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So far, this is looking to be the worst Christmas of Seungmin’s life.
Sure, there was that time when he was eight years old and had strep throat for the whole week, and that one year his favorite cousin was overseas and couldn't join the family gathering, but this…
Really, there's not much worse than being snowed in at the airport on Christmas Eve, with every flight extremely delayed or canceled and an order to stay off the roads until they can clear the ice.
Seungmin sighs, leaning his head back and closing his eyes. He knew he was cutting it close by booking a flight the day before Christmas, especially with how the weather was looking, but it's not like he really had a choice. By the time he had gotten paid from his sorry excuse of a college job and had enough for a round-trip flight, every other flight was fully booked.
In the depths of his wallowing, he almost doesn't notice the soft tap on his shoulder. But a second, more insistent tap has his eyes opening and meeting the gaze of a stranger. They're the type of pretty you only really see in fantasy movies, with shoulder-length blonde hair and a scattering of freckles over their cheeks.
“Hi,” the stranger says, and okay, that is not what Seungmin expected them to sound like. “Hot chocolate?”
Only then does Seungmin notice the coffee cup in the person’s hands, extended out towards him. “Oh,” Seungmin says, reaching out to take it, his hands warming almost instantly. “Thank you.”
“Of course,” the stranger responds. “I’m Felix, by the way.”
“Seungmin.”
“Well, Seungmin,” Felix says, “I’m putting together a little group in the lounge, if you want to join. There's cookies.”
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There's seven of them. Eight, when Seungmin joins.
They’re spread out along the couches and chairs, some looking more disgruntled than others. It's to be expected that people aren't happy in circumstances like this, Seungmin is certainly peeved himself, so he really can't blame the ones who look pissed. Well, the one. Everyone else seems pretty neutral, but Resting Bitch Face on the couch the furthest away from everyone else looks like he's having the worst day of his life.
He's pretty, though. Death glare and all. When Seungmin chooses to sit next to him, he earns himself a little scowl as the other boy shuffles to the very end of the couch.
“So,” Felix speaks up, sitting cross-legged on one of the sofas with a cookie in one hand and a coffee cup in the other. “Should we introduce ourselves?”
“Why?” Resting Bitch Face asks. “It's not like most of us will see each other again after this.”
“You never know,” one of the others points out. Seungmin names him Biceps in his head for now.
“Changbin’s right, if we ran into each other once we can always run into each other again,” Literal Supermodel says, cocking his head toward Biceps. They must know each other then, considering they're also sitting side by side. And wearing matching ugly sweaters, now that Seungmin pays more attention. Literal Supermodel’s sweater is blue and reads Happy Holi-gays in a tacky font, with multicolored snowflakes and reindeer. Biceps — Changbin? — has a bright pink sweater that reads Ho Ho Homo in the same font, with the same designs surrounding it.
Huh. Interesting.
“What's the chance of that, though?” Dimples asks, taking a bite of his gingerbread-man shaped cookie. “We're at an airport, after all. Who knows where we're all going?”
“I mean,” Dimples Number Two interjects, “based on timing, I would assume we're all trying to go visit family for Christmas. Maybe we all live in Seoul or the surrounding area.”
Nobody objects to that, which easily proves his point. Resting Bitch Face just huffs, looking away from the group with his arms crossed over his chest.
“I don't see a problem with introducing ourselves,” Cheeks says after a moment of silence. “We're probably going to be here all night, so it's just easier, right?”
As they go around one by one, Seungmin learns that Biceps is Changbin, Dimples is Jeongin, Dimples Number Two is Chan, Literal Supermodel is Hyunjin, Cheeks is Jisung, and Resting Bitch Face is a stubborn bastard. It takes a little bit of prying and sweet talk, but nobody can really resist Felix’s charm, and they learn that his name is Minho.
For a while, it's all just small talk. Felix passes out more Christmas cookies from their carry-on, apparently homemade. Seungmin, an introvert to his core, remains mostly silent as he nibbles on his snowflake cookie, occasionally glancing next to him at Minho. He hasn't spoken since their introductions, looking bored as he scrolls through his phone.
“You know,” Changbin says, addressing the whole group, “I’m kind of relieved that I have an excuse not to go home. There's some family members I definitely don't want to see.”
Hyunjin laughs, agreeing. “I’ve been dreading this trip all month. Spending Christmas in an airport lounge is much better.”
“Are you two traveling together?” Seungmin asks, his curiosity getting the best of him. He's sure the answer is yes, but he's nosy.
“Yep,” Changbin confirms, throwing a strong arm around Hyunjin’s shoulders and tugging him close, to which the latter rolls his eyes but doesn't protest. “We're together, period.”
