Winter Falls

"Oh, you remind me of a girl I was obsessed with," Nanami sings, zipping up her patterned onesie. Hearing the front door creak open, Nanami shouts a greeting to Felix as she climbs into bed.

Felix's tired body enters the room, dropping his work bag and face-plants on the bed next to Nanami. She smiles at the exhausted boy and crawls onto his back, massaging his blond mullet in an attempt to soothe him.

"There were so many orders today, but," he pauses glancing at the frosted window, "The snow makes it worth it. It's so pretty."

Nanami looks at him with a weird look, "Pretty, you say? That shit is making me unbearably cold, and then it's going to ice everything and make everything so hard. I swear I hate winter."

She retreats under the comfy comforter and cozy sheets. Felix chuckles as his jacket falls from around him as he reaches for Nanami with his glacial fingers. "Cold, you say?" He mutters as he lunges for her, infecting her with chilliness. Her boisterous cackles consume the air as they begin to play fight, as she tries to pry herself away from his cold hands.

At last, they settle in a more comfortable position as their legs end up tangled with one another.

"Hey," Nanami mutters.

"What's up?"

"When's the last time we were on a date?"

"Oh shit..." Felix mutters, "Not in a while, I guess."

"Well, I have been thinking, you know, since the holiday is coming up too, and with the weather. What if we went on a little vacation?"

"I mean, we have a little in our savings... we could probably afford the weekend. Oh, what if we go to a resort?"

Nanami gushes at the sudden ideas popping about in her busy brain, "Oh, and I have been seeing this one in particular. So many damn ads, but it seems affordable."

"I like this idea," Felix mumbles.

"Okay, well, why don't you go take a shower, and I will take care of the tickets and book everything?" She proposes.

"You sure? I wouldn't mind helping?" Felix offers shifting their bodies upward.

"I'm sure I want to take care of it. You have been working harder lately. Go wash up, I got this," she lays a comforting kiss upon his freckled cheek.

He sends her a grateful smile as his feet carry him to their bathroom.

Nanami fixes her satin bonnet before reaching for her earbuds. Setting her playlist on shuffle, she reaches for her sticker-covered laptop and plops it on the duvet.

Her fingers dance around the keyboard as she finds the resort—a cabin-like aesthetic with the promise of a winter wonderland.

As it seems lady luck has her back, she snags the perfect room with the promise of a jacuzzi and fireplace. Next, she finds herself scanning the website for plane tickets.

Her eyes narrow as she finds cheap tickets scheduled to leave in two days. Her eyes dart to the name of the plane, making sure the company's reviews were nothing short of stellar.

As she shuts her laptop, she rolls on her back, staring at the ceiling in disbelief. Was it too easy?

"What's wrong, my love?" Felix exits the bathroom with steam flowing behind him as Nanami takes in the sight. The droplets trickle down his detailed chest, his bare face scrunched with concern as he dries his hair.

"I will never get tired of seeing you like this," she sighs with hazy eyes as he smirks, reaching into their closet.

A sheepish smile finds his face as he returns the towel to its rack before sliding into their plush sheets. "How did the search go?"

"You won't believe it, oh my god, it was so easy! Like someone was waiting for me to book the trip as if this was planned somehow," her eyes thin as she searches for hidden cameras or an author perhaps.

"Don't think too hard about it, it's perfect," Felix mutters, soothing her overthinking tendencies as he presses a kiss upon her exposed forehead. "Now come here," he gently grips her hips, pulling her closer as he squeezes himself against her, releasing a series of giggles from the girl.

"Thank you for taking care of planning," he whispers his sweet words.

"Of course, you deserve it, with all the shifts you've been taking," she affectionately whispers back as her nails run along his scalp.

"I'm serious, I can't wait to be in the snow with you, ma." His biceps pulse as he shields her from the chilly air.

"Me neither, even if going to be freezing my tits off," she playfully sighs.

"It's going to be so pretty though," he pouts, looking up from his comfortable position.

