SMNTCERR, Chapter 54 <1000> #1.

– [Ru Jihye, French protagonist: Senior, I have urgent matters tomorrow, so I have to cancel our appointment in advance. Sorry about that._22:37.]

[Okay_23:49.]

After replying to the message, Sangwoo put down his mobile phone. Canceling the Friday evening appointment allowed him to arrive at the office on time. And another thing…

“I have to deal with this guy.”

He glanced at the two movie tickets on the table, worth 10,000 won (8 USD) each, which Jaeyoung had slipped through the door crack and given to him two months ago, about to expire this Sunday. Initially, he was going to give them to Jihye.

Even though Sangwoo lost his game console because he got drunk, it didn’t seem right to just repay a debt of 130,000 won (97 USD) with only one cup of tea, so he thought about giving the movie tickets to Jihye. But since the appointment was canceled, he missed the chance.

‘If that’s the case, I guess I’ll have to sell them.’

However, upon closer consideration, the only two people who would buy tickets on a Friday like this were Choi Yoona and Jang Jaeyoung. But instead of taking the ticket he got from Jaeyoung “while arguing with him”, he returned it to the owner and sold it to Yoona, which seemed like a better option.

At that moment, Jaeyoung’s words popped up in his mind, using the word ‘movie’ as a keyword to search for a database in Sangwoo’s head.

‘Do you like movies?’

‘Huh? Don’t you want to invite me to watch it together? Just buy a ticket for yourself.’

‘Let’s go watch a movie.’

‘Hey, kid. Are you so scared that you have to skip school just because I invited you to watch a movie?’

‘Are you from the Stone Age? I often go to the movies with male friends.’

Those words became memories on the day Jaeyoung carried a notebook without even a pen to an internet cafe, the day he had feelings for the other party for the first time, and the day that party stood cursing in front of the door before leaving.

“I guess he likes watching movies.”

Let’s think about it… Jaeyoung often talks about movies or sings songs from movie soundtracks. At that time, he figured out a way to deal with the movie tickets without having to resell them, after being infatuated for a while.

Sangwoo decided to use plan two.

When it was exactly midnight, Sangwoo checked his email and opened the file that-Jaeyoung sent. He wrote a feedback of two or three points about the disliked parts and sent an email back before shutting down the computer, turning off the lights, slipping under the blanket, and falling asleep.  return 0;

“Where did that person sitting there go?”

They greeted each other through eye contact. Then Jaeyoung turned his chair in a circle when he heard that question, wearing a T-shirt with overlapping hexagonal patterns that looked interesting. As his gaze moved up, he met a face that seemed indifferent to something.

“You didn’t think of greeting me first.”

“Looks like you are busy.”

If you see someone else busy, it’s not appropriate to ask meaningless questions, right?”

“Sorry. Please continue working, senior.”

Sangwoo was slightly surprised by the sudden interruption, but the reason the other party spoke was reasonable, so he reluctantly retreated. After organizing the notebook and mouse, Jaeyoung finally asked.

“Why are you looking for Choi Yoona?”

“I have something to talk about, but if she’s not here, it’s okay.”

“And what is the matter?”

“I have something to sell.”

“Sell it to me then.”

Sangwoo frowned and glanced at the other party. At times like this, Jaeyoung would bite and not let go until he got the desired answer. Sangwoo decided to be straightforward. It would probably be better than wasting time arguing in circles.

“The movie tickets that you left under the door slot earlier. They will expire this week.”

Jaeyoung’s smile twisted, as he didn’t want to tell the other party in this way.

It would only make both of them feel uneasy. So, Sangwoo spoke before Jaeyoung could interrupt and say anything that couldn’t be controlled by emotions.

“Don’t you want to buy them?”

“Do you think what you said sounds convincing?”

“Well… how about we go to watch a movie together?”

Jaeyoung furrowed his brow, looking as if he didn’t understand what

Sangwoo was saying. Sangwoo continued, “If you don’t want to go, it’s okay.”

