chapter 14
One day when the final assignment that seemed like it would never end comes to an end, and the street is decorated with crude decorations made of LED bulbs and a familiar tune, Carol.
“Brother, why are you like this?”
“yes?”
I was eating with two of my friends in the food court in the basement of a large supermarket.
“No, I just want you to stay still.”
“I know. Why is that, Dojin-ah? Doesn’t it taste good?”
It wasn’t that I didn’t open the spoon because I didn’t have an appetite. I just forgot to eat because my eyes caught on the news on the TV in the middle of the food court.
“I just thought that this year is already over.”
“It’s true. When is the time like this. Next year, I’m already in my third year.”
Ga-ryun, who heard my words, lowered her head with a gloomy voice. Seeing this, Seol-ha poked Ga-ryun in the back with an absurd expression on her face.
“I… … Sweetheart, we’re in 4th grade. I have to finish my portfolio and prepare my rubbish.”
“If you don’t like it so much, then be late. You can spend one more year with me.”
As soon as the words were finished, a stinging chestnut under the snow pierced Ga-ryun’s forehead.
<How did you plan this Christmas… … .>
The correspondent in the downtown area was asking such questions to the citizens.
An elderly woman who wants to spend time with her family, a young child who screams that he will meet Santa this year, and a young man who wants to relieve the tiredness of work while sleeping.
Various people were speaking their wishes on the TV with different expressions.
“Dojin, what are you thinking about? rubbish.”
Seol-ha pulled Ga-ryun by the cheek and spoke.
“No, I have some ideas, but I have no concrete plans. But, well, I still have a lot of time to think. Wouldn’t it be okay to do something?”
“Wow, whoops… … . That’s right. it’ll work out somehow Don’t be so gloomy right now, think about what we’ll see at the party tomorrow, ugh!”
“Isn’t it you who brought up the story, sweetheart… … ?”
At Seol-ha’s gesture, Ga-ryun’s cheeks expand like glutinous rice cakes.
After watching the ridiculous appearance for a moment, he turned his eyes back to the TV.
―How are you planning to spend this Christmas?
―Uh, he, me, my boyfriend, and my boyfriend.
A woman lowers her head and answers in a crawling voice to the reporter’s mischievous question.
―We decided to have a party at our house. Why is it okay?
Soon after, the man who was supposed to be a boyfriend continued to speak instead, and the reporter watched the scene with delight.
“Everyone who sees me is ashamed.”
Seol-ha, who was watching TV, was blushing and stroking her hair.
“Yeah, I will… … . Well, that, my brother.”
“yes?”
Garyun looks at my face and turns her head.
“Oh, no. I’m just curious what movie we’re going to see at the party. Well, the movie about dinosaurs that you recommended last time was also interesting.”
Ga-ryun, who used to not like movies very much, is now obsessed with it and looking forward to the next movie to watch.
There are many movies I would like to recommend, but what would you like to see as a movie to watch together for Christmas?
“Oh, how about that? the silence of the cows. See you after a long time.”
“What? No, it’s a fun movie, but it’s not something you see at a party.”
the silence of the cows.
The movie, which Seol-ha puts into her mouth in a playful tone, is a psychiatrist who once had a knack for the psychology and mind-reading of others in order to catch the killer who caused the bizarre case. It was a psychological thriller about asking for advice from another murderer who was imprisoned in .
It’s an immersive film that once you start watching it, you can’t get out of it, but there are some brutal or unpleasant scenes inserted here and there, so it’s a little bit small for a movie to be screened at a party, or Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus.
“why?”
Seolha looked at my expression and pouted her lips.
“I don’t know because you saw it too. There aren’t many, but there are some brutal scenes, and it’s a bit too much for a party show.”
“How about that?”
“What?”
“When you see a scary scene, you just turn your head and tell me to look at you.”
Seolha smiled and shrugged. It was a very mean face.
“What are you talking about.”
“You were scared of dogs watching that movie. It trembles and clenches its teeth. I thought it would be a little pricey for me to see.”
Warm energy rises up your face. Why do you still remember that?
“… … That you too were trembling next to me. I don’t even remember spilling Coke.”
“Is that so?”
Seolha’s face, who was playing pranks on my nose, turned red in an instant. Garyun, who had been squinting at the figure, opened her mouth.
“Have you seen them together?”
“Oh, somehow… .”
“Because of him, my immersion was broken and I was scolded.”
Seol-ha must have forgotten what she had done that day. Otherwise, I can’t be bothered with that.
“okay? Shall I just tell you everything?”
“Eh, ah. what’s the matter. It’s a joke~ Are you petting the horse’s tail now?”
“Baby girl, so what happened that day… .”
“Wow, come!”
My mouth to reveal the truth was blocked by Seolha’s hand.
… … Your palms are touching my lips.
Should I say this or not? How long do you plan on blocking it?
“I think it was a really fun movie.”