That confirms Seungmin’s suspicions, then. It's rare for him to run into queer couples that are so open about it — he himself is bisexual, so he gets a bit excited to see it.
A cursory glance around the group tells Seungmin that nobody seems opposed to the knowledge. Considering the age group they're in, he's not too surprised that the others aren’t outright homophobic, but it's still a relief.
“Does anyone else here know each other?” Chan asks, looking around at the others, sipping his hot chocolate.
It's quiet for a moment, until Minho speaks.
“I know him,” he says, his finger pointing in Seungmin’s direction. What? Surely not, maybe he's thinking of someone else.
“You do?” Seungmin asks, staring at Minho with furrowed eyebrows. “From where?”
“You're the kid that sings at SNU,” Minho explains. “You did a little Christmas busking thing last week.”
Okay, so Minho does know him.
“I’m not a kid,” Seungmin protests.
“You’re a sophomore, right?” Minho cocks his head to the side. “I’m a senior.”
“That's a two-year difference.”
“Yeah, but—”
“Here,” Felix says, cutting off Minho with an outstretched hand, “have a cookie.”
Minho stares at the cookie, cutely shaped like a snowman. One would have to be out of their mind to refuse it. Thankfully, it seems he has at least a little bit of sense, because he takes it without complaint. He then proceeds to immediately bite its head off while making direct eye contact with Seungmin. Seungmin is unsure if that outcome is worse than if he had refused it.
“So,” Chan says, attempting to diffuse the tension, “Where is everyone trying to go?”
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Seungmin learns a lot about the others within the next hour or so. They feel like a group of friends, especially because of how warm and bright Felix is — bringing everyone together, leading the conversation, making sure nobody is left out. Including Minho, who is nearly impossible to get through to.
He seems to loosen up a bit after a while, but the strange thing is that he doesn't acknowledge Seungmin directly. There's a weird sort of tension every time either of them speaks, and it's odd, to say the least. At least it's easy to avoid eye contact, considering they're sitting directly beside each other.
There's a lull in conversation for some time. An announcement over the loudspeakers had them all get their hopes up, only for it to say that every remaining flight up until eight the next morning was no longer delayed — they were all canceled. That really brought the mood down for a little while, especially because it's not like they could leave, the roads were still unsafe.
Eventually, though, Felix speaks up again. “Hey,” they say from their position on the floor, head propped up on their suitcase. “I have an idea.” Upon checking that they have everyone's attention, they continue. “Let's do Secret Santa.”
“How?” Jeongin asks, one earbud in his ear and the other in his hand. “We don't have gifts or anything.”
“There's a bunch of gift shops and stuff everywhere,” Chan points out. “I’m sure there's gift-wrapping options too, considering the time of year.”
“I’m in,” Jisung says, already rifling through his carry-on. He pulls out a notebook and pen, ripping out a page and tearing it into eight pieces. As he writes on each of them, he says, “Anyone have something we can pick these out of?”
“Here, my hot chocolate came with an extra cup stuck to it,” Hyunjin says, offering a styrofoam cup to Jisung, who takes it and dumps all of the slips into it. He shakes it up, then passes it to Chan.
“Oldest to youngest,” Jisung says, and Chan obliges, taking the cup and picking a name from it.
Minho doesn't look too enthused when he's passed the cup next, although Seungmin knows by now that it's just his terrible case of resting bitch face, as he very aptly nicknamed him previously. The little frown on his face when he pulls out a name could mean literally anything.
By the time it's Seungmin’s turn, there's only two names left in the cup. Just his luck, when he unfolds the little slip, it reads Minho. He can't even be surprised at this point. He'd honestly be more shocked if he didn't pick Minho, knowing how his night is going.
It's not that he doesn't like Minho. The man’s funny in a dry way that Seungmin enjoys, and he'd actually really like to get to know the older, especially since they attend the same school. The issue is that Seungmin knows next to nothing about Minho due to how closed off he's been; he's worried that whatever he picks won't be good enough.
Maybe something practical? Things he can actually use are a safe bet, they won't sit around collecting dust. Seungmin always likes getting things like clothes, food, writing supplies, etcetera.
But Minho also seems like the type to like weird little trinkets. He has a couple cat keychains on his bag, his phone case is decorated with various stickers, and he just has that vibe. Even if he's reserved, pieces of his personality have slipped through.
“Should we each go individually?” Changbin asks. “So we don't run into each other while shopping, or anything.”
They all agree, and decide on going in age order again. Chan goes first, and while he's gone, the rest of them sit in a comfortable silence for a while. Jeongin is messing around on his phone, Felix and Jisung are talking animatedly about something, Changbin and Hyunjin are watching something on an iPad, and Minho is—
—staring at Seungmin?
