Xmas 2022 - 11 of 12

“For us, it’s just a party,” Sun explains, sounding almost apologetic. She holds out her mug, and Kayla pours her more eggnog.

You’re all in the kitchen at your house. It’s Christmas Eve. The fire is going in the other room, and your mom is making bulgogi in honor of Sun being here. Sun has just slipped in so gracefully. Her English is perfect, she’s super relaxed at all times, and very polite. You sense that your mom and Kayla were worried about her, but now they’re relieved that she’s so normal. Maybe your mom was a little taken aback by Sun’s attire: a slutty Santa outfit with a very short skirt and crop top, but it looks good on Sun. She is so slim, but in an elegant way. She doesn’t come off as bony.

“You’re thinking of Japan,” she goes on. “They take Christmas a little more seriously. They eat fried chicken. Um, it’s not as much about family. In Korea, you gather with family. You probably don’t travel, but we’ll have a meal for Christmas. In Japan, it’s a holiday for couples. Like, you would go on a date and have fried chicken.”

“Very, uh, romantic,” Kayla says.

“It really is,” Sun assures her. She makes eye contact with you and smiles. You want to kiss her so badly. She’s doing amazing. You had so much anxiety about this, but she’s being perfect. It’s going to be hard to keep your hands off her tonight… and she knows it. So that’s what she’s up to. She’s trying to drive you crazy with charm instead of lewdness. And it’s working! Gosh. She can be a lot. It’s been less than a year, but you love her so much.

“How’s this?” your mom asks, showing Sun the skillet.

“Looks delicious,” Sun replies.

“OK, we’ll go with it.” Your mom turns off the head and opens the steamer with the broccoli in it. “Kayla, can you set the table?”

“I guess, but this counts as your Christmas present,” Kayla grumbles.

“Fine by me,” your mom chirps, bustling around the kitchen in her apron, which has a snowman on it.

Kayla carries silverware into the dining room while you follow her with glasses. Mom trying to cook Korean is a little much, but if Sun can go with it, you can too. It smells good. A part of you was hoping for your mom’s traditional Christmas Eve meal, but… without Dad here, you kind of get it.

“You OK?” Sun asks, seeing the look on your face. She’s followed you into the dining room. You’re alone with her, just for a moment as Kayla heads back to the kitchen. You put your hand on her waist, bring her close and kiss her briefly on the lips.

“I love you,” you tell her.

She smiles, then winks at you. That’s very her.

You go back into the kitchen with her. Your mom is getting the plates ready. The timer on the counter dings. Your mom pauses and sniffs.

“Oh, I smell that. Better grab them,” she says to Kayla, referring to the cookies in the oven.

“I’ve got it,” Sun says. She’s closer. She picks up an oven mitt and bends over in front of the oven. Fully over. You did not think to check her for underwear on your way over here.

You didn’t think that you needed to. The joke was on you. You pick your jaw up off the floor as she demurely puts the tray of cookies on the cooling rack and removes the oven mitt, shutting the oven and turning it off.

There’s a beep from the other room. “That’s my phone. Sorry,” she says, hurrying out.

You stand there, throat dry. Kayla and your mom have not moved a muscle since that happened. You hold up a hand to hide your face from them and walk quickly out of the room.