—————————————————

THIRD PERSON

"Is that everything?" Namjoon picked up the last of Joy's bag while she checked around the dorm one last time. She scanned the room with her hands on her hips, and Namjoon stood in the doorway, chuckling to himself at the fact his girlfriend needed three bags, excluding toiletries and makeup bags.

She turned around to look at Namjoon. "Yes, I'm sure that's everything." She walked towards the doorway. "I'm just going to talk to Taegan then we can get going."

Namjoon nodded. "Meet you at the car." He bent down, puckering his lips. "Kiss."

Joy scoffed, smiling. "I'm going to see you in, like, five minutes, silly." She kissed him, laughing when he continuously pecked his lips against hers.

"Okay, okay," Joy chuckled and backed away, pushing Namjoon out and into the hall. "Get the bags to the car."

"Going, going." Namjoon dragged the bags behind him, and Joy closed the door.

She turned around, grabbing two wrapped presents that had been sitting on her vanity for awhile now. Walking out into the hall and standing in front of Taegan's door, she cleared her throat.

Hesitantly, she knocked three times, waited for a "come in", and turned the door knob, opening the door but staying in the doorway.

Taegan was packing her clothes in a single suitcase. Some small presents lay on her bed in another suitcase.

She looked up, and Joy waved awkwardly.

Taegan's gaze moved to the presents in Joy's hands.

"Oh right," Joy looked down at them and then back up at Taegan. "These are for you." She walked over to Taegan and handed her the gifts.

Taegan took them in her hand, looking at them as if it was an examination. "Wow, your wrapping skills haven't gotten any better."

Joy chuckled slightly, "I know right? No matter how many videos I watch I can't seem to get it right."

They both smiled genuinely, something they hadn't done around each other in awhile.

"Well, um," Joy pointed behind her. "Namjoon is waiting for me in the car."

"Oh, is he going home with you this year?" Taegan placed her present on the bed.

Joy nodded.

"That's a big step."

"It is," Joy almost whispered.

Sudden silence accompanied the two, both of them sensing the uncomfortable atmosphere. They hadn't had this long of a conversation since the fight at the showcase, and now neither of them knew what to say.

"I should get going. I told him I wouldn't be long." Joy stepped back out into the hallway.

"Yeah, definitely." Taegan nodded. "I have to pack so um—I'll see you when we get back?"

Joy nodded, closing the door behind her.

On the way to the elevator and to the car, Joy felt uneasy, realizing that this was her first Christmas in a long time where she wasn't spending any time with Taegan. It was more upsetting than usual because it put a gap in their tradition of baking cookies and getting on her brother's last nerve.

Joy was too slumped to even hear when Jungkook walked in, bags and gifts in hand and a letter wrapped in an extremely fancy envelope. She finally looked up and her breath hitched. He stood there double-triple checking everything. When he was done he sighed and smiled to himself, "Wrapping skills are still as flawless."

"Wanna share some of those skills this way?" Jungkook jumped up from the sound of Joy's voice causing her to laugh. She walked closer to him, "My wrapping skills are shit compared to that."

"Oh I know. I was watching you wrap a gift in the living room the other day. I wanted to burn my eyeballs out." They both laughed. "But you had this look in your eyes like you were gonna wrap it as if your life depended on it."

Joy's heart jumped listening to him talk. He was looking at her and at a distance at that. What was she supposed to do with this information?

"Is that letter for Santa?" She asked jutting her chin to the envelope trying to avoid the insane beating in her chest. Jungkook smiled widely, "Of course it is! I made sure to be specific this year about each item and why I want it. And I've been extra nice this year so there's no way I'm on that naughty list."

Joy laughed, almost a little too hard to the point her cheeks started to hurt and her eyes teared up. She had a relieving sigh at the end of it but Jungkook just stared at her blankly.

"Oh you're serious." She cleared her throat.

"As the plague."

"So you actually believe in him?"

"You don't?" Joy shook her head and Jungkook's mouth fell as he looked at her. "No wonder your wrapping skills suck. You wouldn't survive one day in the Santa's workshop."

"Rude! I wouldn't even wanna be in in the workshop if someone that gets away with trespassing every year."

Jungkook gasped, "Oh you're most definitely getting coal. He's checking that list. Twice, Joy, twice."

Joy was in disbelief at this conversation but missed this. Missed this banter where could see the twinkle in Jungkook's eyes. It made her happy seeing him happy.

"To be completely honest with you, Santa was the only thing that no one could ruin for an eleven year old that was homeschooled. He always read my letters and ate the cookies I left for him. It was like he was actually there with me every Christmas at that long dinner table. Believing in him didn't make it feel so...quiet."

Joy felt like an absolute asshole now. She tried talking but nothing could come out. Jungkook chuckled placed some of the gifts on the floor. He zipped open his bag and took out a pink stuffed bunny with a small tiara with a wand.

"A last minute gift I picked up on the way. It's probably not the best—"

"Thank you." Joy cut him off and smiled as she took the gift. The butterflies she felt in her stomach made its way to her head and fogged it with nothing but happiness. "I really like it. Thank you." Then he finally stumbled upon her that she didn't get him anything.

"Don't worry, I'll take my gift on New Years." Jungkook chuckled, reading her like an open book. Joy nodded making it a promise to herself that he'll get his gift on New Years. Jungkook stared in awe, that look was in her eyes again. A spark of determination that made his heart beat ten times louder.

The silence between them was more welcoming than disturbing, gravitating the two closer to each other.

"I'm expecting that gift neatly wrapped." Jungkook said not realizing he had been staring at her this entire time. Joy was too stunned to look away or maybe she didn't want to.

"Can't make any promises on the neatly part of it, but you'll get your gift. I'll make sure if it." Those were the last words said as the two stood there in silence. Nothing being said but there gazes speaking for itself.

Suddenly Joy's phone vibrated and as she smiled to check who it was, a pang of guilt came over her when she saw Namjoon's text.

"I'm so sorry I have to go."

"It's fine." The disappointment in Jungkook's voice was there even after trying his best to cover it. He picked up his belongings while Joy neatly tucked her gift in her arms as she walked over to the door.

"Enjoy the break!" She exclaimed and walked out.

"Same to you!" Jungkook shouted and sighed when she was out of sight. He sighed looking down at the envelope in his hands, wishing if Santa could actually make his Christmas wish come true.

"Santa, please don't let don't me down."

———————————————

this is so late but HAPPY NEW YEARS 😭