Chapter 29

“Date.”

“At home?”

“I’m doing it because I miss you.”

Hmm, Haji, who was momentarily lost in thought, slowly put her hand down and nodded.

“Is that so? It does seem like you miss me a lot, Sunbae.”

Haji said shamelessly. As if she wasn’t the one who had used a face mask she never uses, in anticipation of today.

“At home, then?”

“Sounds good. You must have been looking forward to it a lot, right?”

At Haji’s sly words, Seojin chuckled and looked at the watch on his wrist.

 “Since the plan has changed, let’s meet in the living room in an hour.”

***

An hour later, Haji came out to the living room and her jaw dropped. Surprised by the food filling the living room table.

“What’s all this?”

“Can’t have a date without food, right?”

“That’s true, but……”

Isn’t this a bit too much?

Tteokbokki, chicken, jokbal, pasta, steak, and even fruits and ice cream.

While she was trying to calm the redness on her face, it seemed Seojin had ordered a lot of delivery food.

“You don’t like it?”

“No, that’s not it……”

“Then it’s fine. Sit down.”

 Haji slowly sat down on the floor, following Seojin. Using the sofa as a backrest.

“Seonghee said that my face would calm down soon.”

“Really? You’re cute even now.”

“…… Are you serious?” 

At Haji’s words, Seojin hooked his arm over the sofa and turned his body. So he could face Haji.

“Even looking again, it’s true? You’re cute.”

“I can’t trust your eyes, Sunbae.”

Haji shook her head.

Remembering when she had fallen asleep drunk and he said there was nothing different about her smudged makeup face.

Moreover, he said such ticklish things so nonchalantly. Not even giving Haji a chance to refute at length. 

“Anyway, she said it would get better soon.”

Seonghee, who had called after Haji made the home date plan with Seojin, said that such symptoms could appear temporarily as the toxins were expelled. She even said it wouldn’t last more than a day, so it would be fine.

She was disappointed that they couldn’t have an outdoor date right away, but she couldn’t say that. 

Seojin, who was nodding at Haji’s words, opened the movie category with the remote control.

“Are we going to watch a movie?”

“We agreed to, didn’t we?”

It was no different from the date they had originally planned, just the location had changed. If they had done it outside, it might have felt different. 

“There’s a movie I want to watch.”

Haji, who had taken the remote control, chose a movie. One she had wanted to watch for a while.

“Is this okay?”

“It’s fine. Watch what you want to see.”

Seojin answered as he handed chopsticks to Haji.

As time passed, Haji was using her chopsticks with her hand while her gaze never left the screen. And Seojin couldn’t take his eyes off Haji. 

The gloomy look she had shown in the morning was nowhere to be seen. She was surprised, laughed, and even drooped her eyes in disappointment according to the content of the movie.

“I didn’t know you liked spiders.”

“I don’t like spiders. I just like Spider-Man.”

Haji quickly replied to Seojin’s words without even turning her head. As if she couldn’t take her eyes off Spider-Man who was currently crawling on the wall.

“Hmm.” 

At that sight, Seojin put down his chopsticks and turned his body completely. Resting his chin on his hand.

“Why did you use the face mask?”

“…… What?”

Why are you asking that now?

Haji’s fork, which had been twirling pasta, stopped. Her gaze, which had been directed at the screen, also turned to Seojin. Unable to hide the surprise in her eyes.

As Haji bit her lip, the corners of Seojin’s mouth rose crookedly.

“Face mask. Why did you suddenly use it?”

Seojin spoke clearly, making sure Haji couldn’t pretend she didn’t hear him.

“Just, because Seonghee gave it to me…?”

“When did she give it to you?”

“Probably… before I moved.”

“And you suddenly decided to use it?”

At the deepening questions, Haji covered her face with both hands. Because she was reminded of the state of her face. 

She didn’t know why Seojin was being petty, but covering her face was the priority right now.

“It can happen. I just suddenly wanted to use it. Stop looking.”

She absolutely couldn’t say it was because of the date. Haji wrapped her face tightly with both hands.

“……” 

When no sound was heard, Haji curled just the tips of her fingers. So that only her eyes could peek out.

“Why, why are you looking at me like that?”

She ended up asking accusingly when her eyes met with the man who was staring at her intently. 

“I’m seeing how long you’ll stay cute.”

“You keep saying I’m cute……”

Why are you doing this?

Haji mumbled softly. Her heart was pounding because someone who didn’t usually do this kept doing it.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

She felt her face getting redder because of his gaze. Haji covered her face with her hand only on Seojin’s side and watched the movie.

At the same time, her hand that was naturally reaching for the fork she was looking for suddenly stopped in mid-air. Because the kiss scene in the movie had started.

“That scene was quite famous, right? Is that why you wanted to watch it?”

“Not exactly.”

She couldn’t say it wasn’t true at all. It was one of the scenes she wanted to see, after all.

