episode_0028

March 14th.

The long-awaited White Day.

It was the day I had been waiting for, as I had promised to go on a date with Aki about a week ago.

I was so excited, nervous, and excited that I barely slept for four hours, but I was in great shape.

I woke up early in the morning, took a shower using plenty of body wash, and stood on my feet in front of the full-length mirror in my room.

“… … Let’s see.”

I started checking my appearance while muttering to myself.

First, I started with my hair style and worked my way down to literally look at my entire appearance from head to toe.

The hair style is neat, and the clothes for going out are also not a bad fit.

No, it’s actually better.

Wearing a lot of things would only make you look messy, so it was a godsend that I chose a neat, solid blue shirt and black slacks that were just short of my peach bone.

“… … .”

Well, if I were to say this out of my own mouth, it would be an unsightly self-praise, but… … .

anyway.

There was nothing that bothered me too much, so I raised my gaze.

The current time is 10:30.

Normally, the meeting place was in front of my house or in front of Aki’s house, so it would have been enough to leave 15 minutes early, but today, for some reason, Aki requested, ‘Meet in front of the station on White Day, definitely, definitely!’, so I had to show up earlier than usual. do.

“If I leave now, it will be quicker… .”

It’s much better to arrive early than to be late for your appointment.

With that in mind, I took my wallet, which contained my cell phone, watch, and my secret weapon, the ‘Dad Card’.

‘… … Well, too.’

Just knowing that I have a card in my arms that I can use in times of need gives me peace of mind.

Even though they are not here, I would like to thank my parents who are working hard to contribute to our country far away in the United States.

“I’ll be back!”

I put on a light coat and left my room.

* * *

In front of the station, megaplex.

I got off at the bus stop near the meeting place and looked around.

Even though it was still a weekend morning, there were so many people that I suddenly thought, ‘If I don’t make a mistake, I might pass by without seeing Aki.’

“Wow… .”

If I had known this would happen, would I have asked to meet sooner?

Well, no. Since Aki is a girl, it would be burdensome to ask to meet her too early. Because it’s different from men, there will be a lot of things to prepare.

I leaned my back slightly against the pillar of the building and leisurely took out my cell phone.

It looks like Aki hasn’t arrived yet, so I take this opportunity to check the messenger.

Originally there were 6 people, but yesterday, with the addition of Kim Seung-woo, the number increased to 7. In the group chat with boys who are close to me, active conversations have been taking place since the morning.

[sex]

[Pubang A?]

[Hey, did you watch the EPL yesterday? [Liverpool to Manchester City]

[Does anyone know what textbooks I was told to buy in the middle of math?]

“… … .”

No, it’s not a conversation, it’s a collective monologue… … ?

I was quietly looking at the group chat where no tiki-taka was happening at all, and people were only trying to say what they wanted to say. I tapped the keyboard on my cell phone and sent a message.

[I came to the movie theater]

The content is brief and business only.

The response came quickly.

[this time?]

[I went to see something]

[Spring in Seoul]

[No, are you seeing that now?]

[What if spring comes to Seoul? Spring in Seoul haha]

[Jeon Doo-gwang wins in the end]

[So who did you go with?]

If I were to be honest about who I came with, I think I would get all kinds of criticism.

Even though I was thinking that, I was secretly excited and sent a reply with a silent smile.

[Aki and I came together]

… … .

… … .

… … .

Tiring, tiring-!

[Oh fuck]

[Why are you lying this morning? Fuck]

[Someone is at home scratching peppers and using the computer, while someone else is watching a fucking movie with their girlfriend]

[Fuck you bastard]

[A person who wants to break up with his girlfriend because he feels embarrassed because he fell on the street in the middle of nowhere haha]

[ㄱㅊ]

[Crying and crying]

“… … Um.”

A lot of crude swear words, a curse containing a wish that Aki and I would break up. And friends who agree with him.

The reaction was not an inch away from what I expected.

[Do you go to the baseball stadium right after the movie?]

[No, I’m going to eat and walk a bit and then leave on time. [I want to talk about things that have been delayed]

[(Emoji of an expressionless cat giving a thumbs up)]

[Fighting lol]

There was only one friend who supported me instead of criticizing me.

That friend is none other than Seungwoo Kim.

[Wow, look at Kim Seung-woo being openly likeable?]

[Even so, the main universe won’t do anything]

[ㄹㅇ While I have a girlfriend]

[I’ll never see someone else doing well.]

Of course, I was carpet bombed by other friends just because I said that one thing.

‘… … Still, thank you.’

After all, you shouldn’t judge people by what they look like.

