Chapter Text
Khun was finally done with work. It was an extremely busy day. Mistakes were made so much, he was placed in the back so he could get his focus back and get some rest from the customers. His shift wasn't officially over but he was allowed to leave. Cleaning and closing could be done without him and they knew he needed some rest.
Instead of going straight home, he had a different place to go to first. Casually he made his way to the electronics store and walked in, not caring they would close in 15 minutes.
"Welcome!" The blond looked distracted.
"Good afternoon." Yellow eyes looked up.
"What's up?"
"Well." He leaned on the counter. "I was wondering why you won't be coming to Bam's birthday."
Karaka snorted. "Dude, seriously. You came all the way here for that?” Khun just looked at him. “It’s not that important. Just one christmas."
"It is for Bam. He is really hurt that you won't come."
"We have different plans for Christmas that we can’t cancel."
"Well, it's not Christmas eve. It's his birthday."
Yellow eyes rolled. "Listen, we are stuck in a city 3 hours from here till late on the 24th. We won't be able to get back in time."
"Why not? 3 hour drives are not that long." He smirked as he started to receive a glare..
"Listen, I would love to stay here, celebrate Viole's birthday and enjoy Mrs. Arlene's awesome cooking for Christmas but I will be stuck at my in-laws."
"Can't you cancel?"
Karaka snorted. "I am obliged to go by Yuri. We are dropping Wangnan off with friends and then Jinsung and I will go to the Ha Estate. He is my ride, so go ask him if it’s that important to you."
Khun raised his brow. "Your in-laws are the Ha family?"
He got a nod. "Viole's cousin Yuri is my girlfriend."
"Oh, long distance."
"It’s what you want to call long distance. Now if you don't mind, I want to start closing up."
"Understandable. Thank you for the information. Have a good evening." With a hand held up, he left and went to his next destination.
It sucked that he had to bike to the place but he wanted to do it for Bam. The door was still open so he just walked in.
"Good evening."
A man with long red hair glared at him from his chair. "What do you need?"
"I need to speak to Ha Jinsung."
The man snorted. "Old man isn't here. He lives next to this place."
"Thank you." He quickly bowed and went next door.
Casually he pressed the doorbell as he didn't care what the man's reaction would be. They had met for a brief time a couple of times which gave enough impressions of the man not liking him.
The door opened and a glare was given. "What do you want, Khunkid?"
"Good evening. I wanted to ask you to come to Bam's Birthday." The man sighed.
"We have been invited but we had to reject it."
"I know why. But knowing it is only a 3 hour drive and you don't have to make it late, you should be able to be there in the morning for Bam's birthday."
"You don't know me nor my biological family. If I could, I would have."
"Bam cried." The man raised his brows. "After Mrs. Arlene told us, you won't be coming for Christmas. He got upset. He doesn't care about Christmas but he does care about his birthday. It’s his 18th birthday and he was really looking forward to having you over."
The man glared. "You'd better not be joking."
"Why would I joke about something like this? Bam told me personally. He said he finally started to like his birthday and hearing people wouldn't come, made him feel like he felt for years, abandoned.”
Slowly, white started to fall from the sky. "Listen, you should just go home. It has started to snow and you need to be home safe."
"I hope you will make it possible for you to come. Have a good evening." He bowed before the door was shut.
With a sigh of relief, he got on his bike and started his way back home.
At his arrival, he was soaking wet from the snow. "Owh, Aguero." A towel was thrown over his head and hands ruffled through his hair. "Take off your coat. I have filled up the bath for you." It was chaotic but the care felt loving and it made him happy.
Two days had passed and the snow was still visible. Kids were sledding, snow sculptures were made and some tried to clear the pavements. Khun had just finished work. The bakery was closed early after a busy morning. It would be Christmas eve in a few hours and he didn't know what to expect.
At school they had a whole Christmas celebration with a gift exchange. He had gotten a Christmas gift from his work and he was sent home with a bunch of Christmas biscuits. Biking went well despite the snow. The slip-ups were funny, not that it helped with biking for a clumsy Bam. Well, it did make it more fun and enjoyable.
The hall was filled with delicious smells when they arrived home. Both walked into the living to greet the couple but were met with chaos.
"Vi, you are only in the way."
"Arlene, honey." The man sighed before he spotted the two. "The kids are home. Viole, can you come help me in the kitchen?"
"No, I can do it myself." Arlene objected but Bam got to council his mom too.
"You're way too stressed, Mom. It's not good for your health. How about you decorate the tree with Khun?" Bam said. “You don’t mind helping, Khun?”
"It's not a problem. Let's decorate the tree together, Mrs. Arlene."
She finally was convinced and the two went to grab the ornaments while the other two were busy in the kitchen.
The tree was decorated in silence.
"How come you're so stressed, Mrs. Arlene?" He asked as he sat down on the floor to hang up some ornaments.
"I'm not stressed. Oh, not too low. The gifts might break them and it's not pretty." Khun gave a look. Arlene sighed. "It's just that…" She sat down on the short side of the sofa. "I want Christmas to be like we always wanted it to be."
"I can understand."
"You know what I'm talking about?"
With pursed lips, he nodded. "Bam told me about it." She looked uncomfortable. "It is really admirable to know that you took your responsibility and tried to give your son the best you can give." He saw a small smile on her face. "I always hear people talk about Christmas being the festivity to stand still by what you're grateful for." She looked and listened. "I'm grateful for this family." His fingers were playing with a piece of garland.
