A Scorching Day Chapter 31

“Ki Joon.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you go to church? I’ve noticed you always wear that rosary bracelet.”

Gawon gestured with his eyes toward Ki Joon’s wrist. The rosary bracelet, with a small cross set into its center, looked old at a single glance, worn smooth and shiny. The bracelet he wore every single day without fail had by now become etched in Gawon’s mind as one of the several traits that symbolized Ki Joon.

Chocolate milk. The scent of fabric softener. The black short-sleeved t-shirt always worn under his school uniform and the gray hooded zip-up. The large Nike gym bag. The sneakers so clean they dazzled every time he saw them, and the rosary bracelet.

“Ah. This.”

Ki Joon dropped his gaze and gave a short laugh.

“It’s my mom’s. My mother was a Catholic.”

“…Ah.”

His words caught in his throat. He’d said before that his mother had passed away. So this was something like a memento, then.

An awkward silence briefly passed. Ki Joon wore an expression as if nothing were the matter, but Gawon felt a pang of dismay. He’d brought up a useless topic.

“Let me get you a drink first, Mr. Joon.”

Like a salvation, a staff member approached and handed them their drinks. In front of Ki Joon was placed an orange ade, and in front of Gawon, a grapefruit ade. The bittersweet and tangy flavor went down his throat with a sharp prickle.

As if he’d never mentioned any such thing, Ki Joon treated Gawon as usual. Thanks to this person’s characteristic manner of always putting people at ease, Gawon’s heart gradually relaxed as well.

The food came out in turn. Starting with salad and soup, then pasta, and even a large steak, dish after dish was laid across the table. Unable to resist Ki Joon’s urging to eat quickly, Gawon picked up his fork first.

“…Wow.”

It was the moment he took one bite of the pasta. Gawon’s eyes went wide, and an exclamation escaped him before he could help it.

“This is amazing.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. Really… really delicious.”

Until the moment they ordered, he hadn’t had high expectations. It was pasta, but he’d wondered if it would taste all that different from the spaghetti served in the school cafeteria.

But the instant he tasted the food, Gawon realized his premature judgment had been completely wrong. He couldn’t believe how delicious it was. The pasta, with its broad noodles and a sauce that was creamy yet slightly spicy, was a flavor Gawon had never once experienced before.

“You said last time you liked Western food, so I brought you here. I’m glad you like it. Eat up.”

Gawon subtly stopped the hand that had been eating. Coming to his senses, he saw Ki Joon smiling, chin propped on his hand, looking at him.

What is with this guy, looking at people with eyes like that….

Hurriedly ducking his head, Gawon unfairly blamed Ki Joon. He felt belatedly embarrassed for having been so absorbed in the taste of the food and eating enthusiastically all by himself. On the other hand, he felt a little strange.

‘Korean food, Western food?’

When he’d asked it like a joke, had he replied that he liked Western food? He probably had. Since Korean food was what he ate every day anyway, and he could only have Western food when it wasn’t being served in the cafeteria. For someone like him, struggling to get by day by day, something like preference was a luxury.

That was all he’d meant by that answer. But Ki Joon had remembered it. And the look in his eyes as he watched Gawon wolf down his food….

Was that the kind of face parents usually made when watching their child eat? Ki Joon wore an expression of satisfaction and contentment. Even though he himself had been so absorbed in watching Gawon that he hadn’t even picked up his own fork.

‘…He’s really a strange guy.’

Gawon, face flushed, awkwardly averted his gaze. It was only after Gawon told him to stop staring so much that Ki Joon finally began his own meal.

All of the food was incredibly delicious. Not just the pasta, but the steak and salad too. There was a reason expensive places were expensive. With every bite, a new flavor spread across his palate. Every dish was completely different from anything he’d ever bought at convenience stores or snack bars.

The food, which had seemed like more than he could possibly finish, was as always effortlessly cleaned up. His stomach was pleasantly full.

“Um, Ki Joon… I ate well.”

Gawon awkwardly stammered out his thanks to Ki Joon, who had finished paying. It had been delicious while he was eating… but he’d unfortunately caught sight of the exact amount on the bill. The food he’d enjoyed so much suddenly felt heavy in his stomach.

But even after spending such a large amount, Ki Joon was unruffled. Turning with a fresh smile, that guy very naturally reached out and touched Gawon’s shoulder.

“Did you eat well? Are you full?”

