Chapter 82: Happiness

After Eun-ha’s hiccups had subsided, I handed her the gift I had brought.

“Eun-ha, this is my Christmas present for you. I hope you like it, though I’m not sure if I have a good sense for gifts.”

“What is it? Can I open it right now?”

“Yes, go ahead.”

“I wonder what’s inside~”

Eun-ha, brimming with anticipation, opened the paper bag and pulled out a box from inside.

Carefully opening the box, she immediately looked into my eyes upon seeing the beautiful wallet.

She seemed utterly surprised, and I couldn’t tell what had shocked her so much.

“A wallet..?”

Her voice trailed off slightly, making me think this gift was a failure.

But then she flashed a joyful smile and lunged at me, expressing how much she loved it.

Eun-ha ended up on top of me as I fell backward. She joyfully squirmed and grabbed my face.

“I love it so much, Han-gyeol...”

Tears fell from Eun-ha’s eyes that were covering me, trickling down my cheeks.

“Are you that moved? It’s nothing special.”

“I don’t know... I just love it. Han-gyeol, you’re my favorite in the world.”

“You’re happy, aren’t you?”

“Yes, so happy, that’s why I’m crying...”

I lifted my arms to gently wipe away Eun-ha’s tears, but they kept falling onto my cheeks.

“Eun-ha, you’ll get dehydrated if you keep this up.”

“What’s that~ Why would I get dehydrated~”

Eun-ha smiled slightly at my joke.

“Eun-ha, even your crying is beautiful.”

“So is Han-gyeol...! So beautiful! Come here!”

Eun-ha then leaned down and showered my face with kisses. I was too happy to resist, and Eun-ha showed no sign of stopping even as time passed.

“Eun-ha-? At this rate, there won’t be any of my face left.”

“I’m going to mark it as mine with kisses.”

“It already seems covered in Eun-ha’s lipstick.”

“Exactly. Now no one will dare look at you. I’ve marked you.”

“I can’t live like this. How does my face look now?”

“Handsome...”

Eun-ha’s unequivocal response made me laugh.

“No. How many lipstick marks are there?”

“I feel like it’s still slightly lacking... Can I fill every nook and cranny?”

“Of course not!”

“Kyaaa!”

As I sat up, Eun-ha found herself comfortably seated on my thighs.

It was a somewhat awkward and embarrassing position, but I just wanted to tease her a little.

Gently wrapping my right arm around Eun-ha’s waist and cradling her head with my left, I laid her down on the couch.

Without any resistance, Eun-ha lay her head on the couch and silently gazed at my face.

After giving her forehead a quick kiss, who was expecting what would come next, I got up from the couch.

As soon as I stepped away, Eun-ha quickly sat up and exclaimed,

“Ah...! What’s that about!”

Like an irritated cat, Eun-ha puffed up her cheeks and glared at me.

“What did I do?”

“Why didn’t you kiss me?! If you lay me down, you’re supposed to kiss me!”

“You’re saying something dangerous. It’s risky to kiss after laying someone down.”

I drew out my words playfully. However, Eun-ha still looked unsatisfied and merely muttered under her breath.

“What’s risky about it... Tsk.”

“Sorry? What was that?”

“What’s risky about it?! I’ll be twenty in a week, so there’s nothing risky anymore! It’s time when what comes after a kiss doesn’t matter!”

“What comes after?!”

“Yes! What comes after!”

Eun-ha’s bombshell left me completely stunned. I even doubted if what she just said was accurate.

“You... you can’t just blurt out things like that!”

“Why not?! I’ll be an adult soon, so it’s fine!”

“But you’re not an adult yet!”

“Will you do it when I’m an adult?!”

Eun-ha’s words felt like a barrage to my head.

It was as if bells were ringing above me.

But... I guess I had to answer.

“Yes...”

At my response, Eun-ha deflated her puffed cheeks and looked up at me.

The saying goes, ‘The quiet and well-behaved cat gets on the hearth first*’... Guess it wasn’t wrong after all.

“Then, that’s settled...”

Eun-ha turned her head away in embarrassment, but the atmosphere had already crossed an irreversible river.

I tried to think of something to change the mood, but nothing suitable came to mind.

It was Eun-ha who broke the silence.

“Hey, Han-gyeol.”

“Yeah...”

Alright. Let’s trust in my girlfriend’s wit this time.

“But... when exactly should we do it...?”

And there it goes, bursting like a bubble.

“That’s not what I meant...! Let’s talk about something else for now, and we’ll go with the flow for that-!”

“But, but-! For such a big step... shouldn’t we have some sort of plan?!”

“You have a point, but...! Anyway, let’s leave that to me and focus on other topics for now...!”

“No, no-! I don’t want to put all the pressure on Han-gyeol. Let’s do it together-! When would be a good time?!”

Ah- This calls for a definitive conclusion.

“The first night of our trip.”

“That night? Okay..! I’ll prepare..! I’ll do my best!”

Eun-ha clenched her fist, determined.

