pairing: Beomgyu x gn!reader
genre: fluff, mild angst, friends to lovers, holiday romance
A freezing Christmas shopping trip in Seoul leads to a chance encounter in a music shop with Beomgyu. But a sudden misunderstanding over hot chocolate in a cozy café threatens to shatter your heart before the holidays even begin.
Christmas vacation was the time of year I looked forward to the most. The pure white snow, the glowing Christmas tree, the pile of presents, family gatherings, and the feeling of icy snowflakes brushing against my face.
Have you ever felt that sudden shiver when the biting cold touches your skin?
I have. But during this specific Christmas vacation, I discovered another kind of shiver—one that was infinitely warmer and much more intense.
I was walking through the bustling, snow-covered streets of Seoul, searching for a gift for my best friend, Soobin. He was notoriously difficult to shop for because he loved unusual, quirky things. Honestly, I had no idea what to buy him; he already seemed to have everything. Somehow, I needed to find something... but what?
I walked past countless shopfronts—shoe shops, jewellery boutiques, clothing stores, video game shops, perfume counters, and more—but nothing caught my eye. Everything felt so ordinary and uninspired that I started to wonder if I’d ever find the perfect gift.
Freezing and discouraged, I finally decided to head home.
But just as I turned a corner, a cosy music store caught my eye. My eyes lit up. It felt as though a small paradise had just opened its doors to rescue me from the cold.
Without hesitation, I stepped inside, covered in snow from head to toe. The warmth of the shop enveloped me as I slowly wandered through the aisles, admiring and gently touching the instruments I passed.
Suddenly, music filled the air.
A lively yet gentle melody echoed through the store, played on a piano with incredible precision and emotion. I froze in my tracks when I recognised the boy sitting at the keys.
He was one of my classmates. It wasn't hard to spot him anywhere—he was tall, effortlessly handsome, and always wore the brightest, most infectious smile.
The boy I had secretly fallen in love with.
It had been love at first sight; it took less than five minutes for me to completely fall for his playful personality and irresistible charm. I wasn't naive, though. I knew plenty of girls chased after him. Just a few weeks ago, he had confessed to our friend group that he was waiting for "the right person... someone who completes me".
I had smiled when he said it, but deep down, a part of me ached. I knew it couldn't be me. We weren't even that close; we only talked every now and then between classes.
The music suddenly stopped, pulling me abruptly out of my thoughts.
I looked up to find Beomgyu staring right at me. He looked surprised... but incredibly happy.
"___? What are you doing here?" he asked, tilting his head.
"I was... looking for a gift for a friend," I stammered, pulling my scarf down slightly. "What about you?"
"I was supposed to be looking for one too," he laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "But I guess I got a little distracted by the piano."
"I guess we're both in the same situation, then," I smiled.
He stepped away from the piano and walked closer to me. "Well, at least I don't feel so alone anymore."
My face instantly flushed deep red. He had said it so softly, wearing that specific smile that always made my heart do flips. I was entirely certain I looked like a ripe tomato.
"Would you help me look for a gift?"
His question snapped me back to reality. He wanted me to stay with him. Someone desperately needed to pinch me.
"Y-Yes, definitely," I managed to say. I can't even speak properly! ___, get yourself together...
Beomgyu reached out, took my hand, and gently pulled me along. His hand was large and warm, completely wrapping around mine. Honestly, I didn't care where we were going. I was simply happy to spend time with him, away from the usual crowd of screaming girls that surrounded him at school.
"Where do you think I can find an unusual gift?" he asked, looking around the street as we stepped back outside.
"I've been wondering the exact same thing," I replied with a chuckle.
When he didn't reply, I looked over at him. Judging by the utterly baffled expression on his face, I realised I had explained myself poorly. His eyes had become as round as our friend Taehyun’s.
"I-I mean... I'm looking for the same kind of gift for Soobin!" I added quickly, waving my free hand awkwardly.
"Oh!" Beomgyu let out a dramatic sigh of relief. "Our hyungs really are weird. I still don't understand what Yeonjun means by wanting 'something out of the ordinary. Does he want me to buy him the moon or something?"
