s why he enjoyed painting so much, only the people who Beomgyu loved and cared about would see his works. But the thought of complete strangers seeing his work? And judging it by assigning value to it? Beomgyu wasn’t sure he was good enough to even qualify for something like this.
“Hyung? We may be your boyfriends…but we know talent when we see it. Your work deserves to be seen by people, even be bought. You have so much potential and talent, hyung, it’s so obvious to all of us. Frankly…I don’t want to see that talent go to waste because you hold yourself back. I know you were looking at entering this auction since it was announced, I saw your eyes light up when you first saw the flier for it. You know you want other people to see your work, hyung.” Taehyun held Beomgyu’s hand as he spoke, a genuine tone in his voice.
Maybe Beomgyu was lying to himself. Maybe it didn’t scare Beomgyu for other people to see his work, but in fact, it excited him. And now he would get the chance to see other people bid and buy it. When would he get another chance like this really? His head dipped into his lap as overwhelming tears welled up in his eyes. He looked at all of them with tears in his eyes as he spread his arms out to hug all of them. They all crashed into his arms with smiles on their faces, Beomgyu immediately squeezing them tightly.
“What did I do to deserve you guys? God, I love you all so much.” Beomgyu spoke with an emotional tone in his voice, smiling as his voice cracked.
❄️
Before he knew it, it was time for them to get ready for the auction of his painting. He neatly packed his framed painting back into its box before going to get changed into his suit. He fully changed into his suit before running to his Yeonjun-hyung’s and Soobin-hyung’s room, struggling with the tie as he always did. Yeonjun smiled as he tied his tie, already looking dashing in his suit himself.
“Aigooo…our Beomgyu still can’t tie his tie?” Yeonjun teased the hybrid, endeared smile on his face.
“But you said you’d always tie it for me no matter what…” Beomgyu pouted as he spoke, a cute expression on his face.
“Aigoo…I was kidding, babyyyy. I’ll always tie your tie for you~” Yeonjun patted Beomgyu’s cheek softly before fully tying his tie.
Beomgyu smiled silently before kissing his hyung on the cheek, Soobin simultaneously exiting from the bathroom attached to their room.
“Ohh…my two handsome boys.” Soobin pinched each of their cheeks as he passed them by, both of them looking at him with smiles on their faces.
Once everyone was done getting ready for the auction, they all took off, basking in each other's warmth as they huddled into the car. They soon arrived at the venue, Beomgyu grabbing his painting from the trunk of the car. They all entered the art show, hustling and bustling as different items were being transported all across the hall. A small figure immediately made his way across the hall with a wide smile on his face.
“Hi, you must be Beomgyu!! It’s so nice to meet you, my name is Huang Renjun!” He shook Beomgyu’s hand as he smiled widely, the hybrid becoming surprised.
“Huang…Renjun? Then, do you know Na Jaemin by chance?” Beomgyu asked with a glint in his eye, mouth slightly falling ajar.
“Oh? You know our Jaeminie? Wah, that’s perfect. He just texted me that one of his clients canceled so he’s coming to the auction tonight.” Renjun spoke with a curious smile on his face, eyes wide.
“Yeah…waaahh, that’s so interesting. Um, anyway. Thank you for agreeing to include my piece in your auction. I’ve…never done something like this so I appreciate how willing you are.”
“Oh…no of course! Your painting is actually amazing in my opinion, you blended the water colors together really well and your canvas was the perfect choice for it as well. It’s a very beautiful piece, Beomgyu-ssi. May I ask how long you’ve been painting?”
“Oh…um…this is actually my first watercolor painting. I started this year.”
“Eh? S––Sorry?”
“Uh…I started this year?”
“And this is your first one?! Wow, you have so much raw talent. What's your secret?”
“I––I guess I just paint whatever feels right to me. I just…close my eyes, visualize what I want to make, and paint it.”
“Wow…that’s amazing. You really have a lot of talent Beomgyu-ssi. This is my card. If you ever want one of your pieces hung up in a show, just contact me and I’ll see what I can do about it.”
“Oh…thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Mm. Well, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta finish setting up the auction. See you soon.”
