Screaming –
We crossed the crowd and arrived at the food alley near the station .
It is a good place to spend some time in moderation as it is a downtown area built near the university… ,
“ Isn’t today a weekday? There are a lot of people .”
Maybe it’s the vacation period, so you can see a lot of young people on the street from midday on weekdays .
“ Um… . What should I do… .”
I was troubled by looking at the signboards that were lined up in a row, so I walked along the main road with Soyeon, and took a look at what they were .
However… .
“… … .”
Board games, room cafes, DVDs, etc… .
There are so many stores that seem to be everywhere, so it was not easy to pick and choose .
… Can’t help it… .
In times like this, sweet and cool are the best .
Just in time, I found a nearby store and suggested to Soyeon, who was walking side by side .
“ Soyeon-ah. Shall we eat shaved ice ?”
“… Bingsu ?”
“ Yeah. It’s in front of me, so let’s think about it while eating something cool .”
OK… .
Soyeon secretly refrained from answering, and then began to glance around .
I guess you didn’t like my proposal very much .
“ Or… , would you like to go somewhere else ?”
I looked into Soyeon’s eyes, and quickly suggested another option ,
“… Where ?”
As if she didn’t like it too much, she glanced up at me with a look of anticipation somewhere .
uh… .
When she was thinking about a place that Soyeon would be satisfied with, even bringing out old memories .
“… huh ?”
In the corner of the field of view, a particularly clean signboard caught my attention .
[ Elk Coin Karaoke Room ]
*
♬~♩~?~♪~
People’s voices and cheerful melodies leaking from everywhere .
“I found it .”
As we were walking through the narrow corridor, we were able to quickly find the room we were guided to, and as we
entered
the small room, the noise from outside was greatly reduced .
“ Isn’t it pretty spacious ?”
“… That’s it .”
Soyeon scans the room with curious eyes .
I’ve never been to a karaoke bar before, so I’ve been there for a while… .
“… What is this ?”
“That ’s what you book a song with .”
“… Huh… .”
It seems like he was interested, and he showed interest by asking questions about it .
While Soyeon looked at the remote control with a curious face… .
“ For now, just this… .”
I was inserting coins in moderation with the changed cash .
that moment .
“… .”
I could feel the gaze from the side, so I turned my head slightly and saw Soyeon holding a remote control looking at me .
“… Have you been here a lot ?”
A nuance that seems to be paying attention to something .
I couldn’t even say that I had ever been with your mother, so I turned around and changed the topic .
“ Not much… , ah. Reserve the song first .”
Then Soyeon, who was looking at me quietly, averted her eyes, touched the remote control a few times, and then gently handed it over to me .
“… Call me first .”
I smiled involuntarily at the sight of her averting her eyes as if embarrassed again, and quietly received the remote control and reserved the one and only song 18 .
[ bravo my life… ]
♬~♩~?~♪~
A familiar melody resounds in the room as the lights turn off .
“… By the end of the year, one afternoon .”
I sang this song the first time I went to karaoke with my wife ,
“ On the way home ~.”
Who would have imagined that Soyeon would sing this song in front of her ?
“ Whew… .”
So the song ended .
Feeling a strange sense of relief, I lowered the microphone, and at the subtle gaze I felt next to me, I turned my head .
“… .”
Soyeon looking at something with a curious face .
Seeing her like that, she smiled and handed the remote control, and she took the remote control and spoke softly .
“… It’s amazing, my dad loved that song too .”
… huh ?
I was immediately taken aback by Soyeon’s unexpected reaction, and said ,
“… uh… .”
As if Soyeon did not notice my reaction, she quietly started fiddling with the remote control .
… no… ?
I looked into Soyeon’s eyes and quietly sighed in relief .
It’s just a song I sang without much thought, I’m sure this kind of reaction will come back… .
Somehow, I thought that I should be more careful about my behavior in front of Soyeon .
meanwhile .
Hwaak –
The lights went out again, and a melody began to flow from the speaker .
♬~♩~?~♪~
A familiar title that comes to mind on a karaoke machine .
[ A Doll’s Dream ]
It was Soyeon’s song selection .
“… you… . I can only see far away ~”
Soyeon’s voice trembled subtly .
I turned my head slightly to glance at her and said ,
“… I am right here ~”
Soyeon was staring at the lyrics while holding the microphone tightly with both hands as if nervously .
“ One step later, I was always there… . Can’t you see me forever ~”
The sincerity contained in each word of the lyrics was enough to draw my attention .
So maybe… .
