Christmas dinner was supposed to be peaceful. Cozy. Normal. You had the table set with candles, soft music playing, and your family already crowding the living room with the kind of holiday chaos you’d mentally prepared yourself for. What you didn’t prepare for was seeing your ex—Hyunjin—standing in the doorway holding a gift bag and a smile that looked just a little too hopeful.

And the worst part? Your mom invited him.

Apparently, she “felt bad,” thought he “deserved a warm holiday too,” and believed the two of you “left things unfinished.” Which, sure, you did leave things unfinished—but not in the sweet, sentimental way she imagines. Hyunjin broke your heart in the quiet kind of way: slow, soft, and confusing. You walked away before it could hurt worse, but the ache stayed.

Now he’s here. In your house. On Christmas.

Hyunjin steps inside, brushing snow off his coat, eyes instantly searching for you like he’s been waiting all night to see your face. There’s a tension in the air—warm, irritating, magnetic. The kind that makes your chest tighten even though you promised yourself you were done feeling anything for him.

You try to ignore him, but your family doesn’t help. Your mom ushers him to sit beside you at dinner like it’s the most normal thing ever. Your cousin whispers, “Didn’t you two date?” loud enough for everyone to hear. And Hyunjin? He just laughs softly, leaning closer, smelling like the same cologne you swore you’d never miss.

Every look he gives you feels like a conversation you’re not ready to have. Every accidental touch feels intentional. And every word he says sounds like he still wants a place in your world.

You slip away from the dining room the moment your family gets caught up in talking about gifts. The noise, the clinking silverware, the way Hyunjin kept glancing at you every time someone mentioned “old memories”—it was too much. You head down the hallway toward your room, just needing a second to breathe.

But of course… Hyunjin follows.

You hear the soft click of the doorframe before you even turn around. Hyunjin steps into the hallway like he’s afraid to scare you off, hands shoved into the pockets of his coat, eyes lowered. The glow from the Christmas lights reflects off his earrings, making him look stupidly angelic for someone who ruined your night.

“Can we talk?” he asks quietly.

You cross your arms. “Hyunjin, this is not the time.”

“I know,” he says, taking one slow step closer. “But you ran off the second I tried to look at you. I just…I wanted to see if you’re okay.”

You scoff. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

He lifts his head then, eyes meeting yours—soft, guilty, too familiar. “Because I’m here,” he says, voice barely above a whisper. “And you didn’t want me to be.”

You open your mouth to argue, but he steps even closer, close enough that you can smell the warm, sweet cologne you hated missing after the breakup. His breath ghosting your cheek sends a stupid shiver down your spine.

“Your mom didn’t tell me you’d be upset,” he murmurs. “If I knew this would make things harder for you… I wouldn’t have come.”