Enchanted Christmas

Children ages of four and five ran around the crowded living room where gifts of all sizes and shapes sprawled out from the Christmas tree. The Han family had decided to gather for the holiday. Everyone agreed to make it a special day, one that they had not have for a while. Her sister and her husband had joined them from miles away. Her brother and his wife had done such a wonderful job planning the whole Christmas theme. She, Han Eunjoo, who was the youngest, came to join. Since everyone had a partner, she brought her two-year boyfriend, Lee Jooheon. At least that was good news to her parents, so they would stop pestering her about being alone. Jooheon had met her family before, but she wasn’t one to talk about her relationship to her family, so they thought she was cheating them. They had no faith in their daughter. No faith she could keep her relationship.

Jooheon watched the children ran around him close to the gifts. He couldn’t help but jumped in fear each they stumbled down too close to the present. He feared they’d fall right on top and revealed what’s inside before it was time to unwrap. He watched all the children ran straight to his girlfriend when she appeared in the living. So much for playing with them, they forgot about him the moment someone they knew showed up.

“Auntie, are we going to open the present soon?”

Jooheon mimicked after the child inaudibly, Auntie, are we going to open the present soon?

Jooheon watched as she happily answered the child and gave them all Christmas candies before she disappeared back into the kitchen. She didn’t offer him one. He wasn’t going to follow her to the kitchen. All they did was Eunjoo this and Eunjoo that. And all Eunjoo did was, you this, you that, everyone this, everyone that.

The children exchanged looks when their poking didn’t work on Jooheon. They fell on him and he finally broke free from his thoughts and played with the kids. They enjoyed that he was a wonderful horse. A fast one too. He couldn’t have been happier with the children’s company. The adults were too busy preparing.

It was one of the satisfying meals Jooheon hadn’t have for a while. Chicken, pork, beef, seafood, you name it. There was plenty. Her girlfriend’s family was always best at making plentiful delicious meals. A perk for him, he always received soulful dishes made by his girlfriend. They bid her family goodbyes after pictures with the opened presents. Jooheon loved that every time he met her family, they were always welcoming.

Jooheon stole glances at Eunjoo as they walked to the bus stop. She was quiet and absorbed in her own thoughts. He stared and stared. Thankfully, he didn’t need to wait more than a minute for the bus. Jooheon extended his arm to let her board first. She moved toward the window seat for him to take the seat next to her.

“Are you tired?” Eunjoo asked, her eyes flew from the window to the top of his head when she felt his head on her shoulder.

He closed his eyes while he in a deep breath. A moment later, he shook his head.

“Then why did you put your head on my shoulder?”

Jooheon sat upward and sent a pair of stern eyes toward his girlfriend. “Can I not sleep on my girlfriend’s shoulder?”

“That’s not what I meant.” But what she said never was registered by him. His pair of eyes was glued to the outside. Eunjoo was astonished when he quickly reached over to pull onto the stops cord.

“Let’s go.” Jooheon linked hands with Eunjoo’s and pulled her from the seat.

“Merry Christmas, Bus Driver!” Jooheon called to the bus driver and scrunched his face at Eunjoo, before pulling her off the bus.

“Jooheon, where are we going?” Eunjoo watched as the bus took off. She thought they were going to enjoy some time at his place before Christmas was over. Wasn’t that what they agreed on that after the day at her parent’s, they would spend the remain time at his place?

Jooheon stopped and raised an eyebrow at her. “Going for some ‘us’ time.”

Eunjoo’s eyes searched him for clarity as the corners of slightly tugged downward. He stared at her for a second but when her face remained the same, he puckered his lips at her and pulled her along. She tried to keep up with his pace. When she felt a squeezed on her hand, she saw him shoved both of their hands into his wool overcoat. She had no choice but to be glued against him.

Eunjoo watched the people they passed. Single. Couples. Families. Children. The place slowly became fully painted. She could see the gigantic Christmas tree in the distant. She saw the ice-skating rink to the left and stands of food to the right. It was a public square garden for the holidays. She stared at Jooheon, who kept his eyes glued forward. Now he spared her no glances.

