In Habin’s opinion, finding writings penned down by such a person unable to contain their excitement would be faster than watching the movie multiple times.
Of course, he’d have to watch the movie at least once to understand the writing to some extent. But he probably wouldn’t need to watch it twice. Usually, such writings were detailed and even had reference photos attached.
“That’s a decent method, isn’t it?”
“Right?”
Now that a rough solution had been proposed, all that was left was to diligently and deliciously devour the seafood stew.
Though there was still over an hour left until the movie time, this kind of food took quite a long time to finish eating.
“This place is so delicious. Especially the bean sprouts, the seasoning soaked in well.”
“You’re going to have fried rice, right?”
“Yeah. Of course.”
Dojin frequently peeled and put mussels, clams, shrimp, and such into Habin’s mouth as he happily and diligently devoured the seafood stew. Thanks to that, the amount he actually ate was significantly less, but he didn’t mind since it wasn’t a taste he liked that much.
Baek Han showed no reaction to the affectionate antics unfolding before his eyes. Since he’d been watching them, as it were, act crazy even before they started dating, it had no impact on him anymore.
“I want to drink soju.”
“You can’t go to the theater drunk.”
“Do we have to go to the theater? Isn’t there VOD?”
“Didn’t you already book tickets?”
Though Habin was momentarily tempted by Baek Han’s casual words, he remembered the fact that they had to go to the theater. Dojin let out an empty laugh at Baek Han’s attitude, as if he might order soju right away. Perhaps because of the thought that there was an alternative, Baek Han’s interest in the movie plummeted.
“We can just cancel that.”
“Still. If you drink alcohol, you might really fall asleep.”
“If I watch while having a can of beer, it’ll be less boring.”
“Why don’t you just say let’s play it as background music?”
Dojin, who didn’t hide his absurdity, shook his head while looking at Baek Han. Habin burst out laughing at the extremely Baek Han-like attitude.
Right, even if it’s for someone he likes, it would still be hard to seriously appreciate it. Though it was better than a drama, it wasn’t easy to concentrate on something he wasn’t interested in for about 90 minutes.
“How about we just have a glass of beer instead of soju, for conscience’s sake?”
Spicy food and a friend he was meeting after a long time. It was enough reason to look for alcohol. At Habin’s subtly dropped words after confirming on his phone that there was VOD, Dojin pressed his forehead and Baek Han brightened up.
“Let’s just order one bottle and have one glass each. Then drink one more glass each while watching VOD.”
At Baek Han’s action of lightly clapping saying it was perfect, Habin nodded in affirmation. Unlike Dojin who had no interest in alcohol, Baek Han and Habin, who had just become adults and were still overflowing with interest in alcohol, really got along well at times like this.
“But wait, you guys brought your car, right?”
“Right. I forgot.”
Attention gathered on Dojin, the only one among the three who could drive. Dojin, who had no interest in alcohol anyway, let out a light sigh and gestured.
“I won’t drink, so just you two drink.”
“Auntie! One bottle of beer here!”
As soon as Dojin finished speaking, Baek Han raised his hand high to call the auntie.
“What, aren’t you students?”
“We are students, but college students. Here’s our ID.”
Since they’d just become adults, their youthful appearance hadn’t fully faded. Since it was something they experienced every time they drank, the three skillfully took out their IDs and showed them. The auntie, who had a suspicious look, only relaxed her expression after checking the IDs and brought the beer.
“If you’re going to watch a movie, you’re not going home but going there, right? That house.”
“The facilities suitable for watching movies are there. Or should we go home?”
“Mm, since we’re watching anyway, I want to watch it properly. Let’s go there.”
Baek Han, who opened the bottle cap with a spoon without even pretending to look for a bottle opener, filled Habin’s glass first.
“Hey, there was a bed there too, right?”
“Yeah. There is.”
“I’ll stay over for one day.”
“What? What about class tomorrow? It’s quite far from your school.”
“Hey, what’s the point of having the freshman title if you don’t use it? You should cancel class yourself at times like this.”
Baek Han, who had emptied half his glass while conversing, smiled widely.
* * *
Baek Han settled on the sofa familiarly as if it were his own home. Habin took out beer from the beverage refrigerator and held it full in his arms. Dojin, who was paying for the movie, momentarily showed a fed-up look at the number of beers Habin brought.
