Chapter 68: Big Brother of a Top Star

December 24th.

Christmas Eve.

It was also a day with snowflakes gently falling.

"Hmm~ Hmm~"

Yuna was whistling a tune as she busily set up the Christmas tree.

Or rather, Yuna had set up the Christmas tree three months ago.

'How many times did I sing to get that thing?'

She had been singing to get a Christmas tree since the scorching summer of August.

Father, who said he would get earaches from it, finally bought the tree.

It was a Christmas tree of a moderate size, neither too big nor too small.

This was the first time we had such a tree at home, so it felt a bit unfamiliar.

"Brother, can you connect this for me?"

"Ah, sure."

I was helping Yuna put lights on the tree.

"Finally, the day has come."

"Huh?"

"The Christmas you've been waiting for has finally arrived."

It was probably a dull and cold sky.

Actually, Christmas was not a special day for me.

During my manager days, while others were enjoying sweet dates outside, I was shuttling celebrities to various broadcasting stations.

The feeling I had while smoking a cigarette and watching the snow fall outside the car was...

'I don't want to think about it.'

It was probably a dull and cold sky.

But now, Christmas Eve was very enjoyable.

I felt a sense of fulfillment.

It was probably because I met Yuna and this family.

"Should I set this up too?"

Yuna was jingling something that looked like a bell, which she had bought.

"Are you going to make the tree collapse? Why are there so many decorations?"

"Um, did I put too many?"

Yuna had hung so many things on the tree that it was drooping.

She even hung a stocking, hoping Santa would leave a gift.

...But the stocking was about the size of a 50L bag.

How much of a gift was she expecting?

"I wonder what gift I'll get this time~"

Since I became this body, I learned that Christmas is a day when family, friends, or lovers exchange gifts.

But I only worked on Christmas and never had the memory of exchanging gifts with anyone.

Did Santa get caught by the CIA or the National Intelligence Service, or something, because he never gave me any gifts?

The only thing I received was a tissue from the church.

"Brother, did you prepare any gifts?"

I pretended not to know.

"Huh? Gifts?"

"Don't tell me you didn't prepare anything again like last year?"

Last year, I didn't prepare any gifts and just stood there, which got me scolded by Yuna.

"Well, do we really need to exchange gifts?"

"Wow, that's too much. I prepared something."

Of course, I also prepared something.

I plan to put it in the... no, the stocking when Yuna is asleep.

"I'll cook for you tomorrow."

"Ooh, okay. What are you cooking?"

"Hmm, a bit of everything? I already bought lobster, steak, pasta, fried rice, and more..."

"Wait, are you going to do all that alone?"

"No."

I smiled and said,

"Of course, you have to help. We need to get up at 6 AM tomorrow morning, right?"

"Ah."

Soon, our parents came in.

"Mom~ Dad~"

"Wow, our daughter. Did you have a good day today?"

"Uh-huh."

"But the house is full of carol music?"

Christmas carols were playing through the Bluetooth speaker.

Mother shook her head as if she was already tired of it.

"Phew, don't even talk about it. I've been hearing this for three months now."

Yuna loves Christmas.

Maybe she just loves the winter weather.

She loves the snow and starts getting excited about Christmas months in advance.

Mother wasn't saying that for no reason.

"Mom, Dad! Gifts? Gifts?!"

"Oops. What can we do? Dad was busy and couldn't prepare any gifts."

Father scratched his head, looking apologetic.

And the mother, standing next to him,

"Tsk. What gifts for a grown-up?"

She said this while taking something out of her wallet.

"Here, take it."

"Huh?"

"This can be used to spend money in your game, right?"

It was a game money barcode for the game Yuna plays.

Yuna's eyes widened.

"Wow, Mom, you're amazing. How much is this?"

Then, Mother handed me a shopping bag.

"Yunseong, take this."

"Is there something for me too?"

Inside the shopping bag were a perfume set and a few pieces of clothing.

"When I was shopping at the department store, I thought these would suit you well, so I bought them. And you should wear some perfume. I really like the scent."

"Ah... Thank you."

"No, Mom. Are you being too nice to my brother?"

"Then give it back."

"Ah, I'm sorry."

Father, feeling guilty, hugged both of us tightly.

"Dad will give you a big gift next time, okay?"

"It's fine. Just stay healthy."

"Ha-ha. Yeah, yeah. Actually, I've been feeling a bit unwell lately, so I'm planning to get a check-up. I need to live a long life to be with you guys, right?"

Seeing Father's warm smile, I felt my lips curling up involuntarily.

"Oh, and by the way, there are a lot of gifts from your fans at my company."

"Enough to fill that big stocking?"

"Probably not even enough for that."

"Wow."

This must have fulfilled Yuna's Christmas wish.

After that, our family chatted for a while and then dispersed to our rooms.

It was late, so we couldn't talk for long.

I had to wake up early to prepare food, so I was busy.

