"i like your family, they're really kind," jaebum says as youngjae and him are lying in the younger male's bed.

they had tried to help youngjae's mother with the cooking but she had firmly refused, saying she'd do it just fine on her own. persuasion doesn't work on her apparently.

"i think they like you too hyung," youngjae replies, looking up at his boyfriend with a smile.

"do you like me?" jaebum asks innocently with a smile.

"of course, i do. that's why i am your boyfriend and you're mine," youngjae replies, peppering kisses along jaebum's jawline.

the latter's smile gets wider as he points at his lips with a finger.

"here too."

the younger giggles and plants a few kisses on his lips, both of them smiling in the process. jaebum smiles and wraps himself around youngjae, clinging to him like a koala would to a tree. the older presses kisses everywhere on his boyfriend's face which makes the latter laugh as he happily accepts the affection.

"ahem."

they both freeze at the sound of someone at the door. jaebum slowly turns around and smiles nervously at jiseon who's watching them with a slight smirk.

"sorry to disturb your little time together but we are setting the tree up and we kind of need some help with it, if you don't mind?" she asks with a tilt of her head.

"sure, we'll help!" youngjae exclaims as he scrambles to his feet, a light pink dusted on his cheeks.

he drags jaebum with him to escape his sister and the embarrassment he feels. the older doesn't say a word, a bit embarrassed himself and lets himself get dragged by the other male. when they get into the living room, youngjae's father, minjoo and hyunjoo are indeed setting up the tree, christmas decorations scattered around.

"we were just about to put up the decorations, care to help?" minjae asks as he turns to the boys with a smile.

─

"what a beautiful tree, boys! good job!" heejin exclaims as all of them admire the christmas tree.

aside from the traditional decorations, they hung photos of them and the moments they shared together. jaebum is amazed by how simple yet warm their christmas is. christmas in his family has always been cold, almost like they were all strangers to each other. that's probably one of the reasons why they stopped celebrating all together.

"doesn't it look so cool, hyung?" youngjae asks him with a bright smile, eyes sparkling excitedly.

"it does," jaebum replies softly, smiling and placing a fond kiss on the top of his head.

"i think it's time to eat!" youngjae's mother announces as she brings the food to the table.

─

there's a lot of food.

jaebum has never seen so much food in his life before but he's not really complaining. the food is delicious. when he compliments heejin on the food, she just smiles and tells him to eat up, which he oh so gladly does. they all chat as they eat and jaebum really thinks he could get used to this. spending time with youngjae's family who generously welcomed him and is treating him with so much care as if he was a part of it is a very nice thought.

"hyung?"

youngjae's voice disrupts his thoughts and he turns his head to look at him with a smile.

"yeah?"

"open up!"

the next thing he knows, a piece of pork is being held up to him. he chuckles and gladly eats it from his boyfriend's chopsticks. humming in approval, he does just the same and smiles as the younger joyfully eats the piece of meat. they both laugh, happy in their own little bubble.

"do you remember when we were like that?" jiseon asks hyunjoo with a smile as the whole table watches the scene.

"we were so young and foolish and immature back then," he replies, a sort of nostalgia lacing his tone.

"that was three years ago and you haven't changed a bit, stop fooling yourself," she deadpans fondly as he pouts.

"all this couple thing going on is a bit disgusting," minjoo comments as he munches on his food.

"speaking of couple, when are you going to find yourself a girlfriend? i need to marry you off as soon as possible!" minjae retorts, making them laugh.

"once everyone is done eating, i think we should all head to bed and let santa bring the gifts," heejin says once they've calmed down.

"mom, you do know that we know santa claus doesn't exist, right?" minjoo asks with a smirk.

"shut your mouth and fill it with food instead son," heejin replies with a threatening glare which makes him obey immediately.

"i'm not loved in this family," he complains with a low whine.

everyone except him laughs at his supposed misery.

─

later when the whole house has gone to bed, jaebum and youngjae are still not asleep. they're just a pile of limps as youngjae's head rest on jaebum's forearm. they stay in a comfortable silence as turned to look out the window of youngjae's room, they watch snowflakes falling to cover the city with a layer of white. jaebum thinks it's the perfect time to ask what's been on his mind for a while now.

"baby?" he starts, getting youngjae's attention.

the latter hums softly to show he's listening even though he feels a bit sleepy.

"what do you think about... spending new year's eve with me? just the two of us?" he asks, taking youngjae's hand in his and intertwining their fingers.

the younger rolls on his back to look at jaebum with raised eyebrows and he looks so soft with his equally soft hair sprawled out and his droopy eyes that jaebum momentarily forgets what he asked.

"really? just the two of us?"

"yeah. you and me. in my parents' cabin not far from seoul. what do you think?" he asks again, gently brushing youngjae's hair out of the way.

"i'd love to," youngjae replies softly with a smile.

"good."

he faintly smiles and plants a kiss on the younger's forehead. they get more comfortable, youngjae burying his head in the crook between jaebum's shoulder and jaw.

"good night hyung."

"good night baby."

─

the next morning, christmas is finally here. jaebum wakes up at the sound of agitation going on downstairs and decides to gently wake youngjae up. the latter loudly yawns as he slowly opens his eyes.

"morning, sunshine. and merry christmas," jaebum says with a soft smile, stroking.

"hi..." youngjae replies with a tired smile, still drowsy from sleep. "merry christmas to you too."

the older then tells him they should go join youngjae's family to open the presents. youngjae nods and the two boys get ready. when they are, they go downstairs where everyone else is starting to open their presents.

"merry christmas everyone!" youngjae's mother exclaims loudly with a wide smile as she spots youngjae and jaebum.

"merry christmas mom," youngjae replies with a tired smile and joins his family on the floor as they open the nicely wrapped gifts.

jaebum follows him and watches as youngjae starts opening his presents with an excited smile. he looks like a 10-year old boy with his disheveled hair and the sight makes him fall even more for the younger. jaebum then leans in and whispers into his ear.

"i'll give you your present at new year, if that's okay with you?" he asks softly.

"of course. you're here with me and that's all that matters. gifts can wait hyung," youngjae smiles up at him.

jaebum returns it and kisses him gently, a little peck in a silent thank you.

"jaebum? can i have a word with you?"

when he looks up, minjae is gesturing for him to come join him at the dining table. he kisses youngjae's cheek who whines because he shows way too much affection around his family members and stands up before going to sit across from his boyfriend's father.

"i just wanted to discuss something really important with you," he starts calmly.

"what is it?"

"i can see how much you care about my son and that you make him very happy. he's the happiest i've ever seen him look and i want to thank you for taking such good care of him," minjae says, looking deeply into jaebum's eyes. "that's why i want you to never hurt him and love him like you've never loved anyone before, okay?" he requests, placing his hand atop of jaebum's and squeezing it.

to say that jaebum is taken aback is an understatement. youngjae's father is basically giving him his blessing and he honestly feels like crying which is very out of his character. jaebum turns his head to look at the young man he knows he's deeply in love with and he realizes he wants to be the one to put that gorgeous smile on his face, more than anything else. and so when he looks back at minjae with a determined flame in his eyes, he has no problem to say,

"i won't disappoint you, sir. you can count on me."

━━━━
enjoy this long ass chapter folks

i have nothing else to say except that i'm way deep into the 2jae hell and i can't go out.