My Girlfriend Is Very Good To Me [EN]: Chapter 61

Ep. 60

When the game finally ended,

I emerged wearing the Santa outfit my sister had designated as the penalty. However, I wasn’t alone. She’d apparently gotten one for Hee-na as well, so we both ended up in matching outfits.

Hee-na didn’t seem to mind what she wore, as long as I was wearing something similar. Maybe she liked the idea of it being a couple’s look.

Mine was just the typical Santa suit that everyone imagines.

However, Hee-na’s was a sleeveless, short dress-type Santa outfit with shoulder straps. Her collarbones were exposed, and the waist was cinched like a corset.

Still, it wasn’t too revealing because it included a cape that covered her shoulders and back. If anything, it was incredibly cute.

It would have been nice if mine had disappeared, leaving only Hee-na looking adorable.

“You’re both so cute! Can you look over here? Say cheese!”

“Cheese…”

“Kimchi!”

“Good! And can you two get closer?”

Auntie’s face was a little flushed, probably from the alcohol, and she was enthusiastically snapping pictures of Hee-na and me. Next to her, my parents, Jeong-hoo hyung [older brother/male friend], and Yoon-jeong noona [older sister/female friend] were doing the same.

While we were busy playing games, our parents had opened a bottle of brandy and were having a drink, even though it was daytime.

But when they saw Hee-na and me in the Santa outfits, it turned into a full-blown photoshoot.

Moreover, they were very energetic, probably because they had been drinking, and they were asking us to strike various poses.

Seeing that it was already past 5 o’clock, they must have been drinking for two or three hours. We must have been really engrossed in the game. I didn’t even realize how much time had passed.

Honestly, I didn’t mind wearing the Santa outfit. But having to wear it in front of my family and Hee-na’s family and take pictures made me feel so ashamed that I wanted to disappear.

The only consolation was that I wasn’t the only one.

“Hehe, Yeon-hoo is so cute!”

The fact that my girlfriend, who was wearing the outfit with me, was so cute, was a definite plus.

I’m starting to seriously wonder if I have a cosplay [dressing up as fictional characters] fetish, considering what happened with the pajamas last time. I can’t take my eyes off the cute Santa outfit and the beautiful legs extending from under the skirt.

Hee-na, on the other hand, was laughing next to me, saying that I was cute.

“Han Yeon-hoo! You have to take a picture holding Lee Hee-na!”

While we were taking pictures normally for a while, Hee-sung hyung’s shout rang in my ears. He had taken out a can of beer at some point and was shouting like an uncle watching a baseball game.

“Kya~ That’s a good idea! Give her a princess carry!”

And Yoon-jeong noona, who likes that kind of thing very much, immediately jumped on that bandwagon. Thanks to that, my parents were also looking at us with expectant eyes, holding their phones.

“……”

I couldn’t move because of the embarrassment that was washing over me, regardless of whether I could do it or not. As I was standing there blankly, Hee-na grabbed my sleeve and made a small movement, making a dejected voice.

“Am I, too heavy for you to handle…?”

It was obvious that she was trying to get me to move rather than actually worrying about that, but I couldn’t help but give in.

My girlfriend, who is prettier than anyone else in the world, was wearing a Santa costume and looking up at me with wide eyes as she said that.

In the end, I steeled my heart, moved behind Hee-na, and bent my legs slightly. Then, I grabbed Hee-na’s shoulders, put my hands around her thighs, and lifted her up in one swift motion as she responded to my movement.

“Hehehe─”

Hee-na wrapped her arms around my neck and laughed, as if she really liked this princess carry pose. It was a little hard, but not to the point where I couldn’t hold on until the picture was taken.

“Han Yeon-hoo, you’re so cool!!”

“Oh my, our son is so strong~”

“Hee-na! Get your face closer~ That’s it! Ready to take the picture~?”

Maybe it’s because they drank alcohol, but their reactions are over the top.

I felt dizzy at the sight of them encouraging us instead of stopping us, as if they were very drunk.

Looking around, I could see that everyone had either brandy or beer in their hands.

This was not the Christmas party I had imagined.

I want to go back 30 minutes.

—

After the humiliating photoshoot, we gathered in the living room, still not having changed our clothes, and talked.

Since the main reason for gathering here was Hee-na and me, most of the conversation was about us.

“So, when are you two getting married~?”

“Noona. Are you already drunk?”

“I’m not drunk! I’m just saying that you two might get married before us!!”

“You’re drunk…”

Thanks to Yoon-jeong noona opening that unnecessary door, the topic started to spread from here to there.

“Yeon-hoo, Auntie will welcome you anytime, so you have to tell me when you register your marriage. Okay?”

“Auntie…”

“Hey! You should call her mother-in-law!”

No, she called herself Auntie first.

“Wow, is Han Yeon-hoo going before Jeong-hoo hyung?”

“I can give up my order, Yeon-hoo.”

“Please shut your mouths. Please.”

I glared at the two hyungs who were grinning and focusing on adding fuel to the fire.