“Right. Thank you again, I really appreciate all of this.”
❄️
When the auction started, Beomgyu sat at the very back of the audience, sitting with the others, holding Jaemin’s hand silently as he breathed in and out carefully. The other hybrid patted it softly, before squeezing it in affirmation.
Beomgyu’s painting was the last item for sale in the auction. He hoped the auction would end on a hopeful note, secretly hoping the sale of his painting would as well.
“And finally…the last item up for auction is from an up-and-coming artist, Choi Beomgyu. I’ve heard straight from the artist himself that this is his first watercolor, and look how beautiful this landscape came out to be. We’ll start the bidding at 130,000 won [$100USD].”
Two bidders simultaneously raise their hand, Renjun pointing to one before moving on.
“Alright, I hear 130,000 won, can we get 260,000 won [$200USD]? 260,000 won on the table, can we get 395,000 won [$300USD]? 395,000 won on the table, can we get 530,000 won [$400USD] on the table? 530,000 won, can we get 592,000 won [$450USD]? 592,000 on the table, can we get 658,000 won [$500USD]? Going once…going twice…sold to the gentleman in the light blue blazer! Thank you very much, that is our auction ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out; please, enjoy your pieces!”
Renjun smacked his gavel on his podium before smiling widely, thanking everyone who came out. Beomgyu felt a rush of adrenaline rush through his body as his eyes widened. So… you’re telling him a complete stranger bought one of his paintings…for $500?! Beomgyu’s ears started to ring as the others excitedly pushed against his body, congratulating the hybrid and cheering for him. In his haze of confusion and adrenaline, he didn’t feel tears well up in his eyes. He silently looked at Taehyun, who was still seated next to him with the biggest smile on his face.
“Is this real?” He whispered with tears still glistening in his eyes, before smiling beautifully.
He hugged Taehyun tightly, tears slipping out of his eyes silently as his face scrunched up in a smile. He couldn’t believe it. His work was really sold. Wow, he didn’t know if there was a better feeling than this one right now. He stood up from his chair before hugging the rest of his boyfriends, hugging Jaemin last as Renjun came up to them.
“Congratulations, Beomgyu-ssi. For your first auction, I’d say it was very successful. I’ll wire the money to your account as soon as I receive it.” Renjun smiled widely as he shook Beomgyu’s hand, the hybrid shaking his hand with just as wide a smile on his face.
“No, I should be thanking you for agreeing to show my piece in the first place. You’ve given me such an amazing opportunity like its nothing. So…thank you.”
“Of course. Anyway, we should totally find a day that works for all of you so we can get together and do something. I’m sure Jaemin and Beomgyu would enjoy it the most, plus it’d be nice to get out with some new friends sometime.” Renjun smiled at the rest of them as he nodded, the others smiling in response and nodding silently.
“Totally! Just contact us and we’ll let you know if it works for all of us!” Soobin pulled out his phone with a smile before exchanging numbers with Renjun.
And with that, they left the venue, basking in their victory with soju and Korean barbecue to celebrate.
🌸
It was now springtime. Beomgyu was now a full-time artist, whose works showed in local commercial galleries. He loved it so much. He was so happy like this.
And that happiness was about to be increased. Why? Because his birthday was tomorrow. And he was gonna have the best day ever with his four boyfriends. He couldn’t wait.
At least, that’s what he was supposed to feel like. So why? Why did he feel so numb? He gazed at the TV silently as his father’s picture flashed across the screen.
His father was dead.
An apparent suicide, it seemed, as guards in the prison found a suicide note on the ground of his cell after he hung himself by a noose. Where would someone get something like that in prison anyway? The guards should’ve been paying better attention.
Maybe he just shouldn’t have turned on the TV today at all. He knew Yeonjun liked to watch the news in the morning before he headed into work. If only he didn’t see that flicker of his dad’s face before he changed the channel, maybe everything would be okay.
He didn’t frankly know how to feel about the news. Upset? Relieved? Angry? Beomgyu felt a complex set of emotions swirl up in him all at once.
