Vol. 1 Chapter 18  

Lim Dae-han naturally grabbed a taxi from the front gate. We could go there by bus, but it seemed to be a habit. Nonetheless, the taxi was cooler than the bus packed with people my age. A brisk breeze blew lightly. I leaned back pleasantly as my body stretched. Outside, the scorching sun strove valiantly to hide its knowledge.

In the taxi, Lim Dae-han asked.

“What would you like to eat?”

“It’s hot, so let’s eat something cool.”

“What is it?”

“Oh… Cold noodles or buckwheat noodles, or something like that.”

“Let’s eat buckwheat noodles.”

“Okay.”

I held the wallet in my pocket. I thought I needed to get the cash out as soon as I got off. However, as soon as we arrived in the downtown area, Lim Dae-han held out his card. I put up with that for now because it’s ludicrous to suggest that I pay and you pay in the taxi. I can pay for the meal. After all, I had nowhere to spend money.

We arrived at the downtown area’s entrance. Because our school had a tendency to take exams late, we were the only students in the downtown area. The others are merely people who look like they’re in college.

Several students greeted Lim Dae-han on the way. There were both boys and girls present. ‘Hello, Dae-han oppa.’ ‘Hello, Brother.’ and ‘Hello, Dae-han.’ Lim Dae-han said not to say hello because it makes him feel embarrassed. I chuckled at the scene, and every time I laughed, Dae-han asked as to what I was laughing about, so I kept my lips sealed.

We arrived at a buckwheat noodle restaurant on the corner of the downtown area. They sold everything, including pork cutlet, rice with toppings, and sushi. Of course, Lim Dae-han ordered all of it. The table for four people to sit was full. Lim Dae-han naturally put a spoon and chopsticks in front of me. The food was brought out one at a time, and it didn’t take long.

I put a pork cutlet on his bowl today as well while admiring the healthy and well-eating Lim Dae-han. Lim Dae-han, who had been chewing thoroughly, suddenly opened his eyes.

“…”

“Eat a lot.”

I said it kindly. Lim Dae-han sucked in strands of buckwheat noodles hanging from his lips. I turned my attention from the sensation of being detached.

I couldn’t take it once I started paying attention. I trembled, unlike Lim Dae-han, who sits across from each other and eats well. I had no appetite. Clearly, the food in front of me was delicious, the air conditioner was blowing on a summer day, and the exam went well.

I have all these reasons… “Aren’t you eating?”

I thought it was because of Lim Dae-han.

“Why do you think so?”

I came to my senses after hearing Dae-han’s words. I was staring at him with my arms folded in front of where I was eating.

“Ah.”

Lim Dae-han frowned as I responded briefly. But even for a brief while, the gaze that seemed to flow at me had lost its intensity and was falling slowly.

“…”

“…What’s the matter?”

I asked Lim Dae-han with my head tilted. Lim Dae-han widened his eyes while watching the food. When our eyes met, he dropped it again. The unusual appearance bothered me. I clutched to the table’s edge and leaned in a little more.

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong?”

“…”

.

“Tell me. What’s wrong with you?”

Lim Dae-han was a one-celled and stubborn person, thus dealing with his pitiful eyes was difficult. I eventually got the answer by asking Lim Dae-han repeatedly.

“You didn’t want to come out and I think you forced yourself out.”

“Ah…”

“…”

“Silly.”

Lim Dae-han abruptly raised his head in response to the words I had hurled at him. I smiled with one corner of my mouth raised, but not with my eyes. If I really didn’t want to come out, I would have run away or somehow avoided my seat, but I’m sitting right in front of Lim Dae-han. He was a really stupid guy.

“Eat some rice, just eat.”

As expected, we are people who don’t get along. I used to only look at Dae-han’s face, but now I’ve been paying all my attention to his lips, and Lim Dae-han, who usually doesn’t care about my feelings, was only looking at me now. Anyway, it was interesting to learn about Dae-han’s new side.

We headed to the cinema after eating. Lim Dae-han asked to watch a movie as if he had been waiting for this moment. We got to the cinema and discovered that Lim Dae-han had made an advance reservation. In terms of time, I had completed the calculation on my own and had around 20 minutes left before we entered.

It was a popular action thriller at the time. I don’t really care about any movies. Because I had no interest in going to the cinema to watch a movie. Instead, I pretended to go to the bathroom and went to get popcorn while Lim Dae-han bought the ticket. I bought a large popcorn and two drinks despite being full because Dae-han ate so much. I couldn’t do anything because it was too heavy to hold in one hand, but then I got a phone call from Lim Dae-han. He asked me a question as soon as I received it.

– Where are you?

“Here, I’m at the cafeteria. Please come this way.”

– Wait.

Lim Dae-han arrived at my position within a minute after finishing the call. Lim Dae-han frowned as soon as he discovered the snack in my arms. He seemed to have something to say, but I tilted my head as I saw him holding it in. Instead, Lim Dae-han took a bucket of popcorn and a drink from my arms. I couldn’t hold it all in my arms, but Lim Dae-han made it possible.

We sat at a round table in the waiting room next to the cinema while we waited for the movie to start. There was still some time left before the movie started. ? Lim Dae-han leaned against the table, his knees crossed and leaned towards me. In the meantime, I drank the drink after opening the lid.

“Did you make plans for lunch?”

I asked Lim Dae-han, who still had a bad expression on his face.

“Yeah, yeah.”

Lim Dae-han brushed off the response. Then, while emptying the drink, he chewed on the ice. Crunch, crunch, crunch. The sound was also quite loud.

He drinks really well. He doesn’t seem to go to the bathroom very often.

I shifted my gaze to Lim Dae-han, who was seated across from me. Glossy lips appeared in front of my sight again. Transparent ice hovering between the tongue and neat teeth…

“Ah, what the hell is wrong with me?”

I was muttering to myself, but Dae-han picked up on it and asked.

“What?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. Would you like to refill it?”

Because I wanted to escape, I reached out to Dae-han’s side.

“It’s fine.”

Lim Dae-han stopped my hand. “I’m going to the bathroom,” he stated, taking the empty drink cup with him. I wondered what was wrong with him when I saw him throw it away in the garbage can.

He went to the restroom and didn’t return for quite some time. He didn’t arrive until 5 minutes before the movie began. Lim Dae-han appeared as I was debating whether or not to send a message. It looked like something had been sprayed on and around his mouth, but he couldn’t hide the cigarette smell.

“Did you smoke?”

When I asked, he put his hand in front of my nose.

“Can you smell it?”

“A little bit.”

“…”

“But, it’s okay.”

I froze on the spot once I finished speaking. I wonder if it’s because of the kiss that I’m so concerned about the smell of cigarettes? Come to think of it, it wasn’t that bad. However, I’ve never seen him smoke before. I think he might look a little cool.

I awkwardly grabbed the back of Dae-han’s arm. Lim Dae-han, who was trembling profusely, pulled away.

“It’s okay, really.”

“That’s nonsense.”

Lim Dae-han’s furrowed brow showed no sign of straightening.

***