[Seungwoo]

[Tell me later if you need help]

[Even if other kids don’t do it, you will definitely do it]

[what? No, fuck me]

[Juju, you idiot, you never do anything when we ask you to]

[Actually, if Kim Seung-woo is on the same team as Joo Woo-ju, then it’s okay.]

[ㄱㅊ]

[I definitely have to say something, right?]

[I brought a baseball bat to school on Monday]

[Bring a rope so we can tie it together]

[ㅗㅜㅑ]

“Put… .”

If I say something, five or ten curse words come back to me, so I can’t say anything.

Well, actually, I sent it with some expectation of this kind of response.

“──Ah, Uju~chan!”

As I was laughing while looking at the group chat conversation, I heard a familiar girl’s voice from far away.

A unique high tone, a unique title that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

There was a girl coming this way from far away, waving her hand as if asking me to look over here.

“Wooju~chan, Atashi (me) is here~!”

It was Aki.

I immediately took my back from the pillar, grabbed my cell phone, and walked over to Aki.

“Sorry, I waited. Uju~chan?”

“No, I just arrived too.”

Aki’s attire is a black tennis skirt and a bluish off-shoulder t-shirt with a soft material.

Except for the fact that a dark-colored coat is slightly draped over his shoulders, it is subtly similar to the color scheme of the clothes I am wearing.

“Wooju~chan, how does this outfit look? Do you think it’s okay?”

Aki gently smoothed the shoulders of the coat, smiled brightly, and asked me what I thought.

I told him exactly what I was feeling.

“It suits you well, it’s cute, it’s pretty?”

“… … Oh, really? Hehe, I’m glad.”

Aki laughs, covering her mouth with her slightly spare sleeve, as if my compliment is awkward.

It might not be a big deal to some people, but I guess it’s because the clothes are the clothes. In my eyes, even that shyness seemed like a very cute act of cuteness, and my heart pounded.

‘Ah, cute… .’

It’s rewarding to wake up early in the morning and prepare for a date.

We haven’t done anything yet, we just exchanged greetings. I can’t believe I can see Aki this cute… … .

Thank you, God.

Even though I am an atheist, I thanked God and barely managed to keep the corners of my mouth from smiling.

“Oh, Uju~chan is really cool too! You always look like an adult… . Well, I think I’m much more mature now… !”

“… … Ugh, thank you.”

My face gets hot for no reason just from saying something insignificant.

I can ignore compliments from other people, but for some reason I can’t smile and accept compliments from Aki… ?

It is clear that it is the same compliment, but where does this difference come from? The moment I was about to think about it seriously, Aki glanced at the clock attached to the top of the subway station building.

“Wooju~chan, our movie started at 11:35, right?”

“Ah, yes. You can enter only 10 minutes before the start.”

“Then, wouldn’t it be better to sneak in and wait?”

“Um, right? It’s better to go leisurely and wait than to rush for time.”

Ticket checking begins 10 minutes before show time, and since it is now 11 o’clock, there are approximately 25 minutes left. It’s not time to do anything outside, so I’ll have to find something to do with Aki inside the building.

What should I do? Looking for clothes at a store, or an arcade? There is an arcade where both can have fun.

While thinking about it, I took a step forward.

However, Aki did not follow me and just hesitated behind me.

“Aki, why?”

Is there some problem?

When I looked at him as if asking what he was doing by not coming quickly, Aki twitched his right hand while carefully examining my eyes.

“… … Ugh.”

In addition to that, clearing your throat is awkward for anyone to see.

For a moment, I didn’t understand why Aki was like this, so I stayed quiet.

‘Uh, no way… .’

When I saw Aki’s hand twitching near the hem of her tennis skirt, my eyes widened.

Does this mean that we should hold hands together? … ?

“… … .”

“… … .”

I wondered if I had made a mistake.

If you ask something like this out loud because you don’t know what’s on your mind, that’s stupid.

If you catch it first and the other person also wants it, it’s good. If not, ‘Oh, sorry. The best option is to slyly say, ‘I thought you were asking me to hold your hand.’

… … I saw this in a book about the art of dating.

Well, I’m not sure that what was written there is 100% correct.

I also want to hold Aki’s hand, so let’s do it first and if not, then let’s think about what to do next.

I grabbed Aki’s hand tightly.

“… … Let’s go.”

“… … Ah, yes.”

Fortunately, Aki calmly followed me.

* * *

7th floor, in front of the movie box office inside the building.

“Aki, I’m going to go buy popcorn. What flavor popcorn do you want to eat?”

“… … .”

“Aki… ?”