"I suppose," she rolls her eyes as she takes a turn to embrace his bare face with a peck before breaking the silence once more, "Hey?"

"Yeah, what's up, Nani?"

"I'm really grateful for you, for all the shifts to help me with college, and you coming to live with me," she gazes down at him with pure affection.

"You deserve it, baby." He whispers, falling into sleep's inevitable grasp.

With a sense of contentment washing over them, they snuggle closer together, their hearts beating in sync as they drift off to sleep.

The cold air entangles itself between the bustling population surrounding the vast building.

The bright taxi cab stops to let the tired couple out of the vehicle. Her twisted curls fly as she glances toward the early sky, wearing a scowl.

The mellow morning swirls with the plush snow toying with the young woman. Two of her least favorite things are on display around her as she tries to soothe her temper.

Nanami swore that she would hate herself if she ruined the trip for Felix with her sour attitude.

Per the pep talk she gave herself this morning.

She reminds herself to calm down as her eyes serve to observe the happy man. His freckled face scrunches with joy as he takes a chance to smell the winter air. As if he's Lorelei freaking Gilmore.

Nanami sighs with her growing, affectionate smile. But their romantic trance is broken by the impatient cab driver, who is quick to receive his pay and return their luggage.

Nanami waddles over to the giddy man, ushering him into the grand building, hoping to get ahead of the many passengers.

Clasping onto their luggage, Nanami and Felix make their way over to the line of bustling people. As they wait to reach security, Nanami checks for their tickets and necessities whilst Felix watches over her.

Thanks to her planning, they passed through the security check smoothly before heading over to the tram station. Shoving themselves between the many as sardines in a tin, the two glue their hands together to find short-lived comfort.

Shuffling outward, the couple quickly moves to find their gate.

Nanami huffs at the overwhelming amount of people in the area as she tries to discover a free seat. Squinting her tired eyes, she finds two seats near the lit window. Nanami zips through the crowd as Felix struggles to keep up with her urgent pace.

"Thank fucking god," she exasperates, letting herself breathe as Felix laughs to himself. "Now, before we sit, let's go find some food."

"Wait, wait," Felix stops the girl with an arched brow. "Why not just get some later? I mean, we just found our spots."

Her afro swishes as she sighs and turns to face her boyfriend, "One, I'm fucking starving, and I need something to wake me up. Two, already ahead of you."

"What?" Felix's chestnut brows furrow at her suspicious wink.

"But first, I need a twenty-dollar bill," she digs into her bag before silently stepping over to a silent young man. His lengthy, dark strands cover cascading eyes as his pink hoodie covers his slender figure.

A tap on the shoulder gets the man to lock his eyes on Nanami's.

"Hi, I'm Nanami!" She said, plastering a smile on her tired face

"Hi?" The man responds as his face is struck with confusion.

"Okay, so I'm really hungry, and I have a lot of luggage with me. So, I was wondering if you could watch my luggage and make sure no one like steals anything or takes the seats."

"Um..."

"I mean, of course not for free," Nanami slides the folded bill to the man whose eyes widened at the sight of cash.

"You want me... to watch your luggage... for twenty bucks?"

"Yep! Just make sure no one takes anything and that we still have seats when we come back."

The man let out a humored sigh and gently took the money, "Alright, you got yourself a deal."

"Oh my god! Thank you so much..." Nanami trails off as the realization sets in that she never got his name.

"It's Beomgyu, and you're welcome. Enjoy your food," he sheepishly smiles.

"Thank you, Beomgyu, and we'll be right back," she waves goodbye before dragging Felix to search for a short meal.

Beomgyu watches the seemingly energetic girl loop arms with a blond male before he dips his head into his television show. "Only at airports, man."

"How the hell did that work?" Felix chuckles at her boldness.

"Never underestimate a little bribery. Now c'mon, I'm freaking starving!"

The two carry on through the sea of people, attempting to find the airport's food court. Soon, a delish scent wafts toward Nanami, and her head swivels to find a Korean restaurant. "Felix. Felix. Oh my god."