“ If you look at me… . If you beckon me~ I will always love you ~”
The sad lyrics sounded like a story being told to me .
“… .”
So, one song at a time, I sang this song and that song… .
“ Huh? It’s already over .”
Coins ran out all of a sudden .
I glanced at the time and asked Soyeon about the doctor .
OK… .
“… Let’s go somewhere else .”
Soyeon has been telling her to spend time elsewhere .
“ Is that so ?”
I accepted the opinion without much thought, and after sending Soyeon out first, when I checked to see if there were any items I didn’t bring… .
[ 1. Doll’s dream 100 points ]
[ 2. Bravo my life 99 points ]
…
A list of songs we sang appeared on the monitor .
“… … .”
I stared at the monitor for a while, and then closed the door as it was
and
followed Soyeon .
*
A small theater a bit far from downtown .
“I have popcorn! Spicy and delicious popcorn! They also have sweet caramel popcorn !”
A young man was pulling a cart full of popcorn machines, selling popcorn to a waiting audience .
And the bench across from it .
“ Popcorn. Shall I buy you one ?”
“… no .”
“ Then I’ll buy you something to drink .”
Yoo Ji-hwan, who was sitting next to Min So-yeon, abruptly got up and approached the man, and said ,
“ Um… . Give me this .”
Min So-yeon picked her favorite drink and returned to the bench .
“ Is this right ?”
“… yes .”
Min So-yeon, who felt good inwardly at the slightest consideration, was handed a drink while unintentionally waving her legs back and forth, and Yoo Ji-hwan shared a drink with Min So-yeon and looked around the small theater .
The two of them, who had left the karaoke room earlier, wandered aimlessly again and again, but found a small theater run by the university and bought tickets right away .
The title is [Look at Me ]
, a play depicting the realistic love story of young college students .
“ Um… . Five minutes left .”
Yoo Ji-hwan, who was contemplating the route while checking the time, asked Min So-yeon .
“ See all this, where are you going? I made reservations for the restaurant at 7:30 a.m. ”
“… Well .”
Min So-yeon shows a subtle reaction as if she doesn’t know .
In fact, Min So-yeon already has a few places that she has pointed out in her heart .
Room cafe, DVD room, motel, etc… .
However, since it is not a place to speak at first glance, I was quietly waiting for Yoo Ji-hwan’s opinion with the nuance that anywhere is good .
“ Um… . Let’s go out and think about it .”
“… yes .”
And as time goes by… .
“ Um… . They told me to sit anywhere in an empty seat… .”
“… Then, let’s sit over there .”
While Min So-yeon and Yoo Ji-hwan took a suitable seat, several couples followed and started to fill the empty seats .
Soon after… .
Tak – the
lights went out ,
and the sound of footsteps began to be heard over the dimly lit stage
.
The content of the play was as follows .
The main character, a returning student, falls in love with a freshman and begins to build a relationship, and the heroine, who has been waiting for the main character while taking a leave of absence, helps the main character and the freshman in love counseling .
“ Look at this? Are you dating!? It’s very upsetting, huh ?”
“ Yeah. Yoo So-min! Are you saying… , don’t bother playing with us !”
“… we play? hi… . I’m not interested! What are you guys going to do when we break up ?”
“ Come on, senpai! We’re not breaking up… !”
As with most small theater plays, it was difficult to expect spectacular stage effects or great directing .
However, everything felt so new to Min So-yeon, who was her first experience, and
she immersed herself in the female lead who was in a similar situation to herself and began to support her sincerely .
In contrast… .
Yoo Ji-hwan, who had already gone to see plays with his wife several times, had a different view .
He was simply admiring the hard work of the actors and the production team, and he was quietly appreciating the play, and cheered for the freshman who was dating the main character rather than the heroine, who was constantly conflicted between friendship and love
.
How long has it been since the two of them watched the play from opposite perspectives? .
Before long, the play is coming to an end ,
“ hahaha… . What should I do with this ?”
After many twists and turns, the main character was deeply troubled by seeing two messages that arrived at the same time .
[ Brother. A must today! I wish we were together. I will be waiting for you . ]
A message from a freshman who is in love with the main character and [
o hey! You really don’t live like that… . ]
A message from a friend who found out that he had waited until the army .
When everyone in the audience was waiting for the main character’s choice, holding their breath .
“ I can’t either… !”
As if the main character had made up his mind to touch the phone, he sent a message to someone and disappeared behind the stage .
and… .
A flashing messenger image on the backstage screen .
