“So when Winter was little…!”
“Oh my, really?”
Watching my parents and Mr. Evans chatting away in the living room after the meal had ended, I couldn’t help but shake my leg. It was already past 4 o’clock. I should say something about getting up to leave, but my parents were busy talking, and hyung was nowhere to be seen.
I carefully got up from my seat and went outside. The house was so big I didn’t know where anything was. Where was hyung? If I just tell hyung I should get going and then leave…
“July, looking for something?”
“…Ah, I was wondering where hyung was.”
“August is with Winter right now… They’re busy.”
When I turned around at the voice calling me, David was tilting his head. At my answer, David pointed upstairs and smiled awkwardly. I wasn’t young enough not to understand what that “awkwardness” meant. Really, hyung! No matter how much you like your girlfriend, you’re getting married soon, so can’t you just hold off until then!
“But why are you looking for August?”
“Actually, I… have an appointment at 5. It’s past 4 now, so I thought I should let you know in advance that I should get going…”
“An appointment? What kind of appointment?”
“…Uh, I’m supposed to see a movie. With a friend.”
David took a step closer to me and asked, and I took half a step back while lying. I absolutely could not say that I was planning to date Joel Gomez.
“I made that appointment first, but then the dinner got scheduled. It was made a long time ago so I couldn’t cancel it either.”
“A movie? Where are you seeing it?”
“Bluedale Fine Cinema.”
It was the theater where I’d seen a movie with Joel before. It was very old and small, and in an out-of-the-way place, so I didn’t think David would know it. But it seemed David already knew about it.
“That small place that only shows old movies?”
“You’ve been there?”
“When I was young… I went a few times.”
David’s lips twitched as he answered, drawing out his words for some reason. His head was tilted slightly down so I couldn’t see exactly what expression he was making.
“It’s a bit far. It takes some time even by car. But July, you don’t drive, do you?”
“Yeah, I don’t… I didn’t know I’d be here this long. I was going to go by bike once I got home.”
“Hmm, I’ll take you there.”
“No, it’s okay. I don’t want to bother you that much.”
David shrugged and I waved my hand. I really didn’t want to bother him, and I was afraid David might run into Joel.
“It’s fine, this much. The parents’ conversation is pretty predictable anyway, and Winter seems to want to be with August, so I’m bored alone anyway—I’ll think of it as a drive.”
With one hand in his pants pocket, David boldly flung open the living room door. My parents and Mr. Evans, who had been talking inside the living room, all looked at us, and David smiled brightly.
“Dad, and sir, ma’am. July and I have an appointment at 5. July and I will be leaving now. Sorry. It was scheduled a long time ago so we couldn’t move it.”
“No, no! We sat here too long, what’s there to be sorry about!”
“Not at all. Please stay here. Dad’s happy to have guests at home after such a long time. July and I will just quietly leave.”
David, who had sat Mom back down with gentle words as she hurriedly got up from her seat, lightly said goodbye and closed the door. Then, standing with his back against the double doors, he smiled at me.
“Well then, let’s go. I need to drop you off and then go help the guys with the band. They said there’s quite a bit to prepare so they asked me to come quickly.”
“Huh? Uh…”
I couldn’t refuse at this point, so I nodded. David went upstairs, saying he’d get his keys and to wait a moment. I hesitated for no reason, then headed toward the parking lot, and was able to find David’s car, which had become familiar to my eyes.
David returned quickly and we got in the car together. Compared to Joel’s old, worn-out car, the interior of David’s car was large and much more comfortable. Joel’s car made a loud engine sound like vroooom! but David’s was much quieter even when starting.
As we left the mansion-like house and drove onto the road, David suddenly asked.
“Is your friend a local from this neighborhood?”
“Yeah, what?”
“The friend you’re seeing a movie with seems to be a local from this neighborhood. Most people don’t know about that theater.”
“Really? They’re probably a local.”
I didn’t know where Joel was born, but he was probably a local from this neighborhood. Living in that old, worn-out trailer was probably because he lived with his mom. And he knew about a lake so well-hidden that others wouldn’t know about it. Then he must have lived in this neighborhood for a long time.
Come to think of it, that lake—how would I go there again? I’d only been there in Joel’s car, so even though I’d been there, I didn’t actually know the way. The smell of water brushing past my nose and the morning sunlight breaking on the water’s surface sometimes came to mind, making me want to go again.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Just spacing out.”
“Hmm, really? I was thinking about a movie. An old movie I saw at that theater when I was young.”