The others tried distracting him from it, through whatever means necessary. After all, it was his birthday. The day Beomgyu turned 23 years old, his father died in a cold prison cell. Would that narrative always haunt him on his birthday? He wasn’t too sure. A single choice was all it took to send Beomgyu into a silent, catastrophic state.
A couple of days passed. Then a week. Then two weeks. Beomgyu didn’t leave his studio anymore. He drowned himself in his work to push away every feeling he could. He felt safer this way. Sitting by himself in a large room, painting whatever he could. He hated the bitter taste in his mouth when he painted. He didn’t find it fun anymore like he used to.
Finally, the others felt the need to intervene. They knew Beomgyu felt things much deeper than an average person, so they gave him time to grieve and process this on his own. But at that point, it wasn’t even grieving for Beomgyu anymore. It was just a cold sort of depression. They all looked at each other silently before opening the door to Beomgyu’s home studio, the hybrid turning around with tear streaks down his face.
Beomgyu knew he had to get out of his depressed bout. He didn’t want to, but he could see how much it was hurting the others. He never wanted to do that, intentionally or unintentionally. So, he started with a base sketch, as he always does. He closed his eyes and drew his father in the regular serious pose he always conjured up whenever he thought of him. He traced the base sketch with a black Sharpie, before coloring it in with the same material. He grabbed his watercolors from another easel, before grabbing a cup of water already in his studio and dipping his brush in. He watered down his paint before holding two brushes against each other. He hit the one on top forcingly, instantly creating paint splatters on the canvas and his face. He did it in red, purple, green, and blue before blowing on the paint splatters, the bubbles of splatters increasing in size on the canvas. Red; anger. Purple; confusion. Green; jealousy. Blue; sadness. Beomgyu felt all of the emotions rush into him all at once. Tears stained his cheeks.
Soobin immediately went to hug the hybrid, mother-like nature coming out as he knelt to the ground to comfort the hybrid. Beomgyu silently wrapped his arms around Soobin, before letting out the softest sob with his eyes closed. He ached in Soobin’s arms.
“I need to see him.” Beomgyu whispered in between his lessening sobs, just loud enough so everyone could hear. Soobin patted the back of his head as he nodded silently.
“Yeah. Let’s do that.” He whispered back as his grip on Beomgyu increased ever so tightly.
🌸
“Um…do you think you could…leave us for a moment?”
The boys stood around the graveyard solemnly, Beomgyu bending down to his father’s stone before softly shaking the leaves on it.
“Of course. We’ll wait in the car, call us when you want us to come back.” Yeonjun immediately intervened, holding his younger boyfriend’s shoulders before directing them back to the car.
Beomgyu stood silently in the grave, before ultimately sitting down on the grass.
“Hello, father.” He speaks in a serious tone, confidence smoothly flowing through it.
He inhaled and exhaled silently before looking at the headstone once more.
“You don’t know this, but I’m an artist now. I even…have some paintings in a permanent gallery now. I’m mostly doing commissions now, but…I like it. It’s one of my favorite things to do.”
Beomgyu feels his eyes start to burn as he stares at the gravestone. He pushes his tears back.
“I won’t say I forgive you after what you did to me for years on end…because I don’t. In fact, I hate you. I hate you so much for taking the easy way out. For not giving in to the abuse like I did for you. You took the cowards way out. Instead of paying for your crimes. I’ll never forgive you for that. But…I realized something after I heard the news. If I didn’t run away that day…I never would have discovered that there are actual good people in this world. I would’ve lived in that ‘sacred’ bubble you created for me in that house. So…thank you. For being so shitty you made me run away. I never would’ve met the four loves of my life if it weren’t for you. Or all of my friends.”
Beomgyu smiled genuinely, still beaming of the decision he made that day one year ago.
“Well…I guess this is goodbye forever. If I’m being honest I never want to see you again. Even hear your name, frankly. Just know I’ll always hate you and never forgive you, but…you did do one good thing before you died. Thanks for not killing me…even if you came close to it sometimes. My life wouldn’t be so full if I was dead after all.”
Beomgyu slightly laughed, before sighing once more and standing in front of the grave. He smiled condescendingly, before holding up both of his middle fingers at the gravestone.
