98 Secret Santa

"Although we won't be able to spend Christmas together, we got to hang out out today. And I could give you this! I hope you like it?"

Iris recalled Jackson's somewhat ambiguous words to her. It seemed he hinted that he had wanted to spend Christmas with her? Or was she buying too much into his words? She wasn't sure, but even if she was right, they hadn't talked about anything beyond their friendship. So, it wouldn't make sense to spend Christmas together.

She shook her head and slapped her cheeks to force these thoughts about yesterday's events out of her mind. Today, she was ready to have a blast at the company Christmas Bash. There was no way some girlish romantic pondering could stop her from a great time with the Big Hit artists and staffs that were like true family.

"Mmm??! Iris? You okay?" Rinah asked with an ending laugh at how cute Iris looked squishing her red cheeks.

Seeing the merriment on Riri's face along with her other members' heads turning to see what's wrong only to find a peculiar but adorable sight, Iris chuckled and dropped her hands.

"I'm fine, just spacing out a bit. Excited for the celebration?" Iris changed the subject smoothly.

Not suspecting anything, Rinah giggled. "Yes! So excited!! It's going to be so much fun! Oh I hope they'll all like their gifts." A small but fleeting frown of concern passed by Rinah's face as she considered her presents for BTS, TXT, Bang PD, and special staff members that had helped her and LUXIA the most.

Understanding her entirely, Iris replied, "Don't worry Riri, haha! I'm sure they will!" She patted Rinah's shoulder assuringly.

From the other room nearby through open doors, Jiyeon called out and joked, "This is our first 'official' Christmas together, so there isn't a precedent anyway to compare last years gifts—you'll be fine!"

"Hey!!" The innocent Rinah stomped her foot and clenched her fists in mock anger, making Iris laugh. "Betchu MY gifts are awesomer than yours!"

"Oh yeah?! Let's bet on it then!" Jiyeon snickered.

"Hey hey! Me too, me too!" Ahreum bounced and plopped down knees first onto the couch cushions of where Jiyeon was sprawled out lazily.

"Oof!! Get off me!" Jiyeon laughed and swatted at Ahreum who giggled mischievously.

Seeing the adorable but silly sight as she turned the corner after walking into the LUXIA dorms, Cindy sighed with a wide smile. "Preparations are complete. Come on girls, let's have a grand ol' time shall we?"

"Ayeaye capt'n!" Ahreum saluted to Cindy who merely chuckled in reply.

"Go now?! Wait!! Not ready!" Panicking, Jiyeon leapt off the couch and sprinted into her room with blurring agility like some Olympic athlete.

"Pahaha!" Rinah burst out laughing at Jiyeon's maneuvers. "That's what you get after lazing around all morning, Jiji!"

Giggling, Iris agreed. "Unlike our Princess Riri here who is already ready, prepared, and on time, you could learn a thing or two Jiyeon-ah dear!"

Truly, Jiyeon had the hidden reverse charm, if one should call it that, of being quite the sloth at times despite her hardworking nature in the dance practice rooms or studio.

She even put languid Cindy to shame during these bouts of couch potato-yness. As a real 'princess,' Cindy only moved when she felt like it. She liked to joke it wasn't laziness but efficiency.

"So, should we wait or let Jiyeon come stylishly late?" Iris smirked knowingly at her members. They understood what she was hinting at.

Despite her tomboyish nature, when dressing up for special occasions, Jiyeon would freak our and spend hours poring over what to wear and how to do her makeup.

"Let's give her a hand?" Rinah offered and Iris nodded. Everyone knew that Iris didn't actually mean to leave Jiyeon behind as they should arrive together as a group, especially as rookies.

"Yeah, and we can touch up our makeup and ensure that Jiji doesn't mess up a thousand times." Cindy snickered while leaning on the doorframe.

"Hey! I heard that!" Jiyeon shouted from the other room.

They all burst out laughing before proceeding into Jiyeon's room. She didn't wear daily makeup unless she had to, so Jiyeon wasn't the best using the array of beauty products laid out before her.

In less than an hour, the LUXIA girls readied themselves with their gifts in tow. As for the gifts meant for one another in the group, they had already shared them yesterday night before bed in a mini celebration of their own as five.

The gifts that they did potentially bring for on another, however, were the Secret Santa presents that almost the whole company was participating in this year.

Reaching the large dining hall and walking through the large, open doors, LUXIA harmoniously shouted their greeting that they had arrived.

Those most nearby in the slowly increasing thrum of people pouring into the room noticed and quickly made their way over.

"Hey everyone! You made it!" Jimin along with other staff greeted LUXIA enthusiastically.

"You can drop off the Secret Santa presents under the tree and the regular gifts over on the corner back table on the left. Individual boxes for everyone's gifts are marked so that they can pick up the presents in one go after the celebration ends." One staff member helpfully informed.

Thanking him, the girls moved to drop off their Secret Santa presents and spent a few minutes sorting out their gifts to everyone else accordingly. Jimin who had followed complimented them on the packaging. Indeed, girls often had that clean, light touch with crafty things like wrapping that some boys lacked in their heavy-handedness.

Although everyone preferred to give their presents in person, with so many people in the company, this would take an infeasibly long time. But in the spirit of giving and celebration, including opening gifts, the Secret Santa was created to fill in this space in a more manageable yet fun way.

"Hey, who do you think got you, Iris?" Ahreum asked while bending over to position her gift nice and securely yet visibly on top of others under the tree.

"My guess is Namjoon, hehe." Jiyeon said with a wink. "He's been acting quite funny lately when you're mentioned or around."

"Oh? Maybe~" Iris pondered a little. The man indeed seemed seem like he was up to something the last few times she saw him.

However, it didn't seem like it was about the Secret Santa because RM was more serious than usual. She figured he'd be more clumsy in trying to be sneaky. Having interacted with him the most out of all the BTS members besides Jin, Iris knew Namjoon well. They were both similar minded people as well as musically in how they tackled being a composer.

"Well, I guess we'll see soon, huh? If you're all right." She smiled lightly.