“Big Snowman!”
The next morning, I took Shiyeon outside for some exercise.
The Volard snowman was still standing strong even in the morning.
Children passing by, including Shiyeon, pointed at it with their fingers, thinking that what we made last night was not in vain.
Moreover, judging by the scream we heard yesterday and the marks on the ground below the snowman, it seemed that someone had seriously messed up their ankle.
Well done, Volard snowman.
Just a short distance away from the apartment playground, there were quite a few layers of snow.
Even though the snow ducks we made recently had all collapsed, that didn’t stop Shiyeon from happily making more snow ducks with her hands.
“Mary should do it too!”
“Hmm?”
As I stood outside holding nothing but my hands, Shiyeon suddenly made her suggestion.
Although my mental age for playing with clay or rolling snow had long passed…
Since it was a rare opportunity, I decided to put down my hands and join in.
In the cold weather that could freeze snot, the snow was now crunching underfoot.
Just narrowing and widening the scoop with my hands wasn’t filling it neatly, so I pulled the mold towards me and started scooping snow directly into it.
Even after doing that, the snow didn’t fill the mold to the brim, resulting in a rather shabby snow duck that was completed at the tip of my scoop.
This is harder than I thought.
“Mary’s is weird!”
“Ugh…”
Immediately, I was pointed out by Shiyeon for my half-finished snow duck.
Getting critiqued by an elementary school student on a sculpted object.
Still, I thought I should at least manage to make a proper snow duck, so I stuffed the mold tightly with snow, applied pressure to both handles of the scoop, and packed it well.
This time, the snow stuck perfectly to the mold and didn’t fall apart.
‘No….’
At this point, my hidden competitive spirit began to stir.
I was determined to make one perfect snow duck, just one.
Soon, my attempt to make a snow duck turned into a grind for perfection.
Snow duck number 6, missing a wing.
Snow duck number 7, missing a part of its head.
Snow duck number 8, parts of the tail and wings missing.
Snow duck number 9, 10, 11…
By the time I reached snow duck number 23, finally, one perfect snow duck was born.
“Shiyeon! This one…”
Just as I was about to show off my well-made snow duck to Shiyeon…
“Hmm?”
I was at a loss for words upon seeing Shiyeon preparing a whole army with snowmen on the stair railing.
Damn it, why is she so good at this?
Unintentionally, I spent the whole day searching for snow like it was my usual exercise routine just as much as running.
Leaving my feelings of unexpected defeat behind, we returned home to play to our hearts’ content.
After checking on the snowman and having more fun than expected, Shiyeon and I opened the delivery app to sort out breakfast and lunch.
Given that it was a cold winter day, something warm and soupy was just what I craved.
“Shiyeon, how about galbitang?”
“Yeah… sounds good!”
A short groan returned as a response.
It wasn’t the reaction of someone who was dying to eat, but today, I was going to indulge myself and order what I wanted.
Statistically, jjimdak (braised chicken) would be a good choice, but I had a hard time finding a place for tteokbokki that was not too spicy for Shiyeon.
Moreover, the places that delivered jjimdak typically had servings for two adults, and it felt a bit unreasonable to only eat jjimdak for two or three days straight.
If it went into the fridge, it would become unappetizing, and there’s a good chance it would end up as trash.
That was as far as my thoughts went.
With a decision already made, I busily tapped away, adding one galbitang with extra ribs and two bowls of rice to the cart.
The total came to 39,000 won.
One galbitang came in a large quantity, so there was plenty of soup.
The only thing I would be short of would be meat, so the extra ribs were a smart fix.
The balcony connected to the room had a hint of cold that couldn’t be covered by the heater.
While waiting for the warm, milky broth to cover that chill, I pressed myself against the warmth of the floor.
Before long, the doorbell chimed, and I just needed to bring in the food left at the entrance.
As soon as I lifted the lid from the disposable plastic container.
What I expected was the milky broth, and inside were about five large pieces of ribs.
“Galbitang is great, but this is inconvenient.”
The task of separating the meat from the ribs.
I took the container with galbitang to the kitchen, grabbed the ribs with tongs, and used scissors to carefully cut off the soft pieces stuck to the bone.
The important part was to slice away at the boundary between the meat and the bone with the tips of the scissors.
As long as the hefty chunk fell from the bone, the rest could be cut away delicately with the scissors.
After several minutes of grappling with the ribs, the milky broth was full of floating pieces of meat.
If I kept cutting the pieces to make them easier to eat, they could be placed on a child’s spoon.
