episode_0120

Honestly, I never thought that the naengmyeon (cold noodles) in this restaurant in the multiplex would be delicious.

But maybe it was because the side dishes were great, and the atmosphere was just right, we quickly finished a bowl of naengmyeon and decided to spend some time in the cafe on the restaurant floor since we had some time left.

“Hmm….”

As I stroked my chin, looking like I was pondering something, the author Lee Young-woo immediately asked me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, it’s nothing.”

-Glance, Glance

I’ve been feeling it since earlier, but once I started becoming aware of the gazes around me, it became hard to ignore. It was no joke, people around me kept glancing at me.

It’s been 6 months since I developed TS syndrome and became like this. I haven’t been to places with a lot of people, so I didn’t realize how noticeable my appearance really was. It’s not like I can just casually get plastic surgery to make it easier. Now, the seriousness in their eyes was starting to feel burdensome.

If you were to ask me if I’ve ever directly noticed people’s gazes like this before, I would say it’s the first time in my life that I’m enduring so many stares and attention.

Of course, there’s also the specificity of the TPO here.

T(Time: Time) – About 1 and a half hours before the movie premiere.

P(Place: Place) – Inside the cafe on the restaurant floor directly below where the movie premiere is taking place.

O(Occasion: Occasion) – Inside the building where the movie premiere is happening, with a lot of people probably here to catch a glimpse of celebrities.

So, in a situation where such demand is prevalent, if someone with a celebrity-like appearance boldly shows their face and walks around, everyone starts to take notice.

“Isn’t that a celebrity?”

“She’s really pretty.”

“Should I try talking to her?”

“If her face looks unfamiliar, she might be a rookie before becoming famous. Should I get an autograph before she becomes well-known?”

“What a chest…!”

These thoughts are being manifested through actions in the current situation.

While there’s some of my own speculation, if we casually assess the situation, it seems likely. The probability is high.

“Um… Do-yeon?”

Was I lost in my thoughts for too long? The author Lee Young-woo called me with a worried expression.

“Oh, I’m sorry. My body isn’t feeling too well.”

-Sniff, Jump!

Before I could finish speaking, Lee Young-woo stood up from his seat with a serious expression.

“Yes, yes? Should we go back? No, um… When did you start feeling unwell? You’re not pushing yourself too hard, are you?”

Uncharacteristically hurried, Lee Young-woo poured out his words in a rush, at least from what I’ve seen of him.

“No, no. It’s not that I’m feeling unwell, but it’s not exactly great either…”

What am I even saying? Suddenly accelerating, pushed by Lee Young-woo’s concern for my condition, I found myself blurting out incomprehensible words.

“Where are you feeling unwell? Is it a cold? Or muscle pain? Or maybe air conditioning sickness? Please tell me!”

“It’s, um, menstrual pain!”

In reality, I had taken two painkillers to soothe the abdominal and headache pain and there was no actual physical pain. It was purely because I felt uncomfortable with all the attention focused on me, so my complexion had turned pale. So, this was just a reflexive excuse that popped out in response to his concern, not really a valid excuse.

“Oh, um…!”

But the effect was immediate.

Realizing that he had gone too far, Lee Young-woo’s face turned red and he sat back down.

“Um… I’m sorry.”

“Oh, no. Thank you for your concern…”

And so, a brief silence lingered between us.

“Um… Shall we get up?”

“Yes, let’s.”

No, it was so awkward that the atmosphere froze so abruptly just because of the word “menstruation,” as if even teenagers were not present.

I am 39 years old, and this gentleman is 40 years old. The word “middle-aged” seemed to lose its meaning.

No, I knew that author Lee Young-woo had a somewhat innocent side. I don’t understand why even I am feeling this way. Am I also tainted by ink, or is it really a situation where I should feel embarrassed?

I had just left the cafe, but there was still an hour left until the premiere. Do I have to endure this atmosphere for an hour? Just thinking about it made me feel like vomiting.

“Um, well… just now.”

“Yes, please speak.”

