"Jimin! Jungkook's here" Mrs. Park said and he came out of his room, in his pajamas, running towards the cute dog and hugging him.

"Good morning baby" he spoke in a baby voice and kissed the dog above his nose.

"This is what I'm talking about Mrs. Park, I'm just another wall to him and I don't like to be treated so unfairly" he complained and Jimin scrunched his face.

"Want me to call you baby and kiss your nose too? Kinda gay if you ask me, I'll pass" he cringed.

"A good morning should be nice enough"

"Yeah yeah morning"

Jungkook clicked his tongue and chuckled along with the mother.

"Right I'll be leaving, I brought his favorite toy and some of his food for the day" Jungkook announced, pointing over at the kitchen counter and he nodded.

"Okay"

"Later." he simply said before heading out and driving off.

Suga
Jimin where you at

Chim
Home

Suga
We're spending the day at Tae's
Want someone to come get you?

Chim
I have stuff to do today I can't

Hobi
Come ooon you'll get those good grades don't worry

RM
He's a smart boy let him choose his studies first if he wants to

Jin
Or he has a date...

Suga
Ah yeah Ryujin
You still didn't ask her out? It's been months since you started seeing each other

RM
No way
I thought they were a thing already

Chim
Not yet
I'll ask her during the Christmas break

Hobi
Homeboy has everything planned out look at himmmm

TaeTae
Damn looks like it's all going steady for you

Chim
Well we'll see how it goes

Suga
Who are you kidding
She'll definitely say yeah

RM
You got the charms my guy

Jeon009
Lol

Chim
??

Jin
Someone doesn't agree

Chim
Someone can shut his ass up for a change

Hobi
Not the right person for that comment

RM
Ikr he's silent 90% of the time

Chim
An extra 10% doesn't sound too bad

Jeon009
Hurt?

Chim
I thought you weren't gonna be available for us
You can't be in the chat either

Jimin received a private text from the older and just read it from the notification bar then decided to type a reply.

<Dms>

Jeon009: ??
Me: Gotta make it believable that you're not here yk
Jeon009: That's so unnecessary you just want to bash me
Me: Maybe😐

</Dms>

Jeon009
It's a free world

Jin
Actually I agree with Jimin

Suga
Same you didn't pass the vibe check lately

Hobi
You know it's all love my man
But yeah you can't sit with us
In the chat

TaeTae
I haven't seen you in a month Kook:((

Jeon009
I'm sorry Tae..

Chim
Anyway point is
Out 😈

Jeon009
Alright jeez, don't be so sensitive I'm leaving 😒

The day was fast to end, Jungkook came back to pick up his dog and left. Jimin watched some movie with his mother and went to sleep. The next day he went over to Tae's house since he was still grounded and played board games together.

December 21st.

"I dont know.. Can you see if there are other colors?" Jimin asked and the boy shook his head "Only that one, sorry" Yoongi replied. They were having a video call and Yoongi was at the mall, buying christmas gifts.

"I think I'll buy something online" Jimin just said with a shrug of his shoulders "Will it arrive on time? Christmas is in 4days" Yoongi pointed out and he smiled "Jeff Bezos doesn't disappoint... I'll look for something good on Amazon, then hit the mall again if I can't find what I want" he replied.

"What did you think of for Hoseok? I'm curious" he chuckled and the other rolled his eyes "I got him a Louis Vuitton belt purse or whatever" he said nonchalantly, trying to sound as if he didn't care but it was obvious that he thought about his gift for a while. Jimin remembers Hobi had eyes on that item when he saw some celebrity wearing it, but it was very brief and Jimin honestly forgot until the senior brought it up.

"That's nice as fuck Yoongs, mine sounds so lame in comparison... I got him a customized phone case with a picture of us on the beach, but like just the silhouettes in contrast with the sunset" Jimin described and Yoongi's let out an impressed sound "Did you edit one of the pics" he asked and the other confirmed.

"I like that, What about the others? Don't tell me what you got for me... Assuming you got something- which you don't actually have to, I'm just saying" the older started rambling and Jimin chuckled, "Of course I did".

"For your brother, I got this super nice denim jacket, oversized and everything like he dresses"

"He'll definitely like it"

"For Tae, I got a set of rings. They're like- heavy rings, with big ornaments. He once showed me a picture and said he really liked that type of stuff, so I delivered" Jimin chuckled and the other hummed "Of course you did"

"Lastly I got Jin a mirror" he announced and Yoongi laughed "Hell yeah, seeing his face would probably bring him so much joy" he replied.