Seungmin blinks in surprise when he catches Minho’s eyes, the man next to him almost looking like he's studying him. “Um,” Seungmin manages, not quite knowing how to react.
Minho blinks back at him like Seungmin’s the weird one. “You kind of look like a dog.”
“What?”
“Not in a bad way,” Minho clarifies, “you just have that… vibe.”
Seungmin knows what Minho’s talking about, he's heard it before, but never so bluntly. Normally it’s his friends who make the comparison, not practical strangers that he met not even two hours prior. Minho is certainly a character, but Seungmin can’t say he minds it that much.
Deciding that matching his energy is the best course of action, Seungmin responds, “You remind me of a cat, then.”
Minho, a bit surprisingly, looks slightly pleased with that. In a matter of mere moments, he's pulling his phone out and holding it in front of Seungmin, right where he can see it. There's a picture of three cats on his screen, two orange and one grey.
“These are my brothers,” he says, then points to each individually as he lists off their names. “Soonie, Doongie, and Dori.”
“Your… brothers?” Seungmin asks. Normally people refer to their pets as their kids, not their siblings. But Minho has already established himself as a bit odd, so he's not really shocked.
Minho just shrugs, taking his phone back. “I'm too young for kids.”
“Fair enough.”
Minho goes quiet again for a moment. When he opens his mouth to speak again, he's interrupted by Chan returning, meaning it's Minho’s turn to shop for a gift. He gives Seungmin a look before getting up, leaving the seat next to him empty.
Chan notices, his expression curious as he looks between them. “What's with you two?”
Seungmin huffs amusedly. “I wish I knew.”
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Seungmin doesn't really know what he's looking for when he steps into the first shop that catches his eye. There's various trinkets and decorative items, a lot of them festive, but most of them don't have a theme. The place can only be described as organized chaos — fitting, considering who Minho is as a person.
For a while, he just walks around. He’s hoping for a miracle, hoping that something perfect catches his eye. The task is frustrating at best. At one point, he turns around and considers leaving, but then he sees it.
A cooking timer, shaped like a pudgy orange cat with a grumpy expression, standing on its hind legs. Seungmin walks over and sets the timer on its belly for a few seconds, curious about what it’ll do. Upon going off, the cat’s tail moves back and forth, a resounding meow coming from a small speaker on the back of it.
It's the tackiest thing he's ever seen.
It's perfect.
He doesn't hesitate to purchase it, as well as an even tackier Christmas card with a hideous cartoon cat and the words Meowy Christmas plastered along the top. In it, he leaves a little note.
‘Merry Christmas, Minho. I don't quite understand you, but I enjoy that. You're one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met, I hope we run into each other again.’
Feeling more confident about the whole thing, he slips the card into the gift bag he purchased and labels it with Minho’s name.
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“Time for gifts!” Felix exclaims excitedly upon Jeongin returning. They're sitting in the center by the eight gift bags, eyes practically sparkling. “I'll hand them out based on seat order.”
The sitting order in question goes like this: Felix in the middle, with Chan in the closest seat by. Next to Chan, Changbin and Hyunjin sit together, and in a single chair is Jisung. Across from Jisung is Jeongin, and a few seats further away are Minho and Seungmin on a little couch.
Seungmin doesn't mind going last. He’s patient and he likes to observe, so it's a nice arrangement.
Felix gets a set of nice quality cookie cutters, Chan gets a soft red knit sweater, Changbin gets a bright pink matching socks and gloves set, Hyunjin gets a small but thick sketchbook, Jisung gets noise-canceling earmuffs, and Jeongin gets a velvet sleep mask. Everyone loves what they get, even if it's something small, it simply feels nice to be thought of.
And then it's Minho’s turn, and Seungmin’s heart starts racing nervously. He's unsure why, it's not like this is a huge thing, just a spur-of-the-moment Secret Santa. Still, it feels like a big deal.
Minho takes the cat timer out of the bag, and he goes silent for a few moments, studying it. He sets the timer off and a bright smile overtakes his face, a laugh spilling from him as the stupid thing’s tail shakes. It's the happiest he's looked this whole evening, and the relief that Seungmin feels is palpable. He's especially glad when Minho laughs again at the card, reading it over a couple times.
Minho’s gaze flicks over to Seungmin, and the younger quickly schools his expression, not wanting to give himself away. Minho just rolls his eyes at him, and Seungmin knows he's been figured out, but he doesn't really mind.
When it comes time for Seungmin to open his gift, he doesn't know what to expect. He wasn't too open about himself, similarly to Minho, so he doesn't expect it to be personalized.
Except it is.
