Jisung snuggled his face into his scarf, trying to hide his face away from the piercing cold winds. Minho's icy fingers intertwined with his own, the two boys made their way along the sidewalk towards the big mall. Whilst it was the middle of the day, grey clouds hung in the sky, making the world look darker than it usually would be at 2 pm.
"I love Christmas time, all the warm lights and sitting by a fireplace. It's all so cozy." Minho said softly, watching the air escape his mouth as he talked. Jisung hummed in response, not really able to share the exact same feelings. Over the course of knowing Minho, he had realised just how much his father had taken the joy out of the little things. He squeezed his boyfriend's hand as Jisung turned his frown into a smile. He was grateful that Minho was able to bring back the spark in his life that he had been missing for quite some time.
"Everything okay baby?" Jisung nodded in response, turning his head to face the other who looked worried. "Yeah, I'm all good, really. Pinky promise. Just thinking about how you replace my bad memories with good ones and that I couldn't thank you enough for that."
Minho looked down, feeling his face heat up as he came to a halt. Jisung stared at him in confusion, turning his head to the mall that was just a small 50 meters away. He suddenly felt the olders' lips meet his cheek, a bright smile replacing itself onto his face as Jisung let out a soft giggle.
"Lets continue to make more great memories together, okay?"
The boys' eyes sparkled as they gazed into each others' for a brief moment before continueing their way to the mall. Once they entered through the spinning door, they were hit by the warmth of the indoors. Jisung let go off Minho's hand, the older slightly dissapointed. He tried to remind himself that not everyone was supportive and that idea freaked Jisung out in itself, but he still couldn't shake off his feelings to continue holding his boyfriend's hand.
"Where do you want to go first, Sungie?"
"The music store on the second floor? Or do you have somewhere you want to look on the way there?"
"No, I'm good. If I see a place I want to go in, I'll let you know." The younger nodded as a reply and they made their way through the crowded mall. Jisung felt relieved he had asked Minho to go out that day, already seeing just how many people were there on a Friday.
The two of them reached the store in no time, both boys entered as a little bell rang signifying their presence. A simple greeting was given by girl behind the counter, Minho giving her a reply as Jisung was already deep in his own thoughts. The shop was empty apart from them and the employee, making the shorter feel his anxiety leave him. It had been going better with Minho by his side, but it wasn't something that could just vanish. Jisung would always be nervous in public, he was just starting to come to terms with it.
"So, what do you plan on getting Binnie?" Minho walked up towards Jisung, pressing his chest into the younger's back as his boyfriend flipped through the LP's in front of them. He rested his head on Jisung's shoulder, making him visibly tense up. "Relax, the girl is wearing a 'pride' t-shirt. It's just us here, okay?" Minho whispered, feeling Jisung loosen up again.
"I-I was thinking of a record. Binnie loves those. Only I'm not entirely sure of what artist yet. Any suggestions?"
"You know him better than I do. What's some artists he enjoys? Or maybe give him a record from an artist you think he might enjoy but doesn't own anything of yet?"
"Oh! I think I heard him talk about enjoying The Weeknd's music recently! I hope they have— Oh, they do." Jisung giggled quietly as he pulled out an LP of the aforementioned artist's latest album.
"Seems like a wonderful choice." Jisung nodded and Minho stepped back, walking behind the boy who went to the guitar section instead of heading for the register.
"You play?" Minho asked, watching his boyfriend nod with a soft smile on his face. "I do, I also play the piano but I prefer the guitar. Y-You know, it's useful when you create music." Minho laughed in response, adding a small 'seems fair' to it as he watched the boys' eyes glisten as they landed on an acoustic guitar. Before any more words were spoken, Jisung turned and started walking to the register but halted.
"C-Could you do the paying instead... I-I mean, I give you the money and you pay? I don't want to... you know..."
"Sure Sungie, I get it. Wait at the door, okay?" Minho reminded himself why he would always do the social interactions as he watched his boyfriend's face shine, happy he didn't have to interact with the cashier. Even though Minho should let him do those things, how could he say no to that adorable face? Impossible. He grabbed the record Jisung was handing out to him as he made his way to the counter.
"Hello, did you find everything you were looking for?" The girl gave Minho a kind smile, something in her eyes showed him she wanted to say more but seemed to be holding back.
"Yes, thank you." Minho placed the record on the register as his eyes wandered to the advertisement on it.
'For a short time only, free delivery starting at orders from ₩70,000!'
"A-Actually, is there a possibility I could get an acoustic guitar delivered to my home?"
"Sure, which one did you have in mind?" Minho mentioned the one Jisung had been staring at, making sure he wasn't pointing or doing anything else to make his purchase noticable to the boy that was looking at the old posters on the walls.
"Is there a specific day you had in mind for the delivery?"
"This monday? Is that a possibility? Seeing it's Christmas Eve on Wednesday?" The girl checked through the computer quickly before announcing there was a space left that day. "Sweet I'll take it then." Minho paid for the stuff and wished her a nice day before making his way back to Jisung.
"That took longer than I had expected? A-Anyways here's the mo—"
"Just treat me for a late lunch, seeing I would've done that to you anyways. That way you still bought Bin's present yourself and I get to indirectly treat you for lunch, seeing I would have done so anyways."
"God, I don't deserve you."
"Touché, baby." Minho laughed as he felt the flustered boy next to him punch his shoulder, attempting (and failing) to hide his embarrassment. The two made their way to Joe & The Juice, both ordering an avocado and mozarella sandwich with a smoothie each. They talked a bit about the other stores they would want to visit and looked at their group chat, seeing Chan had send them a photo of him and Felix in a swimming pool.