I couldn't help but giggle at his dramatic flair.
"Hey! Why are you laughing? Are you making fun of me?" he teased, though his eyes were sparkling. He reached over and playfully rested his free hand on top of my head. "You know... I don't see you laugh very often. You're really cute when you smile."
"T-Thank you..." I muttered, looking down to hide my burning cheeks.
"Come on", he nudged me gently. "Let's keep looking. We still have a mission to complete."
We spent the next hour walking through the winter market, talking about everything and nothing. During our conversation, I learned that Yeonjun actually liked Soobin, and I happily confirmed to Beomgyu that the feeling was entirely mutual.
Eventually, against all odds, we both found the perfect presents. But even after the shopping was done, Beomgyu didn't let go of my hand.
"Do you want to grab something warm to drink, ___?" he asked, stamping the snow off his boots.
We ducked into a cosy, dimly lit café and ordered two hot chocolates. The barista smiled brightly at us before placing our steaming cups on the counter.
"You two make such a cute couple! Merry Christmas!" she said warmly.
"Oh, we're not—" I started, my heart leaping into my throat.
"Thank you. Merry Christmas to you too," Beomgyu interrupted naturally, offering her a sweet smile.
He didn't deny it. He deliberately cut me off.
I watched him pick up the drinks and walk toward a corner table while I remained completely frozen by the register. Why? Why didn't he correct her? And why has he been holding my hand this entire time? A whirlwind of questions raced through my mind.
"___? Are you coming?" he called out.
I hurried over and joined him. But as I sat down, I noticed his usual cheerful demeanour had vanished. He looked incredibly nervous, his fingers anxiously fidgeting with the sleeve of his sweater.
Trying to ease the heavy silence, I forced a smile. "Beomgyu... thank you for the hot chocolate."
He looked up, his expression softening. "You're welcome. And... you can call me oppa, you know. I am older than you."
"Okay... oppa." I felt a bit shy saying it. "Oppa... are you alright? You seem a bit quiet."
He simply stared at me, leaving my question hanging in the air. His intense gaze made my stomach flutter with anxiety. Embarrassed, I lowered my eyes to my cup.
"Of course I am," he murmured softly. "Because you're here."
I snapped my head back up in surprise. Was he really saying he was happy just because of me? I genuinely started to wonder if the barista had secretly put something strong in our drinks.
Suddenly, the loud buzzing of his phone broke the tension. He checked the caller ID and sighed before answering.
"Hello?... Oh, hyung... Yeah... Right now?... No, I can't. I'm busy... Your gift?... Who said you were even getting one? I'm kidding... I'll talk to you later... No, Yeonjun-hyung, I really can't right now. Sorry. Bye."
He hung up and tossed the phone onto the table.
"Are you sure it wasn't important?" I asked worriedly. "If you need to go—"
"No, he'll survive," Beomgyu laughed lightly, leaning forward. "Besides... it's rare that we get to talk with just the two of us."
"That's true," I smiled, holding the warm mug. "Especially with all your fans crowding you at school."
Beomgyu chuckled, shaking his head. "I keep telling them I already have a girlfriend, but they just won't give up."
In an instant, my world came crashing down. My heart felt as though it had shattered into a million pieces.
So... he had finally found her. The girl who completed him.
A heavy lump formed in my throat, and my eyes stung with sudden, hot tears. I had to leave. I had to get out of there before he saw how pathetic I was.
"___? Are you okay?" Beomgyu asked, his voice instantly turning serious.
"I... I'm fine," I choked out, standing up so fast my chair scraped against the floor. "I'm really happy for you that you found someone. I should go, though. See you after the holidays... Goodbye, Beomgyu."
I gave a hasty, trembling bow and bolted out of the café before he could say another word.
The moment I hit the street, the freezing air slapped my face. I couldn't even tell if I was crying anymore because the wind froze the tears right on my cheeks. Snow continued to fall heavily around me, covering the streets, the trees, the lights... covering everything except the agonising ache in my chest.
Because deep down, foolishly, I had hoped I was that girl. The one he had been waiting for.
