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Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, Love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
— Christina G. Rossetti,
“Love Came Down at Christmas”
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4th December, 2023.
Three weeks before Christmas Day.
“Thank you, Jimin-hyung!”
Jimin smiles at the little boy gripping a tray filled with carbonara and garlic bread, chuckling as the innocent kid boasts about his missing upper teeth, telling his buddies he didn’t cry when the tooth fell last night and that he’s gonna grow taller than the rest of them.
Putting the ladle back in the casserole half-full of the carbonara sauce that the kitchen cook prepared for today’s lunch, Jimin exhales and wipes the sweat off his forehead with his arm. That wraps up the last kid in the queue.
“Ah, Jimin-ah. You didn’t have to help me again; it’s my job to feed this lot,” the middle-aged lady tells him with a smile, wiping her wet hands on her apron.
“It’s alright, Aunt Ha Yoon. I have some spare time today.”
Mrs. Ha chuckles and covers the leftovers with the plastic wrap. “How’s your class going?”
“Well—” Jimin carries the casserole back to the island counter. “Eunhae’s really good at Math, and Jikyung has definitely improved his penmanship. I think Yanghae’s helping him.”
“That’s good to hear.” Aunt Ha Yoon nods, the corners of her eyes wrinkling with age. “These kids learn to read and write at a later age than the kids outside the orphanage. They don’t have the luxury of going to a normal school, so we’re really grateful to you and Hoseok for volunteering to teach them even though being their teacher isn’t in your job description.”
“Come on, auntie.” Jimin laughs. “Both of us are social workers; it’s our calling to help these precious kids.”
“Well, not all social workers are like both of you.” The old lady places the leftovers in the fridge. “The local orphanage is just lucky that you picked to work here.”
“Maybe, it’s fate?” Jimin jokes, and the lady laughs.
“I think it is.”
“Jimin-aaaah!”
“Oh.” Aunt Ha Yoon snickers behind her hand. “Good luck, Jimin-ah.”
Jimin sighs and removes his apron before the source of that loud voice reaches the serving area. “How many times do I have to tell you not to run and shout inside the dining hall?” he chides the approaching man lightly.
His friend, Hoseok, grins at him and says, “Jin-hyung is looking for you.”
I knew it, Jimin thinks and groans on his hand loudly. “Nothing good ever comes whenever you look for me.”
Hoseok guffaws and throws his head back, smacking Jimin’s back. “Looks like you’re getting some extra job this Christmas! Good luck! Oh, Aunt Ha Yoon! Can I please have a plate of fried chicken—”
Jimin tunes out his friend’s cheerful voice and sighs before exiting the serving area. What could the director want from him? Extra work? Maybe. Shit, he thought he could enjoy Christmas Eve blissfully with the kids. He doesn’t want to go anywhere!
I hope Jin-hyung doesn’t send me to another weird local convention on Christmas week, he muses with a little sag on his shoulders. He remembers that time five years ago when Jin sent him to attend a convention about the town’s traditional Christmas lanterns together with participants who were thrice his age. Needless to say, Jimin stuck out like a sore thumb and got fussed over by elderly people around him while each participant attempted to make a traditional Korean lantern for Christmas.
It was awkwardly awful.
After three reluctant knocks, Jimin announces behind the orphanage director’s door, “Jin-hyung? This is Jimin. Can I come in?”
“Oh, Jimin-ah! Come in.”
Stifling another sigh, Jimin opens the door and finds the elder signing off several papers on his desk. “Hoseok said you wanted to see me?”
“Yes. Yes.” The director scribbles his signature on the lower left corner of the paper without lifting his gaze to Jimin. “You remember our yearly mysterious generous sponsor?”
Jimin raises a brow at the unprompted subject of conversation. “Yeah. What about them?”
The thing is, the orphanage gets donations all year round, but this mysterious sponsor is different. They have sent food and gifts for the kids—tons of them—each Christmas Eve for three years without fail. Jimin doesn’t know if the sponsor really had a generous spirit or just had a lot of time and money on their hands, but sending gifts that probably amounted to a whole year of Jimin’s pay was kind of over-the-top. Are they a millionaire or something? A celebrity? A politician? It’s kinda frustrating because the sponsor never left anything but a Christmas card with a written note of ‘Merry Christmas’ in neat handwriting that didn’t tell any clue about their identity.