Jooheon stopped walking at a little garden surrounded with concrete that provide enough space to sit. She looked around and there were more people out on Christmas evening than she thought.

“I want something warm.” Jooheon grumbled. When he pulled her closer, she nervously scanned the surrounding before she looked at him.

Her eyes sparkled. “I know. Wait here.” Jooheon furrowed his eyebrows when she pulled her hand out of the pocket. He sulked down to the concrete and watched her figure disappeared into the crowd. She left him again. She left him more than he had enough fingers to count.

He counted the number of fingers he has. Ten. He counted the number of toes he has. Ten. He counted again and again for 5 times. Eunjoo was nowhere. Jooheon stopped looking at the ground and scanned the crowd of people for Eunjoo, but no one was close to resemble her. All those couples he saw, they were totally mocking him. A grown man in the corner sulking on Christmas. Thanks to Eunjoo. He should of just hid in his room.

Jooheon eyes’ locked on a couple that was approaching his way. He could see the girl whispered something to her boyfriend’s ear. Then he looked at Jooheon and whispered something back to his girlfriend. They both gave him a look he took as pity. He lowered his glare at them, and they picked up their speed. Jooheon let out a growled and kicked the air, scraping his shoe against the cement.

“Aish...go away.” He shook his body to get rid of the tense nerves. His eyes landed on the Christmas tree lights that started twinkling. The soft sparkle made the creases of his face smoother. His feet took steps toward the luring lights. To the left of the Christmas tree was a round concrete bench big enough to sit a family of six. He sat there only to be surrounded with couples kissing for pictures and hugging for selfies.

“Aish.” He ruffled his hair. That girlfriend of his still hasn’t return. Was she lost?

“Excuse me?” Jooheon glared at the couple that suddenly approached him. “Would you mind taking a picture of us?”

They watched the subtle and slow smile that appeared on him. “Of course….” He frowned. “I mind.”

“I’m sorry, he hasn’t had his coffee yet.” Jooheon glared at his girlfriend that finally appeared just to recuse the couple.

He hasn’t had his coffee? What lame excuse was that?

She handled him the two drinks in her hand and accepted to take their picture. Before Jooheon could protest, she left him again. He could only glare at the two cups in his hand, watching the steam escaping the drinking hole. At least they have somewhere to escape.

Eunjoo ran back to Jooheon and took a drink out of his hand. “Something warm for you.”

Jooheon stared at her in disbelief before he said, “I haven’t had my coffee? Something warm…for me?”

Eunjoo nodded and slowly walked to sit next to him. He stared at the drink in his hand and tried his best to form some thoughts that would explain the situation to his girlfriend.

Her heels started tapping against the concrete. She didn’t know how to express in front of so many people. When she peeked at him, he was glaring at the couples taking pictures at the tree.

“Jooheon,” she called and swallowed an empty breath of air to calm her nerves.

“I want something warmer.” Jooheon whined and zeroed his gaze on her.

“Some…something warmer?” She raised the cup she was holding to shield her. He kept his burning gaze on hers and she felt it. He knew. He saw the shade of red crawling up her neck.

Eunjoo nervously let out a laugh and took a sip of her drink. Jooheon held back a smile and took a sip.

“It’s not sweet enough.” Eunjoo heard the childlike voice of her boyfriend. He waited for her reaction while he followed her every action. She raised her cup. He watched as she took a sip and swallowed it down .

“Mine is sweet,” she said. He frowned, immediately. She cracked a slight smile after seeing his reaction.

“Well…mine is not. It’s not sweet at all.” He pouted and stared forward. She looked at him kicking his feet. She hesitated but then grabbed his drink and tasted it. “It’s sweet.”

“It’s not.”

She took another sip. “It’s sweet.”

Jooheon glanced at her, was his girlfriend seriously playing around with him? “It’s sweet?”

She replied, “It’s—”

Jooheon leaned down and kissed her lips before he gently bit her bottom lips, punishing her for the whole day she ignored him.

He pulled away with a grin. “Ah…now that’s sweet.”

