Chapter 691: Perhaps, The First Date (1)

The morning after experiencing Spartan-style practical training in an A+ grade dungeon all afternoon with Hye-eun.

Continuing from yesterday, I somehow managed to pull myself out of bed, my muscles still aching slightly.

Fortunately, unlike last time, I didn’t oversleep and miss our appointment. If I had, I really wouldn’t have been able to face Hye-eun.

Just in case, I had also asked Eunbyul to wake me up on time.

Perhaps it was because I briefly thought of her, but just then, Eunbyul, who had come up to my room, knocked on the door from outside.

-Knock, knock, knock.

“Master, it’s time to wake up. Are you up?”

“Yes, Eunbyul. I’m up.”

“Yes, understood. I heard you have other plans today, not related to the company, so how would you like to handle breakfast this morning?”

“I think I’ll be eating out, so you don’t need to prepare my portion today.”

“Confirmed.”

As soon as I finished my brief conversation with Eunbyul, I got out of bed and immediately took out the clothes I had organized before sleeping yesterday from my subspace pocket and put them on.

Still, it was a date after all, so I couldn’t just go out wearing my usual white t-shirt and jeans. That wouldn’t be polite to Hye-eun.

It was a simple style: beige cotton pants and a light jacket.

It wasn’t an outfit I’d agonized over; I just picked out a set from the coordination Sihee bought me last time. With Sihee’s sense, I figured I wouldn’t be told I dress poorly, at least.

“A date outside really feels like it’s been a while.”

Strictly speaking, the ‘date’ we had in the dungeon yesterday could almost be considered an outdoor date. That is, until Hye-eun went into serious mode and turned it into intense practical training focused solely on teaching me shield techniques.

It was enough to make me subconsciously wonder if Hye-eun had deliberately given me muscle aches to make me late again today. Because I had carelessly blurted out that if I were late again, I’d do whatever she wanted.

Of course, she wouldn’t have pushed me around with such a malicious thought; it was closer to an act done purely for my growth.

“Speaking of which, I wonder if Hye-eun is okay.”

In reality, Hye-eun must have moved around even more busily than I did. Just looking at the hunting results, the number of monsters she caught was nearly double mine.

However, in my case, the difference was that the muscle pain hit a bit harder because I was moving around while holding a shield, using muscles I normally wouldn’t.

Hye-eun, who always enters dungeons with a shield, was likely relatively fine. She was always incredibly sturdy since she was young. In fact, that might be why she didn’t anticipate the possibility of me suffering muscle aches the next day.

Of course, no matter how difficult it was to move due to muscle pain, it didn’t mean I could be late for my date appointment with my girlfriend today.

‘I can’t make the same mistake twice.’

Because I already had a history of standing Hye-eun up once before.

Thinking that absolutely must not happen again, after dressing up in my date attire.

As soon as I left the house, I immediately headed towards VGC, our meeting spot. Harboring a strange sense of anticipation for this meeting, which was essentially our first real date since becoming a couple.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

Even though I left 30 minutes earlier than the appointment time, the first thing I saw upon arriving at the scene was Hye-eun, already waiting for me. A beautiful sky-blue dress flowing down from top to bottom emphasized her innocent aura, while a white cashmere jacket casually draped over her shoulders gave off a subtle warmth. Seeing Hye-eun in her casual wear after quite some time made my heart flutter once again without me realizing it.

“Ah, Taekyung! Over here~!”

“Yeah, I see you fine.”

Hye-eun waved her hand with a bright smile the moment our eyes met. Responding to her radiant smile, which seemed capable of transferring her emotions directly, I waved back and walked a little faster towards Hye-eun.

‘Come to think of it, lately I’ve mostly only seen Hye-eun in her hunter uniform.’

The last time I saw her in casual clothes was probably just the pajamas she wore when she stayed over at my place. The outfit she wore the last time I canceled our date was similar, but that day’s ‘date’ ultimately turned into a visit for my body aches from the cold. Even the same clothes looked distinctly different when seen at home versus outside.

Unable to control the trembling in my chest for some reason, I cautiously approached Hye-eun, who was waiting for me in front of the VGC building. First, I decided to start by complimenting my girlfriend’s carefully chosen date outfit.

“…You’re early, Hye-eun.”

“Uh, yeah… I just woke up a little early…”

“Your dress is pretty. It has a light, innocent vibe, which suits you perfectly, Hye-eun.”

“Th-thanks… T-Taekyung, you look even more handsome today… ah, no, of course, you always look handsome, but…”

“It’s okay. It’s true I look more handsome today. I deliberately put in extra effort because it’s a date.”

Actually, I might have been more disappointed if you hadn’t noticed. After all, if I wore something different from usual and Hye-eun thought it looked the same, I’d feel a bit let down. Of course, that would have its own pleasant meaning for her too… but still, it’s slightly better if the effort put in is recognized.

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go today?”

“…Huh? Didn’t we agree to meet here to watch a movie?”

“That’s true, but if there’s anywhere else you’d like to go, Hye-eun, we can change plans anytime.”

“…Still, let’s watch the movie first.”

“Saying it like that, do you have a specific movie in mind?”