"What's up?" He peers down at the starstruck girl.

"They have Korean corndogs, look at them." The poor, hungry girl is practically salivating at the sight.

"You want one?" He asks, trying not to laugh at her sudden enthusiasm. To which she replies with a wordless nod. "Well then, come on," he drags her to the restaurant, free of a wait time.

"I'm telling you, man, Emma Watson is..."

"Hey, we got customers," the man says, saving his coworker from embarrassment as he fixes his face to seem welcoming.

"Welcome to The Real Korea," he clears his throat as a rosy color fades into his face. "My name is Yeosang. What can I get for you?"

Nanami bites her lip to keep from laughing as Felix steps up to order.

"I'll do one mozzarella corn dog with your special boba milk tea," Felix orders, letting Nanami compose herself.

"I'll have your potato corn dog with half mozzarella and half sausage. Oh, and a coffee, please," she orders quickly.

"Alright, that'll be $22.57, cash or card?"

"Card," Felix responds as he fishes in his pockets for his wallet.

Nanami wraps her arms around his figure as a silent thank you as he pays for their food.

Nanami watches as the man named Yeosang disappears and returns shortly, as a high-pitched laugh is heard from the back. The giggling man shortly follows with two freshly fried corndogs, and a huffing, short man follows with an annoyed expression paired with two drink orders.

"Order for Felix!" They call for them to collect their food.

"Thank you, this looks delicious!" Nanami gushes.

"We hope you enjoy and have a safe flight!" The short man bids them goodbye.

The couple gives them a final goodbye before heading back to their gate.

"Oh, this is so good," Nanami squeals as the food tastes better than her expectations. "How's yours?"

"Amazing, I'm glad you suggested it," Felix says as he sips some of his milk tea.

"Can I have a bite, please?" Nanami peers at his golden corn dog.

"My cheese stick." Felix refuses with pursed lips.

"C'mon, please?" Nanami pouts.

"Nuh-uh," Felix raises his food to where she can't reach.

"Fine." She exasperates, quickening her pace and leaving Felix behind.

"Wait, Nai, I was joking!"

Their yellow cab floats through the cleared road through the surrounding forest. Nanami's cheek rests comfortably on Felix's shoulder as he gazes at the peaceful nature surrounding him. The barren trees are covered by a thick, white blanket of plush snow. A neon green glow greets the couple as the cab comes to a rest at the entrance.

Felix gently wakes Nanami, alerting his girlfriend that they have arrived. "Baby, we're here," he wakes her, rubbing her knee gently with a few squeezes. "C'mon, we gotta get checked in."

"Okay," she murmurs sleepily, taking his gloved hand as he leads her out of the cab.

He leads her out of the cab, and she adjusts her balance against the sea of snow. Nanami fixes her wool knit scarf around her lower face and neck. She ruffles her afro, blinking a few times to adjust her eyes to the sight before her. The neon green resort sign gleams brightly, its bold letters shimmering against the snowy mountainside.

"It looks so pretty," she compliments the resort breathily. "The pictures did not do this place justice."

Felix closes the trunk with a low chuckle, "So I guess things won't be so bad, huh?" He raises his brows teasingly, walking over to her side with their luggage.

"We'll see," Nanami's soft gaze finds his wide, excited smile. "Got everything? You paid the man, right?"

"Don't worry, I took care of it. Tipped him a little extra, actually. But I double checked the trunk and backseat, we have everything." Felix recounts as he scans below him for their belongings.

"Alright, then. Let's head inside, because it's still fucking freezing," Nanami drapes her purse over her chest as she grabs her suitcase. Felix reaches for his suitcase and extends his gloved hand toward Nanami. She happily grabs his hand, pulling him along toward the entrance.

The two saunter through the automatic doors whilst marveling at their surroundings. The golden lighting from the grandiose chandelier contrasts with the neon green accents of the lobby. The fresh scent of pine from the enormous Christmas tree mingles with the wafting cinnamon scent. Nanami's honey eyes widen at the luxurious appearance of the resort; it's the kind of place she could only imagine from a holiday movie.

