Chapter Text
JEONGWON
“We hope you enjoy your stay, sir!” said the chirpy receptionist, handing him his key and a complimentary reindeer keychain. “Welcome to Norway and have a great day ahead!”
Jeongwon smiled at him, trying to mask his annoyance of the situation he suddenly found himself in, “Thanks—you too.”
The moment Jeongwon turned around, he allowed himself one big sigh. He lugged his bag behind him, suddenly thankful (but still annoyed, as to remain consistent to his general mood the past 24 hours) that his backpack could be turned into a suitcase with just one pull.
He pursed his lips. Handy.
Jeongwon knew he shouldn’t be too snippy, many would kill for a chance to go to Norway this time of year. There weren’t many people who could stay at this annoyingly posh hotel his mother decided to book for him (without his consent, if he may add). He knew he should be grateful, but Jeongwon couldn’t help but feel a grating sort of irritation at the fact that it was Christmas time and he was 8,000 kilometers away from home. Not only that, he was practically shoved into an 18-hour flight after telling his mom that he would rather spend his time in the hospital than sit home alone on Christmas.
His mother only clicked her tongue at him and looked at his dad in disapproval.
“Is this what you teach your son? To drown himself in work?”
Ahn Byeongwoo simply sighed, nodding his head at his wife’s annoyance. “I’m sorry, dear. Jeongwon, son,“ He turned to his 37-year-old, who now sported a pout that one most definitely would not expect from one of the forty-eight pediatric surgeons in Korea. But, as all good-looking people do, he pulled it off, looking more like a wronged byronic hero than an overgrown child. “listen to your mother.”
His immediate placating of her anger only made her more irritated.
“I haven’t said anything yet, you old bat!” She glared, throwing a pillow over to his side, to which Jeongwon’s dad promptly catched. Almost 50 years of marriage prepares you for these kinds of things, after all.
“And despite that, I will assume you’re right—as you usually are, my dear.” His father said, indulgently, fluffing his just-catched pillow before returning to his newspaper and coffee.
Knowing she was being indulged, his mother huffed, turning her head back to Jeongwon. “You will not work on Christmas.”
“It really isn’t a big deal! I always work around this time anyway—you know that, Mom.”
“And now you won’t.”
“Mom!”
“You said you got two weeks off!”
“Because you said we were all going to the ranch for Christmas and New Year! You and dad never told me you were going to the States and leaving me alone! The hyungs and noonas know and now they packed their schedules and can’t even come here to celebrate! What am I supposed to do?!”
“Jeongwon—your tone.” His dad peeked from his page, sending him a slight reprimanding look. “And you know we’re going there because your uncle just passed away. We can’t leave your aunt alone on Christmas.”
“Oh—sorry. I didn’t realize I was shouting.” Jeongwon caught himself, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “And of course I understand. I want to go to Auntie too, which is exactly why I don’t know why I can’t just come with you guys.”
About a percent of Rosa’s anger diminished at the assurance that, in spite of his current annoying disposition, she raised a good son with compassion and manners.
“Your mother and I are going to have a second honeymoon.” His dad clipped, sipping his coffee, making it perfectly clear that he wouldn’t allow his son to disturb them this Christmas. Jeongwon made a face, and Rosa glared at her husband.
“God—five kids and you still want another honeymoon?” He muttered, earning him a glare from his mother who most definitely had bionic hearing. “Anyway, I can’t just sit around here doing nothing. I’ll just end up in the hospital when I get tired of sleeping and watching TV, you know that.”
Her glee over her son’s manners proved to be fleeting the moment he opened his mouth.
Rosa glared, her smile turning into a scowl in a second. “Why would you be doing nothing?! Find a girlfriend, you brat! Go on a date! If you want to go to the ranch so badly, I’ll give you the key as long as you bring your girlfriend with you!”
Jeongwon groaned, stomping his feet around like a child, “Ah, Mom!!!”
