fast updates cause both of us are on
christmas break!
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JOY

Everything was going great. Really. Seriously. I'm not even lying.

Finals week was almost done; I had two yesterday, one today, and my last one tomorrow. Then I'd be heading back home for the holidays. With Namjoon.

Yes, I was going to ask him to come with me back home for the holidays. Considering everything (especially the fiasco that was my family meeting Namjoon), I'm not sure if this is a good idea. However, I want my family to know that Namjoon is going to continue being a big part of my life. Letting them know is going to start with bringing him home for Christmas.

I scribbled on the side of my paper, trying to finish the last equation.

For a fine arts school, you would think they would prioritize advancing your education in fine arts. I guess not, seeing as I'm sitting here taking a final in pre-calc.

I finished the last equation, quickly checked over my work, and brought my paper to the professor.

Peeking outside the door, I saw Namjoon standing there awkwardly, rocking back and forth on his toes, sporting a gray puff coat, scarf, hat that covered his ears, and gloves.

I sped walked out of the classroom, pretending to not notice him across the hall, biting the inside of my lip to prevent myself from smiling.

I heard the tapping on the ground of his footsteps trying to catch up with mine, then his stronger arms wrapping around me, picking me up and spinning us both.

He placed me back down against the wall with his arms trapping me beneath him.

"Why are you running away from me, princess?" He joked with his usual smirk plastered on his face.

"Excuse me, sir, I will have to file a lawsuit for the violation of my running away rights." I crossed my arms, smiling back at him.

"Really?" He raised an eyebrow before leaning in close. Eyes gazing, noses touching, breaths fusing.

Namjoon pushed himself off the wall and walked away.

My mouth fell open, cheeks red. "Kim Namjoon!" I chased after him, "Come back here! —"

He turned around and pulled me close by the waist. "Why are you chasing me? I thought I had running away rights, too." He smiled.

"You're irritating." I pecked his lips.

He kissed me again, then grabbed my hand and started to walk. "So how was the pre-calc final?"

"Gross, new subject."

"Oookay, what should we do tonight? I was thinking date night. Hot cocoa and The Amazing Spider-Man, or we could get tickets to the Christmas lights show at the school fair. Val and everyone will be there."

"Let's do the night-in option. I have to talk to you about something." I nudged his arm.

He looked down at me. "You can talk to me about it right now."

"It's kind of serious, though."

"We do a lot of serious; I'm sure I can take it." He shrugged.

We were at the end of the hall now, and Namjoon pressed the elevator button to go down. It opened, and we walked in, tapping the main floor button.

"Okay," I nodded to myself and took a deep breath. "I want you to come to have Christmas with my family and me."

Namjoon stayed silent, then nodded. "Okay, princess."

"Okay?" I asked, looking up at him.

"Yes," He chuckled, "okay."

"Okay," I looked around in shock at his quick answer, "But there's a big party and you're going to have to dress up. You have to meet extended family, and—and semi-babysit little kids, and eat properly. That means the right forks and spoons, correct napkin placements, all of that."

"Are you listing things I may not want to do so that I don't go? Cause I recall you asking me to go."

I shook my head and the elevator doors opened. We walked out into the lobby, the snow outside reminding us that Christmas was around the corner.

"No, I'm—I just want to make sure that you really want to go; that you're not just doing this because I asked you to."

"Joy," Namjoon grabbed both of my hands. "I want to go. This is important to do if we're going to make us work."

I shook my head yes.

"Okay, then. Now, should we watch only the first part, or should we watch the second part of The Amazing Spider-Man, too?

//

"So I'm sitting there, and I realize that Tobey's got the looks for Peter Parker, but Andrew's the best Spider-Man. However, Tobey is the best Peter Parker."

Namjoon squinted at me, chewing the same popcorn that's been in his mouth for what seemed longer than a minute.

The movies had finished ten minutes ago, and we were sitting on his bed, the mattress caving in with both of us sitting close to one another. We decided to watch part one and two of The Amazing Spider-Man, but not without both of us crying at least five times. Well, maybe Namjoon cried only once.

"So who's your favorite, again?" He asked.

"Andrew."

"Just cause he's hot?" Namjoon sat back. "I'm hot, too."

I giggled. "And he's the funniest, and he had the best chemistry with his love interest. Not to mention, he also had the best love interest."

"I'm hilarious, princess, and I have the best love interest, too!" Namjoon pointed to himself with both hands. "Surprise! you're my love interest."

I scoffed, humorously. "When did I agree to that?"

"When we started comparing me to Spidermen."

"But are you Spider-Man?" I squinted.

"Even better," He leaned close. "I'm real and your boyfriend. Two for one! That's a Black Friday deal if I've ever seen one."

I frowned. "Give me the popcorn." I snatched the bowl from him, turning away and protecting it with both arms.

"That's a robbery." He threw his arms out, attempting to steal back the bowl, but it resulted in a spill of the popcorn as he pulled my arm — the bowl's support — away from it.

He pursed his lips as I looked at him with a side-eye that spoke for itself.

"I'll clean it," He said quickly and began to pick up each piece of popcorn into his hand.

I took the bowl, trying to suppress my amusement. "I'm going to make more."

"But we're not even watching anymore—"

"I want popcorn, Namjoon!"

I walked through the hallway and to the kitchen. The light was on, but I swore we shut it off after we went to Namjoon's room.

I walked in and, "Jungkook." I felt my grip on the bowl slip — nervous sweats.

He turned around with a sandwich in his hand and his mouth open and ready to take a bite of it. His puffed vest was blue on top of a white long-sleeve and accompanied by black sweatpants.

"Joy!" He put the hand holding the sandwich down. "What-What are you doing here?"

I pointed to the hallway, and Jungkook nodded.

"Right, right, of course." He lightly hit the side of his head.

"Sorry, I'm just coming to make more popcorn." I inched my way into the kitchen.

"Oh, yeah, yeah. Go ahead." He gulped. "I'm just going to eat."

I nodded slowly and opened up the pantry, taking out the microwaveable popcorn and placing it in the microwave.

Jungkook proceeded to eat his sandwich in complete silence as I leaned against the kitchen counter, keeping a good distance, the only sound being the popping of the popcorn inside the microwave.

Jungkook and I hadn't spoken since the night he took me out to celebrate my winning of the scholarship. That night wasn't bad, but there were times where we stared too long at each other, and times where he treated me different. Never in a bad way, but not in the way a friend treats another friend.

It was different, and we both sensed it.

I couldn't take the awkwardness. "Jungkook, are we good?"

He paused, taking awhile to set his sandwich down and look at me.

"Because I know you and Joon are going through something but I want to know if you and me are— there's not anything going on between us because of that, right?" I took a step, concern in my eyes.

Jungkook took a sip of his drink. "No, there's nothing—" The microwave beeped, and Jungkook slightly jumped, choking on his drink and beginning to cough.

"Oh!" I quickly walked over to him, patting his back.

He set his cup back down, covering his mouth with his fisted hand as he coughed.

When he stopped I asked, "Did I startle you? I'm sorry, I was just confused where we stand at the moment. I had to ask; it's been bugging me."

Jungkook shook his head and lifted his head to look at me.

And there we were again. Closer than we both intended to be, and it seemed like we both knew because we took a step back. Still, it didn't seem far enough. We had been in this situation too many times — where we were too close.

He cleared his throat. "I'm just going to finish this in my room," He signaled to his sandwich. "We're okay, Joy. Really."

I nodded, not realizing I was fidgeting with my fingers and my heart was racing until after Jungkook left the kitchen.

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merry christmas (eve) from
us to you 🤍