Every kiss scene in Spider-Man remained a masterpiece. She just didn’t know she’d be watching it at a time like this.

“Not exactly?”

The hand covering Haji’s face was caught in Seojin’s hand. Soon, his fingers intertwined between hers, holding even the soft parts of her hand.

“Ah……”

Naturally, as Seojin’s body leaned, Haji’s body slowly leaned back.

When she couldn’t retreat any further, Haji’s eyes closed tightly. Thinking it would touch like yesterday.

1, 2, 3……?

Why don’t I feel anything?

“The water’s all gone. I’ll go get some.”

When Haji opened her eyes in confusion at the words that didn’t match the mood, Seojin was already standing up with the water glass.

Haji just blinked blankly at the words of someone who had come so close saying he was going to get water.

“Now…?”

Really?

She scratched her cheek slightly in embarrassment as she straightened her waist. She was embarrassed, wondering if she had misunderstood. Even for expecting it.

Not knowing that during that time, Seojin had entered the kitchen and was taking a deep breath while clutching his heart.

***

“Wow, it’s over.”

Haji awkwardly blurted out while glancing at the seat next to her.

“It’s over.”

“Um….. I’ll go to my room.”

Haji showed an awkward smile as she lifted her bottom.

Since the kiss scene earlier, the two had been incredibly awkward. Not saying a word was a bonus.

Haji, who had entered her room as if speed walking as soon as she stood up, sat on the bed and looked at the door.

“Is this what dates are usually like?”

It’s too awkward.

The small question mark soon turned into a period. Due to the phone call that came right away.

Haji picked up the ringing phone and put it to her ear.

“Hello?”

***

Haji looked around as she entered a craft beer pub with a unique sign.

“Over here!”

She saw Seonghee waving her hand at a table inside.

“Your face has calmed down a lot?”

“I think it’ll be completely gone by tomorrow.”

“That’s a relief. I was so worried.”

Seonghee scrutinized Haji’s face and slightly lifted the hat that was pulled down deep.

“You can take off your hat now, right?”

“Still, it’s a bit……”

When Haji pointed to her cheeks where red spots remained, Seonghee nodded and grasped her beer glass.

“I ordered mine first.”

“Is something wrong?”

Looking at the beer glass that was already half empty, it didn’t seem like she had ordered it just because she was thirsty.

“What do you mean something’s wrong…”

Seonghee let out a small scoff and gulped down her beer. She looked like someone who had something going on.

“Not even telling me your new address! I’m hurt, Ahn Haji.”

“It’s not properly organized yet.”

“Tsk, since when did we care about that? Didn’t I come in and out of your place since you first started living alone in college?”

Haji was reminded of how Seonghee always came to check on her when other college students were busy hanging out with friends.

“Why are you smiling alone? I’m hurt, you know?”

“I just want to show you that I’m living well now. I feel like I’ve only shown you the hard times.”

It was a deflection because she couldn’t say she was living in Seojin’s house, but it was also true. That she wanted to show a better side of herself.

As she talked with Seonghee, Haji thought she should quickly find a house to move into.

I should look for a place.

At that moment, Seonghee put down her empty beer glass with a thud.

“Drink slowly.”

“It’s already too late. Actually, I drank this much before you came.”

As she said ‘this much’, her fingers that were spreading out one by one kept increasing.

One, two, three, four……

“Don’t tell me, five glasses?”

“Hehehe.”

“No wonder……”

She had seemed in a particularly good mood from the start. It was due to the endorphin boost from alcohol.

Just then, the part-timer brought the beer. Thud, two glasses of beer were placed on the table.

“Here’s the beer you ordered.”

“Thank you.”

While Haji was giving a small bow, Seonghee was already drinking the new beer.

“You, even though you can’t handle alcohol well…?”

“It’s okay today.”

Seonghee, who was already drunk, grinned and tightly grasped her beer glass.

“Haji, I like men with charisma.”

“Charisma?”

“Yes! Charisma! When a man draws his sword, even if he can’t cut a radish, he should at least cut tofu!”

Seonghee, who suddenly seemed excited looking for charisma, straightened her back and opened her eyes wide.

“Isn’t that right? If you draw your sword, you should swing it, right?”

“I guess so?”

Haji nodded and agreed. She was starting to empathize with Seonghee who looked extremely frustrated.

“A man, I say! What good is he if he’s like that?”

At first, her pronunciation was just slightly slurred, but now Seonghee’s tongue was completely tied.

“Did you meet someone?”

“What do you mean, meet someone, what do you mean……”

Seonghee shook her head vigorously. Seeing her get so worked up talking about men, it seemed like there was someone, but.

“Really?”

“Not yet……”

Unlike her usual self, Seonghee hesitated. Thinking it wasn’t at a stage to talk about yet, Haji quietly listened.

“Anyway, he can’t speak, can’t act? Can’t do anything!”

Thud! The table was…