Legendary Superstar-Chapter 170: New Year Had Begun

After finishing most of their meal, Jihoon clapped his hands excitedly. He looked like a kid, excited for Christmas.

"Okay, okay! Time for presents!" he announced out loud. He quickly went to the small Christmas tree that he had built in the corner. He knelt on the ground and took something from underneath it.

"You actually prepared a gift for us?" Yura leaned back on her arms, chuckling in amusement. "I'm surprised."

"Of course I did, Noona." Jihoon smiled with full confidence before handing her a small paper bag with her name written in messy letters.

"To our lovely noona who bullies me every day." Yura snorted as she read the small letter with it. However, she still accepted it with an open heart, knowing that behind those words was Jihoon's care.

"How touching." Yura sighed and said it in a sarcastic tone.

Jihoon then turned to Minjae. He reached back under the tree again and pulled out another gift. Now, it was a rectangular box, wrapped clumsily in glossy blue paper with a silver bow that looked like it had been murdered.

"And this," Jihoon declared, holding it up like it was a grand prize, "is for you, Minjae hyung."

Minjae raised an eyebrow as he accepted the box. "It looks like it had been murdered, Jihoon-ssi."

"That's so bad, hyung." Jihoon scoffed, placing a hand over his chest as if he was hurt by it. "I'll have to let you know that I spent ten whole minutes wrapping that. I used my blood, sweat, and tears." He uttered exaggeratedly that putting on a sigh at Minjae.

"I'll just pretend not to hear that," Minjae uttered as he examined the lopsided corners of the box.

Yura chuckled from the side, already peeking at the handles of her paper bag, eager to see what ridiculous thing Jihoon might have picked.

But before she could open it, Jihoon quickly held out his hands, stopping them.

"Wait! Don't open them yet!" he said, almost panicking. "We're opening gifts together, okay? We have to do it at the same time. It's the rule."

"Who made that rule?" Yura asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"I did, just now," Jihoon grinned cheekily. "So, both of you, just wait. I want to receive my gift first. Noona and Hyung got one for me, right?"

Jihoon waited expectantly, his hands clasped together and eyes wide with anticipation. His gaze flickered between Minjae and Yura, practically bouncing on the balls of his feet as he waited.

But there was only silence.

Yura took a long sip from her drink, staring off into the middle distance like she hadn't heard him.

Minjae also rubbed the back of his neck, as if his answer was that there was nothing.

Jihoon blinked. "Wait… wait, don't tell me… You guys didn't get me anything?"

"Nope." Yura finally turned to him, her eyes serious.

"You didn't say anything about gifts." Minjae gave him a small shrug.

The sparkle in Jihoon's eyes dulled slowly.

"Are you serious?" he asked in disbelief, his voice cracking ever so slightly.

"Sorry, Jihoon-ssi," Yura said with exaggerated sympathy, placing a hand on her chest. "You'll just have to wait until next year. Maybe we'll remember you then."

Jihoon slumped dramatically onto the couch like the world had ended for him.

"This is betrayal. This is actual betrayal."

"Don't be so dramatic," Minjae said calmly, though he was clearly amused by the scene.

Jihoon let out the most exaggerated sigh of the night, head thrown back. "You're so mean Hyung."

Yura rolled her eyes but smiled. She reached behind her, grabbing her bag from earlier and pulling out two neatly wrapped packages. "Fine, fine. I was just messing with you."

"Wait—seriously?" Jihoon immediately perked up, now back to his energetic self."

"Of course," she said, handing one to him and the other to Minjae. "I'm not that heartless."

Jihoon nearly gasped as he took the gift, clearly happy.

"Noona… I misjudged you. Maybe you're not the villain in my life after all."

"I might take it back," she threatened, narrowing her eyes.

"No, no! I love it already!" Jihoon hugged the gift to his chest protectively.

Minjae held his with a soft chuckle, looking down at the simple, clean wrapping. "Thanks, Yura. You didn't have to."

"Yeah, I know," she said casually. "But I wanted to."

Minjae smiled faintly. He remained quiet for a moment before reaching to the side and pulling out a small paper bag that he had discreetly tucked beneath the couch earlier.

"…Here," Minjae said, placing it in front of them both. "It's nothing much."

"You got us gifts too, Hyung?" Jihoon asked, genuinely surprised.

"Woah, thanks, Oppa." Yura happily uttered.

Jihoon reached into the paper bag with both hands, eager.