[ Our performance ♥ ]
[ Baby. Sorry… . I don’t think I can go today. I’ll get back to you later . ]
means that the main character has chosen a female protagonist .
“ Wow… .”
“ Huh… .”
There are mixed reactions from all over the audience . Fiery – Min So
– yeon quietly clenched her
fists satisfied with the heroine’s victory, and desperately – Yoo Ji
– hwan quietly
shook her head at the protagonist’s betrayal of her girlfriend .
The play ended with the female protagonist and the main character opening their hearts and kissing passionately .
Clap Clap Clap Clap – The
audience cheered for the story that was more lively than expected ,
Min So-yeon gave a strong applause, and Yoo Ji-hwan left a slightly disappointing applause .
*
At sunset .
“… hee hee .”
Soyeon, who received the doll I picked with the punch machine as a gift, was fiddling with the doll for no reason and smiling pleasantly ,
“… .”
Seeing her like that, my heart grew heavier and heavier .
I’m thinking of my wife and trying to make up my mind, but… .
There is no parent who can beat their children, and every time I see Soyeon, I feel like my heart is getting weaker .
“ Ha… .”
So we arrived at the restaurant we had reserved in advance and were immediately shown our seats .
The seat I reserved was a seat by the window with a clear view of the Han River, and perhaps you can see the fireworks well here .
“… So Yeon-ah .”
I skimmed through the menu, picked a suitable menu, and then spoke to Soyeon .
“ I live today, so eat whatever you want .”
Then, Soyeon looked at me for a moment with a dissatisfied face, then sighed briefly and spoke softly .
“… okay. then… . Pasta salad and… .”
When I sigh as if I have no choice but to think that my mother is the source of my money… .
Although it is money I earned during my lifetime, this is the money I earned and saved by myself .
But I can’t reveal this fact, so I quietly ordered food, feeling resentful from the inside .
“… … .”
So after placing the order .
Click-click –
Soyeon puts the doll I gave her on the table and takes pictures while making a happy expression .
I looked out the window, where darkness had already fallen, and whispered to me .
“… So Yeon-ah. Did you have fun today ?”
Then Soyeon gently put down her phone and answered with a smile on her lips .
“… yes. It was really good .”
praising among accolades .
I can’t say it’s rare, so I slowly closed my eyes at Soyeon’s direct compliment, the first time I’d heard of it
… can do… .
Recalling the scene I saw in my dream once again, I firmly gripped my shaking heart .
And about 10 minutes left until the fireworks start .
“ The food you ordered has arrived .”
The food Soyeon had chosen began to be placed on the table one by one .
“… I will eat well .”
“ Eat a lot .”
I habitually pick up meat, trim it to fit, and feed Soyeon first .
“ Come on .”
“… Thank you .”
Soyeon quietly pulled in the plate with a faint smile as if satisfied , and
I slowly moved the fork as I watched her .
“ This is delicious. Soyeon-ah, try this too .”
“… yes .”
In fact, it is a lie to say that it is delicious .
“… Was n’t the play really fun ?”
“ It wasn’t bad .”
“… I think it’s better than most movies .”
“… Okay, then, let’s go see it next time .”
“… yes .”
I have no appetite .
“… I thought I would get another doll .”
“ I’ll pick you up next time .”
My stomach churns .
Around the time I couldn’t tell if I was eating with my mouth or my nose .
Suck – Soyeon glanced
at me and put down her fork, and carefully opened her mouth .
“… There you are… .”
that moment .
pop-! Puff -!
8:00
p.m. “… Ah .”
fireworks
started _ Loud
hum –
People started murmuring at the sound of firecrackers coming from outside the window, and Soyeon
stopped talking and looked out the window .
“… … .”
Suck –
I put down my fork and forced myself to swallow the food I had in my mouth, then I said softly, rinsing my mouth lightly with water .
“ Soyeon-ah .”
Then, Soyeon slowly turned her head and looked at me, and I
finally made up my mind and entered the restaurant and made eye contact with Soyeon for the first time .
“… why… ?”
Soyeon’s voice trembles faintly as if she felt some anxiety .
Now is the time to pull the trigger .
“… Me and your mother… . I’m seriously dating Yeonhee noona .”
“… huh ?”
Her red eyes trembled .
“ I should have revealed the country sooner too… . Sorry for misunderstanding you all this time. I sincerely apologize .”
“… Ji-Hwan-ah… . No, that… .”
Embarrassed, she looked at me impatiently and said ,
“ I… , I cannot accept your heart .”
Eventually I drew a line with her .
“… A man as a good friend in the future .”