Chapter 136. What Is Christmas to Lovers?
Chapter 136. What Is Christmas to Lovers?
Christmas morning.
Laila and I ate breakfast together and spent time cuddling as usual.
'Ahem...'
But I'd been restless since the moment I woke up.
I kept sitting on the sofa, then springing up again, sneaking glances at Laila.
I desperately masked my expression, afraid she might somehow catch on.
─ I sprang to my feet.
"Um..."
"Yes?"
At my call, Laila turned her head and looked at me.
"L-Laila... how about we go on a date today? We could eat out and everything...?"
Not an ordinary date, but one I had prepared.
I felt a ticklish excitement, for no real reason.
"Since it's Christmas, we'll go out to eat, watch a movie, that sort of thing."
At that, Laila smiled brightly.
"Shall we? Then while I tidy this up, would you go change your clothes?"
At her words, I went into the room and quickly changed.
When I came back to the living room after changing, Laila was just untying her apron.
"Fufu, you go on ahead first."
She tiptoed over and lightly kissed my cheek.
Then she took a couple of steps back and grinned.
"First?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Heehee, it's a Christmas date. I'll come looking really pretty, so go on ahead and let your imagination run wild~"
With a playful smile, she gently pushed my back and sent me toward the front door.
Thus, at Laila's request(?), I waited on the first floor by the entrance.
I shifted around with my hands stuffed in my pockets, and fiddled with my phone.
"Hero!"
At Laila's call, I turned my head.
"Uh..."
The moment I saw her, my eyes briefly shook.
A coat with striking colors, a softly sparkling necklace.
Her hair fell in gentle waves, and her lips were naturally tinted.
"...You look pretty."
Laila came closer and smiled softly.
"How much?"
"More than yesterday... less than tomorrow?"
Apparently satisfied with my answer, she nodded and naturally linked her arm with mine.
"Then shall we go on the date Hero prepared?"
At her words, I let out a chuckle.
---
"Wow... there are so many people!"
The place was bustling with people.
Even Laila, who had been awkward at first, soon opened her eyes wide at the smell of popcorn, poked a straw into her cola, and looked around with wonder.
'Come to think of it...'
"A screen this big and the sound is so loud... It's my first time actually coming here, so it's fascinating..."
It was her first time at a movie theater since coming to Earth.
She had always been busy with something, so this kind of everyday enjoyment was a first for her.
"This kind of thing didn't exist back there...?"
"No, there were usually plays or performances... but nothing that came out on a screen like this."
"Hmm... Let's come often."
"Heehee..."
Even such light words seemed to make her happy; Laila's hand holding mine tightened.
"The movie we're seeing today is this one, right?"
The movie poster Laila pointed to with her hand.
A woman given a terminal diagnosis and a man who loves that woman.
A totally cliché romance movie.
'Maybe because it's a safe bet, this kind of material always pops up...'
We took popcorn and cola and entered the theater, quietly taking our seats.
When the lights in the auditorium went out and it grew dark, Laila grew excited, murmuring that it would start soon.
'Oh... not bad...'
A boy and girl who had been friends since childhood fought, reconciled, and came to understand each other's feelings.
The woman, who had grown honest and whose happy times seemed like they would last forever, received a terminal diagnosis.
The woman, who had been agonizing alone, broke up with him because she wanted him to be happy.
"Sniffle..."
I glanced to the side and saw Laila sniffling, as if the movie's story pained her.
The plot escalated dramatically, and after realizing that everything had been a misunderstanding, the woman made one last request to the man.
- Kiss me passionately like you used to.
The two shared their last love.
As they built their final memories together, time passed, and the woman ultimately could not overcome her illness.
'...was a romance movie allowed to be like that? Aren't romances supposed to have happy endings?'
After the movie ended, we walked out of the auditorium without saying a word.
Then Laila spoke up.
"It's so sad..."
"I didn't know it had that kind of ending either..."
I just thought it would be a 'they lived happily ever after' ending after overcoming the illness...
"But I liked it."
"Hm...?"
"Other people seemed to really like it too, didn't they?"
At Laila's words, I looked around and heard couples murmuring quietly among themselves.
