christmas - enhypen sunghoon

❄ 01

december.

it's the last few days before the year ends and before a new year starts. it's the time where people reflect on their life.

it's the time where everyone is free from their responsibilities of work and school, which means there is more time for the family to gather and be happy. it's the christmas magic.

cha saera thought she has experienced that magical feeling, but it lasted only until her childhood. as she grows older, the holidays become less exciting. she does spend with her family every christmas, but it just doesn't feel special anymore.

her parents own a hotel and resort chain and it's always fully booked as soon as the holidays start. they would bring their daughter together with them to a branch of the hotel so she won't be alone at home. ironically, they still have no choice but to leave her alone with her nanny because they're too busy managing the hotel. they were concerned at first but they assumed saera understood when she eventually grew older and more mature.

when her younger sister was born, saera thought i won't feel lonely anymore. saerim was 10 years younger than her so saera also took in charge of caring for saerim. whenever their parents bring them to a hotel for christmas, she has someone to play with. but soon, even at a young age, saerim noticed her parents being gone most of the time and she grew tired from staying at the same hotel even if she has visited different branches.

"mom, can we stay here at home for the holidays?" saerim asked her mother while they were all eating breakfast together.

saera already knew the answer, because she asked the same question before. she doesn't have to look up and expect a different answer anymore.

"honey, we can't. our work needs us. saera, you also know that the hotels always have lesser manpower compared to the number of customers during the holidays."

"yes, mom." saera agreed to her mother but upon seeing her younger sister's pouty face, she needed to do something. "i suggest saera and i will stay here for christmas while you can go for work. we understand."

"are you suggesting we'll celebrate christmas, separately?" i have always seen it that way even before. saera kept that reply in her mind.

"i'm fine staying with saera unnie!" saerim smiled at saera and to her parents. it made her preposition more convincing.

"i can also handle me and saerim together."

"okay, we trust you. we'll just send an additional allowance on your account. spend it wisely. we'll also call you often." their father declared and saera mentally fist-bumped herself.

"this is your first christmas by yourselves. don't get involved in any danger, okay? and have fun. we'll miss you." their mom gave her last words before officially leaving for the start of the christmas surge.

they bid their goodbyes after breakfast. saerim kissed both of her parents while saera hugged them. the two sisters also went to school together. since it's her first time spending christmas at home and alone with her sister, saera's curious and intrigued. maybe she can actually enjoy christmas this time.

"do you have anything in mind that you want to do, saerimmie?" saera asked while they were being driven home from school by their driver.

"hmmm, i want to try ice skating! it looks so cool in frozen!" saerim excitedly replied. her favorite movie is frozen and her room is full of elsa dolls and designs.

"that does seem cool. let's do it this weekend?" even if  i don't know how to ice skate... but saera still agreed because she doesn't want to disappoint the 8 year old girl. she can honestly never say no to saerim.

after they arrived home, saerim went straight to her tutor and saera went to their neighbor's house.

"good afternoon. is jay home?" the housemaid who opened the door nodded her head and went to call out the said person.

jay came out after a minute and they bro hugged where they clasp their hands and give each other a pat on the back. he took her bag for her and they settled on the couch.

"aren't you supposed to be on vacation now at your parents' resort?"

"saerim and i decided to stay home this christmas. we're having our first christmas away from our parents."

"ha! she also grew tired of seeing the same resort every christmas since she was born. you used to drag me to come with you when we were kids so you won't get lonely but honestly, it wasn't exciting anymore after my second visit." jay laughed.

jay and saera have been neighbors since he moved to south korea. they saw each other grow up, but they also get to see their ugliest phases. they still make fun of each other's past and they didn't want to lose their friendship, so they were sure being more than best friends is off the table.

they went to the same school in middle school until he transferred to an arts high school. they still remained close though since he's the closest friend she can reach out too, literally.

"shut up. you rejected my invites because you don't want to take care of baby saerim at that time." saera rolled her eyes.

"it's hard to have fun and enjoy the vacation when you're stuck with a baby! you just won't admit it because she's your sister." jay defended himself from her remark, almost shouting. both of the reasons were indeed true.

"it's not so hard to take care of her once you get used to it!" she glared at him. "anyways, i'll cut to the chase. do you know how to ice skate?"

"yeah, i'm kinda stable standing on ice. why?"

"saerim wants to do it and i promised her to go ice skating this weekend even though i don't know how to!" saera banged her head with a pillow repeatedly because of regret. "can you teach us both?" she looked at him with pleading eyes.

"nuh uh. if it were only the two of us, i'd agree but if anything happens to saerim, you'll beat me." jay shook his head stubbornly.

"you betcha. but seriously, please do it with me. maybe you can get your coach or whoever it is who taught you to teach us too?"

"i learned it from my friend and he's literally best skater i've seen with my own two eyes. i think he can join us this weekend." jay already took his phone to text his friend.

saera's eyes lit up. "he sounds cool. make sure he agrees, okay?"

—

N/A.

hello this first chapter was like an introduction to our oc as to why she hates christmas lol. sorry no sunghoon in this chapter yet :<

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