Then he turned his body back to find his notebook. Soon after, he heard the loud sound of the chair wheels, “Crrrkk.” as Jaeyoung pushed himself away from the table.

“Just the two of us?”

Sangwoo nodded, feeling the gaze that stared at his side profile, causing a warm sensation on his cheeks. Jaeyoung kept staring like that for a while before speaking up.

“Is it not weird for two men to go watch a movie together?”

Sangwoo glanced at the computer screen. At that moment, he truly thought so. He hadn’t changed his mind now, but there was no excuse to say such things anymore.

“We’ve done more than that.”

“What will happen after we do it once? Will it continue?”

“What are you comparing it to… I already said that. If you don’t want to go, then don’t go. I’ll just sell it in the “Secondhand Kingdom.”

Jaeyoung remained silent while Sangwoo logged into the secondhand trading website and was typing a post. The other party spoke up again.

“I’ve reserved the tickets for the RYUNDONG concert. Tomorrow, let’s pick them up at the internet cafe at 4 PM.”

Sangwoo paused his hand that was entering the price. The other party only mentioned the time and place, but his heart started pounding as if he heard something profound.

‘It’s not something special.’

He just handed the movie ticket to Jang Jaeyoung according to plan two because Choi Yoona was not in the office, that’s all. Previously, the other party drew a picture on his arm, fed him a dumpling with one word, and all of that should be worth ten thousand won for the ticket.

The second-hand trading window was closed, appearing as the main page of the multiplex cinema website in the new interface.. Sangwoo kept clicking the mouse here, it was the first time he had done something like this since he had a girlfriend back in November four years ago.

“Choose, please. 1 <Superman Returns> 2, <The Spy Sister> 3, <Pew Pew and Kew Kew> 4, <Blazing Heat>.” “4 <Blazing Heat>.”

“Do you know why I chose this?”

Sangwoo looked at the still red movie poster before turning to Jaeyoung with satisfaction. The other person went back to his place without knowing when and shrugged without looking or pointing.

“I don’t know either, but it seems to be erotic film with an interesting title.”

“Let’s go with <Superman Returns> It’s ranked number one, after all.”

“Very well, whatever you say. I will go and find out.”

Select the time, select the number of seats, select the seat location, pay.

Sangwoo handled everything quickly before reporting to the other person.

Superman Returns.” Jeongryudong Cinema, 4:35 showtime, Theater 5, seats

L13, L14, reservation completed.”

“Thank you for letting me know, Siri.”

“…”

Therefore, besides kissing, Sangwoo also went to watch a movie with the man. return 0;.

After quitting his part-time job on Saturday, Sangwoo informed the store owner that wanted to work until only May to develop games and prepare for final exams. The other party felt very sorry and reluctantly suggested that he should continue working until ten minutes later than usual, which would make him leave work earlier next time. Sangwoo then stepped up the stairs and left the store.

As soon as he came out, encountered Jaeyoung’s car parked on the road, a hatchback designed to emphasize straight lines, a white box-like appearance that looked like a refrigerator, with a red roof and windows. The owner of the car was standing leaning against the car, talking on the phone.

Jaeyoung was wearing a white shirt and light gray pants that Sangwoo had just seen for the first time. He wasn’t wearing glasses or earrings, and his shirt sleeves were folded up, revealing a watch and a leather bracelet on his wrist. His hairstyle seemed to have a slight difference from the usual style, although it couldn’t be said exactly how it had changed. Sangwoo stopped for a moment before starting to walk again.

‘How do I look?’

It was the first time since he was born that he worried about his appearance. Sangwoo lowered his head and looked at his black sneakers, old jeans pulled up to his navy blue polka dot shirt, and his slow footsteps before picking up the pace again.

‘Just meeting Jang Jaeyoung, why do you care about these things?’

Sangwoo walked to the front of the car without much emotion. Jaeyoung raised his head and smiled at Sangwoo.

