Yeonwoo POV
...
December 23rd.
Two days before the international holiday and a day before I do something big for a certain someone ... God, I hope tomorrow pulls through.
Here's the plan: I asked Daisy not to say a single thing to Nancy, to play dumb about whatever she knows, and to come by tonight to help me set up the place for tomorrow's party. I also plan on telling Hyebin and her friends so they can help me out too.
Umm, did you expect more?
Yeah... I didn't really get that far.
But, I did get her a gift when I ran into the mall the day we baked cookies - it's a good thing I hid it well under all my One Piece books.
Also, as last minute as it was, I was going to help Hyebin, Jane, Taeha, and Nayun pick up some gifts down at the Christmas market and anywhere around the district. For this reason, Hyebin is closing up the shop early so we could have more time exploring our options.
...
It was starting to warm up to me; all the bustling and exercise I got from being in the store - but I mean nowadays, Hyebin, Daisy, and I are better prepared and have a whole system going on.
"Yeonwoo-ah, almost done cleaning the machines?"
"Yeah. You done counting the register?"
"Yeah," Hyebin chuckles.
"Aight, I'll lock up - just call the rest down here," I say as I walk towards the entrance of the shop.
"You guys are a little late on that."
I turn around to see Jane, Nayun, and Taeha rocking their ugly Christmas sweaters and winter gear, "I'm so ready to go out for once," Nayun sighs.
As I turned the open sign to say "closed," Hyebin went over to a corner to turn on the bright Christmas lights that were strung around the store. The reds, blues, and greens illuminated throughout the store and it made the other decorations shimmer.
When I walked towards the group, I couldn't help but notice how cute they all looked in the sweaters and I laughed, "I love what you're wearing guys."
Jane tsk-ed and said to me, "Speak for yourself."
I look down at my red sweater with a cute pudgy reindeer drinking coffee, "Ya, this is a tasteful shirt. Taeha, what do you think?"
She snorts, "Beautiful."
"Thank you," I sarcastically replied.
Nayun steps in while raising her hand like a school girl, "Ya! My sweater is pretty cool - look, it can light up!" She reaches under the hem of her shirt and surely enough, the Christmas tree on her sweater starts blinking different coloured lights.
"Woah," the three of us say in awe.
"YOO! Let's go, we don't have all day!" Hyebin calls out.
The rest of us snapped out of it and headed to the door, "Okaaayy mom," Taeha waves off.
Hyebin slaps the back of her head, "YA!" and we all just laughed.
Once we stepped outside, I immediately heard Carollers and the crunch of snow beneath their feet. I saw stores around us lit with Christmas lights and the smells of nutmeg and gingerbread filled the streets.
It was simply beautiful outside.
While we walked to the bus stop, I couldn't help but wonder when I'll push my confession on them.
Should I just do it now? Um... What about when we're our way home? Wait, I can't say it then, I need them to come over later. Okay, so now? Sure, why not-
I felt a light tap on my shoulder and instantly turned my head to see Jane, "You okay bro?"
I just stared at her - should I say something now?
"Yo, what the hell bro, are you alright?" she whispers.
"Uhhh..." Idiot, why are you over thinking this.
Without taking her eyes off of me, Jane calls out to the others, "Guys, is Yeonwoo on something?"
Subconsciously, I smirked - Pfft, yeah - pretty high off of Nancy.
When the group gathered around me, I couldn't help but feel a little flustered. I mean, saying you really like someone to a group of friends isn't easy, ya know? They all looked at me with questioning eyes.
"Uhh..." I muttered, "I need y'all to know something."
"Okay," Hyebin hurriedly said, "shoot it."
I looked down to my fingers and started fiddling with my fingers.
My face was feeling really hot.
"OHHH," Taeha says very loudly as she starts jumping up and down, "OH MY GOD!"
We all looked at her questioningly, "What?"
She slouches, "Guys, isn't it obvious?"
Our brows furrowed even more.
"Aish, go say it Yeonwoo," she says as she waves us off.
"Well," I start, "I haven't been totally honest, but I have a thing... Umm, you know... F-feelings?"
