* * *
Jingyeom sent a message to Jinwoo, who should have been getting off work by now, to let him know he might be late because he was going to a drive-in theater.
He also added a lot of exclamation marks, reminding him to eat dinner.
Not long after the message was sent, the notification disappeared, and his phone rang immediately.
“Hey, Jinwoo!”
—You said you were just going out for dinner. Why a drive-in theater all of a sudden?
Jingyeom’s voice was bright as he answered the call, but Jinwoo’s tone was filled with discontent.
Clearly, he wasn’t happy about the drive-in theater idea.
“We happened to be nearby, so I thought I’d stop by.”
—It’s really late. Go with me next time.
“We don’t have a car.”
There was a reason it was called a ‘drive-in’ theater—you had to watch from a car.
The sound was transmitted through a radio frequency, so without a car, it would be difficult to enjoy.
While it was possible to match the radio frequency even without a car, it would be better to just go to a regular theater in that case.
Besides, this was the first time he had gone out this far, except for when they went to Wolmido.
And since his discharge, due to concerns about his health, he had only gone out for light walks and hadn’t been able to travel far.
Even though the call wasn’t disconnected, Jinwoo remained silent.
“Jinwoo?”
—Are you really going?
“I already said I am.”
Jinwoo’s sunken voice conveyed his feelings.
Although Jingyeom felt a bit bad, he was too curious about the drive-in theater to back down.
—The thought of being home without you… it makes me lose my appetite and feel so drained.
“Still, you have to eat dinner!”
—Maybe because you’re not here… I don’t feel hungry, and I don’t really want to eat…
Jinwoo, who never usually dragged his words, was now whining, making Jingyeom’s lips curl into a smile.
Normally, it was always him who grumbled or expressed dissatisfaction, so whenever Jinwoo showed a hint of this side, he couldn’t help but feel, ‘Ah, he’s still just a little brother.’
Even though Jinwoo always called him ‘hyung,’ both his appearance and behavior often made Jingyeom feel like he was the younger one.
As Jingyeom chuckled while speaking on the phone, Wonbeom, who had been watching him closely, suddenly grabbed the small phone from his hand.
“Huh?”
Surprised, Jingyeom quickly reached out, but Wonbeom caught his wrist and held it down gently, making sure not to grip too tightly.
While holding the phone to his ear, Wonbeom locked eyes with Jingyeom and spoke.
“I’ll bring him back safely once the movie is over.”
—Director, my brother needs to take his medicine. It’s already quite late.
Wonbeom’s eyes twitched.
Knowing how important it was for him to take his medication, he couldn’t just brush this off.
He thought there might be some in the bag Jingyeom had brought, so he asked.
“Did you bring your medicine?”
“I did, but…”
Jingyeom, fiddling with his fingers on the canvas bag he always carried, replied without taking his eyes off the phone.
Why did everyone just take his phone like that?
Soohyuk did it, too, and now Wonbeom. And always when it was Jinwoo on the other end.
“You heard that, right? He has it.”
—Director.
“Of course, I’ll take care of him. Do you think I’d eat him up or something?”
—…Please make sure he takes his medicine. And take him back right after the movie. He needs to disinfect and rest; he shouldn’t stay up late.
“I know how overprotective you are, so you don’t have to make it so obvious.”
—…I’m counting on you.
Wonbeom naturally ended the call as if he had forgotten that the person Jinwoo was talking to in the first place was Jingyeom.
The phone that was handed back to him had already hung up, showing the background screen.
Jingyeom stared at the familiar sky wallpaper for a moment before his eyes flicked upward slightly.
Couldn’t he have at least given me a signal that he was going to hang up?
“Why did you hang up the phone like that? Jinwoo was worried!”
“I confirmed he had the medicine, and he said he’d take him home safely. What’s there to worry about?”
While it was true that everything that needed to be said was said, Jingyeom still looked up with a hint of dissatisfaction, making Wonbeom tilt his head with a slight frown.
“What, got a problem?”
“…No.”
Jingyeom dropped his gaze, knowing that no matter what he said, Wonbeom’s attitude wouldn’t change.
“When do you take the medicine?”
“8 PM. I’ve set an alarm.”
It was better to take it at a consistent time, so he set the alarm for 8 PM.
This was usually when Jinwoo would come home from work, and they would have dinner together.
Even if he forgot, Jinwoo could remind him.
“Don’t turn off the alarm. When it rings during the movie, take it immediately.”
“…Okay, I will.”
Jingyeom nodded slowly, then sent another message to reassure Jinwoo.
Me: I’ll come straight home after the movie! (6:48 PM)
☆Jinwoo☆: Alright. Don’t worry about me, enjoy the movie. (6:48 PM)
Me: Make sure to eat dinner!! (6:49 PM)
☆Jinwoo☆: I’ll eat on my own, don’t worry about me. (6:49 PM)
Me: Jinwoo… ㅠㅠ (6:49 PM)
He pouted at Jinwoo’s message telling him not to worry, but a scarred hand covered his phone.
