„I…" *sigh* „I really like you!" Lan Sizhui smiled at him. "Well I know. I like you too. We are friends after all. Now excuse me, these snowmen won't build themselves." He skipped back towards his giant snowball leaving the other staring at his back with an open mouth.
"What was that?" A voice from next to him asked with a hint of amusement pulling the other out of his stunned state. "Does he really not get it?" Lan Jingyi sounded exhausted. "I don't know. I've tried myself and he always says something along those lines." Jin Ling answered with a shrug.
"What are you two doing staring so intensely at Sizhui?" Zizhens voice so close behind them made them jump. "Man this boy. Just yesterday I told him I like him more than a friend and he was like 'A best friend, right?' and continued with his snowman. I don't know how much clearer I have to become with him." "You too?" The other boys exclaimed in surprise. "Oh, that's why you are staring at him." Zizhen rubbed his neck. "I don't know what's up with him. Always being so clueless. Maybe he's not into guys or relationships in general?" "Oh he definitely wants someone by his side. Whenever he sees Hanguang-Jun and Wei Wuxian together he exclaims he wants something like this. But I'm not sure if he means romantically." Jingyi shrugged. "Maybe he values our friendship more than a romantic relationship." Jin Ling added. "Or yeah, he's just not into one of us." "Or he can't decide!" Zizhen exclaimed laughing. "As if the decision would be difficult!" Jin Ling bantered. "Man, I was so nervous when I told him that and for what? Guess we are all in the friendzone." "Looks like it. We should get going before he notices us staring. Besides, Lan Qiren asked us to decorate the main hall so we better get going." The other two groaned. At least the Christmas celebrations where near.
"Oh look a mistletoe!" Sizhui exclaimed as he stood underneath it. "To bad I'm under it alone." The three other boys facepalmed themselves behind him. Another great chance wasted. "One of us has to leave with him on the way out. I volunteer." Jingyi whispered. "You wish!" Jin Ling hissed back. "Rock-paper-scissors?" Zizhen suggested. "Rock-paper-scissors."
"I won suckers!" Jin Ling shouted making Sizhui turn around. "What are you playing without me?" "Oh nothing." Jin Ling said smiling brightly following him into the main hall. Zizhen and Jingyi both took a step forward coming to a halt immediately. "I don't want to go in with you. Did you forget the mistletoe?" "I did not. I just didn't want you to go in first." Jingyi answered challenging. "Rock-paper-scissors?" "Rock-paper-scissors."
"Are you through with your meal? I want to show you lot something." Sizhui asked in a low voice. The other boys looked up in surprise. "What is it?" Jingyi couldn't suppress his excitement. "Wait and see." Sizhui said with a wink turning back to his own table. "Did... did he just wink at me?" Jingyi stammered in a hushed voice, feeling heat creep up his neck. "Zizhen chuckled and Jin Ling just rolled his eyes. "Don't forget, I will leave with him." "Chill we didn't forget."
"Can we?" "One second, I have to finish my dessert." Jingyi said between two spoons of ice cream. "This is your third serving, get it together!" "Don't bug me Jin Ling!" he pouted. "Alright, finished." Jin Ling shot up from his place, obviously not able to wait any longer. "Let's go Sizhui!" He almost dragged the other towards the exit. About a meter away Sizhui came to a halt. "Ah, I forgot something. Can you wait outside for me?" Without waiting for an answer, he turned around leaving a desperate and disappointed Jin Ling behind. The other two boys could barely contain their laughter. He shot them an angry glance and stomped outside, passing the mistletoe alone.
"Fuck." Jingyi cursed behind him. He turned around seeing Zizhen and Jingyi underneath the green branch. Now was his turn to laugh. "Serves you right! Now kiss!" "Just on the cheek, ok?" Zizhen mumbled turning his head. Jingyi sighted planting the lightest and quickest kiss onto Zizhens face. "That barely counted but I'll let you get away with it this time." Jin Ling was still laughing.
