WW | Chapter 44

For the first time since her father’s death, Yul decided to enjoy her own time on Christmas Eve. Thinking she had nothing to lose, she had asked the convenience store owner if she could take the day off, and to her surprise, he agreed without hesitation. It felt almost magical, as if Yoonjo’s words had cast some sort of spell. Though today marked her last shift, rendering the permission meaningless, Yul couldn’t shake the strange feeling.

Standing before the bathroom mirror, she adjusted her outfit. Draping the red scarf Yoonjo had given her around her neck and pulling on matching gloves, she stepped out into the living room.

“Grandma, I’m heading out.”

“Alright, have fun—”

Kyeong Ja stopped mid-sentence, pressing her palms alternately to her eyes. “Ah, there’s dust in my eyes.”

Pretending it was nothing, she fumbled in her pocket and pulled out an envelope, pressing it into Yul’s hand.

“That friend you’re meeting today, right? The one who’s helped us out, bought us lunches, and even got me new clothes?”

“…Yeah.”

“Give this to him. I feel bad always being on the receiving end, so I wanted to give something back.”

Yul, feeling choked up, removed her gloves and opened the envelope. Inside were two crisp 50,000-won bills—an enormous sum for Kyeong Ja. She must have gone all the way to the bank to withdraw new bills, underscoring how special Yoonjo seemed to her.

“Okay,” Yul managed to reply, folding the envelope and tucking it into her bag. She picked up a gift-wrapped box from the floor, held it carefully, and went to put on her shoes. Just as she opened the front door, Kyeong Ja called out to her.

“Yul.”

“Yeah?”

Yul turned back immediately.

“His name. Tell Grandma that boy’s name now, will you?”

Kyeong Ja smiled warmly, her wrinkled lips curving into a white crescent. There was no hidden agenda or deeper emotion—just a simple wish to remember the name of someone she was grateful for. Yul understood her grandmother’s pure intent and responded with an intentionally cheerful voice and a bright smile.

“It’s Yoonjo. Kang Yoonjo.”

“Yoonjo. His name’s as lovely as his face. Have fun.”

“Okay.”

Yul masked her overwhelming emotions, pretending to be calm as she closed the door behind her.

When Yul stepped outside, she spotted Yoonjo waiting near the villa courtyard. He was kneeling on one leg, his gaze fixed on something. It was the spot where they had hidden when the gangsters came looking for them. Curious about his unusual posture, Yul approached quietly and stood next to him. Without looking at her, he acknowledged her presence with a casual, “You’re here,” and then turned back to what he was watching.

It was a kitten, hungrily devouring tuna from a can. Next to it was a plastic dish filled with water.

“Did you give it that?” Yul asked, puzzled.

“Yeah. I was waiting for you when it rubbed its face against my leg. It looked so scrawny I went to the store to buy some food.”

“The cat must’ve chosen you. And you liked it enough to feed it?”

Sitting down beside him, Yul marveled. Yoonjo buying food for a stray cat felt like a small miracle. He was the type to stay indifferent to anything that didn’t concern him.

“It’s not that I liked it. It caught my attention, so I bought it some food. Once I leave, that’s it. No reason not to do a good deed in the meantime.”

His words were as cold as his actions were kind. Yul, momentarily speechless, looked at his sharp profile. He probably meant nothing by it, but his words felt like they were directed at her, as if he were reminding her that their relationship would end once he went abroad. Though the thought briefly pricked at her heart, she decided to let it go. Today, she wanted to focus on enjoying every moment with him.

“Still, the cat won’t forget you,” she murmured as she stood up. Yoonjo followed, his attention shifting to the package in her hands.

“What’s that?”

“Oh, this? It’s your present.”

“A present? For me?”

“It’s Christmas Eve. Open it later, though.”

“You’re testing my patience.”

Smiling, Yoonjo took the gift from her hands. He could probably guess what it was from its light and squishy feel, but he didn’t let on, instead prodding the package curiously. Even the kitten seemed intrigued, meowing as it circled the gift.

“I wish it would snow,” Yul said, glancing at the overcast sky. Since it was her first Christmas Eve with someone, she thought a snowy world would make the atmosphere even more magical.

“I’ll make it snow for you,” Yoonjo declared, grabbing her hand like he was some kind of omnipotent being.

