#12 Scenario - Merry Christmas Gift
She stopped for a moment while holding my hand, fidgeting with her lips.
"Why?"
She seemed like she wanted to say something but couldn't get it out, so I asked.
Maeng Soyul hesitated a bit, then looked down at the ground and spoke.
"I don't need a gift. I've already received plenty."
Since I hadn't added any special settings, this must have been Maeng Soyul's true personality.
She was so quiet and reserved, and though her looks gave off a fierce vibe, she had a soft, kind heart deep down.
Stroking the shy Maeng Soyul's head, I said,
"Hmm~, really?"
I bent my knees to look up at her from below, since she was hanging her head.
"......?"
Our eyes met, and she widened hers roundly, staring at me.
I gave her a light smile, placed my hands on her waist, and slowly drew closer to kiss her forehead.
She stayed perfectly still against my very soft, warm lips.
I pulled her softly into my coat and looked down at her.
"If you've already gotten your gift, well~, nothing to be done about it."
Snow drifted gently from the sky, piling thickly and softly on our shoulders.
"Cold? Let's head in now. Here, your hand."
I held out my hand to her, standing one step down on the stairs.
Maeng Soyul carefully took it and stood beside me on the stairs.
There was no need for any special words.
Every single step descending the hillside neighborhood felt fresh and new to her.
"Snow's coming down hard—wanna go to my place and whip up something to eat?"
"Ah..., yes. Sounds good."
I slipped our tightly clasped hands into my pocket and stood side by side at the bus stop.
§
Maeng Soyul.
First love.
Her heart pounded so fiercely that he loomed enormously in her world.
Meeting at the company, becoming lovers, getting married later, having a kid that looked like both of them. A scenario like something she'd seen somewhere floated through her mind.
She wished it would really turn out that way.
Jer k.
The bus jolted over a speed bump, and Nam Siu steadied her waist with one hand.
"Sorry......"
"Huh? For what?"
"For losing my balance."
"Pfft, what's there to be sorry about?"
He laughed instead and pulled her even tighter into his arms.
His firm embrace felt so reliable and comforting.
Hiss.
Stepping off the bus, the snow that showed no sign of stopping had blanketed the ground in white.
The old pop tunes drifting from the roadside café blended in, making her feel like the heroine in a romance flick.
Swipe.
She turned her head to gaze at him as he walked.
Sensing her eyes, he turned too, met her gaze, and flashed the handsomest smile in the world.
"Why?"
"No......"
She couldn't give a specific answer to his "why."
The only response that came to mind was just because I like it.
"Let's grab some stuff together and head in. Snow on Christmas Eve is pretty nice, huh?"
"Yes."
"Short answers like that—I can't tell if you like it or not~."
"......"
Her mind went blank. She wanted to say she liked it, but she'd never done it before and had no idea how.
"I don't know how to express that I like it."
Maybe it was better to just ask straight up.
So the moment it hit her, she turned to him.
"How should I express it?"
"......Hmm."
She etched even the way he pondered deeply into her eyes.
With the determination not to miss a single instant.
"Alright, then here's how. When you can't put it into words, just grab my hand tight like this—with both of yours."
Nam Siu held out his hand, and she wrapped it cutely in both her small ones.
"Perfect. Then I'll assume you're just too happy but too shy to say it."
"Yes. Thank you."
"No need for thanks. Let's go."
Hand in hand, they entered the big supermarket.
She'd shopped here now and then, but not often.
Only when payday hit would she swing by for some meat for the family—that was it.
And with almost no days off at work, it was a rare treat.
"Hmm.... Shrimp?"
"......Yes, I think I like it."
"Beef?"
"Yes, I like it."
He picked them out one by one to ask.
"And me?"
"Um, yes, I like you."
His sudden question zeroing in on her made Maeng Soyul smile without thinking and nod.
"Then~, pasta it is?"
"Pasta?"
"Yeah."
"Can you make it?"
In her mind, pasta was something from fancy restaurants.
"Never tried myself, but wanna give it a shot?"