Mostly the women were talking and the men listening, but...
- Hoon, still, I understand the woman's feelings.
- Even though it's sad... it was so cool...
- Going here and there to build memories...
I scratched my head at their reactions.
'Hmm...'
"Um, Hero..."
"Yeah?"
"Wh-what if I were in that kind of situation...?"
I grabbed her wrist and pulled her close.
And holding her in my arms, I whispered in her ear.
"Don't you know that saying things like that is a huge flag?"
"Eek..."
─ Smooch...
Open endings, bad endings — all of those were sins.
Because I only like happy endings.
"Shall we go eat?"
"Yeees..."
Laila, who usually initiated and tempted me first.
Whenever I launched an unexpected attack, her face would turn red like it was about to burst and she'd shut down.
---
The two of us headed to a hotel in the city center.
For a change of atmosphere, I had reserved a suite here, and the restaurant was also inside this building.
"Wow... it's really high up?"
When we went to the restaurant and gave my name, they guided us to a private room.
Soon, the prearranged course dishes were placed on the table one by one.
The carefully and elegantly plated dishes were a feast for the eyes as well.
"As expected of something Hero prepared... I'm so happy."
Her words were filled with genuine happiness.
"Thank you so much. For making a special day and special memories like this."
At those words, a sense of pride welled up inside me.
That everything I had prepared had meaning, and that one small smile from her was all the reward I needed.
'How many people in the world always say thank you like that?'
She was always like that.
She never missed even the smallest things, and expressed her gratitude without hesitation.
As the meal was coming to an end, a staff member approached and spoke quietly.
"Shall I bring out what you've prepared now?"
I nodded.
Then a moment later, the staff member carefully carried something in.
Elegantly wrapped small boxes, a leather pouch, and a long case with a ribbon were placed one by one next to the table.
"Hero, this is...?"
"Presents."
I said it nonchalantly, but I hoped Laila would like them.
"This is a brooch I thought would suit you, these are earrings that match your hair color..."
Each time I introduced one, Laila carefully accepted it with both hands and tried it on.
But the thing she gazed at the longest, with the most affection, was.
"It's warm..."
A soft, warm scarf.
Laila slowly brought the scarf to her face.
And then, with a playful yet bashful smile, she said.
"Heehee, it smells like Hero."
I silently watched her for a moment, then cautiously broached the subject.
"...Laila."
She raised her head.
"Shall we... get married?"
At those words, Laila's eyes widened.
"Ah, well... I'm not saying we hold a wedding right away... let's just fill out the marriage registration first, and later when we have more time... how about doing a grand one?"
Laila averted her eyes and lowered her head.
Her lips trembled slightly, and her hands, clasped together, fidgeted carefully on her lap.
'No way...? It couldn't be...?'
Afraid she might be rejecting me, I looked at her anxiously.
But the next moment, tears quietly streamed from her eyes.
"...S-so we're officially husband and wife now?"
At that, I inhaled sharply.
And then, smiling gently, I nodded.
"Of course. If you'll have me."
Then Laila wiped her welling tears with both hands, and as she raised her head again, she cried out.
"Of course! Who would ever refuse this!"
"..."
"From the start, there was only one option, wasn't there!"
Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glistened with tears.
She sniffled and shouted loudly.
"I love you."
"Ugh... I can't take it!"
"Wh-what...?"
"I can't hold back!"
She grabbed my wrist and sprang up from her seat.
I found myself being pulled along by her.
After settling the bill, we took the building's elevator and headed up.
"I-I'm sure I... what was the room number?"
"???"
─ Be-beep...
─ Thud!
Laila roughly slammed the hotel door shut.
"...?"
Laila said she was going to wash up and headed to the shower with her bag.
'I-I definitely thought it was supposed to be that kind of romance, where you confirm each other's love and promise a future together...?'
The mood was just about to switch from romance to something for adults.
Not adult content, but a thriller where I was endlessly being pounced on...?
─ Creeak...
Laila's hair, not yet fully dried, shone with luster.
And her outfit was...
"Ta-da~ A pretty Santa came to give a present to the good Hero♥"