episode_0118

Is it for the participants who have become exhausted from the horror experience?

On the second floor of the venue, where carefully selected horror movies were being screened, there were large cushions on the floor big enough for one person to lie down on instead of chairs.

It seems like the organizers thoughtfully provided comfortable cushions for those who needed a rest.

Feeling exhausted from the intense movements, Jaehyuk and I, who needed a break, didn’t hesitate to throw ourselves onto the soft cushions.

“It’s cozy and nice… I might even fall asleep while watching the movie.”

“…Not might, but definitely. I’m already feeling drowsy.”

Jaehyuk, who seemed very tired, let out a big yawn as soon as he lay down.

Watching him struggling against the urge to sleep, I gently encouraged him to rest.

“If you’re tired, close your eyes. I’ll wake you up after the movie ends.”

“You can’t sleep. Even if you’re tired, it’s not polite to fall asleep during a date.”

“Well, in your current state, it seems difficult to be polite, right?”

“Actually, I think the same way.”

After making a calm diagnosis, Jaehyuk jokingly replied in a sluggish voice and stretched out.

He then got up for a moment, brought my cushion next to me, placed the cushions together, and lay down with his head on my thigh.

“Can I stay like this for a while?”

“If you say it with a face that looks like you’ll fall asleep soon, it’s not convincing, you fool.”

“Is that so? Then… can I stay?”

“Annoying.”

Once I allowed it, my lap seemed to be his pillow.

Giving him a stern look, I started to gently stroke Jaehyuk’s head as he closed his eyes.

Suddenly.

Rustling – rustling –

The sound of even breathing could be heard not long after.

Where did the gentleman who said it’s impolite to fall asleep during a date go?

I chuckled in disappointment and lightly pinched my boyfriend’s cheek.

“You’re not really asleep, are you?”

“…”

“If you wake up now, I’ll let you touch my chest.”

“…”

“You little rascal.”

The anticipated movie date had turned into nothing.

Although I didn’t like it, I soon shook my head and let go of the bundle of complaints.

It was better to be thankful than to complain.

The guy who hates scary things to the extreme was exhausted and collapsed while trying to accommodate me, so it would be shameful to complain about it.

“…It’s okay to show that you don’t like it.”

A long time ago, maybe when I was in elementary school?

I was so curious about how my parents, who always seemed to get along well, never showed us the common fights between couples.

So I asked my mother how they never got annoyed with each other.

She replied like this.

Love is sustained based on consideration for the other person.

Love without consideration is just a spark without firewood.

“Thinking like this, I feel like I’m being too selfish…”

It’s been a week since I started dating Jaehyuk.

Have I ever accommodated Jaehyuk during that time?

…I don’t know.

I can’t think of anything, but memories of Jaehyuk accommodating me flood my mind.

Maybe it’s better to just consider it non-existent?

“I was really a bad person.”

With a bitter smile, I quietly looked down at the sleeping person I love with his head on my thigh.

And in a moment of brief regret, I firmly resolved.

I will give him as much love as he has given me, or even more.

[Long ago, in a distant past – ]

After finishing my regrets and resolutions, the horror movie that was slowly starting.

I placed the earphones I brought into Jaehyuk’s ears and carefully covered his eyes with my hand.

He fell asleep exhausted because of me.

So that he could have a more comfortable sleep.

—–

Did he say that his back hurts if he sleeps in a too soft place and wakes up?

I woke up from a slight back pain that started to be felt gradually and opened my eyes softly.

“Are you awake?”

The first one to greet me after waking up was the lovely vampire, smiling softly.

Realizing that the surroundings were still dark, I blinked my eyes and asked Jieun about the time.

“…How long did I sleep?”

“Well, about 2 and a half hours? You were sleeping so well, so I didn’t want to wake you up on purpose.”

“What?”

Much more time had passed than I had thought.

With a response that was far beyond my expectations, I stared blankly at the vampire in front of me.

Oh, so…

The movie ended while I was sleeping?

Because of that, our movie date got ruined?

…Oh, Yoon Jaehyuk, you idiot!

You said it was rude to fall asleep during a date, and then you fall asleep again?

You already made a big mistake on the first floor, and you couldn’t resist making another one?

A strong sense of guilt washed over me.

I glanced at the vampire for a moment, then bowed my head and asked for forgiveness.

