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Snow fell softly outside the Yu household, the kind that blanketed the world in a serene quiet, as if the universe itself were holding its breath.
Inside, however, the holiday air was thick with anticipation. Between the clatter of pots and pans in the kitchen, the faint strains of holiday music, and the occasional bursts of laughter, it’s clear that Mr. and Mrs. Yu and their eldest daughters, Joohyun and Yeri, are in high spirits.
It’s a picturesque holiday evening, except for one notable shift in the family’s usual dynamics that added an extra holiday pep in their step — their youngest, Jimin, is bringing someone home for Christmas this year.
The news had been shared weeks ago in a nonchalant message from Jimin in their family group chat.
'Hey, I’m bringing someone special home for the holidays this year.'
No further details. No clarification. Just that.
The message had sent ripples of curiosity and speculation through the family. For the Yus, this was monumental — Jimin is notoriously private about her love life, always dodging questions at family events ever since she was old enough to start receiving confession letters at her desk. Preferring the company of her chosen RPG game of the month, she had never once brought anyone home.
Now as a third-year game design student at university and a plethora of added workload from her final year and internship, they were worried their Jiminie would never find anyone at this rate.
“What kind of guy do you think Jimin will bring home?” Yeri asks in a bubbly, expectant tone as she sets the dining table. “Someone tall, maybe athletic,” said Mrs. Yu, a little too enthusiastically. “What if he’s from the medical department? Oh goodness, can you imagine? A doctor and my son-in-law?” Mrs. Yu brings a hand to her forehead, feigning fainting.
From his seat on the couch, Mr. Yu raised his eyebrows but stayed silent, watching the exchange with mild curiosity. He wasn’t one to get too caught up in speculation, but even he found himself wondering about this mysterious ‘ someone special .’
He had always admired his daughter’s determination and focus. Jimin wasn’t the type to be distracted by frivolous things, especially not romance. She had spent her entire life excelling — top grades, leadership roles, and a steady stream of academic accolades.
(And 100% trophy and completed games, which Jimin insists is up there with her academic achievements) .
It wasn’t that she wasn’t charming — far from it.
In fact, Jimin always drew attention wherever she went. Boys had tripped over themselves to catch her eye since high school, often coming home to trash yet another pile of colorful confession letters and gifts. None of them ever seemed to interest her.
Joohyun, leaning against the kitchen counter, snorted half-jokingly. “ Eomma, don’t get your hopes up. Knowing Jimin, she probably meant some figure she’ll add to her collection.”
The Yus chuckle to themselves remembering the time a teenage Jimin built floating shelves in her childhood bedroom just upstairs, to display her ever-growing collection of gaming or anime figurines. Which, unfortunately for Jimin, had to stay when she left for university.
“Boring!” declared Yeri, now nursing a mug of hot cocoa in her hand.
“What if she’s just bringing a friend, hm? Then we’ve fussed for nothing,” Joohyun chimes in.
“ Special friend,” Yeri corrected with a finger in the air and a mischievous grin, drawing a chuckle from her older sister.
The doorbell rings just as the snow outside begins to pile higher on the driveway.
Mrs. Yu rushes to the door, her hands still dusted with flour, while Joohyun and Yeri watch safely from the kitchen, both vibrating with excitement.
“Finally!” Yeri whispers. “Twenty-thousand won that it’s not a friend.”
Joohyun shakes her head at her younger sister, knowing she’ll be paying out of pocket regardless for something else Yeri comes up with. “What the hell, sure.”
The two sisters cram their heads in the kitchen doorway to get a glimpse of Jimin and her plus-one, now joined by their father who too, couldn’t resist.
The Yus comically crane their necks as the door swings open and Mrs. Yu’s excited screech echoes through their home.
There stood Jimin, their youngest. Hair now red wine colored and dressed warmly, her blue scarf tucked neatly around her neck. Snowflakes clung to her hair, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold.
But it wasn’t Jimin who captured everyone’s attention — it was the girl standing just behind her.
She was petite, almost doll-like, with long blonde hair that framed her soft features and a black headband perched atop her head. Her oversized cream sweater swallowed her small frame, with a scarf that suspiciously looks just like Jimin’s but white in color. The girl held a neatly wrapped box of cookies in both hands, the red ribbon tied around it as precise as the rest of her appearance. Her wide, nervous eyes darted around her surroundings, unsure of where to focus.
