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The first snow was such a moment for Koreans, and Yuna couldn't help but chuckle at the thought. Jun wouldn't stop talking her ear off about it, and as much as he preached to be a rational soul and to compromise to school and skating full time, she knew better.
She knew about the whipped tone his voice would acquire when talking to his friend Kazuki by the phone or videocall, she knew about the silly dimple smiles that would leave him vulnerable and she knew about the pouts on his face when he felt like missing him. And he tried, he so tried to mask the feelings he harbored over the small Japanese man, pretending they were not that close or putting up excuses when Yuna perfectly knew they would stay up late, talking about clothes or Balenciaga's latest fashion crime, or about ramen (Yuna was very satisfied at this. His future pseudo brother-in-law knew about fine cuisine).
So, when December was rolling around and the Grand Prix Final was over, the first snow for Seoul was forecasted to come; and Jun immediately invited Kazuki over.
"You know, Seoul is very pretty when it snows."
Yuna didn't even have to say anything as she overheard the conversation by accident, Jun being all giggly and shy and his smile being audible enough for her to know that he was embarrassed as heck for this. So, before she even realized, two days later, the doorbell rang. And as she went to open the door, Junhwan ran past her and gave her a look.
I can handle this.
He would open the door and then, Yuna would get whiplash over sunshine and eye smiles and a high pitched voice, and the joyful sound of the two young men laughing as they hugged each other tightly.
(She giggled to herself; was she like that as well, all those years ago?)
"You were so amazing in Grand Prix!" Kazuki would compliment Jun non-stop, and she couldn't help but smile in satisfaction as she watched Junhwan get irremediably flustered.
"It wasn't that much…"
"No, no, no! Jun great! Jun amazing! Ina Bauer? Sugee dekai! Costume? Pretty!" Kazuki would say back, moving his arms all around and almost hopping on his spot. "Deserved gold! We deserve medal!"
Jun was visibly blushing, and Yuna bit her lip to contain her laughter, hurrying both of them inside to save him from further embarrassment.
Kazuki's suitcase almost reached up to his ribs and it wasn't even that big. It was cute how Junhwan would act all gentlemanly and help him with it, and Kazuki would cause a ruckus in his flushed state. The house was noisier, but it caused Yuna to feel cozy and warm in those chilly days.
She would peek from a corner and see them laughing at something in Jun's phone, imitating each other's poses, commenting things about other skaters' programs, and whatnot. The ramen dinner was ten times livelier as Kazuki was sensitive to some spicy flavors, and as he pulled the funniest faces, Jun would worriedly help him with water. Yet the smile couldn't leave his face, and Kazuki, as red and hot as he was in that moment, would also smile back at him. Yuna had wondered when was the first time Jun had talked about him; it seemed so far away at that point that she lost the count after some time– and don't get her wrong. She just had wondered that because Jun seemed to have fallen with the perfect little man suited for him. Junhwannie was already perfect: he deserved no less than he already was.
Yuna decided not to intimidate the poor guy; he was too busy gushing over Junhwan for her to interrupt the moment. But Junnie would glare at her from time to time, because her eyebrow wiggles and mischievous smiles were targeted to him. It was what older sister figures would do, right?
"Get warm, hyung. We're going out."
"Oh? That's why you ask me to warm clothes?"
Yuna overheard everything again. Well, not really. Jun suddenly had the guts (or stupidity) to put his plan in charge in front of her face. She pretended she didn't hear anything as Kazuki would run upstairs to the guest's room, and Jun looked at her with a pointed look.
"Don't say a thing, noona."
"Me? I'm a tomb."
"Humph."
Ah, his royal-ish charm would fly off the window as soon as his emotions took over.
(Just like hers, really.)
She expected Kazuki to grab a coat, scarf, beanie and face mask all together at the same time, yet why did he look like an otter? Yuna asked herself. His button nose, his permanent smile and his waddling around reminded her of the cute animals, and the fact that he would complain whenever Jun would get away from him didn't help to the cause. While he looked like some sort of round dumpling, Jun would casually throw in his trench coat and gloves like it was nothing, and yet make sure that Kazuki was warm enough to go out. The height and style difference between them was devastating.
Yuna couldn't help but feel like a mother letting go of her son when Jun finally said "we're leaving," as he opened the door for Kazuki to walk out first. However, after some minutes of silence and reflection, Yuna rushed to get her own wool hat and coat. She couldn't stay with her arms crossed like that. A little more peeking wouldn't hurt, right? It's what older sister figures would do!
She picked up her phone, scrolled down to a specific thing and smiled. This would be sweet.
"I can't see them yet… ah. Ah, there they are! Hold up, hold up…"
She hid between some trees and light posts, looking at them. The clouds made everything darker, of course, and the park had dim lighting, but she knew that trench coat and that fluffy hair like the palm of her hand.
"No, it's fine," she whispered. "They're simply standing there, talking about things- oh, Junhwannie is pointing up. There's no stars, why would he-"
Then it dawned on her, and she opened her eyes widely.
