POV: it's Christmas season
Chan
• when you decided to take the job at a toy store this year you were aware that wrapping presents was part of the job but most of the time you were able to let someone else do it for you else the customers ended up with the chaos of crumpled colourful paper and stripes of tape
• But now that Christmas was just 4 days away everybody felt the need to let their present be wrapped in the store and as much as you wanted to complain about their decisions you were one of those people as well
• Today it was the 20th of December, the streets were snowed in and everything was shining bright with fairy lights. The Santa that was in front of the toy store was grinning widely and pointing at the shop window filled with plushies, dolls, legos, and a train which would start driving along the little Christmas landscape after you would turn on the light
• Around noon the store started to fill to the brim, people were searching through the shelves while children were playing at the play table. Your co-worker James and you were busy the whole time with cashing in, sowing people around, and not to forget wrapping gifts
• The whole time until now you tried to avoid the table with rolls of pretty paper but James already told you that he would need to take a break and buy presents himself and without thinking you said 'of course'
• Now you stood at the table looking at the stupid toy car that had more geometric forms in it than you were able to designate. Why couldn't people just buy things that were square or cuboid-formed
• You crumpled up the second sheet of wrapping paper and threw it in the bin as you tried to shield the table from the customers as much as possible but you weren't able to hide it from the one cute boy that was watching you since your first attempt and was chuckling
• His hair was perfectly parted, his bright smile was exposing his cute teeth and you didn't even want to start with the dimples or this cute zip-up hoodie maybe if you weren't embarrassed this much right now you would talk to him instead of offering him an awkward smile
• You cut a new sheet of wrapping paper but before you were able to destroy it another time the cute boy came over and offered his help which you gratefully accepted. He carefully folded everything before finally taping it and handing it to you. You thanked him and handed the present to the customer
• The next customer also wanted his presents wrapped, with three toys in your arm you turned around and looked at the cute boy who was still standing there "Could you maybe?" You tripped over your own words and looked at him, good was this embarrassing but to your surprise, he smiled and took the toys from your grip. You were able to cash in the next customer until he came back with the perfectly wrapped presents
• by now there wasn't another customer in the row and you were able to thank him probably and introduce yourself to him. He introduced himself as Chan and you both ended up in a conversation until the next customer appeared and before you could react Chan had already taken the presents and gone to the wrapping table
• for the next hour Chan stayed in the shop as the gift wrapper because in his opinion he didn't know of something better to do, so you offered him some of your cookies and tea he gratefully accepted as payment
• In between the queues of customers you two talked and ate cookies until you were able to close the shop at 7 pm with Chan together and to your happiness he offered to meet you the next day in the shop and teach you how to properly wrap Christmas presents
Minho
• besides the fact that college was mentally draining it was also draining your bank account so bad that you looked for another job over Christmas time. To your luck, your grandma had a stand on the Christmas market and asked you to help her out which you gratefully accepted
• So now you stood behind pots of heated red sugar and caramel and next to you boxes filled with nuts and sprinkles and marshmallows, everything a kid could desire while listening to Christmas music the whole day long
• the second day you were already smelling like a candy store yourself. Late at night when all the lights were shining and the night was shining in gold, green and red a cute boy bought some Carmel apples normally you wouldn't have noticed him that much but while you were preparing the order he was smiling at you until one of his friends elbowed him into his side
• Not only did you notice him because when he was out of view your granny turned around with one of her cookie bags in her hand which she was knooting bows around. "What a good-looking man" she chuckled
• The next day you had to admit that you were tired. On the weekends the Christmas market felt like it would never end. But when the familiar gorgeous man came by and waited in line to order from you, you had to hold back your smile.
• when it was his turn and he ordered another caramel apple like yesterday you needed to make some new ones and told him that he could come back in around 10 minutes but he insisted on staying so you both ended up in a conversation about your granny's stand and his job as a dance teacher which was his reason to be here for the next few days. He would need to look after his children's groups that were performing here. Your heart was warming up by the way he was talking about the kids
• The next day you just waited for Minho to come back again. Yesterday he told you that he would return today, it would be his new daily ritual, he said
• when he entered the line and slowly moved forward your granny took you and told the customers to shortly wait. She took off the apron she gifted you with a frog that was wearing a little Christmas hat. She opened the door and pushed you outside. "Young boy, I think your order is ready." She laughed over her joke while you walked around the stand
• "Hey I guess." You approached him "Hi." He smiled at you. "Want to grab some mulled wine? In the last few days, I din't only find the best candied apples but also the best mulled wine and mushrooms here." You laughed and agreed.
• He guided over the market while asking questions about your life and college major and telling you stuff about his job as a dance teacher, his dance groups, and his little Spider-Man obsession that he was proud of and ashamed of at the same time but you thought it was cute
• He bought two mugs of mulled wine and insisted on paying but in exchange you would need to meet him at the stage tomorrow when his kids would be performing
Changbin
• You never saw a single reindeer before so you decided that it was time and went into a petting zoo
• You bought some food for them and walked through the zoo at least trying to pay interest on the other animals as well
• But what you didn't expect today was that one of the reindeer was running through the zoo. Parents were pulling their children closer while the kids were giggling and pointing at the running animal. You stepped to the side but it seemed like the reindeer had other plans because it decided to stop next to you licking your hand and the paper bag
• You opened the bag and offered the cute fluffy deer in front of you some dried whatever these were until a bulky boy with short black hair, glasses, and a black puffer came running down the snowy path the reindeer just ended here. He was covered in snow and you assumed that he had already fallen a few times which was understandable because it had been snowing for the past two weeks and the frozen ground was super slippery
• The boy was panting and was screaming the name Prancer but Prancer who was eating his bricks of dried ingredients didn't seem to care
• The boy walked up to you and looked reproachful at the animal before he turned his attention towards you. "I'm sorry, I don't know how this happened." "It's fine." You tried to resume him
• He tried to catch Prancer but he just ran around you and escaped the boy. "Prancer." The boy tried to lecture the reindeer but that didn't stop him from causing him and the boy to play five rounds of catch around you. You tried to leave but Prancer was following you with every step with the boy on his heels
• "Okay that's enough." The boy came to a stop and looked back at you. "I don't know what's up with him but would you mind coming and bringing him back to his enclosure with me?" He had an awkward smile on his lips. You looked at the reindeer that was licking your hand that was holding the treats.
