After the game ended, I emerged wearing the Santa outfit that my sister had brought for the penalty. However, I wasn't the only one dressed up; there was also an outfit for Heena, seemingly prepared specifically for her and me.
Heena, indifferent to what she wore as long as I was dressed up too, accepted her outfit without any fuss. She might have even liked the idea of us wearing a matching couple's look.
My outfit was exactly what one would picture when thinking of Santa Claus. However, Heena's attire was a sleeveless, short dress-type Santa outfit with straps over the shoulders. It exposed her collarbones and was corset-like around the waist.
Thankfully, it included a cape that covered her from shoulder to lower back, so it didn't seem too provocative. In fact, it was incredibly cute.
I wished it was just Heena looking adorable, and not me.
"Both of you are so cute~ Look this way, please? Say cheese~"
"Cheese..."
"Kimchi!"
"Right! Now, can you two get a bit closer?"
With a hint of alcohol in her system, our slightly flushed-faced aunt energetically snapped photos of Heena and me. Our parents, along with Jeongwoo and Yoonjung, joined in the impromptu photo session.
While we were focused in our game, our parents had opened a bottle of whiskey, even though it was still daytime.
But as soon as they saw Heena and me in Santa outfits, they gathered around us for what turned into a full-blown photoshoot.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, they were in high spirits, requesting various poses from us.
It must have been past 5 o'clock already, suggesting that our parents had been drinking for two or three hours. We must have been really absorbed in our game, completely losing track of time.
Honestly, I didn't mind wearing the Santa outfit. However, the embarrassment of wearing it in front of both our families and being photographed was almost too much to bear.
The only consolation was that I wasn't alone in this.
"Hehe, Yeonho, you're so cute~"
The fact that my girlfriend, dressed up with me, was adorably cute.
Like the last time with the pajamas, I seriously wondered if I had a thing for cosplay. The cute Santa outfit and her beautiful legs extending below the skirt were captivating.
While Heena kept laughing at my cuteness.
"Han Yeonho! You should pick up Heena and take a photo!"
In the midst of the ordinary photo session, I heard Heeseong's loud suggestion. He had grabbed a beer can and was shouting like a man watching a baseball game.
"Kyaa~ I love that! Do a princess carry!"
Yoonjung, always thrilled by such things, immediately agreed. The parents, with expectant eyes, looked on, phones ready.
"......"
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, I was rooted to the spot, unable to move. Heena, tugging at my outfit, sheepishly murmured in a deflated voice.
"Am I too heavy...?" Heena asked, her eyes wide in her Santa cosplay. Despite her apparent concern, it was clear that she was trying to spur me into action. I couldn't help but give in, especially with my beautiful girlfriend looking at me like that.
So, I steeled my resolve, moved behind Heena, and slightly bent my knees. I then grasped her shoulders and slid my hand under her thigh, lifting her up effortlessly as she cooperated with my movements.
"Heehee─"
She must have really liked being carried like a princess, as she wrapped her arms around my neck and giggled. It was a bit of a struggle, but not too much to handle until the photo session was over.
"Han Yeonho, you're so cool!!"
"Wow, our son is really strong~"
"Heena, get closer to his face~ Yes, like that! I'm taking the picture now~?"
The alcohol must have been talking.
Everyone was so tipsy that instead of stopping us, they were encouraging us. Looking around, I noticed that everyone had a glass of whiskey or beer in their hand.
This was not the Christmas party I had envisioned.
I wish I could go back to 30 minutes ago.
After the humiliating photoshoot, we all gathered in the living room, still in our costumes, and chatted.
Since Heena and I were the center of attention, most of the conversation revolved around us.
"So, when are you two getting married~?"
"Sister, are you already drunk?"
"Drunk? At this rate, you two will get married before us!!"
"She's definitely drunk..."
Yoonjung, having opened this can of worms, sparked a conversation on the topic.
"Yeonho, remember, auntie is always welcoming. Let me know when you're adding her to the family register, okay?"
"Auntie..."
"Hey! You should call me mother-in-law!"
But she was the one who called herself auntie first.
"Wow, is Han Yeonho going to beat Jeongwoo to marriage?"
"I'm fine with giving up my turn, Yeonho."
"Can you just keep your mouth shut? Please?"
After shooting a glare at my two brothers-in-law who were chuckling and adding fuel to the fire.
