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Chapter 13
CHRISTMAS ISN’T A MAJOR FAMILY HOLIDAY INKorea like it is in the States, but my parents and I still celebrate it like one. After all the sudden changes that happened on set in the last couple of weeks, I’m relieved for the quiet time I get to spend this weekend at home.
“Hana?” says Mom in the morning, knocking on my door. “Merry Christmas!”
When I open my door, I see that Mom’s bought a cute Christmas cake from our neighborhood bakery. Korean cakes are works of art, especially around Christmas, since that’s when lots of people buy cake for their friends and family. The one on our table looks like a snow globe, with a “glass” dome made of melted sugar encasing little presents shaped with icing on top. It’s hard to believe that all of this is also edible.
“It’s an ice cream cake,” Mom explains, smiling at my amazed expression. “Dad and I thought you could use a sweet treat after the hard month you had.”
My parents are literally the best. I give her and Dad a big hug before we dig in.
Afterward, still buzzing and in high spirits from the sugar, we open presents by the Christmas tree and cuddle up on the sofa watching holiday movies, just like we used to do back in the States. Our apartment doesn’t have a fireplace, so Dad sets up his tablet on our coffee table. A continuous loop of a burning fireplace plays on the screen, and with my parents laughing and chatting beside me, I still feel cozy even without the heat of a real fire. Since Mom and Dad are usually busy with work, I’m soaking up every single minute I can spend with them.
Late afternoon, I get two texts. One from Bryan and another from Minjee.
Merry Christmas!reads Bryan’s. Short and sweet. I write back with pretty much the same words.
Minjee’s message reads,Hey, wanna go look at the Christmas display at the festival along Cheonggyecheon? No worries if you’re busy with family, though.
Cheonggyecheon is a long stream that runs across central Seoul. Every year, there’s some sort of Christmas-themed festival there, where the path is decorated with countless LED lights and other decorations until New Year’s. My parents and I went there the first winter we spent in Korea, but we haven’t been able to go since then because they’re usually too tired from work to deal with the massive crowds.
I bite my lip, trying to decide what to do. I really want to see the lights this year, and I want to hang out with Minjee. She’sprobably dying to escape her house right now. But I also want to spend as much time as I can with my parents.
Mom, being Mom, notices the tension on my face right away.
“What’s wrong, Hana?” she asks, sounding concerned.
“Park Minjee texted me. She asked if I wanted to go look at the lights at Cheonggyechon with her.”
“Oh, Minjee! She’s your friend from school, right? The one who used to come over all the time.”
“Yup, that’s her.”
When we first became friends in middle school, I was pretty self-conscious about inviting Minjee to our apartment since I knew how much richer her family was than mine, but after enough sleepovers, I stopped caring. Minjee never said anything that made me feel “lesser” than her, and our K-drama binge-watching marathons kept me going when I felt so out of place in my new school.
“Do youwantto hang out with her?” Mom asks.
“I do,” I finally say. “But I also want to stay here with you and Dad. So I’m torn.”
“You should go hang out with your friend!” Dad says, surprising both Mom and me. “You almost never hang out with people your age anymore. Your umma and I are always worried. We spent enough time together today. Go out and have fun. I could use some alone time with your umma anyway.”
Mom blushes and elbows Dad, making me laugh. I rarely see them being this silly.
“Well, they do say that Christmas is more of a holiday for couples in Korea,” I joke, raising my eyebrows.
“Hana, just go,” Mom says, her face still red. “Don’t stay out too late.”
She shoos me away. Dad chuckles.
I grab my coat, gloves, and scarf from my room before heading out the door.
“Have fun!” I exclaim before I leave.
Both Mom and Dad laugh this time, and I still have a smile on my face when I get in the elevator.
Minjee and I agree to meet by the twinkly Christmas tree that’s set up in Cheonggye Plaza. Several groups of people stand around the gigantic tree, taking selfies with friends and family. Street food vendors dressed in Santa uniforms hand out hot steamed buns and sweet pancakes. A few people here and there recognize me and point, and I do my best to give everyone I make eye contact with a friendly bow and wave.
Since there are so many people, it takes me a while to find Minjee, but when I do, I smile at what she’s wearing. Everyone’s dressed in coats of more neutral colors, like brown, black, or white. But Minjee is wearing a bright blue coat and a red Santa hat, an outfit that’s impossible to miss.