“Is there anyone else you need to contact besides Secretary Baek?”
“…No, there isn’t.”
“Then let’s get out now.”
Wonbeom gestured toward the outside with his chin, and Jingyeom turned his head.
The car had already stopped, and the surroundings were wide open, almost like an empty lot.
Nearby, there was a large screen.
“Wow…!”
Behind the screen, an orange sunset was glowing.
As they had driven here, the sun gradually set until now, only the very tip remained visible.
It felt distinctly different from an indoor movie theater.
There weren’t many tall buildings nearby, and there were no other cars or people in sight.
It looked as though a single screen had been set up in the middle of nowhere.
Having only been to indoor theaters packed with seats, the spacious outdoor theater felt new to him. Jingyeom eagerly turned his head, looking around.
“You can explore after you get out.”
“Oh, right!”
When Wonbeom got out, Jingyeom quickly followed him.
“…Are they even open today?”
Jingyeom was puzzled.
He hadn’t expected a crowd of parked cars, but this was too empty.
There was only their car and a large car parked in front of the screen in the distance.
With no people around, he also worried about whether the concession stand would be open.
The quiet atmosphere was far from the drive-in theater he had imagined, and he felt a bit disappointed.
“Maybe today’s movie isn’t popular.”
“What movie is it?”
“A superhero one, I think? I don’t remember the title.”
Jingyeom’s eyes narrowed. Wonbeom was a smart guy with a good memory.
For him to claim he didn’t remember the movie title was strange.
“Let’s go. We’ll watch it in that car.”
“Not this car? Is that one yours too?”
If that car also belonged to Wonbeom, then it seemed they were the only guests in this theater.
When did that car even get there?
Suppressing his curiosity, Jingyeom hurried to catch up with Wonbeom.
Because of the difference in their stride lengths, he had to take quick steps.
As he looked back at the car they came in, he asked,
“Is the driver not going to watch with us?”
“He has to guard the car.”
“…But you could just lock it.”
“We can see it from here.”
He locked eyes with him, as if telling him not to say anything more.
“I came with you. You came with me.”
“…”
“It means we have time to focus on each other.”
Wonbeom’s eyes were deep and dark, like they were made of the abyss.
If you kept staring, it felt like you’d be drawn in without realizing it.
“Don’t look at me with that clueless face. Makes me want to do something reckless.”
Jingyeom blinked rapidly, tucking his lower lip into his mouth and lowering his gaze.
‘…Is he scared?’
Wonbeom reconsidered his recent actions and words.
But no matter how he thought about it, he hadn’t done anything that should have frightened him.
Then, he realized that Jingyeom might have understood what he meant by “reckless.”
‘Thought he was clueless, but seems like he knows a bit.’
Last time, when he got close to his face and there was no reaction, he assumed Jingyeom was completely clueless in that regard, but apparently, that wasn’t the case.
Meanwhile, as he met Wonbeom’s intrigued gaze, Jingyeom bit his lip.
‘What’s with him!’
He used to think Wonbeom liked Jinwoo, so he never put much weight on anything he said. But now, things were different.
The words “time to focus on each other” and the unexpected kindness didn’t seem like something Wonbeom would usually say or do.
Moreover, looking back at all his actions toward him, they were certainly different from before.
‘Was he always like this?’
The image of Wonbeom that he had known from the original story was gradually changing as he got to know him directly.
“Reckless…?”
It was hard to dismiss as a joke because Wonbeom’s expression remained as it always was, making it feel even more unfamiliar.
He vaguely remembered how Wonbeom treated Jinwoo in the R-rated dark novel “Gray,” and it was impossible to ignore.
But why was he saying such things to him instead of Jinwoo?
From the start, Wonbeom doing something as ordinary as a date…
‘…A date?’
What date?
Jingyeom shook his head vigorously from side to side. He tried to think of a word that fit better.
But going to a cafe, having a meal, watching a movie—this was too much like a classic date course.
‘No way…’
He wondered if he had been too complacent in his thinking all this time.
‘Could it be that aside from Soohyuk, even Wonbeom like me?’
* * *
Thanks 😊
Thanks
Twinsies, I set my medicine alarm at 8pm too
Even your brother like you too jingyeom 😭
He is really clueless
Thankyouuu
Thankyouuu for the update! But kinda frustrating thats its such a slow burnnnn
Oh, you just realized that Jingyeomi lolz, you’re in for the ride!
Thanks ❤️
Bro is finally starting to realize 😭
Thank you
Team wonbeomm
Comeon everyone love u honey
Soohyuk come back soon
He is late 😢
👍
It’s nice that mc is catching up <( ̄︶ ̄)>
(ノ≧∇≦)ノ ミ ┻━┻
At least