They disembarked from the plane and waited in the baggage claim area to collect their suitcase. Lydia was nervous. They were staying with the Yangs for Christmas and that meant she would be seeing Christian exactly one month after the incident. They hadn't spoken since then. As many times as she had written a message, she had deleted it just before sending it. Crystal had told her that her brother had started working and that he was looking for a small apartment to move out of his parents' house but she didn't find out if he had already moved. When their father picked up their suitcase, they proceeded to the exit. She stayed behind them with Danae beside her. She hadn't dared to tell her about the kiss but she had a feeling she knew. 

They saw Crystal's father, Yang Jong Suk, in the distance and their mother greeted him. He as soon as he noticed them headed towards them and took their suitcase. 

"Welcome. Did you have a good trip?" He asked them as he led them to his car. 

He was alone to fit them in the car, so her father sat in the passenger seat so he could chat with him. Lydia found herself sitting in the middle of the back seat and chose to look out Danae's window at the changing scenery. She was silent which was unusual for her but neither her mother nor her sister commented on it.

When they arrived home they were greeted by Hannah along with Crystal. The two girls ran to hug their friend and the three of them started jumping around.

"Come on, let's go inside, it's cold." Hannah said to them, hugging Lydia by the shoulders. 

They obeyed her and followed her inside. Lydia looked around enchanted. As always, the house was stunning as usual. A Christmas dollhouse that had come to life. She took off her shoes and put them in the case, taking slippers from the basket Aunt Hannah kept by the door. At the end of the large living room, where Uncle Jong-suk had his armchair in front of the balcony door, a huge tree full of crystal ornaments and ribbons had been placed. At the base of it large porcelain dolls were set up and a beautiful doll's house stood beside them which she knew Aunt Hannah had made. On the window sill clay houses were arranged in rows and between them lights and pine garlands completed the decoration. Beside the sofas were pots of Alexandrine and on the modern fireplace were cute porcelain Christmas ornaments among which were two little children who seemed to be singing carols. The banister of the staircase leading to the second floor was decorated with mistletoe. 

They followed Crystal to the second floor and Aunt Hannah divided them into rooms. Her parents were to stay in the guest room, Danae with Krystal and she was given Christian's room.

"Why not sleep in the room with the girls. I can make myself comfortable on the floor?" She asked.

"Since we have space now, why squeeze in?" She answered her by opening the door to his room.

"Shall I sleep in Aaron's room then?" 

Crystal pushed her into the room and set the backpack down on her brother's bed. 

"Because I've made Aaron's room a storage room." She explained before her mother could answer. "Christian lives in his own apartment now anyway. And he'll only come over for dinner. Get ready, we're going for a walk." She added and left her alone, pulling her mother out of the room. 

Lydia looked around the room. She had been in Christian's room several times but he was always with him and now without his presence it made her feel like an intruder. She toured the room. His things were still there. She opened his closet and his scent flooded it making her heart beat faster. She closed it and leaned against her. She had made a decision. She wouldn't risk their friendship for a feeling that was most likely to be one sided so she had to learn to control her feelings towards him. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. 

Danae turned and looked at mother and daughter when the door closed behind them. 

"What are you trying to do?" She asked them in a whisper though she didn't need an answer.

She saw her mother enter Crystal's room as well. 

"Did she accept it?" She asked Hannah.

"And you Brutus?" Her daughter commented and she gave her a wide smile. 

"They need to talk." Crystal explained simply to her and began to get ready for their exit. 

"Is Aaron's room really a storage room now?" Danae wanted to make sure because she was sure her little sister would check it out. 

"I put whatever I found in the house that was left over." Hannah assured her in a confessional tone and got her best friend arm in arm to leave the room.

"I don't believe you!" Resigned Danae whose own opinion was to let them work it out on their own. 