A few snowflakes had started to fall from the dark sky, and she couldn't help but let out a gasp, forgetting that she saw the weather forecast with Jun three days ago in advance. The sight was too beautiful, as the small drops fell softly from above and danced in spirals or straight to the ground. At first, it was just two. Then more, and more, and more…
"Yu-chan?"
"I… sorry- it started snowing…"
Her gaze went down from the sky again as she heard a shout; but what she saw was something out of a fairytale. Kazuki was staring in awe at the scenery and the two of them even took off their masks (thank goodness there was no one else, otherwise Yuna would've smacked their heads) as they paced around the grass and concrete with smiles on their faces. Kazuki had even stuck out his tongue in hopes to catch a snowflake, as Jun simply laughed at his antics with a smile that Yuna could only describe as tender.
"Look, Jun! It's snowing more!" Kazuki would shout, and then he would start swaying around, pretending to be in a movie scene.
Junhwan laughed when Kazuki offered his hand in a comically dramatic way, taking it so the both of them could dance under the snow. As they both were figure skaters, dancing wasn't hard at all. The silly dancing would soon turn into a tender waltz, Junhwan twirling Kazuki around in good fun, and Kazuki guiding Jun in his area of expertise: improvised choreography and charisma. The giggling could be heard all the way to Yuna's hideout as she simply watched the two young men waltzing under the first snow, all in silent awe.
And after a few minutes had passed, she hid more into the shadows casted by the trees, as they walked around the park, cheeks flushed from the dancing and fogged up glasses in Kazuki's case.
"It's the first snow," Jun said out loud, smiling princely like he always did, snowflakes tangling in his curls as he stretched his arms. "It's very important for us Koreans. You either make a wish under it, or tell a white lie, or… well…" he chuckled, visibly embarrassed. "You supposedly get away with everything and… um. I couldn't wait another year."
"Jun lie to me?" Kazuki asked, laughing. Jun also laughed.
"No! I wouldn't ever lie to you, hyung."
"Then… make a wish?"
They stopped walking. Jun looked down at the already snowy ground, and opened and closed his mouth a few times. He definitely was wording his thoughts over and over again. Kazuki turned around, and tilted his head at him.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, just… that the third myth is that if you spend the first snow with someone important, you'll be together for a long time," he exhaled, looking away sheepishly.
There was silence.
"A-and… I wanted you to see it with me. I… again. I wouldn't wait another year."
Kazuki was already blushing under the lights, but Yuna swore he was getting redder. "Really…? But if important… Jun-kun-"
"Jun is fine, remember-
"Jun, Jun s-should watch with important person…"
Yuna almost laughed out loud in despair. You haven't seen him these past months. Almost a year, even…
Jun licked his lips, looked around and cupped Kazuki's cheek with one of his gloved hands. "And you're the most important people in my life right now," he retorted, tilting his head to the side slowly. "You're everything to me, and…"
"J-Jun…?"
Jun scooted closer.
Yuna closed her eyes and smiled to herself. She knew better than that. Her Junhwannie would be in good hands. She silently turned around and left the place, without looking back.
As she walked past a more crowded place, everyone was staring at the snow in awe. Couples would be holding each other's arms, friends would be taking pictures, people would have their eyes closed while wishing for something and overall the climate would be one of expectations, dreams and the best love that was yet to come.
And what about Yuna? Well, she would reminisce about the times where she was just like Junhwan; anxiously waiting for the weather to announce snow to have an excuse to confess her feelings under the cloudy sky and the snowflakes around her.
"... Right?" she asked after voicing these thoughts out loud with a smile, adjusting her airpods as she leaned against a wall and looked at the falling snow with a smile.
The delicate voice at the other side of the line giggled. "You were a mess. Junhwan-kun seemed to be better than you were, if you ask me."
"Hey!"
More laughter. Shared laughter.
"I…" a stutter, "wish you were here."
"... Is that your first snow wish, Yu-chan?"
Yuna sighed. "Yeah…"
"Well, good for you. I have a free week after New Year, so I shall travel to Korea, then!"
Yuna wouldn't squeal or exclaim loudly as when she was younger, but that didn't stop her from smiling widely at the floor, feeling her own cheeks growing warm and her heart speeding up just like when everything began.
"You spoil me too much."
"Our anniversary was last week and I couldn't see you in person! This is the least I could do."
More silence. Kids playing, couples talking, cars rushing by.
"They'll be okay. You'll be okay."
"... I just miss you. For when we see each other again, we'll forget about the bad times, yes?"
A soft laugh akin to snow falling onto the grass echoed. It was almost as if she were there. "Sure!"
"And you better look only at me!"
"And I'll pick my prettiest hairpins, just like in the old times."
…
Another sigh, but it was a dreamy one, this time.
"I love you, Mao."
"And I love you, Yu-chan. Happy first snow."
Yuna nodded, smiling again. "Happy first snow."