“Um, sorry… we were supposed to watch it together…”

He must have been really angry, what should I do?

Worried about the scolding that would come later, I started moistening my dry lips with saliva.

I have nothing to say right now.

If I had just dozed off for a bit, that would have been one thing, but…

I just went ahead and lay down as if to sleep?

How ridiculous must that have been? And how annoying must it have been?

A situation where getting scolded is inevitable.

I waited for Jieun’s mouth to open with a gloomy face.

“It’s okay, even the best of us can’t lift their eyelids sometimes, right? If you slept well and woke up, that’s all that matters.”

Was it like becoming a saint after wearing a nun’s habit a few hours ago?

Instead of scolding me, Jieun showed a compassionate smile and forgave me.

…I wish he had scolded me instead, then I might have felt a little better.

A feeling of discomfort crept into a corner of my heart.

Unable to overcome the amplified guilt, I quickly finished up and left the event venue building with Jieun.

I felt that if I stayed longer, something bad would continue to happen.

“Where do you want to go now? Your place? Or a bar?”

“Let’s go to a place where we can eat heartily. I haven’t eaten anything since a simple dinner, so I’m a bit hungry.”

“Um, then how about a 24-hour rice soup restaurant? It’s near your place, right?”

“That sounds good. Let’s go there.”

After the event, which had many ups and downs, ended, it was already 11 PM.

I headed to the rice soup restaurant to fill my hungry stomach, and once again asked for forgiveness from the vampire walking beside me with my arms linked.

“Um… I’m really sorry for not watching the movie together, besides the incident at the experience center. If you have time next weekend, let’s go watch a movie together.”

“Pfft, I said it’s fine earlier ~ Don’t apologize too much, okay? And watching a movie next week… Hmm, that’s quite an appealing suggestion.”

“I heard a good romance movie came out. When you have time, I’ll book the tickets.”

“Great! Then I’ll treat you to the rice soup tonight! Just tell me the price of the ticket minus the rice soup cost?”

“Alright, if you add a bottle of soju to the rice bowl set, the difference is only a mere thousand won.”

“…Pig, aren’t you eating too much?”

“I’ll listen to you… Ahh! Sorry, sorry!!!”

As they exchanged jokes, the sense of guilt gradually faded away.

Just as my heart felt lighter, Jiwoo flashed a bright smile and asked me the usual question.

“Despite the twists and turns, today wasn’t so bad, right?”

“Not bad… yeah, it wasn’t. The problem is I couldn’t sleep well this morning.”

“I’ll watch over you. Then it’ll be fine, right?”

“…No, let’s sleep separately tonight. I might not sleep well with you around.”

The weight of not being able to sleep because of Jiwoo is greater than not being able to sleep due to the horror experience.

Shaking my head to dismiss further discussion, Jiwoo looked puzzled and raised a questioning expression.

Suddenly, as if realizing the reason, the vampire soon wore a mischievous expression and sweetly teased me.

“Pervert♡”

…I felt it even on the first floor of the event hall, that it’s really harmful to the heart, right?

I wish they knew the desire to mess things up every time I hear that, but they must know.

Suppressing the vulgar desire with a deep breath, the loud chatter from afar began to be heard.

Isn’t it too noisy for this late night? I was thinking just that as I walked.

“Um, excuse me! Could you please tell me your number!?”

…And then it all went haywire.

Jiwoo received a call from her parents and stepped back for a moment, but one of the approaching women threw a tantrum at me.

In an instant, Jiwoo ended the call and approached with a sinister expression, but the brief mishap was resolved.

The lively dead eyes that appeared in an instant did not seem to easily dissipate.

“As expected, a simple lover relationship is not enough. Even if I engrave it all, how can I be at ease…”

“…Jiwoo?”

“Maybe making it official wouldn’t be so bad. Then it’ll definitely be mine…”

“Jiwoo, are you okay?”

“Uh, yeah!? Oh, haha! I’m fine! Yeah, I’m fine!”

Even though I hugged her briefly to show my concern, Jiwoo returned to her innocent self.

Letting out a sigh of relief, I pondered over the incomprehensible words Jiwoo muttered earlier.

What was that about?

I heard the word “official,” but it must have been my mistake, right?

“…Nothing serious.”

Being someone who loves peaceful everyday life, nothing major was likely to happen.

Dismissing the recent incident as trivial, I continued the cheerful conversation with Jiwoo.