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Christmas day came fast.

Seokjin and Jungkook had gone to the store and bought stuff to make hot chocolate for all nine of them.

Hot chocolate packets, marshmallows, whipped cream, peppermint and cinnamon sticks, fudge syrup— just a bunch of toppings for everyone's satisfaction.

Taehyung and his boyfriend Jimin were the first ones to arrive, the shorter, Jimin, announcing his arrival as soon as the door was opened.

"Ho, ho, ho!"

Seokjin rolled his eyes almost instantly at him, but Jungkook grinned from the couch, loving such a big personality from such a small guy.

"The party is here," Jimin continued.

"/I'm/ the party." Seokjin, ignoring Jimin's objection, took the dish that the shorter was holding out— the cookies he had baked for today.

Taehyung followed behind Jimin, presents in both hands. "Where's— oh." His eyes landed on Jungkook.

They had only met once at the wedding and that was it. There was no time to really talk during that time either, so Jungkook was still looking away out of shyness as Seokjin's brother walked into the living room.

"The place looks so cute," Jimin's voice came from behind Jungkook. Then, a small hand and even smaller present was in his face before he knew it. "We got you a present too. Hope you don't mind."

He didn't take the present because before he could, Jimin was holding it back and running towards the tree. "You guys decorated so prettily."

"You" —Jungkook curled up into the couch— "shouldn't have gotten me anything. Your cookies are already enough..."

Both Jimin and Taehyung turned to him, eyes wide— they're clearly meant for each other, especially with the way they started laughing at the same time as well.

"Oh, you're so cute!" Jimin awed at him, then made his way to sit next to Jungkook. Jungkook simply picked at his sweater, fingers fumbling. "I make cookies every year—"

"He started two years ago," Seokjin cut him off.

The familiar sound of Seokjin's voice had Jungkook feeling a bit more relaxed. Only because he's used to it! Only because Seokjin is the only familiar person here.

Well, that is until Hoseok and Yoongi knocked on the door, saving him from the fear of being all alone.

Taehyung almost immediately pointed at Hoseok upon seeing him. "You~ I love your fashion! I follow you on Instagram."

Well, there goes Jungkook's best friend. At least he had Yoongi.

Yoongi sat next to him, a bit shy himself. But— "Is the mistletoe for you and Seokjin?" he whispered into his ear, earning a frown from Jungkook.

Neither of his friends are ever with him— they're always against him.

"What're you whispering about over here?" Seokjin suddenly appeared behind them, hands planted on the base of the couch.

"Nothing—"

"Mistletoes."

Jungkook glared at Yoongi, but the two boyfriends and Hoseok all three awed as they looked around for said mistletoe.

"I can't believe you put that up," a sudden different voice spoke.

He turned around, nearly hurting his neck to search for the owner of that deep voice. Kim Namjoon. When was he let inside? "They're going to make you two kiss under that thing."

Jungkook stared at Namjoon, as did Yoongi— except Yoongi's stare was different.

Though he could've been jealous because Namjoon had been on a date with Hoseok, Yoongi was staring like he was about to start drooling. Jungkook shook his head at his friend.

"Who's kissing?" he asked, back to Namjoon's subject.

"You," the man chuckled, but he was shoved to the side by Seokjin. They're /definitely/ brothers.

"No," Seokjin muttered, "Don't talk like that. This thing is for eomma and appa only."

Only?

Jungkook remembers how he and Seokjin had accidentally stood under it and he remembers how he was blushing at the thought of— yeah.

They wouldn't kiss. That's something Jungkook never planned to do again. The first time was just him wanting the older to shut up. He'd never do something like that again.

But, as Namjoon had said...

When Seokjin's parents got there, they made their sons carry their presents to the tree as they stood under the mistletoe, watching all three do their task.

Eunji chuckled evilly as her sons did so, but she finished it off with a kiss to her husband. Right under the mistletoe.

"You boys are so sweet," she said as she then sipped her hot chocolate. "I'm glad to spend the holidays with some new friends. Jungkook, sweetie, I wish your parents were here as well."

Jungkook's mom and dad were taking a holiday vacation to the mountains— that's all they told him.

"Jin!" Eunji then called out. Seokjin glanced up at her, confused at her sudden exclamation. "You two get over here under the mistletoe!"

Under the mistletoe... just as Namjoon had said.

A shiver ran up Jungkook's spine as Yoongi patted him on the back, a cheeky grin on his face. But Seokjin and Jungkook were looking at each other, knowing eyes meeting.

Jungkook clenched onto his sweater as Seokjin made his way to his parents, waving him over as well.

He swallowed hard before he got up and walked towards them, not feeling any better as all eyes watched them.

"Come here," Seokjin muttered as he held out his hand to him.

Jungkook took his hand, which the older held confidently, but the slightly red tint of Seokjin's face said otherwise. He was just as embarrassed as Jungkook was.

