Dalnim and Chanyeol had to leave.

Immediately.

Once Chanyeol had finished All of Me as the grand finale of the hospital's Christmas show, the audience clapped and cheered, most standing up on their feet. Completely overwhelmed with the more-than-amateur performance, it was clear that everyone had enjoyed. Chanyeol bowed to the audience, still hidden behind the mesh curtain. The silhouette of the very man only caused the cheers to increase, the atmosphere growing more heartfelt for the outstanding show. And Dalnim will admit, she was just as moved by the English song.

Was it possible to fall in love with him even more? She didn't think it was possible.

It then caught Dalnim's attention when some people have begun to crowd around the stage, all requesting for the same thing. At this point, she knew that it was the time to go.

"Who's our mystery performer?"

"Please tell us your name, sir!"

"We need to know who the amazing performer is!"

"Show us your face!"

Since the show was officially over, Dalnim was able to rush past the accumulating crowd and trotted up onto the stage to reach Chanyeol's side. She gave him an urging look, silently telling him that they need to leave before people find out about the star's attendance.

She peeked over the curtain, baring an apologetic smile to the group of curious people. "I'm sorry, but my friend is very shy," she informed them. The people were reluctant to this and they insisted that they were only to praise him, that the piano man shouldn't have to feel shy in the first place because of the phenomenal act. Dalnim grimaced at the persistence they had. She noted in her mind that it was good they had that quality, but now wasn't the time for it. "We'll be leaving now."

Glimpsing at her surroundings, she noticed the stairs to the right of the stage were the least crowded, and so, she pushed Chanyeol in that direction to hurry on their way. Successfully, they got off the stage just fine and were rushing towards the exit of the room before anyone recognize the man. However, just one step before making it to the hospital's exit, a hand firmly grasped onto Dalnim's wrist, yanking her backwards into an abrupt stop. She shifted her attention to the hand and then to the owner of that hand. A wave of relief washed over her. "Young Gi-yah!"

"Dalnim?" The volleyball player looked over to see that Chanyeol had stopped running as well, waiting for her to follow him.

She glanced between the two boys. The look of desperation etched Young Gi's face and curious as to why he looked like that, she gestured for him to go. "I'll meet you there." Chanyeol was hesitant to leave, but after a couple seconds of inwardly debating, he left the hospital.

Dalnim turned back to Young Gi with a warm smile. "Sorry about suddenly leaving without saying congrats or goodbye," she told him, her nerves disappearing in his presence. "But you know, we can't let anyone know who he is."

Young Gi's posture was stiff and Dalnim noticed that he was still holding onto her wrist. "Dude, what's wrong? The show turned out great at the end." His expression didn't change. She then understood, if she were in his place, she'd be hot blooded about it too. "Is it because you weren't able to perform?"

At this, he released his grip on her, his arms now crossed over his chest with an annoyed look on his face. "Yeah, I wanted to be the one to end the show, you know?"

"You never found the CD?"

Young Gi shook his head. "No, I haven't."

"See, this is why you just download the instrumentals into your phone and then use that instead," Dalnim said.

"Yeah, ok, I would've done that if the backstage crew weren't so old school. They absolutely know nothing," Young Gi frowned. Dalnim pouted as she patted his shoulder. He then warmly smiled at her. "You know, I think it was ok. I don't think I was mentally ready to do it anyway."

Dalnim gave him an incredulous look, added with a smack to his arm for saying something so absurd. "You've been practicing your performance the whole month, though! I was really looking forward to what you had."

"Yeah..." Young Gi stuck his hand into the pocket of his slacks, taking out a square, shimmering box with a silky, red ribbon stuck on top. He then took Dalnim's hand, opening it, and placing the box into her palm. "This is your Christmas present by the way." Dalnim could make out the brand name under the ribbon and she slightly gasped. Her eyes darted onto the male. "Yeah, I know. It's exactly what you're thinking, I did buy it the day we saw each other at the mall."

"What's with the expensive gift, Young Gi? The gift I got you couldn't possibly be as pricey as this!"

Young Gi closed her fingers around the box. "Promise not to open it until Christmas comes around. Right at midnight tonight, do not sleep and open it by then." He let a small chuckle once seeing the confused expression on Dalnim's face. "Yah, you really are a clueless girl, but I guess that works to my advantage. Answer my call at midnight, hmm? Like how we've always done it before."

Her face was completely blank. Eyes glued back to the box, she almost didn't hear Young Gi, but nodded anyway. Laughing even more, the male patted her head. "Maybe you're not as clueless, hmm, Dalnim-ah? Don't try to fully figure it out now, or I'm going to feel too nervous... So, where are you heading over after this?" He asked, hoping to avert the awkwardness away.