"Really?"
He nodded with a half smile… "You are the most loving and caring people I've ever met. I'm grateful that you took me in."
Arlene moved next to him and embraced him. "I'm grateful we were able to." He felt lips against his head. "I'm grateful for being able to give a safe and loving home."
They stayed like that for a while. Khun melted in the embrace. He felt safe and sound. "I'm grateful for this all."
"Me too." They smiled as they parted. "Let's put on the star." The star was handed to him.
"Are you sure?" Arlene nodded and held up her phone. Something inside him felt guilty. Yet the little kid inside was screaming of excitement and happiness. 'My first time doing this.' Slowly and carefully, he put the star on top of the tree.
"Beautiful." They stepped back a few steps. "We're a great team." An arm proudly patted his back. "Now, it's time to change and then we can celebrate." Excitedly, she pushed him towards the stairs before she went to push the other two to change as well.
Khun didn't want to overdo himself nor take too much time so he kept it simple and out his hair is a low ponytail with braids on the side. It made him happy that he finally could take out the transparent piercings. At first he wanted to put in his usual piercings but he saw the piercings that he was gifted.
It ended up looking really pretty in his ears. The industrial piercing his friends had given him matched perfectly with the set he got from Hatz. He kept his outfit simple too. Just casual high waisted brown trousers, a white button up and the sweater Bam had found for him at the vintage store.
As he left his room, the brunette was just going downstairs. "Wauw." Bam looked at him with wide eyes. "You look beautiful."
"Thank you!"
Blue eyes examined the other's outfit. Black sleek trousers, black belt, red button down shirt with the first buttons open and a simple black vest. "You look great yourself. Love the fit." A proud smile was given.
"I took your advice. Glad you like it."
They went to the living room together and their eyes met a beautiful set table.
"It's beautiful!"
"Dad, you did awesome!"
"Hope your mother loves it too."
"I do!" Arlene walked in right at the same time. She walked to her husband and they shared a happy moment together.
"Let's eat." The food was awesome, the atmosphere was great, it really felt and looked like a perfect family Christmas from a film.
"Time for presents!! But first, pictures"
Arlene was overly excited and she pushed them to the tree. She grabbed a tripod. This was planned. Khun awkwardly took a stand on the side, not knowing if it was appropriate to join the pictures. It also made him worry about the chance of ruining the pictures.
As the three posed, Arlene casually pulled him into the frame. She held her arms around him like a back hug as the phone made the click sound.
“Now one with my two beautiful boys.” Vi stepped aside.
“How do we?” He asked as he moved his hands around a bit.
In the past, family photos were strict and made too perfect. With a professional stylist, photographer and every other role you can imagine when it comes to photography. He still felt unsure about being there but Bam casually put an arm around him and smiled at the camera. It was comfortable yet the arm wasn’t around his neck or shoulders, it was around his waist.
A few clicks were heard as photos were made. “Awh, it’s so adorable.”
“Can I see?” Bam walked to the phone. “Oh, it is. Khun, come look.” Slowly he did and he was pleasantly surprised by how the picture turned out.
With a small smile, he approved the picture with a nod. The picture was cute and he did not feel uncomfortable with it not looked like it. He guessed the feeling was already comforted. Vi and Arlene quickly took a picture as well before the tripod was put away. Arlene declared it was time for presents.
The presents were all neatly presented under the tree. Some had blue ribbons, some had gold, some had purple and the others were red. "I think Khun should open one of his first." A present with a blue ribbon was picked up and presented to him. "Merry Christmas, Khun."
It was said with a big smile. "Thank you." Khun responded softly as the present got accepted by him.
With a lot of care, the ribbon was undone and the tape was ripped off slowly. The wrapping paper was taken off and revealed a shoe box. With a brow raised, the lid was taken off and revealed a pair of house slippers. They were blue, fluffy and very soft. They looked very warm. "Thank you, Bam." He hugged the brunette. 'This feels so comfortable.' It confused him but he also enjoyed it. "Now, who's next?" Khun asked and the gift giving continued.
What he was gifted as well was a gift card for a new piercing and a bullet journal that he could turn into a recipe book. He had told Arlene once he wanted to do that and she remembered. It made his heart flutter.
It made him happy to see the response of Arlene and V for their present. Bam and him ended up getting them tickets for a romantic getaway.
He held his breath as he gave Bam his present. The brunette was already happy with his own diary and a complete set of a book series Bam really wanted to read.
The present was opened and golden eyes lit up. "It's so pretty!" It was held up.
A gold necklace with a stone as a pendant. It was a stone with the energy to protect, with a pink, purple and blue gradient colour. A silent hint to Bam's sexuality.
"I love it." The chain was loosened. "Can you put it on for me?" A back was turned to him. Without a vocal response, Khun closed the necklace. "Oh, it's the perfect length as well." The pendant was held before a hug was initiated. "Thank you!"
"Happy Christmas!"
"You too!" With satisfied smiles, the gift giving was rounded up and wrapping paper was cleaned up.
It couldn't be helped but the blue slippers were already on before they had finished cleaning. They closed off Christmas eve with a few rounds of a card game Khun had never heard of. Yet he ended up winning multiple rounds.
He went to bed completely out of energy but full of happiness.