After the movie, the two headed to a nearby café, which, like before, was strangely empty of other customers. Seong-hyeon marveled at Ha-jin’s ability to find such quiet places, enjoying the peace as he sipped his vanilla latte.
Satisfied, Seong-hyeon opened his mouth to speak.
“Thank you, Ha-jin.”
“Hmm? For what? For plugging your hole with my fingers earlier?”
Ha-jin looked puzzled by Seong-hyeon’s sudden gratitude.
“Oh, that too, but I meant thank you for lending me the handkerchief and the plug.”
After the movie, Ha-jin had helped Seong-hyeon navigate out of the theater without incident. He folded his handkerchief multiple times and placed it against Seong-hyeon’s hole to prevent any leakage. Thanks to this, Seong-hyeon avoided any embarrassing mishaps. Back in the car, Ha-jin inserted the plug securely into Seong-hyeon’s hole, leaving him with a familiar, satisfying sensation.
“It was nothing.”
Ha-jin smiled softly, lifting his coffee cup. Those fingers, which had been inside Seong-hyeon throughout the movie, were now clean, but the memory of their touch made Seong-hyeon’s hole twitch involuntarily. He felt both satisfied and empty, craving more of Ha-jin’s essence. Should he ask for another round before dinner? Or maybe hint at taking their relationship to the next level?
“How was the movie, Seong-hyeon?”
Lost in thought, Seong-hyeon snapped back to reality at Ha-jin’s question. Although he had occasionally shifted in his seat, he remembered the entire plot.
The film was a nostalgic love story.
“It was pretty good. I don’t usually watch romances, but this one wasn’t bad.”
Seong-hyeon typically preferred action movies with explosions and spectacle. However, this romantic film had been surprisingly enjoyable, even if the male lead wasn’t as handsome as the man sitting next to him.
“The actors playing high school students were quite charming, weren’t they? They really seemed like teenagers.”
Ha-jin seemed to have enjoyed the movie, his usually cool eyes softening with amusement. Seong-hyeon gazed at him, captivated. Ha-jin’s face was far more appealing than any actor on the screen. Noticing Seong-hyeon’s stare, Ha-jin smiled even more warmly, as if recalling a fond memory.
“You were quite cute in high school too, Seong-hyeon.”
“Me? Not really.”
Seong-hyeon chuckled, shaking his head. He hadn’t noticed the intimacy in Ha-jin’s tone or how comfortable he felt with it.
“You still look like a high schooler, Seong-hyeon. You could pass for one in a uniform.”
“Come on, I’m not that young. Really.”
“Hmm? You haven’t changed much since high school.”
While it was true that Seong-hyeon hadn’t changed much, he wasn’t sure he appreciated being told he could pass for a student. He pouted slightly, trying to change the subject.
“Which scene did you like best in the movie, Ha-jin?”
Seong-hyeon’s question was a common one after watching a movie together, and the answers were usually predictable, especially for a romance film. Typically, people would mention the heart-fluttering moments.
“The part where the friend of the protagonist hits him.”
“What?”
Seong-hyeon widened his eyes, thinking he must have misheard. Ha-jin patiently repeated his answer.
“The part where the friend of the protagonist hits him.”
“Why that scene of all things…?”
Seong-hyeon was puzzled. There were so many sweet and memorable moments in the film—the confession under the setting sun, the first kiss in the rain, the shared warmth of a steamed bun. Yet, Ha-jin chose the scene where the protagonist was struck.
“The expression on the friend’s face before he hit the protagonist.”
The friend’s expression?
“His eyes were trembling, and he was breathing heavily.”
Seong-hyeon vaguely recalled the scene.
“His lips quivered, his face contorted, and then he shook his head and raised his fist. In all of that, I could feel…”
Ha-jin paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as if lost in thought.
“…love.”
“He realized that the protagonist wasn’t special to him alone, that he wasn’t the only one the protagonist cared for. In that moment, he understood that he wanted to be special to him.”
“……”
“That’s why I liked that scene. Love isn’t just about the beautiful, shining moments.”
Love isn’t just about the beautiful, shining moments.
Ha-jin’s words resonated deeply within Seong-hyeon, striking a chord in his heart.
