VLA | Chapter 1.5

Not wanting Kwon Ram to wait, Cha Sooha headed to the main road to catch a taxi. After the movie, he planned to drag Kwon Ram for a meal. Then, using the excuse of assignments, they’d hang out at a café and suggest drinks by evening.

Of course, Kwon Ram would keep refusing, but Cha Sooha wasn’t going to miss this chance. He had to get closer to Kwon Ram today.

Without the excuse of assignments, meeting Kwon Ram alone seemed difficult.

[I don’t like making sunbae wait~]

He quickly replied while waiting for a taxi. He didn’t expect a response. As he watched for the reserved taxi, a message from Kwon Ram arrived.

[I’ll be on time next time]

Next time?

Did he plan to watch another movie with him? That was unexpected. He thought Kwon Ram would draw a line after today.

The taxi ride to the cinema was quick. As he hurried up the escalator, he spotted a tall man standing in front of the ticket machine.

About to call out, Cha Sooha paused at Kwon Ram’s outfit. Usually, Kwon Ram wore neutral-toned sweatshirts or hoodies with baggy jeans. His height, broad shoulders, and long legs always stood out. As far as Sooha remembered, Kwon Ram preferred comfortable clothes. But today, he wore a neat shirt, a luxurious watch, and well-fitted black jeans.

Cha Sooha glanced down at his own outfit. He felt too casual compared to Kwon Ram. He sneaked another look at him.

He didn’t seem overly dressed up, yet he stood out immensely. They say fashion is completed by the face, and he looked like he stepped out of a magazine. Passersby glanced, wondering if he was a celebrity.

It was hard to tell if Kwon Ram dressed like that because of him or if he had other plans today.

Cha Sooha checked his phone. Some people hesitated around Kwon Ram, but his cold expression seemed to deter them from speaking. Occasionally, someone mustered the courage to ask for his contact, but Kwon Ram’s short, curt replies drew a line.

His demeanor only piqued people’s curiosity more.

He considered observing Kwon Ram from afar but decided against it. If Kwon Ram couldn’t handle the attention and fled home, it would be a problem.

“Sunbae!”

At his call, Kwon Ram, who was looking at his phone, lifted his head. His eyes seemed to narrow in a smile. By the time Sooha approached, that smile had vanished like a mirage.

“Did you wait long?”

“……Not really.”

Cha Sooha glanced at the shopping bag in Kwon Ram’s hand. It seemed he wasn’t mistaken about the time but was the type to handle multiple errands in one outing.

“We have some time. Should we wait at a café?”

Kwon Ram hesitated briefly, then nodded. It felt like dating a shy guy. Sooha gently tugged on Kwon Ram’s arm.

“Sunbae, what do you like? Do you eat desserts? There’s a famous dessert place nearby.”

“Anything. I don’t mind.”

Honestly, he thought Kwon Ram would shake off his arm. But seeing him follow without a word, Sooha smiled secretly.

Kwon Ram definitely had a crush on him.

“Do you have anything you like?”

Kwon Ram, staring at his iced Americano, looked up at Sooha’s question. Outside the classroom, Kwon Ram seemed a bit different. Softer, perhaps?

In class, he seemed oddly aloof, as if uncomfortable talking to him. But now, he seemed more cautious than aloof.

With a slightly awkward expression, Kwon Ram replied.

“……Never thought about it.”

That was an unexpected answer for Sooha. He hadn’t asked about hobbies, just if he liked any drinks, yet he had never thought about it?

“Do you like sweet things?”

“……Not sure.”

“Try this.”

Sooha offered his iced vanilla latte to Kwon Ram. His expression turned curious as he looked at the offered cup. Of course, he’d already sipped from the straw. Sooha wondered if Kwon Ram would replace the straw or drink from it as is.

He smiled silently, watching Kwon Ram. Kwon Ram lowered his head slightly, then drank from the straw.

Sooha quietly watched him. What was Kwon Ram thinking while drinking the latte?

Was it not to his taste?

Or was he thinking about the indirect kiss?

With a slightly childish thought, Sooha spoke.

“How is it?”

After a brief hesitation, Kwon Ram replied.

“……Not bad.”

“Want to switch?”

Sooha asked with a smile, and Kwon Ram seemed conflicted. Was it because he liked the vanilla latte or because of the shared straw?

If he offered a new straw with the latte, he’d find out soon enough. But Sooha didn’t do that.

“I like Americano too.”

Sooha took the untouched Americano Kwon Ram had ordered. Kwon Ram stared at the vanilla latte in front of him, then slowly started drinking.

Since Kwon Ram was someone who’d say if he didn’t like something, it seemed he liked the vanilla latte.

After that, Sooha asked Kwon Ram a few more questions but got no proper answers. As the conversation stalled, Sooha wondered if Kwon Ram disliked talking to him. But seeing him squeeze out answers to every question, it didn’t seem that way.

Sooha began observing Kwon Ram with curiosity. If everything he said was true, Kwon Ram was a person without hobbies or favorite movies or music.

When asked what he did on his days off, Kwon Ram replied,

“Nothing.”

Hearing that, Sooha felt he understood why Kwon Ram had attempted suicide.

“Why not start finding something now?”

What kind of upbringing leads to someone turning out like this?

Sooha asked, pondering.

Kwon Ram seemed to see no need, tilting his head slightly.

“Why?”

“Life’s too boring otherwise.”