"Let's open it now!" He said, excited to know wat Minjae had gotten them.

In an instant, Jihoon pulled out the cap, pausing for a second as he examined how it looks. It has a goofy little drawing in front of what looked like a confused cat wearing sunglasses, its tongue sticking out.

A beat of silence passed.

Then, he burst out laughing.

"Oh my god—Hyung! This is so stupid!" Jihoon wheezed, already pulling it over his head. It fit perfectly. "I love it."

This put on a small smile on Minjae's face.

"You're always wearing caps. Figured I'd get you one."

"I'm honored, hyung," Jihoon beamed. "I really like it."

Yura didn't waste any moment and also reached into the bag in her hand. She carefully unwrapped the small box inside. When she opened it, she froze for just a second. Resting inside was a silver bracelet. It was simple with a fine chain and a small charm at the center.

Her fingers hovered above it for a moment before gently lifting it out.

"Woah…" she said softly, the teasing tone gone was now gone in her voice.

"I know it's nothing fancy," Minjae said, shrugging his shoulders. "But I thought it suited you. It looks elegant but not too flashy."

Yura stared at the bracelet, her lips curling into a warm, genuine smile.

"It's beautiful, Oppa," she said, slipping it on her hands. "Thank you, Oppa."

Jihoon leaned in closer to inspect it. "Wow. That's actually… really nice. Why is her gift better than mine, hyung? I'm so jealous!"

"Shut up, Jihoon-ssi" Minjae said, as he rolled his eyes.

Jihoon just chuckled before looking at them.

"Now it's my turn!" Jihoon declared, asking them to open the gifts that he brought them.

"I put a lot of thought into your gifts, just so you know."

Minjae gave him a wary look, while Yura rolled her eyes.

Yura opened her paper bag first. Inside was a pink hoodie.

"…" Yura glared at Jihoon.

She wasn't fond of bright colors. freēnovelkiss.com

"I know noona, it's good."

Yura groaned, but the amused smile betrayed her. "You're such an idiot." She held up the hoodie anyway. "But I'll wear it." She sighed.

"Good, Noona."

Jihoon's gaze, then turned to Minjae.

Minjae hesitated slightly before opening his box. Inside was a pair of cozy-looking black house slippers with the tiniest animated characters on the side. One looked suspiciously like a grumpy potato, the other like a smug dumpling.

"What… is this?" Minjae blinked. "

Jihoon leaned forward eagerly. "House slippers, hyung! The print of it looked cute so I bought them."

Minjae looked at him, then at the slippers, then back at him.

"…They're kind of ridiculous." He sighed.

"They're cute!" Jihoon beamed.

But Minjae's lips twitched into a smile as he slid his feet into them. They were absurd. But also, really comfortable.

They opened Yura's gift next. The two of them got a pair of mugs in geometric shapes that looked funny and cool.

The room became filled with soft laughter, the kind that lingered in the air even after it quieted. The kind that meant something.

"Hahahaha, this is so good, Noona."

"Thanks, Yura."

The room fell into a comfortable again, the kind that only settles between people who feel at home around one another.

The rest of the night slipped by easily. They cleared the table, turned down the lights, and threw on an old holiday movie that none of them really paid attention to. Jihoon poured a couple of drinks, not enough for them to get drunk, but just enough to let their laughter flow more freely.

At some point, Jihoon fell asleep on the floor, half-covered in a blanket, snoring quietly with a cookie still in his hand. Yura sat curled up on one end of the couch, dozing off midway through their second movie.

Minjae stayed awake the longest, his gaze wandering around the dim, warm-lit room. Though he didn't stay much longer. At 4 am, he woke up the two. It was still early, but he didn't want to sleep in Jihoon's apartment.

- - -

New Year's Eve arrived not long after.

In Korea, New Year's was often celebrated with friends and family. A lot chose to visit their hometowns and spend time with family. Elders were given formal bows as a sign of respect, and traditional foods like tteokguk, a rice cake soup were served.

Eating it symbolized turning a year older.

For those in the city, like the three of them, the night was simple.

Yura, Jihoon, and Minjae gathered again at Jihoon's apartment again. They ate some traditional food as part of their culture and enjoyed some drinks.

"To another year," Jihoon mumbled, clinking his cup against theirs.

"To us," Yura also added with a tired smile.

Minjae didn't say much. He just lifted his cup and nodded at them.

A new year had begun.

It also meant that their drama's airing date was arriving soon.