Whatever. Jimin internally shrugs. It’s not like it concerns him. He’s just grateful that such a generous sponsor had set their eyes on their local orphanage when they could splurge all their money on other things. Maybe, it’s a thing among rich people to donate to charities, some sort of thanksgiving or a call of destiny or something.
“I got an email from the sponsor.”
Jimin’s train of thought gets interrupted by the unexpected news. “Email?”
“Uh-huh,” Jin answers, placing a stamp on the document before him. “He said he’s gonna visit the orphanage this year.”
He. Jimin licks his lips in thought. So, their mysterious sponsor is a man, huh?
“What for?”
For the first time since stepping into his office, Director Kim finally raises his eyes to look at him, and something in the older man’s expression alarms the bells in Jimin’s brain with the way Jin’s mouth curves with a knowing grin.
“Not ‘what.’” The director leans back against his swivel chair and props a leg over the other, folding his arms together. “But who.”
Jimin’s brows rise to his hairline, surprised. “Is the sponsor interested in adopting one of the kids?”
Jin lets out a light chuckle. “These kids deserve a good life, and I think our dearest sponsor can provide sufficiently for them, but no. He’ll visit to spend Christmas Eve in the orphanage he’s generously funded for three years.” Director Kim arranges himself properly on his seat. “But who knows? Maybe, he will take a kid home after his visit.” He flicks an amused gaze in the younger’s direction. “And, maybe, another one. I don’t know; I guess we’ll find out on December 24th.”
⁺₊⋆✩⋆₊⁺
24th December, 2023.
Christmas Eve.
It’s not weird for a sponsor to want to visit the local orphanage and see the result of their kindhearted donation. But what’s odd is for a sponsor to spend the night— Christmas Eve — in the orphanage for whatever charitable reason they came up with. And to say that Jimin was assigned by the director to cater to their visitor’s needs specifically is something that Jimin can’t comprehend in a thousand years.
“Yo, Jimin-ah.” Hoseok leans against the doorframe of Jimin’s classroom and throws a thumb over his shoulder. “Jin-hyung’s calling for you.”
With a sigh, the younger stands up from his spot on the floor and pats Yanghae on the head, who seems occupied coloring a storybook on top of the small drawing desk. “I’ll be right back, kids,” he announces and turns his attention to Hoseok. “Switch with me, hyung.”
“Aye.” Hoseok gives him a boy salute and a teasing smirk. “I’m so glad I’m not you.”
Jimin rolls his eyes and leaves his classroom without another word.
Why does it have to be me?
Three knocks. “Jin-hyung?” he calls and waits for the director’s voice to come from the other side of the door.
But instead of telling him to come in like he always did, Jimin almost jumps on his feet when Jin opens the door himself and welcomes him with a huge smile. “Jimin-ah! Come in! Come in!”
“Hey! Wha—?” The words die on Jimin’s tongue when Director Kim moves behind him and drops his hands on his shoulders, shifting his view to the man sitting on the couch with a cup of coffee in his hand.
“Jimin-ah, I’d like you to meet our most generous and kindhearted sponsor, Min Yoongi-ssi.”
Min Yoongi?
“A-Ah, yes. Uhm…” Jimin clears his throat and walks closer to the man, watching as the latter abandons the cup of coffee on the table and proceeds to stand up on his feet. With a most pleasing smile, Jimin offers his hand for a greeting. “I’m Park Jimin, sir, the in-house social worker. Welcome to Little Miracles Orphanage.”
The man, Min Yoongi, gives him a faint uptilt of his lips and returns the gesture. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Park Jimin-ssi.”
Okay.
Jimin blinks. What does he mean by ‘finally’? And what’s up with those cat-like eyes and boyish smile? Who would have thought that their famous, mysterious sponsor would turn out to be a… That he would be this…
Handsome .
Jimin internally flinches at the word and forces an amicable smile. “It’s our pleasure to have you here, Yoongi-ssi.”
“A pleasure indeed.” Director Kim grins and walks back to his desk. “Jimin will show you the guest room, Yoongi-ssi. Do you need any help with your luggage?”
“Thanks, but I only got a duffel bag with me. I can manage.”
With a nod, Jin claps his hands once and says, “Well, if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask the staff. If you want to have a look around, I’m sure Jimin-ssi here will be willing to give you a little tour.”
Jimin gives the director a pointed look, saying, ‘Why me and not you? You’re the director!’ But Jin brushes it off and pretends to not see the suspicious look in the younger’s eyes.
