“Will you marry him!?”
“It’s a surprise!”
I blurted out unexpectedly about Senior Jiun’s schedule yesterday without realizing it, and she was startled, her shoulders shaking in surprise.
Seeing my bewildered state, Jiun looked flustered.
She gave me an expression as if I were asking something strange and retorted with a questioning look asking why I had shouted.
“Yeah, didn’t you know?”
“I had no idea…”
“Didn’t you hear when the topic of retirement came up at the previous meetup? You know, about having someone special.”
When I steadfastly answered that I had no clue, she mentioned that meetup, the first time she had hinted at it.
As Jiun raised her index finger to explain, memories of that day came flooding back, prompting a slight sigh.
“Ah.”
It was during that meetup where she first mentioned having someone special.
The atmosphere had grown tense that day; I couldn’t tell if the hot chocolate and bread were going into my nose or my mouth.
Turns out that ‘someone special’ was not yet her husband but her boyfriend back then.
After announcing her retirement, she had been in a relationship for years, and now it had reached the point of meeting each other’s parents and proceeding to marriage this year.
Even though the marriage wasn’t confirmed, I was impressed by her decision back then to retire, almost like a gamble.
Anyway, I’m glad everything has worked out well.
When you have a meeting with future in-laws, there is marriage; when there is marriage, there’s a wedding; and with a wedding, comes the buffet.
As we reached this conclusion, it made me remember the buffet, which is not something I visit often, and I asked Senior Jiun about it.
“When’s the wedding?”
“I’m planning to hold it in April. Would you all come?”
“Of course, we’ll come if you invite us.”
Given the emptiness of a student’s schedule outside of school, there was no reason to decline such an invitation. We looked forward to enjoying the wedding buffet in April.
Speaking of which, about the buffet…
“But are you doing the ‘thing’ during Seol this year?”
“It seems like it. Are you attending this time?”
By ‘the thing,’ we meant the exchange event for magical girls we started in elementary school first grade to commemorate festivals.
What had initially seemed like a one or two-year plan had continued every year. So, this year we would also be participating.
Shiyeon and I almost always attend during big festivals like Chuseok and Seol.
That’s why Senior Jiun asked if we were doing it again this time, and we nodded in affirmation.
“In any case, it’s a chance to meet people…”
Finishing the sentence vaguely, I turned my gaze toward Shiyeon seated in front of the computer.
To be honest, by the third year of Chuseok, I thought we might be tired of holiday food.
We had skipped participation once due to cost concerns…
“Back then, Shiyeon’s face looked so downcast…”
Thinking about it again, guilt washed over me about that Chuseok two years ago.
Being unable to meet people during a long holiday was depressing enough, but the surrounding atmosphere was maddening.
The parking lot of our old apartment complex was full of sedans.
Every time we opened the window, the smell of holiday food drifted in.
Everyone else was immersed in festival cheer, while we quietly ate takeout in solitude.
It was then that I clearly realized how this wasn’t good for children’s emotional health.
That’s why, since then, we have been participating every holiday without fail.
“Well, I’ll count you as participating then.”
“Thank you!”
“Hey, aren’t you both eleven years old now?”
Since becoming an adult, I find it easier to remember someone’s birth year. Even though we reverted to childhood, the habit of cross-referencing years and estimating ages by years instead of numbers persisted.
Indeed, at this age, we usually counted our ages in numbers. It seems deeply ingrained habits are hard to break.
“Uh, yeah… probably.”
In any case, I mumbled while trying to give a suitable answer.
“Every time I see you two, I don’t really think of you as being the same age.”
Saying this with a puzzled expression, Senior Jiun lowered her eyes onto her smart phone. She promptly began typing something rapidly on it. The conversation transitioned back to the original festive topic.
“Are you not busy preparing for the wedding? Is it okay for you to be hanging out here?”
“There’s work to be done anyway…”
Lying flat on the floor and swinging her legs up and down, Jiun gave me a stern look, her face frozen.
“Work…? What kind of work? Oh…”
I tilted my head in confusion, but then realized that her current situation of doing housework in our home was her job.
I sighed inwardly. Yes, this was part of her job.
She was so relaxed, I temporarily forgot we were in a work-setting.
