winter falls ━ hyunsung. ✓

iv › i get so lonely that it hurts so much.

lots of dialogue this chapter. <3

hyunjin was startled out of sleep as a knock sounded at the door.

it couldn't be.

no, it couldn't be.

but, for some reason, a stupid hope suddenly started up in his chest, and hyunjin rocketed to his feet.

he stumbled over discarded painting supplies strewn across the floor, wearing those specially-gifted reindeer socks, whispering softly, "jisungie?"

his hand clutched the knob and twisted open the door violently, that horribly painful hope lighting him up.

but instead, he found himself facing chris' stocky form, wearing a glittery christmas tree headband and a puffy, black coat. behind him, stood felix, wearing a candy cane headband, and a white coat similar to chris.

hyunjin's face fell immediately upon realizing it was just them, something chris picked on immediately.

"waiting for someone, sammy?" he angled his head, causing the christmas tree to bob up and down haphazardly.

hyunjin wanted to rip the stupid tree off of his friend's head.

how could he expect jisung to suddenly show up at his door, after what had happened between them?

stupid.

without an explanation, hyunjin turned around and stomped over to the easel, staring angrily at his painting.

"thanks for inviting us in," chris called out, leading felix inside before closing the door.

hyunjin then remembered that chris probably shouldn't see his painting just yet. he quickly shoved the easel against the wall, so that it only showed the back of the canvas.

just for good measure, he stood protectively in front of it, crossing his arms.

felix cradled a plastic grocery bag to his chest, looking over the apartment with wide, curious eyes.

hyunjin jutted his chin out to felix, asking, "why'd you guys come over for? and why didn't you call me?"

"actually, we did, sammy. you didn't answer," chris explained gently, opening up the curtain.

hyunjin clenched his jaw at that action, unable to explain why he preferred it closed.

"we wanted to invite you over to my house today for a christmas party!" felix rummaged inside the plastic bag and brandished another glittery headband, this one with reindeer antlers on it. "look, this one matches your socks!!"

"i'm not wearing that thing."

chris sent hyunjin a warning glare. he then turned to felix's crestfallen face with the sweetest of voices, "lixie, of course hyun's gonna wear the reindeer headband; and he's gonna wear it to your christmas party."

"no i'm-"

he was cut off by another of chris' dark stares, and hyunjin sighed his immediate defeat, rolling his eyes.

felix clapped his hands eagerly. "are you going to be bringing someone? i wanna know 'cause i'm making cookies!!"

hyunjin felt his chest tighten at that. a sour look crossed his face, and he immediately turned to the window, wondering what jisung was doing at the moment.

chris answered for him, "no, lixie, i don't think sammy's bringing anyone."

felix wandered over to the racks of art supplies, looking them over. "wow, you weren't kidding when you said hyun likes to paint a lot."

hyunjin ran a hand through his now short, dark hair. after their breakup, he'd cut his long, blond locks and dyed them back to brown. but his hair was beginning to grow out again; the wispy ends almost reached his shoulders now.

chris was showing off the canvases leaning against the wall to felix. since he was the only one who constantly stayed in contact with hyunjin, he knew about every single one.

"this one's supposed to be a self-portrait; he lost patience over it since he had to work on a different project for his art class," chris explained to felix in a somber tone. "actually, sammy doesn't really finish his projects unless they're supposed to get turned in for marks."

hyunjin suddenly turned to them as he noticed chris reach out to the easel.

he rushed over quickly and pushed chris' hand away, quickly excusing, "i-i'm not ready for anyone to see this one."

felix looked awestruck. "you're such a good artist, hyunjin!"

he was surprised by the compliment. most of the canvases here weren't even his best work.

"ah. thanks?"