Chapter Text
December 24th (US) 4:30 PM - December 25th 12:30 AM (KR)
"How are you spending Christmas?" the youngest asked, sitting on the balcony of his room under the moonlight, a yawn escaping shortly after.
It was already Christmas in Korea, the first one they’d spent apart since Jaehyung moved back to the U.S. To bridge the distance, they agreed to call each other when Christmas arrived in their respective time zones. Not that they cared much for the holiday — it was just a convenient excuse to ease the longing they felt for one another.
It was 4:30 PM in Los Angeles, and Jae had probably just woken up after a late-night stream. In Korea, it was past midnight, and Sungjin was fighting sleep to stay on the call with his boyfriend.
"Sungjin-ssi... You know I don’t have a life, right? No friends. I don’t trust people. I hate going out. I’ll probably just be at home gaming, eating some rotisserie chicken, and hanging out with my cats. Actually, I don’t even have money for that, so it’s probably nuggets or chicken ramen." Jae said lazily, stifling a yawn. "Anyway, did your gift arrive?"
The younger one nodded. "It got here three days ago. It’s right here with me." He held the wrapped box up to the camera.
"You can open it, and when it’s midnight here, I’ll do the same with yours. It’s nothing fancy, but it reminded me of you, so I hope you like it. If not, well, I tried my best. You know I’m terrible at this stuff." Jae smiled sheepishly, scratching the back of his neck.
"You know I’d love it even if you gave me a rock, right?" Sungjin chuckled.
"For real? Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I could’ve saved some money!" Jae exclaimed in mock outrage.
"You’re such a clown, Park Jaehyung."
"I do my best. Now hurry up and open it. I’m getting anxious."
Carefully, Sungjin positioned his phone so Jae could see him and the gift clearly. With a nervous smile, he started unwrapping the package.
Inside, he found another layer of wrapping, with a small letter on top. He began reading it aloud.
"My Dear. Even from afar, my heart feels closer to you than ever. I hope this gift keeps you warm during this chilly Christmas. Think of it as a little piece of me, reminding you of how much you mean to me. I love you so much and can’t wait to see you again. Merry Christmas. From your Jae."
Sungjin’s sincere smile made Jae blush furiously, unsure where to look. Regardless of the gift, the heartfelt note made it special for Sungjin, knowing how much thought Jae had put into it.
Finally, he unwrapped the gift to find a brown teddy bear, a knitted sweater in blue and green, and a vintage-style clock displaying L.A. time.
"I love it. It’s so thoughtful of you. Thank you, I love you so much, too." Sungjin’s face softened into a warm smile, and Jae turned redder.
"I’m glad you like it. Picking a gift is hard, I didn’t want to get something too lame, but I couldn’t afford anything fancy either..."
"It’s perfect. Just the fact that it’s from you makes it perfect."See Also2025 Public Domain Day Remix Contest: The Internet Archive is Looking For Creative Short Films Made By You!Moontide (1942) Directors: Fritz Lang & Archie Mayo, Featuring Jean Gabin, Ida Lupino : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet ArchiveDecember | 2024 | Internet Archive Blogs
"Sorry, I tend to ramble when I’m nervous."
"It’s okay! And hey, if you want, I can order something for you so you’re not just eating ramen tonight." Sungjin offered, already wearing the sweater and watch, holding the bear tightly.
"You don’t have to, I actually like ramen."
"I agree, but you deserve better. Just accept it for me, okay?"
Jae gave in, agreeing with a grateful nod.
They spent hours talking until Sungjin fell asleep. Jae watched him peacefully, smiling as he saw the serene expression on his boyfriend’s face. By then, the food Sungjin ordered had arrived. Jae set up his dinner at his desk and ate while gaming, letting Sungjin rest.
It was almost 8 PM in Los Angeles and 1 PM in Seoul. In a few hours, it would finally be Christmas for Jae.
