Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: It's My First New Year's Day Not Alone!
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After the President's father—whom she'd told me to call Uncle—returned home.
We all gathered together to grill the beef I'd bought and have lunch.
"Beef for lunch? That's luxurious."
"Da-jeong bought it. You eat plenty too."
"Really? Thanks to Da-jeong, I'll be feasting. Appreciate it."
"Ehehe... No problem. Dig in!"
The savory aroma of the sizzling beef filled the living room.
Aunt said she needed to open the door for a bit and headed to the back.
In the meantime, I tried to take over the tongs since the owner had vanished, but...
"Tch, guests don't grill."
"Yesss..."
The President snatched the tongs from my hand like it was no big deal.
I ended up pouting.
Hing, I wanted to grill too.
Whenever we went out to eat together, I was always the one just receiving food.
Even when Yuna and I—same age—went to a barbecue place alone.
Why doesn't anyone ever let me grill?
Do they distrust me because I don't get to eat meat often and might mess it up?
I think I grill pretty well, though...
"Come to think of it, Da-jeong, you live alone, right?"
"Ah, yes. Uncle."
I was fidgeting with my hands while watching the beef cook.
Uncle broke the silence first.
Seemed like standard background questions.
"Living alone can't be easy. Do you manage meals and side dishes okay?"
"Hehe... I'm not great at it, but I can handle simple cooking. I get by."
"Oh, really? Our daughter can't even fry an egg properly and gets an earful from her mom every day. Impressive."
"D-Dad! Why say that in front of her!"
It must've been a sore spot the President wanted to keep hidden.
She fiercely protested, tongs and scissors in hand, at Uncle's sudden bombshell.
Uncle stepped back, looking startled.
"Hey! Don't wave those sharp things around! You'll poke someone!"
"You're the one saying weird stuff! And in this day and age, so what if I can't cook...! Right, Da-jeong?"
"Huh? Ah, y-yeah..."
Uh, yeah. Fair point.
These days, delivery's everywhere, and frozen foods are top-notch.
No real need to be a great cook.
B-But not even being able to fry an egg? That's a bit much, isn't it, President...?
"Talk is cheap. She couldn't even move out because she can't cook one thing right, and her mom wouldn't allow it."
"That's just Mom being old-fashioned... Ack?!"
The President tried to argue back against Uncle.
But Aunt, who'd just come back from opening the window, overheard.
She pretended not to hear and smacked the back of her head with her knee, cutting her off.
"Oops, sorry. Didn't know the pig from our house was standing there."
"Mom!"
Man, the President's house is so lively.
Their playful bickering is fun just to watch.
Is this what families are like?
Hmm, come to think of it, Ra-hee unnie's house felt similar.
Though her mom was a bit more composed and elegant.
Ji-ah unnie's place was the closest vibe.
Anyway, it's fun.
"Da-jeong, the meat's done. Eat up."
"Ah, yes. Thank you."
I'd been lost in thought watching the happy trio.
Uncle's words snapped me back.
Sure enough, the grill was now covered with perfectly cooked beef.
"Da-jeong, start with these. It's sirloin, a pricey cut—super tasty."
"Really?"
I thought all beef was delicious.
But this one's extra special.
Come to think of it, when we went out for meat together.
We rarely had beef—mostly pork or lamb.
We ate sushi or sashimi more than meat, actually.
So yeah, I'm a little excited.
Wonder how the beef I bought tastes.
Nom.
I dipped the beef in sesame oil and chewed.
The rich, meaty flavor burst in my mouth.
Followed by a subtle, savory depth.
"Mmm...!"
W-What is this?
It's insanely good.
This is sirloin?!
"Pfft, tasty? Your eyes are sparkling. Our maknae."
"It is...! Everyone, try some."
"We can go slow. Maknae, eat lots."
Uu, but if this keeps up, I'll hog it all.
Even if I bought it, that's no good.
Alright, Uncle and Aunt are eating now.
Time to feed the President.
She's got the tongs, so it'll be tricky for her.
"President, here. Ahh~."
"Uh, huh?"
"You're holding the tongs, so it's hard to eat. I'll feed you."
