"Should we decorate a Christmas tree?" Maya looked at the group enthusiastically, pointing to the large decorated Christmas tree in front of the shopping centre building. 

It was Saturday, and next week they were leaving to spend the holidays with their families. As everyone had the weekend off, they have agreed to go and shop for gifts for their relatives. Each of them had a few pieces missing from their Christmas list, as they were all busy and started collecting them a few weeks earlier.

"What? We are leaving soon. What is the point of doing it?" Noah turned to face her.

"Leo, do you have a Christmas tree at home? Should we get alive one in the pot?" She ignored his question while changing the posture and turning away from Noah to look at Leo.

Jake and Kai smiled at each other, knowing that there is no point to argue with Maya, who loved Christmas the most out of the whole year events, even more than her birthday.

Leo sighed and smiled. "Let's go and choose a nice one." Wrapping his arm around Kai's shoulders, he directed them inside.

"Maybe let's pick the gifts first, and after that, we can get one?" Kai suggested. "It will be difficult to carry it around."

"That's true. Let's do that in the end." Noah agreed. They entered the mall at this time of the year full of people doing last-minute shopping or taking advantage of seasonal sales. Kai and Leo decided to go to the jewellery store and parted ways with the group, agreeing that it would be faster this way.

"What are you looking at?" Leo asked Kai, who was staring at the silver bracelets in the glass cupboard.

"I don't know. My sister loves jewellery in general. I figured it would be the safest option." He pointed at the simple, elegant thin chain bracelet. "Do you think this one is okay? Or the other one, with the small crosses?"

"I think the one with the crosses is cool. Simple and easy to wear, but still interesting. " Leo pulled Kai aside and headed for the locker to their left. "I'm thinking about those round earrings for Rose." Leo showed him the gold hoops on the glass shelf next to the festive necklaces, full of stones in multiple colours and sizes."

"Does she likes to wear any earrings or has a specific type? My sister hates long ones. She is afraid of ripping her ear accidentally while wearing them." He pointed at the gorgeous long diamond leaves.

"I guess so. Rose sent me the picture of something similar and told me that this is what I should get her." Leo turned around to look at him, smiling.

"Oh, that girl knows what she wants and how to get it." He laughed and asked the sales assistant to help him to pack the bracelet.

"She texted that they are okay. Good, I will take them." He searched for the assistant. "Can I get those, please?" He pointed at the earrings and walked to Kai's side by the counter.

"Jake sent me pictures of the ties asking me to help him to choose one." Kai looked at the phone while Leo made the payment. "I like the grey one. What do you think?" He showed him the screen, sliding the pictures Jake sent.

"That grey one is cool unless his father has grey hair, then I would go for the navy." Leo smiled brightly and zoomed in on the picture of the yellow tie with brown dogs. "The one with puppies would suit you well."

"Can't deny it." Kai shook his head and texted back to Jake.

"I told him to get the navy one." He smiled mischievously and quickly continued, "Also, that you love the puppy one."

Leo frowned. "You know that exactly this is what I will get as my Christmas gift now?"

"Oh really?! Then I guess I shouldn't joke like that, my apologies." He said, feigning guilt, and left the store beaming, Leo following him and laughing softly.

Kai followed Leo closely when they were browsing crowded stores, never leaving his side. The amount of bags raised dangerously in a short time.

"I think we have got everything. Do you need to buy anything else?" Kai walked to the wall trying to condense the items together with Leo's help.

"No, I'm good. Guys are picking up the Christmas tree. We can join them, I guess."

"Yeah, and go home. I'm exhausted. I wanna take a nap." Kai frowned.

"We will be decorating the tree and watching movies when we get back. A nap will be impossible unless you will sleep during the movie." He picked some shoppings from the floor. "I hope you had some fun?"

"You mean picking up the gifts- my family probably wouldn't even care about in crowded as hell shopping centre?" They took the bags and walked into the garden store direction. "Maybe apart of twins, they seem happy opening them. Again, they are different from my parents."

