The kiss is the greatest of gifts, uniquely human. A kiss before midnight. A kiss before dying, The Judas kiss. The kiss of the devil. A big wet smacker beneath the mistletoe. More can be said with a kiss than a book full of words. We kiss to say I love you. We kiss the rings of the self-important. The feet of the conquerors. The rich dark earth when we reach the promised land. We kiss babies' cheeks to soak up their innocence. We kiss the foreheads of loved ones as they begin a journey. We kiss strangers before dawn in the first hours of a New Year because our wintry lips are incomplete until they are oiled by a kiss.

~Chloe Thurlow

Jin's POV

My dream ended abruptly, as I was shaken back into reality. Slowly and reluctantly, I uncover my face. My eyes opened, my eyelashes faintly batting against my lids when I blinked. Everything is blurry. I blink, close my eyes, and blink again.

For a second, you never know who or where you are. You don't know how you got in that bed, or how you got in those clothes. Then, everything is processed. You are in your room. The thing above you is the ceiling. The thing on top of you is the duvet. The thing underneath you are the pillow and mattress. The thing you are wearing is your pajamas. You can see everything clearly now.

I laid on the bed, debating whether or not I should get up. My muscles felt weak, just like my energy. I let out an exasperated sigh, groaning as I rolled over to the other side of the bed. What time was it? How long had I been asleep? Am I still dreaming? All these questions shot through my mind as I sit up, drag my feet off the bed, and rub my knuckles onto my eyes. I stretch my arms above my head and yawn. I watch my legs dangle above the off-white polyester carpet.

I looked at the time on my phone "Why in the hell did have to wake up at five o'clock in the morning when I didn't have to? Why do human bodies work the way they do, if I wanted to get up at five in the morning, I would have slept through it."

Rather than sulking over my natural clock waking me up before I wanted to, I decided to go to the kitchen to get something to drink. To my surprise Y/N was in the Livingroom reading a book in front of the fireplace "Good morning miss Y/N."

She looked at me and gave me a warm smile "You're up early, couldn't sleep?" she asked

I sat next to her "I could ask you the same thing, but I was actually heading to the kitchen to get something to drink and clear my head."

"Why? What's on your mind?" she asked turning to face me comfortably.

"I am thinking of ways to make you mine." I thought to myself. She waved her hand in my face gaining my attention "Just some stuff I need to figure out."

"If that's the case, I know the perfect place that can help you gather your thoughts. Go get dressed." She patted my leg standing up.

I stood up following behind her "Where are we going?"

She shushed me pushing me into my room "It's a secret, meet me back downstairs in ten. Okay? Okay." She rushed off towards her room not giving me time to respond.

I chuckled opening my suitcase I pulled out my grey cameo pants and a pink thermal sweater. Then I started thinking "I am going to be alone with Y/N... OMG... I guess when something is meant for you the opportunity will present itself."

I came back downstairs to see Y/N zipping up her bubble coat "There you are. Let's go."

"Hold on give me a second I need to put on my jacket."

"Hurry hurry hurry we don't have much time." She said jumping up and down like a kid asking their parents to buy them their favorite toy.

"Woah calm down missy, what's the rush?"

"It's a secret." She said cheekily.

I smiled at her "Lead the way princess."

I don't know how long we have been walking but I honestly didn't care because I am in the presence of a woman I plan to conquer. Who knows? Maybe she's the missing piece in my life.

There's something about her that makes me feel so young inside, but not in a childish way. She wakes the pure side of me, the best side, all the facets of myself that only require love to be healthy and whole. Should I have eternity to be with this woman I would sink into serenity, just content to be close. Our energy vibrates in such a unique way, each the perfect complement of the other. I'm not simply "in love," I'm well and truly smitten.

The mountain path grew wide where the soil was soft and then narrow in the rocky passes. You could feel the shift in temperature the further we went into the valley.

Finally, we made it to threshold like border that separated the winter forest from the summer valley. The winter sunset stole the stage as those fire-diva's do. Orange, pink, and blue sunrays dance in the sky leaving a tinted footprint on the earth's surface. There was one big tree that sat at the center of the vast field.

If it weren't for me personally seeing this, I would think this was photoshopped "Where are we?"

"This is Heavens Peak, my favorite place I come to when I need to be freed from worries." she said with a proud smile on her face.

I sat under the tree "I could see why. It looks like we are on an island that's floating in the clouds." She sat next to me "Hmm now that you mention it, it does look like we are in the clouds. It so magical." I looked at her perfect sun kissed face. Her cheeks were pink like a spring rose, the blooming color so cute against her flawless skin. This is my chance...

She gazed into my eyes with the brightest smile "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

Starring at her "Yes, you are."

She looked away and finds a distraction reaching out her hand allowing the cool breeze to dance between her fingers. I leaned back on my elbows, allowing her time to compose herself, fighting back the smile that wants to break out.

Finally having the courage to look at me again she asked, "Did you find your answer?"

I gave her my softest gaze "More than you know."

She looked at her watch "It was only a thirty-minute walk and we've already been here no less than an hour, time tends to fly here. We should head back; the others must be up and moving by now." She abruptly stood up and slipped on a tree root. Before she fell, I pulled her close to me.

The impact made me loose balance falling backwards into the tree. The wind was knocked out of me "Are you okay?" I asked gaining my composer.

She looked at me worriedly "I should be asking you that."

"Of course, I am." I looked up opened my eyes and to my surprise we were under a cluster of mistletoes growing around a tree branch close to my head "Look."

"Are those mistletoes?"

"Yeah, you know the most common meaning of why people kiss under the mistletoe is because it is seen as a symbol of fertility and life. In winter, when all the trees are bare and many plants have died away, mistletoe stays green, and you can still see it growing around the tree branches happily."

She looked at me confused "A mistletoe is a parasite that drains the water and nutrients from its plant host. While we are kissing under the mistletoe in hopes of a prosperous life the tree host is slowly dying. We are basically praising a murder, that's pretty messed up."

I chuckled at her unique way of thinking "Yes, traditions are pretty messed up, but it's not like they are all bad. I mean I have you in my arms right now and despite what mistletoes are, I would really like to kiss a beautiful girl in this beautiful place."

She chuckled "We shouldn't let these mistletoes go to waste I presume. After all its tradition." What happens next, I am going to want to remember for a long time. She pressed her lips against mines.

Breaking the kiss, I pressed my forehead against hers "God, I love traditions." she laughed that beautiful addictive laugh "I think I'm starting to like you Miss Y/N."

Giggling "What's not to like."

I pinched her little nose "I am being serious."

She blushed "I'm not sure about my feelings, but I can't deny I have some sort of attraction towards you too."

"That's good enough for me, for now." I pressed my lips against hers once again.

In that kiss was the sweetness of passion, a million loving thoughts condensed into a moment. She broke the kiss "We should really go now."

I gave her a final peck on the lips "Lead the way princess."

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