Mystic Messenger: Life After

Christmas Special

The radio was playing Christmas songs, the air was cold outside, Zen could puff the window with his warm breath. It's Christmas Eve.

He was on his way back to the city after a shooting on a historical site somewhere far from the city. Zen had wanted to take Ha Eun together with him and spent Christmas somewhere historical, but she wasn't feeling well so Zen had to leave her at home. But still he wanted to spend Christmas together with his wife.

The car had stopped moving, He just realized it since he's been busy with his phone. He looked out and none of the cars are moving.

"Hyung? What happened?", Zen asked his manager.
"I don't know, some road accident."

The manager looked as their driver was tapping something on his GPS.

"Oh why does it happen today? I want to spend Christmas with Ha Eun!", cried Zen.

The driver gave a weird smile and looked at the manager in the passenger seat.

"How long has he been married?", asked the driver.
"A year and a half? Yes, they're still lovey-dovey.", answered the manager in a tone that implicit tells that he's answered that question a lot of times.
"His wife is the one with the brainy job, right?"
"A researcher."
"Ya! Hyun! Did you save the whole planet or something in your past life? How lucky."

The driver looked at Zen from the rearview window and Zen gave an annoyed smile. He looked at his phone wallpaper, a candid photo of Ha Eun on their wedding day. He smiled and called her.

"Yeobo."

Hearing that voice, melts Zen's fatigue just like that. His manager smiled at the start of the call, he's up for some cheesy calls again. He's immune to such amount of cringe now, being Zen's manager all this time.

"Yeobo~~ There's seems to be some accident. I'm so sad I'll be home late."
"I told you, you don't need to go home. You still have filming the day after tomorrow right?", said Ha Eun.
"No! I have to spend my Christmas with you. It should be the happiest day of the year with the one person who means the world to me, and you are worth the world to me. Even if I can only be home for an hour, I'd love it if I can just hold you in my arms.

Ha Eun smiled as she drop herself to their bed. His words never fail to bring a smile to her face.

"This year.... It'll be our third Christmas together right?", asked Zen.
"Yeah. I gave you the camera on our first Christmas."
"And you got the red pendant. Last year... We had a fundraising. Oh, only my jagi still thinks of helping others even during the festive seasons."
"Stop it, you're in the car right? You're going to make the manager and the driver sick."
"Manager-hyung is used to us now."

Last year, Ha Eun had hosted a small fundraising, instead of making it into a party, she made it into a simple fundraising where people can buy handmade Christmas cards and the money proceeds to charity. She had it strategically placed in one of the city's busy shopping street, and had strategically placed Zen there, of course. The place was packed in a matter of minutes with Zen's fans. Jaehee and Yoosung was overwhelmed with the number of guests.

It was also a rare chance for Zen to tell all his fans 'yes, that's my wife over there'.

"You know, I never really spent Christmas with anybody else, but you.", said Zen.
"Really?", Ha Eun gave an unimpressed tone," You? The Zen?"
"To be honest, at least one person has asked me out every Christmas. I turned down everyone who has asked me out on Christmas. I'll only feel emptier to spend Christmas with someone I don't have feelings for, and I don't want to spend a special day like that. So, with you, was my first real Christmas."

It's still a mystery on how Zen got his way with words, but even after all this time, his words can always warm Ha Eun's heart. She looked at the envelope on her hand, eager to give it to her husband.

"Why don't we meet somewhere? Rather than having the car drive you back to the apartment, we'll meet somewhere in the middle and then we'll go back home together.", said Ha Eun.
"What? No, you've been feeling unwell this morning right? I still remember you almost shove me to the bathroom because you suddenly lost balance. I'm not going to let you drive."
"I'm all better now, I spent Christmas Eve cleaning the whole apartment. Besides, I want you home as soon as you can so you can open your present."
"Presents can wait, your health comes first."
"There's a reason why I want you to open your present now rather than tomorrow. I might as well tell you."

Zen sighed, he might as well play along seeing Ha Eun so eager at something. Actually, if she really begged him, she could get away with anything. This is his wife after all.

"Okay, you sound rather convincing, what's my present?"
"A new rope.", Ha Eun replied immediately.
"Hmmmm...!"

Zen covered his mouth with his hand, stifling his voice, he wanted to scream out loud. Both his manager and driver looked back to him, finding him red in the face.

"Hyun, are you alright?!", his manager asked.

With a few deep breaths, Zen found his composure back, he can hear Ha Eun made giggling sound at the other line.

"Yes, I'm fine. By the way, hyung, what route will you be taking? Ha Eun said she wants to pick me up somewhere in the middle."
"Really wanted to see your wife, eh? Well, she can meet us here in Y road. It's closer to the company from there as well."
"Oh, yeobo, We'll meet you at Y road, the traffic is clearing up, we won't take long."
"Alright, I'll see you soon."
"Bye, drive carefully, saranghae."

---

Zen pulled his hood down before he exits the car, making sure his face is covered. Ha Eun had the car parked somewhere not crowded, because it'll be a long story if his fans were to see him. His company car left after he went inside the car.
Ha Eun had moved to the passenger seat since Zen will be driving, because in the end, he'll make her move as well.

"What's with you? Teasing me like that! God, you can be a handful sometimes.", said Zen.
"But you're stuck with me.", joked Ha Eun.

Zen starts the car back on, when he placed his hand on the steering wheel, Ha Eun stopped him.

"Before we go, here. Merry Christmas Eve.", she said as she handed out a red envelope to Zen.

Accepting the letter with bright eyes, typical Zen.

"Oh wow, I got 2 presents this year?"

He shook the envelope when he felt something hard and solid inside the envelope. It's not a card. When he opened it, he was a bit lost. It was a long white thing with a pink in one end.

Okay, this is actually familiar.
He saw this in the pharmacy.
It's a pregnancy test!

"Yeobo..."

Before completing his words, Ha Eun dropped 3 more red envelope to Zen's laps. He opened each of them with gaped mouth. They're all different, but Zen knew it was pregnancy tests.

Positive pregnancy test.

"Yeobo!"

He immediately pulled Ha Eun into his arms, as tight as he can. But then he was sniffling.

"Yeobo?", called Ha Eun in confusion.
"I'm such a bad husband! I left you a whole day cleaning apartment, I made you drive a car this far when you're pregnant!"
"I thought I was the one that should be emotional, why are you like this?"

Zen closed his face to Ha Eun's, letting their forehead touch. Ha Eun can feel the warmth burning Zen, flowing to her.

"Thank you. This is the best Christmas present I can ever imagine."