“This way, sir,” Jimin utters, extending an open palm toward the exit before throwing a glare at Jin, who gives him a cheeky little wink in return. The devil.
The journey to the guest room is filled with awkward silence. To Jimin’s merit, he did try striking a conversation with the man a few times, but the latter only replied with a hum, a yes or a no, or a one-word sentence. What is Jimin supposed to do?
Turning around the corner, Jimin sneakily glances at the man behind him and sees Yoongi’s gaze quietly roaming over the place, observing a bunch of little kids running around the courtyard while the older ones help with the Christmas decorations.
“We’re holding a Christmas Eve party for the kids tonight, but I’m sure you know about that.” Jimin chuckles awkwardly and stops in front of the guest room. That’s right. In the last three years, their sponsor never failed to send gifts and food for the party, something the kids had always looked forward to each year.
It’s a big help, Jimin muses. Not only for the kids, but for everyone working in the orphanage.
Opening the door, the social worker tells the man, “This is your room, Yoongi-ssi. Let me know if there’s anything I can help you with.”
Yoongi nods and walks inside, glancing around the room tentatively before placing the duffel bag onto the couch. Then, he turns to say, “Actually, I do need your help with something, Jimin-ssi.”
Jimin tilts his head slightly to the side, waiting.
“I’ll take Director Kim’s offer on that tour.” The sponsor rests his hands on his hips and smiles. “If you aren’t busy, will it be alright for you to accompany me?”
“Oh. Uhm…” Jimin scratches his cheek with a finger. “Actually, I have an ongoing class right now.”
“Isn’t it a holiday vacation for the children?”
“It is. I mean, it doesn’t have anything to do with formal lessons.” Jimin shrugs. “It’s just a mini-recreational course for the kids. They’re coloring stuff and making Christmas decorations.”
“I see.” Yoongi rubs a hand on the back of his neck and averts his eyes, and something about the bashful gesture coupled with a light shade of pink painting the lobes of his ears makes Jimin do a double take. Yoongi isn’t… as impassive as he thinks he is.
“But—” Jimin folds his arms together and gives the man a friendly smile, jutting his hips slightly to the side. “If it doesn’t bore you, Yoongi-ssi, you can come with me to my class first before I take you up on that tour.”
Yoongi flicks his gaze back to him, his eyes growing wide in mild surprise. Was Jimin too bold?
“Well, I mean—” The social worker clears his throat and blushes in embarrassment. “If you want, I can ask another staff to accompany you, sir. Hoseok is an in-house social worker like me, and he knows the ins and outs of the orphanage as much as I do—”
“No, it’s fine.”
Jimin snaps his mouth shut.
The sponsor fixes the folded long sleeves around his arms, and Jimin, honest to God, tries not to openly stare at the way his muscles flex with each movement. It’s been… a while since he got attracted to another guy. Can anyone really blame him? Christ.
“I can have a look at your class.” The corners of Yoongi’s lips curl up. “I’m not in a hurry.”
⁺₊⋆✩⋆₊⁺
“Thank you for helping me write, hyung!” Jikyung exclaims with a toothy grin as he stands up from the floor to hang his lantern on the Christmas Tree, elbowing his way through a throng of kids who also want to hang their own wishes on the holiday tree.
“Don’t push, everyone! Form a line,” Jimin tells them. And when the kids complain but still obey his command, the social worker lets out a little shake of his head and a soft sigh. “Really, these lot.”
A low chuckle across from him grabs his attention, and Jimin blushes a bit at the amused upturn of Yoongi’s lips and the gleeful curve of his cat-like eyes. “You let them call you big brother,” he says. “You’re really good with kids.”
Before Jimin can respond, Min-Ah tugs at his sleeve and stares up at him with round, doe-like eyes. “Oppa,” she says with a small pout. “Please help me write my wish to Santa?”
“Of course, little angel.” Jimin smiles brightly at the little girl. “What’s your wish?”
“I wish…” Min-Ah rests a chubby finger under her chin, thinking.
“Do you want a new dress?”
The little girl shakes her head, her pigtails swinging around her head adorably. “You already gave me a new dress for my birthday.”
“Oh, you’re right.” Jimin hums thoughtfully. “How about a new doll?”
“I have lots of dolls, hyung.” The pout on Min-Ah’s mouth grows, but after a few seconds, she beams widely at the elder and snatches the lantern and marker from the desk. “Oh, I know!”
“What is it?” Jimin asks, chuckling.