“… … uh? Ah.”

There was no answer when I asked, so I looked at Aki, and as soon as my eyes met, she started shaking in surprise.

What are you thinking about for so long? I couldn’t even hear what people were saying and thought it was cute that he did this, so I laughed out loud, and Aki quickly started to control his facial expression by touching his cheek here and there.

“Wow, Uju~chan, what flavor are you going to eat…? ?”

“Me? I am honey butter.”

“Honey butter… . Well, then, Atashi is caramel… .”

“Caramel? okay. I’ll go get it, so just wait a moment.”

“… … Yes. I’ll be waiting.”

Aki nods eagerly with a slightly red face.

I left Aki, who seemed strangely cuter today, sitting on a nearby seat, and went out alone to the stand selling various snacks.

Looking at the menu hanging above my head, there are a lot of things, including dried squid, but since neither I nor Akina particularly like popcorn, there’s no need to buy it.

After smiling at the part-time worker who greeted me friendly, I ordered a couple set for two, which included caramel-flavored popcorn for Aki, honey butter-flavored popcorn for me, and two colas.

For your information, the reason I want to buy honey butter flavored popcorn is.

This is because I heard somewhere that eating honey butter flavored popcorn makes kissing feel better.

‘… … ‘No, whatever.’

I’m not necessarily saying I’m going to kiss Aki.

Because you don’t know what happens to people.

There is no harm in preparing in advance… … .

“… … .”

“Customer, the popcorn you ordered has arrived~”

“… … Ah, thank you.”

I was just thinking about bad things and then came to my senses.

I took the popcorn and drinks handed to me by the grumpy part-time worker, then swallowed dryly for no reason and walked towards Aki’s seat.

While Aki was waiting for me, he seemed to be exchanging messages with someone on his cell phone… … .

“… … Wow.”

As if something good had happened while I was gone, he was laughing and twisting his whole body, not even knowing that I was close.

Since they said they liked it so much, I had the urge to take a peek at their phone screen, but I guess that wouldn’t be polite, right?

I deliberately pretended to be popular.

“Aki, I’m out.”

“… … Ah, Uju~chan, are you here?”

“Yes, here’s popcorn and cola.”

I handed Aki his share of popcorn and cola and sat down next to him.

“Okay, thank you. Atashi will send you money for the popcorn later.”

“No, Aki bought the movie ticket, so let’s call it that.”

Aki paid for the movie ticket, but it would be rude if he even had to pay for the popcorn.

Aki said, ‘But, Atashi eats it…’ ‘, but I had no intention of compromising on this point, so I shook my head firmly.

Then, I thought Aki reluctantly nodded his head as well.

“… … Hey, Uju~chan.”

“Yes, why?”

“Atashi… . There’s one thing I couldn’t tell you in advance… ?”

Kkook-.

He holds a popcorn container the size of his head with both hands and glances at me.

‘… … what?’

I couldn’t tell you in advance.

Oh, no way.

I can’t go to the baseball stadium today… … ?

“… … Why, what is it? Are you not able to go to the baseball stadium today?”

“Ah, no… ! It’s not like that. It’s not like that… .”

Hesitantly.

Aki doesn’t speak up quickly and just ends up ruining the popcorn container.

Aki looked at me as if he had done something wrong, and then secretly moved his lips.

“Wooju~chan and Atashi, we were originally supposed to see spring in Seoul… … ?”

“Ugh, right?”

“… … That, Atashi. I booked a different movie.”

“I pre-ordered a different movie… ?”

“Ugh, I thought this would be more fun than Spring in Seoul. … … Sorry.”

“No, well… . There is no need to feel sorry for me.”

I looked at Aki quietly, curious as to what kind of movie he wanted to see and why he chose a different one over tens of thousands of movies.

Aki seems to have vaguely sensed the inner thoughts in my gaze, and moves his fingers to take out his cell phone.

“Well, this is it.”

“Um, if only… … ?”

“Ugh, Yeonghwan was re-released this year to celebrate its 20th anniversary… . Did Atashi really enjoy this? So, I really wanted to see it with Uju~chan… !”

“Oh, really?”

If that’s the case, there’s nothing you can do about it.

It’s a movie that Aki, not anyone else, really wanted to watch with me.

“Sounds fun. What is the genre?”

When I seemed to show interest, Aki’s expression brightened as if he had been so sullen for some time.

“Oh, the genre is… . Steamy, very steamy!”

“Jjinhan?”

“Romance, hey!”

“Ah. romance. … … huh? Romance?”

“Yes, romance!”

“… … .”

Let’s watch a romantic movie together… … ?