Blinking away her clouded thoughts, she answered him, "Oh, heading back home... You know, home home. Sunny and I are going there together."

"Oh... You and him?"

The way Young Gi had said that caught Dalnim's attention. She was appalled at the venom in his tone. She had an inkling what it could mean, and that didn't sit well for her. She waved it off. "You sound like you don't like him."

His jaw clenched. "I don't. Not after finding out he was your childhood friend."

Before Dalnim could say anything else, Young Gi interrupted her to say that he needs to help his coworkers clean up. Bidding his last goodbye, he turned on his heel and rushed back to the room. With a disappointed sigh, she turned the opposite direction and left.

It definitely was going to bother her that one of her closest friends doesn't like her other close friend. Maybe, she'll throw a little get together with the three of them, so Young Gi could see the light.

She reached the car and hopped right in, snapping her seatbelt immediately. "What did Young Gi need you for?" Chanyeol asked her as the car roared to life. Revving up the engine, he backed out the parking spot.

Dalnim slipped Young Gi's gift to her into her purse and beamed over at her childhood friend. "Just wanted to chat and say our happy holidays before we leave."

Chanyeol merely nodded. "Well, since you're going to be stuck in the car with me for a while, I'm going to let you get an inclusive listen to some of my works. I would love to have an opinion on it."

She beamed at him, more than ready to listen to what he has been composing. She had heard a couple and she was more than blown away. All that needs to happen now is to finally publish these songs to the public and anyone could bet that Dalnim would be first in line to nab the music. "Alright, but I have loved every single thing you have made, so I guess my opinion is very limited."

"You're just saying that."

"I'm not kidding. I love what you've showed me so far!" Dalnim defended herself with a playful pout. "And all your fans will too and not because you're Park Chanyeol, but because you're damn talented at what you do."

"Thanks... That means a lot from someone that recently got into EXO's music."

Dalnim gave Chanyeol a light shove to his shoulder, trying to feign mock anger but the smile cracked through anyway. "Oh, shut up. Just put on the music."

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

After an hour and a half of driving (within the irritating traffic), Chanyeol and Dalnim finally reached the familiar neighborhood. The young girl's eyes were trained on the windows, taking in the scenery of the place she had lived for most of her life.

In spite of the freezing weather, her heart swelled with warmth, the feeling of homesickness hitting her all at once. Now that she was back, she wanted to go everywhere she can and do every little thing she had done years ago. She wants to be overflowing with relived memories.

Squishing her nose more to the window, she pointed frantically to the outside. "Sunny, Sunny look!" Chanyeol had slowed down the vehicle so they could gaze at it a little while longer.

It was the neighborhood playground, where the two childhood friends had shared many memorable memories. If it wasn't in one or the other's house, the very playground would be their go-to hang out place. Through the sticky heat to the bone-chilling cold, they would go there whenever they desired a break from their homes, which were more than plenty times. Broken bones, sharing sweets with their allowance, late night out to stargaze when they should be in bed, and so much more had happened in the small area. Dalnim couldn't even think of one bad memory in this place.

"We need to stop by there later," Chanyeol suggested, meeting Dalnim's eyes with an excited glint. "I bet I could swing higher than you on the swings now."

Her own almond-shaped eyes shimmered, a competitiveness vibe coursing through her veins at the challenge. "Ha! Have you not seen my leg muscles? I would still kick your scrawny ass."

"You're not the only one that has gained muscle through the years, Yoon Dalnim!"

With one last turn down the street, they slowed to a stop at the curb between their two houses. At the sight of it, Dalnim smiled widely. She noticed that, her own home was lit brightly while as Chanyeol's childhood home was completely dark. That could only mean that their families were waiting for Christmas in the Yoon house.

The duo exited the car, grabbed their belongings and Christmas gifts from the trunk of the car, and trudged over to the doorstep. In unison, they knocked on the door and rang the doorbell once, as it was their little tradition to do the pattern whenever visiting each other's house long ago. The door opened with a whoosh, the warmth from inside escaping. At the doorway stood an older woman with fair skin and long, ebony hair that matched her daughter's. Even the smile was identical.

"Eomma!" The two women engulfed each other in a crushing hug, swaying back and forth in wrapped arms.

Dalnim's mother pulled away and held the younger's face in her slim hands, making sure to get in every detail of her features. A lot could change within the months they were apart. "Oh sweetheart, I'm so happy we'll all celebrate Christmas together just like we used to... You also have gotten thinner. Are you overworking yourself?" Her mother replied, pinching the athlete's cheek.