"Just kidding, kinda. There is a mirror, as a joke gift, but I actually got him this pink sweater, it's huge he'll love it"

"I know exactly what you mean"

"And yeah of course since I didn't find the jacket in a color I wanted, I will have to think of something else for Jungkook. I refuse to get him more black stuff" Jimin said and he nodded "Fair"

"Look!" Jimin jumped out of his bad to grab a gift bag from his closet "Check out what I got my momma" he said as he pulled out a rather large jewelry box.

"Damn that looks expensive" Yoongi said.

"Wait till you see inside" Jimin opened the box and there was a set of necklace and earrings. The jewelry was very refined, the necklace was almost like a branch that goes in a V shape around the neck and had jewels as its leaves. The earrings were the kind that go up against the earlobe.

"Wow Jimin that's a gorgeous gift! I love it. I'm a guy and I wanna wear it, that's how much I love it" Yoongi said excitedly.

"This emptied my bank account, but I really wanted to. Every year my father gifted mom jewelry for Christmas and so yeah... Since he's not in the picture anymore, I didn't want her to feel any different" He said, not exactly elaborating and the other luckily didn't pry to much either.

"Now you tell me"

"Well for Tae, I got the new volumes of a manga he's currently reading. For Hobi, well the fucker took all my money too so that's that. For big old Kook, I bought this zippo lighter, it's customized and looks mad cool. My brother gets a jacket from me too, mine is an earthy color with like- wool on the inside, it's super cozy. For Jin it's a customized phone case. You don't get nothing though I'm sorry it's just how it is" Yoongi joked and the other raised his arms in defense "It is what it is, all good" he smiled.

"I'm just surprised that the most expensive gift is Hoseok's. Y'all are always in each others throats" he pointed out and Yoongi shrugged "I don't hate him" he simply replied and Jimin scoffed.

"Oh I know you don't hate him, but from that to buying a Balenciaga item.. Do you owe him something?" Jimin joked.

"Nah forget it really, it's just the only thing I could think of" he shrugged and moved on.

They talked for a little while longer, it was now 5pm when they bid each other goodbye and left to tend to their own stuff. He sighed and decided to go see what his mom was up to.

Jimin's mom was cross-legged on the floor, hanging some ornaments on the relatively large Christmas tree. Get Lucky by Daft Punk was blasting in the space as she swayed from side to side. She noticed Jimin coming closer and sang to the lyrics with a Santa ornament swinging in her hand.

We're up all night for good fun
We're up all night to get lucky

"Jimin come on help me out with this" she said and watched him smile after grabbing one of her homemade cookies. He got closer and sat on the edge of the couch.

"You know that's my least favorite part of christmas. Putting those on and taking them off" he pointed out and bit into the sweet.

"You just like to look at the tree when it's ready and finished" she shook her head "Just like your father... I get to do all the tiring work" she chuckled and Jimin felt his heart drop. They haven't talked about his dad in a while and the mention made a sudden feeling of heartbreak rush through him. He looked at the photos of him that were kept on the fireplace at the corner of the room.

"Do we really need a Christmas tree?" he simply said with a soft voice and an unsure smile.

"What do you mean Jimin. Christmas decorations are the ones you like the most. Of course we're having a tree" she said as if it was a fact, not a hint of uncertainly in her reply.

"What I meant is... Will Christmas this year really be like all the other years..." Jimin inquired again, this time almost annoyed.

"Baby of course I'll decorate just the same, it's just not finished, wait until I put all the fairy lights around the room. Did you see our porch-"

"But why do we have to do this? Act like it's just another year and our family is totally fine... Dad is gone mom, It can never be the same! " just like that, his frustrations found a way out. He threw a fit that left his mother completely speechless, she looked at him as if he just slapped her in the face, her gaze slowly going from shock to disappointment.

She put the ornament down and paused the music, then just walked into her room and closed her door.

Jimin started feeling a bit of remorse after seeing his mom's reaction. He knows what he said was very harsh, it was just something he never talked about and it overwhelmed him at the moment. It happened so suddenly that Jimin couldn't even explain it.

He zoned out thinking about what he said, his eyebrows knit and eyes fixed on the snow slowly falling into the ground outside. In the back of his mind he could make out his mom's sniffs from her room, he looked at the unfinished tree and felt like he had a weight on his chest pressing down on him.

He needed to get out of there.

He picked up one of his thick jackets and wore his boots, he snatched the keys from the entrance and left without looking back. He just wanted to walk in the quietness of the snow, he loved the way all sounds are relatively muted when it falls.

He plugged his earpieces and just walked wherever his feet and the music took him.

The sky was getting darker when he found himself 35 minutes away from home in their fancy downtown. At this time of the year, it was all illuminated with colorful lights and christmas themed decorations.

He was striding in the streets, although a little empty because of the snow, and just observed how the others were living that moment. Some were with their friends, some with their families, others alone going into stores and probably looking for last minute gifts, which reminds Jimin he should think about Jungkook's.