At that, Kwon Ram lowered his gaze. His long, dense eyelashes cast a shadow. He looked somewhat innocent, and Sooha closed his mouth.

“Not sure.”

His voice carried a hint of self-deprecation. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he seemed to need comfort. Sooha cautiously added.

“I feel good doing what I like. Time flies by.”

Kwon Ram, who had been staring at the table, shifted his gaze to Sooha.

“What do you like?”

Sooha hadn’t expected Kwon Ram to ask him a question, so he paused.

“Me? Haha, I….”

“…….”

He couldn’t say he liked drinking and clubbing in front of someone he was trying to win over. Sooha racked his brain and answered.

“I like watching movies. But I don’t like watching alone.”

“……Why not alone?”

“I like sharing my thoughts after watching.”

At that, Kwon Ram’s gaze returned to the table. Sooha wondered what was so interesting about the table. As Kwon Ram fell silent, Sooha waited quietly. His expression seemed serious, making it awkward for Sooha to speak first.

“Then next time, let’s watch this.”

Sooha looked at what Kwon Ram pointed to. It was a movie poster he had brought. Before entering the café, he had grabbed them randomly from the cinema.

Kwon Ram pointed to a horror movie. Sooha asked, a bit puzzled.

“Do you like horror movies?”

“……Not really.”

“Wouldn’t this be better?”

Suggesting a movie he wasn’t interested in watching seemed odd. Maybe for Kwon Ram, the movie was just a means, and the real goal was to date him.

Even if he acted indifferent, it seemed clear Kwon Ram liked him. Otherwise, he wouldn’t suggest watching a movie he wasn’t interested in. It didn’t make sense.

Come to think of it, it seemed the movie posters were what Kwon Ram had been observing.

As Sooha offered a different poster, Kwon Ram replied.

“Whatever you like.”

Sooha smiled and nodded.

“Then let’s make this our next assignment. Is that okay?”

“……Yeah.”

Yes.

Having set up another meeting, Sooha felt good. Checking his phone, he realized it was almost movie time.

“Oh, it’s time for the movie. Shall we go?”

Maybe it was just his imagination, but Kwon Ram’s cooperative attitude made him feel like all his plans would succeed. Sooha spoke to Kwon Ram, who stood up with him.

“Did you have lunch? If not, would you like to eat after the movie? I know a good place.”

At that, Kwon Ram hesitated briefly before answering.

“I have plans later.”

“Oh, do you have to go right after?”

“Yeah.”

The unexpected refusal made Sooha’s mind blank for a moment. Realizing Kwon Ram was looking at him with a troubled expression, Sooha quickly gathered himself.

“Oh, it’s okay. Sorry for suggesting it suddenly.”

Kwon Ram.

Turns out, he’s a tougher nut to crack than expected.

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Honestly, the movie was boring. I couldn’t understand what the director was trying to say at all. As the movie went on, I started to feel self-conscious around Kwon Ram. I picked it because of the good reviews, but I was totally fooled.

Cha Sooha discreetly stretched his arm a bit. He glanced at his watch and saw there was still a long way to go in the runtime. Out of boredom, he sneaked a peek at Kwon Ram sitting next to him.

Unlike him, Kwon Ram was watching the screen with a very focused expression. Finding Kwon Ram’s face more interesting than the movie, Cha Sooha started to watch him more intently.

Nothing had gone according to plan yet, but he thought that if he and Kwon Ram had a child, it would be very beautiful. Whether it was a daughter or a son.

While admiring Kwon Ram’s face, the movie ended quickly. As the ending credits rolled, Kwon Ram turned his head towards him. Startled by the gaze, Cha Sooha blurted out anything.

“Was it, was it fun?”

“Yeah. But you seemed bored.”

“…Ha, haha. No, not really.”

Cha Sooha laughed awkwardly, feeling like he was caught. It wasn’t a blaming tone. Kwon Ram seemed to have genuinely enjoyed the movie. Cha Sooha, who barely focused on the film, had nothing to write in his report.

Feeling a bit sheepish, Cha Sooha stood up. Since Kwon Ram said he had work, he thought about calling Ha Kangji for a drink after a long time. As he fiddled with his phone and left the theater, Kwon Ram called him.

“Wait.”

“Oh, yes?”

Cha Sooha stopped immediately. Kwon Ram, who was following him, spoke with a slightly hesitant expression.

“This.”

“…Yes?”

“Since you showed me the movie.”

Cha Sooha was handed a shopping bag unexpectedly. Inside the bag, marked with a department store logo, was a box with a luxury brand name on it. Cha Sooha almost forgot he was in front of Kwon Ram and nearly opened the box right there.

When Cha Sooha looked up with a surprised face, Kwon Ram’s face was oddly flushed.

“Well, see you.”

Kwon Ram quickly turned around and left as if fleeing. Cha Sooha watched Kwon Ram’s retreating figure disappear from view with a blank expression. Kwon Ram’s actions had hit Cha Sooha’s materialistic switch perfectly.

A luxury gift just for booking a movie?

It was obviously a belt. Probably a new release, too. Knowing Kwon Ram’s personality, he must have picked the one displayed at the top.

Unable to resist any longer, Cha Sooha quickly took out the box and opened it. As expected, it was the new belt Cha Sooha had been eyeing. How could someone pick something so perfectly to his taste?

Whether Kwon Ram liked it or not, Cha Sooha couldn’t let him go now.

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