Dalnim chortled as she pulled her mother's pinchers away and she reassured her, "I'm doing just fine, eomma. With the volleyball competition right around the corner and the upcoming Olympics, I need to stay in shape!"

After shooting a disapproving glance at her daughter for her believed lack of nutrition, Dalnim's mother moved on to the taller male to her side. "Oh my, Park Chanyeol, you sure grew up to be a dashing young man!"

"And beautiful as always, Eomoni!" The two shared a brief but heartfelt hug.

Once they pulled away, the older woman linked her arms to both of the children, dragging them into the cozy home. "Everybody, they're here!" She shouted for the whole house to hear. Dalnim's mother bared a smile at the two and gestured for them to go off. "Are you kids hungry? I'm sorry to say that we ate a couple hours ago, but I will heat up some food if you are."

Chanyeol and Dalnim exchanged glances. With a look of unsatisfied bellies written on their faces, they broke out into childish giggles, and both nodded simultaneously at the mother. "Food will be ready in a few minutes then! Everyone else is in the living room watching Home Alone and playing Uno." Dalnim's mother shuffled over to the doorway to the kitchen, but stopped abruptly, turning back to the kids. "Dalnim, sweetie, please play in my place, hmm? I've got only a few cards left."

The two entered the living room to see a number of five people circled around the coffee table, some sitting on the floor and some on the couches. They all glimpsed up at the sound of new footsteps. All at once, it was a hugging party. Chanyeol's parents and older sister were quick to attack their child into their arms and shower him with cries of delight, as well as Dalnim's father and her younger sister doing the same to her. And then Dalnim greeted Chanyeol's family like they were her own.

Dalnim couldn't have been happier than this moment. It has been years since the Parks and Yoons have celebrated Christmas as one, and most of it were her and Chanyeol's fault. The families couldn't help it if their child were extremely busy people and had to work with their schedule. Honestly, she was a little frustrated for letting herself drift apart for eight years for the sake of her volleyball career. She didn't even realize how dedicated she must be to have skipped on these precious moments. But now that this rare opportunity had come and the two childhood friends were reunited after succeeding in their dream, Dalnim will savor every last drop of this holiday and she's going to try her best to reconnect with her second family from here on out.

~ * ~  * ~ * ~

"So much for the tradition for waiting until midnight all together."

"Can we actually say much about it? We've fallen asleep every time when we were younger."

"Touché."

Granted, both of Chanyeol and Dalnim's parents had brought out the soju to drink. Yoora had joined right in, happily serving the older adults with their shots. The two stars decided not to interfere with the festivities of drinking, despite that they can. Ha Neul, who had received her early Christmas present from Chanyeol, decided to leave them behind once the adults got a little too tipsy. And so, the youngest had hid away into her room to listen to her new albums. Dalnim knew that her younger sister likes to follow a certain sleeping schedule, so by now, she should be asleep.

So after a couple hours of catching up and sudden heated debates over various subjects, the two were the only ones conscious with only a few minutes remaining before it was officially Christmas.

The tall male wasn't going to take anymore of staying in a house with the majority of the people sleeping. "Yah, Dalnim-ah, it's a good time if any to go to the playground," he told her in hushed tones. He stood up from where he was sitting on the floor and stretched his muscles. He gestured for the girl to stand up and follow him out.

"Oh, okay." Dalnim scrambled onto her feet and stretched her own muscles. "Hold on." She walked over into the hallway to the small storage room. She opened it, took out a couple blankets, and brought it back to the living room. She covered each person, making sure they'll stay warm in their drunken state.

Once done, she rushed over to her belongings that were to the opposite side of the living room, she snatched up her Christmas gift for Chanyeol and stuffed it into her jacket pocket. After she made sure the box was hidden properly, she stepped to her friend's side. "Alright, let's go."

The two left the Yoon house with Dalnim locking the door behind her. With the blistering cold biting their skin through their clothes, they trudged on, as the playground was just a ten minute walk.

Coming to its metal gates, Dalnim stepped in. Now that she was within reach of the playground, she could clearly see how much the place had lost its color, the once vibrantly colored place faded and rusted. Only growing old like the rest of them.

"Wow, just look at this place," Dalnim muttered as she walked over to jungle gym. At her current height, she could now reach the monkey bars comfortably. She laughed lightly as the memory of her younger self always trying to jump up to grab the bars, rather than using the ladder to get to them.

She grabbed onto the faded blue bars and bent her legs so she was freely swinging from them. Almost too easily, she swung from bar to bar, making it to the opposite end in less than thirty seconds. She stood back onto her feet appalled. Her eight year old self would've been very impressed by this feat.