• "It's okay." You smiled and grabbed Prancer softly at his Holster while following the boy. On the way, Prancer was brave while Changbin and you were talking about random stuff. He was shocked that it was your first time seeing reindeer so he invited you to join him in feeding all of them and you agreed
• When you entered the escort the reindeer were running around like crazy and came snuggeling to Changbin and you. The boy was fighting his way through to the feeding station, where he got the food and called you to come to him
• You went up to him, and he handed you some of their food before placing the rest into the feeding stations. It took the reindeer only seconds before they were eating happily
• Prances on the other hand seemed to enjoy your company. He came back to you that way you were able to feed him. A smile crept up your lips, you didn't notice Changbin watching you and you couldn't react fast enough to prevent Prancer from licking your face
• "Seems like Prancer does have a good taste." You turned towards Changbin and laughed at him. "If you want to I can wait for you tomorrow at the entrance, then I can feed them with you together and after that, we can go and also eat something." He grinned at you. You smiled at him and nodded "Tomorrow at 2 pm?" You nodded again. "I would like that."
• Who would have thought that a reindeer didn't only make your childhood dream come through but would also help you with your single problem, eventually these animals had some magic in them.
Hyunjin
• it wasn't always like this. When you were younger your parents always decorated the house for Christmas. They were obsessed with it and the house always needed to sparkle like one of those mall Christmas trees
• But now since your sister and you moved out your parents stopped decorating for Christmas and while your sister was getting the tree and presents right now with your parents you decided to decorate the house
• By now you collected all kinds of fairy lights and garlands you could find in boxes and shelves as well as a ladder from the garage. It took you around an hour to decorate the first half before you were able to climb on the little roof that was right under your old room. One after another you brought the fairy lights up before climbing onto the roof yourself and starting to decorate everything
• Some fairy lights around the roof, some around the window, and another one around the other roof
• By now your hands were read and numb. You had to admit that even when the snow was pretty to look at and completed Christmas you felt like you were slowly starting to freeze to death
• with pride you looked at your finished piece of art, trying to absorb some bit of Christmas spirit before turning around and looking hopelessly for the ladder
• You ran to the edge and looked at the sliver thing lying in the snow. There was no way you would jump. You fumbled in your jacket pockets but didn't find what you were looking for before remembering that you left your phone on the table so that you could look through the window
• Defeated you sat down in the snow and looked over and over your unhelpful gadgets and back to the window and your phone. Surely it would take more time for your family to come back home
• Blowing air in your hands and rubbing them together wasn't helping anymore. Your mind kept telling you that while waiting it would only lead to icicles growing from your lashes so no, it was time for actions.
• You walked around the roof until you went by a slightly open window. At least it was worth a try. You reached into the gap and tried to reach the handle with your fingers. Only a few centimeters were missing when Mr. Snuggles came running to the window barking
• The little wiener was wiggling its tail and barking nonstop. "Stop Mr. Snuggles" but he didn't seem to listen. "Shut up." You waved your hands like crazy to make him stop before losing balance and falling on your back.
• You just stayed and looked at the sky until you noticed a flash lighting up the area. You turned to your neighbor's house and looked at the cute neighbor you already noticed yesterday. The blond, slightly long-haired boy was standing in his window with a tank top and some checkered pants, his phone right over his face
• You sat up. "Excuse me what are you doing?" You shouted at the boy who was lowering his phone. "I should be asking you that. Why are you trying to rob an old couple and don't even try to deny it has evidence." In shook you stared at him, speechless
• "Robbing?! There are my parents. I was just trying to decorate the house and then the ladder fell." He laughed. "You want me to believe that." "Yes, if you could help me down I could prove to you that I have a key, and right at the entrance are my pictures."
• "Or you give me the keys and let me check." Offended I gasped and looked at him. "And how am I supposed to know that you don't steal when I hand you the keys." He laughed "Okay wait I came but just to make sure I keep the photos."
• It took a minute before the boy appeared in the garden with some sneakers on and a thick jacket. You walked around the roof and looked at the boy. "If I set up the ladder and you come down, you're not going to attack me right?" He held up the ladder and looked disparaging at you.
• "I'm not going to attack you I promise." You held up your pinky. He held up his pinky as well and laughed. When the ladder was set up you climbed down and went to the front door while the boy was following you within a distance
• You unlocked the door and walked into the entrance, leaving the door open for him. "See" you pointed at a picture of you when you were around 10, somehow you didn't change that much.
• "Okay no doubt that this is you." He laughed. "I'm Hyunjin." He held out his hand for you. "Y/N" you shook his hand.
• He walked through the entrance as you took your shoes off. "Is that also you?" He pointed at a picture where you were dressed as Hannah Montana for Halloween. "Yes, and now stop looking at my pictures." You felt the embarrassment crawling up your cheeks
• "If you show me yours, I'm willing to show you mine." "Deal."
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I wish all of you and your families merry Christmas and wonderful holidays. When everything goes well i will post the second past tomorrow and more in the future because a lot of reactions are nearly ready and already planned.
In love, baby_stay