“Shh! It’s a secret. I’ll show you after I write it.” Min-Ah scoots away and bends her knees to hide the lantern from Jimin. “Oppa! How do you write your name again?”
“Why do you need my name?”
“Just tell me, pleaseeee!” Min-Ah pouts again, and, God, how can Jimin ever deny her of anything?
“Alright. Alright.” Jimin laughs and gets the pen from the desk to write his name in hangul on a piece of paper.
“Oh, right! I forgot to add a stroke on the letter ‘J.’”
“How old is she?” Jimin hears Yoongi ask.
“Six.” When the man only responds with a hum, Jimin gives him a teasing smile and says, “I know what you’re thinking.”
His words earn him a raised brow from the sponsor. “You do?”
“Uh-huh.” Jimin places his elbow on the desk and rests his chin on a closed fist. “You’re thinking, ‘Why is she only starting to learn how to write now? Shouldn’t orphanages teach kids how to read and write at age 4?’ That’s what your face tells me.”
Yoongi breathes out a light chuckle. “You got me.”
“Well, Min-Ah became an orphan at four years old when her parents died in a bus accident. Her distant relatives from Gwangju didn’t want to take her in, so when she got to the orphanage, we tried to give her the minimum basic education she needed to survive.”
“I see.” The brightness in the sponsor’s face fades into something more solemn as he casts a glance at the little girl, something akin to understanding and sympathy morphing his handsome features, and Jimin instantly regrets that he judged the guy too quickly.
“Oppa!” Min-Ah crawls back to her spot beside Jimin and shoves the lantern to his face.
With a smile, Jimin takes it and drops his gaze on the white paper lantern, feeling his cheeks heat up in surprise at the slightly messy handwriting written at the center, complete with two stick figures drawn under the letters:
Dear Santa,
I wish for Jimin-oppa to find his Prince Charming!
- Min-Ah
“Oh, my God,” Jimin mutters under his breath as his face falls on his palm.
“I’m going to hang it!” Min-Ah announces happily before taking the lantern back from Jimin, hurrying toward the Christmas Tree to hang her wish together with the others.
“Prince Charming?”
Jimin’s shoulders flinch at that familiar low voice across the table. Sighing, he explains, “We did a mini-theatre for Disney stories six months ago, and the kids insisted that I played Snow White.” He blushes. “None of the kids wanted to play Prince Charming because they all wanted to be my dwarves.” He winces. “It was cute until a few began to force each other to take the role. So, Hoseok had to step in and tell the class that there would be no Prince Charming because ‘Jimin was still looking for him.’ Yeah, those were his words.”
Jimin buries his burning face in his hands again in embarrassment and frustration. “Ugh, I didn’t know those kids would take it seriously! It’s Hoseok’s fault.”
“Hey, you’re fine.” A hand wraps around his wrist, and the gentle touch almost sends Jimin reeling back from his spot. The warmth in his cheeks courses down his chest at the handsome smile playing across Yoongi’s lips. “I think it’s kinda cute.”
Cute.
Jimin blinks, and the longer he stares dumbly at the man, the more the smile on Yoongi’s lips grows.
Is he flirting with him?
“AH!”
Jimin jolts and instinctively retrieves his wrist from the other’s hold, turning his gaze to the shocked pair of boys pointing their fingers at the two of them as if having a eureka moment.
Jikyung shouts, “It’s Prince Charming!”
“What?!” Jimin exclaims, confused.
The other children join the commotion and scramble over to have a look at the so-called ‘Prince Charming.’
“Jimin-hyung found his Prince Charming!” Yanghae yells, and the heat on Jimin’s face bursts into flames.
“Ya! Come back here!” he says, chasing the children around the classroom and hearing their laughter as they chant, “Hyung’s got a boyfriend! Hyung’s got a boyfriend!”
“Hey, stop it!” Jimin groans, but the kids screech and hurry toward their visitor, hiding behind Yoongi’s back as the man laughs with them.
“You!” Jimin points at him, panting. “Don’t encourage them!”
With a playful smirk, Yoongi moves from his spot on the floor to kneel on one knee, bowing his head once before lifting his eyes to Jimin and saying, “I’ve come for you, Snow White.”
The children scream and chant louder as the blush on Jimin’s face burns brighter than the twinkling Christmas lights.
