There was a simple, day to day routine he made sure to follow no matter what. Since his schedule was always busy, save for the weekends, he relied on his routine to make sure that he could keep up with all of his activities.

It went a little like this:

- Wake up at 5 AM sharp;

- Do pushups and squats, 10 times each;

- Go out for a jog and be home by 5.30.

- Jump in the shower, get dressed, and have a relaxed breakfast. He made sure to enjoy his coffee. Never hastily gulp down a good cup of joe!

- School was a given since it took up most of the time.

- Depending on the day, he'd either attend science club, soccer club or kendo.

- Go home and spend an hour or so on homework.

- Have dinner and spend some time with the family before spending time with his other family.

- Sleep and repeat step one.

Xiumin liked order. It kept everything organized, especially during more busy schedules, when tests came up or when he was asked to attend social gatherings that usually wouldn't easily fit into his routine. It wasn't like he was obsessive about it, but he'd be lying if he said that it didn't relax him. He liked to come prepared, know what to do. He barely left things up to chance since that had a way of messing everything up. Not that he wouldn't be able to adapt, of course, but he preferred it if things were- predetermined, for lack of a better word.

It was no wonder, therefore, that he was hardly taken by surprise, unless someone would purposely throw him a surprise party, or something. But it was just another way of saying that he always came prepared for anything. It helped minimize the amount of weirdness in his life, since discovering that he was a wolf that could freeze things did definitely throw him off for a while. Ever since then, nothing would faze him, not as intensely as having found out that he had magical powers and could turn into a wolf, that is.

Except, maybe, holidays like Valentine's Day or White Day. He never quite knew how to prepare for those. He thought he had survived Valentine's Day relatively well without things being too awkward. He just never knew what to say other than 'thank you' and 'I'll enjoy the chocolates'. He just wasn't a man of many words, and preferred to let his actions speak for him. White Day was the day that he could prove that, but even that made him feel awkward. Xiumin knew that he could prepare a nice gift, obeying the Threefold Law, of course, and even practice what he could say to each girl that gave him a Valentine's Day present, but once he would actually stand face to face with her- he'd blank out.

Always. Always. He'd hear Baekhyun or Kris charm the girls they speak to with so much ease while he's left with a mouth full of teeth, not knowing what to say. It made him appear so ungrateful and cold, but that wasn't the case at all. He learned not to mind too much what others would think of his distant personality, because he knew that those who mattered knew how he really was, but sometimes he wished the words would come out easier. He'd like to be able to say what was on his mind and in his heart, especially to those who cared enough to think of him on days like Valentine's Day. Xiumin felt that he could buy a girl something expensive, but it probably wouldn't mean anything if he didn't say anything or write a note- it was the thought that mattered, but if he couldn't even voice or write that out, how was he going to convey his feelings?

That's why this year, he was going to make sure not to blank out. He had already carefully prepared gifts for the girls that got him something on Valentine's Day, and even though he would be broke for the rest of the month, he thought that each of the gifts would be worth it. He had written notes in case he did choke, but he made sure to prepare a personal speech for each girl to show them his gratitude.

Xiumin breathed out as he looked at the rows of gifts lined up in his room and wondered how he was going to take them to school. Maybe he could borrow his mother's car.

Amongst the line up of pastel boxes, heart-shaped gifts and lollipop bouquets, stood one small gift on his desk. He kept this one separate from the others because it took him longer than the rest to get. He swallowed and opened the little box, since it wasn't wrapped yet. On the outside, it looked simple, just a shiny wooden box, decorated with mother of pearl roses and butterflies, but once opened, it would reveal a porcelain ballerina dancing on a mirror. She had pale skin, blue eyes and blue lips and silver hair. Her little dress was made of glass and blue crystal. She was Winter, dancing to the music of Vivaldi's Winter.

Xiumin had hesitated whether he should get the jewelry box or not. Maybe the gift was too extravagant? But, every time he passed the store, he couldn't help but stop a moment to admire it. He had stuffed the jewelry box with mobile keychains of ice creams, small pieces of wrapped chocolates and coffee-flavored hard candies.

He sighed as he picked up the note beside the jewelry box and draped himself over the desk. There were exactly two words written on the note:

Dear Jae,

That was it. Even though he had the gift ready and memorized what to say to the other girls, this one was giving him trouble, and he was getting even more nervous than he already was. White Day was tomorrow.

Ridiculous. Why was it so hard for him to express himself? If only there was a way for him to be able to learn how to talk easily, without feeling shy or socially awkward.

Come on, Xiumin, just write it down and then say it out loud, he thought to himself, letting out another huff when he realized that he couldn't even speak to himself out loud.