Once I proportionately separated the pieces of meat and broth into bowls, I was finally ready to eat.
I also dished some out for the mascots, giving them two small bowls to taste.
I picked up the plastic bag containing two steaming bowls of rice and sat down at the low desk.
It would be perfect if I pulled out the pickled radish that was included in the bag as a side dish.
Shiyeon still didn’t know the taste of this combination.
She usually didn’t seek out kimchi, so it might be more so.
“Ugh.”
Taking a bite of the steaming, milky meat soup mixed with white rice, with some pickled radish on the spoon, I remembered Shiyeon’s advice that I might resemble an uncle, and while I couldn’t voice it out loud, I was inwardly thrilled.
I felt a little guilty enjoying it alone, but surely galbitang would be fine for Shiyeon too.
“Ugh, this is awesome!”
Shiyeon, who had just been holding back her excitement, suddenly exclaimed beside me.
What is this? Has the localization wrapped up without me knowing?
Since I had personally provided the broth, I had no complaints and continued my meal.
With the mascots’ help, we completely emptied the delivery food once again today.
After washing the greasy disposable containers with soap, I carelessly tossed them into the plastic-recycling bin.
Foods with broth and rice tend to feel more filling compared to others.
“Phew, that was delicious.”
“I’m so full…”
I patted my belly lightly, leaning against the wall and letting out a satisfied sigh.
It seemed Shiyeon had eaten well too, as she showed signs of fullness with her slowed movements.
With a short winter break and only a little homework to do, she was casually scribbling a few pages and tossing them aside.
With no monsters appearing, it was a time free of worry about time management.
So, a day passed smoothly…
Or so I thought.
“Hmm…?”
Recently, the upstairs had been quiet enough that I hadn’t used my earplugs.
The rustling noise that tickled my sensitive ears.
But it wasn’t sounds coming from the upstairs or downstairs.
I was certainly in our house.
Yet, unless a thief had come in, who could it be?
As that thought crossed my mind, my eyes snapped wide open.
At the same moment, I heard the click of the door closing.
“What the…?”
Since no one appeared to be coming in, it seemed to be someone heading out.
Wondering what was going on, I looked over the railing of my loft bed to the lower bunk, only to find traces of the blanket being pulled back and no sign of Shiyeon.
In an instant, a barrage of thoughts raced through my mind.
What on earth would Shiyeon be doing out at this time? Obviously nothing.
Running away? No way, that can’t be it.
But why did she go out? What on earth is happening?
As a sense of unease washed over me, my mind turned to the two lazy sloths.
“Hey, Gomtaengi! Sea Serpent!”
My voice echoed in the dark house, but no response came back.
My thoughts twisted and became more complicated.
“Wait, did they both go out together?”
The further question that followed was ‘Why?’
I did think it would be fine since the mascots went with her, but more fundamental questions preceded that one.
Should I follow them or not?
While struggling with that, I heard the sound of the doorknob turning and the door opening as I lay down on the bed.
I snuck a glance over the railing at the scene on the lower bunk.
The only people who might come into this house are Shiyeon and me.
Through the door, a stream of light shone in as Shiyeon and the two mascots entered the dim house.
Shiyeon immediately opened the fridge and took out a cake box that seemed familiar.
Suddenly, a cake?
“Shiyeon’s birthday has passed though…”
When you think of a cake, you think of a birthday, and since Shiyeon’s birthday had already passed, what else could it be…
“Oh.”
Lost in thoughts centered around Shiyeon’s birthday, I suddenly recalled my own birthday, which I had forgotten.
January 1st, a date so unfamiliar that it hadn’t even crossed my mind.
We had tried to surprise her, going out to get pastries when we were sure I was asleep.
“Well, that wasn’t necessary.”
I felt grateful, yet proud at the same time.
Since Christmas, there had been nothing but heartwarming moments.
Shiyeon, who had briefly woken up during the night to fall back asleep, couldn’t rise early that morning, but it seemed she had been looking forward to this day, January 1st.
“Happy birthday!”
“What is all this?!”
Regardless, they woke up as early as they could to wish me a happy birthday.
While I matched my expression for surprise, I gulped down a bit of regret that I couldn’t catch up since my hearing wasn’t as sharp and hugged Shiyeon tightly.
Just having a birthday cake made me happy; even though it was technically my money, my birthday gift was effectively received during Christmas.
“When did you prepare all this?”
“Last night! I went out while Mary was sleeping.”
Shiyeon answered proudly to my question, which I had asked knowing the answer.
Well, it seems she could be even more proud.