⁺₊⋆✩⋆₊⁺
A truck pulls up in front of the orphanage and hauls down dozens of wrapped gifts and trays of food. This year’s party is livelier than the last, with more food and presents for the kids and a lot of staff joining the celebration, waiting for the clock to strike twelve and signal the advent of Christmas Day.
After filling their bellies with delicious food, the children began their presentation on the small stage that Jimin and the other orphanage staff had organized several days ago for the party. Letting out a satisfied sigh, with his stomach stuffed full of good food and the crisp winter air blowing gently across his face, Jimin turns away from the front row to reposition himself on the terrace several feet away from the stage.
It’s cold , Jimin thinks as he blows warmth to his freezing fingers. Elbows leaning on the wooden railings, he watches the kids sing a Christmas carol with a soft smile on his face. He conducted the little choir last year, and tonight, it’s Hoseok’s turn to show their guests the children’s aptitude for singing.
“Cold?”
Jimin turns to the source of that low voice, feeling a strange heat creep into his cheeks at the gentle smile curving the corners of the man’s lips. “A bit.”
“Mhn. Here.” Yoongi offers him a cup of hot tea. Or, at least, that’s what Jimin thinks it is judging by the color of the liquid, but it somehow smells different. The warming aroma of cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon fills Jimin’s nostrils as he takes a light sniff over the cup.
“Is this wine?” he asks.
“Mulled red wine,” Yoongi corrects him. “Try it.”
Glancing back at the cup in his hands, Jimin takes a tentative sip of the drink and lets the rich taste coat his tongue. “It’s sweet,” he comments. “And slightly bitter.”
“Heating the wine lessens its alcohol content. Brandy can also be used as a substitute for a stronger alcohol percentage.”
Jimin gives him a curious smile. “You seem very knowledgeable about it. Are you a wine connoisseur?”
An amused huff comes out of Yoongi’s mouth. “No, not really. Although I do like liquor in general.”
“You don’t taste wine for a living?”
“That’s a tempting field, but no.” He chuckles.
“Then, what do you do?” Jimin asks, leaning on his elbows and looking at the other man expectantly.
The sponsor casts his gaze briefly on his cup of mulled wine, licking his lips in thought before saying, “I’m a chef.” He lifts his eyes to the younger beside him.
Perhaps, it is shock or amazement to a staggering degree that causes Jimin to part his lips and stare dumbly for the second time that day at the wonderful man standing next to him. “A chef,” he utters. “That’s—wow. I know you’re rich, but I didn’t know you’re this amazing.”
The astounded expression on Jimin’s face elicits an embarrassed laugh from Yoongi. “You flatter me.”
“It’s true.” Jimin takes another sip of his drink, letting the warm wine glide down his throat and chase away the cold clawing at his stomach. “I mean, donating to an orphanage for charity is amazing in itself. But being an established professional in your chosen field? That’s a completely different kind of remarkable achievement.”
Yoongi gives him a warm smile, the kind that sends sparks across Jimin’s chest and ends up as fluttering wings in his stomach. “Why did you choose to work here, Jimin-ssi?”
“Ah.” Jimin licks his lips, blushing. “Long story short, I have an affinity for kids. My dad is a social worker in my hometown, while my mom works at a local government office on weekdays and does charity work with my little brother on weekends.” He chuckles. “I guess you can say it runs in the family.”
The attentive expression on Yoongi’s face melts into something soft and gentle, almost looking fond as he connects gazes with Jimin, right there under the cold winter air and flickering holiday lights. “I haven’t met your family, but I can say that they’re amazing people like you.”
Jimin’s lashes flutter at the compliment, and he averts his eyes from the man before he does or says something stupid. “How about you, Yoongi-ssi? Why did you become a chef?”
“I didn’t know you were interested enough to ask stuff about me.” When Jimin gives him a surprised look, Yoongi grins and utters, “I was under the impression you hated me.”
“Hate is too much of a word. But—ugh, fine! You got me.” Jimin pouts. “I misjudged you, okay? I thought you were just here to boast about your donations and flaunt your charitable soul to everyone, so I kinda disliked you at first. No sponsor had ever stayed overnight at the orphanage, more so, engaged with our activities as actively as you did. This is all new to me, so I guess I got confused. I’m sorry for not being so welcoming when we met at the director’s office earlier today, Min Yoongi-ssi.”
“You said you disliked me at first.” There’s a playful flicker in the man’s eyes when he says, “What about now?”
Do you like me now?
Jimin huffs lightly and takes a sip of his rapidly cooling wine. “You’re fine,” he states vaguely, and Yoongi chuckles.
