Chapter 71: Our Private Screening (1)

“Oh, by the way.”

Juho, who had been reluctantly picking at his side dishes across from me, suddenly spoke up.

When I raised my eyes, his grinning face came into view.

“What? Did something happen?”

“Yeah. My masterpiece that I worked on all summer break is finally complete.”

“Masterpiece?”

“That’s right. Masterpiece.”

Juho proudly announced while thumping his chest.

It was quite something for him to call it a masterpiece with his own mouth.

He usually didn’t act this cocky, but whenever the topic of films came up, he became endlessly playful.

Well, So-yul also transformed completely in front of a piano… though that felt somewhat different.

Either way, it wasn’t a particularly interesting topic. I shifted my gaze back to my tray as I replied.

“Oh, right. Good job.”

Juho burst into laughter.

“Wow, what a cold reaction.”

“I’m normal – you’re just too excited. I’ve never been interested in movies or anything like that anyway.”

“You think so?”

At my answer, Juho responded with an even more arrogant tone. It felt like he was challenging me with a “you’re going to regret that” attitude.

I don’t particularly enjoy watching movies, and I’m even less interested in filmmaking. I probably would have given the same reaction even if Juho had created a timeless masterpiece. I had no idea where his confidence was coming from.

This question was immediately answered by Juho’s next words.

“I finished editing the movie we shot with you and Han So-yul last semester. If you’re not interested, I guess I won’t show it to you.”

“…”

At those words, I scratched my head despite not feeling itchy at all.

“…You should have said that earlier.”

Well, I had certainly put my foot in my mouth this time.

The Vienna sausages, the most delicious item on that day’s lunch menu, ultimately ended up in Juho’s mouth.

◎

Toward the end of the first semester, we had filmed a movie. It was the price demanded by Juho, who had appeared like a hero to save us just when we were about to be caught by the head of student affairs.

The script, full of various skinship scenes, clearly revealed his intention to tease us… But looking back, it became the catalyst for me to realize that So-yul also had feelings for me. So overall, it was probably a net positive.

Even without that, it was a significantly important memory for both So-yul and me.

That’s why I wanted to watch it together with So-yul if possible.

Of course, this was no easy task.

Especially this semester, when a major obstacle had been placed between us.

[…So anyway, he said to call you if you want to watch the movie we filmed then. Would it be hard for you to make time in the evening?]

Early the next morning, I called So-yul to ask her thoughts.

So-yul answered in a stiff voice, as if feeling apologetic.

[Y-yeah. I’d really love to see it… but it’ll be difficult with my mother here. I’m sorry.]

[What are you sorry for? It’s fine.]

I spoke in as gentle a tone as possible.

This was absolutely nothing for So-yul to be sorry about.

She wanted her mother’s approval. With this goal in mind, So-yul devoted herself to practice all afternoon. Of course she would want to show only her best efforts in front of her mother.

Besides, her mother wasn’t the type to let her rest even if she said she had other plans. Creating an opportunity to meet seemed difficult in various ways.

Above all… that person seemed to be suspicious of our relationship.

I also felt somewhat reluctant to arrange hasty meetings for a while.

Wasn’t there some other way we could find?

Was it truly impossible to meet without being discovered by So-yul’s mother?

No, wait a minute.

[Come to think of it, are you with your mother from morning till evening on weekends too?]

At my question, So-yul hesitated for a moment as if considering something.

[Hmm~ I don’t think so? She hasn’t mentioned coming early on weekends. She’ll probably come to school around lunchtime, just like usual.]

After providing that explanation, So-yul suddenly let out an […Ah!] as if she’d realized something.

I guessed she had probably reached the same thought as me by now.

Smiling slightly, I suggested:

[Then how about meeting Saturday morning?]

So-yul laughed happily and said:

[Yes!]

Through this complicated process, we agreed to meet at the film production club on Saturday morning.

Of course, it was still risky even if So-yul’s mother wasn’t around. The head of student affairs and, recently, even our classmates were closely watching the relationship between So-yul and me.

Juho, who was well aware of our situation, showed a kind smile and said:

“Until today, we can make the excuse that it’s a preview screening. I’ll keep watch like last time. This is probably the last time you can use the movie as an excuse.”

He offered to help us wholeheartedly.

I really did have a good friend. I felt I should give up my Vienna sausages to him a few more times in the future.

As I waited for So-yul in the club room with Juho’s assistance.

Eventually, the club room door slowly opened, and someone walked inside.

Of course, it was So-yul.

An ivory cardigan over a thin t-shirt, and a skirt of moderate length that swayed with her movements.

Though it wasn’t particularly special attire, it exuded a distinctly feminine charm. It almost created the illusion that she had really dressed up.

Since we usually saw each other in school uniforms, she had a different kind of appeal when she occasionally wore pretty casual clothes.