"I'm thinking more about shopping together. It feels like a date, don't you think so?" Leo grabbed Kai's hand, holding it tight as they walked. "Are you okay with it?" He raises their locked hands.

"I don't mind as long as you are comfortable." Kai smiled to himself. "I like spending time with you. It doesn't matter what we do and where."

"Let's go for a real date," Leo stated. Kai hasn't got a chance to reply as they faced the group who walked out of the store carrying the large spruce tree. "Where are you going to put this?" Confused, Leo shuffled his glare between the tree and Maya.

"Of course, in your apartment. Where else?" Maya said as it's something obvious. Jake and Noah reminded silent, holding the tree.

"Okay, but I thought it would be smaller, and this is huge. We will need to make space for it." He scratched the back of his neck, troubled.

Maya moved her eyes to Kai. "No. My place is small, and my neighbours don't like noise." He said before she managed to ask any question.

"I said nothing." She shook her head, looking back at Leo. "We always meet at your place, Leo, and I know your apartment well. We'll fit in nicely in the corner of your living room. Just trust me. A big tree is much better than a small one, and it will be nice to watch movies only with the Christmas lights on. Hot chocolate and the smell of pine resin." Maya chattered, her eyes filled with excitement. "Oh, I can see that. Outvoted! Let's go!"

"This is not that bad actually," Nodding, Kai agreed with Jake and looked at standing by his side Leo. They admired the spruce tree, which was standing proudly in the corner of the living room, in the place where Maya imagined it to be.

"Mhmm, very nice, taking half of the living room, but it is nice." He chuckled, looking down at Kai, who sat in the armchair holding a cup of coffee. Noah finished decorating the spruce tree with the couple. Maya was swapping around baubles and ornaments to make sure they matched perfectly. 

Kai refused to help. Tired after the shopping, he preferred to sit and watch the process. Leo decided to fix snacks for the movie marathon, still annoyed by the lack of control he had over his living space. Kai was surprised at how territorial his boyfriend can get just for the sake of it.

"I think the tree is beautiful! Now you can feel the Christmas atmosphere in here." Maya said proudly. Jake grabbed her in a tight hug from behind, resting his chin on top of her head. Both of them watching the Christmas tree silently.

"Should we start with the movies?" Maya looked back at Leo, who finished arranging the food and cutlery on the coffee table opposite the TV. Jake stood back as Maya untangled herself from his grip. He followed her through the short space in between tree and sofa, sitting on the edge and pressing himself against Maya while she rested her head on his shoulder. 

Leo, together with Kai, took the opposite corner while Noah squeezed himself in the middle. They sat on the sofa, all cuddled up together, covered in blankets.

"I can't move. How come we were watching Tv so many times while sitting here together, and we still had space, but now we don't." Jake tried to move more to the side without any luck.

"It was four of us on the three-seat sofa, but now there are five of us. I'm okay, though. I like to cuddle." Noah pressed himself close to Maya, smirking at Jake, who glared back at him.

"I can move to the armchair. It will be more comfortable for you." Kai leaned forward to stand up but got caught in a tight hug by Leo, who pulled him closer, covering them tighter with the blanket.

"No need. Stay here and don't interrupt the movie."Leo said, and Kai smiled, curling up in his chest.

"I feel like I'm third-wheeling." Noah looked on both of his sides, squeezed in between two couples.

"Come here," Maya pulled him close to her side, and Noah laid his head on her shoulder.

All of them got comfortable curled up to each other, covered in blankets. Watching "Kevin Home Alone" accompanied by the proud Christmas tree standing in the corner. 

Faint flashing lights and the smell of the forest filled the room. From time to time, they laughed as if they were watching it for the first time. Kai met Leo's eyes as he looked at him, and they shared a small, understanding smile. 

For the first time in his life, Kai felt that this is where he truly belonged.