“Actually, it’s not menstrual cramps… no, it’s not that there are no menstrual cramps… anyway, um… ah!”

There was a scene that flashed through my mind in an instant. A way to escape this awkwardness and alleviate the discomfort I was feeling.

“Author, let’s go!”

Without a word, I grabbed Lee Young-woo’s hand and led him somewhere.

“Oh, there!”

Once again, Lee Young-woo was dragged off to some unknown place without a chance to object.

And the place we arrived at was…

“Oh, an eyeglass store? Why did you suddenly come here? Do you usually wear glasses? Oh, contact lenses? Anyway, why here all of a sudden?”

Ignoring his questions, I briskly walked into a corner of the eyeglass store. What I saw there was…

“Sunglasses?”

Various designs and sizes of sunglasses filled one side of the wall.

“Yes. Actually, earlier…”

I explained to Lee Young-woo about the stares and discomfort I had been feeling since entering the multiplex today. About the awkwardness.

“Oh, I see. Certainly… yes. That could be the case. I should have been more aware and considerate in advance.”

“Oh, come on! Anyway, that actress Goeun? Maybe if you buy a pair of sunglasses like hers, it might be better. Well… it might attract more attention like a celebrity, but at least I won’t be as conscious of others.”

After finishing our conversation, I started trying on sunglasses one by one from the wall.

“Hmm… is this frame too big?”

“Haha, Do-yeon’s face is a bit small, so no matter what you wear, it might feel that way. However, the color of the one you’re wearing now is a bit old-fashioned. Leopard print frames, make you look older?”

Actually, at 39 years old, you should consider yourself older, but fashion is about style and appearance.

In fact, the important thing is to buy a design that is as inconspicuous as possible, but before we knew it, we were focusing on which one suited me best.

“This one looks okay, what do you think?”

“Oh, this looks like the glasses they give out at the 4D IMAX theater?”

“The metal frame design is pretty, but it looks a bit fragile, so not great…”

After trying on various sunglasses for a while, I ended up choosing the most basic design that I had initially tried on.

“Phew, I should have just picked the first one that fit if I knew it would be like this. Feels like I wasted my time.”

“Hahaha, I had fun though. Oh well.”

As he said that, he held his phone screen in front of me.

My various sunglasses fitting shots came into view. While there was a mirror to see for myself, taking photos was necessary to see how they looked objectively from different angles.

Indeed, they all looked good on the model.

“Hmm… if only I had more time, I would have bought a few more.”

It was a bit disappointing, but the time displayed on the top right of my phone indicated that the premiere was starting in 20 minutes. The movie theater upstairs was probably bustling with the photo zone event for the actors by now. Maybe that’s why the restaurant floor felt noticeably quieter than before. It was definitely less crowded.

“Next time, if the opportunity arises, I should buy it again.”

“Will you watch it with me next time too?”

“Haha, I honestly don’t know much about this stuff, will I be of any help?”

Well, honestly, if I’m going to buy this kind of fashion item, it would be much more practical and helpful to bring Dayoung instead of the author Lee Yeongwoo.

“It probably won’t be helpful at all….”

Lee Yeongwoo, looking greatly disappointed.

“At least it seems like it would be more fun to come with the author.”

I don’t know, even though we use honorifics and formal language, and maintain a high level of courtesy towards each other.

There’s a certain comfort that comes from being like childhood friends, having known each other since we were young, and still seeing each other at our best and worst, but if you ask if it’s completely comfortable, well, we know each other so well that we have to be careful and pay attention to many things.

But with the right amount of distance and courtesy between us, along with similar ages, common interests, conversation topics, and introverted tendencies.

Listing these conditions, perhaps it’s natural for me to consider author Lee Yeongwoo as a comfortable friend.

“Ah… haha…. Yes. I’m fine with it. Just call me anytime.”

Every Saturday afternoon. Just spending a few hours together.

I’m not sure if it’s okay to call this friendship.

“Yes. Feel free to call me.”

At least I will consider him as a friend.

“That will be 269,000 won.”

Ah, let’s finish sunglasses shopping today.