“You really immersed yourself in the movie, Ha-jin.”
Seong-hyeon struggled to relate to Ha-jin’s perspective. He had never experienced such poignant love and found it difficult to empathize fully. Yet, he couldn’t dismiss Ha-jin’s feelings either.
“Yes, it reminded me of my first love.”
First love. The mention of it made Seong-hyeon frown slightly. It was natural for both of them to have had first loves in their youth. Still, a wave of irritation washed over him.
“Why did you want to be special to them? Why sit here with me now?”
Seong-hyeon’s frustration bubbled beneath the surface, unnoticed by Ha-jin, who seemed lost in memories.
“I wanted to be special to him.”
Ha-jin’s gaze softened as he recalled his first love, his expression tender and wistful. This irritated Seong-hyeon even more. He couldn’t help but feel jealous of this unknown person who had captured Ha-jin’s heart so deeply.
“Was your first love like the protagonist in the movie? Is that why you wanted to be special to them?”
Seong-hyeon wondered what kind of person Ha-jin’s first love was. Someone charming and naive, like a movie hero?
“He was a bit slow and cute, like that.”
So, Ha-jin had fallen for someone like a movie protagonist. Seong-hyeon’s irritation grew, his lips pursing in annoyance. If Ha-jin still thought so fondly of this person, why was he here with Seong-hyeon, sharing such intimate moments?
“Oh, he didn’t like me back. Actually, he hated me.”
Hated Ha-jin? Seong-hyeon was taken aback. He couldn’t imagine anyone disliking Ha-jin, with his striking features and kind demeanor. He studied Ha-jin’s face, trying to understand how anyone could resist him.
“Why did you like him if he didn’t like you back?”
Ha-jin paused, a bitter smile playing on his lips as he looked at Seong-hyeon.
“He called me by my name.”
Seong-hyeon waited for more, but Ha-jin fell silent. He couldn’t believe that such a simple act could mean so much.
“That’s it? You fell for him just because he called your name?”
“Yes. That one moment was a lifeline for me.”
Seong-hyeon’s frustration boiled over. Ha-jin’s expression reminded him of a loyal dog pining for an owner who had abandoned him. It infuriated Seong-hyeon to see Ha-jin so caught up in memories of someone who didn’t appreciate him.
You’re sitting right here with me, Ha-jin. Why can’t you see that?
“He had no taste.”
Seong-hyeon’s jealousy surged. He wanted Ha-jin to look at him the way he looked at his first love. He wanted to be the one Ha-jin cherished and remembered fondly.
“If it were me… I would have adored you, Ha-jin!”
Seong-hyeon’s voice trembled with emotion, his confession hanging in the air between them. He wanted Ha-jin to understand the depth of his feelings, to see that he was right there, ready to love him completely.
Seong-hyeon quickly caught himself, realizing he had almost confessed his feelings. He cleared his throat awkwardly and changed the subject.
“If it were me, we would have hung out after school, spent vacations together, and I would have called your name often.”
Seong-hyeon could easily imagine how he would have reacted to meeting Ha-jin for the first time. He would have been captivated by Ha-jin’s striking features, initially too shy to make eye contact, but eventually drawn to him.
He would have found excuses to be near Ha-jin, nudging his way into his life. They would have skipped school together, gone to PC cafes and arcades, and even watched late-night movies. During vacations, they would have traveled to nearby beaches, creating cherished memories together.
As Seong-hyeon painted this vivid picture, he noticed Ha-jin’s unusual silence. Normally, Ha-jin would have responded with a warm smile or a playful remark, but this time, he simply stared at Seong-hyeon with an inscrutable expression.
“Ha-jin? Did I say something wrong?”
“……No, it’s nothing.”
Ha-jin’s lips curved into a semblance of a smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. He seemed to be grappling with complex emotions, his gaze a mix of joy and sorrow.
“If that had been the case…”
Ha-jin’s voice was tinged with a profound loneliness.
“If you had liked me, Seong-hyeon, it would have been… truly wonderful.”
The weight of his words hung heavy in the air, leaving Seong-hyeon with a sense of longing and regret.