A pack of chamomile tea, a bag of ginger throat lozenges, and a 4-pack of dog stickers. There's a note tucked into the bag as well, written on the back of the receipt, which he assumes is there so he can return the items if he doesn't like them — like he would ever do that, the gifts are really thoughtful.
‘Maybe if you were anyone else at SNU, I wouldn't have recognized you so quickly, but I go to listen every time you're busking. Keep your voice healthy, Kim Seungmin. It's a pleasure to listen to, even if you speak nonsense.’
Seungmin knows who it's from. He’d be an idiot not to know.
Immediately, his eyes drift over to Minho, who is resolutely not looking at him with a hint of a smile on his lips. That just confirms his suspicion, and he thinks it’s another interesting twist of fate that they pulled each other’s names.
The group as a whole decides not to reveal who got whom. It doesn't really matter to Seungmin.
Soon after the gift exchange, there's an announcement on the PA system saying that the roads have been cleared and are safe for travel. Everyone is relieved, but there's a reluctance among them, not wanting to leave their little group. Felix decides to get everyone’s numbers, to which everyone obliges, and it's easier to part ways with the group knowing there's still a link between them.
On their way to the lobby, Seungmin opens his phone to look for a rideshare option. Before he can, though, Minho appears next to him and nudges his shoulder. “Hey,” the older boy says, “do you need a ride back to campus?”
Seungmin perks up at that. He didn’t expect that offer at all, but he quickly nods. “That would be great,” Seungmin says. “Thank you.”
“Don't mention it.”
The ride back to campus isn't really eventful. Minho hums along to the radio, and to the tune of Christmas carols, Seungmin falls asleep with his head against the window.
Upon arriving back to campus, Minho wakes Seungmin up with the sound of a cat’s meow and the rattling of a fake tail. They part ways to their respective dorm buildings, neither of them acknowledging the other being their gift recipient, but it's better that way. Both of them are well aware, anyway.
⋆⁺₊❅ ˚୨୧⋆｡˚。⋆⁺₊❅。
Seungmin manages to catch a flight on Christmas day, courtesy of the airport since his previous flight was canceled. He leaves the area for a couple weeks, and soon enough, his experience at the airport is nearly forgotten — except for when he reaches for a lozenge, drinks a warm cup of chamomile, or sees the dog stickers attached to his phone case.
The next time Seungmin goes busking, it's the beginning of the semester, a chilly day in late January. He's got his guitar pick held tight between two fingers, skin flushed red from the cold.
He's just finished singing Love Poem by IU when someone approaches him, a styrofoam cup held out to him. When he looks up, his heart skips a beat when he recognizes Minho, whom he hasn't seen in a month.
“Here,” Minho says, nodding his head towards the cup. “Your hands are going to freeze.”
When Seungmin places his guitar next to him and takes the cup, the warmth of whatever’s in it seeps through and warms his fingers. “What's in this?” Seungmin asks.
“Poison,” Minho says without missing a beat.
Seungmin laughs, then takes a small sip, the familiar floral taste of chamomile tea hitting his tongue. He's pleasantly surprised and takes a second, longer sip.
“Did you make this yourself?” Seungmin asks. He knows there's nowhere on campus that serves chamomile tea, he's searched far and wide to no avail. Only the campus shops sell it in tea bags, nothing ready-made.
“Yeah,” Minho confirms, shoving his hands into his pockets. “A fake cat meowed at me when it was ready.”
Seungmin can't help but smile at that. He knows the older boy is referencing the timer he got him. “Did it?”
Minho hums, then glances at the cup in Seungmin’s hands. “You should keep the cup sleeve when you throw that out, by the way,” he says, referencing the paper sleeve wrapped around the cup. “It slips right off, you can reuse it.”
Seungmin raises his eyebrows, glancing down at the plain brown sleeve before looking back up at Minho. “Okay,” he says, smile growing a bit.
Minho’s lips curl up slightly, satisfied. “I've got to go to class now,” he says, shoving his hands in his pockets. “But I’ll see you?”
Seungmin fights back the disappointment he feels, nodding. “I’ll see you around.”
And just like that, Minho is gone, the cat keychains on his bag clicking together as he walks away. Seungmin takes another sip of the tea, soothing his throat, and picks up his guitar to start another song.
He only plays two more before he needs to head to his own class. His tea is finished off by then, and he stands up to throw it away, heading to the trash. When he slips off the cup sleeve, though, he stops in his tracks.
Drawn in purple marker on the inside of the sleeve, there's a scribble of a cat. Next to it, a series of numbers — a phone number, specifically.
Seungmin flushes. Maybe what he first considered the worst Christmas experience of his life wasn't so terrible, after all.