“I’m ‘fine,’ huh?” The sponsor ponders over a thought for a moment before telling him, “I think being a chef was a calling for me. I like cooking food for people—for kids.” He tilts his head to the orphans singing on stage. “Before discovering this orphanage, I donated to foundations and charities in Daegu. I know how hard it is to grow up without a parental figure because I grew up in an orphanage myself.”
The shocking truth catches Jimin off guard, and he takes a step closer to let their shoulders brush, silently offering his support, which the older man feels grateful for. Jimin doesn’t want to pretend to know what Yoongi went through. He had it tough, definitely, but no amount of words could ever make Jimin understand just how lonely Yoongi must have been when he was a kid.
“You don’t have to continue, you know? I’ll understand,” Jimin offers him a consoling smile, hoping that Yoongi would see comfort in his gesture.
“No.” The man shakes his head, returning his smile. “It feels good to tell somebody about it. Makes everything more bearable. And it’s not like I’m ashamed of my past or anything; it has been my primary source of strength that put me to where I am now.”
He’s amazing, Jimin muses. He’s probably one of the strongest people I’ve met.
“When I left the orphanage at eighteen, I washed dishes and bussed tables for food and lodging in diners and small restaurants. One day, the restaurant owner in Gangnam tried the soup I made after closing hours.” The corners of Yoongi’s eyes crinkle happily at the memory. “She recommended me to a renowned chef, who happened to be her close childhood friend. I became that chef’s apprentice, studied culinary arts, and established my own restaurant. It had been a grueling five years because I had to make a name for myself, but I guess my efforts paid off.”
The soft expression in Jimin’s eyes sparkles with appreciation. Really, this man before him is amazing . “I know we just met, but thank you for trusting me, Yoongi-ssi.”
The smile on the elder’s face grows, and he says, “There’s something about you that makes people want to trust you. And I’m sure I’m not the only one who does.” After a short moment of pause, he continues, “I met you before, you know? At the 23rd Christmas Music Festival.” He hesitates. “Three years ago.”
“What?” Jimin asks, dumbfounded at the sudden revelation. They met at the music festival three years ago? And why does it have to be the event that Jimin wishes to stay buried in the deepest corner of his memory? Why is fate playing with him like this?
When the expression on Jimin’s face changes, Yoongi adopts a more serious look and says, “I was one of the sponsors of the festival. I went to the venue to greet some people, and that was when I saw you with the kids, standing in a hallway and practicing your Christmas carol. I went to buy a drink from the vending machine outside and got lost on my way back to the venue.” He hesitates. “And that was when I saw you with someone.”
Jimin averts his eyes and swallows the forming lump in his throat. He doesn’t hate talking about it now unlike three years ago, but recalling that certain painful memory still puts a slightly bitter taste on his tongue.
After all, it was Christmas Eve, and his boyfriend broke up with him.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you were both standing in a quiet and dimly lit corridor, so I caught a whiff of your conversation. It sounded really serious, and I was worried that a fight might break out, but it never came.” Yoongi mindlessly runs his finger on the rim of his cup. “I hid around a corner and saw your partner walk away first. Then, after a while, I saw you.”
Jimin presses his lips together as Yoongi casts him a solemn gaze.
“You were crying,” he utters. “Silently. It was like watching a glass shatter to the ground with no sound.”
Jimin knows. He remembers. He remembers the grief and sadness he felt that day. He can move on, but he never forgets.
“Still, you stood on that stage with the kids in front of hundreds of people.” Yoongi places a hand under Jimin’s chin, coaxing the younger to look at him. “You conducted the choir with a bright smile on your lips, even though red rimmed your eyes and tears stained your cheeks. It was the most astonishing but heartbreaking sight I’d ever seen.”
Jimin parts his lips at the sensation of Yoongi’s skin against his, of his finger touching his chin, of the cold that radiates from the tip of the man’s finger that sends shivers down Jimin’s spine and contradicts the warmth pooling in his chest.
“I wish to confess,” Yoongi says, and Jimin feels his heart stop beating for a second. “I’m not as selfless as you think I am. I became a sponsor to this orphanage, not only because of the kids but also because of you .”
“I got an email from the sponsor.”
Jimin’s train of thought gets interrupted by the unexpected news. “Email?”
“Uh-huh,” Jin answers, placing a stamp on the document before him. “He said he’s gonna visit this year.”