“Don’t ‘mom’ me! You still don’t have a girlfriend? When I was your age I already had five kids! Get busy!”
He heard his dad chuckle from the sidelines, which he immediately tried to hide with a cough when his mom sent him a look.
“I am busy! That’s why I need to be in the hospital!”
“No! That’s final!”
Jeongwon sighed, “I’m not a child, Mom. You know you can’t really stop me from going to work.”
He was an adult, and he’d stopped living at home 17 years ago. It wasn’t like his mother could ground him or take away his phone like she did when he was a teenager.,
Rosa raised an eyebrow, and he heard his dad snort behind his newspaper. He didn’t know what the hell he was getting himself into, but Ahn Byeongwoo most certainly understood his wife better than his son did.
“Are you sure about that?”
Jeongwon never should have underestimated his mother. Things always turn out bad when you underestimate Jung Rosa. You would think that after 37 years of knowing her he’d finally learn his lesson—apparently not, and he certainly paid for it.
The first day of his supposed two-week break, he decided to go to the hospital, already restless at the thought of lounging around for 14 days doing nothing.
To his shock and disbelief (how could his mother even think of doing this? this is abuse of power!) he found himself stopped at the entrance of the hospital, with Ikjun and his eldest brother parked right outside, a bag packed and ready. Apparently, the Yulje Foundation just happened to own stocks at Kangwoon Hospital. Of course, Jeongwon knew absolutely nothing about this, which explains his dumb expression of disbelief as he was hauled into the car and driven to Incheon International Airport.
And, that’s how he was shoved into an 18-hour flight to Norway, and that’s why he was currently standing in front of this gaudy reception area looking like the 21st Century version of Ebenezer Scrooge.
Jeongwon passed a horde of guests lingering around—a mix of Norwegian, Swedish, English, Chinese and whatever else his ears so graciously deigned to recognize was in the air.
He looked around, suddenly annoyed at the sight of twinkling lights and the profanely large Christmas tree propped right in the middle of the most opulent hotel lobby he’d ever seen. It reminded him of Yulje’s annual Christmas Eve party, something Jeongwon never really liked to go to, but he wished he were there rather than here. At least he knew people there.
Let it Snow played merrily in the background, and Jeongwon grabbed his earphones from his pocket and shoved them into his ears, shuffling his music to try and drown out the Christmas cheer. To his dismay, his phone had betrayed him by playing, in max volume, Christmas Wrapping—his second sister’s favorite Christmas song. How many times did he have to tell her to use her own account?! Are phones even allowed in the convent?! He groaned, pulling the earphones out with unnecessary force.
He gave the hotel lobby another look over, and he met the eyes of a man dressed up as Santa, who was now trotting over to him with a large smile and a bag of candy canes.
God—spare me.
He turned his back as fast as he could, trying to find where the hell the elevator was. He spotted a small family standing in front of something with their bags towed behind them. He rushed over there, not looking back in fear that “Santa” was following him. To his joy, there really was an elevator there. The bell rang, and just when Jeongwon thought lady luck was finally on his side, Santa appeared right beside them, joining him and the small family in the elevator and handing out candy canes for everyone. The family laughed and smiled, and they began to sing carols, urging Jeongwon to join with jolly looks and gestures.
Jeongwon forced a smile and a nod, for his sensibilities still urged him to be polite no matter what he was currently feeling.
The moment the people of the elevator turned away from him, he slumped onto the wall and hung his head down in a dreadful manner.
“Merry Christmas to me.” He muttered, hauling his bags up to his room begrudgingly as the bell rang at his floor.
GYEOUL
“Mom!” Gyeoul’s eyes widened at the sight of the tickets in her mothers hands, “We can’t afford this!”
