Chapter Text
"I'd rather die than do that."
"Then let's hold your funeral after we're done," Kim Junwan replies.
"Why must it be me?"
"Why else? And Dr. Chu Minha is joining us."
"Why would she?"
Oh, why did he bother asking? Of course she's somehow involved in this.
Narrowing his eyes at his friend, Junwan thought he should have asked Chu Minha to talk to this guy herself instead. "Costume's in the trunk of Jeongwon's car. After you're dressed, just go straight to Seolhui's room. I already told her mother about this."
Yoon Seolhui is a VIP patient, the youngest child of the former Prime Minister. Before her heart transplant, which will be the next day on Christmas Day, she wants to see Santa Claus. It's a request she constantly brings up when Junwan, her operating surgeon, goes over to check on her.
With a tricky surgery ahead, Junwan decided to grant her wish — using his friends, of course. They work for the VIP ward as well anyway.
"I didn't say yes."
"I'm not asking for permission. You're doing this, or I'll give you a crying child to deal with."
Sitting on his swivel chair, Seokhyung wonders aloud, "But how does Minha know?"
With his eyes already rooted to his phone screen, Junwan turns towards the doorway as he responds, "Lee Ikjun counted her in. They're going to be your elves. Have fun."
Junwan is already outside. Seokhyung half yells, "I didn't say yes!"
"Yeah, yeah. Good luck."
***
"Why am I doing this again?" Seokhyung asks, standing in his office, clad in scarlet clothing.
Maybe I should have gotten dressed in the bathroom near the VIP ward. I can't believe I'll walk the hallways looking like an apple.
"Well, why are you?" Minha prompts curiously, also ready to go with her elf outfit. The smile on her face hasn't left since she saw what he's wearing.
Magic word. It's because of the magic word and his defenses were down as soon as it was used. "I don't know. But you? How come you're an elf?"
"Professor Lee wanted to play the role, then said one elf doesn't make sense, so Professor Ahn got Professor Chae a costume. Something came up with her so she can't make it. Jang Gyeowool won't do it no matter what, so here I am. I don't mind. I'm using my break time."
"I'm sorry," Seokhyung says on behalf of his friends.
"It's really okay."
"I feel like I'll only scare Seolhui." Worst case scenario: the child is going to cry and the whole thing will go down the drain. But there's also the unlikely best case scenario: Seolhui decided to stop believing in Santa Claus overnight so Seokhyung doesn't have to do this anymore. Now if only Junwan would call him to say that this is cancelled…
Watching him with an endeared expression, Minha, cheeky as ever, suggests, "Professor, try saying ho-ho-ho."
"Shouldn't we be in the OR right now?" Seokhyung asks. He can swear cosplaying Santa wasn't in the oath he said before becoming a doctor.
"Christmas is here, that's why," Minha simply tells him, handing him his red hat. "Should we put on your wig?"
"I'll do it later." Wait a minute. "Why do I feel like you'll use this against me later on?"
"No way."
Her face says it all. Minha leads the way, busy holding back her laugh as they exit his office. They take the lesser used corridors, the two of them seeming out of place in the still bare look of the hospital interior, even during a festive season.
Seokhyung can't wait to go home.
***
Still, it went relatively well. Seolhui played with Seokhyung, who realized he didn't need to overthink all the things children like about Santa.
Kids only care about the gift. The one Seolhui got was prepared by Jeongwon, the only one who knows enough about children to pick the perfect present.
For the next half an hour he can spare, Santa Seokhyung had to pretend to be the big bad dragon who captured Princess Seolhui's new favorite toy. It's called Bombom, by the way. Seolhui ignored the poor elves and Seokhyung has no idea what they have been doing.
"We should do that again," Jeongwon suggests after they exit Seolhui's room, leaving the child with her mother. He sounds excited with his new idea. "Granting wishes of patients, I mean. It doesn't have to be strictly for the VIP ward only."
Taking off the white wig, white beard, and hat, Seokhyung gives it to Jeongwon. "First, dress up like this, then tell me that again."
"Send me that!" Minha whispers, huddled in a corner with her co-elf, their phones out.
Noticing his girlfriend's suspicious acts with Ikjun, Seokhyung calls out, "What's that?"
Looking up, Minha smiles brightly. "Professor Lee took pictures of you."
Seokhyung rarely curses, even in his mind, but shi—
"Ya, ya, ya, look at this one. Should I post this online?"
"Lee Ikjun, come here," Seokhyung orders.
"No. I'm old enough not to believe in Santa, so you don't exist to me right now."
