A Scorching Day Chapter 32

Thump, thump. Amidst the heartbeat that continuously pounded against his eardrums, the commercials ended and the movie began. Fortunately, the movie was highly immersive from the start. The attention that had been entirely focused on the seat next to him naturally became concentrated on the screen.

Even while watching the movie, Gawon occasionally mulled over the current situation. He could hardly believe it. That he was now spending this kind of time with Ki Joon.

It was a novel and secret feeling. Embarrassing to be caught by anyone. Because what would be a trivial daily occurrence for others was such an immense happiness for him. To an almost unbelievable degree.

His gaze occasionally turned not to the screen, but to Ki Joon. Pretending to stretch his back and sink deep into his seat, he would glance furtively to his right where Ki Joon sat. Of course, just barely enough that the other wouldn’t notice.

The nicely shaped back of his head, the straight and solid line of his neck came into view. His chiseled, handsome profile kept drawing Gawon’s gaze in with a lingering pull.

Then suddenly, he thought himself strange. With the movie right in front of him, why were his eyes so drawn to Ki Joon?

He wasn’t a girl, just a boy the same age as him. Someone taller and bigger than him, a completely, utterly male guy…

‘…This is… weird.’

Gawon bit his lip hard.

Just then, Ki Joon, who had been quietly focusing on the movie, absentmindedly reached out to the side and grabbed some popcorn. His muscular forearm brushed against Gawon’s arm. As always, his hot body heat instantly covered Gawon’s skin.

His body flinched involuntarily. He reflexively tried to pull his arm away, then barely regained his composure and relaxed his body. He felt like he’d been acting strangely alone all this time.

Ki Joon was watching the movie just fine, so why was he the only one making such a fuss?

Thinking that made him feel a little indignant. Gawon quietly took a breath and puffed out his chest. He wouldn’t pay attention to useless things anymore. Resolving that, he turned his head toward the screen—just then.

“Is the movie boring?”

Ki Joon suddenly leaned in and whispered.

“Because you’ve been staring at my face the whole time.”

A small giggle tickled his ear. His lips were at a perilously close distance, almost touching his ear. In an instant, the fine hairs on his skin stood on end, and his senses sharpened.

“…I, I never.”

He thought he hadn’t noticed. He felt mortified and embarrassed enough to die, but he tried to deflect for now. …But how did Ki Joon know that?

‘Wait. That means you were paying attention to me too, so you knew I was looking.’

At that thought, a sudden surge of vengefulness rose in him. Gawon leaned his upper body conspicuously toward Ki Joon. Now you get a taste of it. It was childish, but that was the sentiment.

“Just be quiet and watch the movie.”

Softly, just as Ki Joon had done, he whispered that into his ear. Close enough that his lips nearly touched the shell of his ear.

The relaxed smile at the corner of his mouth stiffened in an instant. Ki Joon, flustered, blinked his eyes and, without a reply, covered his mouth with one hand. Then he moved his large hand, wiping his face as if washing it. Hoo, a long, deep breath escaped him.

Gawon turned his head forward as if fleeing. His heart pounded, ringing in his ears. It was just a joke, but had he overdone it? Seeing Ki Joon visibly flustered made him unsure of what to do.

“…”

“…”

After that, no more words were exchanged. In the awkward atmosphere, Gawon took a deep breath. He really tried to focus only on the movie now. Fortunately, his consciousness smoothly immersed itself in the narrative on screen.

[Mom. No. That can’t be. No, I’ll check again….]

Gawon’s relaxed expression began to gradually harden from the moment the protagonist’s mother received a terminal diagnosis. The sweet mood that had been flowing until then instantly sank.

…When he’d roughly searched and looked at it yesterday, there was nothing like this.

Gawon nervously licked his lips. Why did this kind of content suddenly appear…. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Ki Joon’s face sitting next to him.

Surely, surely the protagonist’s mother wouldn’t end up like that in the movie. It bothered him even more because he’d just asked Ki Joon about the rosary bracelet back at the restaurant.

But the movie’s flow, cruelly, went in the direction Gawon least wanted. After a short battle with illness, the mother eventually passed away, and the protagonist, clutching her body, collapsed on the hospital floor, weeping.

[Mom. Mom, wake up. Mom…! Mom!]

The protagonist’s wailing filled the theater, sounding grief-stricken. Gawon felt more and more unable to bear it.

He glanced furtively at Ki Joon’s face, which he hadn’t been able to examine until now. Unlike the restless Gawon, Ki Joon was merely staring at the screen with an expressionless face.

This just won’t do.

