Chapter 79: Birthday Date (2)

Chapter 79: Birthday Date (2)

TL/Editor: Raei

Schedule: 5/week, Mon-Fri

Illustrations: Here

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Absent-mindedly, Song Soo-yeon left the cinema.

The afterglow of the movie hadn't faded yet.

She, more than anyone, knew that now was not the time to be intoxicated with excitement, but rather a time to comfort Jung-gyeom.

Yet, she couldn't help it.

Throughout the movie, she had projected herself and Jung-gyeom into it.

She understood why people loved romance films so much.

It had given her such a fresh shock.

It was actually her first time at a cinema.

She had no money, and even fewer friends.

Thinking this, she realized that everything she did with Jung-gyeom felt new and different.

To others, these might have been too mundane, but for her, it was something she was only now experiencing.

Jung-gyeom's footsteps were imprinted on what were once blank pages to her.

Dates.

Amusement parks.

Intertwined fingers.

Hugs.

Cinemas.

He was her first in everything.

A fact that would never change for the rest of her life.

Unknowingly, a surge of emotion welled up within her.

She felt terribly sorry about the restaurant still and was immensely grateful for these everyday joys she was receiving.

But for now, she suppressed her feelings.

Quietly, she linked arms with him again and walked along the street.

---

---

As her tumultuous heart calmed down, only fondness for Jung-gyeom blossomed.

How could she make him happy?

In the bustling streets, Song Soo-yeon looked around.

She didn't mind the stares sticking to her.

She was searching for something that Jung-gyeom would like.

She saw clothing stores.

Song Soo-yeon recalled the face of Solace, who had gifted Jung-gyeom clothes a few months ago.

"Mister, do you need clothes?"

"Clothes?"

"If there's something you want to buy, I'll buy it for you."

"Soo-yeon-"

As he was about to refuse, Song Soo-yeon immediately interrupted him.

"-No, I decided to pay for everything today, but you ended up paying for everything."

"..."

"I'll buy it. Let's go."

Jung-gyeom similarly looked at a nearby clothing restaurant.

She even told a slight lie to persuade him.

"...I've gotten quite interested in clothes since doing modeling. It'd be good for you to have more clothes, wouldn't it?"

"..."

Somehow, upon hearing that, Jung-gyeom nodded his head and then burst into a bright smile.

"So you got interested because of modeling."

It was a smile that brightened the day.

Puzzled but continuing, Song Soo-yeon went on.

"Yes, so-"

"-No, it's okay. But thank you for thinking of me."

"...But still-"

"-More importantly, how's the modeling going?"

He asked.

Song Soo-yeon swallowed for a moment.

The question hit her unexpectedly.

But she was well prepared.

She had thought he would ask eventually.

She had even prepared a portfolio, ready to discuss it perfectly.

But she knew being too boastful would be weird.

She tried not to spill too many words, only the necessary ones.

"It's tough, but manageable. And it pays well."

"Really? What else?"

"What else...?"

"Your thoughts can't just be limited to that."

"..."

Song Soo-yeon unpacked the contents of the bundle of lies she had prepared in response to his question.

"The poses are sometimes tough, but I'm gradually getting used to it."

"Don't you find it painful to be judged?"

"...I can handle it. Initially, there were no men in the studio, only women."

"Do they provide meals well?"

"...I like your cooking the best, mister."

Jung-gyeom looked at Song Soo-yeon in surprise.

"You've never said that to me before."

"I'm not one to talk much."

Jung-gyeom's mood brightened more than ever. The heavy worries he had gradually disappeared.

Song Soo-yeon felt that he was still looking out for her.

The restaurant had disappeared, but he was still asking about her living situation.

Perhaps she was projecting her own anger towards her father onto him.

Song Soo-yeon turned away.

"...?"

But Jung-gyeom was looking at the claw machine.

Song Soo-yeon looked up at him.

He, like her, was quietly observing the child and father at the claw machine.

"Hmm... that looks fun?"

He said.

"...What?"

As Song Soo-yeon frowned, Jung-gyeom walked towards the claw machine.

Then he rummaged in his pocket, took out a 1000-won bill, and inserted it into the machine.

"Soo-yeon, do you want anything?"

"...I don't."

Perhaps because of the resentment she felt towards the child's father earlier, Song Soo-yeon responded curtly without realizing it.

"Oh, really?"

But Jung-gyeom didn't seem to mind much.

With a smile, he maneuvered the lever back and forth before pressing the button.

The claw descended and grabbed a puppy doll the size of a fist.

In an instant, the prize was ejected from the machine.

"This is a gift."

Jung-gyeom said, smiling as he handed it over.

Song Soo-yeon's frown gradually faded.

...It was strange.

Until just now, she had a huge aversion to the same kind of gift... but the moment Jung-gyeom won it for her, it became something special.

Why didn't it seem like a cheap gift now?

Every detail of the puppy doll strongly imprinted itself in her mind.

"If you don't like it, you can throw it away."

Jung-gyeom said lightly.

Song Soo-yeon shook her head and took the doll with both hands.

...It felt like receiving a doll gift she never got in her childhood.

She couldn't even identify what emotion she was feeling now.

She felt like she might get annoyed, yet also felt like crying.

Every time she was with him, she felt like she became more of a crybaby.

She didn't remember crying much in her life.

"Let's go."

Jung-gyeom briskly turned around.

Song Soo-yeon held the doll in her arms and linked her other arm with Jung-gyeom's.

Her heart continued to pound.

---

---

After spending the afternoon playing, the day ended at Jung-gyeom's studio apartment.

It was a place for Jung-gyeom to rest, as well as a place where Song Soo-yeon used to rest, so neither of them felt any discomfort.

After cooking a delicious dinner and chatting away, Jung-gyeom checked the time.

"Time to go back, Soo-yeon. It's time to rest now."

"...Already?"

Song Soo-yeon also checked the time and asked.

"Is there anything else to do?"

"..."

Song Soo-yeon blinked and hesitated to answer.

The doll Jung-gyeom had given her was still sitting on her lap.

"...Um, Mister."

Song Soo-yeon scrambled for an excuse.

"...Can I stay here tonight?"

"What?"

"No, I've slept here a lot... for the sake of memories."

"..."

"We've already slept in the same room after drinking"

"..."

Jung-gyeom didn't answer, so Song Soo-yeon started to feel nervous.

She knew it was a sudden request, but she feared getting hurt if he pushed her away.

She had mustered up the courage and wanted a corresponding reward.

Song Soo-yeon finally played her last card out of desperation.

She decided to go all out with the lie.

"...I'm still struggling because the restaurant was destroyed."

"...Ah."

Jung-gyeom reacted to that.

Then, he slowly smiled bitterly.

"...Right? You were just as upset as me, weren't you?"

"...If I wasn't upset, I wouldn't have offered to pay for the repairs."

Jung-gyeom had yet to make a decision about the repair costs.

Since the building needed to be fixed first, there was still plenty of time left.

It seemed like Jung-gyeom was still thinking about it.

Jung-gyeom shrugged.

"But there's no blanket."

"I'll bring one from home. It's only a 5-minute distance. I want to sleep here tonight too."

"..."

"Just this once, okay?"

Finally, Jung-gyeom gave in.

His expression was completely different from yesterday or this morning.

The atmosphere had softened back to how it used to be.

He said,

"......Alright, let's do that just for tonight."