“Hello, I’m Minjeong” she said softly and gave a polite bow, her small hands clutching the box of cookies as though it were her lifeline. “Thank you for having me,” she added, her voice trembling slightly with nerves.
For a moment, no one spoke.
Jimin placed a hand on the small of Minjeong’s back, gently guiding her forward and inside. “Minjeong…” she said, her voice steady but warm. “…will be spending the holidays with us.”
Mrs. Yu was the first to recover, her maternal instincts kicking in. “Oh, my! Come in, come in, you must be freezing! Look at you, so sweet — Jimin” She grits her teeth and lightly smacks her youngest daughter’s arm “...you didn’t tell us you were bringing such a lovely guest!”
Rubbing her arm, Jimin mumbles, “I told you already in the groupchat.”
As Minjeong steps inside hesitantly, Jimin stays close, her hand never straying far from Minjeong’s back — the subtle protectiveness doesn't go unnoticed by Mrs Yu.
She hides a smile to herself. ‘ So this is whom you’ve chosen, Jimin-ah.’
“She’s so cute,” Yeri whispered. “Like a tiny doll!”
“Cute, yes” Joohyun hummed. “But how do we know she’s not just a—“
They watch as Jimin helps Minjeong out of her coat, revealing how tiny she truly was compared to Jimin’s taller, poised frame. They watch as Jimin brushes imaginary leftover snowflakes from Minjeong’s shoulders and tucks imaginary strands from her hair attentively. Eyes soft, glimmering at Minjeong’s every move as Jimin dotes on her, unable to hide that stupid-ass, goofy smile on her face.
Yeah, okay.
With a knowing grin, Yeri leaned closer to her older sister and held out her hand, obviously expecting payment for her correct bet. “Pay up, unnie.”
The oldest Yu sibling grumbles and hands her two bills totalling to the bet amount.
Mr. Yu, standing further back, studied the scene with mild confusion. He’d been expecting someone…different.
Taller.
Louder.
A man, most likely.
But Minjeong was so quiet and small, her presence barely making a ripple in the room’s energy.
‘So, this is just a friend’ Mr. Yu thinks, nodding to himself, slightly relieved that his youngest isn’t growing up so quickly…so he thinks. ‘A sweet girl, but definitely just a friend.’
The dining room table was a feast of traditional holiday favorites. A large plate of golden, crispy Korean pancakes sat beside a steaming bowl of rice cake soup, its thin pieces swimming in a clear broth topped with strips of egg and seaweed. In the middle was Mrs. Yu’s infamous braised short ribs, glistening in their soy-based sauce, tender and rich. Bowls of fluffy white rice and colorful side dishes were scattered across the table, surrounded by an arrangement of fresh vegetables.
“Minjeong-ah,” Jimin’s mom said warmly, passing her a dish of Korean pancakes, “Don’t be shy — eat as much as you want.”
Minjeong smiles bashfully. “Thank you, Mrs. Yu. Everything is so delicious.”
Jimin, sitting beside her, notices the way Minjeong hesitates for a moment, eyeing the plethora of dishes as if deciding what to pick. Without a word, Jimin leans over and uses her chopsticks to grab an assortment of food and side dishes, placing them onto Minjeong’s plate.
“Here,” Jimin said softly, her voice low. “You like these ones.”
Minjeong’s cheeks turn pink, but she nods with a grateful smile.
“So, Minjeong,” Mrs. Yu began, passing a dish of japchae to her eldest daughters. “What are you studying?”
“Law,” Minjeong replied softly, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
“Oh, how wonderful!” Mrs. Yu said, her smile widening and shooting Minjeong a wink. “A future lawyer in the family. That’s impressive.”
The heat in the blonde’s cheeks rises. “T-Thank you, Mrs. Yu.”
“Minjeong has consistently been one of the top students to make the Dean’s List for the past three years,” Jimin interjects proudly, earning her a bashful “Stop it, unnie.”
“Okay, okay” Jimin pours makgeolli for Minjeong then for herself.
Mr. Yu seated at the head of the table, observed the interaction with a small, puzzled frown. ‘Huh? Future lawyer…in the family? Well, it’s true that any of Jimin’s friends should be treated like family right?’ Surely that’s what his wife meant. Surely.