Fidgeting his fingers anxiously, Gawon abruptly reached out and grasped Ki Joon’s wrist. It was purely impulsive. To the point where even he himself didn’t know why he was doing it, and was flustered by it.

“Let’s go out.”

At Gawon’s firm whisper, Ki Joon, who had been sitting expressionless, looked surprised.

“Huh?”

“I said let’s go out.”

“…Why?”

“It’s boring. I don’t want to watch it.”

Gawon, having announced his decision unilaterally, got up without hesitation. He grabbed his own cola cup that was still in its holder, bent down, and slipped out of the row of seats.

Fortunately, Ki Joon followed compliantly. With a bewildered look, he was hugging the popcorn tub and heading this way. Despite looking clearly baffled, as soon as he came close, Ki Joon immediately extended his arm toward Gawon.

“Hold on here. Be careful.”

Gawon placed his hand on Ki Joon’s forearm without a word. Leaning some of his weight on him, he carefully stepped up the stairs.

In the darkness, the only thing to rely on was Ki Joon’s firm arm. The closer he got, the stronger his scent became. A cozy, strong scent—and therefore, sometimes, breath-stealingly nice—Ki Joon’s fragrance.

As they emerged outside the theater, the view became bright all at once. Squinting slightly at the brightness, Gawon walked without looking at Ki Joon, for reasons he didn’t quite understand. Ki Joon, walking alongside him in step, threw his empty cola cup into a trash bin.

“Shall we walk a bit outside?”

Why did you come out? Weren’t you just saying it was fun? Ki Joon didn’t ask. Instead, he said that. Gawon nodded.

Outside was still bright. As they walked, the constricted view opened up widely. It was 4 PM, the time when the color of the sunlight, warmed during the day, was gradually deepening, and the blowing wind was becoming gentler. Gawon headed to a nearby park with Ki Joon.

Unlike the bustling downtown area, there weren’t many people on the path inside the park. Only the occasional person walking a dog, and a few elderly people exercising leisurely, caught the eye.

The cherry blossom trees lining the path rustled and swayed their branches. Gawon quietly watched the petals falling like a fluttering rain. A few cherry blossom petals, dancing as they embroidered the blue sky, landed on Ki Joon’s shoulder.

Gawon carefully reached out, picked them up, and clenched them tightly in his palm, as if trapping them. Because he didn’t want to let them go.

“Ki Joon.”

“Hmm.”

His voice calling the other was as heavy as his heart. Unlike Ki Joon’s refreshing and unshadowed reply. Gawon dropped his gaze and looked at his own feet.

“I’m sorry.”

“…For what?”

Ki Joon asked in a puzzled voice. Gawon stubbornly kept his eyes fixed on the ground.

“I didn’t know the movie… would be like that.”

“…”

“And asking about the bracelet earlier too. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

Dismay was thick in his voice. Gawon chewed on his lips restlessly.

“…You tried so hard to make me happy. But I was worried that… you might not have been able to be happy yourself.”

Ki Joon had planned out today’s itinerary, and had bought him an expensive meal. Above all, he had been looking forward to today so much. The way he had been hopping around excitedly earlier was still vividly clear in his mind.

Unlike Ki Joon, who had tried to accommodate him in everything, he had made Ki Joon upset today. Of course, there was no intention behind it, but still, this guy had probably only been reminded of unpleasant things because of him.

A sigh escaped him involuntarily. At the edge of his lowered gaze, he saw his own feet and Ki Joon’s, who had come to a stop at some point. His worn-out, holey sneakers and clean, large sneakers stood facing each other.

“Ah.”

Ki Joon let out a short exclamation and suddenly crouched down heavily. Squatting down, he covered his face with his palm.

“Seriously. Yoon Gawon.”

Ki Joon mumbled, rubbing his face dryly. At the unexpected outburst, Gawon forgot his own turmoil and opened his eyes wide.

“You brought me out all dramatically because you were worried I might be upset during the movie, right. Isn’t that right.”

“…That’s true, but.”

“What do I do. At this rate, I’m going to like you way too much.”

“Hu…huh?”

Ah…. Ki Joon groaned and rubbed his face again. Gawon blankly stared at Ki Joon’s back, still crouched down. Why was he suddenly acting like this…?

Finally, Ki Joon straightened up. As his height suddenly rose, Gawon naturally lifted his head to follow.

“This is something I originally wanted to tell you after a little more time.”

“…”

“But when you act like this, I can’t hold back anymore.”

The more he heard, the harder it was to grasp the context. What he wanted to take more time for, and what he couldn’t hold back. Gawon blinked his eyes, waiting for his next words.