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Kim Hyunoh, 24 Years Old, Giddy Late Summer
***
Knock, knock.
“Hyunoh.”
Startled by the knock, I shuddered, then sighed and wiped my face with my palm.
“Hyunoh? Are you ready?”
Kim Chanyi’s voice came from outside the room again.
I mustered my courage, opened the door, and walked out.
Right in front of me were Kim Chanyi’s round, sparkling eyes.
His thick lips curved smoothly into a smile, and small dimples appeared around his mouth.
Warmth seemed to radiate from him, enough to melt even the hardest ice if placed beside him.
“Shall we go?”
Chanyi’s voice was excited, and I nodded in response.
I regretted agreeing to his request.
Today was my day off, one of the few precious holidays I had in a month, and I was spending it with Chanyi.
‘Just hang out with me once. You can say no if you don’t want to.’
I remembered Chanyi’s pleading voice, so anxious and restless.
I had been the one who behaved rudely while drunk, yet Chanyi never complained and tried to accommodate me.
His sincerity made me feel sad.
I glanced at Chanyi walking ahead of me.
My gaze inadvertently fell on his lips.
Was he still excited now?
I quickly diverted my eyes.
Our kiss was treated as if it never happened.
On the surface, at least.
But the memory tormented me several times a day: his tongue licking my lips repeatedly, his strong, large hand gripping my cheek, his hard groin pressing against my thigh.
I wanted to kill my drunk self for asking such a foolish question.
I couldn’t understand why I said it, no matter how much I thought about it.
How could Chanyi remain unaffected?
He wasn’t drunk, so he must remember everything.
He was a masterful actor. Who would have thought he could kiss so passionately?
And yet, his face could still deceive me into thinking he was a gentle herbivore.
Was the kiss a dream after all?
“Hyunoh.”
Lost in thought, I was startled by Chanyi’s sudden call. I looked up at him, surprised.
“Huh?”
“Are you hot? Your face is red.”
“No, I’m fine.”
I pressed my cheek with the back of my hand, feeling embarrassed.
What would Chanyi think if he knew I pretended to remember nothing while recalling that kiss every day?
We stood at the bus stop. It was daytime, but not excessively hot.
The sunlight was weaker than last week.
Occasionally, a cool breeze blew.
Summer was gradually fading.
Once summer ended completely, I would leave Chanyi’s house.
I just had to endure until then, acting as if the kiss had never happened.
A few minutes later, the bus arrived.
We sat side by side and headed downtown.
Chanyi had planned everything.
There weren’t many places to hang out in this area—movie theaters, pool halls, PC rooms.
We decided to go to the movies first, then have dinner at a famous craft beer restaurant.
It felt more like a date course than hanging out as friends, but I agreed.
Overthinking it would only make things awkward. I shouldn’t act out of the ordinary.
I stopped stealing glances at his lips. I resolved not to wonder if he was excited.
Nothing had happened between us.
I silently made up my mind and kept my mouth shut.
I felt Chanyi’s gaze on me.
Fixing my eyes on the bus window, I said curtly,
“What are you looking at?”
“It looks like there’s some dust in your hair.”
“Really?”
I turned to Chanyi, running my fingers through my hair.
“No, not there, the back… Should I get it for you?”
Chanyi looked at me with gentle eyes.
Trying to stay composed, I told him to go ahead.
His long, white fingers carefully touched my hair.
“Got it.”
He smiled softly, and I sighed quietly.
Awkwardness set in.
Chanyi looked like he’d grown up in a temple, only eating grass.
His face suggested he wouldn’t watch adult videos.
He seemed like someone who’d believe a stork brought babies.
How could he kiss like that?
The scene began to replay in my mind again. I shook my head vigorously.
After a while, the bus stopped near the movie theater.
Entering, we were greeted by the sweet smell of popcorn.
It had been ages since I last went to the movies.
I hadn’t gone once since that incident—five years ago.
Modern theaters were different from what I remembered, more sleek and flashy.
Back then, people drew number tickets and waited to buy tickets at the counter.
Now, the counters were quiet.
Most people had booked tickets online and were printing them from machines.
“Want some popcorn?”
Lost in my surroundings, I was brought back by Chanyi’s voice.
“Oh, yeah.”
“Let’s get drinks too.”
I nodded and stood beside him.
We paid and took our snacks to the theater.
Chanyi carried the drinks while I held the popcorn.
The rich butter and sweet sugar smell from the caramel popcorn filled the air, lifting my spirits.
It was a pleasant scent I didn’t often encounter.
Our reserved seats were in the center.
We were watching a Korean disaster blockbuster.
As we sat down, the commercials started.
I tilted the popcorn towards Chanyi and grabbed a piece, rolling it in my mouth.
The sweetness spread slowly on my tongue.
I glanced at Chanyi, who was also looking at me.
“Is it good?”
“…Yeah. You should have some too.”
A slightly dim view, with Kim Chanyi’s round eyes in the middle of it.
Kim Chanyi appeared exceptionally pale.
I stiffened my shoulders and looked back at the screen, trying to keep my head fixed in that direction until the movie ended.
I didn’t even rest my arm on the armrest, worried I might bump into Kim Chanyi.
The movie was moderately entertaining.
It wasn’t engaging enough to be completely immersive, and there were some dull moments.
During those times, my attention would briefly drift away from the screen and toward Kim Chanyi.
A loud crash, the sound of a tall building collapsing, echoed through the theater.
Even amidst the noise, I could hear Kim Chanyi’s faint breathing.
I felt embarrassed by my own reaction.
As the movie ended and the end credits rolled, the theater gradually brightened.
The popcorn bucket was already empty.
Kim Chanyi looked at me and smiled brightly.
“Shall we go?”
“Yeah.”
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