Chapter 36
Chapter 36
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: Christmas Date
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It was two days before Christmas. I woke up feeling a bit down and headed to my room. I opened the shelf and pulled out the paper tucked inside my notebook.
Bucket list.
It was a list of things I wanted to do with Sis after regressing. I'd jotted down stuff she'd mentioned in my past life, things I wanted to do with her, and my own personal dreams and wishes, all in no particular order.
-Rent an RV and tour the country
-Paragliding in Switzerland
-Climb Hallasan
-Watch the sunrise
-Learn to surf together
I'd crossed out the ones we'd done. From making her seaweed soup right after regressing, to camping—we'd been checking them off whenever we had time.
Of course, if Sis saw this, she might feel forced into it, so I was keeping it hidden as best I could.
"Sigh. I thought we'd do this one today, too."
[Christmas Surprise Date]
In my past life, when I was bedridden with cancer, I watched a ton of videos of couples. I'd imagine being with Sis while watching them.
A secretly planned Christmas event. Sis getting all touched. I'd been looking forward to that moment so much.
I sighed in regret and erased the pencil mark I'd drawn through it. Looks like this one would have to wait until next year.
"Sis, you done washing up?"
"Yeah. I'll be out soon."
We each got ready. I shaved neatly and got dressed.
Today's couple look was casual. Cream-based Nordic pattern sweaters. I paired mine with dark pants, and Sis wore a thick long skirt.
"Let's go."
"Hold on a sec."
I wrapped a big scarf around Sis carefully. Even from outside, it hid her face as much as possible.
"You don't have to do this."
"I do."
"Tch."
I shook my head at Sis's grumbling.
As our Nertube subscribers grew, some fans started recognizing us. It was fine if I was alone, but we were usually together, which was awkward.
No real issues so far. But if this kept happening, eventually someone else might reveal our faces.
Even without that, Sis's looks drew too much attention.
"There, all set."
"You too."
"Me too?"
I ended up wrapping my face with a scarf too. If we took photos from below, both our faces were completely hidden by the thick fabric.
We laughed looking at the pictures we'd taken.
"Let's drop our stuff at the lodging first."
Even for a one-night, two-day trip, we'd packed changes of clothes and basic toiletries. The place was booked by Sis in advance.
"Nice lodging. When did you book it?"
"About a month ago. Even a month ahead, it was competitive."
The place was great. Ocean view right when you pulled back the curtains, and it was all decked out in Christmas theme—every angle was photogenic.
Unlike me, who'd planned to book two days before, Sis had reserved it a whole month ago and mapped everything out.
I jotted down in my notes: 'Book at least a month in advance.' No more slip-ups next time.
"What time is it now?"
"Two o'clock."
"Perfect. Movie, wander around nearby, grab dinner, then back."
"Sounds good. Let's go."
We held hands tight and headed to the theater.
For the upcoming Christmas, theaters were showing holiday movies. We'd booked tickets for the new romance flick.
[One Day in December.]
Truth be told, this was Sis's all-time favorite. In my past life, she'd watch it on OTT at least once a year.
I'd watched with her so much, I knew the plot and lines by heart.
Still, I'd pitched it hard when she was deciding what to see.
'What was so hard about just watching a movie that we fought like that?'
I brushed off the memory of that big fight. What mattered was now.
Arms full of popcorn and cola, we found our seats.
"This takes me back to when we first met. Remember?"
"First time? Ah, pfft. Of course. You ate my popcorn back then."
Our first meeting was pretty fateful.
We met through a club back then. Strangers until one incident brought us closer.
We'd each bought popcorn and drinks for the movie, and Sis just naturally started eating mine.
When I asked what she was doing, she apologized, thinking it was hers. That led to meals together, hanging out, and eventually dating.
"Wanna hear something funny?"
"What?"
"I knew it was yours when I ate it."
I'd never heard that even in my past life, so I froze.
Her apologetic face back then didn't look fake.
"No way, liar. Your ears and face were red. How was that acting?"
"You got caramel popcorn. I had original. How could I not know?"
"What? No, Sis. Hold on."
Sis smirked and turned away. The ads ended, and the movie started. Couldn't ask loudly in the theater, so I watched.
But I couldn't focus on the movie.
How could I after hearing that?
Thump. Thump. Thump.
My heart raced at the unexpected words.
Shock? Absurdity? Excitement? Didn't matter. It felt good.
The movie ended, and we wandered around.
Pictures by the huge Christmas tree, even a one-day class where we painted each other's faces. Time flew, and soon it was dinnertime.
"What's good here?"
"Signature steak's the best. Pairs great with a Bloody Mary cocktail. Sound good?"
"Yeah, let's get that."
We were at a Western-style restaurant. With Christmas near, couples filled the place.
We called the server and ordered.
"How was the movie?"
"Fun. The part where Suhyun regains her memory stuck with me."
Something felt off chatting about it. Sis's recap didn't quite match. She'd missed details you'd catch if paying attention.
'Wasn't her thing?'
If she enjoyed it, she'd have focused.
Seems her tastes shifted a bit after my regression.
Didn't wanna pry about a boring movie, so I steered away from it.
We chatted about the drawings and photos from today when the food arrived.
"Here's your order."
"Thanks."
Medium steak perfectly grilled, sided with spinach and mushrooms. Drink was a cocktail of celery, vodka, tomato juice, and lemon.
Looked amazing.
I cut into the steak.
The meat melted softly in my mouth. Nutty, sweet, umami flavors enveloped my tongue. The spinach and mushrooms cut the richness.
"Good?"
"Delicious. How'd you find this place?"
"Did my homework."
Sis smiled proudly and shared some steak, spinach, and mushrooms with me, urging me to eat more.
"Aren't you eating, Sis?"
"Snacked too much. Not hungry."
I was starving from all the walking, so I didn't refuse.
As I ate heartily, the ingredients composing the dish jumped out at me.
I spotted common threads.
Spinach's magnesium and folate meet the steak's arginine and zinc for a stamina-boosting meal. Spinach is known abroad for vitality.
The celery in the Bloody Mary variant aids vigor with androsterone.
"Feels like a Western-style eel set meal."
"Huh?"
"Both great for stamina."
Especially loaded with male libido boosters.
I thought it was quite the coincidence and finished slicing the steak.
After dinner, we strolled the night streets. Cool breeze from the walkway beyond.
"How was it?"
Sis asked.
First anniversary date after regressing. Even if I didn't lead, the day washed away any regrets. Pure bliss.
Like wanting to tie down every fading second.
Felt that ticklish excitement again, plus nostalgia.
"Great. You?"
"Anything with you is perfect."
Sis shrugged. We walked a long time before reaching the lodging. Exhausted from the day—bed felt heavenly soft.
"I'll wash up first."
"Okay. Take your time."
Sis headed to the bathroom.
While waiting, I scrolled through today's photos. Picked a good one for wallpaper. Checked our Starsta account for the last post.
"Haneul, grab my lens case for me."
"One sec. Got it."
Sis called from the bathroom. I rummaged her bag. Not in the front pocket or the small meds one. Opened the big compartment.
"Oh, in that pouch maybe?"
I pulled out a small pouch. Looked like a makeup one, so I opened it... Huh?
No lens case. Instead, some weird outfit.
Red mesh base. Too sheer and revealing for sleepwear—more exposed than covered.
Christmas-perfect cosplay lingerie.