She'd said before she prefers beef plain over wrapped.
I dipped it lightly in oil and held it out.
The President looked a bit flustered.
She glanced around...
"Ah, ahh~."
She parted her lips and took the meat.
Chewed a couple times, savoring it.
Then silently gave a thumbs-up and nodded.
"How is it? Good, right?"
"Mhm, delicious. 'Cause our maknae's feeding me?"
"Really? Hehe..."
I know she's just saying it, but it makes me happy anyway.
Alright, I'm on President meat duty.
"Where'd you find such a sweet girl?"
"Right? Viewers always say I brought home a lucky charm."
"She's such a good kid. Wish we had a daughter like her."
"Too bad."
And while I heartily grabbed my share in between.
Praise poured in from all sides, leaving me bashful and ducking my head.
Hehe.
Still fun.
This is what it's like spending the holiday together.
After the meal, we sat around chatting.
Aunt and the President sipped black tea.
Uncle grabbed some fruit.
I considered something else but went with water.
I'd been drinking too many sodas at home lately.
Time to drink water for health—even if it might be too late...
I grabbed a fruit too.
Mm, good.
This apple especially—dripping with sweetness. Perfect.
"So, Da-jeong, you always spent New Year's alone?"
"Ah, yes. Usually by myself, but sometimes the grandma next door brought fried food over."
Munch munch, chewing the apple.
I nodded at Aunt's next background question.
She looked so pitying.
"Aigoo... Must've been tough. Holidays should be lively to feel alive."
"Yeah. Living alone's no joke. Tsk."
"Hehe, it's fine. This year, with you, Uncle, and Aunt here, it's fun."
I smiled brightly, unconcerned.
Uncle and Aunt looked bittersweet, then smiled softly.
Their smiles felt oddly poignant, like they didn't want to say more in front of me.
"Haneul, if Da-jeong's okay with it, bring her every holiday. No one comes to ours anyway—might as well spend it together."
"Yeah, planning to. Da-jeong, cool with that?"
"I'd love to, but I don't want to impose..."
Uncle's words led to the President's suggestion.
But I couldn't nod right away.
This New Year's was a grateful exception.
Every holiday? That felt too burdensome.
"Don't worry, it's not like that. Besides, my parents can't do empty talk. They're happy you're here—that's why they're saying it."
"R-Really...?"
I lifted my head cautiously, peeking at them wide-eyed.
Uncle and Aunt nodded in agreement.
Relief washed over me, filling my heart with quiet pride.
I see.
I'm not a burden.
"Speaking of, Da-jeong, anything you've wanted to do with family on New Year's?"
"Something I want to do?"
"Yeah."
Something I want to do.
Tough question.
I don't even know much about New Year's traditions.
Like ancestral rites or family meals.
Basic stuff like that.
Ah, but if I had to pick one...
A bit childish, but...
There is one thing I've always wanted to try.
"Th-There is... but it's kinda childish..."
"It's fine, tell us. What?"
"W-Well..."
I glanced at the President and her parents.
Fidgeted with my hands, then squeezed my eyes shut and blurted it out.
"...Yutnori."
"What? Sorry, didn't catch that."
"I-I mean... yutnori..."
"Huh? Yutnori?"
I bobbed my head, peeking at the President.
Would saying I want to play yutnori at my age sound stupid?
But I've never played it.
I know the rules from hearing about them.
"Da-jeong, you've never played yutnori?"
"N-No..."
"Makes sense. New Year's means yutnori. We used to play a lot when Haneul was little."
"Yeah. Haven't since relatives stopped visiting."
They played yutnori here too.
Kinda jealous.
"Alright, wanna play after a while?"
"Eh? R-Really?"
"Yeah, nothing else to do stuck at home. Da-jeong with President, Dad with Mom—2v2."
"Waa...!"
I lit up at the President's great idea.
That sounds fun for sure.
Team matches get the excitement going more than solo.
"Since it's been ages, wanna bet? Losers buy dinner and dessert."
"Ooh, good one, Mom."
And with Aunt's addition.
We suddenly had a New Year's betting yutnori tournament.