Judging by her vague responses, it seemed she had been steadily working regardless.
“I’ll take care of your dinner, then head back home to continue the conversation.”
“Looks like you’re already cohabiting?”
“After years of dating, it’s natural.”
In the midst of our conversation, a scream erupted from the washing machine, signaling that the dehydration cycle had ended.
Without wasting a moment, she stood up and calmly retrieved the laundry, giving it a few shakes before hanging it neatly on the indoor drying rack.
There are malicious communities claiming that modern women can’t manage housework, but this certainly doesn’t apply to Jiun.
Daily vacuuming, laundry whenever the basket filled up, and excellent culinary skills—she could handle stir-frying and deep-frying without issues.
Once married, would her current pleasant lifestyle change somewhat?
Thinking about it, I felt a little nostalgic.
With nearby weddings popping up, it sparked a lot of curiosity in me.
While asking about her post-wedding plans and serving as her conversation partner while she hung the laundry, I realized my curiosity was genuine.
“Where will you go for your honeymoon?”
“Japan, hot spring tours.”
“Ah…”
With a V sign using her thumb and index finger, Jiun showed us her hot spring plans with a grin.
Hot springs…I’ve only ever heard about them. Without any foreign travel experience, it sounded exotic to me.
Do Japanese magical girls really fight in anime-style?
No, wait, we were talking about travel.
“Japan!?”
Suddenly, Shiyeon reacted to the word ‘Japan’ during the conversation, her eyes lighting up.
She loves magical girl anime, their original works originate there, and she’s recently become interested in anime from Japan.
Having been browsing on her computer while looking for her favorite anime, she likely came across some related wiki articles.
“How about I get you some magical girl merchandise?”
“Yes! Yes!”
Having sprung from her computer seat, Shiyeon started bouncing around excitedly.
Be careful, though; you’ll pop your pants if you keep jumping.
As a commemorative gift from the Japan trip…
I have distant memories of having received trinkets like that.
Feeling amused, Jiun directed her next question at me.
“Mary, is there anything Japanese you’d want? Anything I should get for you?”
“DO-__ Bananas, ___X Caramels, ROY-_ Chocolate.”
Not wasting the opportunity, I subtly hinted, and she eagerly took the bait.
These souvenirs are typical byproducts of Japan trips.
“Wait… why are you so knowledgeable about these?”
Without hesitation, I had provided her with three snacks and chocolate options, leaving Jiun momentarily stunned as she stammered her response.
Since she’s offering to buy them, please don’t blame me.
Though looking somewhat troubled, she moved on with our conversation. With all the laundry hung and feeling freed, she did a big stretch.
“As soon as April comes, my diet ends! I must eat my fill when I come back.”
Contrary to her recent behavior, Jiun announced she intended to indulge during her trip.
Only then did I understand the real reason behind her recent obsession with dieting.
“Ah, so your diet was…because of the wedding?”
“Yes, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime event. I want to look absolutely spotless in the pictures.”
It was all for making an impression during the pre-wedding meetings and filming.
Suppressing my urge to make a joke about the likelihood of multiple weddings, I instead recognized her dedication to the diet for these important photographs.
‘Didn’t they have editing technology for that…?’
Despite all the advancements in technology that can completely alter a face or figure, Jiun insisted on losing weight.
Indeed, modern editing technology can alter a person so much that they’re barely recognizable.
Amidst thoughts of modern technology, it led me to another thought.
“Will different people come over after your marriage?”
Spurred by the thought, I quickly phrased it into a question and asked Jiun.
“Maybe? We’ll see. It’s a hard world where both partners must work.”
Unlike my assumption that she wouldn’t visit after getting married, the lukewarm response suggested that she might still look after us.
Even as a homemaker, she’d be excellent.
But rather, what should I call her after she’s married?
“Ajiu…!”
“Call me older sister!”
As soon as the forbidden word escaped, Jiun’s thumb and index finger clamped down on both my cheeks in a flash.
Caught off guard by her hand covering my mouth just as I tried to finish the word, my voice rose abruptly.
With my cheeks pinched, I barely managed to whisper, feeling an instant urge to reconsider.
‘Exactly, when can we call someone ‘auntie’?’
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