“Don’t be ridiculous—we’re not poor, honey. I don’t know where on earth you get that idea. ” Her mother pursed her lips and shook her head, shoving the tickets into Gyeoul’s own hands. She gestured to their house, 3 rooms and two bathrooms—not bad at all for a middle-class family. “Both your dad and I have good jobs, and we’ve saved quite a lot of money from you getting all those scholarships. I think we can afford sending our only daughter to Norway just fine.”
“What about me?” Her brother pouted from the side, earning him a pinch from their mother. “Ow!”
“You,” She narrowed her eyes at him, “finish your degree first and then we’ll talk.”
Gyeoul’s younger brother grimaced, avoiding eye contact at all costs. He dreaded the school talk—must avoid at all costs. He turned to his sister, who was still looking at the plane tickets hesitantly.
“Noona, just go! Mom will never be this generous again, trust m—ouch!” Their mother pinched him at the side, “Stop pinching me!”
The older woman narrowed her eyes. “Seems to me you’re asking to be pinched, boy.”
He pouted, hiding behind his sister to get away.
He peered over Gyeoul’s shoulder, peeking at the tickets, his lips forming an ‘o’ as he nodded his head in approval.
"This looks pretty good, Mom! I’m surprised! I never knew you had it in you!” He grinned, sending their mother a thumbs up, to which their mom got annoyed and hurled back a throw pillow instead. Gyeoul instinctinctively and unflinchingly moved sidewards, dragging her brother with her. No one was hit by the pillow, and her younger brother snickered, putting his tongue out childishly.
“Gyeoul, move aside” Her mom warned, staring straight into her brother’s eyes and grabbing another throw pillow as she practiced her aim.
Her brother yelped, hiding behind Gyeoul once again. Gyeoul sighed, moving towards her mom as her brother held her by the sleeve, still hiding. She took the pillow from her mom’s hands calmly and placed it back onto the sofa. “Mom, I really can’t. It’s too much.”
Her brother popped out from her shoulder. “Noona, who knows when you’ll be able to get this much free time again—you’ll start residency next year and in GS to boot! I say enjoy your break while it lasts!”
Gyeoul flicked his head lightly, “I can enjoy my break at home just fine.” She said, handing the tickets back to her mom, to which the older woman ignored, putting her hands behind her back.
Gyeoul scrunched her eyebrows with a little pout.“The ticket says I’ll be there for two weeks. That includes Christmas.”
"And?” He grumbled, rubbing his forehead. “What’s the problem?”
“Christmas is a family holiday.”
“And you will be with family.” Her mom cut in.
“You guys are coming with me?” Gyeoul asked, suddenly hopeful. She’d never travelled outside of Korea before. She’d barely even travelled inside her own country. The farthest she’d ever gone to was Jeju Island, and that was a good seven years ago, right after her high school graduation. There was no way she could possibly travel alone.
“No—but your cousin Anna will be.” Gyeoul cocked her head to the side. Anna? She had a foreign cousin? “Remember her? Tall, really pale, very pretty?”
Gyeoul was still blanking. She had a tall, pale, pretty, foreign cousin?
Her mom sighed, “Yuna. Do you remember Yuna?”
“Ah!” Her eyes lit up in recognition. “Yuna! Yes, of course I remember her.”
Her eyebrows furrowed. “Since when did Yuna become ‘Anna’?”
“She’s been ‘Anna’ since she moved to Sweden 12 years ago.” The older woman rolled her eyes. “You know, you really should pay more attention to these kinds of things, sweetie.”
“Well, I was a little busy—“
“—Which is exactly why you need to go on this trip! Yuna called me and said she missed you, and your father and I were looking for places to send you to anyway and it was perfect! You can travel around Norway with Yuna, hang out like you used to, and just enjoy yourselves!”
Gyeoul thought of her cousin—tall and pretty Yuna who always tried to bring a bit of fun into Gyeoul’s life. When they were in middle school, Yuna was largely the reason why she had any friends at all. Not that Gyeoul was bad at making friends, she was quite good at it, really—her friends in university and med school could attest to that (though she still didn’t really know how her circle got so big). But middle schoolers generally did not take her straight face and nonchalant attitude too well, so they needed someone bubbly and personable like Yuna to reel them in, and Yuna did the best she could for a 14-year-old girl.
