I’m picking out clothes in front of the mirror in the closet.
There are already a bunch of clothes strewn all over the room.
Tae-san opened the door and came in, then sighed and shook his head as if I were pathetic.
"Why’s he acting like that just because he can dress himself so well...?"
"What are you doing that you’re all dressed up like that?"
"Me? I’m going on a date with Haneul. I’ll stay out until after the countdown today and come back late."
Today is December 31.
Tae-san’s spending time with his girlfriend too, so there’s no way I’m not seeing in the New Year with my boyfriend.
I invited Sang-hyuk right away.
But it’s something I can wear at home and still look pretty in...
I don’t have anything like that in my closet.
The only people who would see me at home were my family, after all...
In the end, I just put on a T-shirt...
Ding-dong- ding-dong-
"Ah, already...!"
I hurried out to the front door.
As soon as I opened the door, Sang-hyuk gave a small smile.
Maybe because my face lit up so much when I saw him...?
"Ah... what do I do..."
It’s the first time the two of us have met at home without Han Tae-san.
Usually, thanks to Tae-san, Sang-hyuk could at least play games...
"Um... board games! Let’s play Rummikub!!"
"Yeah!"
I went back to the room and brought out a board game.
It was a game I’d played with Sang-hyuk before and gotten absolutely crushed at.
"Think you can win this time?"
"Of course!"
"Then how about the winner picks dinner, deal?"
"Deal!! Bring it on!"
The moment the game started, I realized I never should’ve made a bet.
Instead of any of the possibilities I’d been thinking of, I chose another method.
Because of that, my hand just kept getting bigger and bigger...
"Done!!"
Sang-hyuk held his tile rack over his head.
"Agh, I lost again!!ㅠㅠ Let’s just watch a movie now..."
"ㅎㅎ... Then let’s watch whatever movie you want!"
"Nice!!"
I quickly turned on the TV and played my favorite movie.
Following Sang-hyuk, who was sitting on the sofa, I climbed up too,
and soon the movie started.
Swoosh-
Sang-hyuk reached his arm behind my head.
"I’ll give you my arm as a pillow. Lean on it comfortably."
"Won’t your arm hurt?"
"Noㅎㅎ"
I laughed too and lightly leaned against his arm.
"When were you happiest this year?"
Before I knew it, the movie was playing in the background while the two of us talked about how this year had been.
"For me, when I played in the mudflats with you. It was really fun."
"Really? For me, it was when I was playing at the beach with the kids..."
"Nothing to do with me?"
"No... well... you weren’t playing with us then..."
I mumbled, trying to brush it off.
"Honestly, the only thing I can think about is you holding my hand."
"Me?"
"Yeah. Oh, isn’t that scene important?"
"You’re right! Let’s go back 10 seconds..."
By the time the movie ended, it was already dark outside the window.
"What do you want for dinner?"
"Dakgangjeong!"
Not long after, the delivery food Sang-hyuk ordered arrived.
"It’s seriously delicious... As expected of Great Sang-hyuk!"
"Great Sang-hyuk...?//..."
Even while feeling embarrassed, Sang-hyuk wiped the sauce off the corner of my mouth.
"Wow... there’s only an hour left until next year..."
"Yeah..."
On the TV, there was a music show on. (You know, the one you’re thinking of!(?))
After listening to the songs for a while, there were already only 10 minutes left.
I hugged a cushion nearby and leaned back.
To think I’d get to spend New Year’s with Sang-hyuk, my boyfriend!!
"... How long have we been dating?"
Sang-hyuk suddenly asked. I answered while staring straight at the screen.
"A few months, I guess?"
"It’s amazing... Around this time last year, I was thinking I wanted to spend New Year’s with you."
I laughed, imagining middle school third-year Sang-hyuk thinking that.
I never imagined that around this time last year, I’d end up liking you.
"1 minute! 50 seconds!"
The TV started the New Year countdown.
"... Teri. I’ve got something to say..."
"Huh?"
"... Ah, never mind..."
While Sang-hyuk hesitated for a moment, it became midnight.
Fireworks were going off on the TV, and it sounded like there was noise from upstairs too.
"It’s the New Year...!"
"Happy New Year."
"You too!!"
"And..."
"Huh?"
"... Can I kiss you?"
That night, at dawn
Around 3 a.m., Tae-san came home.
The two of us were flipping through different movies.
We were sitting far apart, our ears bright red.
"What did you two do?"
Neither of us said a word, both of us keeping our mouths tightly shut.
"If I ask a question, answer me;;"
"... We didn’t do anything..."
"Hard to believe that when both of you are tomatoes."
Tae-san stared at Sang-hyuk.
"Don’t tell me you and Han Teri..."
"What? No? It’s not what you’re thinking?!"
"Ha..."
Tae-san looked at Sang-hyuk with contempt.
"T-Then what about you?"
Since I was in the same position, I felt like I had to say something to Tae-san.
"We were more decent than you and Sang-hyuk."
"What did we even do?"
"Never mind... I’m going to sleep, so do whatever you want—sleep in the same room or not, I don’t care."
The two of us ended up spending the first night of the New Year without even making eye contact once.
... Happy New Year, Lee Sang-hyuk.
-
And another one who lived in that neighborhood...
"No!!! Why am I a high schooler, though!!!ㅜㅜ"
The kid was in despair.
Not knowing who they’d meet from here on out.
///
And with that, my very first work really came to an end...
I’d like to thank everyone who enjoyed reading this small but lacking story!!
Then, good Unhakyurak today too~🍀❤️
