Ninety seven

“Oh look at that snowman!” she exclaimed as she pointed at the television. Christmas and New Year celebrations were everywhere. It was the time of the year when Suzy sings classics while preparing fancy breakfasts.

“Stay still” he pulled her right hand back to his knee, using her dotting tool to make a little light bulb. He was being used as her manicurist for a Christmas inspired nail art, after promising she’ll take out the trash for a week.

Differing from the decorated houses along their street with wreaths and lights, theirs usually remained quite simple. It was because they are always away for the holidays. They had agreed on spending that time with their families long ago, Christmas in one household and New Year in the other, then vice-versa for the next year.

As he was thinking about last year, when her cheeks went crimson as his mother asked her to join them in the family picture, the telephone rang.

She reached to answer, completely ignoring his glare as her hand pulled away from his hold again. “It’s mom” she told him as she read the ID. “Hello?”

He watched her facial expressions changing in horror as the conversation proceeded.

She calmly placed the phone on the table, taking a deep breath. “We need to go shopping” she stated. Apparently, their families agreed to spend the holidays in their place for a change.

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“Ready, oppa?” she asked as she climbed down the stairs. She had changed to a thick jacket. Seung gi nodded, fixing his grey scarf. That was her favourite as it’s often the one to get wrapped around her neck instead.

Suzy nudged him as he was driving. “We’re getting a real tree?”

“We’re not” he said. “Artificial ones are easier to clean”

“But… a real tree…” she gave him a pout, and he learned to avoid staring at it for too long.

He tapped her frowning, puffy cheek. “We won’t be able to find any proper real ones so late, baby”

She nodded. “That’s probably right”

“But I promise we’ll get the most realistic looking one. You won’t even tell the difference”

“Oh, I will. You won’t nag about needles getting stuck in your clothes” she teased.

“Yah! They’re seriously painful” she giggled at his look. She always found it funny that he’s the only one to face that problem.

Seung gi’s expectations were incorrect. They were able to find a proper, healthy, greener than ever, real tree just before Christmas.

As Suzy st