“What?”

“Sorry for being late.”

“It’s the first date, I’m excited.”

“Stop saying strange things. Let’s go together then.”

Jaeyoung ignored Sangwoo’s words, opened the driver’s door, and gestured for him to get in the car. Sangwoo hesitated for a moment, counting from ‘that day,’ this was the first time he sat in the other party’s car.

“Glasses?”

“I didn’t wear them.”

“Then let me drive.”

“No need.”

“I have a Class 1 driver’s license, see here.”

“I’ll drive myself.”

The other party walked quickly to the driver’s side and opened the door. Sangwoo looked at the other party and then checked the time on his digital wristwatch, which showed 22:12. The movie started at minute 35, it would take about ten minutes to get to the RYUNDONG theater, and he was still hesitant about being late. Sangwoo got up and sat next to the driver, closing the door without any other choice.

Once the seat belt was fastened… Jaeyoung reached out and grabbed Sangwoo’s neck pillow, then turned to look at the backseat while turning the steering wheel. The other party only reversed the car, but Sangwoo’s gaze inadvertently caught a glimpse of Jaeyoung’s exposed collar bone that escaped from the first two unbuttoned buttons, with a long scar running from the clavicle to the neck. Sangwoo involuntarily touched the side of the other party’s face with a bewildered expression. Then he caught another glimpse of Jaeyoung when he turned to change gears.

“Just a small scar like this, I didn’t know.”

Jaeyoung turned back and looked ahead again, pondering the words he heard but couldn’t understand. Sangwoo still felt a flutter in his heart. “I’m worried that I won’t drive well because I’m not wearing my glasses.”

Jaeyoung spoke as if he could read minds. Sangwoo looked surprised.

“How much is your eye prescription?”

“Short 0.7, slightly tilted.”

“With this, you can easily read the signs.”

“Did you get insurance?”

“Even if an accident happens, I won’t make you pay for repairs.”

“Why aren’t you wearing glasses?”

Jaeyoung remained silent and didn’t answer while waiting, until the traffic light turned red, then he turned to look at the conversation between them.

“We must learn to endure small difficulties in order to achieve something greater.”

“How are they related?”

Jaeyoung simply replied that he didn’t need to know before turning to drive.

Although still uneasy, Sangwoo didn’t disturb the other party anymore.

Instead of parking in the mall parking lot, Jaeyoung chose to park in a paid parking lot outside. Sangwoo questioned the other party’s actions, but the person refused to answer directly. With eleven minutes left before the movie started, both of them walked briskly towards the cinema. When they arrived, Jaeyoung was still preoccupied with buying popcorn, making Sangwoo annoyed.

Although he didn’t expect watching a movie with this man to go smoothly, he didn’t expect it to be this chaotic. Sangwoo could now guess how Jang Jaeyoung usually lived, why he couldn’t meet deadlines for his work, and why he was always late for meetings.

“Superman Returns, please.”

The staff member spoke after Sangwoo showed the digital movie ticket that was still open on his phone. Even though the screening had already started. 3 minutes, but Mr.eyoung was still strolling around.

“The movie has started. Let’s hurry.”

“There’s another advertisement for ten minutes.”

“But it says it starts in thirty-five minutes. Look, it’s already thirty-eight.”

Jaeyoung handed a can of popcorn to Sangwoo and then picked up one popcorn kernel, stuffing it into his mouth. Despite being dissatisfied, Sangwoo chewed on what was in his mouth and swallowed it. Just as he was about to

 

 

speak, Jaeyoung covered his mouth with the same method as before, and it continued like that until they reached the movie theater.

________________________________________.

[1] A hatchback is a car that resembles a sedan or what is commonly known as a compact car, but with a shorter rear section, also known as a truncated rear. There are both 3-door and 5-door models, counting from the left-right doors and counting the rear hatch as an additional door, for example, Toyota Yaris, Honda Jazz.

 

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