Love for Love’s Sake - Chapter 51

Chapter 51

“Why?”

Once on the street, Cha Yeowoon grabbed my hand again. This time, I couldn’t pull away.

Whether faced with a tiger in its den or dropped in front of a guy I had only read about in a novel, I would survive if I kept my composure.

However, I couldn’t regain my composure.

I would no longer be by Cha Yeowoon’s side in about half a year. He didn’t know that. There was no dating to speak of in this situation.

“And someone 11 years younger than me…”

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. You’re cute.”

Perhaps my answer was unsatisfactory, but Cha Yeowoon furrowed his eyebrows and looked at me with intensity. Under my gaze urging him to keep walking, he reluctantly looked ahead.

Today, neither he nor I headed to the bus stop.

“We’re going to the movies today.”

“Ehm.”

We had decided to go watch a movie. The movie theater was located in a shopping center near the school and was about a 20-minute walk.

In the midst of the crazy situation, my body was steadily following the standard dating course.

And, Cha Yeowoon, with moist eyes, had cautiously asked if I wanted to see a movie, so I couldn’t say no.

What could I say to a child who seemed to have it written on his forehead that the basis of a first date was a movie? It was probably his first date proposal.

Cha Yeowoon pulled out the tickets we had reserved in advance from the ticketing machine. The movie title was written in the largest font on the ticket.

“Why did you choose this one?”

The movie seemed the furthest from romance.

Refraining from giving the answer I couldn’t bring myself to say, I chose my words carefully.

“I’ve always…liked these kinds of movies.”

“Zombie gorillas?”

Right. The name of the movie we planned to watch today was .

An aura could be felt from the title. It contrasted the atmosphere of what two lovebirds who had just started dating would choose.

I had become a guy with a somewhat maniacal taste. Perhaps it would be for the best if Cha Yeowoon found that off-putting.

“So? I like zombie gorillas.”

“Cute.”

Cha Yeowoon seemed to like even those distinctive tastes. What was I supposed to do when he saw everything in a positive light?

“What kind of movies do you like?”

“Movies I watch with senior.”

“From now on, it’s forbidden to answer my questions like that.”

“But it’s true. I haven’t watched many movies. I’ve only seen the dramas my grandmother watched.”

“Surprisingly into morning dramas, Cha Yeowoon?”

“People die and come back to life in those too, but it’s not a gorilla, so it might not be to senior’s taste.”

“I don’t only like gorillas that die and come back to life. What popcorn do you want?”

“Original.”

“I’ll have onion. Let’s get half and half.”

We quickly bought popcorn and soda and sat down in the movie theater. Perhaps due to the crazy nature of the movie, there weren’t many people seated.

“We can sit in the middle.”

Cha Yeowoon ignored my words and confidently reserved the edge seats. Seats for couples, to be exact.

Watching him assuredly flipping the armrest between the seats aside, a sense of hopelessness rose.

He had said everything with me was all new, but why was he like a speeding train? No matter how I looked at it, it seemed like a subtle sign to hold hands.

As soon as I put the popcorn container down in the middle, Cha Yeowoon’s hand immediately reached into the cardboard box. He fumbled around the popcorn box, then grabbed a handful.

“That’s too much.”

“Shh. The movie is starting.”

Sinister letters dripping blood filled the screen.

Thrilling music played.

During the two-hour runtime, the movie took an unexpected direction.

A bloody battle between a zombie gorilla and a monster crocodile.

The loser…was me.

“Senior, here’s a handkerchief.”

“Thanks…”

“Are you really sad?”

“No? I’m not sad? I’m just a bit teary. It was heartbreaking, and I couldn’t even eat the popcorn, but I’m not sad at all.”

“Okay, wipe your tears. Do you want me to wipe it for you?”

Before I could say it was okay, Cha Yeowoon pressed the handkerchief under my eyes.

We were the only two remaining in the theater after the movie ended. Feeling embarrassed about crying alone in the illuminated theater, I grabbed Cha Yeowoon and left.

“Weren’t you sad?”

“What?”

“When the gorilla saved Julie and Amy.”

“Is Amy the blonde girl?”

“No, that’s Julie. Amy has red hair.”

Cha Yeowoon exclaimed and nodded without much excitement, pressing the elevator button.

“I didn’t watch much of the movie because I was watching senior.”

While I was completely engrossed in the movie, it seemed Cha Yeowoon’s mind was elsewhere. I probably had a rather intense expression throughout the movie. As I visibly showed embarrassment, Cha Yeowoon added.

“If someone cries while watching a zombie gorilla next to me, I can’t help but notice.”

“Hey. This is a story of friendship and love that transcends species and even death.”

“Senior really have a weak heart.”

“It’s not that I have a weak heart; it’s just that the friendship between Amy and the gorilla was beautiful.”

Cha Yeowoon laughed silently. The elevator that arrived was empty. Only the two of us got on.

“So, who won between the zombie gorilla and the monster crocodile?”

“You really didn’t watch the movie.”

“I watched senior.”

“The crocodile was actually an extraterrestrial from another planet, and the gorilla and Amy saved the world.”

“The movie is really strange.”

“Were you moved?”

“Senior’s taste is really strange.”

“What’s strange about it?”

“It’s strange but cute.”

As Cha Yeowoon said that, his eyes, half folded, were looking at me. Was this what they called a melting smile?