As she said that, Garyun’s expression looked somewhat gloomy.
“Baby, why are you doing this? Did I say anything else?”
“yes?”
“No, the expression… … .”
“What’s on your face? I have no idea?”
Garyun blinks her eyes with a puzzled expression.
“okay? i guess i was wrong Anyway, Chae Seol-ha, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that story a while ago.”
“Ah Okay. Because it was a joke. I’m crazy and I’m going to play it on party day.”
It was already night when we went out after chatting. One by one, the signs on the buildings were lit up.
“Oh, it’s cold.”
“It has never been this cold before. eww… … .”
The two of them shivered and tucked their necks into the padding like turtles.
Again. Even if you finish quickly and try to do something else, this is what it looks like when you sit down chatting with your friends and come to your senses.
“How did you decide to go to karaoke?”
“It’s too late. And I am tired.”
The eyelids were gradually gaining weight. It would be unreasonable to sing in this state.
“Yes, sweetheart. Let’s go to karaoke next time. We’ll be together again in two days anyway.”
“I see. Are you going to take the subway?”
“yes. Wasn’t it the same route as you up to the middle? We can go together.”
On the way to the subway station, it was night, but the street was still full of people.
Male students entering a building with a PC room sign in a noisy conversation with abusive language, a young child crossing a railroad crossing holding their parents’ hands tightly, and a woman in a suit supporting the drunken man tremblingly.
As we saw in the news earlier, countless people were walking in different directions, walking through the city that never lost its light.
“Dojin-ah.”
“why?”
Seol-ha, who was walking next to me, spoke in a soft voice.
“Are you okay?”
“what.”
“I decided to make Budae Jjigae.”
Seolha looked at the plastic bag in her hand and murmured. That was also the reason the three of us got together today.
“Because it’s okay. Our food will be the best.”
“still… … .”
Two days later, on Christmas Day, we decided to have a small party with the film clubs, adding two friends who weren’t here today.
The place was Minseo’s own room, where they planned to hold a small event where they exchanged gifts while eating the food they had prepared.
However, unlike other people in the club, Seolha and I have a wallet situation that is not worth every penny, so we decided to cook by ourselves.
In order to save money, I scoured flyers and the Internet, researched discount event schedules, and finally bought a dish made with shabby ingredients. Even then, he planned to use leftovers at home for seasoning and kimchi.
“Aren’t you supposed to buy some wine? What if we go and our food just jumps out? No, should I change it to a cake right now? Ugh, it’s too expensive for that… … .”
“I bought it, so don’t worry. And like you said, you’ll be fine. How delicious is the budaejjigae that my sister made.”
“It would be nice then.”
Seol-ha sighed after hearing Ga-ryun’s words.
“If you care that much, I’ll add money to you, so even now—”
I interrupted Garyun’s words.
“No, thank you for helping me find event information. Chaseolha, because it’s okay. Not having money is not a sin… … . They’re not the kind of people who care about things like that.”
“Yeah, that’s right. That’s right, when we go there, everyone will only eat the budaejjigae we made.”
Seolha said so and slapped my cheek.
“Of course.”
“Because it is. Oh, so looking forward to it. When are you waiting for two days? really.”
Garyun looks at me with her eyes sparkling like lapis lazuli.
However, with excitement, Ga-ryun ran into a couple walking down the street, probably because she couldn’t see properly.
“Oh, sorry, sorry.”
“no. Isn’t that where you’re hurt?”
Fortunately, it did not lead to a major accident as it was a light bump, but Ga-ryun continued to bow her head as if she was very sorry.
“I think the atmosphere was good, but I think I ruined everything. Oh really. I’ll take a good look ahead. I’m really sorry.”
“Things like that happen, too. They passed on too. Ugh, look at how kind-hearted our little girl really is. What should I do with him, really?”
“Oh, my sister. Okay, okay, okay, so don’t play around with this. Oh really! You’re all looking at me! I do not know… … .”
Seol-ha made a mischievous expression and pretended to hug Ga-ryun playfully. The melancholy appearance from before had long since disappeared.
Ga-ryun was pushing that sub-lingual while reminding her face to turn red.
“… … .”
it’s a couple
Watching a couple heading somewhere with their arms crossed, a scene from the news came to mind again. Yeah, that girl who said she would spend time with her boyfriend.
Before entering college, Christmas was all about spending time alone or with family.
That’s why the time to prepare for a party with friends like this now feels even more precious and special. A little unfortunate things happened last year, but this time, I hope it will be a day full of fun and good things. I made such a small wish toward the stars in the night sky.
Alas, it sure will be.
… … Even a country like this can be happy now.
But happiness is only fleeting.
One year later, that was all we had left. How will our relationship change after Christmas, graduating, going to the military, and getting a job?
Are you still friends? Or, like the people on this street, will they be left behind as a passing relationship?
As I was thinking about it, I suddenly remembered the memories of the pub I went to last week.