Lalisa went to work with red eyes. Jisoo carefully looked at her eyes and asked in a grieving tone: “Broke up with your boyfriend?”
Lalisa replied in a low voice to match her grieving tone: “Comrade Jisoo, do you want to treat beef rice to comfort a heart broken colleague?”
Jisoo thought for a while: “Then, you better don’t break up with your boyfriend.”
Colleague Bai bought a newspaper with Jimin on the cover. Lalisa saw the newspaper on his desk so she conveniently brought it over to her desk to read. The long article chronicled his life with praises and pomposity. True to a tabloid newspaper’s distinguishing feature, there was gossip and speculation about Jimin’s wife.
Lalisa put down the newspaper and stared blankly for a long time.
She did not know many people in the U.S. She was closest to sister Juan, but they lost contact after she returned to Korea. The other person was Jimin. Actually in regard to Jimin, Lalisa only felt gratitude because he had helped her a lot. That time when he was drunk, he did not cross the line and hurt her.
After hesitating for a while, Lalisa turned on her computer, went to SOSOmail website, then her not often use mailbox to look for Jimin’s email address.
After changing what she wrote several times, only one sentence remained in the end.
——”Jimin, what happened last night at the hotel lobby, thank you.”
A few minutes after sending the email, her inbox had an alert for new mail. Lalisa refreshed the screen and clicked to open the email.
Recipient: Kwon Lalisa
Sender: Chim
Topic: Re: No Subject
It’s nothing.
Two simple words appeared, like from a stranger. Lalisa’s fingers stilled on the keyboard, not knowing what to say. She remembered the gossips she heard from students in C University, then quickly replied.
“Jimin, have you met her again now that you’re back in Korea? Maybe you still have a chance.”
A reply did not come forth in a long time.
Lalisa regretted it.
Maybe she overstepped herself, as everyone has an untouchable part in the heart. Maybe that girl was his deepest wound.
That night, Lalisa and Jungkook talked about what happened. Jungkook frowned at her and said two words: “Really slow.”
Then, he added: “Thank goodness you’re slow.”
Lalisa did not understand.
More than one month later, when Lalisa checked her mailbox on a regular basis, she saw Jimin’s reply. Looking at the date, it was sent two days ago.
Lalisa opened the email.
Recipient: Lalisa
Sender : Chim
Topic : Re: Re: Re: No Subject
Not everyone can wait so long in loneliness like Jungkook.
Lisa. I’ve had a change of heart.
P.S.: Wish you an early Merry Christmas!
Lalisa stared blankly at the screen.
Just a few lines, why did it take so long to reply? Maybe the sender changed the message over and over and thought about it for a long time before sending it.
In that moment, Lalisa felt she was beginning to understand something. But the idea only flashed quickly before the intuition disappeared.
She moved the mouse to the delete option, hesitated for a moment and moved away. Finally she logged out of her mailbox.
Maybe she would never use this mailbox again.
That message would lay quietly online in a corner. No one would open it, yet it would never disappear.
Autumn quickly faded with the arrival of the chilly winter. Under the influence of Jisoo, Lalisa was hooked on knitting scarves. Such a pity, Lalisa always made mistakes, sometimes knitting too tightly, sometimes knitting too loosely. Finally her first product was done. She felt excited like a child who just accomplished an amazing feat and wanted to brag to its mother. Jungkook was extremely grateful but he refused to wear it on his neck when going out.
On Christmas night, Jungkook invited Somi and her boyfriend Chan to have dinner together. Chan was Somi’s boss, a steady man with a sense of humor. This was Jungkook’s first time meeting him.
After dinner, they went outside and discovered it had started snowing.
In the street, young people and children jumped and cheered for the arrival of the first snow in A City.
Lalisa and Somi stood side by side on the walkway to wait for Jungkook and Chan who went to get their cars. Somi smilingly said: “Initially, I plan to marry next year and invite you to be my bridesmaid, but who knows Jungkook couldn’t wait. However, you can’t blame him because he probably has endured for a long time……” Somi said ambiguously as she winked at Lalisa.
Lalisa blushed, not knowing when Somi became so outspoken.
Somi laughed, turned her head and saw Chan waved at her opposite the road. Hence, she told Lalisa: “I can’t accompany you to wait because I have to leave first.”
