episode_0077

Summer vacation passed quickly and the first day of school approached.

Even after the new semester started, school life continued as normal.

Days like this continued after school when I would meet my older sister Sae-ah and have her teach me how to study.

During those days, the exam period came and my score was naturally close to 100 points.

I got a few questions wrong on the arts and physical education section and didn’t get full marks, but fortunately, that didn’t bother me at all as a mother who was proud of her son.

Fortunately, my older sister’s hard work in teaching me to study seemed to have had an effect, as all my grades were over 90 points. My mother-in-law was so happy that she even hugged me.

During Chuseok, I went to my grandfather’s house with my family to pay my respects, and I was able to hear my grandfather’s praise for my grades and receive some pocket money, making it a fulfilling Chuseok.

Fall has passed and winter has come, and tomorrow is my first Christmas with my older sister.

Because I couldn’t go empty-handed on my first Christmas since we started dating, I ended up going to the department store alone after much thought.

I couldn’t use my grandfather’s card to buy a gift for my girlfriend, so I thought I’d use my slush fund, and of course, my slush fund was full.

Money was no problem, but I had never actually bought a Christmas present, so I was wandering around the department store aimlessly.

Take a walk around the cosmetics corner.

Take a walk around the jewelry corner.

Take a walk around the luxury goods corner.

How many laps did you do?

I have absolutely no idea what to buy.

After wandering around for an hour and thinking about it, I finally went to the jewelry corner, which seemed like a good fit for me.

I think the necklace would look good on you too.

Because it was Christmas Eve, the inside of the department store was packed with people, and the store employees were more focused on other people than on me.

Of course I understand.

It would seem like it would be easier for adults to sell than for me, who isn’t even sure if I have money.

Besides, I came dressed in a really rich fashion. I already regret it a little.

It’s like a black padded jacket with no logo on it, like an Adidas tracksuit.

It doesn’t have a logo, but it’s still a luxury padding.

Anyway, I fully understand the employees who don’t get along with me.

Then, for the first time, a staff member appeared and spoke to me.

A female employee who appears to be in her twenties asks questions with a bright smile and a polite attitude.

“Hello, customer. Are you looking for a product?”

“Ah. Yes. Hello. I’m looking for a school girl’s necklace.”

“Then would you like to take a look at these products?”

I was impressed by the friendly staff who spoke to me without losing their smile.

While looking at the necklaces that were introduced, I found a necklace that looked pretty and not too burdensome for Sae-ah to wear.

A necklace in the shape of a small ring with a blue gem in the center.

“Is this okay?”

“Ah! The gem in the middle of this product is aquamarine, also called mermaid tears, and is popular mainly among young customers.”

“I’ll do this. Oh, and if I may ask, is there any sales incentive if I sell a lot?”

The staff member was taken aback by my unexpected question.

“Why do you ask that?”

I wonder if there was a misunderstanding. The employee’s expression turned slightly sour.

“Ah, that. If you give me an incentive to do it for me, I’ll buy some for my family too.”

“Haha. It’s common, right?”

“Then can I see the woman’s bracelet?”

“Look at the bracelet this way.”

I saw the bracelet that the staff member showed me and my mom, Ye-eun’s mother-in-law, and even my new sister.

I bought four more that seemed to fit each person.

Of course, I used my grandfather’s card for the bracelet.

When I paid, I saw other employees looking envious, so it seemed like they had some personal achievements.

It was rewarding to see that the staff liked it, and it was rewarding shopping because I was able to buy pretty things too.

I left the department store, took a taxi home, and managed to get into my room carefully without my family finding out.

***

At lunchtime on Christmas Day, my sister-in-law, mother-in-law, and father-in-law came to my house and a small party began.

Even if you call it a party, it’s just a meal where everyone laughs and chats while eating delivery food like pizza, chicken, and pig’s feet.

Actually, it wasn’t much different from the occasional weekend get-togethers, but maybe it was because it was Christmas.

The atmosphere continued to be a little more upbeat and everyone seemed more happy.

Now, it doesn’t seem strange at all even if we were a real family.

“Son-in-law! You look happy?”

As I was smiling while looking at everyone, my father-in-law asked me while looking at me.

“Just. Because I like seeing everyone smiling together.”

“Sometimes, I see a real old man. Eat some pizza, son-in-law.”

The craftsman handing me a slice of pizza.

He took the pizza with both hands and started eating it quietly.

“But since our son is old, we met a new son and gathered like this.”

“Madam, that’s true. Usually, 6th graders wouldn’t have met Sae-ah. Haha.”

“If it weren’t for Jaehoon, I wouldn’t have met you.”

I wonder if that older sister has any shame. She says things like that so often.

I felt embarrassed just watching it.

“Oh my. Now I really should call you Sae-a-ga.”

“Oh my! Madam, are you finally admitting it?”

“My son is like that too, and everyone else is like that except me, so how can I not admit it?”

“Then, would you please call me your wife too?”

“I’ll take my time.”

“”Hahahaha””

The harmonious gathering of adults continued.

Of course, Ye-eun, who didn’t fit in well with adults’ conversations, seemed a little left out.

Seeing my father and father-in-law, who were of the same mental age, taking good care of me, I thought things were going well.