He glanced at Joohyun, his eldest daughter, who was smirking into her tea, and Yeri, his second-born, who had the mischievous glint of someone who knew far more than she was letting on.
Joohyun leaned forward, her curiosity palpable as she rested her chin on her hand. “So, Minjeong,” she began smoothly, her tone far too knowing, “how exactly did you and my sister meet?”
Minjeong looked up, a little startled by the sudden attention. “Oh, um,” she began, glancing nervously at Jimin.
Jimin smiled at her, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze under the table. “We met at the university bakery,” she said, jumping in.
“I–” Minjeong started, fiddling with the hem of her sleeve. “I had a big exam that morning, and I…” She trailed off, laughing softly at herself. “I realized I’d left my wallet back in my dorm. My dorm is all the way across campus, and I didn’t have enough time to go back and grab it before the exam. But I had already ordered and the staff had already prepared my coffee and meal!”
The Yu women – Mrs. Yu, Joohyun, Yeri and of course, Jimin — are hanging onto her every word, practically cooing at the slips of her satoori accent.
Minjeong, head tilting slightly in a cute huff as she recalled the moment. “I was so ready to just… skip breakfast and go hungry for three hours until after my exam. It wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t see any other option.” She gave a sheepish smile. “I’d already resigned myself to it when Jimin showed up and…and practically bulldozed her way to the front of the line.”
“Wait, bulldozed? I didn’t —” She resigns. “Okay, maybe some bulldozing was happening.”
“You did, don’t lie,” Minjeong insisted, laughing now. “You were at the back of the line, and then suddenly you were right behind me, shoving your way to the front.”
Jimin shrugged nonchalantly. “I saw an emergency situation.”
Minjeong’s grin widened. “She pulled out her wallet — spilling all of her cards all over the counter, by the way — and tapped the machine for me before I even realized what was happening.”
“She what?” Yeri said, raising an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you could be so charming, Jimin.” She continues with a devilish grin, “the only other times I’ve seen her act so chivalrous is when she makes sure her One Piece swimsuit figure collection didn’t get dusty. You know, her prized possessions. ”
Jimin bursts at her sister’s teasing. “They’re limited edition!” She brushes her sister off, earning a giggle from Minjeong at the sisters’ banter. “ Anyway, She looked like she was about to cry, and I couldn’t just let her skip breakfast before an exam. That would’ve been cruel.”
“I wasn’t going to cry!” Minjeong protested, though the pink on her cheeks said otherwise.
Jimin smirked. “You were definitely about to cry.”
Minjeong pouted, but the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. “From embarrassment, yes.” She continued, turning back to the family, “Jimin saved me, but I had to go to my exam! It wasn’t until I got to the lecture hall that I noticed a… ramen shop rewards card was stuck to the bottom of my coffee. I went back the next day, just hoping she'd be there so I could give back her card and thank her properly….and well, you know” She trails off, her voice growing quieter, sustaining her pink cheeks.
“I went back the next day too,” Jimin adds. “I had to find my rewards card! There was free gyoza and a free bowl of ramen that I hadn’t cashed in yet! I got my card back, sure, but it didn’t compare to seeing Minjeong again.”
The table erupts in fake gag noises from Yeri and murmurs of how sweet they are from Joohyun and Mrs. Yu.
On the other hand, Mr. Yu smiles faintly. ‘Is this some inside joke? They’re just friends. Why all the fuss? He can’t quite piece together why everyone seemed so invested in the story.
The questions continued from the Yu women, asking things like:
“What’s your favorite thing about Jimin?”
“Who made the first move?”
“Do you argue often, or are you one of those couples that agrees on everything?”
Every time someone said the word ‘couple,’ Mr. Yu’s brow furrowed slightly. He tilted his head, as if trying to process the conversation. Surely, they were just teasing. Surely.
He leaned closer to Yeri, whispering, “They keep calling them a couple. Isn’t that strange?”
Yeri smirked, biting back a laugh at her father and his aloofness. “Yeah, weird.”
“And what’s all this about a ‘first move’? Do friends have a ‘first move’ these days?”
“Guess they’re just close friends,” Yeri said, her voice dripping with amusement.
Mr. Yu nodded, still unconvinced but not ready to voice his confusion outright.