"So lucky... I can't wait for winter to be over." Jisung mumbled as he took a sip from his smoothie, earning a grin from Minho. "Winter officially starts the day after tomorrow... I don't think winter is going anywhere any time soon."
"You know what I mean! The cold! I just want the cold to go away... and the fact that the worst is yet to come?! Ugh!"
"You don't like snow?"
"It's nice to look at until you go outside. Again, too. cold."
"Hey, you can cuddle up to me if you're ever cold again." Minho smiled, watching Jisung's cheeks and ears turn slightly red. "You know what, I will hold you on to that!"
"Like it's a crime!" Minho gasped dramatically, Jisung chuckling in the process. "You've been hanging out with Hyunjinnie too much, you two could be theater partners."
"Hyunjinnie? And you say I'm the one that has been hanging out with him too much!"
"Well, we haven't really hung out a lot... J-Just over instagram."
"Sungie, don't worry. I'm glad you're getting along with Hyunjin and with the others in general. It's cute to see you use nicknames for others apart from Changbin and I."
"You know, you saying Bin's full name like that made me question who Changbin was for a second. It's so... foreign... to hear his name in full." The boys laughed and talked for a little while longer before getting up to visit some more stores. Jisung's brain was trying to figure out what to get Minho, especially without the boy knowing. He furrowed his brows as they entered a toy store.
"What're we doing here?"
"They have video games here Sungie, I just wanted to take a look if they had some party games we could possibly play next time all eight of us get together."
"Ohh, I see." Jisung responded sheepily, splitting off with Minho to take a little walk around the store. He smiled as he watched a little girl and their mother pick out some Lego, the girl super excited to get a police station set. 'Fuck stereotypes' he thought to himself before walking towards his boyfriend. He decided kids wouldn't judge them, so he snaked his arms around Minho's waist, putting his cheek on his boyfriend's back.
"You found what you were looking for?" Jisung mumbled as his eyes met those of the little girl mentioned earlier. He smiled at her, watching her hesitate before eventually returning a small smile before running off.
"I'm hesitating between Hyrule Warriors, Mario Kart or Mario Party. What do you think?"
"Well... Minnie already has Mario Kart and I'm pretty sure Hyrule Warriors is similar to Smash Bros. Mario Party would be the best?"
"Hmmm... I guess so. The Zelda games are just so cool."
"Do you have any for the Switch?" Jisung asked, wondering if that could be a potential gift. "Yup, played and finished them all! Have you ever?" Jisung shook his head, stepping back from his boyfriend as he sighed softly to himself. Still no gift idea for Minho. "You okay?" The older noticed the dissapointment on Jisung's face and he wondered if he made the boy upset. "Yeah, I'm fine! Just thought of something. Lets go pay if you're ready, yeah?"
The two walked through the mall a little while longer until they eventually decided to go home. Jisung was sulking, still not having found a gift for the boy that has done so much for him. It made him anxious, knowing Minho probably had the best gift ever. As they passed by the final stores, something caught Jisung's eye from his peripheral vision. He turned his head, seeing something through the window of the store.
"H-Hyung." He tugged Minho's sleeve, causing the older to stop and tilt his head in confusion. He wasn't sure why Jisung suddenly used honorifics, but also why he just stopped walking.
"Yes?"
"I'm not going to beat around the bush... Can you wait outside the mall? I found something I want to buy you for Christmas but don't want to spoil the surprise. Pretty pretty please?" Minho laughed as he watched Jisung pout, nodding his head in confirmation.
"Sure baby, I'll wait outside to the right of the turning doors, okay?"
"Okay!" Jisung smiled widely making Minho blush, the latter turning around before Jisung could see, quickly walking out the mall. Jisung let out a sigh of relief before turning and walking towards the store. After entering, Jisung walked around the store, trying to find the item that was displayed in the windowsill. It was nowhere to be found and he sighed, mentally preparing himself to ask the employee behind the desk. He slowly walked towards the man, who upon his arrival gave the younger a smile.
"Hello, can I help you with something?" Jisung quickly explained he wanted the specific item but couldn't find it, the man let out a chuckle. "It is the last one I have currently, I'm sorry." Jisung's face fell as he looked down in dissapointment. Everything wasn't working out and whilst the store had other beautiful items, nothing compared to what he initially saw. The man noticed Jisung's pout and frown, making his own expression fall as well.
"Who did you want to give that to?"
"Uhm... my boyfriend..." Jisung said, slightly hesitant. "It is perfect for him and I haven't found anything else..."
"Well, alright then. I'll make an exception for you." The man behind the counter gave a bright smile before walking to the window to grab it. Jisung stood stunned for a moment, slowly feeling slightly bad.
"I-I... You don't have to sir. I appreciate it but if it's your last one..."
"Don't worry, boy. I will get new stock early January. Isn't Christmas about giving anyways? Plus, my husband would get pissed if I told him I didn't sell this to you." The man chuckled as he watched Jisung's eyes widen. "I see... thank you sir."
"I'm only 27, no need to call me sir." The older laughed, wrapping the gift to make sure it stayed well protected. He put it in a white bag which Jisung was thankful for, it wouldn't have given away where he had gotten the gift from. Jisung paid and thanked the man, before exiting and leaving the store with a bright smile. He turned to his right as he exited the mall, seeing his boyfriend lean against the wall. When Minho's eyes landed onto Jisung's, both boys grinned at each other. The latter interlocked his hand with Minho's and together they walked home, both happy to be in one anothers' presence.
Nothing could go wrong when they were together.
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This took way too long to write, BUT, I am excited for the next chapter I'm about to write. It's Xmas time fellas! (In the story, at least)
(update: i forgot to put this in last chapter, but yes I did make chan and felix gay as well LOL... im in my chanlix feels!)