Winter, and the Banquet (Complete)
I gather the scattered clothes from the floor and put them back on one by one. Seeing Yujin sprawled out beside me reminds me all over again how intensely we consummated our new relationship. I have no idea how things will unfold from here, but since we've decided to date, I'll live for her from now on. Just as you give everything you've got once something begins—no matter how much you tried to talk yourself out of it at the start—I'll have to devote my entire being to her now.
"Should I bring you some water?"
Yujin buries her face in the pillow and lets out a short groan. I take it as a yes, crack the door open, and step out. Just as her father said, there's truly not a single soul nearby. I walk down the silent hallway, searching for anyone who might be able to help us.
"Young Master, what brings you out here?"
Startled, I spin around. Suhyeong is standing there with his head politely bowed. The title he's using for me has changed to Young Master. It's the first time I've heard such an embarrassing honorific.
"...Ah, could I possibly get some water or maybe a snack?"
"Please follow me. I'll show you the way."
"And about calling me Young Master… could you just keep calling me Jihyun like before?"
"No, Madam specifically emphasized that I must serve you with the utmost respect. From now on, I will address you as Young Master."
"Ah… I see."
His stubbornly upright attitude and steady gaze leave me with no choice but to back down. As I follow Suhyeong, I take in the mansion around me.
"I can't even imagine how much you must be worth to live in a house like this."
"Even if I told you, you probably wouldn't believe me."
"...Yeah, I think my mental health would be better off not knowing."
"Please wait here for just a moment. I'll bring everything out."
I stand in front of what looks like a bustling kitchen area and wait. Leaning my back against the wall, I look around. The long, expansive hallway is lined with luxurious carpets and expensive-looking lights that glow beautifully. My eyes drift to the rows of massive doors stretching all the way to the end of the corridor, and a question suddenly occurs to me. Do they really use all these rooms in such a huge house?
I push off the wall and start walking down the hallway. Expensive ornaments, elegant patterns, far too many doors—I pass them all as I wander.
"...?"
Maybe it's just my imagination, but I think I hear the murmur of voices coming from behind one of the doors. I turn back and stand in front of it. The murmuring stops. A strange feeling settles over me.
"...Young Master!"
I flinch in surprise. Suhyeong has appeared out of nowhere and grabbed my shoulder. He looks like he ran here in a hurry, and the sight sends an inexplicable, eerie feeling through me.
"You're not supposed to enter these rooms without permission. The elders would be upset. Let's go back."
His urgent tone flusters me as well.
"D-did I do something wrong?"
"Not at all. Everything is prepared. Let's return to the room together."
In front of the kitchen area, a cart like the ones you see in high-end restaurants is ready. It's loaded with far more than I asked for—water, of course, but also champagne, sparkling water, steaks, various desserts and refreshments whose names I don't even know. It feels like a thoughtful gesture for the two of us who hadn't properly joined the family meal.
…Still, Suhyeong's odd behavior leaves me with lingering doubts. But it doesn't seem important. The thought of enjoying all this with Yujin fills me with joy.
"Madam instructed that only the two of you remain near the room, so I will take my leave here."
Suhyeong hands me the cart right in front of the bedroom door and heads off somewhere again. Thinking how busy and devoted he must be, I open the door and go back to Yujin.
"Why did it take so long…"
Yujin is sitting hunched on the bed, trying to fix her messy hair.
"They kept bringing me all sorts of things, so I couldn't help it."
I push the cart closer to the bed.
"Is it really okay to eat in here?"
"Yeah, it doesn't matter."
She immediately grabs a bottle of water and gulps it down. I sit beside her and drink the sparkling water that was prepared for me.
...This is the same one I drank at the hotel before. I drank it quite often, and it seems Suhyeong remembered. Grateful for his consideration, I let the refreshing, tingling coolness quench my thirsty body.
"It still feels like something's inside me," Yujin says, rubbing her lower belly as she shares her feelings after our first time.
"Did it feel good?"
"It feels like I've been wasting my life. I'm mad at myself for not doing this sooner."
Her words make me laugh without meaning to.
"Hey, why are you laughing!"
"It's just… you're so honest. Pfft… heh."
She downs the rest of her water and hurls the empty bottle onto the floor. Then she pounces on me and starts biting my body.