"Uh, um. First time?"
"Yup."
"Then do it."
Their first time cooking together—that alone made it special enough.
Thud.
After bagging the groceries, they headed to the liquor aisle.
"You drink?"
"Uh..., not really."
"Then......"
Nam Siu glanced around and made for the wine section.
"I-it's not expensive, is it?"
"Kinda pricey. But they've got cheap stuff here."
Spotting wines under ten thousand won, Maeng Soyul froze, blinking in shock.
Thud.
A hand plopped on her head while she gawked, turning it firmly.
"......?"
"How's this?"
A bottle of wine in his hand.
"I don't know much about wine."
"Me neither, honestly. But wanna try?"
"Yes, let's."
Whatever it was, she wanted to try everything with him.
"Package this, please."
She watched the nearby clerk box up the wine.
"Ready to go?"
"......Yes."
Trailing behind as he pulled the cart, she scurried up to walk beside him.
Swipe.
She reached out and grabbed his wrist on the cart handle.
"Huh? Why?"
"Wanted to hold hands."
"Aw, what am I gonna do with this cuteness?"
She felt relieved that he got it, even if she couldn't express herself well.
She'd worried her attempt might not land right.
Rattle.
Checkout done, they transferred everything to boxes.
"A hundred two thousand won....... I-I'll pay."
"Nah, it's cool. Got some investments paying out soon. Doing a bit of finance."
"R-really...?"
"Investments" sounded so grown-up and impressive.
After 23 years boxed in by her circumstances, his every action and word felt so new to her.
The taxi dropped them at his place.
Snow had stopped, but it crunched satisfyingly underfoot where it had piled.
"It's just a jeonse rental, but welcome home."
"Yes, thank you."
"First time here?"
The question sparked a flicker of dissonance. Faint memories of prior visits swam hazily in her head, but she shook it off.
"Yes, first time."
"Yeah, yeah. Cold out—I'll crank the boiler."
Cold air whistled through the slightly open windows for ventilation.
"Won't snow come in if you leave the windows open......?"
"That's why it's just a crack."
Slide.
Slide.
All doors shut, and the boiler hummed to life.
She peered out the living room window.
The view was just an apartment complex, but gazing down from on high at the snow-dusted parking lot and playground felt magical.
Her own place was high up too, but hemmed in by walls—no open vista like this.
"Let's unpack, Soyul~."
"Ah! Yes!"
Maeng Soyul snapped out of window-gazing and hurried to help.
Moving ingredients from boxes to the fridge, side dishes caught her eye.
"......"
Lifting a container, she saw writing on the label sticker.
"This cooking......"
"Oh, that? A sister I know made it. From a while back—still haven't finished it."
"......"
"Sister I know" left her feeling glum.
"Don't worry~. She's married now, lives far off. Made it 'cause I suck at cooking and live alone."
"......Should I make side dishes too?"
"Huh? Wouldn't that be tough?"
"I can make kimchi."
She didn't want to lose to some faceless "sister."
Squeeze.
Fridge door still open, he hugged her tight and pecked her nose.
"Later."
"......Yes."
"Once it warms up, movie and dinner."
All ingredients stowed, he emerged from the bedroom with something.
"This is for you, Soyul."
"......"
Red clothes in the shopping bag.
"Clothes?"
"Yeah, Christmas and all. Thought I'd try. Wear 'em today? Kinda lame?"
He scratched his earlobe, sheepish.
"Ah, no. It's fine. Thanks for the gift. And my family's too."
"Eeyew~. That's just normal. Change quick—I'll brew some warm tea."
"Ah, yes."
While he prepped tea in the kitchen, Maeng Soyul slipped into the bedroom, heart racing, and slowly unpacked the bag.
"So cute......"
Red outfit with fluffy white fur trim like lace.
It screamed Christmas.
"Ah~, Soyul, there's bottoms too—you gotta wear those underneath~!"
His voice from outside; she dug deeper in the bag.
Black mesh lingerie.
"......Oppa?"