“What did you see?”
“Back To The Future 1. It was a really old movie. I think it came out in the 80s… But I remember enjoying it.”
David smiled gently as he turned the steering wheel slightly, and I raised the corners of my lips along with him.
“You know what? The future in Back to the Future is 2015. The really funny thing is, I think I saw that movie around that time. So after watching it, I came out laughing like crazy.”
It must have been a fairly pleasant memory, as David giggled for quite a while. It would have been an interesting experience.
“Ah, I can see it. It’s really been a while since I’ve been here, but it’s the same.”
I turned my head in the direction David indicated with his eyes. The old theater I’d been to before stood in the middle of the street. David stopped the car not in front of the theater, but a little way off, then asked.
“Want to get out here? It seems like you don’t really want me and your friend to run into each other.”
“…Thank you.”
So he noticed. Was I too obviously reluctant? I was a bit embarrassed. After bringing me all the way here, making him feel such discomfort.
“Really, thank you so much.”
But there was nothing I could do for him, and all I knew how to do was thank him, so before getting out, I looked straight at David’s face and said it once more. David, who had his hand on the steering wheel with his head tilted crookedly, chuckled.
“You don’t have to thank me that much. I’m leaving soon anyway. Enjoy the movie. And I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Okay!”
After waving goodbye following David, I got out of the car while looking around. I was anxious that Joel might have already arrived and spotted David and me. But fortunately, no conspicuously tall person was visible, and there were about 25 minutes left until the appointment time.
I was worried I’d be late, but this is a relief. I wish I could go to the party tonight this leisurely too. I was already worried about what reason I should give for needing to leave first after watching the movie.
“Mmm.”
Since I came early, I should pre-book the movie tickets. I looked at the screening schedule posted on something like a bulletin board outside the theater. Although I’d already decided which movie to see in advance, I felt like there might be a better option.
But indeed, the movie I chose seemed to be the best. The movies showing at similar times were either cringeworthy romances or romantic comedies. Even though this was a date, I didn’t want to watch something like that with Joel. Then this movie that would absorb all my attention would be good after all…
“…Huh?”
Something rustled and then blocked my view. Not knowing what that opaque thing was, I blinked my eyes and slowly turned my head to the side.
“You came early.”
Joel was standing there. And what had blocked my view was what he was holding…
“…What is this?”
“Can’t you tell by looking?”
Joel snorted and tossed it to me, handing it over. It was,
“It’s a rose…”
A single rose. I was so flustered that my mouth froze and the words wouldn’t come out properly. So, Joel Gomez just gave me a rose right now? Why?
“It’s a date. That’s the manners. Idiot.”
“…”
When my wide-open eyes met his gaze, Joel smirked one side of his lips and said grumpily. Acting all high and mighty, bringing a rose because it’s a date…
I had received flowers at graduation, but they weren’t roses then. And having just one wrapped like this was so cringeworthy and embarrassing… But while looking around, I carefully buried my nose in the rose and smelled it. It had the characteristic scent of fresh roses mixed with a green fragrance.
“It smells good…”
For some reason, feeling heat rise to my face, I lowered my head and mumbled. I just raised my eyes slightly. I could see Joel’s eyes frowning as if something displeased him, even though he’d brought and given me flowers for the date.
As soon as Joel’s gaze met mine, he turned his head sharply to the side. I hesitated, then very carefully tugged at the edge of Joel’s sleeve with my index finger.
“Thank you for the flower. This is my first time receiving a rose.”
“…”
After I tugged at his sleeve several times, Joel finally looked down at me. His head was tilted crookedly, which looked quite impudent, but it didn’t seem like he was in a bad mood.
NEW!
‘Joel Gomez’s affection has increased by 1!
“What’s with that outfit?”
“Ah, is it too much? But it’s a date…”
Despite his affection going up, Joel looked me up and down with both hands shoved into his pants pockets. Even though I didn’t wear a tie, it was still clearly a suit. I vaguely dodged the question, worried that if I said there was a family dinner, the topic of David might come up. But this seems more embarrassing. Receiving flowers for a “date” and even dressing up in a suit.
“…”
Joel seemed to think so too. His face was quite crumpled as he alternately looked at me, the rose, and my outfit.
“Follow me.”
Joel, who had been looking down at me crookedly like someone full of complaints, turned his body and entered the theater alone with quick steps. And really strangely, the system window popped up again.
NEW!
‘Joel Gomez’s affection has increased by 1!