"Heena getting married and moving out means a room frees up, right? Maybe I should set it up for home training..."
Heeseong, already planning what to do with Heena's room as if it were a foregone conclusion, left me speechless.
Meanwhile, our mothers were having another ominous conversation.
"Yeonho's mother, it's been hard to travel during the holidays lately, but it's so nice to gather like this."
"That's true. Feel free to come over anytime. Our houses are close, after all."
"I'll visit often~ But now, should I start calling you in-laws?"
"That's not a bad idea. But we should probably marry off Jeongwoo first... Heena, do you want to do it quickly?"
"No, Mom. Even if we do, we can just register the marriage first and have the ceremony later..."
"Everyone's just joking, right? You are joking, right?"
Their conversation seemed too serious for comfort, making me feel a bit uneasy.
I couldn't tell if they were serious or just pulling my leg. As I fidgeted uncomfortably, Auntie burst into laughter and slapped my shoulder.
"Oh, dear! Of course, it's a joke~ You're still in high school, after all."
"Haha, right?"
"...Hehe."
"But Heena doesn't seem to be joking, so you two should talk it over. Got it?"
"......"
My girlfriend, who stood there smiling without adding a word, was not one to lie.
I knew from the past eight months.
It was all sincere.
Heena, are you really thinking of beginning our marriage right after graduation?
After the teasing and partially serious conversation ended, everyone held onto their drinks while Yoonjung, my mom, and Auntie set the table. It wasn't much work since most of the food was pre-made or ordered.
Heena wanted to help but ended up sitting next to me with a slightly dejected face after being shooed away.
Despite saying they were setting the table, it felt more like they were just bringing out snacks to accompany the drinks. Naturally, as minors, we were pushed to the background.
The adults and grown-ups, each holding a glass, chatted and laughed with flushed faces.
Heena and I sat in a corner, munching on snacks like chicken and sipping our drinks, feeding each other since no one else was paying us any attention.
Though we felt a bit left out since we couldn't join the adults with their drinks, watching everyone laughing and talking still lifted my spirits.
Sure, the gathering included people I never expected, but what of it?
This moment, filled with joyous laughter, was wonderful.
Both our families, always so cheerful and harmonious, seemed to blend seamlessly into this spontaneous gathering.
I smiled quietly, watching 'our' family. Then, Heena rested her head on my shoulder.
"This is nice."
"Yeah, it is."
Though it wasn't the romantic Christmas just for the two of us, it was still very nice.
The boisterous laughter and carefree chatter without any worries or concerns seemed almost magical, making everyone listening feel happy.
Especially the fact that it was our families together creating this atmosphere made it all the more delightful.
I couldn't be sure about the future, but I hoped ours would be as decided. I was ready to work towards it, and I knew Heena would too.
After silently watching our families for a while, I turned to Heena.
"Shall we step out for a bit?"
"Okay."
I took Heena's hand and stood up. Noticing the glances directed our way, I gestured towards the door and stepped outside.
Although I felt a bit embarrassed to go out in this outfit, it was Christmas after all. People passing by probably wouldn't pay much attention. It was a quiet residential area, and I was wearing a puffy jacket over my costume.
Walking down the darkening street on this winter evening, I fiddled with the couple ring case in my pocket.
I had been waiting for the right timing, and now seemed like the perfect moment.
However, presenting it on the street didn't seem quite right.
"Do you want to go to the playground? We can get some fresh air there before heading back."
"Sure!"
I naturally led her to the nearby playground, the place of our first meeting and many conversations.
"There's no one here~"
"Well, who would be at the playground on Christmas evening?"
I was relieved that it was empty. Heena looked around, walking ahead of me. We had been here so often for our walking dates that it seemed very familiar to her.
After a short walk around the playground, I took her hand and sat her down on a secluded bench. I was a bit nervous, despite having given her many small gifts before.
Without saying a word, I took a deep breath, knelt down on one knee, and pulled the case out of my pocket.
It did feel somewhat like a proposal, especially considering the topic that had come up earlier. In a way, it wasn't much different, except maybe next time I'd get a more expensive ring. But the sentiment was probably similar.
"Ah..."
As I took the case out of my pocket, Heena let out a soft gasp. She must have realized what it was immediately.
With her eyes wavering, I gently opened the case to show her the couple rings and quietly asked,
"Will you accept this ring?"