“All right.” Lalisa nodded. Somi walked a few steps and stopped but she did not turn around.
“The two of you must be very happy, think of it as……” Somi whispered, her voice barely audible, “for me.”
Lalisa was stumped for words. Somi has already run and crossed the street, not looking back.
Jungkook returned to see Lalisa standing in a daze staring at her toes: “Somi left already?”
“Yes.” Lalisa looked up but did not see the car.
“It’s snowing, let’s walk home.”
“Oh.”
Seeing her lackluster reaction, Jungkook was somewhat surprised. He thought she would be jumping excitedly because of the snow.
Lalisa lowered her head and walked absentmindedly. She was close to bumping into a streetlight, but a pair of big hands pulled her back.
“What are you thinking about? Do you want to write a self-reflection report again?” Jungkook frowned.
Lalisa’s mind slowly returned to reality. She innocently looked up to see his familiar face mixed with a bit of anger. Suddenly she wanted to hold him…… her hands involuntarily sneaked into his coat and hugged him: “Jungkook……”
Startled by her sudden action, Jungkook asked softly: “Are you all right?”
The head that buried in his embrace kept on shaking slightly, her voice muffled: “……I’m all right.”
Jungkook wanted to loosen her arms to see what was wrong with her, but Lalisa refused to let go and held on tighter.
“Lalisa!” Jungkook said helplessly, not knowing why she was suddenly so clingy.
“You’re too big now to act like a spoiled child. People will laugh at us.” Jungkook lowered his head to whisper in her ear.
Nonsense! How could she be like a spoiled child!
“Well…… I’m just checking to see if this coat I bought is warm.”
Just leave her be. Jungkook has no way out but to let her to hold onto him. He smiled wryly at the ambiguous or envious looks from people walking by.
Under the snowy night, on a crowded street, for the first time, she felt Christmas was a holiday worth celebrating.
This year’s Lunar New Year came early. Not long after Christmas, the Lunar New Year arrived in the blink of an eye.
Naturally, they have to go back to Y City to celebrate Lunar New Year. Y City is not far from A City, about a little more than three-hours drive, but the roads were crowded because of the holiday. Jungkook and Lalisa departed early in the morning but actually arrived in Y city at a little more than one o’clock in the afternoon.
Feeling that the person next to him was quiet for a long time, Jungkook turned his head to take a look. From yesterday, Lalisa has been feeling tense, but why she felt better when she arrived in Y City?
Lalisa looked out of the car window in a daze, not aware of Jungkook staring at her.
Jungkook looked at his wife with an indescribable emotion, paused for a moment and suddenly called out: “Lalisa!”
“Uh……” Lalisa reacted after a while, turned around and asked: “What?”
“Do you know how to play mahjong?”
Play mahjong? Lalisa thought she heard wrongly.
“Auntie loves to play mahjong, so if you don’t know how, she’ll probably be very disappointed.” Jungkook’s tone was mild and light, but the words were deliberately made to sound serious.
Lalisa was distracted, the thought of not going which has been circling in her head just now flew away, leaving only the word “mahjong.” “What to do? I don’t really know how to play.” Lalisa was very upset, “Why didn’t you tell me earlier so I can practice?”
“You still have time to practice.” Jungkook said with a laugh and parked the car.
“Lalisa, we’ve arrived.”
How many years had Lalisa not been a part of such a lively Lunar New Year celebration?
Snow fell outside the windows and the sound of firecrackers can be heard continuously. The whole family sat together to eat Lunar New Year’s Eve family dinner and to listen to the elderly nagging.
“The older both of you are, the less filial. One has a boyfriend already but did not tell mum. One simply got married without saying……”
Somi made a face at Jungkook: “Mom, you’ve complained the entire afternoon.”
“It’s not often the kids come back, so let them enjoy their meal. Don’t keep on nagging non-stop.” Mr. Jeon said.
“I think you are the one who find me irritating……” Mrs. Jeon turned to talk about Mr. Jeon. Mr. Jeon who has always been afraid of his wife, immediately appeared uncomfortable.
Chan could not understand the dialect so he kept on asking Somi to translate. Somi felt vexed. A big man unexpectedly started to act shamelessly like a kid.
