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Jin pushed open the door to his apartment.  He stomped the snow off his boots.  The sky had dumped half a foot of them last night, but for some reason he’d still walked to work this morning.

As he made himself some coffee, Jin reminded himself that he needed to do some shopping for Christmas gifts.  Usually only needed to shop for his family, but this year he also had his girlfriend to shop for.  They’d been dating for nearly a year now, but he wasn’t entirely sure what to get her.  She was more closed off than anyone he’d ever met, so it would be hard to guess at something she’d want.

He sat down on the couch with his fresh cup of coffee before taking a sip of it.  He mulled over what to get her for a few minutes before he finally gave in and texted her.

“Is there anything you’d like for Christmas?”

It took her a few minutes to respond, but when she did, her response surprised him.

“What do you mean?”

“Any gift ideas?”

“Gifts?”

“Yes…I wanted to buy you a Christmas gift.”

“Oh…you don’t have to do that.  I never get gifts.  It’s fine.”

Jin just stared at his phone for a few moments.  She never got gifts?  That wouldn’t do.  He’d have to do something special for her this year.  But…what?

——————–

Jin spent the next few weeks thinking about it.  He really had no ideas.  The fact that she didn’t get gifts was shocking to him, especially with how his family went all out every Christmas.

One night, he decided to bring it up with her at dinner.

“What does your family do for Christmas?”

“My family?  Um…nothing, really.  We put up some decorations and that’s really it.  Why?”

“Well…you mentioned you never get gifts.  And exchanging gifts is a big thing in my family.  We always get together and have a meal and open gifts together Christmas afternoon.”

Honja looked up at Jin, her face clearly showing her surprise. “Really?  I thought that was something they made up for the movies!”

Jin frowned. “Will you come to my family’s house for Christmas with me?”

——————–

He had it.  The perfect idea.  He was crazy for thinking of it, but it was the one gift that made sense to him.  There was one thing, though.  Would he give it to her with an audience or without one?

——————–

It was finally Christmas.  He’d been waiting for weeks in anticipation for this day.  He pulled up to her house half past noon.  Christmas always started early at his parents’ house.  At this point he may as well consider himself late.

Honja stepped out of her house and locked the door behind her before heading towards Jin’s car.

“Merry Christmas, Honja!” Jin grinned as she slid into the passenger seat of his car.

She smiled shyly at him. “Merry Christmas…I wasn’t so sure what to get the rest of your family…so I just got you something.  Is that ok?”

Jin nodded. “I’m sure they’ll understand.”

When they arrived at his parents’ house, his mom welcomed them with two big bear hugs.

“Honja!  It’s so good to see you again!  Come in, you two, come in.”
She shooed them inside. “Seokju said he’ll be running late today so we’ll have to taste test the food without him.”

Honja was surprised at the vast number of dishes that were in the kitchen.  They were only feeding five mouths, weren’t they?

Jin’s dad was also in the kitchen helping cook, so the four of them snacked on a few things while they waited for Seokju to arrive.  Honja was already remembering why she liked Jin’s family so much.  They were warm and welcoming, and they set aside time for holidays.  Unlike her family.  She remembered so many years where her parents had both worked all of Christmas day and she and her sister were left to their own devices.  She smiled up at Jin as he laughed at something his dad had said.  Jin was the perfect guy.  She was so glad she’d found him.

——————–

Seokju showed up not too long later, and they all ate their meal before settling down on the couches in the living room.  Jin’s mom started handing out gifts.  When she handed a gift to Honja, the girl gasped in surprise.

“I…didn’t get you guys anything…”

“That’s all right, sweetheart.  I don’t expect you to give me anything in return.”

Honja took the gift gracefully after that statement, not wanting to argue.

Soon enough, all of the presents had been opened but for one.  The one Jin had gotten for Honja.  He handed the box to her gingerly.  She stared down at it for a few moments, wondering what on earth it could be.  Then she pulled open the box.  She was surprised to find a sea of tissue paper on the inside.  She dug through it before finally finding a small box at the bottom.  She pulled it out carefully, her eyes growing wide.  She looked up at Jin, and he nodded for her to open the box.  She popped the lid off the small box, and it opened, revealing a sparking ring inside.  She gasped and looked up at Jin again.

“Honja, will you marry me?”