Chapter 8: Huh?

As soon as I got home, I placed the paper bag on my desk and immediately threw myself onto the bed, burying my face in the pillow.

“Ahhhhhhhhhh! Why did I even do that? What on earth was I thinking? Surely, he must think I’m weird... What the heck... He doesn’t think it’s weird, right? He doesn’t think... it’s a date, does he?!”

Of course, I could go to see a movie with Han-gyeol, but the timing felt awkward. Han-gyeol carried that heavy bag all the way to my home, and... above all... why am I so concerned about it?

I rolled my feet in frustration, trying to think, but my thoughts just tangled into knots.

“Maybe I’m just overthinking? It’s possible, right? Wait, wasn’t it Han-gyeol who asked if I’d seen the movie? ‘Out of courtesy...’ Yes! That’s it! He probably thought I asked out of courtesy. I should ask my brother about this..”

I got up from my bed and headed straight to my brother’s room.

“Bro!”

“Argh! Geez! Knock first!”

“Can it! Just stop watching p*rn. Anyway, how would a guy feel if a girl invited him to see a movie?”

“He’d feel like he owns the world! Whoa! Why? Is there a friend of yours who wants to watch a movie with me?”

“What nonsense are you talking about?! It could simply be a casual invitation to watch a movie. Why would he feel like he owns the world?!”

“Come on, isn’t it obvious? She’s basically asking him out on a date!”

As soon as my brother finished speaking, I stormed back into my room.

“Ughhh! I wish you would just drop dead!”

“What kind of bullshit is this all of a sudden! You damn bitch!”

With a loud bang, I shut the door and threw myself onto my bed again. I tightly hugged the pillow on my bed and rolled around.

A movie date with a guy I’ve known for barely a week?

Ugh… I have no idea how I’m going to face Han-gyeol tomorrow.

But the problem wasn’t that.

First of all, I don’t like Han-gyeol that way... and I doubt Han-gyeol likes me... We aren’t exactly close friends yet, so I still feel I should be a bit cautious.

“What should I wear?”

If I dress too casually, he might think I always dress like that, and that’s concerning.

But then, what if I dress up? Considering it’s in response to a movie date invitation, wouldn’t that be weird too?

Should I just say I’m not feeling well? Ughhh! That’d be even strange!

“Haaa... Why did I even do that?”

It felt like question marks were popping up over my head.

Why did I suddenly suggest going to the movie? Was the atmosphere even right for that?

“Ugh, what atmosphere!”

As I repeatedly threw myself on and off the bed, a thought flashed across my mind.

Han-gyeol mentioned he has someone he likes. Is it okay for him to watch a movie with me despite that?

That’s the weirdest part. Typically, if you want to impress someone you like, you’d keep your distance from other girls, right?

Yet, since the beginning of the semester, he had been hanging out only with me, studying with me at night, and even proposing dinner together. He didn’t hesitate to accept the movie invite either.

“Hmm... Anyone could easily misunderstand this, couldn’t they?”

I rubbed my chin, pondering for a moment.

In such situations, wouldn’t most girls wonder, ’Does he like me?’? Judging from our pizza conversation, he seems to get along well with other girls too. There was a certain smooth flow to his interactions that was intriguing.

“Sigh... I don’t get it. I can’t read him at all!”

I leaned back.

I had thought the soft bed would catch me, but I ended up smacking my head into the wall with a loud thud.

“Owwww... It hurts!”

The idea that Han-gyeol might like me was purely speculative.

If he did like me, he would have suggested the movie first, right? We’re close, but it’s within the boundaries of friendship. I’ve never really felt butterflies... or have I?

The image of Han-gyeol behind me, pulling out a book. The back of his hand, swiftly blocking a basketball flying towards me.

And the gesture today, when he casually carried my things for me...

“Ughhh! No! It’s only been a week, there’s no way!”

I vigorously waved my hands in the air, dispelling the intrusive thoughts.

Upon reflection, it seemed I was the only one overthinking things.

From the beginning to the end, Han-gyeol was simply being kind.

It was not right to find motives in someone’s act of kindness.

“So... what should I wear tomorrow?”

****

After tossing and turning, I eventually fell asleep last night.

Perhaps due to the lack of proper sleep, I found myself dozing off even during the tutoring session.

“Eun-ha, didn’t you sleep well last night?”

“Huh? No?! Yes?! No, I’m fine!”

Hyun-joo unnie* stared at me with a peculiar look in her eyes.

