We settled back into the circle, still smiling, still warm from the hug.
Then Dad stepped forward, holding the boxes like some kind of dramatic gift-giving king.
"Alright," he said. "Since I missed the hug… I'll make up for it."
Liam leaned forward immediately.
"Yes please."
He handed the first box to Nena.
She opened it—
And froze.
Then screamed.
"NO WAY—"
Inside was a sleek, black designer bag she had been obsessing over for months.
"How did you—?!" she gasped, hugging it like her life depended on it.
Dad crossed his arms, smirking. "I know everything."
Next—Emma.
She opened hers slowly.
Then her eyes widened.
"Oh my gosh…"
A beautiful camera.
Not just any camera—a high-quality one.
"I've always wanted this…" she whispered.
"For your photography," Dad said.
She looked up, smiling so brightly. "Thank you so much!"
"Mine next!" Liam said, already grabbing his.
He opened it—
Then froze.
"…No."
Then louder—
"NO WAY!"
Inside? A full set of premium headphones and gaming gear.
"I LOVE YOU, SIR," Liam said dramatically.
"You just upgraded my life."
Jake snorted. "Relax."
Jake opened his next.
He tried to stay cool.
He really did.
Then—
"…Okay, this is nice."
A luxury watch.
Clean. Sharp. Perfect.
"You like it?" Dad asked.
Jake nodded once.
"…Yeah."
Pause.
"…A lot."
That was Jake language for I'm extremely happy but won't show it.
Mark opened his.
Then blinked.
Then blinked again.
"A limited edition novel collection?" he said slowly.
Dad nodded.
Mark looked like he had just been handed the meaning of life.
"…I'm not sharing this with anyone."
We laughed.
Luca opened his carefully.
Inside was a soft hoodie and a tablet.
He looked up, eyes shining.
"Thank you…" he said quietly.
Dad smiled at him.
Then—
Ethan.
He opened his box.
Inside was something simple.
Clean.
A high-end wristband and a small box of custom earbuds.
He didn't react immediately.
Just looked at it.
Then nodded.
"…Thank you."
But I saw it.
That small shift.
He liked it.
Finally—
Mine.
I opened it slowly.
And—
I gasped.
Inside was a mix of everything I loved.
A set of K-pop albums—my favorites.
A pair of stylish glasses.
And a soft, pastel hoodie.
"Dad…" I whispered. "This is—"
"I know," he said, smirking slightly.
I laughed.
"How do you even know all this?"
He crossed his arms.
"I know everything."
Then he added casually—
"Well… technically I asked your parents… and Luca helped… and maybe a few friends…"
We all stared at him.
"…Still counts," Liam said.
"Absolutely," Nena added.
We all stood up again, smiling, holding our gifts.
"Thank you!" we said together.
"Seriously, thank you," Emma added.
"This is amazing," Mark said.
"You've officially become my favorite adult," Liam said.
Jake rolled his eyes. "He was already your favorite."
Dad waved it off lightly.
"It's okay. Just enjoy yourselves."
We nodded.
We were.
More than he probably knew.
Then he clapped once more.
"And oh—everyone meet me in the living room. I've arranged a movie night."
We all blinked.
"…You did what?" I asked.
"Movie night," he repeated.
Liam stood up instantly.
"I'm coming."
Nena grabbed her bag. "This man is spoiling us."
Emma smiled. "This is literally perfect."
Mark nodded. "Approved."
Jake shook his head slightly, but smiled.
"This is… actually nice."
I looked at Dad.
"You're doing too much," I said.
He smiled.
"Not enough."
I laughed softly.
And as we all started heading inside—
Talking.
Laughing.
Carrying our gifts like treasures—
I realized something.
This wasn't just a trip.
It was a memory.
One of those you never forget.
The living room was dim now.
Only the TV lit the space, flickering soft blue across our faces. We were all sprawled out—blankets, pillows, snacks everywhere.
And pajamas.
Yes.
Full cozy mode.
Emma was already gone.
Asleep.
Her head resting perfectly on Liam's arm.
And Liam?
Wide awake.
Not moving.
Not even blinking.
Like if he moved even an inch, the world would end.
"…You good?" I whispered.
He didn't look at me.
"I live here now," he whispered back.
I nodded.
Understandable.
Nena sat beside Jake, blinking slowly.
Very slowly.
Fighting sleep like her life depended on it.
"I'm not… sleeping…" she mumbled.
Jake?
Gone.
Completely.
Head tilted back, breathing deep.
Knocked out.
I stared.
"…Wow."
Then—
Luca.
Sleeping peacefully.
On Mark's shoulder.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Mark sat there, frozen.
Confused.
"…I don't know how this happened," he whispered.
I narrowed my eyes.
Sus.
"…Did I watch too much K-drama?" I muttered.
Mark heard me.
"Don't start," he said quietly.
Too late.
I already started.
Mom and Dad had left earlier.
"Too tired," they said.
Suspicious.
Very suspicious.
And then—
Ethan.
Beside me.
Arms crossed.
Face serious.
Glaring at the TV like it personally offended him.
The movie?
It was… okay.
Nice visuals.
Cute leads.
But the plot?
Absolutely ridiculous.
The main character was standing in the rain.
Dramatic.
Crying.
Not confessing.
Again.
Ethan scoffed.
"Why doesn't he just say it?" he muttered.
I blinked.
"He's struggling—"
"He's stupid," Ethan cut in. "Just tell her you like her."
I giggled, tossing popcorn into my mouth.
"You're so mad."
"Because this is the perfect moment," he said, pointing slightly at the screen. "Look at that—this is where he says it. But no. He's just standing there like—"
He stopped.
I turned to him.
"Why are you so invested?" I asked.
He looked at me.
"This guy is not brave enough to tell his crush he likes her," he said. "It's annoying."
I tilted my head slightly.
"Is it?"
"Yeah."
I leaned a little closer, my voice softer.
"This is the perfect time," I whispered.
He blinked.
Our eyes met.
Silence.
The TV flickered.
The rain scene still playing.
But suddenly—
It felt… quieter.
Closer.
He looked at me.
Really looked.
Like he was trying to figure something out.
His jaw tightened slightly.
He gulped.
And for a second—
I thought—
Then suddenly—
He reached over.
Grabbed my head.
And—
Plopped it onto his shoulder.
Just like that.
He looked straight ahead again.
Serious.
Very serious.
Like nothing just happened.
I blinked.
"…Excuse me?"
He didn't look at me.
"Stay still."
"What—no—why—"
I tried to lift my head.
He gently pushed it back down.
"No."
"I'm not sleepy!" I whispered loudly.
"Shh."
"I'm serious!"
"Sleep."
"I don't want to sleep!"
And then—
He started humming.
A soft… lullaby.
I froze.
"…Are you singing to me?"
No response.
Just humming.
I tried to sit up again.
He pushed my head back down.
"Stay."
"I'm not a baby!"
"Sleep."
"I refuse."
He kept humming.
Calm.
Unbothered.
Like this was completely normal.
I huffed.
"This is kidnapping."
No reaction.
I crossed my arms—well, as much as I could while trapped.
"…Fine," I muttered.
Two seconds later—
"…I'm still not sleeping."
He let out the smallest sigh.
Still humming.
And somehow—
Annoyingly—
Comfortably—
My eyes started to close anyway.