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29. Kim Jaehwan | Christmas Carols

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There was one thing about Jaehwan that you fell for every time – his voice.

It didn't matter in what setting, he could sing about anything and you would swoon over every word, his tone sending you into another dimension altogether. Bad days were placated with soothing serenades and car rides were full of blasting tunes and singing along together.

There were definite perks to dating a singer.

And since it was nearing Christmas you had hoped for sweet festive songs to fill your home whenever he visited, you were sure his voice would make Deck the Halls sound like a masterpiece. Jaehwan and Christmas songs would end the year in the best way.

But you weren't prepared for his Christmas songs.

You had invited him over to your home for dinner and a movie, playing Feliz Navidad in the background as you got out your Christmas decorations since he was here a little early. The idea of decorating together for the first time made you feel a little giddy. "Want to help me set up my tree?"

"Sure," he said with a grin, reaching for a string of tinsel. "I'm not saying my contribution will make it look any good though."

"I still want to do it all with you this year," you replied with a smile and Jaehwan chuckled.

"I see you have Christmas songs on too? Exactly how far do you go with this holiday?" he enquired and you blushed lightly. He didn't need to know just yet that this wasn't your only tree to decorate.

You both settled into a rhythm of stringing up tinsel and lights and it wasn't long until he was humming along to the songs. You were hoping you would hear him sing along to a song on the playlist soon.

When dinner was almost ready, you finally got your wish.

"I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need," he started and you grinned as you set up the table for both of you. "I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree."

You joined him then, singing the next line with glee until his words didn't match yours or Mariah Carey's in the background. Regardless, Jaehwan continued on, smiling over at you mischievously as he did so.

"Any hungry person knows. Make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is food!"

You stood there, stunned at how he had managed to tie dinner into the song. As he continued on with talk about Santa not getting the cookies this year and taking a late night pizza trip, you became aware that this was a parody of the lyrics, and by the time he was done, you didn't know whether you thought it was cute or not.

You loved the original lyrics of the song, though you had to admit singing about how much he loved food wasn't the worst version he could have done. The oven timer dinged right on time and you giggled, deciding his playful rendition would be acceptable tonight.

"Ready to eat?"

"Didn't you hear? I'm a hungry person so I'm easy to please."

The cute versions of the carols lasted for a couple of days and whilst they threw you off a little, you could see how much fun Jaehwan was having with them. However, you should have stopped him in the beginning because it encouraged him on with the dodgier versions of your favourite Christmas songs. Jingles Bells, Batman Smells didn't bother you that much; it was a typical alternative that you had heard growing up. You glared at him all the same whilst he ended it with a sweet smile, and turned on the TV so you could watch the movie you planned to see together and forget all about your annoyance. He did little things like this over the course of the next week, winding you up and then distracting you so you couldn't complain.

On one evening though, you both got stuck in rush hour traffic in the car.

And then he let loose.

"Oh Santa Claus, Santa Claus, you are very fat. I was sleeping peacefully and now my bed is flat. Oh Santa Claus, Santa Claus-"

"Jaehwan!" you exclaimed, your eyes wide.

He merely continued on with a smirk. "How much do you weigh? I'm glad I'm not a reindeer who has to pull your sleigh!"

You were thankful you weren't in front of your class of students right at that moment.

"Why do you keep singing the bad versions of the songs?"

"They're bad?" he asked and you nodded, gripping at the steering wheel in your hands more tightly. "Really?"

"They're offensive! You can't go around singing about Santa flattening people because he's fat!"

"But Santa is depicted as fat," Jaehwan countered, pointing an index finger at you. "Have you ever seen a skinny Santa before?"

"That's not the point!"

"You're easily worked up over these carols, Y/N."

"I love Christmas!"

Jaehwan chuckled with a nod. "I can tell by how festive your apartment is."

"Are you not the Christmas type?" you asked slowly, wondering if that was the problem. You had been too much for him and he was throwing it back at you by singing all these different lyrics of the songs you grew up loving over all the years.

He shrugged. "No, I like Christmas."

"Then?"

"Then what?" You shot him a look as the cars in front slowly edged forward. "The songs? I'm a singer; do you know how boring it is to sing the traditional songs all the time? Let me be a little creative with my Christmas songs."

"There's creativity and then there's vulgar, Jaehwan."

"I'm a guy, what do you expect from me? Sappy songs about giving my heart away at Christmas and you stomping on it?"

You gasped; Last Christmas was one of your favourites. Not that you would ever do what the song insinuated to him, of course. Jaehwan noticed your conflicted expression and reached over to take your hand. "I was joking, kind of. Besides didn't you hear these during school days? Like this one."

"Don't," you warned as he cleared his throat.

"Joy to the world, the teacher's dead-"

"Jaehwan, I am a teacher!"

"We barbequed her head! What happened to her body?"

You groaned impatiently. "We flushed it down the potty and round and round it goes, yes I know the one, Jae!"

"See, you can sing them too." He laughed at your frustration and poked you gently.
It's not all that bad, right? Regardless of what we sing at this time of the year, the main thing is we're together, and I'm glad I'm spending my Christmas with you."

Dammit. He got you right in the feels there.

Glancing over at him you let a small smile curl up the corner of your lips, until he completed singing the end of Joy to the World and you groaned again.

"Kim Jaehwan!"

Despite it all, you had to agree with him. Having Jaehwan around to spend Christmas together for the first time was worth it, dodgy carols and all.