One-shots, chapter ninety-six

"Let's make snow angels!"

It was the first snow of the year in Seoul, and the city was transformed into a winter wonderland. The soft glow of streetlights illuminated the freshly fallen snow, making the world around them seem magical. Thea and Mun walked hand in hand through the quiet streets, their breath visible in the crisp air, surrounded by the gentle, falling flakes.

Thea's face lit up with excitement as she spotted a patch of untouched snow in a nearby park. "Let's make snow angels!" she exclaimed, tugging Mun toward the open space.

Mun grinned, always game for anything Thea suggested. "You're on!"

They both flopped down into the snow, laughing as they spread their arms and legs, creating perfect snow angels side by side. The cold snow seeped through their clothes, but they didn't care. The joy of the moment and the laughter they shared kept them warm.

Once they stood up, admiring their work, Thea's eyes gleamed mischievously. She scooped up a handful of snow and threw it at Mun, hitting him square in the shoulder.

"Oh, you're going to regret that," Mun teased, grabbing a handful of snow in return.

What followed was a playful snowball fight, both of them running around and dodging each other's throws, their laughter filling the air. The street around them was peaceful, with only the sound of their fun echoing in the stillness of the evening. Eventually, they collapsed into the snow again, breathless and grinning.

After a few moments, Thea sat up, brushing snow from her coat and turning to Mun with a more serious, but still excited expression. "I want to do something," she said, her tone soft now.

Mun raised an eyebrow, curious. "What's up?"

Thea bit her lip, hesitating for just a moment before pulling out her phone. "There's this trend I saw on TikTok. It's couples dancing in the snow to the song 'Snow Flower' by V from BTS. And they say if you spend the first snow with your special someone, your bond is supposed to last forever."

Mun's eyes softened as he listened, understanding the importance of the moment. "You want to do it with me?"

She nodded, a shy smile on her lips. "Yeah. I know it's kind of cheesy, but... I think it's sweet."

Mun smiled back, his heart full. "Let's do it."

Thea stood up, brushing the snow off her clothes, and found the song on her phone. As the first gentle notes of "Snow Flower" played, she set the phone on a bench nearby and turned to Mun, holding out her hand. He took it, pulling her close, and they began to sway together in the snow, their movements slow and in sync with the music.

The world around them seemed to disappear, the only sound being the soft melody of the song and the snow crunching beneath their feet. Thea rested her head on Mun's chest as they danced, her heart swelling with the warmth of the moment despite the cold.

The snow continued to fall around them, soft and serene, each flake adding to the beauty of the night. Mun wrapped his arms around her tightly, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead as they moved together. It felt like time had stopped, just the two of them in this perfect, snowy world.

As the song neared its end, Thea pulled back slightly, looking up at Mun with a smile that lit up her entire face. "This is perfect," she whispered.

Mun nodded, his eyes full of love as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "You're perfect," he replied softly.

Thea laughed, rolling her eyes playfully but leaning in to kiss him, the snow falling gently around them as their lips met. It was soft, sweet, and full of the promise that this moment—this bond—would last forever.

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's arms, surrounded by the first snow of the year, both of them knew that there was something truly special about this night. The snow might melt, and the seasons would change, but the love they shared, like the legend said, was eternal.

After their dance in the snow, Thea and Mun strolled through the city, the lights of Seoul glowing softly beneath the thick blanket of snow. The streets, quieter than usual, felt like they belonged to them alone. They stopped every few minutes, laughing as they took pictures in front of beautifully lit trees, snow-covered storefronts, and wherever else caught their eye. Each moment was captured in their phones, their smiles as bright as the twinkling lights around them.

"Look at this one!" Thea said, showing Mun a picture of them standing side by side, cheeks rosy from the cold, the snowflakes perfectly visible in the background.

Mun chuckled. "That's definitely going on my lock screen."

They continued walking until the scent of something sweet wafted toward them. Down the street, a kind-looking older woman stood by a small cart, selling hot chocolate and other treats. Thea's eyes lit up.