Sungjin returned from a quick shower, now dressed properly in his sweater and watch, holding the teddy bear.
"It’s almost time," Sungjin said, sitting back down.
"Yeah, I’m so excited to see my gift. And thanks again for the dinner."
"Anything for you, Hyung. Did Peanut and Butter like their treats?" Sungjin had also ordered a special meal for Jae’s cats.
"They loved it! Thanks, Papa Sungjin!" Jae joked playfully.
"I’m glad to hear that. Since we still have four hours, how about a movie?"
"Great idea. Have you had lunch?"
"Almost ready. Give me a minute to grab it while you pick a movie, okay?"
Jae nodded, scrolling through his options while waiting. He chose The Perks of Being a Wallflower, his favorite book-to-film adaptation from his teens. Sungjin, unfamiliar with it, saw it as a chance to share something meaningful with Jae.
By the movie’s end, both were teary-eyed, touched by the story. Jae shared memories of the book, and Sungjin promised to read it someday.
Around 11 PM, they played online games and chatted about life. Sungjin talked about the band, and Jae shared updates on his solo music and his cats.
"Can I open my gift now? I’m dying to know what it is!" Jae bit his lip in excitement.
"Just an hour left, love. You can wait."
"I’m going to die from anxiety."
"You’ll survive, drama queen."
"Okay, okay… Did you get gifts for Peanut and Butter, too?"
"Of course, I wouldn’t leave my stepdaughters out! You can open their gift now if you want."
Jae agreed, carefully unwrapping a large package to reveal a pink cat tree with toy mice and balls attached.
"You didn’t! They’re going to love this!" Jae beamed.
"Anything for you guys! It’s almost time."
"I’m opening it."
"Hyung… just twenty minutes. You can wait."
"I can’t! I’m opening it now." Sungjin sighed as Jae excitedly grabbed his gift.
He unwrapped it to find a letter and a plush chicken. Smiling at the adorable toy, Jae began reading the note.
"My love,
As you open this gift, I want to remind you how much I love you and how our love only grows stronger despite the distance. I miss your smile, your hugs, and your presence every day, but our bond makes the miles feel shorter.
This necklace is a symbol of our love and your first love. Whenever you wear it, remember that I’m always thinking of you.
I can’t wait to see you and hold you tight. Merry Christmas, my Jae.
With love, your Sungjin."
Jae’s eyes welled up as he hid his face, overwhelmed by the heartfelt message.
"Go ahead, open it." Sungjin urged.
Jae nodded, drying his tears. Inside a small box was a necklace with a guitar pick-shaped pendant resembling a galaxy of pink, purple, and blue hues, engraved with their initials. Jae’s expression softened with nostalgia and affection.
"I heard you started playing guitar again, so I wanted to give you a special pick. I’m so proud of you. I love you so much. I wish you were here with me to make this Christmas even better."
"You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Thank you for everything. Today was perfect in our own way. I promise next year will be different."
"I believe in you, always."
The sound of fireworks echoed — it was finally Christmas in Los Angeles. Jae now wore his gift around his neck, and like his boyfriend, held the small plush tightly in his hands, with Peanut peacefully asleep beside him. They cherished that moment together for a little while longer before both eventually drifted off to sleep. Even though it wasn’t that late in Seoul, it felt wrong to stay awake while his beloved rested so serenely.
Christmas, though not as they had hoped, had been perfect in their own way. For those two days, it felt like they could truly enjoy each other’s company, even from a distance. They wished they could make those moments last forever, even if reality would soon return. But for now, only they mattered — nothing else.
"…Thanks again for making time for me.
When we part, don’t dream, just sleep well.
I hope to be with you every Wednesday night,
Yeah, Wednesday night.
Creating new memories,
Sailing through our stories.
Waning for the moon, I can’t sleep.
Tonight I’ve slept it all.
Seven days waiting,
Let it pass, I’m counting.
Every night I pray
To stay awake next week as well..."
— Wednesday Night