Chapter 9

Chapter 9 – A 15-Year Friendship Wants to Kiss

* * *

Si-hyun and Yerin left the café and headed to a department store, just an eight-minute walk away.

The movie theater was on the third floor. As they took the elevator up, the sweet aroma of popcorn filled the air.

“I still have twelve aircraft carriers left, my lord…”

“Keep spoiling them, and they’ll start thinking they’re Dooly.”

“Alone? Oh, you’re still single?”

The TV monitor displayed trailers for the latest movies, many of which seemed intriguing. Perhaps the movie Yerin had chosen was among them?

Curious, Si-hyun asked with a hint of anticipation, “What’s the movie you wanted to see?”

“This one.”

Yerin pulled up her phone to show him.

“‘Boyfriend on Sale’? What’s that even supposed to mean?”

Did it imply her boyfriend was on the market…?

While Si-hyun sensed a potential disaster from the title alone, Yerin’s excitement was evident as she explained.

“It’s famous for its shocking plot twists. I’ve really wanted to see it!”

“What’s the genre?”

“Hmm… a romantic thriller?”

It was exactly the kind of dramatic, soap-opera style Yerin loved.

“Well, we haven’t gone out in a while, so I’ll let you pick what you want,” Si-hyun sighed, heading off to buy popcorn. When it was his turn to order, Yerin suddenly came up behind him, tugging on his shirt.

“Si-hyun, let’s get the couple’s combo.”

“Do we really need that? Just popcorn and a drink should be fine.”

“I saw earlier that the couple’s combo is cheaper and you get more food. Better value for money, don’t you think?”

“Really…?”

Before Si-hyun could double-check the menu, Yerin had already paid with her card, cheerfully accepting the couple’s combo with a smile.

“I’m not sure it’s actually such a great deal…”

“Oh, it’s worth it as long as it’s tasty.”

Grinning, Yerin walked alongside Si-hyun, matching his stride. Before long, they settled into their seats in the theater and looked toward the screen.

“With financial support of 20 billion won! Come join Nobelpia for quick cash!”

Advertisements played, followed by the fire safety guide.

Just before the movie started, Si-hyun took a sip of iced tea and focused on the opening scene.

“I’m telling you… I’ve decided to date Si-hyun starting today.”

“…What?”

At the sound of his own name, Si-hyun’s eyes went wide, while Yerin let out a little laugh.

“Hey, Si-hyun, the main character has the same name as you.”

“You didn’t pick this movie on purpose, did you?”

“Nope, I had no idea.”

“That sounds like a lie…”

Si-hyun shot Yerin a suspicious look, but soon turned his attention back to the screen.

Just as she’d said, the movie was a romantic thriller.

The plot revolved around a love triangle between the male lead and two female leads who were childhood friends, both of whom went to extreme lengths—seduction, blackmail, and more—to win his affection.

‘What kind of movie is this?’

Watching the two female characters’ obsession unfold, Si-hyun internally cringed, feeling he’d correctly predicted the movie’s absurdity.

He took another sip of iced tea, then turned to check Yerin’s reaction, only to notice…

Scritch, scratch.

Yerin was furiously taking notes, her eyes glued to the screen.

“What are you doing?”

Startled by his voice, Yerin quickly covered her notepad with her hand.

“Oh, just… thinking of writing a review later, so I was summarizing the plot.”

“Why are you writing a review?”

“Uh, you know, they said you could get a prize if you write a good one.”

“Is that so?”

Relieved that Si-hyun seemed to buy her explanation, Yerin subtly wiped away her nervous sweat and resumed her note-taking as soon as he turned back to the screen.

What exactly she was writing down, only she knew.

* * *

“I’m pregnant.”

“Oh, come on…”

Si-hyun slapped his forehead as the plot went further and further off the rails.

As he ate his popcorn, he glanced over to find Yerin, no longer taking notes, fully engrossed in the movie.

‘What’s so fascinating about this mess that she’s so absorbed?’

With a sigh, he popped a caramel popcorn into his mouth. He placed the popcorn bucket on his knee, but just then—

A hand groped around, feeling for something.

Without taking her eyes off the screen, Yerin reached toward Si-hyun’s popcorn bucket.

‘She wants some popcorn?’

He moved the bucket toward her, and she grabbed a handful, munching away.

Si-hyun chuckled to himself, then playfully held up the drink straw to her mouth like she was a pet.

Slurp.

Watching her drink gave him a strange sense of satisfaction, like he was feeding a small animal. Leaning back, he soon drifted off to sleep.

Forty minutes later.

“Wow, Si-hyun, look at that…”

As the movie reached its climax, Yerin leaned over excitedly, but quickly noticed Si-hyun was fast asleep. She closed her mouth, looking embarrassed.

