ASD 31

“Gijun.”

“Yeah?”

“Do you go to church? I noticed you always wear a rosary bracelet.”

Gawon gestured toward Gijun’s wrist with his eyes. The rosary bracelet, with a small cross set in the middle, was worn smooth and shiny, looking old even at a glance. The bracelet he wore without fail every single day had, at some point, become engraved in Gawon’s mind as one of the few characteristics that symbolized Gijun.

Chocolate milk. The smell of fabric softener. The black short-sleeved t-shirt and gray zip-up hoodie he always wore under his school uniform. A large Nike gym bag. Sneakers that were dazzlingly clean every time he saw them, and the rosary bracelet.

“Ah, yeah. This.”

Gijun looked down and let out a soft laugh.

“It’s my mom’s. My mother was Catholic.”

“…Oh.”

He was at a loss for words. He’d said before that his mother had passed away. Then was this something like a memento?

A brief, awkward silence followed. Gijun wore an unbothered expression, but Gawon felt a sense of dismay. He had brought up the wrong topic.

“I’ll get your drinks ready for you first.”

Like a savior, an employee approached and handed them their drinks. An orange ade was placed in front of Gijun, and a grapefruit ade in front of Gawon. The bittersweet flavor pricked at his throat as it went down.

Gijun treated Gawon as casually as if no such conversation had ever taken place. Thanks to the boy’s unique aura, which always put people at ease, Gawon’s heart also gradually relaxed.

The food came out in succession. Starting with a salad and soup, pasta and a large steak were placed on the table one after another. Unable to resist Gijun’s urging to eat, Gawon picked up his fork first.

“…Wow.”

It was the moment he took a bite of the pasta. His eyes wide, Gawon let out an involuntary exclamation.

“It’s incredibly delicious.”

“It is?”

“Yeah. It’s really… really good.”

He hadn’t had high expectations, even when they were ordering. He had wondered if it would taste that much different from the spaghetti they served for school lunch, even if they called it pasta.

But the moment he tasted the food, Gawon realized that his hasty assumption had been completely wrong. He couldn’t believe something could taste this good. The pasta, with its wide noodles and a sauce that was both creamy and slightly spicy, was a flavor Gawon had never experienced before.

“You said you liked Western food last time, so I brought you here. I’m glad you like it. Eat up.”

Gawon slowly stopped eating. When he came to his senses, he saw Gijun watching him with a smile, his chin propped on his hand.

How can he… look at a person’s face with eyes like that…

Gawon, flustered, ducked his head and needlessly blamed Gijun. He was belatedly embarrassed that he had gotten so lost in the flavor of the food and had been eating so enthusiastically all by himself. At the same time, he felt a little strange.

‘Korean food, or Western food?’

Had he said Western food to that question, asked as if in jest? He probably had. He ate Korean food every day anyway, and he couldn’t eat Western food unless it was served for school lunch. For him, who struggled to get by day to day, having preferences was a luxury.

That was the only reason he had answered that way. But Gijun had remembered it. And the way his eyes looked as he watched him gobble down his food…

Was that how parents looked when they watched their children eat? Gijun looked full and pleased. Even though he himself hadn’t even picked up his fork, so absorbed in watching Gawon.

‘…He’s a really strange kid.’

Gawon, his face red, awkwardly averted his gaze. Only after Gawon told him to stop staring did Gijun start to eat.

All the food was incredibly delicious. Not just the pasta, but the steak and salad as well. There’s a reason expensive places are expensive. A new flavor spread through his mouth with every single bite. All the food was completely different from what he used to buy at convenience stores or snack bars.

The food, which had seemed like so much he wondered if he could finish it all, was cleared away easily, as always. He was pleasantly full.

“Hey, Gijun… thank you for the meal.”

Gawon awkwardly thanked Gijun, who had just finished paying. It was great while he was eating… but he had accidentally seen the specific amount on the bill. He suddenly felt like the delicious food he had eaten was sitting heavy in his stomach.

But despite having spent such a large sum, Gijun was unfazed. Turning around with a fresh smile, the boy very naturally reached out and touched Gawon’s shoulder.

“Did you enjoy the meal? Are you full?”