"Welcome to the Neo City Resort! My name is Taeyong, I'm the owner of this resort. We thank you for making the trip to create new memories with us! I hope it wasn't too bad?" The owner's silvery tone makes Nanami feel instantly at ease. Awe fills her expression as she stares at the man before her. His straight posture exudes perfection, yet his black buzz cut and braces present his youth.

Nanami unwraps her scarf from around her face, smiling gently, "Not at all! This place is really beautiful, especially for the price. And wow, you're really the owner? You look so young!"

Taeyong glances downward bashfully, but quickly faces his guests. "You're very kind, but we want to make sure everyone has a chance to experience the wonders of our resort. I assume you two have a reservation?"

Felix's deep tone interjects, "Yes, we do."

"Alright then, I'll let my employee, Johnny, check you both in. I hope you both have a wonderful stay, and if you need anything for me, anything at all, don't hesitate to request for me." Taeyong bows his head before leaving from behind the desk with a cheerful smile. Not a moment later, two employees head in their direction.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long?" The taller one greets the couple. His jet black hair is gelled back loosely, with a few pieces of jewelry to elevate his standard uniform.

"No, you're alright, don't worry," Nanami waves away his polite concerns.

"Good. Well, my name is Johnny. I'm available whenever you need assistance during your stay," Johnny points to his nametag with a polite nod.

"And my name is Mark, and you can mark me in your heart," the other employee introduces himself. Nanami covers her mouth as she snickers at the corny line, before leaning over to whisper to Felix.

"Reminds me of a certain someone's note," Nanami sings, remembering the writing in her pizza box.

Felix glances elsewhere as he pinches her side softly, "Hush. You called, didn't you?"

"You got me there," Nanami snorts before redirecting her attention back to Johnny and Mark.

"Let's get you guys checked in." Johnny begins as he takes control of the desktop computer, "What name is your reservation under?"

"It's under Lee Felix," Felix answers him as he fiddles around looking for his identification.

"You two excited?" Mark leans against the desk with a warm smile.

"Very, we haven't done anything together lately, so we decided to take this trip. The resort looks very pretty!" Nanami leans in with sparkling eyes.

"Oh, yeah, I love the resort. I really like the sky 'cause it's really wide. I feel like the land is very big," Mark nods in agreement. "You guys checked in on the perfect night, too. We just opened our ice skating rink, and the baristas are still serving hot chocolate. Oh! And you can walk across the bridge. Perfect way to start your vacation."

"Oh, that sounds amazing!" Nanami gasps excitedly, knowing Felix would love to go skating. She glances toward Felix, seeing that he's almost done checking them in.

"Alright, here are your keys," Johnny hands two identical keys to their designated room. "We'll have people help you with your luggage, and there are some activities planned for tonight. So, after you settle in, we do encourage you to come down and join us. Be there or be square."

"Nobody wants to be a square," Mark finishes Johnny's sentence with a playfully stern expression. "Any questions for us?" Nanami and Felix shake their heads no, ready to head up to their room. Johnny smiles and holds his hands in front of his chest, "Well, then, our bellboys will help you with your bags. And feel free to come back and report their performance, they're new."

"Oh, of course," Nanami winks as Johnny gives her a soft fist bump.

"Sion, Riku, come help the guests with their bags!" Johnny calls the newbies over. The two young men rush over with a dull, golden cart to carry the bags upstairs. Riku and Sion greet the couple with energetic smiles as they immediately place the bags in the cart.

"What floor are we headed to?" One of the bellboys inquires about their destination.

"Floor 9, room 915," Johnny answers him.

"Alright then, you two can follow us!" One of the boys takes hold of the cart whilst the other rushes toward the elevator. The journey to their room isn't long at all, as Felix and Nanami chase after the two speedy bellboys. "Alright, here you are! We hope you enjoy your stay!" The two quickly unload their luggage and head back to the elevator to travel back to the main floor.

