When MC was younger and Christmastime began to creep around, she would always feel a sense of envy towards other kids.
The Christmas tree at her home was small and reminded her of the one in Charlie Brown, the lights were many years old and many of the bulbs did not work. She was jealous of the kids that had big trees that took up space in their living rooms and that had twinkling lights that glowed brightly with ornaments that were not broken. She was jealous of the kids that woke up to a sea of presents under their trees.
She understood that it was wrong of her. She listened to the priest warn them against unchristian behaviour throughout December, about how, no matter how difficult things looked for them, there was always someone in worse shape and that they should practice charity. It was stronger than her, though, and for years, she dreamt of a perfect Christmas, with dainty decorations and lots of presents.
Despite her jealousy, she was able to put it aside one night of the year. Her family had a tradition in which, every Christmas Eve, they would pile into the car and let the windows down, letting the brisk cold air in. Her parents would drive around the city, letting her eyes take in all the lights of the big houses and buildings with decorations she only wished she could have.
That was years ago and now MC is standing in the middle of all the decorations, in the living room of her new home, hand to her stomach, and her husband overseeing it all with the same hawkish spirit that he had towards his business and projects.
She had always dreamt of the perfect house, the house with the prettiest Christmas lights hung up for the holidays, the house that glowed when the pure white snow fell over the city. The boxes of Christmas decorations that the movers dropped off were overwhelming, though.
When Jumin heard of her desire to have this sort of Christmas, he spared no expense in making it a reality, in spite of his personal distaste of the holiday. If he could not turn back time and make every other holiday as magical as this one, he would sure do his best for the splendour to compensate for them.
"What about the outside decorations?" She hummed to her husband, who was currently grabbing the ladder for the two and a half meters tall Christmas tree being set up in the living room.
"The decorator I hired for this job said he'd be here tomorrow in the first hour, and if he prizes his career, he won't be going back on his word." He huffed as he set up the ladder.
The tall Christmas tree reached high in the living room, with the high ceilings, it worked and looked beautiful. The white string lights were perfectly placed on the tree by the happy couple, even if Jumin downright forbade his wife from climbing any stairs. Ornaments had been perfectly placed on the tree after being removed from their pristine boxes. MC hung stockings along the fireplace and perfectly laid out the tree skirt. There were more decorations like table runners and tinsel that were put up as well, everything in accordance to the most elegant of tastes.
When the night rolled to a close and the work ended for the exhausted couple, there were decorations everywhere in the house. Even the bathrooms had been changed to have the towels and shower curtains in a festive feel. The joy in her heart warmed as the house looked like it was getting into the spirit, transforming something that was already beautiful in something truly magical to her eyes.
MC sat down on the bed, wrapping a kilt on her shoulders and letting her swollen feet off the ground. It had been hard work, but her dream finally came to fruition and she is overjoyed with the results.
"What are the plans for Christmas Day?" She called.
Jumin was in the ensuite bathroom, towel drying his hair. He raced to the shower as soon as they were done, as he swore that he had glitter from the ornaments all over him and he did not want to have an allergic reaction.
"We have dinner with my father and his new girlfriend at six." He responded, a distinct bitterness on his tone.
She smiled indulgently at the man's skittishness. "Be nice, Jumin. We don't know whether she is a gold-digger yet, so we should withhold judgement."
The man emerged from the bathroom; a scowl still perfectly set in his aristocratic features. "I'd be surprised if this one turns out to be decent."
"Even broken clocks are right twice a day, honey." The wife chuckles.
"Getting it right twice would be generous." He mutters. "Did you want to visit home?"
MC fiddled with the duvet as Jumin slid into the bed next to her.
"I don't think they want to see me…" She whispered, despondent.
Her family had not been exactly happy when she announced that she would be marrying a chaebol she met eleven days prior. Her parents were so mad at the supposed waste of her education that they effectively disowned her and refusing any contact with her since the wedding.
The man sighed and pulled his wife close to him, kissing the side of her head to comfort her. He does not like the fact that there is something making her sad that not only he can do nothing about, but is also a contributing factor towards.
"Can we start a tradition?" She asked, leaning into the embrace.
He hummed with a smile on his face. "Sure. What's on your mind?"
"Can we take a drive on Christmas Eve to look at all the lights?" She asked softly.
The smile on his face grew. "I love that idea."
Jumin wrapped a protective hand around her swelling stomach, and MC smiled happily.