“Yeah. I’m so full.”

“Then, shall we walk to the movie theater? To help with digestion.”

“Sounds good.”

It was about a fifteen-minute walk from the restaurant to the movie theater. It was the perfect distance to walk off their full stomachs.

The bustling downtown area was just getting started. Restaurants, ready for lunchtime, opened their doors one by one. Students from various schools, their exams over, actively roamed the streets. With a sense of novelty, Gawon watched the groups of boys swarming around, and the girls with dolls dangling from their bags browsing for phone cases.

It was a scene he had lived his life without knowing. A vitality he had never once experienced. Because he was busy just getting by day to day, busy just enduring the weight of a life that felt like it would break his back.

“The weather’s nice. The kids are already out in droves.”

And, if it hadn’t been for this boy, he probably would have become an adult without ever having had an experience like this.

“…Yeah.”

Even at his delayed reply, Gijun smiled pleasantly.

As they entered the movie theater building, Gawon took his phone out of his pocket. He had a movie voucher he had gotten cheaply from a second-hand market. Yesterday, when Gijun had asked what movie he wanted to see, he had told him sharply not to worry about it, that he would take care of the movie.

Considering the showtimes, there were two options. A noir film and a romance film, and a Hollywood action movie. The action movie seemed like the safest bet, but it was already sold out, likely because it was the day exams ended. Between the remaining choices, the romance seemed better, so he picked that one. Thankfully, Gijun immediately agreed.

“I’m gonna use the restroom for a second.”

“Uh-huh.”

Left alone, Gawon quietly looked around the movie theater. He watched the students gathered in small groups buying tickets, then subtly averted his gaze when he saw kids wearing the same school uniform. Quickly growing tired of people-watching, Gawon watched the movie teaser videos playing on a loop.

He thought Gijun would be back right away, but it took longer than he expected. It occurred to him that it would be a good idea to buy some popcorn during this time. Two colas and one popcorn should be enough… Just as he finished the calculation in his head and looked up, he saw Gijun already walking toward him, holding popcorn.

“Ah. I was going to buy it…”

“What are you talking about? You said you’re treating me to the movie. Of course I should buy the popcorn.”

But the meal you bought me cost so much… The words came all the way up to his throat, but Gawon just said, “Thanks,” and kept quiet. Since he was on a date—no, hanging out—with Gijun, he didn’t want to bicker over money.

He couldn’t quite remember the last time he had been to a movie theater. Was it in elementary school, or was the last time in middle school…

“Let’s go in.”

A hushed voice tickled his ear. The inside of the theater was dark, and commercials were playing. He felt tense trying to move forward, relying only on the dim lights illuminating the floor.

Naturally, his steps slowed and his body tensed up. Gijun keenly noticed Gawon’s state and held out his arm.

“Grab on here.”

Gawon responded to the low whisper. The moment he grasped the firm, solid arm, the subtle anxiety that had crept in vanished in an instant.

Even while holding the popcorn and colas, Gijun skillfully matched his pace. Using him as a beacon, he slowly felt his way through the darkness until they reached their seats.

As soon as he sat down, he awkwardly withdrew his hand. Gijun’s warmth still lingered on his palm. He belatedly felt embarrassed by the fact that he had linked arms with the boy, as if clinging to his arm.

Gawon tried hard not to be conscious of Gijun sitting right next to him and quickly popped a piece of popcorn into his mouth. The sweet caramel popcorn crunched in his mouth.

“That commercial is so funny, right?”

It was when the commercials were playing one after another. Gijun suddenly leaned over and whispered that into Gawon’s ear.

The moment he heard the low, soft voice, the pit of his stomach tingled. Gawon almost dropped the cola he was holding.

“That… that tickles. Don’t… talk right in my ear.”

“…Huh?”

Gijun’s eyes widened for a moment. But it was only for a second; he nodded with a curious expression.

“Ah… oh. Sorry.”

Hearing the sheepish apology, Gawon wanted to bang his head against something. This seems a little… like I’m being way too conscious of him…

Gawon, his face burning, subtly moved his body away from Gijun. He also discreetly pulled in his thighs, which had been pressed together. It was a relief that in the darkness, no one could see his ears and face turning hot.