"Hot chocolate sounds perfect right now," she said, her hands already feeling numb from the cold.

Mun nodded, pulling her closer to share his warmth. "Lead the way."

As they approached, the lady behind the cart greeted them with a warm smile. "Would you two like some hot chocolate to warm up?" she asked, her eyes twinkling as though she could sense the love between them.

"Yes, please," Thea replied with enthusiasm. "Two, please!"

While the woman prepared their drinks, Thea and Mun huddled together, stealing small glances at each other, content in the peacefulness of the snowy night.

"There you go, dears," the lady said as she handed them two steaming cups of hot chocolate, the sweet smell drifting through the cold air. "Stay warm, now."

"Thank you," Mun said, taking a sip and immediately feeling the warmth spread through him. Thea took a sip too, sighing happily as the rich chocolate flavor melted in her mouth.

As they walked further, savoring their drinks, they passed another street vendor selling churros, their golden-brown perfection standing out against the snow.

"Churros?" Mun asked with a grin.

Thea didn't need to be asked twice. "Absolutely!"

They bought a bag of freshly made churros, the cinnamon-sugar coating glistening in the soft light. Mun handed one to Thea, who took a bite and let out a satisfied hum.

"This is amazing," she said between bites. "Warm churros in the snow—who knew it would be so perfect?"

Mun smiled, watching her enjoy the moment. "I think everything tonight is perfect."

They continued walking, sharing churros and sipping their hot chocolate as they wandered through the snow-covered streets. The city felt different under the layer of white—a little quieter, a little slower, but more magical than ever. The lights twinkled on every corner, and the snow muffled the usual noise, making everything feel like they were in their own little world.

They stopped again at a park near the river, taking in the view of the city skyline shimmering across the water. Thea snapped another picture, this time of the skyline with the snow falling softly around it, capturing the serene beauty of the night.

"It's so beautiful," she whispered, slipping her hand into Mun's. "I can't remember the last time I enjoyed the first snow like this."

Mun squeezed her hand gently, his eyes full of affection. "I don't think I've ever enjoyed it this much either," he said. "But that's because I'm with you."

Thea smiled up at him, her heart warm despite the cold. They stood there for a while, simply enjoying the peacefulness of the moment. Everything about this night—the snow, the city, the hot chocolate, and especially being with each other—felt like something out of a dream.

Eventually, as they finished their churros and the last sips of hot chocolate, Thea shivered slightly, the cold starting to seep through their coats.

"Ready to head home?" Mun asked, noticing her slight tremble.

Thea nodded. "Yeah, let's go. But can we stop and take one more picture on the way back?"

Mun chuckled. "You and your pictures. Of course."

They walked back through the snow-covered streets, arm in arm, taking one last picture together in front of a beautifully lit tree. As they snapped the final shot, Mun looked down at Thea, smiling.

"This night's one for the memories," he said softly.

Thea beamed, leaning up to kiss his cheek. "It definitely is. And I wouldn't want to spend it with anyone else."

After their magical night in the snow, Thea and Mun finally headed home, their cheeks pink from both the cold and the joy of the evening. As they reached their home, the warm glow of the Christmas lights welcomed them. Inside, the faint sound of laughter and holiday music spilled through the door, signaling that everyone was already in the holiday spirit.

When they stepped inside, they were greeted by the sight of a fully decorated living room. Ms. Chu had outdone herself—there were garlands draped along the walls, a twinkling Christmas tree in the corner, and an assortment of food laid out on the table. Jeok-bong, Jun-seo, Hana, and Mo-tak were lounging on the couch, deep into a karaoke competition, with Jangmul grinning as he cheered them on.

"There they are!" Jeok-bong called out, waving as Thea and Mun kicked off their boots and shook off the snow.

Jun-seo came up to them, grinning. "Did you enjoy your what? 5th snow together?"

