Chapter 312: Date of Han Min-ah (2)

「What’s playing at the movies right now…. Wait, hold on?! Did you just say movie theater?!」

…I wondered if what I had just said was that strange, replaying it in my head, but no matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t feel anything particularly odd.

Was suggesting watching a movie at a movie theater really something to be this surprised about?

Han Min-ah’s voice, reacting so excessively and objecting to the word ‘movie theater’ out of the blue, felt strangely off today.

“Why? What’s wrong with a movie theater.”

「What’s wrong with it?! Are we going to get arrested for public indecency while watching a movie?!」

“It’s not like I suggested watching a porno, so why are you suddenly like this.”

「I-It’s not about the type of movie we’re watching! The movie theater itself is the wrong place from the start! Of course, I did mention places like room cafes, so I don’t have much room to talk…!」

“Wow, your tastes are really picky.”

If she just didn’t want to watch a movie, she could have just said so, but did she really have to object that the place itself was wrong?

Anyway, since she didn’t like the movie theater, I had no choice but to think of other options. If there were other places for a relaxed date…

“Then how about a cafe?”

「A-At a cafe?! This bastard is getting worse?!」

“No, what the hell is the problem with a cafe now.”

「I-I don’t know about the other girls you meet, but suggesting it at a cafe just doesn’t make sense no matter how I think about it?! You can see everything from outside, and there are lots of people….」

“Then what about a quiet cafe tucked away in an alley with no people?”

「No…! I just want to relieve my heat, I’m not looking to enjoy the thrill! Just ditch the cafe idea!」

If she didn’t like just sitting and talking over coffee, she could have just said so honestly. Why reject it so vehemently with such bizarre expressions?

In the first place, I, a guy, was suggesting date courses that women usually take the initiative to plan, and Han Min-ah’s constant nitpicking felt strangely annoying.

She rejected them to the point of making up one nonsensical excuse after another…

Since she didn’t like movie theaters or cafes, what else could we possibly enjoy together…

“Then, how about we go to an arcade for old times’ sake?”

「…Does it have to be a place that isn’t open to the public? …Come to think of it, last time with Yuri Unnie in the dungeon….」

“Did you get agoraphobia from going in and out of the Crystal Spider Cave too much? And besides, you said you hated movie theaters, which are also non-public spaces.”

「No, that’s also a closed space, of course, but it’s a closed space where others can’t see you….」

…A closed space where others can’t see you?

“…If it has to be a place that fits your conditions, then the only options left are like, a DVD room or a karaoke room?”

「Why do you keep thinking of strangely dangerous places? What if we get caught having sex…?」

“What the hell are you talking about right now? Why are you suddenly bringing up getting caught having sex or not?”

「Nooo! It’s because you keep insisting on weird places like movie theaters and cafes! What other women are you seeing besides me and Hye-eun to have such perverted tendencies…」

“I just meant meeting early in the morning, watching a movie together, relaxing on a date, and then heading to a hotel in the evening. What the hell do you think I’m talking about?”

「………Huh?」

The moment she heard my last words, a hollow exclamation followed a long silence.

Hearing that reaction, I finally understood why Han Min-ah had been freaking out like that all this time.

I could naturally imagine what kind of expression she was making right now, even through the receiver.

“What the hell, did you seriously think all the places I mentioned were spots for you and me to have sex? Huh?”

「Sh-Shut up, you punk! You’re the one who spoke confusingly, you fucking idiot…!!」

“Even so, there are limits to confusion. If you heard places like movie theaters or cafes, wouldn’t it be normal to assume they’re date spots?”

「Aaaargh! Forget it! Forget it, you idiot! Just forget it!!」

With Han Min-ah’s scream-like shriek, the VoiceTalk conversation, which had lasted about 10 minutes, concluded with her hanging up first.

Of course, there was a possibility that I had spoken confusingly, but still, to immediately think of having sex in places like movie theaters or cafes…

At this rate, I don’t even know who the pervert is anymore.

「Let’s meet tomorrow at 10 AM at Exit 2 of Gubeun-dari Station. We’ll decide whether to watch a movie or go to a cafe when we meet then.」

After about three short minutes, a brief KakaoTalk message, representing her feelings, came back.

「Fine.」

It was a short reply, presumably containing many implied meanings.

“Ummm…”

Han Min-ah, who had started her day from a little before dawn, was lost in deep thought in front of her closet for a long time even as morning arrived.

The reason was that so much time was being spent deciding what to wear today.

She wasn’t agonizing over her work attire. Han Min-ah’s work outfit was already decided: a hunter suit that allowed for easy movement, which she had been wearing for the past year.