"Ah, okay! I won't laugh anymore, I swear!"
I throw both hands up in the air in surrender.
"If you laugh again, I really won't let you off easy."
With a pouty expression, she goes back to picking at the dishes on the cart. I get up as well, sit on the edge of the bed, and start eating with her. The fact that I can enjoy these meticulously prepared, luxurious foods to my heart's content makes me happy. Sharing it with my new girlfriend makes me even happier.
"...Mmm."
I wake up feeling Yujin's arm draped over my body. I keep my eyes closed for a little longer, then gently move her arm aside and sit up. I'd fallen asleep wearing just a shirt, and it's now hopelessly wrinkled. In this vast, luxurious room, I try to recall where I left my glasses last night and wander around the bed.
Ah, they were over here. I pull up my half-fallen pants properly, take the lens cleaner from my back pocket, breathe on the lenses, and wipe them. The feeling of seeing the world clearly through clean lenses—it's more than enough reason to wear glasses.
I carefully sit back on the edge of the bed so as not to wake the still-sleeping Yujin and take a few sips of the remaining water. Despite my caution, she stirs and slowly sits up.
"I was trying not to wake you."
"Water..."
I hand her the bottle. She must have been very thirsty; she drinks without stopping. I pick up my smartphone from the floor and check the time. 7:31 a.m. I woke up as early as I used to back in high school.
"You can sleep a little more. It's not even eight yet."
"It's fine. I want to get up."
She kicks off the blanket and gets out of bed.
"Want to shower first?"
"No, you go first."
Yujin even strips off the panties she'd been wearing and walks into the bathroom. Her completely unreserved behavior, as if we'd been dating for a year, makes me smile. I nibble on the leftover snacks from last night and watch the sky outside gradually brighten.
I've never really liked winter. The mornings never get properly bright. Still, today I decide to appreciate this slightly gloomy scenery for its own kind of charm.
"Jihyun, was everything alright last night?"
Father is subtly probing me.
"Ah… hahaha."
It's not exactly appropriate breakfast table conversation with the family, so I just laugh it off.
"Huh? Why aren't you answering? Don't tell me… you couldn't perform?"
"Be quiet and eat your food."
Yujin's sharp glare immediately deflates her father.
"It was just a joke, what..."
"You're being awfully polite to your father-in-law. Right, Jihyun?"
Mother sips her coffee and looks at me. That gaze clearly wants me to agree with her.
"Why don't you stop saying things that make Jihyun uncomfortable?"
Mother gives Yujin—who is glaring fiercely—a raised eyebrow, then takes another sip of coffee.
"I'm too scared to even talk to my future son-in-law."
I stay out of this tense exchange and simply observe the three of them. Father tries to change the mood, smiling pleasantly as he soothes Mother.
"Come now, let's not be like that. Let's all eat comfortably, alright? Jihyun, does the food suit your taste?"
Father gives me a slight nod, asking for help.
"Ah, to be honest, I've rarely eaten food this delicious. Every time you serve something new, I can only sit here in awe."
"Ahahaha! I only hire the best talents in the industry because I take eating very seriously. I'm glad you like it!"
Both Yujin and Mother relax their battle-ready postures and settle back into their seats.
"Oh, and Jihyun, we're sponsoring an academic conference at our hotel this time. Would you like to come with us?"
...My hand, which had been about to scoop up some omelette, pauses.
"When… exactly?"
"It's next Monday evening, so you can stay here over the weekend and we can all go together."
"Doesn't he work with Director Choi? How come I haven't heard anything about this?"
As Mother and Father talk and ask questions, I think of Jimin. Yujin glances at me, reading my expression.
"What's wrong? Are you feeling sick?"
"No… I just forgot about it for a moment, and it suddenly came back to me..."
"You must have already spoken with the director, then? Well, there's no way they'd leave you out. In that case, I'll contact them separately. You'll be coming with us! Your mother is busy and can't attend, and I'll only stop by briefly to give a greeting, so you and Yujin can book a room and enjoy yourselves."
...Jimin.
"No one's using the VIP room that day, so the two of you can have it."
"I… actually have a friend I need to meet that evening..."
Yujin tilts her head in confusion. Both Mother and Father look at me.
"Who?" Yujin asks.
"...A former client I used to counsel."