Gyeoul did miss her though, and it’s been a while since they last saw each other. She found herself sifting through her memories—when was the last time they spoke? A few years ago? Med school was really busy, and her internship took so much of her time that she could barely even speak to her own parents. Let’s see…the last time they spoke was probably at her mom’s 46th birthday—when she video called, and that was…5 years ago?
Suddenly, Gyeoul found herself feeling guilty that she’d neglected her personal relationships so much.
“It has been a while…” She said quietly, fidgeting with the tickets.
Her mother eyes brightened, seeing a chance. “I’ll call her now! Oh, she’ll be so glad to see you again, honey!”
“But, mom—“
She held a finger up, “Ah, ah—no buts!”
Still, Gyeoul couldn’t help but feel like it was too much. Wasn’t Norway a pretty expensive place to travel to? They weren’t poor, like her mother said, but they weren’t rich either, at least not so rich as to spend 14 days in one of the most expensive countries in the world. She didn’t want her parents to spend their savings on her. They could save it for retirement, or buy a bungalow somewhere like they always talked about. Sending her on this trip was…really too much.
But mothers knew best, and the moment Gyeoul pulled that expression—eyes down, lips pursed, and eyebrows slightly furrowed—she knew what her daughter was thinking. She placed her hands over her daughter’s, and marvelled at how much they’ve grown. She could remember when this intelligent, strong woman in front of her was just a small stubby baby—always quiet, but stubborn when it came to the things she really wanted. She ran her thumb over her knuckles, and pushed a stray hair away from her child’s face.
“Gyeoul, let us do this one thing for you. You’ve never asked us for anything, and we’ve always felt guilty about that. There isn’t much we can give you, because there isn’t really anything you want besides being a doctor, correct?”
Gyeoul nodded, pursing her lips.
“And we are so proud of you for that, sweetie. So, so proud. You did it all by yourself and we are the proudest parents in the world. We couldn’t be more happy for you if we tried.” Gyeoul smiled, eyes still cast down as she felt a slight sting. Her heart warmed from her mother’s words. She had always been a straight-talking, brusque woman, but Gyeoul knew just how much she was loved because it had been her mother’s life’s mission to never let her forget. It was in these moments that Gyeoul was most grateful.
“Let us give you this, okay? This was always meant for you. We saved this money for you because you are our baby and we love you.” She cupped Gyeoul’s cheeks, looking her in the eye. “There’s nothing to be guilty about, okay?”
“Okay” Gyeoul nodded, leaning into her mother’s hand.
Her mom grinned, her smile finally reaching her eyes.
“Good.” She said, cheekily, pinching her daughter’s nose. “Now, let’s go shop for some winter clothes!”
“I have winter clo—“
“I will not let you go to Norway with that ratty jacket, Dr. Jang. Not my daughter.” Her mom sent her a look, one that Gyeoul had long learned not to challenge.
She could only answer with a sigh, nodding her head. There are times when you just have to give in, and after that heartfelt speech just a minute ago Gyeoul was far more inclined to just go with whatever her mom wanted her to do. Maybe it was for the best. She’ll get to see her cousin Yuna again, and she’ll probably get to see the Northern Lights. Or reindeers. Or those little dog sleds she saw in a magazine three years ago! Maybe all three, if she lucky enough!
This trip was sounding better and better every second.
“Okay, but not too many.” Gyeoul conceded. “I’m not going to bring more than a backpack and duffle bag.”
“Yes, yes,” Her mom waved her off. “Not more than 2 bags, I got it. Now—where should we go first? We’ll ask your brother to drive us!”
Gyeoul rolled her eyes warm-heartedly, a smile creeping onto her lips.
“Anywhere you want, mom.”