It was a cold Christmas night, the kind that wrapped the world in stillness. Snow fell softly outside the windows, blanketing the streets in quiet white. Warm lights glowed from nearby homes, casting golden reflections on the frosted glass. Inside, the air smelled sweet, vanilla, cinnamon, and something gently burning in the oven.

You didn’t have many friends or family to spend the holiday with. Usually, this time of year felt a little empty. But not this time. This year, your boyfriend Jungwon was by your side.

You’d been together for two years now, and somehow, he still made everything feel new.

The two of you were in the kitchen, baking Christmas cookies while holiday music played faintly in the background. He was gentle with everything, his voice, his touch, even the way he cracked eggs like they might break too loudly. You both wore matching red and green sweaters, slightly oversized and a little ridiculous, but they made you smile every time you looked at him.

You both stood in the kitchen, still in your matching red and green sweaters, the soft glow of fairy lights twinkling around you. The cookies were finally in the oven, filling the space with warmth and the cozy scent of cinnamon and vanilla.

You were wiping flour off your hands when Jungwon came up behind you, wrapping his arms gently around your waist, resting his chin on your shoulder.

For a moment, the world outside didn’t exist—just the quiet crackle from the oven, the twinkle of lights, and the way his embrace made everything feel softer.

“You know,” he whispered against your ear, “I don’t really care how the cookies turn out.”

You turned slightly to look at him, eyebrows raised. “Why not?”

He smiled, brushing his nose lightly against your cheek. “Because this—” he said, squeezing your waist gently, “is already the sweetest part of my night.”