Expecting a fantastic date, Yul soon regretted their decision to head toward the university district. The subway was packed with people, presumably because it was Christmas Eve. Pressed in by the crowd, she felt as if her body was about to be squished. If Yoonjo hadn’t wrapped his arm around her waist like a safety belt, she might have bumped into countless strangers. She felt a flutter of pride and excitement realizing how reliable and protective her boyfriend was.

Once they arrived, the streets were bustling. Bright lights and carols heightened the festive atmosphere. Holding hands tightly, they navigated through the crowds. Although the throngs of people made everything chaotic, Yul found herself enjoying even the chaos. She spotted a sign outside a nail salon that read, “Free Ear Piercing Today,” and turned to Yoonjo.

“Yoonjo, should I get my ears pierced?”

“Why?” he asked, his voice gruff and disapproving.

“Studies say earrings make women look 15 percent prettier,” she teased.

“That’s nonsense.”

Despite his blunt dismissal, he reached for her cold ears, now flushed red from the winter chill. Pulling her hand out of his pocket, he gently cupped her ear, rubbing it to warm it.

“You’re already pretty without them.”

Though the words were spoken offhandedly, Yul felt her heart pound, the nerves in her earlobe tingling at his touch. Embarrassed, she tried to play it off.

“My birthday’s next week. I want to pierce them as a celebration.”

“Don’t lie. Your birthday’s in summer. You’re a Virgo.”

Yoonjo casually shut down her fib with a fact. Yul blinked, startled.

“How’d you know?”

“Your notebook.”

“Oh….”

She suddenly remembered jotting her name, birthday, and zodiac sign in her sketchbook. The fact that he had not only seen it but remembered made her chest flutter again. It seemed Yoonjo knew far more about her than she did about him. She thought about asking when his birthday was but decided against it. It didn’t seem wise to keep deepening their bond when she knew she needed to distance herself soon.

The two spent the day wandering the busy streets, creating memories they wouldn’t forget. They visited a book cafe, played games at an arcade, admired handmade crafts at a small exhibition, and clapped enthusiastically for street performances despite their red noses. Yoonjo even tried to buy her accessories and clothes, but Yul dragged him out of the stores to stop him.

Finally, Yul spotted a sticker photo booth she would usually ignore. “Yoonjo, let’s take those!”

“What?”

Yoonjo followed her gaze and immediately frowned. “I hate photos.”

“Come on.” Ignoring his protests, she grabbed his hand and pulled him inside.

Though he sighed deeply, he let her drag him into the booth. Inside were three photo machines and a basket filled with cheap, grimy accessories they could use to dress up. Finding them unappealing, Yul ignored them and stepped into one of the booths with Yoonjo. While she struggled to figure out the controls, Yoonjo stood to the side, arms crossed, looking utterly uninterested.

When she finally got it working, she grabbed his arm and pulled him close, beaming at the camera. Click. Their first photo together captured her bright smile and his stoic expression. Gaining confidence, she pulled his arm over her shoulder and made a peace sign with her free hand. Click. In each photo, Yul shone with happiness while Yoonjo remained poker-faced. She puffed out her cheeks in frustration.

“If you don’t smile in the next one, I’m going home,” she threatened.

Her words worked. Yoonjo sighed dramatically, draped his arm over her shoulder, and leaned in to match her pose. Just before the camera clicked, he cracked a small, genuine smile—a look so natural it seemed he was truly enjoying himself.

Before the last photo, Yul impulsively turned and kissed his cheek. Click.

Yoonjo froze, turning to her with wide eyes. He rarely showed emotion, but his dark gaze flickered with a hint of shock and uncertainty.

What was I thinking?

Panicked by her own boldness, Yul dropped her gaze, unable to meet his eyes. Just then, the machine beeped, signaling the final shot. Yoonjo suddenly cupped her face in both hands, forcing her to look at him.

Then, he kissed her.

Soft and warm, his lips brushed hers, a tender breeze sweeping through her soul. Time seemed to stop as the camera captured their first kiss.

Yul blinked, speechless. Though she had initiated everything, she hadn’t expected it to lead to this.

“If you’re going to do it, do it right. Don’t make my first kiss half-hearted,” Yoonjo whispered, his lips barely an inch away.

Her heart raced, leaving her utterly incapable of responding.