“Isn’t that a date invitation?”
“Date?”
This place is Yoo Ji-woo’s laboratory. I told Yoo Ji-woo about the incident that happened in the lecture room earlier.
“It is. He said let’s go watch a movie together. If it’s not a date, then what is it?”
Then Yoo Ji-woo defined it as a date.
“Hmm.”
But it was still too early to decide it was a date. Just in case, I decided to hear the opinion of someone else this time.
“Rashid, what do you think.”
“I. Don’t know. About that stuff.”
Rashid, lying on the floor, mumbled.
What a completely uninformative answer.
“Date…”
Suddenly mentioning a date feels strange. Honestly, I think it doesn’t make sense. Would Arna, who feels nothing good towards me, really propose something like a date?
Unless it’s a sparring match where we fight each other.
“I’m not entirely sure about their relationship yet, but…”
At that moment, Yoo Ji-woo, who was busy repairing a machine, interjected briefly.
“Isn’t it said that human relationships are unpredictable?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Look over there.”
To illustrate the point, Yoo Ji-woo pointed at Rashid lying sprawled out in the lab.
“Who could’ve thought this lump of stone would end up lying on the lab floor like this? I still can’t believe it.”
That’s something I also agree with. Who could’ve imagined Rashid would be comfortably napping there?
Just last month, Rashid was someone with whom I had no contact at all, and now we’re in the same space, breathing the same air.
It’s become something of a given that he’s around.
“Approximately, it’s somewhat like that, isn’t it?”
Rashid’s sudden change in relationship with me. Likewise, it’s saying that my relationship with Arna has now also changed.
We went from consistently growling at each other to a point where dates are now being suggested.
“So, are you going out this Saturday?”
“Hmm? What are you talking about?”
“What is it? You said you’re going to watch a movie, remember? We were talking about that very thing.”
“Oh, you mean that.”
I revealed what happened afterward.
“I haven’t decided yet.”
“Huuuh…?”
Clatter –
Suddenly, Yoo Ji-woo dropped the screwdriver they were holding, and it rolled far across the floor.
“You haven’t decided yet? And you just left after receiving the date invitation without any response?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you stupid?”
Yoo Ji-woo cursed me freely, then started lecturing me.
“How can you do that? If you receive a date invitation, it’s common sense to reply immediately—whether you’re going or not.”
“Is that what it is?”
“Woah.”
Yoo Ji-woo slightly opened their mouth in amazement.
“So, the person named Arna must still be waiting for your reply, right?”
“Perhaps.”
“Are you truly even human?”
Not human? I didn’t think I’d hear this from a quirky engineer. Did I do something so terrible?
“You. Trash. Very. Unrecyclable.”
“…”
Rashid, who usually doesn’t say much, saying that—it’s definitely serious. It seems like I made a big mistake this time.
“Will you just stay here on the couch? Shouldn’t you go check this out now?”
“Understood. I’ll go ahead first.”
There’s nothing for it but to go meet her directly. I stood up from the sofa.
“Ah, by the way.”
Before stepping out of the lab, I hesitated a moment and glanced at Rashid.
“Rashid, are you coming along too?”
“Something like that should be handled alone!”
Yoo Ji-woo, unable to bear it anymore, burst out in frustration.
*
“Huff huff…”
Late afternoon, as the sun was beginning to set, Arna was running on the track installed at the outdoor Training Center.
Thud!
All she wanted to do at the moment was run. She wanted to run fast and release her frustration by focusing on something.
—”This Saturday, right? I might not be available.”
But no matter how much she ran, she couldn’t shake off that voice. It still lingered in her ears.
Even now, while her legs were moving fast.
“Ahhh! Seriously, aaaagh!”
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. She mustered her courage and suggested watching a movie together.
But all she got in return was that measly reply.
“It’s unacceptable to make someone feel embarrassed. To some degree, but come on!”
Moreover, who is Arna? She’s the pride of the Han-yul Military Academy and a star-like figure, isn’t she? Someone everyone envies.
If Arna made a suggestion, one should just follow it quietly, not dare to hesitate, and certainly not delay responding.
“Ughh…!”
The ironic part was Arna’s own attitude—she was still waiting patiently for Shin Yoon-seong’s reply.
Is there any other place in this world where such humiliating things happen?
“I don’t know either! Why am I acting like this?!”
What is this movie that I have to cling onto so much? It’s not like it’s something I’ve been dying to watch. It’s just an accidental movie ticket, isn’t it?
Then why am I acting so passive?
This is not at all like Arna.
Tak.
Arna paused her running briefly, clutching her knees, and muttered to herself.
“What happened to make things this way…?”
“What do you mean?”
Another voice from within the outdoor Training Center made Arna look up with a jolt and toward the stands.
Standing there was Shin Yoon-seong.
“What’s with that dazed look on your face? You haven’t seen a ghost, have you?”
By now the sun had fully set, and darkness began to spread across the sky.