I looked up to see their faces and saw Nayun and Jane giving knowing looks to Taeha while Hyebin looked at me suspiciously, "Okay, anddddd?" she exaggerates.
"Umm... W-well," my voice cracks - what is this, I don't stutter, "Y-you see... I kind of like... someone..."
Hyebin continues, "Ohhhh... Is it June?" The three girls behind her double over in laughter. "What is it?" she obliviously asks.
I couldn't help but laugh too and it helped me loosen up a bit, "No Hyebin. It's," I hesitated for a second.
"NANCY!" The three girls in the back shouted.
Hyebin's eyes widen and her jaw dropped within a millisecond of hearing the news, "OH MY GOD! Are you serious?"
I gave her a small smile while I shoved my hands into my pockets and shrugged, "Yeah man, I really like her."
The four of them looked at each other with wide smiles and began whispering among each other. Erm, was it something I said?
When they suddenly looked back at me, I jumped a bit, then they continued with the whispering once again.
"Guys?"
"Alright!" Nayun jumps, "let's buy presents!"
While they all dragged me by the arm and acted like nothing happened, I kind of blanked out in confusion. I wonder what they were talking about?
...
Everyone agreed to come over tonight and I told Daisy to be at my place at around 7.
At the market, we fooled around - what's new - and bought a shit load of little gifts to give our other friends. While we were there, we also learned that Jane had a small thing for Daisy - and she was as flustered as I was when she confessed. Probably worse to be honest.
But I saw it coming - it was pretty obvious how close they've gotten and they have so many things in common - including ideologies. They loved dancing, fooling around together, and teasing the life out of us.
I think they'd be really cute together.
We also teased Hyebin on her "friendship" with Jooe and we all found it super hilarious how she won't admit that she feels ways even though her actions say otherwise.
As the five of us were on our way to my place, I suddenly got a call from Daisy.
"Hey, what's up?"
"Yo, Nancy's texting me and she was wondering if she should ask you if you wanted to go to her place and sleep over?" Daisy says quickly, "what should I even say? I can't tell her that you're too busy setting up for her love confession - she'll probably think you're with June to be honest."
"Oh, really? Why would she ever think that?"
"Well, that's all she ever rants about - she says she misses hanging out with you," and Daisy adds, "even though y'all are together 24/7."
I cackle, "Awwh, that's cute. Tell her to ask me - I'll go to her place once we're done setting up. Does that sound alright?"
"I think so, what time should I say if she asks?"
"Maybe 9:30? I don't think we'll take long - I got a lot of hands with me right now," I say as I look back at my friends. They were just talking and constantly smiling - it really warmed my heart.
"Aight, gotcha boss," Daisy teases, "I'll see you in a bit."
"Thanks bro, see you soon!" I chuckled before ending the call.
Surely enough, Nancy texted me a few minutes later, asking me if I wanted to sleepover - how could I say no? She's irresistible.
...
Okay, this was a revised plan: when we get home, we'll immediately start decorating the master bedroom (A.K.A. my room), get some scented candles because that's the shit, order take out for my friends, then go to Nancy's.
I know... not much of a plan...
And not much of a success either - it's currently 8:36pm and all we've done is sit on my couch. We've tried brainstorming but I really couldn't think of a way to cinematically present my love, ya know?
But I like that candle idea - I actually came up with it just now.
"Sooo, what are we gonna do Yeonwoo?" Daisy says.
I took a minute to think - Daisy and Taeha have a pretty good eye and they know what works. I'll probably entrust them with lighting or something. Jane and Nayun have great taste in music and practically know every song out there, so I was thinking: mood music?
Sorry not sorry, I'm going all out for this shit.
And Hyebin? I was going to ask her if she could just help out whoever needs the assistance. She's generally a great leader, but she's also very good at taking instructions.
So I suggested the idea and they all agreed to it, but Daisy jumps in, "Oh! I have an idea!"
We all scouted closer.
"So," she starts off, "maybe we'll ask you guys to go out for a walk to the store or something and we'll set up the finishing touches then. When you guys come back, we'll be in the basement or something and you just bring her up the stairs. Come up with a signal so we can start the music, and voila - the rest is up to you."