After the game ended, I emerged wearing the Santa outfit that my sister had brought for the penalty. However, I wasn't the only one dressed up; there was also an outfit for Heena, seemingly prepared specifically for her and me.
Heena, indifferent to what she wore as long as I was dressed up too, accepted her outfit without any fuss. She might have even liked the idea of us wearing a matching couple's look.
My outfit was exactly what one would picture when thinking of Santa Claus. However, Heena's attire was a sleeveless, short dress-type Santa outfit with straps over the shoulders. It exposed her collarbones and was corset-like around the waist.
Thankfully, it included a cape that covered her from shoulder to lower back, so it didn't seem too provocative. In fact, it was incredibly cute.
I wished it was just Heena looking adorable, and not me.
"Both of you are so cute~ Look this way, please? Say cheese~"
"Cheese..."
"Kimchi!"
"Right! Now, can you two get a bit closer?"
With a hint of alcohol in her system, our slightly flushed-faced aunt energetically snapped photos of Heena and me. Our parents, along with Jeongwoo and Yoonjung, joined in the impromptu photo session.
While we were focused in our game, our parents had opened a bottle of whiskey, even though it was still daytime.
But as soon as they saw Heena and me in Santa outfits, they gathered around us for what turned into a full-blown photoshoot.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, they were in high spirits, requesting various poses from us.
It must have been past 5 o'clock already, suggesting that our parents had been drinking for two or three hours. We must have been really absorbed in our game, completely losing track of time.
Honestly, I didn't mind wearing the Santa outfit. However, the embarrassment of wearing it in front of both our families and being photographed was almost too much to bear.
The only consolation was that I wasn't alone in this.
"Hehe, Yeonho, you're so cute~"
The fact that my girlfriend, dressed up with me, was adorably cute.
Like the last time with the pajamas, I seriously wondered if I had a thing for cosplay. The cute Santa outfit and her beautiful legs extending below the skirt were captivating.
While Heena kept laughing at my cuteness.
"Han Yeonho! You should pick up Heena and take a photo!"
In the midst of the ordinary photo session, I heard Heeseong's loud suggestion. He had grabbed a beer can and was shouting like a man watching a baseball game.
"Kyaa~ I love that! Do a princess carry!"
Yoonjung, always thrilled by such things, immediately agreed. The parents, with expectant eyes, looked on, phones ready.
"......"
Overwhelmed by embarrassment, I was rooted to the spot, unable to move. Heena, tugging at my outfit, sheepishly murmured in a deflated voice.
"Am I too heavy...?" Heena asked, her eyes wide in her Santa cosplay. Despite her apparent concern, it was clear that she was trying to spur me into action. I couldn't help but give in, especially with my beautiful girlfriend looking at me like that.
So, I steeled my resolve, moved behind Heena, and slightly bent my knees. I then grasped her shoulders and slid my hand under her thigh, lifting her up effortlessly as she cooperated with my movements.
"Heehee─"
She must have really liked being carried like a princess, as she wrapped her arms around my neck and giggled. It was a bit of a struggle, but not too much to handle until the photo session was over.
"Han Yeonho, you're so cool!!"
"Wow, our son is really strong~"
"Heena, get closer to his face~ Yes, like that! I'm taking the picture now~?"
The alcohol must have been talking.
Everyone was so tipsy that instead of stopping us, they were encouraging us. Looking around, I noticed that everyone had a glass of whiskey or beer in their hand.
This was not the Christmas party I had envisioned.
I wish I could go back to 30 minutes ago.
After the humiliating photoshoot, we all gathered in the living room, still in our costumes, and chatted.
Since Heena and I were the center of attention, most of the conversation revolved around us.
"So, when are you two getting married~?"
"Sister, are you already drunk?"
"Drunk? At this rate, you two will get married before us!!"
"She's definitely drunk..."
Yoonjung, having opened this can of worms, sparked a conversation on the topic.
"Yeonho, remember, auntie is always welcoming. Let me know when you're adding her to the family register, okay?"
"Auntie..."
"Hey! You should call me mother-in-law!"
But she was the one who called herself auntie first.
"Wow, is Han Yeonho going to beat Jeongwoo to marriage?"
"I'm fine with giving up my turn, Yeonho."
"Can you just keep your mouth shut? Please?"
After shooting a glare at my two brothers-in-law who were chuckling and adding fuel to the fire.