It wasn’t until they began to pass around Minjeong’s homemade cookies — perfectly soft and sweet, much like their maker — that it dawned on him. Mrs. Yu turned to Jimin with a knowing smile.
“You’ve never brought anyone home before,” she said. “What made you decide to bring Minjeong this year?”
Jimin glanced at Minjeong, her gaze softening. “I wanted you all to meet her, of course. Minjeong has become one of the most important people in my life.”
Mrs. Yu’s smile grew wider. “Well, we can see that. She’s wonderful, Jimin. You chose well.”
She turns to her new, perhaps future daughter-in-law. “Welcome to the family, dear. And thank god too, we thought our Jiminie would never start dating!”
Mr. Yu froze mid-bite, his eyes darting between his wife, Jimin, and Minjeong. “Dating?” he repeated, his voice slow and confused.
Mrs. Yu stifled a laugh behind her hand, and Joohyun took it upon herself to clarify, though her tone was far from serious. “Yes, Dad,” she said, her lips twitching with amusement. “You know, as in romantic.”
Mr. Yu, looking between Jimin and Minjeong as if the idea had only just occurred to him…because it did. “Romantic?” he echoed, still sounding bewildered.
Jimin sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Yes, Dad. Romantic. Minjeong is my girlfriend .”
There was a beat of silence as her dad processed the words. Then his eyes widened, and he let out an incredulous laugh. “Oh! Oh. Well, that’s… that’s wonderful!” he exclaimed, though his tone made it clear he was still catching up. “I…I thought you were just friends.”
Minjeong looked mortified, her face buried in her hands, while Jimin gave her dad a patient smile. “ Appa, were we not being obvious enough?” she said with a laugh, shaking her head.
“W-W-Well you know, your dear father has always been slow, Jimin-ah! A-and it’s harder to tell, especially these days!”
Mrs. Yu patted her husband’s arm, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Better late than never, honey.”
“Well,” he said, clearing his throat. “Minjeong, as my wife said, welcome to the family. You seem like a…very lovely girl, and my daughter is lucky to have someone like you.” His tone flustered but sincere. “You seem to have a good head on your shoulders, young lady. Just…keep my daughter out of trouble, hm?”
Minjeong nodded rapidly, eager for his approval. Bowing her head profusely and stammering out a “Yes, sir! Thank you, sir! I will care for Yu Jimin, sir!” in the same tone as her sergeant military father.
After dinner, when the laughter and conversation had finally mellowed and the plates were cleared, Jimin leaned down to whisper something into Minjeong’s ear. The petite blonde looks up at her girlfriend, her face lighting up in surprise at her suggestion before she nodded.
The two of them slipped out the back door unnoticed by most of the family, except for Joohyun, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing, only smiling to herself.
The backyard was blanketed in fresh snow, the soft flakes continuing to fall gently, dusting the swing set at the edge of the yard. The air was crisp and cold, their breaths visible in the night air, but the warmth between them seemed to melt it all away.
“Come on,” Jimin said softly, taking Minjeong’s hand. She leads her toward the old swing set that had been there since she and her sisters were kids. Minjeong trails behind her, their footsteps crunching in the snow, her cheeks flush from both the cold and the closeness of Jimin’s hand in hers.
When they reached the swing set, Jimin gently placed her hands on Minjeong’s waist, guiding her toward the seat. “There you go, Minjeongie” she murmured, her voice soft.
Jimin steps back and gives her a small push, sending her swinging forward just a little.
The sound of Minjeong’s laughter fills the winter air, bright and unguarded, as she lets herself be pushed higher. “Jimin, I might fall! What if I fall!” she squealed, gripping the swing’s chains tightly, though the playfulness in her voice betrayed any real worry.
“You won’t!” Jimin lets out a chuckle, her voice low and sure. She gave the swing another push, her lips quirking into a smile as she soaks in the sound of her laughter, light and, so full of joy.
Eventually, Minjeong slowed the swing, dragging her feet lightly in the snow to stop it. Jimin stood behind her, her hands still on the swing’s chains, leaning forward slightly.
“Thank you,” Jimin said softly.
Minjeong tilted her head back to look up at her, her eyes wide and curious. “For what?”