This is so hopeless- "This is hopeless," he practiced, feeling like an idiot.

He startled lightly when he heard his phone buzzing on his nightstand.

"Hello?" he greeted.

"Baozi-ge! What's up?" came Luhan's voice on the other end. Xiumin walked back to his desk to admire the porcelain ballerina and sat down.

"Nothing much. What's up with you?" he absently grabbed the note and started flipping it around with his fingers whilst jamming his cell between his ear and shoulder. He kinda disliked it that phones these days were so super thin. He was a 90's kid, so he remembered the awesomeness that was the Nokia 3310. All of the phones now were so fragile and dainty.

"If I see one more pink thing I think I'm going to go insane," Luhan complained. "Seriously, my room looks like a bunch of pixies threw up in it. There's glitter and cute stuff everywhere," he said.

"Well, that's what you get when you're Mr. Popular. Gotta obey the Threefold Law, I didn't make up the rules, man," Xiumin teased, grinning to himself when he could imagine the discomfort Luhan was in right now.

"Threefold Law, that's another thing! How am I going to pay for lunch at school after this? I'm going to be broke for the next two months in the least!"

"Oh come on, what are you whining about, Princess Lu? Your parents are loaded," Xiumin replied dryly, whilst wondering what else he could write on the note to Jae. Luhan always called him the night before White Day to complain about the holiday.

"Shut up, Baozi, it's about the principle!" Luhan sighed deeply. "Anyway, are you taking your mom's van tomorrow?"

"Let me guess, you need a ride?" Xiumin stated, amusedly shaking his head.

"Please? I've no idea how I'm gonna take all of this stuff with me on my bike," Luhan pleaded.

Being the good hyung he was, Xiumin feigned a heavy sigh. "Alright. I'll pick you up, but I'm not going to help you carry any of your stuff. I don't want a repeat performance of last year," he stated, shaking his head at the embarrassing memory. Luhan laughed.

"Aw, why not? I thought it pretty funny seeing you try to explain to your admirers how those amazing gifts you were carrying weren't for them at all," he chuckled.

"That wasn't funny," Xiumin groaned.

"Hey man, like you said, Threefold Law. Girls always expect their gifts from you to be three times more expensive or extravagant than the ones they gave you."

"Yeah, well, some of us have to work with what they got. I was flat broke this time last year," Xiumin pulled a face when he heard Luhan laughing again.

"Told you not to spend so much money on coffee."

"Shut up," Xiumin replied, starting to scribble on the note, absently drawing on it.

"So..." Luhan trailed off. Xiumin simply waited until he would say more, still drawing. "Eh, so- what did you get for your fan girls?"

"Oh, you know, stuff they sell at the candy shop and toy store. In case you were wondering, my room is far less pink and cute than yours, though," he answered casually.

"Hm, ah, r-right. Well, good. Good," Luhan sounded awkward on the other end and Xiumin frowned at this.

"What?" he asked.

"Hm? Oh, n-nothing. Those sound like good presents, got mine from the same stores..."

"And?"

"And? And nothing, was just curious, you know."

Xiumin ceased his drawing for a moment to pay full attention to the conversation. "Luhan," he only said and that was enough to get his best friend to talk.

"Fine! I was just wondering what you got for Jae, that's all."

"And that matters, why?" Xiumin asked, continuing his drawing again, though he did close the jewelry box.

"I-it doesn't. Just curious. So, uh, guess I'll see you tomorrow, yeah?" Luhan immediately changed the subject.

"I'll be there," Xiumin promised.

"Cool. Sleep well, Baozi," Luhan greeted.

"You too, Lulu. Bye," he hung up the phone and leaned back on his desk. He had doodled all over the note, but the words 'Dear Jae' was still visible. He smiled lightly to himself as he looked at his impromptu drawing and then signed it with 'Love, Xiumin'. Just writing the four letter word before his name made him blush and feel incredibly shy, so he had very little hope that things would go well tomorrow.

He clicked off the light on his desk and started getting ready for bed.

- Change into pajamas.

- Brush teeth, wash face.

- Get into bed and try to drift off to sleep.

He added a little something new to his bed routine, which was praying that everything would go smoothly for him tomorrow. That something would be done so that he could speak easily, and that the girls would like their gifts and not think it too extravagant.

He opened his eyes again to stare at the silhouette of the jewelry box on his desk. Would Jae like it?

Xiumin fell asleep as he imagined what her reaction would be like, though sweet dreams would turn into nightmares when he stood face to face with her and wasn't able to utter a single word.