But the outdoor Training Center was different. Streetlights installed at various points illuminated the area, making it feel like we were on a stage.
Thump—
And Shin Yoon-seong stepped onto that stage.
“Why… why are you here…?”
“I came looking for you.”
“Looking for me? What for?”
“For you, Arna.”
Hearing that he had come looking for her, Arna caught her breath. Simultaneously, her heart rate accelerated, and she felt a warm sensation spreading quickly through her body.
This must be due to running, right? It’s absolutely not because Yoon-seong is here. Not at all.
“Wha, what do you want with me… Owch…!”
Just as she tried to calm down her excited heart and began to speak, she accidentally bit her tongue without realizing it. Tears immediately trickled down.
“Oww… Tongue, my tongue…”
“Clumsy.”
It was unfortunate she bit her tongue at this moment. Timing couldn’t have been worse.
And it hurt a lot.
“This Saturday, right? The movie screening day.”
“…!”
For a moment, Arna’s pain subsided. Her eyes widened.
What did he just say? Did he mention the movie? Is he here to give her an answer? Arna’s ears perked up, focusing intently on Shin Yoon-seong.
The pain was long gone.
“But Saturday is a bit busy. I still need to vacuum, there’s overdue laundry I need to do. Oh, and coincidentally, I’ve a hair salon reservation that day, too.”
“…”
It figures, right. That’s somewhat what I expected—an answer that would go something like that.
Of course, I knew this would happen if he wouldn’t accept the movie invitation, so why was I expecting anything at all?
I’m losing steam unnecessarily.
“I see… If you don’t have time, there’s nothing we can do…”
“But I will go.”
However, Shin Yoon-seong’s words weren’t yet finished. He suddenly changed his mind and said he would go after all.
For a moment, Arna couldn’t understand what he said and tilted her head.
“What did you just say?”
“I said I’ll go.”
“But you said you have things to do…”
“Such things can be quickly finished before noon.”
What is this? So what’s happening here? Is it a final “yes”? Am I really going to see the movie with him this Saturday, alone?
Is this true?
“Are you dumbstruck again? What’s so surprising?”
“B, but… isn’t it natural, considering it’s you, to decline?”
“It’s a free ticket. There’s no reason not to go.”
Still unbelievable. Could Yoon-seong actually say he’ll go? Could it be a dream? Arna pinched her cheeks.
“Oww!”
“This one’s putting on a show alone.”
Shin Yoon-seong extended something toward Arna, who was stroking her cheeks. It was a can of soda. He had just taken it out of a plastic bag.
“Would you like something to drink?”
“Cola? Don’t you have any sports drinks instead…?”
“There’s only carbonated drinks in here.”
Shin Yoon-seong showed the inside of the bag, which contained exactly 2 cans of cola.
“You’re suggesting cola to someone who has just finished exercising? Your sense is truly lacking.”
“If you don’t want it, just say so.”
“Eh! I didn’t say I wouldn’t drink, did I?”
Arna quickly grabbed the can of cola. The can was ice cold, having been bought fresh. Perfect for cooling her sweat.
“…”
But Arna didn’t open the can right away. Frowning slightly, she glared at it.
Then Arna smirked.
“Hmph, did you really think I’d fall for such a shallow trap?”
“What’s with all this talk?”
“Trade drinks with me.”
Arna pushed the can back toward Shin Yoon-seong. Surely, something fishy has been done to this can of cola. For example, shaking the can vigorously before coming here.
Arna isn’t so easily tricked by such tricks.
Haven’t I suffered enough from them already?
“You sure are suspicious.”
Shin Yoon-seong willingly exchanged cans with her. They traded the cans they were holding. Then he theatrically opened the can lid.
Ssssh—!
“Uh…?”
Contrary to Arna’s expectations, the can opened neatly. There wasn’t any obvious sign of tampering.
Gulp gulp.
Then Shin Yoon-seong continued by drinking the cola in front of Arna’s eyes. There was really nothing unusual about the soda.
“Are you satisfied now?”
“Hmm…”
Apparently, my suspicion may have gone too far. After all, this is somewhat excessive for a joke at this level.
Arna also opened the can.
Psssshhhhooosh—!
But accidents happen when you let your guard down. As soon as she opened the can, a tremendous amount of cola foam burst onto Arna.
Drip drip.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say Arna had almost been drenched by almost half the can. From her forehead to her jaw—cola started streaming all over her face.
And Shin Yoon-seong burst into uncontrollable laughter upon seeing this.
“I knew this would happen, so I pre-shook my cola beforehand.”
“…”
“How does it feel to fall for your own trick? All this trouble because you decided to play games with that not-so-brilliant head of yours… Hahaha…!”
Thud!
Arna slammed the can she was holding straight into the other person’s face.
I momentarily forgot. This person is Shin Yoon-seong.
As expected, a villain is a villain.
And this is an especially nasty villain.
