I Pray That You Forget Me - Chapter 43
‧₊˚ ☁️⋅♡𓂃 ࣪ ִֶָ☾.
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Johann never did that, and he’s not the kind of man to engage in such dirty acts.
“I figured you wouldn’t need the clumsy socks I knitted. If you’re willing to share your wine with the carpet, I assumed you’d have an abundance of socks.”
“Oh, are you unhappy that I live in abundance while you suffer? Are you subtly demanding Christmas gifts like ration cards from me? What would you give in return?”
The Major asked this as he lay down on the bed sheet I had just spread. It was just an extension of his lewd teasing.
“I wouldn’t accept it even if you offered.”
I made it clear I had no intention of selling myself and kept my distance from the bed to keep me from getting caught by that lecher.
“What gift did your husband give you?”
“I don’t know.”
“He didn’t give you a Christmas gift?”
Why does he keep trying to portray Johann as inadequate?
“I just haven’t opened it yet.”
“Why?”
“Because of you.”
“Because of me?”
“Because you called me before I could even open my eyes this morning, I couldn’t unwrap the gift.”
The Major, who was about to light a new cigarette, stopped and looked at me incredulously.
“Why would you open Christmas gifts on Christmas morning?”
“Because I have patience.”
He then squinted his eyes.
“Rize Einemann, when are Christmas gifts supposed to be opened?”
Why ask something so obvious? I answered without stopping my sweeping.
“On Christmas morning.”
After my answer, he didn’t bother me any further. I thought it was a trivial matter, but after cleaning up all the broken glass and looking up, the Major was staring at me with a stern face.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Major?”
“…Christmas gifts are supposed to be opened on Christmas Eve.”
I had never heard that before. I naturally assumed it was on Christmas morning. Now that I think about it, why did I believe that?
“Does losing your memory mean forgetting traditions you’ve lived with all your life?”
“It seems so.”
“And your husband, who hasn’t lost his memory, why did he forget the tradition?”
“Men are just like that, aren’t they?”
I was puzzled as to why Johann got the Christmas tradition mixed up, but men tend to be indifferent to dates and traditions. Besides, Johann has been busy lately.
With everyone struggling to survive the winter without starving or freezing, is the timing of opening Christmas gifts really important? Yet, the Major used this trivial mistake as another reason to criticize Johann.
“Johann Renner… something’s fishy.”
* * *
For some reason, the Major let me go once the cleaning was done.
“Johann! My love! I’m back!”
I dashed up to the third-floor as soon as I got off the truck. Since it was a day off for everyone, Johann should be at home.
“Rize.”
Indeed. The door swung open immediately after a single knock. My cozy and safe home, the haven for my body and soul, was in sight. I ran into Johann’s open arms and hugged him.
“I’m home.”
Johann wrapped his arms around me, tenderly comforting me.
“You’ve had a tough day.”
Today was indeed challenging.
I thought I could handle being in front of the Major, but it seems I was more tense than I realized. Seeing Johann’s face made all the tension melt away, and tears welled up in my eyes.
But I had to hold them back. I didn’t want Johann to worry.
“I missed you.”
Instead, I kissed him passionately.
“I hate getting in between lovers like that. It’s terrible to use innocent people as villains just to meddle in someone’s true love.”
The Major played the role of the villain in our relationship perfectly, only making my affection for Johann stronger and my desire more intense.
“Ahem…”
Just as I was deepening my kiss with Johann, I heard someone clearing their throat from behind. I didn’t need to look back to know who it was.
‘It’s Mrs. Becker again.’
Our love faced more than just the Major as a villain. Mrs. Becker, a fanatic ascetic, imposed her strict rules on others, reciting Bible verses if she caught us sharing our love.
Even a slightly long or deep kiss in front of our door, away from public eyes, earned us her disapproval.
I felt unjustly treated. We weren’t kissing in the middle of a busy street but in a building’s hallway, where no one else was present.
Unless Mrs. Becker deliberately followed us to watch.
‘Such a strange and unpleasant person.’
We wouldn’t have encountered such a weird landlord if it hadn’t been for the Major that caused us to find a new place in a hurry due to his intrusion.
Anyway, noticing her disapproving glance, I was about to pull away from the kiss.
“Hmm?”
Unexpectedly, Johann, who usually breaks the kiss first, gripped my head tighter and pressed his lips more firmly against mine. Surprised, I opened my eyes wide only to see Johann pointing upwards.
Following his gesture, I almost burst into laughter at the sight.
‘Is that mistletoe?’
Johann had hung mistletoe above the door at some point. According to tradition, couples standing under mistletoe must kiss.
We weren’t committing an indecent act; we were merely following a cherished custom.