pulling the door open, your breath catches in your throat. junhan stands there, snowflakes still clinging to his dark hair, bundled up in a ridiculously oversized parka and a scarf that covers half his face. his cheeks are pink, either from the cold or from his sprint to your apartment. he looks like a walking snowman, and you can’t decide whether to scold him or laugh.

“uh, hi?” you blink at him, your brain still trying to process. “what are you doing here? it’s—” you glance back at the clock, “—one in the morning.”

“it’s snowing.” his voice is muffled behind the scarf, but you catch the boyish excitement in his tone. his eyes crinkle as he holds up a pair of gloves—your gloves. the ones you left at their place weeks ago.

you stare at him, your exhaustion momentarily forgotten. you let him in. “you came all the way here to tell me it’s snowing?”

“no,” he replies, unbothered by your skepticism, “i came all the way here to show you. i knew you’d be too busy to notice.”

the realization hits you like a snowball to the face. your lips part in surprise. “wait, it’s snowing right now?”

“yeah.” your boyfriend pulled the curtains to the side, revealing the quiet magic outside. the streetlights illuminate the falling snow with each flake dancing in the air like tiny miracles. your heart swells, the kid in you waking up.

“you’re insane.” you laugh, but you’re already reaching for your coat. “wait here. let me grab my boots.”

he doesn’t say anything, but you catch the slight smirk peeking above his scarf. he knows you too well. knows you’ll drop everything for this. knows you won’t let this moment pass.

minutes later, you’re both outside, the cold biting your cheeks but your heart impossibly warm. junhan kicks at the snow, starting a half-hearted snowball fight you’re too happy to lose. the two of you walk aimlessly, your laughter echoing in the stillness of the night. it’s not just the snow that feels magical—it’s him, showing up unannounced, reminding you to live, to breathe, to feel.

“thank you,” you say softly, as the snow blankets the world in quiet perfection.

junhan glances at you, his smile visible even with half his face covered. “anytime.”

—