Thea smiled, her face lighting up. "It was perfect."

Mun gave a nod, still holding Thea's hand. "Best night of the year."

Ms. Chu bustled in from the kitchen, holding a tray of hot tea. "You two should change into something warm! Then we can open gifts," she said, giving them a warm smile.

Thea and Mun nodded and headed to their room to quickly change into their cozy Christmas pajamas. As they came back, they found the group settling around the tree, a small pile of presents waiting to be unwrapped.

Mo-tak clapped his hands. "Alright, who's ready for gifts?"

They all gathered around, eager to share their presents with one another. Thea and Mun exchanged knowing smiles as they grabbed their carefully selected gifts for each other from under the tree.

"Here," Thea said, handing Mun a neatly wrapped box. "I hope you like it."

Mun took the gift, his face lighting up with anticipation. He unwrapped it carefully, revealing a sleek leather jacket—the kind he'd been eyeing for weeks but hadn't gotten around to buying.

"Whoa, Thea, this is perfect," Mun said, eyes wide as he admired the jacket. "How did you know?"

Thea grinned. "I have my ways. Plus, I thought you'd look amazing in it."

Mun leaned in to kiss her cheek. "Thank you, I love it."

Then it was Thea's turn. Mun handed her a small, neatly wrapped gift. "Here's yours."

Thea carefully tore off the paper and opened the box to find a delicate silver bracelet with tiny snowflake charms, each one sparkling in the soft light of the tree.

"Mun, this is beautiful," she whispered, her heart swelling with emotion as she traced the snowflakes with her finger. "I love it."

He smiled softly, watching her slip the bracelet onto her wrist. "I thought it'd remind you of tonight. Our 5th snow together."

Thea beamed, leaning in to kiss him softly on the lips. "Thank you. It's perfect."

As they finished exchanging gifts, the rest of the group joined in the fun. Ms. Chu gifted everyone homemade scarves, each in a color she thought matched their personality. Mo-tak handed out books he thought everyone would enjoy, while Jeok-bong made everyone laugh with his quirky, personalized drawings.

After all the presents were opened, Hana grabbed the karaoke mic again, grinning mischievously. "Alright, enough of this mushy stuff. Who's ready for some Christmas karaoke?"

They all cheered, and the evening quickly turned into a karaoke competition. Mun and Mo-tak took turns trying to hit the high notes of a classic ballad, while Thea and Hana belted out cheesy holiday tunes, laughing so hard they could barely finish the songs.

Later, they all sat around the table, sharing a feast of delicious food prepared by Ms. Chu. There were dumplings, noodles, and plenty of sweet treats for dessert. Jeok-bong couldn't stop himself from sneaking extra cookies when he thought no one was looking, while Jangmul entertained everyone with his endless supply of jokes.

As the night wore on, they played games, laughing and teasing each other over victories and losses alike. It felt like a family—a mismatched, wonderful family of counters who'd grown so close over time.

When the clock struck midnight, signaling the official start of Christmas, they all raised their mugs of hot cocoa.

"To family, to friendship, and to more nights like this," Ms. Chu said warmly, raising her glass. "Merry Christmas, everyone."

"Merry Christmas!" they all echoed, clinking their mugs together.

Mun squeezed Thea's hand under the table, a silent promise that they'd share many more moments like this together. As the snow continued to fall outside, the warmth of the room, the love of their makeshift family, and the joy of Christmas surrounded them all, making it a night they'd never forget.

Author's note:

Sorry it took me this long to update, I've been busy with my other two books and school work I almost forgot about this story for a few moments 😭

Anyways, yes, this chapter was already written. I just needed to revise it and change some stuff. While working outside the house yesterday, my dad accidentally cut off the internet so I don't have internet at least for this entire week. Which means I won't be able to update any of my books until next week or probably Friday (I don't have school on Friday cause of Halloween)

Shall I make a special chapter for Halloween? 🎃

See y'all in the next chapter! 💗

7/10 ✅