“Yeah. I’m really full.”

“Then, shall we walk to the theater? To help with digestion too.”

“Sure.”

It was about a 15-minute walk from the restaurant to the theater. Just the right distance for a stroll to work off a full stomach.

The downtown area was just getting started. Restaurants, one by one, opened for lunchtime. Students from various schools, their exams over, were bustling actively through the streets. Gawon gazed with fresh eyes at the boys swarming in groups, and the girls with plush toys dangling from their bags, browsing phone cases.

It was a scene he’d lived his whole life without knowing. A vibrancy he’d never once experienced. Always too busy scraping by day to day, too busy bearing the crushing weight of life that threatened to bend his back.

“Nice weather. A lot of the kids are already out too.”

And, probably, if it hadn’t been for this guy, he would have grown up without ever having this kind of experience even once.

“…Yeah.”

Even to his delayed reply, Ki Joon smiled happily.

As they entered the theater building, Gawon pulled out his phone from his pocket. He had a movie gift certificate he’d bought cheaply on a secondhand marketplace. Yesterday, when Ki Joon asked what movie he wanted to see, Gawon had firmly told him that for the movie at least, he’d take care of it himself, so not to worry.

Considering the screening times, he had two options. A noir film, a romance film, and a Hollywood action. The action seemed the safest bet, but perhaps because it was the day exams ended, it was already sold out. Of the remaining options, the romance seemed the better choice, so he picked that. Fortunately, Ki Joon immediately agreed.

“I’ll go to the restroom for a bit.”

“Mmm.”

Left alone, Gawon quietly looked around near the theater. He watched students clustered in groups collecting their tickets, and when he spotted those wearing the same uniform, he subtly averted his eyes. Soon bored of people-watching, Gawon watched the movie teaser trailers playing on a loop.

He’d expected him back soon, but it was taking longer than he thought. On second thought, it might be good to buy some popcorn at this time. Two colas and one popcorn should do it…. Just as he finished the mental calculation and looked up, he saw Ki Joon walking toward him, already holding popcorn.

“Ah. I was about to buy it…”

“What are you talking about? You said you’d treat me to the movie, didn’t you? Of course I’m buying the popcorn.”

The cost of the meal you bought me alone is… The words reached his throat, but Gawon quietly said, “Thank you,” and thanked him. Since he was already here on a date—no, hanging out—with Ki Joon, he didn’t want to argue over money.

He couldn’t clearly remember the last time he’d been to a movie theater. Was it elementary school, or maybe middle school….

“Let’s go in.”

The whispering voice tickled his ear. The inside of the theater was dark, and trailers were playing. Trying to move forward relying only on the dim lighting that faintly illuminated the floor made him nervous.

His steps naturally slowed, and tension crept into his body. Ki Joon, noticing Gawon’s state keenly, extended his arm.

“Hold on to me here.”

Gawon responded to the low whisper. Gripping his firm and solid arm, the faint unease that had settled on him vanished instantly.

Even carrying the popcorn and cola, Ki Joon skillfully matched his pace. Using him as a lighthouse, as he slowly felt his way through the darkness, they arrived at their seats.

As soon as he sat down, he awkwardly withdrew his hand. The warmth of Ki Joon’s body still lingered warmly in his palm. The fact that he’d been clinging to this guy’s arm like that, linking his arm, struck him belatedly as embarrassing.

Gawon, trying not to be conscious of Ki Joon sitting right next to him, quickly popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth. The sweet caramel-flavored popcorn crunched crisply in his mouth.

“Isn’t that ad so funny?”

It was when the commercials were running in succession. Suddenly Ki Joon leaned in and whispered that into Gawon’s ear.

The moment he heard that low, soft voice, his lower belly felt a dizzying jolt. Gawon nearly dropped the cola he was holding.

“It’s—…It tickles. Don’t talk… right into my ear.”

“…Huh?”

Ki Joon’s eyes went round for a moment. But only for a moment; with an inscrutable expression, he nodded.

“Ah… okay. Sorry.”

Hearing the awkward apology, Gawon wanted to bang his head against something. This was, like, way too obviously self-conscious….

With a face burning hot, Gawon subtly moved his body away from Ki Joon. He also subtly drew in his thigh, which had been pressed against Ki Joon’s. At least in the darkness, his burning ears and face wouldn’t be visible—that much was a relief.