Lalisa smiled while listening. She was used to spending Lunar New Year by herself aboard. Being a part of a warm family atmosphere such as this, she even felt afraid to talk, afraid that this magical atmosphere might disappear.
After the meal, Mrs. Jeon really organized the family to play mahjong. Jungkook sneaked upstairs to the study room and Somi volunteered to wash the dishes. In the end, Lalisa, the prospective son-in-law and Mr. Jeon, who has never dared to oppose his wife, joined the game according to Mrs. Jeon’s wish.
Mrs. Jeon is an experienced player for several decades with profound skills. Mr. Jeon who has been practicing for several decades with his wife is naturally also not weak. Somi’s boyfriend is a businessman so he is naturally good at calculating. The only pathetic person was Lalisa since she only remembered how to play slightly because she had lived abroad for the past couple of years. The game barely started, but she was already defeated soundly.
Jungkook came out of the study and could not believe his eyes: “It’s not even an hour, but you’ve lost so much already?”
Lalisa was very embarrassed and stuttered: “It’s just bad luck……”
Jungkook patted her on the shoulder and told her to stand up: “Leave it to me.”
Now, the players were evenly matched. Lalisa sat at the side and looked on as the game became more interesting. It was already one o’clock in the morning yet she still refused to go to bed. Jungkook told her twice but in vain. Finally he glared at her, only then did Lalisa go to sleep.
During the night, half asleep half awake, Lalisa heard the door open so she switched on the table lamp. “Finished already? Did you win or lose?”
Jungkook looked tired when he pulled back the quilt and got into bed: “Only auntie lost.”
Lalisa glared at him: “Three big men so shameless to take advantage of a woman!”
“The Jeon family has a rule which is there are no concessions at the mahjong table. Also, if auntie doesn’t lose completely, she won’t stop.” Jungkook pulled her into his arms. “Quickly go to sleep. I’m exhausted and it’s all your fault.”
Lalisa immediately felt extremely ashamed. Normally, he was very busy working. When he returned home to celebrate the Lunar New Year holiday, he still could not rest because of her, truly pitiful. Thus, she obediently lay in his arms to sleep, no longer making any noise to disturb him.
After quite a while, she felt his warm lips on the back of her neck. Lalisa panted: “Aren’t you very tired?”
“Yes!” Jungkook’s voice was vague, “I still can be a bit more tired.”
In the morning, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Lalisa woke up at a bit past seven. As she sat up and began to dress, Jungkook pulled her back under the quilt.
“What are you doing, getting up so early?” Jungkook asked sleepily.
“I have to make breakfast…… let me go.” Lalisa tried hard to loosen his grip on her waist, but Jungkook did not even bother to move his fingers. Hence, Lalisa was annoyed and gave up: “Jungkook……”
“Stay in bed with me for a bit more.”
Really! Lalisa muttered. “Jungkook, you’re a little strange today.”
Jungkook’s body became stiff and kept quiet for a few seconds. His voice sounded a bit unnatural: “Strange how?”
“You’re acting like a kid!” Lalisa complained.
Jungkook’s fingers relaxed slightly: “Be quiet, go to sleep.”
There were no voices outside so it appeared no one had gotten up yet. Thus, Lalisa obeyed him, since she could not escape from his embrace anyway. “Then I’ll sleep a bit more.”
However…… it was uncomfortable to sleep like that!
Closing her eyes for barely a minute, Lalisa became restless. She wanted to lift her head out of Jungkook’s arm.
“How could a girl sleep like this?” Jungkook opened his eyes, “Can you stop moving around?”
Lalisa frowned because she wanted to lay her head on a pillow, as it is softer and more comfortable.
“……Jungkook, if I sleep this way, your arm will be numbed.”
She will really ‘give thought for his sake’. The outcome of releasing her to sleep alone will probably be catching a cold together. Hence, it was best to hold her as tightly as possible so he can sleep at ease. Jungkook simply pretended not to hear her and closed his eyes to sleep.
Lalisa glared at him for a long time but she still could not sleep. She looked around the room to finally rest her eyes on the handsome face next to hers.
Jungkook…… is truly handsome!
Quietly kissing him on his cheek, Lalisa finally began to feel a little sleepy. Her mind hazily thinking she still has to get up early……