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Gyuvin met his online boyfriend of a year in real life for the first time two days before Christmas. They chose to spend it together. In hindsight, the idea was terrible, spending an important holiday with a loved one that you had never physically met before. But for Gyuvin, it felt like the smartest idea he had ever had.
Ricky was supposed to arrive at Gyuvin's house at 3:40 pm, but he was a minute late, which caused Gyuvin to spiral for exactly one minute, thinking what if he wasn't turning up. He tripped over a string of Christmas lights that hadn't fully been set up but were still plugged in. A stream of curses fell from his lips, but he took a deep breath before saying out loud to no one in particular, “Get a hold of yourself self Kim Gyuvin.”
His words of encouragement were of no help to him when the doorbell rang. Gyuvin froze in place for what felt like hours, but was only 20 seconds at most before almost tripping over the same Christmas lights to get to the door. He swung the door open and took in the sight before him.
Ricky stood there with snow frosting his hair, a scarf that looked far too expensive for the weather, and a small gift wrapped neatly tucked under his arm. He looked exactly like Gyuvin had imagined, even though they had video-called countless times, but also like a scene straight from a stupid Hallmark movie come to life.
“Hi,” Ricky said with the purest smile on his face. Gyuvin forgot how words were supposed to be formed, the inside of his brain a monkey crashing two cymbals together. “A hello would be nice, Qubing.” Gyuvin finally came around to his senses, shaking his head visibly, not caring if he looked dumb. “Hi, Ricky.” Gyuvin finally breathed out.
There was a pause after that, the kind that stretches into awkward silence. If Gyuvin had any sense, he would just let Ricky inside his house instead of making him face the cold air for much longer than necessary. Instead, Gyuvin speaks again, “Do I hug you,” he began very sincerely, “shake your hand, or slam the door in your face?”
Ricky looked offended, like someone had just told him his outfit was ugly. “Shake my hand? Gyuvin, we are dating.” He didn't know if Gyuvin was serious, but he couldn’t sense any ounce of joking in his tone, and his face looked the most serious he had ever seen it. “So I should go back inside?” Gyuvin now had the widest smile on his face, knowing he had successfully managed to fool Ricky into thinking he was serious. Maybe he was serious for a second.
Gyuvin held his arms out to embrace Ricky in a hug that both of them needed after not seeing each other in person before, but wanting to touch each other since they had first met online through an online chat room.
The snow began to fall harder outside, drowning Ricky's dark hair in shades of white, and it no longer looked like it was just frosted. Gyuvin finally let go and stepped aside, motioning Ricky to enter his house. Ricky jumped at the opportunity, and Gyuvin softly closed the door behind them, welcoming their first Christmas together as IRL boyfriends.
Ricky barely made it three steps into Gyuvin's hallway to his living room before Gyuvin spoke loudly. “You're not allowed to judge anything you see in here.” Ricky glanced at the Christmas tree leaning like it had opinions, the ornaments were not matching at all, the tree lights were barely holding on, and there was a figurine of a reindeer that was missing an antler.
“I'll judge silently,” he said, barely holding back laughter. “That's worse.” Ricky smiled affectionately, slipping off his coat with a careful precision as if the coat was made of gold. He looked far too put-together to be standing in Gyuvin's home, which was filled to the brim with chaos and the scent of hot chocolate.
Gyuvin disappeared into the kitchen and brought out a mug of hot chocolate in a strawberry design mug. Ricky took note of this, wondering if he bought it because of Ricky or if he already had this mug. Gyuvin shoved the warm mug into his hands, motioning for him to take a drink, “Before you make any more comments, try this.”
Ricky took a careful sip, his face showing his surprise a little too honestly. “Okay, this is good.” Gyuvin's face lit up as bright as the skewed Christmas lights decorating his tree. “At least I'm capable of some things.” Ricky laughed softly and sank down on the couch, his legs crossing like he belonged there as part of the furniture. Gyuvin dropped down next to him, shoulder bumping into Ricky's slightly as if it was normal to be this close together.
Ricky reached out to adjust an ornament on the tree that had slid sideways. “Your tree is a little crooked.”
“It's called having personality.”
“It's dramatic,” Ricky laughed. “I respect it.” Gyuvin snorted and leaned further back into the couch, stretching his arms across the top of the couch. “You flew all this way to dog on my decorations?” Ricky turned to face him. “I flew all this way because you said Christmas hits different in person; I had to verify.”
“And?” Gyuvin awaited his response with bated breath, as if it were the most important thing in the world; to him, it was the most important thing in the world. Ricky's expression was soft as he responded honestly. “Verified.”
A Christmas movie was playing on the TV, which was completely ignored. Gyuvin would narrate the whole film anyway as if he was living the scenes himself, Ricky just listened as if this was exactly how he expected Gyuvin to be, a loser just like he was online. At some point, Ricky had stopped listening, entertained by the small gifts under the tree and picked up one that had his name written on it. He shook it gently, trying to gauge what was inside.
Gyuvin gasped as if he was ruining the joy of Christmas. “Ricky, don’t.”
“It's socks,” Ricky said calmly.
“No, it's not.”
“It's socks-adjacent.” Gyuvin lunged towards him. Ricky was laughing so hard he barely dodged the sudden attack. They ended up in a tangled position on the couch, Ricky half reclined, Gyuvin leaning over him, staring into his eyes, grinning like he had won a gold medal. “You're a loser,” Ricky said matter-of-factly. “You like it.”
Ricky didn't argue; he just rested a hand at Gyuvin’s waist, casual but grounding as it had always been there. Gyuvin relaxed instantly into his touch. The energy of the room felt warm and steady, like it was only the two of them in the entire world.
They don't know who leaned in first, but one moment they're staring at each other and the next minute their lips are pressed together in a soft kiss. The type that's filled with love and trust. They pulled away from each other but kept their faces close and their bodies even closer. “Our first Christmas together,” Ricky thought out loud. Gyuvin hummed in response. “The first of many.”
Ricky looked up at him, smiling warmly. His eyes were full of love and appreciation. “I told you it hits different.” Gyuvin smiled widely before leaning in to press a kiss to Ricky’s cheek softly. Ricky felt his heart swell in the moment. Gyuvin felt everything had finally slotted into place; being here with him was right.
Hours had passed, and the house went still with the warmth and homely vibe the pair exuberated. The movie had long since ended, the credits rolled unnoticed, and the world outside was darker than when Ricky first arrived.
Gyuvin was half-asleep, slouched comfortably against Ricky, one arm wrapped over his waist without thought. Ricky’s fingers were tracing slow and absent patterns into Gyuvin’s arm, only making the boy sleepier.
“This feels nice,” Gyuvin murmurs, voice full of sleep. Ricky hums in agreement. “Isn't that how everything feels when you're tired?”
“Not true,” Gyuvin says. “I usually complain more when I'm tired.” Ricky smiles, pressing a light kiss to the top of Gyuvin's head. You're right, you do.” They lay like that, breathing in sync like nothing else in the world mattered. Outside, the snow was still falling in a perfect rhythm.
Gyuvin shifts slightly to get more comfortable, tucking his head closer to Ricky's neck. “Next year,” He says barely above a breath but loud enough for Ricky to hear. “We should do this again.” Normally, Ricky would tease him, make a light joke, but he feels like being sincere this time. He nods slowly, thumb brushing over Gyuvin's arm. “Absolutely,” He agrees before their breathing becomes so settled that they fall asleep together on the couch. And once again, the world feels like it's just built for them and no one else to feel each other's warmth and love.