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“Has it really only been 4?” Gyeoul asked her husband of two years, looking at the night sky that was lit with fireworks.
“Does it feel longer to you?” Jeongwon tore his eyes from the sky to look at her. Gyeoul was radiant, the reflection of the fireworks trailing their way across her eyeballs, adding to her glow.
“Mmm,” she said nodding, “I can’t remember how I was before you came into my life. What we have now, is the only time I wish to keep in my memories. And it is unbelievable how you have filled this time with so much happiness and warmth. How is it possible that you managed to do that in just 4 years?” she asked, letting go of the railings of the balcony and leaning against her husband.
Jeongwon wrapped his left hand around her, kissing the top of her head. “I feel like time is passing quickly. 4 years ago we got together. We were so busy and stole enough time to get married, then we went to the US. You finished your fellowship, we came back, bought a home and set it up, and now, we are thinking of starting a family. So much has happened so quickly. I feel like I haven’t had enough time with you doing nothing,” he lamented.
“We’re doing nothing now,” Gyeoul said, consolingly, wrapping both her hands around his waist, still continuing to gaze at the night sky.
Christmas in Busan was much brighter and busier than Gyeoul had expected. The decision to not spend time in Seoul was random. When Jung Rosa had declared to her son and daughter-in-law that she intended to go for a Christmas cruise with President Ju and that the couple should make their own plans, Gyeoul had suggested that they go away from Seoul that long weekend. “Why Busan?” he had asked when she mentioned her place of choice, “we could go skiing somewhere, I know excellent places where we can do winter sports.”
“ Ani , I just want to take it easy, walk around, eat till I cannot move, still be in a city so that we can go to busy Christmas markets. Please let’s go to Busan, please?” she pouted. Jeongwon shook his head in defeat. He stood no chance against her pleading eyes.
“Okay, I’ll plan a trip to Busan then.”
“No, please, let’s not plan much. I’ll do the bookings, let’s drive there, and spend 4 days doing whatever catches our fancy.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Their short trip was going exactly the way Gyeoul had hoped. Jeongwon was surprised to know that holidays could be enjoyed without meticulously planning things. He had begun to think that maybe he should let Gyeoul take over organising trips once in a while. Doing anything with her, even if it was just being in their snug, swanky hotel bed, looking out of the massive windows, watching the night break into dawn was beautiful. They had spent the afternoons visiting various temples in the city. Jeongwon could see why Gyeoul might have wanted to spend time here. The temples were all situated in picturesque locations, some by the sea, with air crispier and warmer than they would have experienced in Seoul. And Gyeoul, on trips, turned into a trash can. She ate everything that caught her interest at any point of time of the day and still was hungry in time for meals. Jeongwon wondered where all that food was going because on none of these days did she express discomfort in her stomach. But he still found it adorable, that a tiny being such as her could munch on food all the time.
“What’s the time?” she asked, still engulfed in her husband’s warm embrace.
“9:30.”
“Shouldn’t we leave?”
“We can leave in 10 minutes.”
“Let me get ready then,” she said, before dashing to the bathroom.
25 minutes later, they entered the beautifully decorated church to find seats where they could get a good view of the choir that was to perform before the Mass. It was uncharacteristically cold that night and Jeongwon frowned when he saw Gyeoul take off her gloves. He immediately took the hand closest to him and put it into his pocket. Gyeoul never ceased to be amused by how he could tend to treat her like a child when it came to keeping warm in winter. He was always covering her up from top to toe and shoving hand warmers into her coat pockets before she put them on. Gyeoul squeezed his hand within the space of his coat pocket. She preferred this hand warmer over the ones she had in her pocket right now.
Soon, the carol singing began, leading the way to the Mass. It was close to 2 hours when they stepped out of the church amid all the festivities. They made their way to the street from where they could see more fireworks. “I want hot choco!” Gyeoul said. “Let’s go,” Jeongwon acquiesced, laughing. A cosy cafe was found, where they found a very pretty nook to sit. Gyeoul fished out her phone to take a selfie of them, sending it to their two family groups to wish everyone on them a Merry Christmas. Rosa called them to wish, as did Sunyeong and Gaeul. By the time they finished talking to all of them, their hot chocolates had arrived. Jeongwon had a smile on his face throughout, as if his mind was somewhere else. Gyeoul poked his cheeks.
“What are you thinking of?”
“Nothing, just this and that.”
“I want to know.”
“It’s really nothing. I’m just excited about Christmas next year.”
“Wae?”
“I think things are going to be different for us this coming year.”
“I know what’s on your mind.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I’m sure you’re imagining going for Christmas Mass next year with a baby in your arms.”
Jeongwon smiled like a fool. “Am I that transparent?”
“Yes,” she said, finding a loose thread on Jeongwon’s cardigan and putting it away.
“What do you think?” he asked, “Will we have a baby by then?”
“I certainly hope so. I really do,” she said, looking wishful.
They finished the rest of the hot choco and hailed a taxi back to their hotel. “Are you tired?” Gyeoul asked her husband once they had reached their room.
“Not really. Having a long nap at noon was a good idea. Why? Do you want to do something? Are you hungry again? We could go to the convenience store.”
“ Aniyo , I’m not hungry at all. I just asked out of curiosity,” she said, shedding most layers of her warm clothing and rummaging through her suitcase.
“Ah, okay, then I’ll just take a quick shower,” Jeongwon said.
“Don’t take long please. I need to shower too.”
“Just 10 minutes, I promise.
Jeongwon kept his promise, letting Gyeoul be under the hot shower soon, which she desperately wanted, to bring back some warmth into her freezing bones. When it was time to dry herself, she had a smirk on her face. It was their anniversary and Gyeoul had come prepared to start the celebrations.
When she came out, Jeongwon was in bed browsing his phone, looking warm and welcoming.
Gyeoul cleared her throat trying to get his attention. Jeongwon looked at her, a smile forming on his face. They may have had only 2 years together as husband and wife but he had a good inkling of what was about to happen.
“Happy anniversary, wife,” he said, focussing fully on her, keeping aside his phone.
“Happy anniversary, husband,” she said walking towards the bed.
“And what might you have under that bathrobe I wonder…” he said, sitting upright, ready to go to her when she is close enough.
“Why don’t you find out yourself?” she said, trying to sound seductive but her face had turned crimson. She reached beside him and stopped, waiting in anticipation.
Jeongwon untied her bathrobe to unsheath his favourite gift of all. “How do you manage to take my breath away every time?” he rasped closing the distance between them by kissing her and pulling the insidious bathrobe off her.
*** *** ***
Their bodies were entwined, Jeongwon’s head pressed against her bosom and her hands wrapped around him, her fingertips playing with his hair. Gyeoul looked at the man who was everything to her and wished to say something, anything, to express her love.
“Jagiya,”
“Mm?”
“I’m happy that we found our way to each other.”
Jeongwon raised his head and rolled off her body to look at her face. “So am I,” he replied.
“I think we make a good pair, don’t you?”
“I have never doubted that.”
“I love you,” she said, peering into his soul.
“I love you,” he replied, kissing her eyes, cheeks, moving further down to her waiting lips and said, “Thank you for coming to me,” before showing her how much he meant his words.