He chuckled at his frozen girlfriend, snatched his drink back and took a sip. “Wah…now that’s super sweet.”

“Yah…Jooheon I know you’re upset, you didn’t have too…” Eunjoo burst after seeing how many people were watching them. She started smacking his arm.

Jooheon laughed, super delighted that everyone saw he wasn’t alone on Christmas. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her face to bury in his chest. She stilled; she was shy of strangers, so he better shields her well. Jooheon smiled and greeted the strangers passing before he leaned and whispered to her, “You know that I was upset but you kept running away from me?”

His growl sent shiver down her spine. She didn’t think she could look at anyone yet, so she mumbled, “You were walking fast.” She knew when he walked fast, he’s upset. When he acts all clinging, she knew she didn’t pay enough attention to him.

“I didn’t mean to ignore you. I was just helping the family.”

The memories of the morning flashed back to Jooheon. The busy morning where everyone wanted her attention. The times the children took her away from him. The times she smiled at everyone and spoke to everyone but left him out. That wasn’t the Christmas he was looking forward too. He wanted her attention and affection.

“You can do that without ignoring me.”

“I wasn’t. I was…just too busy.”

“Nah uh. You can never be too busy for me.” Jooheon shook his head before gently hit his head against hers.

“That’s hurt.”

“Good. That’s punishment.”

“Are we even?” Eunjoo peeked at him.

“You called this even for what you did to me?”

Eunjoo detached herself, “What can be done to be call even?”

“Say…my honeyboo I’m so sorry I ignored you for Christmas. I never meant to leave you alone. Love you with all my heart. And kiss me here.” He pointed to his dimple.

Eunjoo blushed just at his word choice. How could she alone even kiss his cheek in public? But he was right, she didn’t offer him enough attention. He didn’t deserve that for Christmas.

She pretended to clear and Jooheon leaned in. “Honeyboo—”

“Nah uh. You didn’t say my. My comes first. Try again.”

Eunjoo sent him a glare before she started again. “My honeyboo I’m so sorry I ignored you for Christmas. I never meant to leave you alone. I…I…” Jooheon leaned in more. “I…with all my heart, I love you.” His eyes widened at her confession. He felt his cheek warmed by her lips, pressed right where his dimple marked. She laughed; he was definitely under her spell. She knew he thought she wouldn’t be able do it. She sure showed him not to underestimate her.

“Let’s take a picture and go home.” She felt bolder as minute went by. She laced her hand with his and pulled him toward the Christmas tree. She made him take out his phone and snapped a photo of them like what every couple was doing.

His eyes were glued onto their linked hands. She was a few steps ahead leading them home. He was dazed, enchanted. Was this girl still his girlfriend?

“Han Eunjoo?” Jooheon wanted to verify.

“What?”

Jooheon snapped out of his spell at the harshness of her voice. Did his girlfriend just return? Eunjoo laughed at Jooheon, who face was full of disbelief. She stopped walking when he tugged her and waited for him to speak. But instead of speaking he closed the gap between them. He smiled when he saw her nervously swallowing. She was the one to be enchanted by him.

“Merry Christmas,” he whispered.

Eunjoo tightened her hold on his hand, pulled him along and said with a huge smile, “Merry Christmas My Joo Honey.”

Jooheon stopped walking and tugged her back. “I was too enchanted earlier. I didn’t hear your confession. One more time.”

“Well…that’s your bad, isn’t it?”

“Come on, just one more time, please?” Jooheon shook his shoulders.

“Merry Christmas My Joo Honey,” she said.

“No. no. Not that. Earlier before you kissed me.” She blushed at his mention of the kiss.

“Come on.” He waited.

“Merry Christmas My Joo Honey…” Jooheon’s shoulder deflated. She just wasn’t going to repeat it. “I love you.”

His mouth hung but still was able to catch the shyness in her eyes before she pulled him along. He smiled to himself knowing she could never refuse his cuteness. Jooheon leaned in to whisper, “Merry Christmas, Joo’s Honey. I love you too.”

Eunjoo held back her smile and walked faster. He knew when she walks fast, she’s happy and shy, her heart’s beating.