“For coming tonight,” Jimin said, stepping around to face her. “I know my family can be a little chaotic, but they always mean well — and they… they really loved you, you know.”
Minjeong is tomato-red as she looks down at her lap, fiddling with the hem of her coat. “Are you sure? I mean, your dad took a while to figure it out, and I…” She trails off, biting her lip.
Jimin crouched down in front of her, reaching out to take Minjeong’s hands in her own. “I’m sure,” she said firmly, her gaze shimmering with warmth and…something else that Minjeong desperately hopes is love .
“They absolutely adore you. And I do too, if that counts for anything.”
Her eyes soften, a smile tugging at her lips. “That counts for everything.”
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the soft snowfall around them creating a peaceful cocoon. The world felt still, as though it was just the two of them in the universe. Jimin’s heart swelled as she looked at Minjeong, so radiant in the winter glow, her headband holding back strands of her blonde hair that sparkled with snowflakes.
The serenity doesn’t last long — not if Jimin has to say anything about it. She stood abruptly, brushing the snow off her knees, and before Minjeong could ask what she was doing, a snowball hit her squarely on the arm.
“Jimin!” Minjeong yelped, more surprised than upset.
The elder of the two doesn’t waste time, already scrambling for another handful of snow. “What? I couldn’t resist, not when I know you’ll pout so cutely like you are right now.”
Minjeong narrows her eyes, a playful grin spreading across her face as she jumps off the swing. “ Ya , don’t mess with me Yu Jimin!”
What followed was a flurry of snowballs and laughter, both of them darting and dodging around the backyard like children. Minjeong shrieked as one of Jimin’s throws grazed her shoulder, and Jimin almost fell over in laughter when Minjeong’s snowball completely missed its mark, hitting a tree instead.
“Hah! Missed me!” Jimin teased, leaning down to scoop up more snow.
Minjeong didn’t answer. Instead, she charged at her girlfriend, tackling her to the ground with a triumphant shriek.
The pair landed in the snow with a soft thud , Jimin flat on her back and Minjeong sprawled on top of her. They erupt in laughter, face inches from the other’s, and breaths visible in the cold air.
But when their laughter quieted, Minjeong’s eyes locked with Jimin’s.
For a moment, the world stilled again.
Jimin’s heart skips a beat as she looks up at Minjeong, the glow of the house lights casting a soft halo around her. Slowly, Jimin reached up, tucking a stray strand of blonde hair behind Minjeong’s ear.
“I love you,” Jimin whispered, the words slipping out before she could stop them.
Minjeong’s eyes widened in surprise, her lips parting slightly.
Jimin’s face burned, and she stammers “I mean — it’s okay if it’s too soon, I just want you to know how I feel and I don’t expect you to—”
Minjeong silences her stupid, loser-in-a-hot-girl’s-body girlfriend with a kiss.
It was soft and fleeting, but it left Jimin breathless, her mind spinning. When Minjeong pulled back, her face was as pink as the frostbitten tips of her ears, but the big smile on her face hid nothing.
“I love you too,” Minjeong whispered, her voice steady despite her shyness.
Now it was Jimin’s turn to be taken aback. “Really?”
“Really, baby.”
Jimin barely had time to process the words before pulling Minjeong down again, connecting their lips in a slow, languid kiss. This time, Jimin is determined to make her feel as crazy as Minjeong drives her.
Their lips move in a rhythmic dance, the kiss heavy with desire yet softened by its deliberate, unhurried pace.
Minjeong pulls away, kissing her red-tipped nose. “Merry Christmas, Jimin.”
“This has been…the best Christmas I’ve ever, ever had and it's all because of you baby, Merry Christmas.”
Before Jimin could connect their lips again, the back door opens and Joohyun’s voice cuts through the moment.
“Dessert’s ready!” Joohyun calls out, her tone smug. “Don’t freeze out there, lovebirds!”
Jimin groans, clearly not impressed by her sister’s interruption. “Unnie, seriously?”
Joohyun just laughs, disappearing back inside.
As the cold air nipped at them, Jimin reached out and took Minjeong’s hand, lacing their fingers together. Her lips still tingled from the kisses, her heart was light and full as they walked back toward the house.
The night was cold but with Minjeong’s hand in hers, her shy smiles warming her soul, and their confessions casting a golden glow around them — Jimin had never felt warmer.