“Big snowstorm!”
The next morning, I took Siyeon out for some exercise.
The Bollard snowman was still standing strong in the morning.
Siyeon and the other passing children occasionally pointed at it with their fingers, making me think that our efforts from last night weren’t in vain.
Moreover, judging by the screams from last night and the marks left at the snowman’s base, it seemed someone had also seriously hurt their ankle.
Well done, Bollard snowman.
Just a bit away from the apartment playground, a thick layer of snow was visible.
Even though the snow ducks had all broken apart recently, Siyeon was happily making new ones with a claw.
“Mari, you should make some too!”
“Uh?”
While I stood outside holding a claw and just following Siyeon around, she suddenly made a suggestion.
It’s been ages since I played with clay or made snowballs…
Since it was a rare opportunity, I decided to put down the claw and join in.
In this freezing weather where even snot was freezing, the snow had started to crunch underfoot.
Merely narrowing and widening the claw didn’t neatly fill it up, so I pulled the frame towards me and started scooping the snow directly.
Despite my efforts, the snow didn’t fill the frame to the end, resulting in a somewhat shabby snow duck being completed at the claw’s tip.
This is harder than I thought.
“That one looks weird!”
“Ugh…”
Immediately, I was called out by Siyeon for the unfinished snow duck.
Getting critiqued by an elementary school student on my crafting skills was quite the blow.
Still, I was determined to make at least one proper snow duck, so I stuffed the frame with snow, applying pressure to the handles on both sides and packing it tightly.
This time, the snow stuck perfectly to the frame and wouldn’t fall off.
‘No….’
At this point, the stubbornness hidden within me began to stir.
I was determined to create one perfect snow duck, just one.
What began as a casual attempt at making a snow duck turned into a full-blown quest for perfection.
Duck number 6, missing a wing.
Duck number 7, missing part of the head.
Duck number 8, losing part of the tail and the wings.
Ducks number 9, 10, 11…
By the time I reached duck number 23, a single perfect snow duck finally came into existence.
“Siyeon! Look at this…”
Just as I was about to show off my well-made snow duck to Siyeon…
“Uh?”
I was left speechless seeing Siyeon already setting up an army on the stairs’ railing.
Damn it, how can she be so good at this?
Unintentionally, both Siyeon and I had gotten some exercise running around looking for snow, just as much as any running.
Leaving behind a feeling of defeat without reason, we went home, and to deal with our breakfast and lunch, I opened a delivery app.
It was a chilly winter day, and I had a craving for something warm.
“How about galbitang (beef short rib soup), Siyeon?”
“Yeah… that sounds good!”
After a short mmm, the response came back.
It wasn’t an overwhelming reaction of wanting to eat, but today, I wanted to indulge and order what I craved.
Statistically speaking, something like jjimdak (braised chicken) wouldn’t be bad either, but I had a hard time finding a place with less spicy tteokbokki to match Siyeon’s taste.
Moreover, the place delivering jjimdak usually had it as a serving for two adults.
No matter how much our mascot crew could eat as the leftover disposal team, eating just jjimdak for two or three days in a row felt kind of off.
Once it’s in the fridge, it kind of becomes unappetizing, and eventually, most of it would go to waste.
Thinking that far,
I decided and began tapping my fingers to order one galbitang, with extra ribs, and two bowls of rice to add to the cart.
Totaling around 19,000 won.
One galbitang had a generous portion, so there was more than enough broth.
The only thing lacking was meat, so I added extra bones as a fix.
The veranda, connected to the room, didn’t have enough coverage from the heater, so it felt a little chill.
As I waited for the warm creamy broth to cover that chill, I hugged myself close to the warm floor.
Before long, the ding-dong of the doorbell rang, and all I had to do was bring the food sitting at my door inside.
The moment I opened the lid of the disposable plastic container.
Just as expected, there was creamy broth, and about five large ribs were whole inside.
‘Galbitang is fantastic, but this is inconvenient.’
Separating the meat from the ribs wasn’t exactly fun.
I carried the container with galbitang to the kitchen, grabbed the ribs with the claw, and using big scissors, cut off the loose pieces of meat after it had been simmered down.
The essential part here was scraping the boundary between the meat and bone with the scissors’ tip.
As long as I could get a sizable chunk to fall off the bone, the rest could be gently cut away with the scissors.
After waging a battle with the ribs for a good few minutes, pieces of meat started floating in the creamy broth.