As whimsical as it was... I couldn’t help but laugh at Eun-ha’s strong spirit.

This side of her is also why I love Eun-ha, my girlfriend.

“Really... you’re so unpredictable.”

“Me? Why?”

“Because I love you.”

“Suddenly?!”

Yes. It’s good to have things decided.

“Eun-ha, show me your present too. You said I should look forward to it.”

I said, looking at the present bundle on the sofa.

It was the only thing that could divert the topic under the current circumstances.

“Ah-! Okay-okay-! Come here and close your eyes.”

“Alright~”

I sat next to Eun-ha again and closed my eyes.

I heard rustling sounds, then Eun-ha pulled something out.

“Han-gyeol, you can open your eyes now.”

As I slowly opened my eyes, Eun-ha was holding a large gift box.

“Why is it so big?”

“Open it~! You’ll be surprised!”

“Thank you~”

Upon opening the gift box, I found a beautiful wallet and a scarf inside.

“Wow...! Why did you prepare so much?”

“How is it? Are you happy? Are you pleased?”

Eun-ha leaned in with a happy smile.

“Wow-! It’s really pretty. Eun-ha, you gave me a wallet too? It’s nice to be on the same wavelength. I was actually planning to buy one when I became an adult...! The scarf is incredibly beautiful too! Wait, did you make this yourself...?!”

Eun-ha nodded in response to my question.

“Wow-! Really?! I want to try it on right now.”

“Really?! Come closer. I’ll tie it for you.”

Eun-ha spread out the scarf and wrapped it around my neck.

Eun-ha, who even tied a pretty knot, smiled at me.

“It suits you really well, Han-gyeol.”

“Really? Thank you so much. I should have done more for Eun-ha. I’m sorry.”

“No-! I’m really happy and grateful for Han-gyeol’s gift too. I mean it-! I’m so happy!”

Grateful, I planted a soft kiss on her cheek.

“Han-gyeol, there’s a card inside too!”

“Really? Can I read it now?”

“It’s a bit embarrassing, but go ahead!”

“Alright, then I’ll read it~”

I pulled the letter out of the red Christmas envelope and began to read it slowly.

Eun-ha’s letter, written in beautiful handwriting, naturally brought a smile to my face.

[ To my beloved Han-gyeol,

Han-gyeol, this feels like the first time I’m writing a letter since we started dating. Honestly, it’s quite embarrassing, but since I’m expressing it through writing, I’ve tried to fully convey my feelings.

Well… First off, I’m so thankful to you, Han-gyeol. There’s not just one or two reasons for my gratitude.

For comforting me when I was down.

For being there when I was sick.

For brightening up my home when you visit.

For enduring the tough times of exam preparations with me. I’m thankful for all of it.

There’s so much I’m grateful for that if I tried to write it all down, this letter would never end.

Han-gyeol, you know, I’ve never really opened up about my feelings to anyone. To put it negatively, I guess I had trouble trusting people. I was honest, but I was afraid of being rejected.

But every time you accepted my feelings just as they were, I found myself falling deeper for you. Maybe you’re the one who changed the me who could have lived like that forever.

I’m truly, truly grateful that you appeared in my life with a bang.

Ever since I met you, my life has been ceaselessly shining. Every moment of breathing is enjoyable, and being by your side makes me feel what happiness truly is. I can’t express how joyful I am to spend the end of my teens with you.

Please be with me on the last Christmas of my life too.

I don’t think I can fully express my heart through words, speech, or actions.

I love you so much, Han-gyeol. Every word and action I give to you is sincere.

Now, a year from now, ten years from now, and even beyond that, I will always be sincere to you!

Just know this, okay? That I will always love you.

Thank you for accepting my love, Han-gyeol.

And thank you for loving someone as imperfect as me, Han-gyeol.

Please continue to love me with the same ‘constant’ heart.

I, too, will love you with a ‘constant’ heart.

Merry Christmas. Let’s enjoy the remaining time~

From your girlfriend, Eun-ha. ]

As soon as I finished reading the letter, a tingling sensation pricked at my nose.

I hadn’t done much, but I was deeply grateful to Eun-ha, who said she was happy because of me.

Eun-ha, who said every moment with me was joyful and promised it would be so in the future, made me feel like I was about to choke up, so I bit my lower lip to hold back the tears.

“Thank you...”

“Really? If you’re thankful, give me a deep kiss quickly.”

“Come here.”

Eun-ha closed her eyes and moved closer at my words.

“Come here.”

“I love you, Eun-ha. I love you so much that words can’t express.”

“Yeah! I love you tremendously too.”

I gently captured Eun-ha’s lips with mine.

No matter how much I think about it, it seems there couldn’t be anything more blissful than this.

--- The End OF The Chapter ---

[TL: The quiet and well-behaved cat gets on the hearth first- It’s a Korean saying that means even those who appear calm and dignified on the outside can sometimes act in cunning ways first, especially when tempted.

…Please be with me on the last Christmas of my life too… Man... this is such a beautiful line.

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