Nanami's face contorts in surprise as she opens the door to their room. The large room looks just as luxurious as the lobby. The same golden lighting and flashes of neon green. Floor-to-ceiling windows gift a view of the snowy mountain slopes. A wooden balcony decorated with fairy lights. The large hotel bed holds a gift box at the center, welcoming the couple to their room for the weekend.

Nanami dramatically falls backwards against the soft mattress, practically sinking in. "Everything just keeps getting better and better!"

"I know, you picked a good spot," Felix adds with a satisfied sigh as he parks their luggage in a corner. "C'mon, it's time to go see what they were talking about," he says, excitement already bubbling as he steps over to the woman.

"We just got here, though," Nanami tiredly protests.

Felix softly grins before grabbing her hands and pulling her to her feet. "Exactly," he confirms, already tugging her toward the door. "Best time to start."

"Nai," Felix whines, extending his hand to the unsure girl. "It'll be fine, c'mon." 

Nanami's eyes hold a restless energy, as she trembles from the cold and her nerves. Her gut screams to sit down on a nearby wooden bench and cheer Felix on, but she doesn't want to bum him out. She exhales as she finally places her hand atop his. 

"You got this," he encourages while focusing on her shaky skates as she carefully joins him inside the ice rink. "See? This'll be easy!" 

"For you," she grumbles at his lies.

Felix slowly leads her to the center, out of the way of the few people on the ice. Nanami grips onto his forearms with all her might as she takes a chance to take in the scenery. They're surrounded by warm fairy lights and seasonal, soft tunes. "This is actually really⎯" Nanami shrieks as she suddenly loses her balance. 

Thankfully, Felix readjusts his hold and takes the moment to twirl the distracted girl.

"...Pretty," Nanami finishes wheezingly, as she deadpans at the ice below her.  

"I'm gonna let go, okay?" Felix states calmly.

"Why would you do that? That's not a good idea at all," Nanami protests, watching him back away.

He simply smirks and skates away. Nanami scoffs at his antics, watching him begin to skate near her. His athletic body glides on the ice, skating expertly.

Meanwhile, Nanami wobbily steps over to grip the frosted railing. "Okay, this is fine," she tries to convince herself. "Totally fine." She pathetically skates around, if you can even call it that, heavily relying on her metal crutch.

Felix comes over, relaxed as ever, with his hands nesting in his pockets. "Look at you go," he smiles tightly, attempting to stifle his chuckles. 

"So, you're lying now?" Nanami side eyes Felix. 

He sighs before coming to a stop beside her cowering form, "C'mon, hold onto me. We can skate together."

"I'll just end up pulling you down with me," Nanami grunts.

"Even better, ma," Felix corrects with a wide smile. She peers up at his cheerful expression and ultimately gives in, wrapping herself around his arm. 

"Here we go," Felix coos as he begins to skate around leisurely. Nanami continues to cling tightly, her nervous attitude simmering down in Felix's careful hands. 

The two continue to whirl around, Nanami's posture easing with the chilly minutes rolling by. Felix slows down and stops at the exit, deciding to give his girlfriend a break, "Let's get some of that hot chocolate they were talking about, hmm?" 

"Oh, yes! Let's go!" Nanami immediately walks off the ice, beelining for her shoes. Felix follows, helping her remove the skates before untying his own. They return the resort's equipment and follow the signage to the cafe. 

Felix jogs up to the tiny hut and opens the door for Nanami. The air is sweet and warm, the cozy atmosphere pairing perfectly.

"Fuck, I can feel my hands again, " Nanami groans dramatically in relief. Felix bumps his shoulder into hers as they step up to the counter.

An employee exits from the back and approaches the counter. "Welcome to the Neo City Resort Cafe," the man greets warmly. His nametag reads Doyoung. 

"Hi," Nanami returns his greeting. "We just came from the skating rink, so we would love some hot chocolate."

"Oh? Did you enjoy it?" Doyoung implores.