“Beomgyu?” A familiar voice calls out to the hybrid, causing him to immediately turn his head to the presence. A tall man stands there with a small bouquet of flowers.
“Seungyu-hyung?” Beomgyu questions back, a surprised expression on his face.
He immediately drops the bouquet of flowers on the ground, before kneeling in front of the hybrid on his knees. Beomgyu flinches, worried expression on his face as he silently reaches out to the man.
“I’m sorry, Beomgyu. For everything. I’ve…felt so guilty all of these years for what he did to you. For…what I did to you. But…I could never apologize. Not while he was around. He said…if I did, he’d just start abusing me too. So…I just left in the end. Left you to suffer when it really should’ve been me. I’m so sorry.” Seungyu looked up at Beomgyu tearfully, a distraught expression on his face.
Beomgyu silently felt tears well up in his eyes as he stared at his brother in the kneeling position. He kneeled down in front of him, grabbing his hands softly.
“You don’t have to forgive me…I’m not expecting you to. I just…always wanted to apologize. I lived in fear of him my whole life. And I vented that fear out on you. It was cruel, I know. You never deserved something like that. I’m…truly sorry for what we both did to you.”
Beomgyu looked at Seungyu silently before hugging him tightly, the older flinching in response.
“What do you mean ‘you don’t have to forgive me’? I already have , Seungyu-hyung. I know you were always worried about me. I saw how hurt you would get if father insulted me while you two ate dinner. It’s okay. I know you didn’t mean it. You were scared. I was scared too. We were… just children. It’s okay. I still love you.”
Seungyu hugged Beomgyu back as he spoke, breathing in and out carefully with tears still in his eyes. How could he have been so cruel to someone as amazing to Beomgyu? Beomgyu smiled silently, before gazing at the four boys standing in front of their car with serious expressions on their faces. Beomgyu smiled silently, gesturing for them to come over.
When they finally left the hug, Seungyu breathed out heavily before smiling at Beomgyu. Beomgyu smiled back softly at him, before helping him stand on the grass once more.
“Here. I want you to meet my boyfriends.” Beomgyu held out his hand, Seungyu immediately holding it as the four men came into view.
“Guys, I want you to meet my biological brother. Choi Seungyu. He’s four years older than me.”
“Hello, my name is Huening Kai. You can call me Kai. I was born in 2002.” His youngest boyfriend held out his hand for Seungyu to shake with a friendly smile on his face. Seungyu shook it silently before nodding.
“Hi, my name is Kang Taehyun. I was also born in 2002. It’s nice to meet you.” Taehyun was next, reaching out his hand to shake the man’s hand.
“Hello, I’m Choi Soobin. I was born in 2000.” Soobin slightly smiled as he shook hands with Seungyu.
“And I’m Choi Yeonjun. I was born in 1999. Nice to meet you.” Yeonjun shook his head with a somewhat neutral expression.
“Its nice to meet you all. I’m Choi Seungyu, I was born in 1997.” He slightly bowed to all of them, before folding his hands together politely. Beomgyu smiled silently, before pulling out his phone.
“Let’s exchange numbers, hyung.”
“Oh, yeah. Totally.” Seungyu pulled out his phone as he spoke, soon exchanging numbers with him. Beomgyu smiles silently before putting his phone away.
“Well, this was lovely, but we should probably get going. It was nice meeting you.” Soobin intervened between the two brothers.
“Uh, here, Beomgyu. Happy…belated birthday. I know its not much but…I’d rather you have these than him.” Seungyu handed Beomgyu the small bouquet of flowers he brought, Beomgyu smiling as he took them gratefully.
“Thanks, hyung. I’ll be in contact soon, I promise.” Beomgyu waved to the older boy as they left.
He waved back at them silently with a small smile on his face. They all gathered back in their car silently, Beomgyu still wearing a leftover smile on his face.
“Hey, Beomgyu-hyung. Wanna have a guitar session when we get home?” Kai smiled at the hybrid from the front seat. Beomgyu smiled back silently before nodding.
Beomgyu clung to Soobin’s arm before smiling at the new contact in his phone.
Today was a good day.
Fin