‘Guess the movie bored him…’

Rubbing the back of her neck in embarrassment, Yerin let out a small sigh.

Soft breathing.

Even amidst the dramatic scenes, Si-hyun slept soundly, which Yerin found endearing. Stifling a giggle, she gently brushed his bangs to the side and carefully moved the popcorn bucket into her lap.

Just then—

“Stop… no… mmm!”

A passionate kiss scene unfolded on the screen.

“Si-hyun, you like this, don’t you? Come on, just admit it…”

Since the male lead shared his name, Yerin found herself even more drawn into the movie.

Unconsciously, her gaze drifted toward Si-hyun’s face. After watching the scene that had just played, her attention kept lingering on his lips.

“…Si-hyun, are you asleep?”

She waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn’t react.

“He really is asleep…”

Realizing he was truly out cold, a sly desire began to bubble up within her.

Glancing around the theater, she muttered a flimsy excuse to herself.

“Yawn… Maybe the movie’s a bit dull. I’m getting sleepy too…”

Feigning drowsiness, Yerin gently leaned her head onto Si-hyun’s shoulder. The faint aroma of coffee beans from his shirt, likely from the café, drifted into her senses.

Thump, thump.

‘Just having my head here… why does this make my heart race so much?’

With her heart pounding harder by the second, Yerin squirmed in her seat. After resting on his shoulder for a while, she decided to take things a bit further.

She glanced at his lips.

‘A quick peck won’t wear them out or anything…’

If kisses could wear out lips, then his lips would’ve been long gone from his time with Chae-yeon. Feeling slightly indignant at the thought, Yerin slowly lifted her head, bracing herself for a bold move.

Just as she leaned in close—

“Ouch…!”

Something suddenly hit her forehead.

‘What was that…?’

Looking down, she saw a piece of puffed corn on the floor, the kind typically found in popcorn tubs.

‘Who the heck threw this?’

Annoyed, Yerin turned around, but the theater was too dark to identify the culprit.

“Deep breaths… Just calm down,” she whispered to herself.

She tried to suppress her irritation and resumed her plan, leaning closer to Si-hyun. But her hopes were dashed immediately—Si-hyun was awake now, looking around in confusion.

‘Why is he awake?’

Her earlier excitement completely deflated, Yerin asked in a low voice.

“Si-hyun, what’s up?”

“It’s just… something keeps getting thrown from behind us,” he replied with a scowl, holding a handful of puffed corn.

‘The same culprit!’

Gritting her teeth, Yerin scanned the rows behind them, already guessing who might’ve been throwing the snacks. But her search was cut short as people behind them murmured in discomfort.

* * *

After being awakened by the flying popcorn, Si-hyun stayed alert and didn’t fall asleep again.

Yerin, who’d been waiting for a chance, never got another opportunity to make her move, ending up both kiss-less and distracted from the movie. Frustrated, she immediately scanned the theater as soon as the lights came on.

‘Of course they left already!’

The people she suspected were nowhere to be seen, and two seats a few rows behind them were conspicuously empty.

“You little…!”

She stomped out of the theater, tossing the popcorn container into the trash with more force than necessary, her footsteps radiating irritation.

Noticing this, Si-hyun chuckled awkwardly as he spoke up.

“Come on, let it go. Getting mad won’t change anything now.”

“But still…!”

Yerin, her disappointment evident, lowered her head, pouting.

They’d come to watch the movie to have fun, but somehow things had gone completely awry.

As Si-hyun tried to figure out how to cheer her up, he noticed something on top of her head.

“Hold still for a second,” he said, reaching for her hair, causing her eyes to widen.

“You still have some popcorn stuck in your hair… I’ll get it out for you.”

Plucking out the last stray kernel from her hair, Si-hyun gently ran his fingers through her hair to make sure nothing else remained.

Rustle, rustle.

His unexpected gesture made Yerin’s heart flutter all over again.

Embarrassed but happy, she wrapped her arms around his waist, whispering shyly.

“Be thorough, okay? There might be more.”

“Alright.”

As his fingers brushed through each strand, Yerin’s anger gradually melted away.

By the end, she began to think maybe the popcorn shower wasn’t so bad after all.

“Actually… this is kind of nice.”

“Hmm?”

“…Nothing.”

Blushing furiously, she buried her face in Si-hyun’s chest to hide her smile.

A small laugh escaped her, and her shoulders shook with barely-contained giggles. Si-hyun looked at her, confused, and continued to search her hair while also glancing around.

‘This is weird… I feel like someone’s watching us.’

It was an odd sensation he couldn’t quite describe. The invisible gaze seemed to grow stronger, prickling the back of his neck with an uncomfortable intensity.

‘What’s going on?’

Perplexed, Si-hyun eventually gave up searching the area. Instead, he returned his attention to Yerin, gently smoothing out her hair.