“Six cans?”
“Two cans per person. Isn’t that reasonable?”
“One can is enough for me.”
“Then I’ll drink three cans. Hurry and sit down.”
Baek Han divided up the popcorn and squid and placed them on the table next to the recliner sofa, then took three cans from Habin’s arms.
“I think this is the first time watching a romance here.”
“There’s never been one?”
“At least the three of us have never watched one. Even if Dojin and I watched one just the two of us.”
Habin, who handed a can to Dojin, naturally sat on the sofa in the center. Because there was no way Baek Han and Dojin would sit side by side amicably. Even if the distance between the sofas was sufficient.
“Ha—, to think I’d be watching a romance.”
“Romance is actually fun, you know. Try watching it this time.”
Click, with the characteristic sound, carbonation escaped from the opened can. Baek Han nodded roughly and drank beer. Even if it wasn’t fun, he planned to appreciate it as hard as possible. Only then could he have a proper conversation.
“I’m starting the movie.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
At Dojin’s words after finishing preparations, Habin quickly turned his head to the screen. After confirming by scanning with his eyes that preparations to appreciate the movie were complete, Dojin adjusted the lighting with the remote control and then played the video.
After information like the distributor appeared, the sound gradually grew louder, signaling the start of the movie.
Those who were watching the movie while occasionally drinking beer with snacks started throwing out comments one by one at some point.
For instance, at the scene where the couple in the movie kissed on the boulevard,
“Oh my, outside—”
“You guys do that too.”
Like that.
Baek Han let out an empty laugh at Habin, who was admiring what great courage that was. In his view, the behavior of that couple in the movie and the behavior of Lee Habin and Kwon Dojin were about the same.
The movie used its short 90 minutes quite fully—it showed the happy romance at its peak, and now it was showing the appearance of lovers in a period of ennui.
“Wow shit, did you see that trash.”
“Oh no, what should they do…”
Habin, whose eyes went round, covered his mouth. Gone was Baek Han who said he’d have to watch the boring romance while drinking alcohol—the beer had already been pushed to the back.
As much carbonation as the time it was neglected had escaped, but no one cared. Dojin was the only one among the three who had no interest in the movie, but even he was busy watching Habin rather than drinking alcohol.
“No, no! They’re doing that when they haven’t even broken up yet? They even get back together?”
“It’s really a mess. What is this?”
Since it was the three of them watching, unlike at the theater, they poured out words casually. Emotions like shock, astonishment, and denial overflowed, so Dojin turned his gaze to the movie.
The screen was split in half, showing the male lead’s and female lead’s perspectives respectively, and in either perspective, they were with new people.
As if having a pleasant conversation, the eyes and actions of these people whose laughter didn’t cease were similar to how one would treat a lover.
After confirming that, Dojin somehow felt his mood worsen considerably and frowned. In fact, he hadn’t felt very good since the two actors performed the situation of ennui coming.
Even in his own mind, there was no reason to feel bad. Movies were movies. Especially since he wasn’t the type to emotionally invest in fabricated videos.
But there were too many similarities with his current romance. For instance, starting to date since high school, or the time spent together decreasing as they entered university. Even the long dating period was similar.
It wasn’t that ennui had come, nor had feelings cooled, but the assumption that “it could become like that” made him uncomfortable.
“What’s wrong?”
When Dojin was looking at the screen with a somewhat sullen face, Habin leaned toward him and whispered. Dojin, who reflexively turned his head at Habin’s voice, habitually smiled the moment he faced the worried look.
“It’s nothing.”
“Really? You’re not sick somewhere, are you?”
Since the environment was built to be as similar to a theater as possible, the sound was also quite loud. Baek Han glanced at the two suddenly whispering, then focused on the movie. Not only could he not hear their conversation, but it wasn’t the first or second time this had happened, so he was used to it.
“I’m really not sick.”
Habin, who had been suspiciously scanning Dojin who repeatedly said he was fine, eventually nodded. Though it was dark so he couldn’t see well, there were no signs of illness.
Even when he hid the fact that he was sick, Habin would amazingly notice, but this time there were no signs at all. So he had no choice but to believe his words.
At Dojin’s urging, Habin turned his gaze back to the screen and brought the neglected beer to his lips, hiding his subtle expression.
Oh dear