And for other outings, she usually just threw on any hoodie or t-shirt with pants, mixing and matching casually, but…

Today was different; it required full preparation, to the point where she couldn’t just throw on simple clothes like usual.

Because today was the day of a precious date with her long-time friend, Sung Taekyung.

Although using the grand term ‘date’ between mere friends felt somewhat awkward, the word ‘date’ itself had come from Sung Taekyung, not her.

‘Meeting early in the morning, watching a movie together, relaxing on a date, and then heading to a hotel in the evening…’

She had almost dismissed it due to embarrassment, but he had definitely specifically referred to their meeting today as a ‘date’.

Of course, it probably wasn’t the case that Sung Taekyung only considered days he met her as dates.

Naturally, there was Kang Hye-eun, who was presumed to be the closest to him, and Cha Yuri, who had been intimate with Sung Taekyung before her, and undoubtedly, when meeting any other women she didn’t know, he would consider all encounters as dates.

Therefore, she intellectually understood that this situation wasn’t particularly special.

Still, Han Min-ah honestly wanted to pay attention to her outfit for their ‘first date’.

‘Haa, damn… Is it safest to just dress like usual? What if he laughs, saying I’m overdoing it by wearing something weird…’

Recalling the times she had slept with Sung Taekyung, she could somewhat anticipate that her long-time friend wouldn’t say anything to ruin the mood.

However, the reason she couldn’t feel at ease was because the period she had known Sung Taekyung as a friend was just too long.

Even now, after having been intimate several times, they maintained a peculiar relationship that was neither friend nor lover.

In this situation, if she got excited about the ‘date’ and wore flashy clothes, only to realize that Sung Taekyung didn’t see her as more than a friend.

Han Min-ah fully predicted that she would undoubtedly be deeply hurt if that happened.

‘But still, what if I just go out wearing a hoodie and pants… and he mistakes it as me putting up a wall?’

Two hours spent agonizing between the anxiety of discovering Sung Taekyung’s feelings and the desire to develop their relationship further.

It was more than enough time for Han Min-ah’s two younger sisters to wake up and get ready for school.

“Unnie, we’re off to school~.”

“We’re going to school, Big Unnie.”

“…”

“Unnie~!”

“Big Unnie…”

“Huh? W-Why, kids…?”

“We said we’re going to school. How long are you going to space out?”

“…Ah, r-right… Have a good day, kids…”

“…”

“…”

It was impossible for the quick-witted Han Jin-ah and Han Seon-ah not to notice Han Min-ah’s strange vibe as she answered with an awkward voice, blushing and avoiding eye contact.

Immediately, Han Jin-ah, the older of the twins, began offering unsolicited advice to her sister.

“I know you’re excited to meet Taekyung Oppa, but don’t waste time agonizing over what to wear and end up being late for your appointment.”

“H-How did you know?!”

“Isn’t it weird if I didn’t notice you standing blankly in front of the closet? Even a passing dog would figure it out.”

“…”

“If you really have nothing to wear, you can wear my clothes today. There are lots of pretty skirts in the back right side of my drawer, pick one and wear it.”

“S-Skirts, what are you talking about… How could I possibly wear something like that, it’s embarrassing…”

Han Min-ah, accustomed to pants since childhood, naturally reacted negatively to flimsy clothes like skirts.

Han Jin-ah looked at Han Min-ah’s reaction with a sigh and strongly admonished her sister.

“If you keep avoiding things and doing nothing like this, Taekyung Oppa won’t know how you feel and will just be left wondering.”

“…”

“Don’t act indecisive and regret it later; if anything, be clear from the start, Unnie.”

“…Alright, now hurry up and go to school.”

“Yep, yep.”

Han Jin-ah, whose expression brightened day by day as her graduation approached, waited for her twin sister Han Seon-ah at the entrance.

Before walking towards the entrance door of the semi-basement villa, following Han Jin-ah, Han Seon-ah approached Han Min-ah’s ear and whispered very important advice.

“Big Unnie, I recommend you don’t forget your preparations down there either.”

“…For what?”

“If you plan on having sex with Taekyung Oraboni that stimulates sensitive spots inside your work area, just like last time… I recommend cleaning up inside thoroughly before you go out…”

“Aaaargh! Stop talking nonsense and get out! Aren’t you leaving, Han Seon-ah?!”

“Eeeeek! Unnie’s angry! Run away~!”

“Have a nice day, Big Unnie.”

Han Jin-ah and Han Seon-ah playfully hurried out the door at Han Min-ah’s shout.

Han Min-ah, the eldest sister of the twins, was left alone in the semi-basement villa, but her ‘Big Unnie’ dignity was no longer present.