AN: Hi everyone! Here's a special Christmas three-shot for the holidays! I'll be uploading one chapter a day. There might be a couple spoilers for the end of Breaking the Cycle (BTC), which shares the same universe as this fic, as well as the Mystic Messenger Christmas DLC. So, if you haven't read that yet, please check it out! It's on my profile. As for the DLC, please play it...

❆ Christmas Eve - 9:46 AM ❆

Zai didn't like Christmas very much. It wasn't like she thought there was anything wrong with the holiday, but that was all it was to her, a holiday. She enjoyed the time she got off from school, and spending time with her acquaintances from class, but otherwise? There was nothing too remarkable about the season. In fact, she would rather stay at home and pretend the world outside didn't exist during those days. Everywhere she went, there would be happy people, couples, families. It seemed like everyone but her was out enjoying the snowy weather. A frustrated noise escaping past her lips, she buried her head further beneath her blankets and pulled out her phone.

No new messages.

The brightness was much too high for such a dark and enclosed space, but if she tried, she could pretend to convince herself that her tears were from the painful light and not because of her parents forgetting to wish her a Merry Christmas for the second year in a row. Opening her contacts, she scrolled down to their phone numbers and dialed her mother first.

"Come on... please, please, just this once, answer your phone. Pick up...please!"

"Sorry, I'm not here right now! If your inquiries are business related, please drop me an email at-" The rest of the familiar message blurred away as she waited for the beep at the end.

"...Hi Mom! I- uh...I just wanted to see how you and Dad are doing? I heard work is going really well with your new clientele." She paused for a second to wipe her eyes. "Also, there's um, there's been something I wanted to ask you two! I mean, I know you both send me texts sometimes, but you, ah, never...reply to my calls for some reason. I...was hoping you two could come visit." Empty silence was her response, and Zai felt her insides twist into knots.

"A-anyways! Sorry for wasting your time! I know you're both busy, so I won't send Dad a message either." Smothering a teary hiccup with her palm, she did her best to finish strong. "I miss you guys...talk to you later." She ended the message and let her head fall against her pillow with a sob.

"Or don't, I guess..." Zai rolled over onto her stomach before shoving her face into the soft cushions.

It's not like you two miss me at all.

❆ Christmas Eve - 12:22 PM ❆

Sinking into the soft upholstery of the booth, Zai exhaled long and slow as she cradled her hot chocolate close to her chest. She hadn't wanted to go outside today, but with school out of session, there weren't enough students on campus to warrant usage of the kitchen facilities. Therefore, she'd had to find lunch elsewhere. Unfortunately, 'lunch' had turned into 'self-indulgent pity party' as she went about ordering every extravagant-looking dessert on the menu instead of getting real food. She was already about halfway through her fourth crepe when a commotion broke out a few tables away from her.

"Is that-!?"

"Yes, it is!"

"Oh my goodness, look at that ring!"

"It must have cost a fortune! You're so lucky!"

"I know! I'm just so lucky to have such an incredible fiancé! Oh- oh! I can say that now! He's my fiancé!"

Apparently, someone had gotten engaged. Zai tried not to let the sting of envy infect her. She should be happy for that woman. It wasn't every day that you found someone who was willing to share their life with you for the rest of the foreseeable future.

Sighing, she sank down even further and crammed the remains of the fudge-drizzled crepe into her mouth before asking for the bill.

On the way home, she contemplated every couple she passed, eyes scanning for anyone wearing a ring, which was unlikely, considering the weather. Zai absently wondered what it would be like to date someone. She was already in her twenties but had yet to meet anyone who had come even close to gaining her interest romantically. Maybe she just wasn't trying hard enough. After all, she spent a lot of time studying for her degree, and even in her last year of college, she couldn't think of a single person who had remained her friend through her entire school career.

Wow, her life was so boring.

Unlocking the door to her apartment, she ignored how barren her living space was and went directly back towards her bed. Upon checking her phone, she found no new messages. Flopping backward onto her thick duvet, she pushed all thoughts of her absent parents out of her mind and tried to imagine what it would be like, being in a relationship with someone.

Would they go out on a lot of dates? She couldn't see herself doing stereotypical coupley stuff with anyone. Things like movies and romantic walks in the park didn't interest her. Perhaps they would spend an afternoon just relaxing in bed, reading to each other. Or they could go out for coffee and sit outside while enjoying the weather.

Zai hummed, she'd need to find someone to date before she could make those particular fantasies come true. If she were being honest with herself, her current social situation left a lot to be desired. She hated to admit it, but she was lonely. If she wasn't sleeping, she was studying, and if she wasn't studying, she was eating. She didn't leave the campus unless it was for food, and every time her peers had invited her out for drinks, she'd declined, even when she had nothing to do that evening. Why was she such a shut-in?

All things considered, maybe she was making a big deal out of nothing. So what if she hadn't found anyone yet. She was still young, she had time and there were plenty of available people out there who would gladly wait for her until she was ready to make those kinds of commitments. Plus, there was the fact that she was still in school.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and resolved to make the best of the remainder of her senior year. But for now, she was going to sleep. Today was a holiday after all.

❆ Christmas Eve - 08:13 PM ❆

She woke up much too early in her opinion. Although it was already nighttime when she roused herself from slumber, she was still tired. Regardless, she forced herself out of bed and out of the house for the second time that day, facing the horror of crowded department stores and screaming mothers with their crying children, as well as disgruntled fathers and anxious men, all trying to get their significant others late Christmas presents. Thankfully, Zai had already ordered her parcel ahead of time and just had to provide her receipt in order to pick it up.

After waiting nearly forever in line, almost crushed between someone's stack of boxes and another person's pile of 'Holiday Savings', she finally made it to the counter to retrieve her package.

"Here you go! Have a Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays!" She was already trying to dash away and avoid the swarm of people gathering by the time the clerk had said goodbye, but she tried to shout her thanks over the crowd anyways before all but sliding out the door with relief. Clutching the simply wrapped box against her body, she skillfully navigated her way back home before collapsing behind the door. With an excited giggle, she ran to her bedroom and bounced on her mattress once before delicately removing the generic winter-patterned paper and removing the lid. From the box, she extracted a custom-made cream cashmere sweater. Letting out a breathless gasp at the sight of the pristine fabric, she hastily removed her old sweater, which had gone from a bright purple to a washed-out mauve over the years, and put it on.

Jumping up, she ran to the closest mirror and shook with delight as she admired herself. The sweater fit her perfectly, with some extra room added around the neck and arms to make it easier to put on and take off without damaging it. All in all? An immaculate piece of clothing. It had cost a small fortune too. She'd only been able to afford it by setting aside a tiny portion of her monthly checks for the past year and a half.

Wrapping her arms around her middle, she tried not to cry as she thought about her parents once more. It was obvious that they still cared about her, otherwise why bother sending money to their daughter living in Korea each month? She could always get a job to pay for college, but if they were going to send her checks in the mail each month, she'd rather focus all her time on school. Slowly walking back to her room, she sat down on the edge of her mattress and stared blankly at her phone. What if they were just trying to keep her off their backs? Maybe they thought that if they kept paying for her necessities, she wouldn't have a reason to bother them. Sniffling quietly, she lied down on her side and tried to fall asleep, but was startled when her phone started ringing.

"Wha-?" Pressing the answer button, she held the device up to her ear, not knowing what to expect.

"Hello? Zai?" Tears spring to her eyes as she realized just whose voice was being projected through the speaker.

"Mom!?"