Jane also stepped in and said, "Okay wait, how cliche and cheesy did you want this to be?"
"Umm... I was going for the more romantic route. You know... In the moment stuff," and I received "awe-s" from everyone.
"Okay," Nayun says, "if you're going for that, I think Daisy's plan will be cute. But it's honestly all on you girl." She then places a hand on my shoulder and continues, "Even if you fuck up and embarrass yourself, we'll be here for you."
"Yaaaa, I hope I don't," I cried out. Then, I starts thinking to myself and asked them, "How do you guys know this will work? What if she doesn't even like me back?"
Everyone in the room looks at each other and they share little smiles until Taeha turned her head towards me and softly said, "Just do what you always do, Yeonwoo. If it doesn't work, I don't know what will."
"You guys, I really don't know, what if I chicken out or something?" I anxiously thought.
Then Jane speaks up, "Bro, you'll be fine. I'm sure everything will be okay."
"Do you guys think she likes me?"
Suddenly everyone widens their eyes except for Daisy and everyone looked at her.
Did I see sweat on her forehead?
Then, Daisy opens her mouth and sighs.
"Honestly," she starts off.
I couldn't help but lean in closer.
"We have no idea at all," and she just shrugs.
"Oh, okay..." I pouted. I couldn't help but notice everyone slouch at the same time.
That's odd.
...
Daisy and Taeha didn't let me go into my bedroom and Jane and Nayun didn't let me listen to any of the songs on the playlist. Hyebin wouldn't tell me anything either.
When I argued that I had to get my clothes and stuff to clean myself from my bedroom for the sleep over, they did all the packing for me and gave me a bag.
So as I waited in the living room, I played with Chubz and realized that she needed a place to stay for the night.
I called the first person I could think of and-
"Hey Dabin!"
I chuckled quietly, "Hey princess, how's it?"
"I'm alright. What time will you be on your way?"
"Just in a bit, but I was wondering if I could bring Chubz with me?"
All I heard was silence and ruffling on the other side of the line.
So I added on, "It's alright if I can't, I understand that she may be a hassle and-"
"What do you mean? She won't be a bother, I'd love it if you brought her! And sorry, I was tryna find something for her to sleep on."
"Awwh thank you so much Nance, I owe you big time."
I heard her giggle and my stomach started doing flips, "Anytime Dabin. Come over quick, I miss you."
I snorted, "I swear we saw each other two days ago."
"Uhhhhhh, that was a long time ago, I miss you," she says.
I laughed, "Okaayyy jagi, I'll be there soon." Get the hint, get the hint....
She softly giggles, "Okay, jagiya, I'll see you in a bit."
Woah, I love the way that word rolls off her tongue.
I looked down at Chubz who was patiently waiting by my feet and smiled down at her, "let's get you ready, yeah?"
As I strutted to the basement, Chubz waddled behind me. We got into the spare room that had all her belongings and I just took a bag of food and found a little jacket for her to wear. But when she saw the jacket, she ran away from me.
"Ya! Get back hereeeee!" I panted. I thought this reindeer jacket would look great on her.
Eventually, her weight got to her as she slowed her waddling and I scooped her up while putting the jacket on. When we both got up the stairs, all my friends were waiting and they all smiled at me before grabbing Chubz from my arms and squishing her.
She's so unaffected by it - she is so my dog, I love her so much.
"Ready to go?"
Everyone hummed in agreement and after parting ways, I decided to walk to Nancy's place with Chubz in my arms.
"Do you really think I have a chance girl?" I coo'd at my chubby puppy.
She just stared back at me.
"You like her, don't you? She's such an angel."
I'm just getting puppy eyes.
"Well, I know she loves you. Nanshie? You like Nanshie-ah?"
And Chubz's eyes lit up and she started wagging her tail furiously.
I chuckled, "I like her too."
...
Heylo, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I plan on finishing this book in a few chapters as I'm planning on starting a new book soon.
But if you guys want another part to this or have any ideas, don't be afraid to message me and I'll do my best to work towards your ideas!
Til the next one,
- S.A