So-yul, wearing a shy smile, waved her hand slightly.

“It’s a bit embarrassing when you just stare at me without even saying hello.”

“…Ah, sorry.”

Once I finally came to my senses, So-yul was giving me an eye-smile with slightly flushed cheeks.

I had lost myself staring at her from the moment she entered, completely captivated. Since I’d been gazing at her without even a word of greeting, it wasn’t strange that things felt somewhat awkward.

Despite this, So-yul chuckled softly and said:

“It’s okay. I forgive you. …Being able to stare at your girlfriend is a boyfriend’s privilege, after all.”

“What privilege?”

She really does say amusing things.

Unable to hold back, I burst out laughing along with her, and So-yul sat down next to me with bouncy steps that seemed to express her good mood. I could almost see an invisible tail wagging happily.

Then she looked at me with a bright smile and said:

“Looks like it was worth dressing up.”

Oh. This was quite surprising.

“You dressed up today?”

“Yeah. Secretly, so it wouldn’t be obvious.”

“Doesn’t telling me defeat the purpose of ‘secretly’?”

“What? It’s fine.”

So-yul giggled with a playful “hehe” and said:

“Since my boyfriend seems to like it, I don’t mind if it’s obvious now.”

“…Come on.”

What was up with her today?

Usually she would get shy and snippy, but today she seemed particularly excited.

Indeed, her expression as she looked up at me clearly showed signs of excitement.

Thanks to this, she’d been throwing cute comments at me non-stop since she arrived, making it hard to endure.

My girlfriend was already cute, and now she was adding this kind of service. Poking at my heart with those adorable words. It was too much for a boyfriend’s heart to handle.

“You’re quite bold today?”

I asked while suppressing the whirlwind of affection inside me.

Finding this funny, So-yul let out a soft laugh and said:

“Of course. This is our first real date since we officially started dating.”

“Is that so? Didn’t we meet the night of the opening ceremony and during lunch break?”

“No. Those can’t be called dates. We just met and talked a bit then.”

“What? What’s the difference between a date and just meeting?”

“They’re just different.”

If you say so.

“It’s really hard to have even one date,” I said with a gentle smile. Since she claimed those weren’t dates, I was just making a playful comment.

But So-yul seemed to interpret my words slightly differently.

“I know, right? It’s not easy to create dating opportunities at our school.”

“…Yeah. That’s true.”

I had no response to that.

Because it was absolutely correct.

So-yul and I were people who liked each other. We had passed through the period of not noticing each other’s feelings, and the period of hesitation despite knowing. After sharing confessions in the rain, we had become real lovers.

And yet, with so many watching eyes – teachers, So-yul’s mother, and even our classmates – it was difficult for us to find time to date.

Despite liking each other this much, why did we have to meet in secret?

“I’m sorry. Despite my promise, I couldn’t even take you on a proper date…”

I apologized with a sense of remorse.

I had promised on the night of the opening ceremony that I would find a way for us to date no matter what. Yet it had taken far too long to give So-yul something she could actually call a “date.”

I really seemed to be a boyfriend of empty words.

But So-yul just laughed softly.

Not with an expression of blame, nor one of showing leniency. Rather, like she was expressing genuine joy.

Eventually, her small, pinkish lips subtly began to move.

“It’s okay. You contact me much more often than before. And we see each other in the classroom every day. It’s not like we never see each other’s faces.”

“…Is that really enough for you?”

“Yeah. Of course it would be nice to go on dates with you. But I know it’s not easy.”

“Well, that’s true, but…”

“Besides,” So-yul continued, tilting her head slightly and leaning her upper body forward.

Her gaze looking at me sparkled as if emitting light. Her wide-open eyes contained only me.

With that posture, So-yul showed a relaxed eye-smile and said:

“Since we can’t meet often… doesn’t that make our occasional dates even more exciting?”

That’s what she told me.

When you can’t meet often, the moments you do meet become all the more anticipated.

No matter how I thought about it, there wasn’t a single flaw in So-yul’s words.

I also felt happy and excited every time I met So-yul.

If we could meet whenever we wanted, perhaps we wouldn’t look forward to it this much each time.

Not blaming her boyfriend for failing to keep his promise. Not complaining about the difficult situation that made meeting hard.

Instead, offering words of comfort for her boyfriend’s sake.

What kind of girlfriend was this?

As feelings of love bubbled up inside me, I reached out toward So-yul’s head.

After gently stroking her hair, I eventually couldn’t hold back and started patting her head vigorously.

Though her neatly arranged hair became disheveled, So-yul didn’t show any signs of displeasure.

Instead, she trembled slightly as if enjoying my touch after so long, and only raised the corners of her lips.

Perhaps… being able to vigorously pat your girlfriend’s head is one of a boyfriend’s privileges too.