s e o u l | k p o p - o s

168. EXO Chanyeol - The Star on top

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You could sense the urgency brewing as the decorations container emptied, your own little hands reaching for two baubles instead of one, hoping that would give you an advantage. Yet he was right on your tail, both vying for the prized jewel that was nestled at the bottom.

The star.

Each year you fought over who would put the star on the tree and even if you were only eight, you knew that it would be another battle royale over who would get to put it on. Especially since last year, it wasn't you who was victorious.

"It's my turn!" you proclaimed loudly to the adults who watched on with loose interest, too busy catching up on the year thus far. Reaching for the star, you held it up with pride. "Ready?! I'll put it on perfectly!"

"Nuh-uh!" the fellow child in the room stated, snatching the star out of your grip easily. It helped that he was at least a good hand taller than you by now. Chanyeol snickered. "I was faster. You still have a decoration in your hand to hang up, Y/N!"

"But you did it last year!"

"So, it's the first to finish decorating!"

Glancing at the tree, you pointed to an overcrowded area. "You didn't do a good job!"

"So fix it!"

"You fix it!"

"Chanyeol, Y/N, calm down," your father called, and you immediately burst into tears. The paternal figure came over to rub your back gently. "Why are you crying, poppet?"

"Chanyeol is trying to put the star on the tree again. He did it last year! It's my turn now!"

"You got to do it two years in a row!"

"Only because you were sick!" you refuted.

You didn't know why putting the star on the tree had become a big deal to you at such a young age. You took it far too seriously, and over the last few years, you and Chanyeol had increasingly gotten quite competitive for the spot each Christmas. You assumed it had something to do with your brother being older and uncaring for things like tinsel and Christmas lights whilst the magic of this time of year always enchanted you. Chanyeol was similar, and when your families met up for the annual cabin retreat mid-December, you barely settled your luggage down in your room before pouncing on one of the adults about setting up the tree – usually with Chanyeol echoing the same excited whining.

And then the race would begin.

Forever the diplomat, your father looked at you both, rubbing at his brow line before chuckling heartily. "Do we still have to go through this each year?"

You both nodded adamantly.

"Well, I think we should do it this way. Each of you grab a side of the star."

"But that's not fair!" Chanyeol whined as you stomped your foot in agreement.

"He's taller than me, how do I reach the top if I'm trying to hold on, Daddy?!"

"Chanyeol can use the stool," your father recommended, and his hands reached out for your waist. "You can use my helpful shoulders, poppet!"

It wasn't ideal, and you both sneered at one another with impertinence as you got ready.

"Hang on, let me grab my camera out," Chanyeol's mother called, soon ready for the usual photograph that was snapped at the end of each tree decorating session.

You didn't smile, and Chanyeol was definitely scowling. His hot little hand kept inching for more of the star, and just as the countdown hit one, he pulled most of it out of your hand, beaming as he placed it on the tree.