When reading , I used to ask senior what exactly was a melting smile, but now I understood. It was this.

My oblivious heart rattled. The part that used to be like a poorly lubricated tin can had become unpredictable when I was near Cha Yeowoon.

“Give me some popcorn.”

At my request, Cha Yeowoon extended the popcorn box he had been holding. Trying not to reveal my feelings, I hastily stuffed the popcorn into my mouth. I chewed the salty and savory popcorn.

“Is it delicious? I didn’t know you liked popcorn. There’s not much left; We should have bought more before leaving.”

“It’s fine.”

“It is?”

“Uhm.”

“Talk after swallowing what’s in your mouth. Senior is always calling me a child, but you’re like that.”

Cha Yeowoon was surprisingly naggy. We bought two cans of sikhye from the convenience store and sat down at the playground next to the shopping center.

There was a secluded bench, perhaps for the purpose of watching the children playing. It felt awkward to sit so close when there was plenty of space.

“Have you prepared for the finals? It’s the day after tomorrow, yet you’re watching a movie.”

“I prepared really well. Senior also came to watch the movie.”

“I’m always perfectly prepared for the exams.”

“Senior study well, so why aren’t you taking the exams properly?”

At the unexpected question, I quietly put down the sikhye I was drinking.

I had my own reasons that would seem strange to those around me.

First of all, suddenly improving my grades would attract unwanted attention. Secondly, even if my academic record was good, everything would end in February, so what was the point?

“Keeping my strength hidden.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s just that way.”

“I’ve noticed that senior seem to have a lot of secrets.”

I had my reasons. Reasons I couldn’t say.

“Is your father back home?”

Burdened by the gaze, I changed topic. I was also curious. Perhaps Cha Yeowoon’s father had come back, but he was keeping quiet. I had my secrets, and so did Cha Yeowoon.

“No news since then.”

That was a relief, but the fact that Cha Yeowoon’s father might suddenly reappear at any time was unsettling. Cha Yeowoon might be feeling a similar sense of crisis.

“Yeowoon, do you…”

“Do I have any thoughts of staying at senior’s place?”

“…”

“It’s okay.”

I was flatly rejected before I could speak. I had expected it might be like this.

“Will you continue living alone?”

“I can’t live at senior’s place forever.”

“But for now…”

“Why, for some reason, senior always try to solve everything as if it’s your own problem. It’s a bit too much.”

As soon as Cha Yeowoon pointed out, I became at a loss for words. I couldn’t shout that it was my mission. If it wasn’t for that, maybe I would have had something to say.

“Thank you. But there are times when it seems like senior is overdoing it.”

“Me? Hey, not at all.”

“Senior might not think so. But it looks that way from my perspective.”

Cha Yeowoon sternly cut off my words. Despite being 18, he was acting like a teacher.

“If it becomes difficult, I’ll tell senior.”

Nevertheless, I should be grateful that Cha Yeowoon was able to say such things now.

“And I’m not confident living in the same house as senior.”

“Confident?”

“…I’ve told senior we can’t sleep together.”

“Because of my sleeping habits? Hey, I can be careful.”

“That’s not it.”

The empty can in Cha Yeowoon’s grasp crumbled. I looked at the completely crushed can in surprise.

“Sleeping together side by side…Waking up together…”

Cha Yeowoon’s voice gradually crept in my ears. Sleeping together? My question was resolved without further inquiry.

Looking at his reddened cheeks, I understood the underlying meaning. What kind of stimulation would it be for a lively 18-year-old to sleep next to someone they like?

But would sharing a sleeping space really cause him to have naughty thoughts?

My face grew hot due to the words I couldn’t say.

I took a sip from the now-empty can of sikhye for no reason. A sweet droplet moistened my tongue.

“Won’t you at least give it a thought?”

It was hot and stuffy so I blurted out what came to mind. I immediately regretted it because Cha Yeowoon was staring at me from the side.

“Yes.”

How the hell did a guy who was skilled at nitpicking suddenly become so honest?

I planned to break up beautifully with Cha Yeowoon before the ending.

There was no way to turn back what had happened, so I would let it remain a bittersweet memory of a first love. Just enough to not interfere with Cha Yeowoon’s happiness.

Typically, people in their teens could date, break up before the 100 days mark, shake it off, and move on. To pass like that, the relationship should be moderately enjoyable and love shouldn’t deepen too much.

[ Calculating Cha Yeowoon’s favorability. ]​

As if the system had read my mind, a message appeared.

[ Favorability: 49 ]

The front digit changed in an instant. Now it was already close to 50. I almost groaned out loud.

This wasn’t right.

“Now, it finally feels real.”

Cha Yeowoon said as he moved the empty can I had put down.

“I was dazed that night. Even after waking up, it felt like a dream.”

It should have been called a dream.

“But now that I’m with senior, it feels real. With senior…”

Cha Yeowoon, murmuring dreamily, grabbed my can of sikhye. He pressed his lips to the spot where I had drunk from.

I was rendered speechless, only able to cover my mouth with the back of my hand. My whole body tingled from the luscious indirect kiss.

Only now did I realize what a tremendous action I had done.

This 18-year-old who didn’t have a driver’s license, couldn’t perform a U-turn or reverse, and knew nothing but going straight had been awakened by me.

Perhaps kissing him was my death flag.

“Can we do it one more time?”