"Phew-"

I lay on the bed, but sleep didn't come.

How to put it...

When I was a manager, I couldn't sleep due to the anxiety about the future, but now I couldn't sleep because of the overwhelming happiness.

I always spent lonely and cold Christmases, but this time, it seems I'll have a warm one.

"Oh, right. The gift."

I almost forgot and fell asleep.

"Yuna should be asleep by now, right?"

She falls asleep as soon as she lies down, so a little noise won't wake her up.

I took the gifts I had hidden under the bed and went to the living room.

The tree was brightly lit.

But there,

"......?"

Was a large shadow.

A thief?!

I instinctively grabbed the first thing I saw.

Unfortunately, it was the only expensive porcelain in the house, and I slowly approached the figure from behind.

Red clothes, red hat, and a scruffy white beard.

The large man fumbled with something, then turned around, startled by the shadow in front of him.

"Ah!"

"......Father?"

The look of surprise in his eyes made me momentarily freeze.

No matter how well he was dressed up, this person was definitely not the legendary Santa but my father.

"What, what are you...?"

My voice trembled.

"Hmm. I'm not your father, I'm Santa."

"......"

"I came to give gifts to good children. Hehe."

Why didn't you change your voice to make it more convincing, I thought.

How should I handle this awkward situation?

"What? What's going on?!"

Yuna, who I thought was asleep, suddenly burst into the room.

Father, who was startled again, froze for a moment before regaining his composure.

"I was just going to leave the gifts secretly, but this happened."

"......"

Yuna, who was momentarily stunned by the sight of her father dressed as Santa,

"Ha-!"

Finally burst out laughing.

I couldn't help but laugh along with her.

"Why, why are you laughing? Don't laugh."

"No, how can I not laugh at this?"

"Ah, then I won't give you any gifts?"

Suddenly, Yuna and I stopped laughing.

"Ah, you really did that, didn't you?"

Mother, who heard the commotion, sighed and went back inside.

"Santa, I've been really good this year, so you'll give me a lot of gifts, right?"

"Of course, good children should get a lot of gifts."

"Wow, can I hug you?"

"Of course!"

Yuna hugged Father and patted his protruding belly.

"Wow, but you did a good job with the costume... Ah, what? It's real belly fat?"

"Hmm?"

"Father! No, Santa! Lose some weight! You're going to have a heart attack!"

"Hmm, I'm trying, my child."

"From now on, don't let Rudolph pull the sleigh, pull it yourself."

"......"

I didn't want to miss this funny moment, so I took out my phone.

"Okay, you two, pose. I'm going to take a picture."

"Ooh! Good."

"Hmm, my face can't be revealed..."

Father was still committed to the role.

I eagerly took pictures of the two of them.

Seeing Yuna's happy expression, I understood.

Today, Yuna received the best gift of her life.

I felt the same way.

* * *

After a joyful Christmas.

A groaning sound has been echoing in the living room since a while ago.

"Ugh- Ha......"

Yuna has been repeatedly opening and closing her eyes while looking at her phone screen.

"Ugh-! Ha......"

She musters up courage but quickly loses it.

Finally, Yuna, with a big heart, turned on the screen and screamed.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I accidentally turned it on."

Yuna was completely terrified.

"What?"

"The results of the admission test were announced today."

Ah-

It finally came.

"Did you check...?"

"No, I was so startled when the screen lit up that I threw the phone."

"Hmm."

I tried to pick up the phone that fell on the sofa, but Yuna shouted and stopped me.

"No! Stop!"

"Then, you don't want to see the result?"

"Ugh, I have to, right?"

"Right. You need to face it head-on. Be brave."

Yuna nodded and cautiously picked up the phone.

But she immediately handed it to me.

"Ugh, I can't look. Can you check for me, Brother?"

"Huh?"

Before I knew it, I had taken the phone from Yuna.

You might think it's a big deal over nothing, but...

"......"

Even I felt my heart racing as I tried to turn the screen.

'What if she didn't get in?'

I honestly think no one can match Yuna in practical skills.

But what if she made a mistake?

And the written test?

What if she completely failed and didn't get in?

What if an excellent vocalist took the test with her?

All sorts of thoughts raced through my mind.

"Phew-"

But I gathered my courage and slowly turned the phone.

And,

"What, how did it go?"

"......"

I just stared at the screen blankly.

"Brother. Brother? How did it go?"

"......Yuna."

I called her name in a distant voice, and Yuna's face turned grim.

"What, did she fail? Really?"

"......"

When I still didn't say anything, Yuna,

"Ah, this is so frustrating!"

Finally snatched the phone from me and checked the screen herself.

And after a moment,

Thud

Yuna dropped the phone.

With a dazed look, I lightly slapped her.

"Ouch!"

"Congratulations, Jung Yuna."

The result was a pass.

She had managed to pass the competition where only two people were selected.

"Yay-!!"

Yuna screamed and jumped around on the sofa for a while.