Ch#63
63. Château Margaux Every Day?
Na-eun's heart ached at his words. She wished this moment could last forever. But she knew all too well the reality that made it impossible. Shaking off her complicated thoughts with effort, Na-eun smiled.
"So today, let's just set aside all thoughts and focus on each other. It's the last day."
At Na-eun's words, Kang-woo gazed at her intently and stroked her cheek.
"Don't think of anything, don't worry. I can handle it all. Not just today, but every day ahead will be special for us."
"Then we'll drink Château Margaux every day?"
Kang-woo laughed at Na-eun's words. This woman occasionally refreshed the atmosphere like this, saying things he hadn't expected.
"Sure, why not."
Kang-woo gently stroked Na-eun's cheek and whispered in her ear. His eyes were warm, and compared to his usual cold image, his deeply uplifted mouth corners made him look softer.
"We'll be even happier in the new year. Got it?"
As his sincere words lingered in her ears, Na-eun's eyes reddened. Suppressed emotions surged, choking her throat, but she forced a smile. Leaning forward to hide her bitterness, she said,
"Give me another glass of wine."
Kang-woo sensed something off in her expression. Seeing Na-eun's gaze waver momentarily, he felt a bit worried. Her pretending to be fine on purpose looked endearing.
"You must like this wine. Drink as much as you want. I'm here."
Kang-woo smiled kindly and filled her glass. Na-eun gulped down the wine, avoiding his gaze. As the bitter taste slid down her throat, she wanted to forget her painful thoughts, even if just for a moment.
Kang-woo frowned slightly seeing her down the wine in one go. Na-eun's demeanor, as if trying to shake something off, was different from usual.
"You're drinking too fast."
Kang-woo said in a calm voice, but his eyes were full of worry and question.
Na-eun lowered her eyes and gave an awkward smile.
"Just... because it's the new year."
Na-eun's trailing voice trembled faintly. Kang-woo reached out and gently grasped the back of her hand.
"Na-eun, tell me anything. You don't have to struggle alone."
Kang-woo's tender touch shook the walls in Na-eun's heart, but she still hid her true feelings and nodded.
"Got it."
As she answered, Na-eun felt the alcohol hit her hard. Then, Na-eun first clung to Kang-woo's neck and pressed her lips to his.
As their lips met, Kang-woo pulled Na-eun tighter and deeply thrust his tongue in. The kiss, mingled with the sweet-bitter aroma of wine, grew deeper.
Because it's a special day today. Because it's the end of December. Because it might be the last happy moment.
Na-eun clung to Kang-woo with desperate feelings, and Kang-woo embraced her with instantly igniting hot passion. Even as joy and sorrow intertwined and body and heart burned, time passed without stopping.
The night passed, and the new year dawned. The snow that fell all night blanketed the garden in white.
"Wow, it's snow!"
Excited Ji-ho shouted, and Min-ho also opened his door, rubbing his eyes as he came to the living room. Seeing the piled white snow, he shouted.
"It's snow!"
It was the same as Ji-ho. Ji-ho couldn't take his eyes off the snow-covered garden outside the window.
Ji-ho's eyes sparkled with excitement. His body already seemed ready to go out. Ji-ho stretched his arms upward and said to Min-ho sitting on the sofa.
"Let's go out!"
Min-ho nodded.
"Mom! I want to go out and make a snowman. Let's go quickly!"
Then Min-ho also stood next to Ji-ho and said.
"Let's go! I want to make a snowman."
Min-ho's eyes sparkled like the morning sun rising, and his small lips were full of excitement. Na-eun smiled at the kids but shook her head firmly.
"You haven't had breakfast. Let's eat first, then go out. It's cold outside, so eat heartily."
Ji-ho pouted with an aggrieved expression, and Min-ho mimicked it exactly. So cute, Na-eun barely held back her laughter.
"Ji-ho and Min-ho, if you eat breakfast first, you can play outside longer? So we have to eat first, right?"
At the words of playing longer, both nodded.
"I'll eat fast."
"I'll eat a lot too."
Ji-ho and Min-ho came to the table clamoring for food. Na-eun smiled brightly at them. Breakfast today was pancakes. The nutty pancake smell seemed to brighten the morning of January 1st.
After stuffing themselves with pancakes, the kids put on thick clothes and started making snowmen. Na-eun also came out in her padding and waterproof pants to help make the snowmen. The kids tried their best to roll the snow, but it didn't roll well.
While Na-eun was rolling Ji-ho's snowman and then Min-ho's on the side, grunting away, Kang-woo came out.
"So, will that become a snowman? Shall we split into teams and make snowmen? Me and Min-ho versus Na-eun and Ji-ho?"
Ji-ho pouted.
"Uncle seems stronger."
"Then do you want to be on uncle's team?"
Ji-ho nodded.
"That's cheating, Ji-ho. Abandoning Mom?"
Ji-ho grinned.
"What about you, Min-ho? Want to team up with the teacher?"
Min-ho came over happily.
"Okay. The prettiest one wins. Not the biggest."
"Good. Let's start."
Kang-woo said that and began rolling the snow vigorously. Thinking of decorating eyes, nose, and mouth on the new snowball, Na-eun made it a moderate size. She planned to decorate it prettily. She brought out carrots and apples, as well as unused hats and mufflers. While diligently making the snowman with Min-ho, Kang-woo's team was still rolling snow.
"Uncle, Mom's almost done already?"
"We're almost done too. Let's make a huge snowman."
Once they placed the snowball on top, it became a huge snowman as big as Kang-woo.
"We need eyes, nose, and mouth too!"
"We can do that."
Kang-woo and Ji-ho's snowman was enormous and rough. It was as tall as Kang-woo, and the round body was unevenly scooped in places. Kang-woo took a large carrot and stuck it into the snowman's nose area. For the eyes, Ji-ho inserted crayons and burst into laughter.
"The eyes look scary!"
Ji-ho laughed playfully, and Kang-woo smiled at him.
"Still, a snowman should be cool. Ours feels like a sturdy soldier."
Kang-woo patted the snowman's shoulder lightly.
In contrast, Na-eun and Min-ho's snowman was dainty and lovely. It was about Min-ho's height but neatly arranged with a sense of joy. Na-eun put a furry hat on the snowman and wrapped it in a red scarf. She made the eyes sparkle with green buttons and drew a cute mouth with red thread. Min-ho held a small pinecone and placed it on the snowman's head, shouting.
"It has a hat too!"
Min-ho's face was full of joy.
"Wow, really pretty. Our snowman is the scary snowman soldier uncle, and Na-eun's is a total fashionista."
"With the hat, it's perfect, Min-ho."
Kang-woo said to Na-eun while comparing the snowmen. His eyes were filled with happiness, and Na-eun smiled brightly in response.
Na-eun gently stroked Min-ho's head. Min-ho nodded contentedly.
In the snow-covered garden, the two snowmen stood boasting different charms. Kang-woo and Ji-ho's looked like sturdy guardians, while Na-eun and Min-ho's appeared lovely and warm like fairy tale protagonists.
"If pretty wins, I think I won?"
Kang-woo shook his head at Na-eun's words.
"If cool wins, then my physically strong snowman wins first, right?"
At that moment, Min-ho sneezed achoo from the side. Unnoticed while making the snowman, his gloves were completely soaked. They'd been out longer than expected.
"Oh no. Min-ho, are you cold? Let's go inside quickly."
Na-eun took the kids inside.
Kang-hyeok had been watching Kang-woo and Na-eun making snowmen with the kids from the main residence side. In Kang-hyeok's eyes, the scene was so beautiful it felt like a picture he couldn't approach.