Too many years really did pass by in a flash.

"NimNim!" Dalnim craned her neck to look at Chanyeol, who was already by the swing set, plopped into the one on the right, his usual spot. She skipped over and took her rightful place on the swing next to him. She watched as he took out his phone and checked the time. "We have only a couple minutes left until Christmas."

Dalnim's heart jolted at the sight of the phone. She patted all her pockets but didn't feel the device on her body. "Crap, I forgot my phone... I wanted to take a picture of the two of us."

"Pshh, I can take it on my phone, dummy." With a pout, Dalnim just got to accept that. Suddenly, a small box was handed to her. She took it while giving a curious glance to Chanyeol. "That's my Christmas present to you." With a jolt at the object in hand, she fished out her own present and gave it to the male. "And this is mine?"

"Of course. What else would it be?"

"Alright, how about we do this? Let's open our gifts at the same time once the clock reaches 12. Sound good?" Chanyeol replied.

Dalnim gave him a nod, despite how nervous she was for his reaction to her present. They watched his phone, impatiently waiting for the digital numbers to change. Once it did reach midnight, they simultaneously greeted each other a Merry Christmas, and opened their gifts.

"Uwa, how much did you pay for this watch?" Chanyeol gasped as he took out his gift from its box to gaze at it under the park lights. With a bright smile, he strapped it onto his wrist. "I've always seen it but I never had the chance to buy it for myself. Yah, this is why we're so close, you know exactly what I want!"

"That's a relief," Dalnim admitted. "I was actually having trouble trying to find you something that could make up on our missed days. I'm really happy that you like it."

"I don't like it. I love it!" He replied. Chanyeol then gestured for Dalnim to continue opening her gift. Inside the small box was a ring. It wasn't one encrusted with jewels and banded with pure gold, but a simple, silver ring with a detailed design. "That... I've actually had that ring for a long while now."

Chanyeol plucked the ring from its box and held out his hand for her to take. Dalnim shoved aside her completely flustered feelings and cautiously placed her right hand in his. From there, he slipped the ring onto her ring finger. He then held out his opposite hand, his right just like hers. She quickly noticed the matching ring. "I don't want to be that cheesy guy, but I bought this instantly with the thought of you. They're... promise rings."

"Promise rings?..."

"Yeah. I know it's not you're typical ring, but I knew you would have preferred something more simple like this." Dalnim wasn't the only one nervous at this moment. Chanyeol couldn't meet her eyes all of a sudden and his lips were pressed together. "I've had this with me for nearly nine years."

Dalnim blinked in surprise at the news. "Nine years? That means you've had this since we were still both still in high school together?"

He let out a sheepish laugh. "I know. But I kept chickening out because I knew you would've thought this would be a stupid gift."

Maybe if it were from someone else, I would've thought so, Dalnim thought to herself.

An unnerving look of determination swam in Chanyeol's eyes once they made eye contact. Dalnim was completely entranced, as she held onto her breath. The whole feeling right now has changed from the very cheery atmosphere they shared only seconds before to something more serious. "You may have not known this because, let's face it, you're undeniably oblivious."

He held up his finger before the volleyball could blow up at him. Calming down instantaneously, she let him continue. "You've been my strength even when we weren't together and this ring reminds me of that. You have no idea how many times I wanted to just stop..." He made a small pause, as he gulped down his fears. "Honestly, that was one of the reasons why I avoided to see you for a while. I didn't want you to see me struggling when you're already on the road to be a professional volleyball player."

Even though the circumstances were different for them, Dalnim still felt a pang in her chest when he said that. She wasn't completely at fault here for their late reunion.

"But there was a greater reason why I distanced myself away for a while and to why I couldn't give you the ring when I got it," Chanyeol murmured next. He reached out and took both of Dalnim's hands into his, his thumbs just slightly caressing the back of it. "I wanted to know what I've felt for a long time was real. I'm really sorry it took me this long to finally have the courage."

With a shaky breath, the idol finally told her, "Yoon Dalnim, I've been completely in love with you."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/n: WHOOP THERE IT IS. (ﾉ> ◇ <)ﾉ♪

Sometimes, I gotta remind myself that this was supposed to be a short story, so we gotta nudge it along~

FUN FACT: I'm watching Lovers in Paris with my mom. BUT WHY WHEN THEY KISS, THEY DON'T MOVE AN INCH? Is that just the way they kiss in Korea? Where's the passion? WHERE'S THE UNDYING LOVE YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SHOW? At least move your lips a bit, maybe run your fingers through the other's hair? I don't know and I don't care what, but it just shows that they ain't that much of a great kisser ☚(ﾟヮﾟ☚)