Chapter Text
The crisp December air carried snowflakes and an icy chill upon Choi Beomgyu and Choi Yeonjun as they strolled through the bustling Seoul streets on December 13th. The streets were adorned with twinkling lights and festive decorations, but Yeonjun was looking at the tiny pile of snow that had formed on top of Beomgyu's head. No doubt his was the same. The promise of the holiday season had filled both boys with excitement, but Christmas-time was always something special for Beomgyu.
As they passed by storefronts covered top to bottom with wreaths and tinsel, Beomgyu couldn't shake a feeling of excitement that had been gnawing at him since the beginning of the month. Yeonjun had grown used to it, but looking at him now was pretty amusing. Beomgyu was literally vibrating as he looked around the pretty city, pointing out everything even if they had seen it plenty of times. Yeonjun just smiled and kept walking next to him.
Beomgyu stopped and put his hand on Yeonjun's upper-arm, squeezing it tightly. "Can you believe it's almost Christmas, Yeonjun?" Beomgyu exclaimed, his voice over-flowing with the excitement he'd been carrying. "I wonder how this year will be." His eyes twinkled with the lights and Yeonjun thought he was a Christmas cartoon character himself with how animated he was acting.
Yeonjun grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Who knows, maybe this year will bring something extra special."
Finally, they could see Beomgyu's apartment from the street, and Yeonjun began to pick up speed, bringing his scarf further up his face. The wind was starting to pick up and the snow was starting to be tossed by it, slapping him in the face repeatedly.
Beomgyu's apartment door was the only one with a wreath on it. Yeonjun found it a little funny, but at the same time he thought it was weird that none of the other tenants had any Christmas spirit. Yeonjun's own door at his apartment across the city also didn't have one, but he figured Beomgyu's enthusiasm made up for it.
Reaching the door, Beomgyu suddenly paused, staring down at a small red and white box on his welcome mat. He wasted no time in grabbing for it, immediately holding it out for Yeonjun to see. "Who could leave this? Do you think it's for me? I'm going to open it, or should i wait? Yeonjun, what do I do?" Yeonjun just shrugged and giggled, taking Beomgyu's forgotten keys out of his other hand and opening the door. "You act like you've never been given a gift before, Gyu. Chill out."
Beomgyu followed quickly, kicking off his shoes and shaking the snow out of his hair. He tossed his winter-wear on the couch next to Yeonjun and then plopped himself down next to him as well. "Seriously, should I open this? What if it's like something really bad? Or gross?"
Yeonjun flicked Beomgyu's forehead lightly, "how could it be gross? You don't make any sense."
Beomgyu laughed in agreement, "Yeah, I don't think I have any enemies in here, but I don't have any friends either." He threw the box in Yeonjun's lap. "You open it, you're tough, whatever's in there, you get it."
"Beomgyu, seriously, chill. Do you actually want me to open it or not?" But before Yeonjun could even properly finish his sentence, Beomgyu was snatching the box back. "No, dummy, i want to open it. It's for me!"
Yeonjun rolled his eyes and stared blankly at his friend. "Open it then, you're getting on my nerves." "I am not getting on your nerves," Beomgyu retorted. "How are you going to tell me about my own nerves-" "Shh! I'm about to open it!" Yeonjun rolled his eyes again, leaning back to watch Beomgyu undoubtedly be dramatic about this.
Beomgyu's fingers trembled with excitement as he carefully peeled away the wrapping paper, revealing a small, brown box beneath. His heart raced with anticipation as he lifted the lid, revealing a delicate silver necklace adorned with a tiny snowflake pendant.
Yeonjun watched with amusement as Beomgyu's eyes widened in surprise. "Wow, this is beautiful," Beomgyu breathed, his voice filled with awe. "Who could it be from?"
Yeonjun couldn't help but smile at his friend's genuine delight. "Looks like you've got a secret admirer," he teased, nudging Beomgyu playfully.
Beomgyu's cheeks flushed with a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. "I wonder who it could be, seriously," he mused, turning the necklace over in his hands. "It's so thoughtful."
Yeonjun's curiosity piqued as he examined the intricate craftsmanship of the necklace. "Whoever it is, it's like they know your taste," he remarked, admiring the delicate details of the pendant.
"Yeah! I'm a silver guy for sure," Beomgyu exclaimed without looking at Yeonjun. He handed the necklace to the other boy and turned around, pinning his hair back with his hand without another word. Yeonjun took the cue and gently put the necklace around Beomgyu's neck.
"You think this will look good with all my outfits?" Beomgyu asked cheekily. Yeonjun nodded nonchalantly, closing his eyes for a moment before opening them again to find Beomgyu still sitting in front of him touching the charm.
Yeonjun turned his attention from Beomgyu to the window leading outside. The snow continued to fall, casting a soft glow over the room. He thought Seoul looked the most beautiful from outside Beomgyu's dingy fourth floor apartment window.
With the necklace securely against his skin, Beomgyu curled against Yeonjun like a cat. "It's really warm in here, right?" Yeonjun felt Beomgyu shift his neck to look up at him but he just continued looking outside. He knew Beomgyu would literally stare at him all night if he didn't respond, so he nodded his head. "It's cozy," Beomgyu murmured, settling further against Yeonjun's side.
As they sat together in the warmth of Beomgyu's apartment, which was actually a bit too hot for Yeonjun's liking, the snow continued to fall outside. It would likely be impossible to make it home tomorrow, not that he really cared. Beomgyu's apartment had something his apartment didn't have: Beomgyu.
Beomgyu had insisted that the only color lights he had in the apartment were red and white, but for some reason one light in particular shined a bright blue. Yeonjun stared at the light, zoning out on it as Beomgyu rested on his side. For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as Beomgyu and Yeonjun basked in the simple pleasure of each other's company.
"Why are you being so quiet?" Beomgyu whispered, poking and playing with Yeonjun's loose pants leg. Yeonjun looked down at him this time. He had moved so far down that his head was resting in his lap now. "Maybe I'm admiring something," Yeonjun responded, looking back at the blue light. Beomgyu chuckled and Yeonjun knew immediately that he thought he meant him. "Not you, dummy," he chuckled, looking down at his friend.
"I think you're mad that I have a secret admirer. You didn't get a super special pretty necklace gift and I did," Beomgyu's words came out somewhat slurred from his sleepy state. Yeonjun went to smack him lightly on the head, but ended up just laying his hand there instead. "Yeah, that's why you're being quiet," Beomgyu continued to tease.
Yeonjun bounced his knee up to stir Beomgyu, immediately causing him to whine. "Stop it, why do you always try to hurt me?" Yeonjun let out an actual laugh at his tendency to dramatize everything. "If it wasn't for me, you would've been hurt a million more times and you know it. I have to protect you from your own clumsy self a million times a day," Yeonjun retorted, returning his hand to Beomgyu's head. "Whatever... Don't do it again, I might fall asleep here." Yeonjun didn't respond, he just looked back out the window with a hint of a smile on his face.
Beomgyu was wrong earlier, Yeonjun did receive a present that day. And every day for the past 7 years he had been receiving silent presents. Maybe silent wasn't the word, because Beomgyu was anything but silent. As the snowflakes danced outside the window, painting a picture-perfect scene of winter wonderland, Yeonjun couldn't help but feel grateful for the precious gift of friendship Beomgyu had been bestowing upon him since they first met. That was Yeonjun's gift, and he would always feel lucky to have it. If he could wrap it up and wear it on a tiny silver chain, he would.