"Heena getting married and moving out means a room frees up, right? Maybe I should set it up for home training..."
Heeseong, already planning what to do with Heena's room as if it were a foregone conclusion, left me speechless.
Meanwhile, our mothers were having another ominous conversation.
"Yeonho's mother, it's been hard to travel during the holidays lately, but it's so nice to gather like this."
"That's true. Feel free to come over anytime. Our houses are close, after all."
"I'll visit often~ But now, should I start calling you in-laws?"
"That's not a bad idea. But we should probably marry off Jeongwoo first... Heena, do you want to do it quickly?"
"No, Mom. Even if we do, we can just register the marriage first and have the ceremony later..."
"Everyone's just joking, right? You are joking, right?"
Their conversation seemed too serious for comfort, making me feel a bit uneasy.
I couldn't tell if they were serious or just pulling my leg. As I fidgeted uncomfortably, Auntie burst into laughter and slapped my shoulder.
"Oh, dear! Of course, it's a joke~ You're still in high school, after all."
"Haha, right?"
"...Hehe."
"But Heena doesn't seem to be joking, so you two should talk it over. Got it?"
"......"
My girlfriend, who stood there smiling without adding a word, was not one to lie.
I knew from the past eight months.
It was all sincere.
Heena, are you really thinking of beginning our marriage right after graduation?
After the teasing and partially serious conversation ended, everyone held onto their drinks while Yoonjung, my mom, and Auntie set the table. It wasn't much work since most of the food was pre-made or ordered.
Heena wanted to help but ended up sitting next to me with a slightly dejected face after being shooed away.
Despite saying they were setting the table, it felt more like they were just bringing out snacks to accompany the drinks. Naturally, as minors, we were pushed to the background.
The adults and grown-ups, each holding a glass, chatted and laughed with flushed faces.
Heena and I sat in a corner, munching on snacks like chicken and sipping our drinks, feeding each other since no one else was paying us any attention.
Though we felt a bit left out since we couldn't join the adults with their drinks, watching everyone laughing and talking still lifted my spirits.
Sure, the gathering included people I never expected, but what of it?
This moment, filled with joyous laughter, was wonderful.
Both our families, always so cheerful and harmonious, seemed to blend seamlessly into this spontaneous gathering.
I smiled quietly, watching 'our' family. Then, Heena rested her head on my shoulder.
"This is nice."
"Yeah, it is."
Though it wasn't the romantic Christmas just for the two of us, it was still very nice.
The boisterous laughter and carefree chatter without any worries or concerns seemed almost magical, making everyone listening feel happy.
Especially the fact that it was our families together creating this atmosphere made it all the more delightful.
I couldn't be sure about the future, but I hoped ours would be as decided. I was ready to work towards it, and I knew Heena would too.
After silently watching our families for a while, I turned to Heena.
"Shall we step out for a bit?"
"Okay."
I took Heena's hand and stood up. Noticing the glances directed our way, I gestured towards the door and stepped outside.
Although I felt a bit embarrassed to go out in this outfit, it was Christmas after all. People passing by probably wouldn't pay much attention. It was a quiet residential area, and I was wearing a puffy jacket over my costume.
Walking down the darkening street on this winter evening, I fiddled with the couple ring case in my pocket.
I had been waiting for the right timing, and now seemed like the perfect moment.
However, presenting it on the street didn't seem quite right.
"Do you want to go to the playground? We can get some fresh air there before heading back."
"Sure!"
I naturally led her to the nearby playground, the place of our first meeting and many conversations.
"There's no one here~"
"Well, who would be at the playground on Christmas evening?"
I was relieved that it was empty. Heena looked around, walking ahead of me. We had been here so often for our walking dates that it seemed very familiar to her.
After a short walk around the playground, I took her hand and sat her down on a secluded bench. I was a bit nervous, despite having given her many small gifts before.
Without saying a word, I took a deep breath, knelt down on one knee, and pulled the case out of my pocket.
It did feel somewhat like a proposal, especially considering the topic that had come up earlier. In a way, it wasn't much different, except maybe next time I'd get a more expensive ring. But the sentiment was probably similar.
"Ah..."
As I took the case out of my pocket, Heena let out a soft gasp. She must have realized what it was immediately.
With her eyes wavering, I gently opened the case to show her the couple rings and quietly asked,
"Will you accept this ring?"