With a hint of curiosity, she carefully closed the reference book in front of her.

“Eun-ha, who was that kid I met yesterday?”

“What?! All of a sudden? He is just a classmate. A friend!”

“Aha~ A friend? Since when?”

“Since third grade, we’ve been desk mates! That’s all!”

“Oh, just desk mates? Just attending classes together?”

“Well, as desk mates, we did become close and did various things together... Why?”

The corners of Hyun-joo unnie’s lips slightly curled up.

“Do you, by any chance, like that friend?”

“What?! No, not at all? Han-gyeol is just a friend! It’s only been a week since we met!”

“Oh... Just a week and already calling each other friends?”

Ugh! I feel like I’ve fallen into my sister’s trap.

“Eun-ha, what are you doing after tutoring today?”

“Huh? Oh, there’s a movie I’ve been wanting to see, so I was planning to go.”

“Oh my? Going alone again? Want me to come with?”

“Uh... I have someone I’m planning to watch it with, so it’s a bit-”

“-That someone isn’t the one I met yesterday, right? Who would go watch a movie with a friend they’ve only known for a week? my Eun-ha wouldn’t think of that, right?”

Facing my sister’s confident gaze, I immediately backed down.

“Ah-! It’s really not like that...”

“But you are going to see a movie?”

“Yes...”

When I hesitated with my words, my sister immediately grabbed her stomach and burst into laughter.

“Ahahaha! my Eun-ha is just too adorable!”

“D-Don’t laugh! I’m telling you, I don’t have feelings for him!”

“Mhm~ I believe you, Eun-ha~”

“Ah- Sis!”

“Ahahaha! I’m sorry! You’re just so cute that I can’t help it!”

“Stop laughing! I really don’t like Han-gyeol that way!”

Seriously… My sister’s teasing was so annoying.

In the end, our tutoring session that day came to an abrupt end, and we decided to meet up on a weekday.

After a quick lunch, I changed into the outfit I had picked out the day before.

It was a typical attire, neither too dressed up nor too casual.

I wore light blue jeans, and a white sweatshirt, and donned a subtle sky-blue padded jacket.

Now, as I was about to slip on my Converse sneakers and head out, I ran into my brother.

With his tummy jutting out, my unsightly kin stared piercingly at me.

“What are you looking at?”

“You… where are you going?”

“I’m off to see a movie.”

“Why are you all dressed up to see a movie?”

With widened eyes, I promptly took off my shoes and grabbed hold of my brother’s head.

“What?! What do you mean, ‘dressed up’? I always dress like this! What are you talking about all of a sudden?”

“Huh? You’re always dressed like this? Aren’t you the one who always wears workout clothes and a black long padded jacket?”

“That’s the image I give off?! No! I always dress like this!”

“That... what was his name... Seo-ha, right? Are you meeting him?”

“Why are you bringing up Seo-ha-!”

When I shouted in frustration, my brother covered his ears and said,

“That’s... because you dress like that only when you’re meeting him?”

“Ughhhhh! I’m going to kill you! You jerk!”

“What... what did you just call me?!”

I immediately ran to my room and changed into my black long padded jacket. I put on my usual sneakers and hurriedly headed to the movie theater.

“Ugh... because of that damn brother of mine...”

I arrived about 10 minutes earlier than our agreed-upon time and looked for a place to sit. While searching for a seat, I spotted a guy who had a similar silhouette to Han-gyeol.

“Huh?”

He was wearing a grey short-padded jacket, a navy sweatshirt, and wide pants. I wasn’t sure if it was Han-gyeol, so I observed him from a distance. However, since he was looking down at his phone, I couldn’t see his face clearly.

Then, he started stretching his neck from side to side. As soon as he lifted his head, I recognized his face and cautiously approached him.

Without startling Han-gyeol, I slowly walked up and stood in front of him.

“Huh? You’re early.”

When I approached, Han-gyeol looked up, recognized me, and flashed a bright smile. Then, abruptly standing up, he still beaming, asked,

“Shall we go buy popcorn first?”

Seeing Han-gyeol act so nonchalantly, my mind started to wander.

Why does he always greet me with such a warm smile?

It’s making me involuntarily smile back.

He’s such an odd one.

“Do you always smile like that at everyone?”

“...”

“...”

“...”

Wait, did I just blurt that out loud?

--- End OF The Chapter ---

[TL: "Unnie" (언니) is a term used by females to refer to an older female friend or sister in Korean.

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