“How about ‘Memories of Dawn’? It looked quite interesting.”

“…Sure, just the title alone makes me anticipate it.”

I quietly nodded at the title, which already exuded a strong romance movie vibe, and walked into the cinema with her. It was the moment I vaguely understood what kind of date she wanted with me today.

…It would be some time later that I realized the movie was quite different from what I had imagined.

⁎ ⁎ ⁎

The 10th floor of the VGC building. Inside the dimly lit Cinema #3.

On a weekday morning, we found ourselves on a date during a rather quiet time, and we walked together towards our seats located towards the back of the theater. The armrest-less couple seats are usually found at the back of the theater.

“Hye-eun, this way. This is Row J.”

“Ah, yeah!”

Hye-eun followed slowly behind me, holding a large popcorn basket. Frequently checking if she was following properly, I quietly settled into the inner seat of the couple’s row, offering the best view of the movie screen.

‘Come to think of it, I sat in the couple’s seats last time too, when I came with Han Min-ah.’

Giving her the choice of which movie to watch, I hadn’t expected her to not only pick a romance film but also book the couple’s seats, which cost several thousand won more than regular ones. Even more unexpected was how she fell fast asleep just minutes after the movie started, after I pretended not to notice and sat in the couple’s seats. In contrast, Hye-eun confidently booked the rear seats meant for two, as if it were natural to sit in the couple’s seats, showing how differently these two friends, who had known each other for a long time, behaved.

‘It feels like we almost always sat in the couple’s seats for dates back in school too.’

Back then, it was less like a date and more like a regular routine where Hye-eun half-forced me to relax from the academic stress I was suffering. Looking back, those movie outings were not only stress relief for me but likely enjoyable times for Hye-eun as well. Because I now know that Hye-eun had been harboring feelings for me since middle school, or even earlier.

I remember Hye-eun covering most of the date expenses during our school days. At that time, I was paying the expensive tuition for the Hunter training school with the inheritance and insurance money left by my parents, so Hye-eun’s family, whose mother was a former S-class hunter, was much better off than mine. Now, not only I, but even Min-ah, who had the hardest time financially among us, are on a stable track.

‘Back then, I didn’t even realize it was a date, how foolish.’

It was a moment where I realized anew how stupid and dense my past self was. Our relationship, Hye-eun’s and mine, has gone through cycles of growing apart and coming closer several times since childhood. It would be a lie to say there were never any crises between her and me, but both Hye-eun and I cannot deny that those slight crises led us to become the couple we are today.

-Thump.

“Hoo.”

While I was lost in thought, Hye-eun’s bottom gently settled into the seat next to me. After confirming she placed the popcorn basket between us, I handed her the cola I was holding.

“Here, Hye-eun.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

While Hye-eun took the drink I gave her to her side’s armrest, I quietly picked out a piece of popcorn from the basket placed between us. Just as Hye-eun turned her head, I subtly offered a piece of butter-flavored popcorn towards her mouth.

“It’s been a while since we sat together like this watching a movie. Lately, we’ve had almost no time to be together like this…”

-Swoosh.

“…so…”

Hye-eun looked at the popcorn kernel offered to her face and immediately met my gaze. Although a very brief hesitation could be felt in her eyes, she soon opened her mouth and accepted the popcorn kernel I offered, like a baby bird. After eating it, she blushed slightly and cast a peculiar glance my way.

“…What’s this all of a sudden?”

“Just because. It’s been a while since I had a date outside with you, Hye-eun, so I’m a little excited.”

“…Th-that’s true. Most of the dates we’ve had, Taekyung, were either at home or going out together to a dungeon.”

-Swoosh.

Saying that, Hye-eun carefully picked up a piece of popcorn herself and brought it towards my mouth. There was no reason to ignore her affectionate gesture, so I, like her, accepted the popcorn kernel offered before me into my mouth.

“Nom.”

“……”

The crunching sound of the popcorn kernel breaking apart, accompanied by the savory and nutty aroma filling my mouth. It was a moment that truly made me feel like I was in a cinema. Hye-eun, sitting beside me, blushing quietly and shyly, looked even prettier than usual today.

…Since it’s a weekday morning, the theater doesn’t seem very crowded. A little bit should be okay, right?

“Hye-eun.”

“Yeah?”

-Smooch.

“……”

“Just because, there aren’t many people around.”

Hye-eun’s face flushed slightly from the sudden meeting of our lips in a light kiss. Perhaps because we had just eaten popcorn kernels, the kiss strangely seemed to carry a buttery scent.

“…If you were going to do that, you should have done it before feeding me the popcorn.”

“So what? It feels more like a kiss in a movie theater, which is even better.”

“Sometimes, I don’t quite understand what you mean by ‘better,’ Taekyung.”

It would be nice if she understood, but it didn’t really matter if she didn’t. With that thought, I tightly held Hye-eun’s hand sitting beside me and quietly waited for the movie to begin. As the lights dimmed in the theater and only Hye-eun’s warmth beside me could be felt, the first scene of the movie ‘Memories of Dawn’ began.

…A slightly bewildering first scene, which I hadn’t anticipated just from the movie’s title.