"Jungkook this, Jungkook that" he scoffed "That guy never leaves my mind.." he mentally rolled his eyes. Suddenly, the snow started getting a little heavier and Jimin decided he would wait for it to slow down before going back home.

The moment he turned his head to avoid the snowflakes, he saw a family of three; A mom, a dad and their son, taking pictures by the Christmas tree of a store. The boy should be around 14 years old and was complaining about the tacky poses his parent were making him do when his father hugged him by the side and smiled, shutting him up and taking that last picture.

I miss you dad, he thought as he looked down and changed his mind about waiting for the snow to stop. He didn't even take his wallet so he couldn't sit a cafe even if he tried. He entered a random shop on the way for shelter, said hi to the person working there and pulled out his phone.

Chim
What are y'all doing?

Suga
Still at the mall

TaeTae
Chilling at home

Hobi
I'm with Jin and a couple friends

Chim
@RM?

Suga
I think he's napping

TaeTae
It's almost 7pm

Suga
Idk man

Chim
@Jeon009??

Jimin sighed and looked around the shop, thinking what he'll do now, the snow wasn't showing any sign of slowing. He laid his eyes on some candles and little goodies like that. He walked towards the fragrances and looked through the different brands.

Jungkook reminded him of walking into a freshly built tree house, which still feels comfy as if you spent your childhood in it, but also that the tree house is located in a haunted forest.

What... Jimin thought, laughing at his own ideas. This! His mind said when he smelled the cologne. The scent was strong and woody. It's the much better version of smelling like a chimney, Jimin thought.

"Excuse me sir, how much does this cost?" Jimin asked, holding the bottle up.

"Tom Ford, very nice choice. That size will be 117$ with the Christmas deal" the man said and Jimin's eyes widened.

With mom's jewelry I can't spend that much money anymore, I still have to buy something for Ryujin... He thought.

"What about this one?" he asked the man, holding a set of women products. It included a mini perfume bottle, a hand cream and a scented candle, in three assorted smells.

"That pack will be 26$" the man said and the boy nodded.

I'm sure I wanna buy that for Ryujin, but how am I gonna afford Jungkook's cologne...

He looked down to his phone when he heard a new notification from the groupchat.

Jeon009
Not in town

Suga
Sir Jungkook graced us with his presence last weekend
We wouldn't dare expect so much as another trip back home this weekend as well

Hobi
Lol ikr
You're a star lately Jk
Everyone wants to see you

Jin
Hope you'll be here for Christmas at least

Jeon009
I get why Yoongi and Tae are complaining but...
I see you guys almost everyday...

Jin
Just pouring some fuel

TaeTae
Not needed
Triggered as it is

Jeon009
I'll be here for Christmas
And new year's
And whenever I can
Just not lately

Suga
Look it's all good
Just talk to us if something's bothering you

Jeon009
Thanks

Jimin read the chat and was about to say something as well when he noticed that Jungkook posted something on his story. Curious, he opened it, and what he saw made him shake his head in disbelief.

<Dms>

Me: And there I was gonna say something nice to lift your mood
Jeon009: Umm so? Why didn't you?
Me: Come pick me up and you'll know
Jeon009: ??
Me: I'm stuck downtown, it's snowing hard
Jeon009: I'm not in town tho
Me: Your story 😒
Jeon009: Stalker much...?
Me: Please, I'm by the pizzeria
Jeon009: You didn't tell anyone right?
Me: Nah
Jeon009: Give me 15

</Dms>

"Can you please recommend me another cologne that would be a little cheaper?" he asked, feeling bashful at his own request.

"Well we do have a few of course. Here." the man proceeded to show him the other bottles that were the closest to his first choice. Jimin pursed his lips, they were indeed in the same ballpark, but still not close enough.

"I understand that you would still prefer Noir Extreme, it is a very seductive fragrance, but worry not I might have a solution for you" the young man said and walked to another shelf, picking up a smaller version of the said cologne.

"There's the smaller version of it, it'll be 76$" he suggested and Jimin looked at it very carefully. It was still expensive. It's exactly half the size but they couldn't make the price match the ratio, Jimin thought in annoyance. He couldn't buy it, with the months of work at the convenience store he earned about a couple hundred dollars more than what he paid for his mom's gift. With everyone else's presents too, buying something this expensive would would leave him dry for weeks before his next pay.

Having friends is expensive, he thought.

"Thank you sir, I'll think about it" he said and looked around a little longer before seeing Jungkook's car park in front if the pizzeria across the street.

"Goodbye, and Merry Christmas" he said before leaving the store.

Jungkook sat in his car, looking at his phone after he sent Jimin a text saying he arrived.