A few minutes later Sizhui hurried towards them. "Alright, let's go." They followed him towards the clearing where Jingyi tried to confess to Sizhui just this morning. It was almost pitch black. "We are here." Sizhui exclaimed. "So, what is the surprise? I can't see anything." "Don't be so impatient Jin Ling!" You could hear the smile in Sizhui's voice. He ignited a fire talisman sending the flame forward and suddenly the whole clearing lit up. Small paper lanterns were hung everywhere emitting a soft light. "Wow." Zizhen exclaimed. "Turn around." Sizhui ordered. The boys did as they were told. "Sizhui… It's gorgeous." Jin Ling was almost speechless. In front of them was a group of snowmen, all build by Sizhui throughout the last days. They looked just like them, smiling and hugging each other. All around them where white rabbits both real and made from snow. "You did that for us?" Jingyi managed to take his eyes away from the sculptures. "Of course. You all mean so much to me." Sizhui smiled. "Awww." Zizhen embraced him in a warm hug and the others followed him. They stood there for a moment, afraid to let go again and ending this moment earlier than necessary.
"Did you look up jet?" The embrace muffled Sizhui's voice but everyone heard him clearly. One after another, they lifted their heads. Staring at what was above them. "For whom did you hang it there?" "All of you I guess…" his voice mere a shy whisper. Three pairs of eyes looked at him surprised. "Why do you look at me like this?" His cheeks where flushed red. "Did you really think I would be able to choose one of you?" he paused. "I guess I am selfish asking for you all…" he trailed of. "Honestly, yes you are." Sizhui locked eyes with Jin Ling. "But I don't mind. It's the first time you ever where." The smile on his face was contagious and Sizhui's worried expression finally faded again. Jin Ling looked at the other two who still seemed to be in shock. "What about you?" Jingyi snapped out of his dazed state. "Yeah well, I guess you aren't too bad." "Thanks, what a compliment." Jin Ling teased. "I guess you aren't too bad either." They grinned at each other. "What about you Zizhen?" "I'm still processing. But I guess I minded Jingyi's kiss back then a lot less than I thought I would…" "No one can resist my charms." "Which charms dickhead?" Jin Ling asked grinning earning a stuck out tongue. "All right, I'm in." Zizhen finally exclaimed. Sizhui let out a breath he did not know he was holding.
"May I go first?" Jin Ling asked with a chuckle. "You may." Sizhui smiled.
Jin Ling leaned in. Slowly, savoring every second. The moment was far from what he imagined his first kiss to be, but it was still perfect. He felt Sizhui's shallow breaths on his skin, the warm embrace all around him and then soft lips brush against his own. The kiss was careful, tender and jet so sweet. He did not want it to end like ever. But someone nudged him from the side. "It's my turn now." Zizhen leant in replacing Jin Ling almost instantly. His lips where a little chapped making the kiss a little less gentle than the one before but Sizhui thought it was just as sweet. "Why did he get to go second?" Jingyi grumbled at the side. "Don't be jealous Jingyi." Jin Ling teased. You can give me my second one." Before he had the time to complain Jin Ling pulled him in planting a firm kiss onto his lips. He was way bolder than he had been with Sizhui. In his eyes Jingyi was a lot less fragile than Sizhui, making him be rougher. Their kiss was interrupted by two chuckles. "This is going way better than I had even dared to dream." Sizhui whispered. Jingyi and Jin Ling parted smiling at each other. "May I kiss you now?" Sizhui asked smiling. The answer to his question where Jingyi's lips on his own. The kiss was deeper than the two before but tender nether the less. He could feel the embrace shift around them, indicating that Jin Ling and Zizhen where kissing as well. Sizhui wished for this moment to never end. Being held by his favorite people in the world without a sign of letting go. The warmth surrounding his body in contrast to the cold air gently blowing through his hair. The tender kisses from all sides. It was like in a fairytale but real. The best Christmas he ever had and the best present he had been so afraid to ask for.