"You got to eat more, my dear daughter. Oh my!"

I suppressed the urge to sigh, biting my lower lip as my mother slid another bowl of viand on the table.

"Eomma," I stretched, frowning at the feast in front of me. "I can't eat all of this."

That earned me a soft thunk on the head with the rolled brochure on my mother's hand, which seemed to have magically appeared out of nowhere.

"You've been feeding on unhealthy store food and you've lost weight. Aigoo! You're gonna get sick soon and die. Seriously, you should just go home and stay here for good."

I listened to my mother whilst stuffing my mouth with food. To my defense, I was healthy-thin. I struggled to swallow my food, drinking a glass of water to aid it.

"Eomma," I whined, that then earned me another thunk. I furiously messed with my hair and made crying noises with a frustrated face. "Yah! Stop hitting me. Didn't you miss me?"

"I missed you, we all did," she said. "But that doesn't stop me from having the right to lecture you," my mother went on. "Now go finish that up."

Frowning, I watched her figure until she disappeared back into the kitchen. I heard a snicker beside me and I snapped my head to its direction. My brother was already settling himself on the table with chopsticks on his hand. I glared at him sideways, and he shot back with a smug smile.

"Oppa is helping you eat." He patted me on my head, widening his smile, showing his gummy teeth.

I raised my chopsticks, threatening to poke him with it, but let it land on my rice instead.

"I know, I know. You love oppa so much." He nodded to himself, pleased. "So how's it going with you and Jimin?"

I choked.

↠

With the help of Yoongi, we were able to finish the food our mother had prepared. Although he had kind of gotten a few scoldings from her, insisting that he should have eaten his own food.

Naturally, I should've felt pity since he just did that to help me, but I kind of felt like he deserve it. He couldn't just get away for teasing me after I trusted that he would take my story seriously.

I plunged into my bed, stretching my arms and legs and stared at the ceiling. After winter break had officially started, I wasted no time to pack and leave my apartment. I was so in need of a breather, and coming back home and reuniting with my family was just as close to that.

My eyes wandered around as I sat up straight. There was nothing new with my room; it was still in the same arrangement as I had left it. Though it was too noticeable that my parents had been cleaning it daily, judging by its dust-free status.

For the next few days, I had helped with the restaurant. As the holidays neared, more people dropped by. Customers varied from patient elders, loud teenagers and whiny children with their parents. So yes, you could say everyday had been busy.

Though it had been fun since once in a while, during my trip to the back of the kitchen, we would share a couple of comments and share a joke or two. A few times, customers had asked Yoongi to take a photo with them since they claimed he looked like this certain K-pop idol.

Days flew by in a blur, and I could affirm that my mind had found its long yearned peace. At least I had other things to occupy myself with. And hanging out with my family had always been fun anyway.

My mother turned the television to a channel where there was a live countdown for Christmas Eve. We had closed the shop hours ago, and now, we were upstairs.

Our house was adorned with decorations hung on the wall and the stairs—basically everywhere. The dining table was filled with all sorts of food. For me, those were just merely additionals to brighten the holidays. Simply being with them was enough for me after all.

When Christmas Eve came, we exchanged greetings, ate merrily and opened gifts. I got everyone the same gifts which were the customized keychains I had claimed the other day back at the mall. I had personally designed each one to be unique with the owner's initial somewhere on the bottom part.

I purposely pretended that I didn't have a gift for Yoongi, but well, he didn't get me anything. That piece of sushi, thinking he could trick me? I knew he wouldn't forget about me.

I knocked on the door to his room, and without waiting for a go signal, I opened it. It wasn't locked, so it wasn't my fault I got in.

Yoongi was busy with the bureau of his desk and when he saw me, he closed it and walked towards me. His face screamed of disinterest towards everything. The next thing I know, something hard was pressed on my forehead.

I managed to catch the paper bag and peered inside. There were sketchpads, pencils and other art stuff.

Lifting my gaze back at him, I sported a thankful, satisfied grin.

"Now where's my gift? That better be nice."

Of course it was nice and he'd like it.

I dangled the keychain still inside in a transparent plastic wrapper. His eyes flickered, but he immediately hid it from me. His design wasn't originally made by me, but I had guessed he'd prefer if it was Kumamon. On the bottom wasn't his initials, instead it was engraved with AGUST D.

Just imagine, the two sides of Min Yoongi explained in a keychain.

"Make sure you put that on your flash drive," I reminded him. "Now you wouldn't lose it."

He finally gave in and flashed me a pure gummy smile, eyes disappearing. "Thank you, Haneul." He messed with my hair and pulled me into a hug. It scared me how much alike we could be, personality wise.

When he let go, I brushed past him, lifted another piece of fluff ever so gently and ambled towards the door.

"Yah, where are you taking Holly?"

"Holly's gonna sleep in my room. Merry Christmas, oppa! Your sister loves you very much!" I yelled back, hurrying to my room.

Knowing him, he'd chase me just to get Holly back.

"Haneul, don't annoy your brother too much," my father advised when I passed him by the living room, still watching television.

"I'm a nice person, appa!" I smiled. "And oppa loves me so it's okay—"

"Yah, Min Haneul come back here."

"Oops, see you tomorrow appa! Good night!"

I had successfully reached my room, locking the door behind me and released Holly. He sniffed on my bed and I lifted him up. As I did, I heard a soft thud and I turned to its source.

On the floor, I found a keychain, just like the rest of those that I had given out to everyone: my parents, Yoongi, Hira, Jungkook, Taehyung and even the Jungs.

I picked it up, eyeing it with scrutiny. It remained in its fine state with no damages.

But in the end, that didn't really matter.

It wasn't like I was going to give it to him anymore, anyway.

— ✿ —
❝I truly apologize for the late update. my schedule had been hectic lately. anyway, there are only less than five chapters left, and by the end of next month, Paper Cranes will be completed :) thank you so much for reading it up to this point. take care, everyone! ♡❞