Christian sat at the piano that had just that day been placed in Kevin's café and played a sad melody. His friend was behind the counter arranging glasses and cups. It was a big decision to open his own brunch café and he had asked Christian to help him with the design and decoration. From the beginning he had fallen in love with the large space of the shop with its red brick and concrete ceiling. Christian had made the most of these elements and had combined them harmoniously with metal, wood, old kitchenware and plants to turn it into a beautiful corner where you could drink your coffee and escape from reality at the same time. He had made his own lamps from old jars. He had painted two walls black and painted comic books on one and flowers on the other. He had divided a section with an asymmetrical bookcase made of wood and old railings and had placed two large tables and a smaller one, creating a space suitable for student meetings. In the rest of the space he had placed tables and chairs different from each other but so matching. On the red brick wall he had hung a bicycle and in its basket he had placed a pot with a lush green plant whose thin branches created a beautiful green waterfall. The counter was of dark wood and on it were metal shelves with copper old cups that had been turned into pots, along with metal milk cans. The bottom of the counter had a refrigerator with a display case where Kevin intended to place the pastries he was preparing for sale. And with Hannah, after so many years of working in foreign kitchens, having accepted to be the head of his kitchen he feared nothing. 

Lydia, Danae and Crystal entered the shop and looked around in surprise. It was a very beautiful place. Lydia's eyes fell directly on Christian. He was wearing sweatpants and his hair fell in a mess in front of his forehead. His long fingers danced on the black and white keys. The melody he was playing was melancholy. She could tell he wasn't playing it corectly but he didn't care. He was only playing for himself. Danae walked over to him, hugged him and sat down next to him. They said something and laughed and then started playing a duet like they used to when they were together. Lydia looked at them for a moment and then walked over to Kevin to greet him. One of Yang's friend and old classmates. He as always gave her a hug and lifting her up he made her turn around their axis. Then without letting her out of his arms he turned to Crystal. 

"Crystal Killian is here too. He's in the kitchen putting things away." She then waved at him and entered the area where they had set up the kitchen. 

"It turned out beautifully, Kevin. When are you thinking of opening it?"

"Hopefully tomorrow. I've already hired a waitress and Christian will be helping me some afternoons at first until things are set up." He explained the plan they had in mind.

"I hope for the best." She wished him well and set out a tray of clear mugs for them to make tea and coffee. They were entitled to a break. 

"Since I'm sure Crystal hasn't told you anything I need you today to help me decorate the place." He told her as he made coffee with the espresso maker and poured hot water into a teapot with tea leaves. 

Lydia looked at him, surprised but excited at the same time. When did he expect Crystal to inform them of their "mission" today? 

He carried their tray of ready-made drinks to a table placed in a pretty corner next to a large square fixed window. A white wooden trellis with climbing ivy somewhat isolated it from the rest of the room without obscuring the view. On the wall above it she saw that it had a beautiful landscape painted of a girl with her back turned to look at the setting sun and her hair blowing in the wind. It was the beach where they had camped last summer. But who was the girl? She stroked Christian's artistic signature and heard someone scooting up behind her. She turned and saw him looking at her with his hands shoved into the pockets of his sweatpants. 

"Hi," she greeted him, feeling awkward. 

He walked over to her and leaned in and gave her a peck on the cheek to sit on the couch next to her. Her heart began to beat faster and she wished her cheeks didn't betray the tension she felt. Her sister also sat down in their company which started a conversation about Christian's work to break the awkward silence. Soon the rest of the group joined them. Crystal introduced her roommate to them and they all wished their friend a good start and an even better future.

With background music of Christmas songs they all started decorating together by dancing and singing. Lydia put up the tree together with her sister. Crystal and Kevin placed beautiful garlands and flower arrangements in various places. Christian and Killian handed out lanterns with mistletoe inside to the tables. When he had finished his allotted amount, Christian approached Lydia to help her decorate the tree with her. Danae stepped away discreetly to give them some space.

"How's university going?" He asked her. 

"It's fine. I'm looking forward to next semester although I'm dreading the exams at the end of this semester." 

"What university are you at? Education like your sister?" Killian joined in the demand, not realizing that he was becoming the third among them, who also started hanging ornaments to get them done faster.

"No I couldn't. Medicine." 

"Me too! What year are you in?"

"Still at the beginning. First." 

"Good start! What do you think?" 

"I didn't realize I was studying medicine. It's a dream come true but for some reason it hasn't quite taken shape." 

Christian looked at them. On the one hand he was glad to hear her talking excitedly with someone with whom she shared the same dream, but on the other hand he was disappointed that he couldn't talk to Lou as he had hoped. He had missed his chance. He approached Kevin who had finished and was checking the bar to see if he needed anything else. He sighed and turned back to the two budding doctors. One was just starting her journey and the other was halfway through. Someone tapped him on the shoulder comfortingly. He turned and saw his sister looking in the same direction. Eventually, everything was going to work out the way it was supposed to. He thought optimistically.