He. Jimin licks his lips in thought. So, their mysterious sponsor is a man, huh?
“What for?”
For the first time since stepping into his office, Director Kim finally raises his eyes to look at him, and something in the older man’s expression alarms the bells in Jimin’s brain with the way Jin’s mouth curves with a knowing grin.
“Not ‘what.’” The director leans back against his swivel chair and props a leg over the other, folding his arms together. “But who .”
Jimin feels his breath cease in his throat when Yoongi moves his face closer. Then, the man says, his voice sounding a thousand times louder than the kids’ Christmas carol, “I came today to spend Christmas Eve with you, Jimin-ssi. You can say I’m selfish like that.”
As warmth explodes in Jimin’s cheeks, he casts his eyes down and instinctively grips the front of Yoongi’s coat with his free hand. “Y-Yoongi-ssi, I—”
“Yoongi. Just call me Yoongi. Or, hyung.” The man smiles. “I heard from Director Kim that I’m two years older than you.”
Jimin crinkles his nose adorably upon hearing Jin’s name. That conniving hyung. He knew what Yoongi was up to, and he still gave him permission to approach him. So, that was why Jin was adamant about Jimin giving their sponsor the tour instead of Hoseok or any other staff.
“Unbelievable.” Jimin huffs. “I can’t believe you schemed something like this with Jin-hyung behind my back!”
“It’s not a ‘scheme’ anymore if you know it,” Yoongi wittily responds, and that earns him a pinch on his side from Jimin. “Ow.” He chuckles. “Sorry for troubling you.”
“Damn right.” Jimin tries to restrain a smile but fails miserably. “And if you’re trying to flirt with me, I suggest you do better.”
When the mood lightens into a more comfortable note, Yoongi jokes, “I see. But aren’t you looking for Prince Charming?”
Jimin blushes and narrows his eyes at the man. “No,” he responds, smiling. “But I’m not against it if he comes one day wearing his shiny armor and riding his noble steed.”
When the elder gives him a gummy smile, Jimin thinks that his defective heart just did a backflip between his ribs. God, is he this barren of romance? It’s been a while since Jimin expressed interest in someone. Is it why he feels like Yoongi’s words and actions affect him more than they should?
“Well, I don’t have armor and a noble steed, and I’m fairly sure that you can’t get them without permits,” Yoongi says, and Jimin snickers. “But I can cook your favorite food.”
“Heh.” The younger smirks. “‘The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach,’ huh?”
“An old but reliable saying. I live by it.” When Jimin rolls his eyes fondly, and a comfortable silence settles between them, Yoongi finally asks, “Can I visit you again?”
“Hm… It depends,” Jimin teases him. God, he wants to tease him more.
“On what?” the chef inquires with a curious lift of his brows.
“The kids.” The younger grins at him. “If they will like you.”
Surprise flashes across Yoongi’s features fleetingly before the man chuckles and shakes his head, running a hand down his face with a wide smile curving his lips. “Then, I guess I’ll have to frequent the orphanage and bribe the kids with sweets. It took me three years to gather the courage to approach you, so I might as well go all out.”
Jimin giggles. “That’s right, Prince Charming.”
A healthy shade of pink colors the tips of Yoongi’s ears. “So, I’ll have to win the dwarves’ favor first before I can make a move on Snow White.” He fakes a thoughtful hum. “Sounds like a fun challenge.”
As the flickering holiday lights cast a warm glow on Yoongi’s face, and the tranquil sound of the kids’ voices singing a Christmas carol permeates the air of the orphanage, Jimin lets out a hearty laugh and says, “Yes. And then, maybe, you’ll earn your first kiss from Snow White if you do well.”
It’s ridiculous, really, how fast Jimin is beginning to lean toward him. They’ve just met—officially—after three years, but it feels like they have known each other for a lifetime. There is so much to ask, so much to know and unravel, and each answer to a question may take days, months, or years to earn, but Jimin is willing to try. Finally, after his breakup three years ago, he is ready to try again.
And for some odd reason, like what happened to Snow White, Jimin feels certain that Yoongi will be the one to kiss him awake from this lonesome nightmare.
Well , he thinks. There’s only one way to find out, right?
⁺₊⋆✩⋆₊⁺
24th December, 2024.
Christmas Eve.
Letter on the class bulletin board:
“Dear Santa, thank you for giving Jimin-oppa his Prince Charming!
I wish for a new bag this year! – Min-Ah”