Once I cut them down to a size manageable by a children’s spoon, I was finally ready to eat.
Thinking the mascots should get a taste too, I divided the meat and broth into two small bowls.
With two hot bowls of rice still feeling warm in the plastic bag, I headed to the low table to sit down.
It would be great if I could also pull out the pickled radish that came in the bag as a side dish.
Siyeon didn’t yet know the taste of this combination.
She doesn’t tend to seek out kimchi, so that might be why.
‘Ahh.’
With chilly feet removed from the ground, I mixed creamy and warm meaty broth with white rice, taking a spoonful with a piece of pickled radish.
Remembering Siyeon’s advice about being like an uncle, even if I couldn’t say it aloud, I gasped internally.
I felt a bit guilty for enjoying it alone, but still, surely galbitang would be something Siyeon could manage to eat.
“Ahh, this is amazing!”
Just as I was trying to hold back, Gomteng chimed in from beside me.
What’s going on? Have I unknowingly localized myself?
Since I served the broth with my own hands, I couldn’t say anything, so I continued my meal.
Thanks to the cooperation of the mascots, we devoured our delivery food without a trace.
After washing the oily disposable container with soap, I casually tossed it into the designated plastic collection bin.
Meals that involve soup and rice feel more filling than others.
“Phew, that was good.”
“I’m full…”
Patting my belly contently, I leaned back against the wall, letting out a satisfied sigh.
It seemed like Siyeon had also eaten well, as she showed signs of fullness with her sluggish movements.
With a short winter break and not much homework, I had jotted down a few pages and thrown them to the side.
Since no monsters had appeared, time management was of little concern.
And so, the day passed by without any twists…
Or so I thought.
‘Hmm…?’
Recently, the upper floor had been quiet, so I hadn’t bothered to use earplugs.
The rustling noise scratching at my sensitive ears.
Yet, this didn’t seem to come from the apartment above or below.
The sound was clearly originating from our home.
But unless a thief had broken in, who could it be?
As those thoughts crossed my mind, my eyes opened wide.
Simultaneously, there was a sound of the door shutting.
‘What the….’
With no signs of someone coming in, it must be someone leaving.
Wondering what was going on, I peered over the railing of the top bunk to see the bottom bunk—there were signs that the blankets had been pulled back, but Siyeon was nowhere to be found.
In an instant, countless thoughts ran through my mind.
What could Siyeon possibly have to do at this hour? Obviously nothing.
Running away? No way, surely not.
But why did she leave? What’s happening?
As an uneasy feeling washed over me, I instinctively thought of the two little moochers.
“Hey Gomteng! Sea Snake!”
My voice echoed through the dark house, but no response came back.
My thoughts grew even more tangled and complicated.
‘What? Did they both leave together?’
Following that thought was the question, “Why?”
I figured it’d be okay since they had the mascots with them, but one question was more pressing.
Should I follow them or not?
So, as I contemplated, I heard the sound of a doorknob moving, then settled into my bed.
Peeking over the railing towards the first floor revealed the scene within.
The only ones who usually enter this house would be Siyeon and me.
With a sliver of light streaming through the door, Siyeon and the two mascots stepped into the dimly lit home.
Siyeon quickly opened the fridge and grabbed a cake box that looked familiar.
Suddenly, a cake?
‘But Siyeon’s birthday has already passed….’
When it comes to cakes, it’s associated with birthdays; Siyeon’s birthday has passed, so that leaves…
‘Ah.’
As I was solely thinking about Siyeon’s birthday, it suddenly hit me—my own birthday had slipped my mind.
January 1st, a date so unfamiliar it didn’t even come to mind.
Their plan had been to surprise me, going out to a bakery while I was assumedly asleep.
‘…They didn’t have to do that.’
I felt grateful but also proud at the same time.
Since Christmas, I had been feeling so touched.
Siyeon likely couldn’t get up at such an early hour on January 1st, but after waking up once more in the early hours…
“Happy birthday!”
“What’s all this?!”
Regardless, she woke up as early as she could to wish me a happy birthday.
Matching her happiness, I swallowed my desire to feel bad for not being awake, and I hugged Siyeon tightly.
Even with just a birthday cake, it was joy enough; even if I paid for it, my birthday gift essentially came early at Christmas.
“When did you prepare all this?”
“Last night! I went out while Mari was sleeping.”
Siyeon proudly answered as if she was eagerly sharing a proud moment.
Yeah, it seems like she should be even prouder.
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