He simply pulled Jungkook in and leaned in towards his cheek, pressing his lips to him ever so lightly.

It was warm. Soft.

It was /so/ embarrassing.

"Oh, so cute!"

Sure. If you can even call it that.

——

Everyone had left. After such a long day, Jungkook and Seokjin's friends (family) had gotten along together quite well. Especially after their parents left, leaving only the seven of them.

They ended up talking nearly all night, so much so that Jimin had ended up falling asleep in Taehyung's lap.

Yoongi and Hoseok had heart eyes for Namjoon— which, he is a good looking man for sure, but Jungkook wasn't focused on that.

He focused on the fact that he was genuinely having such a good Christmas despite everything that happened this year.

Since it was getting late, Taehyung woke up Jimin and they eventually left. Soon after, the other three left as well, leaving Seokjin and Jungkook to their apartment.

At first, they sat there for a bit, immersed in the sound of holiday music and the scent of cookies and holiday candles. The Christmas lights were the only thing shining, making the living room barely lit up— so pretty and calming.

"I got you a present."

Jungkook's weary eyes opened wide. He was suddenly fully awake now.

"A present?" he asked. "You didn't have to, hyung..."

The older's eyes lit up. "But I did." He stood up from the other side of the couch and went off to somewhere behind Jungkook— to the second bedroom— his office.

When he came back out, he was holding said present in his hands.

A little stuffed bunny, white and fluffy. It was so cute, such a unique gift for someone like Jungkook. Of course it was a unique gift coming from Seokjin.

"This." He gave it to Jungkook, who immediately melted to the soft touch as he held it close to his chest. "You keep cuddling your pillow at night. I figured maybe you can cuddle with him instead."

Jungkook rested his head back on the couch and hugged onto the stuffed animal tighter. He didn't even care that Seokjin had noticed such a thing like him cuddling his pillow every night.

"I didn't get you anything, though. You told me not to... That's not fair." He pouted as he spoke, but Seokjin smiled down at him.

"Don't worry about it."

But he had to worry about it. It was rude to not have gotten him something. He had even felt rude when Taehyung and Jimin had gifted him a cute ring earlier— he was wearing it— and he hadn't gifted them anything.

He wished he had gotten both of them something and now he wishes that he had gotten Seokjin something. They told him not to! That's cheating!

"Thank you." He pet gently at the stuffed animal, digging his face into its head. "And..."

As Seokjin sat down again, he watched. He waited. Waited for the perfect time to do this, but—

"I'm sorry."

Seokjin shrugged. "Don't apologize. I just saw it and thought of you."

He thought of him.

"No, I'm sorry for ever hating you," Jungkook let out, eyes trained onto the Christmas tree instead of him. "I think I was a little too stubborn when it came to you."

"You think?"

Jungkook glanced over at the older, squinting at him though Seokjin was smiling back at him.

"I just think..." He shrugged.

Since he had agreed to accept Kim Seokjin as someone other than some asshole he'd been taught to hate, he'd been learning bits and bits about the older.

He never wanted to admit it, but actions do speak louder than words. And especially now, stuffed bunny in his hand and such a light heart, Jungkook feels okay with him. Okay with his rival.

They're not exactly the bestest of friends or anything, but they know each other just enough. Right..?

Jungkook had even learned Seokjin's work schedule— only because of his alarm every morning, but still. He knows little things like that, and like how Seokjin likes to take shorter showers than he does.

Seokjin is a good cook, yet he likes to order food instead. He smells like coconut and it's because of his shampoo, Jungkook has learned.

He's learned that Seokjin isn't just unique in his clothing, but unique in general, and he also seems a bit energetic. He likes gaming, just like Jungkook does.

With all those things in mind and more, Jungkook had come to accept that Seokjin isn't too bad of a guy.

"I was definitely jealous of you," Jungkook continued. "I wanted to please my parents by being the best of the best, but I don't think it would ever happen because of you. I respect that, but I was jealous of that.

"So I'm sorry for treating you so rudely even after. Even if you tried to be nice, I wouldn't allow it. So, I'm just sorry."

It was silent for a moment. Jungkook felt a mix of sleepy and nervous at the same time. Never a good mix.

"I'm sorry, too."

He looked back at Seokjin again. He was more serious, no longer smiling at him. No longer trying to lighten the mood.

"For what?" he asked.

"Well, I was rude too. Before our engagement, I would purposefully annoy you because I knew you didn't like me. I'm sure that's another reason you hate me so much, right?"

Jungkook shook his head. "I no longer hate you," he made sure to tell him. "I mean, it didn't help, you doing that, but I don't hate you anymore."

That at least earned another softer smile from Seokjin. "Well, I'm glad. Does that mean we can be friends for real now?"

"Yes—" Jungkook nodded his sleepy head— "We can be friends. I'd like that."

A slower nod came from the older as well. "I'd like that too."

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