"Well," Nanami laughs pitifully. "I'm not much of a skater, but I know he had fun. I was mostly holding onto him or the railing."

"Well, we're glad at least one of you enjoyed yourself on the ice," he chuckles at the information. "What sizes are we thinking?"

"Two mediums, please," Felix interjects. 

"Any whipped cream?" 

"Extra for me, please," Nanami adds giddily.

"Alright, that'll be 20.17," Doyoung gently takes Felix's card, quickly swiping before handing it back. "Alright, just give us one moment."

"No problem, thank you!" Nanami chirps as they begin patiently waiting. 

"Jaemin, two mediums. One with regular whipped cream, the other with extra," calls to his fellow employee.

A few moments go by before said employee, Jaemin, emerges with two warm cups of hot chocolate. "Here you are," he announces with a charming smile.

The couple each takes a cup, tasting the beverage simultaneously. "Delicious," Naomi compliments happily. 

"And before you go," Doyoung chimes. "Two chocolate chip cookies, on the house. You earned it after all that skating."

"Aww, thank you so much!" Nanami gushes and grabs the cookies, handing Felix one. 

Felix and Nanami bid the two kind employees goodnight as they stroll around the white-covered resort grounds. Snow crunches beneath their shoes as they snack on the warm cookies. Their mingling breaths form little clouds in the night air. 

The two find a bridge, stopping momentarily and resting on the rail. Nanami's eyes take in the breathtaking nature, while Felix's focus drifts and lands on her face.

Nanami furrows her brows, feeling the continuous stare, "Why do you keep staring at me?"

He shrugs and takes a sip of the hot chocolate before answering. "I like seeing you happy."

A smile instantly appears on Nanami's face, as she giggles at his delivery, "Oh, shush. You're so corny."

"I'm serious, though," he playfully pouts before grabbing her hand. "Come, let's sit down for a second. Nanami follows, and they take a seat at the closest bench. 

Nanami can sense his sudden nervousness, but decides to fully give him the floor. 

"First, I want to say thank you for coming with me on this trip. I know you hate the cold, but you've been hanging out with me anyway," Felix gulps as his eyes flicker from her face to the intricate carvings on the bench. "I know we've been busy and haven't really talked about us in a while, but," he pauses, fumbling with an object in his pocket. He presents a small, denim-colored velvet box.

Nanami freezes, unsure where he's taking this speech. 

"I just want to let you know that there's nowhere else I wanna be, no one else I want to be with," he exhales and pops open the lid, revealing a silver band. "I know you're probably freaking out, hah, don't worry, I'm not proposing. I, uh, just wanted to get you a promise ring to tell you that... you're everything to me, Nai."

She fails to form words as he gently slides the ring onto her finger with a shaky smile. "Felix... baby," she chokes. Tears collect near her lashes, making it hard to see as her lip begins to tremble. Nanami closes in with a tight hug, wrapping her arms around his neck as she sniffles into his neck.

"I don't even know what to say," she pulls back slightly, softly crying. One of her arms slips off his shoulders. She turns her head, gazing at the ring with swirling adoration before locking eyes with him, "This... it's so perfect."

Felix's rich brown eyes stare into hers, which feel like home. His hands gradually cup her hips as he meets her lips. The powdery snow continues to descend as they embrace each other, equally tasting of hot chocolate. Nanami grips the back of his neck, pulling him impossibly closer, wanting to feel everything this moment has to offer. 

Both break the kiss, their chests slightly heaving as their eyes meet once more. Felix pulls her in, resting his forehead against Nanami's, "I promise this is just the beginning, there's so much more I want to give you. So much more you deserve."

"You just want me to cry," Nanami deflects jokingly as his sincere words hit her hard. Felix shakes his head, smiling as he brushes away her pooling tears. 

"I love you so much," Nanami simply whispers to him. "I don't wanna move yet, can we stay like this for a little longer?" Her thumb lovingly swipes snow off his freckled face.  

"Whatever you wish, my love." The snow continues to fall quietly around them, the resort's neon lights glowing off in the distance.