"I'm not Santa, I'm Satan." Seokhyung ignores Jeongwon's affronted gasp behind him. "Time to go to hell. Come here. I'll count to three. One. Two —"
After a few more tapping on his screen, Ikjun snorts then waves goodbye, quickly fleeing the scene.
"Professor, let's go," Minha urges. "You need to see your outpatients soon."
***
An hour before Christmas Eve, he returns to his office. It's always around this time of the year that the unexpected happens when you hope for it not to so desperately, which is exactly why he's tired from an emergency delivery of a baby. Once again, Seokhyung wonders what entered his mind when he complied earlier.
From where he left it on his desk, his phone vibrates briefly, signaling a text message. It's Minha.
10:58 pm
Are you done?
I am
You?
I'm off now
Merry Christmas!!! 💖💚💛
Merry Christmas 🥰💞
Oppa
Can I also tell you my wish?
Santa doesn't accept wishes from naughty kids
What did I do ☹️
Those pictures
You're cute in all of them, don't worry 😊😍
What's your wish?
I'll tell you later
I'm in the lobby
Wait for me, I'll be there in a minute
Hurry, hurry~~
Smiling at Minha's responses as he quickly skims through them again, Seokhyung eases his mind. Some things can't be helped. They just happen.
***
"I wish we took one together," Minha murmurs as she swipes on her phone, sitting in the passenger seat as they head to his house. She laughs at something. "You look so cute here."
"Isn't taking pictures in the wards now prohibited?"
"Seolhui isn't in the frame," Minha shares. "I think Professor Lee knew you would say that. These are all only of you."
Damn it.
"Do you want me to delete them?" Minha asks.
"You wouldn't."
"Right, I wouldn't," she easily agrees, sounding merry about this whole thing. "There! I made it my wallpaper."
"But isn't the previous one us?"
"That was from last August."
He liked that one better though. "Is this your wish?"
"No. Not even close."
***
Since they already knew they would be getting lengthy shifts on Christmas Eve, they didn't book anything, opting instead for a simple dinner at his place. He sent his mom season greetings afterwards, guessing she's already asleep. Minha finished up with a quick video chat with her parents before joining him for some wine.
"It's quiet," she remarks, spinning the contents of her glass and watching it swirl. "I thought I would hear some fireworks."
"Is that your wish?"
Amused, the corners of Minha's lips tug up. "You must be really curious."
"Come here. I want to see those pictures."
When Minha goes over to his side, Seokhyung reaches for her to guide her to his lap. It's so he can see the pictures better.
Minha's blushing.
He prompts, "So?"
"Right."
He looks over as she slides through the pictures — and they're all terrible photos of him, which means Ikjun will pay for this the next time Seokhyung gets his hands on his credit card. That's the best tactic he can think of right now, but there could be better ideas later on. "I don't see what about this is 'cute'."
"What are you talking about? Don't slander my boyfriend like that."
"Santa is your boyfriend?" Should I be jealous?
"Right now, he is. He's the one who will grant my wish."
"What is it?"
"Wait, did I get that wrong? Technically, you'll give it to me."
"What is it," he repeats, aware that it's coming out as a whine now.
"A kiss. Under a mistletoe."
Seokhyung pauses, looking at her. Between the two of them, he can't tell who wants to make advances more. "That's your wish?"
"Considering I didn't get it last Christmas, yes."
Leaning in, Seokhyung gives her a preview, planting a soft, quick kiss on her lips. "Where do I get a mistletoe?"
"Your Christmas Tree has mistletoe ornaments."
"Okay."
But they're not moving.
Bringing a hand up to her face, he caresses the swell of her cheek, feeling the slight heat caused by the wine they drank radiating from it. He thought he ought to say 'Merry Christmas' again, but frankly, he doesn't want to speak. By the looks of it, she doesn't want to talk either.
So Seokhyung goes for a deeper, longer kiss, taking his time, getting to know the feeling again. Minha wounds her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her. An overwhelming feeling takes over him. Something in his chest constricts as he holds back, setting his forehead against hers, eyes closed, silently praying for the patience he can't seem to have around her.
"Oppa?"
I want to keep you here with me. That's my wish.
It's only been one year and seven months since they got together. It's long enough. It's too short at the same time.
"Are you okay?" Minha asks gently, pulling away from him to look at his face.
"I love you."
Her smile is warm and it's lighting up matches, tending to the small fire within his chest. This Christmas is better than the last. Hopefully the next one is better, with her this close to him again.
"I love you more."