To celebrate Christmas, the dads decided to have a drink together in the evening, and the moms were supposed to talk.

Depending on the situation at that time, wouldn’t it be okay to give a necklace to my older sister and give gifts to my mothers?

I thought about it like that and waited quietly.

After about three hours of gathering, the adults began to get tired and started to become quiet.

The fathers sat listlessly on the sofa and the mothers chatted at the dinner table.

Ye-eun went into her room and my sister and I also went into my room.

“Why aren’t you sleeping today?”

“Why? Are you sleepy, Unnie?”

“A little?”

“Then should I lie down?”

“Yeah!”

I lay in bed with my sister, who didn’t look sleepy at all but was sleepy.

We were lying side by side, staring at the ceiling in silence.

Since nap time was a habit, I fell asleep without realizing it.

***

My eyes opened as I felt something pressing down on my body.

I looked over my body and saw a large box.

Sister Sae-ah is looking at me like that with a smile.

“Sister, what is this?”

“Christmas gift.”

I raised my upper body and lifted the box. It wasn’t heavy for its size.

“Can I open it?”

“Yeah!”

When I opened the box lid, there was a black scarf, gloves, and a beanie.

“It might be a little weird because I made it myself.”

It was a shabby gift that I bought with money at a department store.

“Thank you, sis. But this must have been hard.”

“It’s okay. I bought the gloves because they ended up failing. I made the others myself, so can’t I just throw them away?”

“Why are you throwing this away? Thank you, I’ll use it well, big sister.”

“Yeah.”

Sister Saea, who gave it to me and smiled brightly.

I don’t think I’ve ever been this moved in my life.

I was a little embarrassed at myself for being satisfied with just the necklace.

“I gave it to you because I wanted to. Jaehoon doesn’t have to give you anything!”

“Huh?”

“Jaehoon, I didn’t prepare anything like a gift. Don’t feel burdened. ”

“Ah. Yeah.”

I prepared, but I wondered if my image was like that.

But I shouldn’t give it to you now, I should give it to you later as planned.

“How long did I sleep?”

“Thirty minutes?”

“Sister, you didn’t sleep?”

“Yeah. I brought a gift.”

Somehow he didn’t look sleepy at all.

It looks like he put me to sleep to bring me a gift.

“Jaehoon. Since I gave you a present. Let’s go back to bed.”

My sister also lay down on the bed again because she was tired, and I continued talking.

“When was this made?”

“Two months ago?”

“When did you make it when you were always with me?”

“I kept making it when Jaehoon wasn’t around.”

“You must have had a hard time.”

“It’s okay.”

As I was lying in bed holding hands with my older sister, the sun began to set, so I got out of bed and went into the living room.

“Son-in-law! How about a gift for Sae-ah? I worked hard to make that.”

“Ah. Yes. I like it.”

“Sae-ah’s mom. What are you working so hard to make?”

“My daughter is wearing a scarf and a beanie that Jaehoon said he would give her. Oh my.”

“Wow. That must be so difficult and hard.”

“It was okay.”

“Okay. From now on, I’ll call you Sae-a-ga. Sae-ah.”

“Haha. What is that? It’s a new word that was added to the name Yaya.”

“Our daughter would be happy. She’s a good girl. Haha.”

Everyone ignored the dads who loved such low-level jokes.

After some time, the fathers went to Sae-ah’s older sister’s house to have a drink, and only the mothers, Ye-eun, and Sae-ah’s older sister were left at home.

I guess it’s time to give it to him now.

“Sister. Shall we go for a walk?”

“Yeah.”

I put on the padding with the necklace and left the house with my older sister.

We walked around the neighborhood holding hands and stopped for a moment under a streetlight that looked relatively bright.

“Sister.”

“Huh?”

“Sorry I can’t make it myself.”

Let’s open the necklace case and show it to my sister.

Sister Saea’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Pretty.”

“That’s fortunate.”

“Hug me.”

Sister Saea handing me the case.

I took out the necklace and put it around my sister-in-law’s neck, and just as I was about to leave after putting it on,

-side

My sister stole my lips for the first time in three years.

“Thank you.”

Sister Sae-ah, who smiled brightly and said thank you, looked prettier than ever.

“It’s nothing compared to the gift from my sister. Let’s go in now.”

“Yeah.”

I held my sister’s hand and headed back home.

Come into the house with your sister. I left my sister to sit on the sofa and went into my room for a moment.

I took out the gifts I had prepared for the number of women and went out into the living room with them.

The mothers and Ye-eun gave bracelets to their new sisters.

“It’s a Christmas present.”

“Oh my. Son-in-law! Why are you giving me something like this?”

“Wow. Oppa, you’re pretty.”

“Give me some more?”

Each person’s reaction was different, and among them, my mom looked at me with fear.

“Son. Can I see mom for a minute?”

I headed to the bedroom with my mom.

“Did you buy this with your son’s money? It’s obviously a luxury item?”

“No. I wrote Halka.”

“What should I do?”

“Grandfather’s card.”

“Oh my. That’s good. If it was my son’s money, I would have scolded him.”

“What’s the difference?”

“The difference between son’s money and grandfather’s money?”

I went out into the living room again, laughing with my mom.

Everyone is smiling, joyful and happy.

It was a merry Christmas.