A sharp voice cut through the winter air. I froze and turned around.
It was a mistake. Beomgyu was running toward me, his breath forming thick white clouds in the freezing air. He looked completely breathless. Had he really just chased me down to call me an idiot?
"Babo... why are you crying?" he panted, stopping right in front of me.
"I'm not..." I lied, quickly wiping at my face. But the tears refused to stop.
Before I could turn away again, I felt his warm hands gently cup my face. The contrast of his warm skin against my frozen cheeks made me gasp. He looked down at me with an expression that was part frustrated, part incredibly tender.
"I told you before," he whispered, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb. "You're much prettier when you smile. So tell me... why are you crying?"
"I... I'm just having a bad day..."
"You're a terrible liar," Beomgyu countered, his dark eyes locking onto mine with utter seriousness. "Tell me the truth. I want to know why you suddenly ran away when we were having such a perfect time."
I looked into his eyes and realised I couldn't do this anymore. The dam broke.
"You already know why, don't you, Beomgyu?"
"Know what?" he asked, looking genuinely lost.
"Why I leave?! Because you said something completely heartless, and I didn't know how else to react. How am I supposed to feel when you tell me you have a girlfriend right after holding my hand for over an hour and smiling at me like... like that?"
I took a shaky, ragged breath, the confession pouring out of me before I could stop it.
"You made me believe I actually had a chance, Beomgyu. I'm in love with you! I have been for so long, and you never even noticed. Did you really think I could just sit there and celebrate you being with someone else?"
Fresh tears streamed down my face. I pulled out of his grip, turning my back to him to finally walk away.
But he didn't let me. In one swift movement, he caught my arm and gently but firmly spun me back around. Before I could process what was happening, I was pulled flush against his chest, wrapped tightly in his arms.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled into my hair, his chest heaving. "I am so sorry. I never wanted to make you cry. ___, I don't have a girlfriend. Not yet. I was actually planning on asking her out today."
He stepped back just a fraction, keeping one hand securely around my waist while the other travelled up to cup my jaw.
"___... stop crying. It's you. You're the girl who completes me. The 'girlfriend' I tell everyone about at school to keep them away? It's always been an excuse because I was waiting for the right time to tell you."
I parted my lips to speak, but the words were completely stolen away as his lips met mine.
The kiss was warm, soft, and filled with a desperate reassurance. The initial shock melted away, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, kissing him back as the snow swirled around us.
When he finally pulled away just an inch, his forehead rested against mine.
"___... Saranghae," he whispered, his voice laced with emotion. "I’ve been watching you for so long. Listening to you. I fell completely in love with you because you're different. You're sincere, cheerful, and strong. Just being near you makes me feel at peace. I'm so sorry I made you misunderstand."
I smiled through the remaining tears in my eyes, feeling incredibly foolish. "What an idiot I've been."
"Hey... stop crying," he pleaded, looking completely helpless at the sight of my tears.
"Babo", I laughed softly, wiping my eyes. "These are happy tears."
A gorgeous, relieved smile broke across Beomgyu's face, and he let out a soft laugh. "Oh, thank goodness."
He leaned down and kissed me again, deeper and more passionately this time. The bitter winter cold could no longer reach us; only the intense, breathtaking warmth between us remained. Pleasing, indescribable shivers rushed through my entire body.
A few passersby murmured and smiled as they walked past our little bubble. "They're so cute."
Hearing them, we slowly broke apart, giggling. We stood there under the streetlights, hand in hand, just looking at each other as if time had stopped.
Finally, Beomgyu smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Should we go back inside where it's warm, jagiya?"
"That's a wonderful idea," I replied, my heart soaring at the new nickname.
He squeezed my hand tightly, and together we walked back into the warmth of the café. We spent hours talking, completely lost in each other, before finally saying goodbye with a promise to meet again the very next day.
A final, lingering kiss beneath the falling snow. One last hug to hold me over until tomorrow.
A Christmas gift? Yes. The most beautiful one I could have ever asked for. The future promised love, happiness, and countless memories—and as long as I was with Beomgyu, I knew everything would be perfect.