“If Lee Hee-na gets married and moves out, does that mean one room will be empty? Should I decorate it for home training…?”

I was dumbfounded by Hee-sung hyung’s mutterings, as if it were a foregone conclusion, already thinking about how to use Hee-na’s room.

Next to him, Auntie and Mom were having another ominous conversation.

“Yeon-hoo’s mother. It’s been hard to go anywhere during the holidays these days, so it’s really nice to gather and have fun so close by~”

“I agree. Please come anytime in the future. Your house is close by anyway.”

“I’ll visit often~ But should I call you in-laws now?”

“That’s fine too. But we should send Jeong-hoo off first… Hee-na, do you want to do it quickly?”

“No, Mother. Even if we do, we can just register our marriage first and have the ceremony later…”

“Are you all kidding? Are you?”

I was worried because they seemed to be talking too seriously without joking. I couldn’t tell if they were serious or just bluffing. Seeing me fidgeting, Auntie laughed loudly and slapped me on the shoulder.

“Oh my, you! Of course, I’m joking~ You’re still in high school, what are you talking about~”

“Haha, is that so?”

“…Hehe.”

“But it doesn’t seem like our Hee-na is joking, so you two should talk it over well. Okay?”

“……”

My girlfriend, who just smiled without adding anything to that, was a woman who couldn’t lie.

I could tell after seeing her for 8 months.

That she was all serious.

Are you really thinking of registering our marriage as soon as we graduate, Hee-na?

—

After the conversation that I couldn’t tell if they were trying to tease me or if they were all somewhat serious.

The game was also stopped, and while Yoon-jeong noona, my mom, and Auntie were setting the table simply, everyone was holding onto their drinks.

In fact, Hee-na also tried to go and help, but for some reason, she was kicked out of that spot and sat next to me with a slightly gloomy face.

They said they were setting the table, but most of it was either pre-made or ordered for delivery, so it felt like they were just taking out snacks to go with the drinks.

We, who were underage, were naturally pushed to the back.

Everyone was an adult and a grown-up, so they each held a glass and were laughing and chatting with flushed faces.

Watching that, Hee-na and I sat in the corner and ate drinks and chicken. Since everyone wasn’t paying attention to us anyway, we even fed each other.

I felt a little left out because I couldn’t join them since I wasn’t old enough to drink.

Still, watching everyone laugh and chat like this made me feel good.

Of course, today’s members included people I couldn’t have imagined, but who cares.

This moment, when happy smiles are in full bloom.

Was so good.

Both our house and Hee-na’s house. Thanks to the fact that this bright atmosphere was natural and has been continuing in our families.

It seemed like we could get along happily even if we gathered so suddenly.

I smiled and quietly looked at ‘our’ families. Hee-na leaned her head on my shoulder.

“I like this.”

“Me too.”

Although it wasn’t a romantic Christmas just for the two of us.

I really liked this.

Just, everyone laughing and chatting happily without any worries.

These bright laughter seemed to have the magic to make even the listeners happy.

Moreover, I was most happy that my family and Hee-na’s family were getting along and creating this atmosphere.

I don’t know what the future holds, but I hoped that our future would be set. I will work hard for it, and Hee-na will also work hard with me in the future.

For a while, we both looked at our families without saying a word, and then I quietly spoke to Hee-na.

“Shall we go out for a bit?”

“Okay.”

I grabbed Hee-na’s hand and got up. Then, I pointed outside with a gesture to the gazes that were directed at us and left the house.

It was a bit embarrassing to go out in this outfit, but today is Christmas. People passing by probably won’t care much. It’s a quiet residential area, so there aren’t many people either. And I put on a padding jacket [a thick, insulated jacket] on top.

I walked a little on the street, which had already become dark because it was winter, and fiddled with the couple ring case in my padding pocket.

I was timing it, but now seems like a good time.

Still, giving it on the street like this wouldn’t look good.

“Shall we go to the playground? Let’s get some fresh air there and go back in.”

“Okay!”

I naturally led her to the playground nearby.

The place of memories where I first met Hee-na and had a conversation.

“There’s no one here~”

“I guess there’s no one playing in the playground on Christmas evening.”

I was glad that no one was there. I let out a sigh of relief inwardly, and Hee-na took a step forward and looked around.

She seemed very familiar with the playground, probably because we had been there so many times for walks.

After going around the playground once, I grabbed her hand and sat her down on a bench in the corner. I was a little nervous. Even though I had given her many small gifts until now.

She tilted her head as if wondering at my actions that continued without any words.

After taking a deep breath in front of her, I knelt down slightly and took out the case from my pocket.

Thinking about it, it felt like a proposal. Especially since that topic came up earlier. Well, in some ways, it was no different.

I’ll just have to get a more expensive and better ring then. In the end, wouldn’t the feelings contained be similar?

“Ah..”

And when I took out the case from my pocket, Hee-na let out a short groan.

She probably noticed what it was as soon as she saw it.

I showed Hee-na, who was looking at it with trembling eyes, the couple ring by opening the case slightly and opened my mouth in a low voice.

“Will you accept the ring?”