I'll Buy You Pork Cutlet Later (1)
Do Ha-min's mouth froze at the unexpected date invitation. He wasn't the type to speak confidently even on normal days, but this time, his heart was pounding extra hard.
"Ah, seriously... I shouldn't have crossed that line. You tempted me first, so you take responsibility."
"N-No way... You read all of this in one night?"
"Yeah, I stayed up all night from yesterday and finished it. We gotta see the movie coming out this week before the afterglow fades."
"W-Well... If you're in that much of a hurry, couldn't you just go with other friends...?"
"Should I tell everyone I saw this come out of your bag and got all misty-eyed?"
"Ah, no...! Don't! The girls will just see the cover and get the wrong idea!"
"That's why we have to go together! You reeled me in first!"
"H-Hic...! S-Sorry!"
He didn't even know what he'd done wrong, but Do Ha-min kept repeating apologies to Do-young.
"We're watching it, right? The movie? This weekend!"
"Ah, no... I mean."
"I was being nice letting it be the weekend! I wanted to go right on Wednesday when it opens!"
"O-Of course, but..."
"Are we going or not? Just say it, quick...!"
Do-young thrust the Marina★Harina illustration she'd snapped at him, yelling. She sounded just like a third-rate villain in an action flick holding the hero's daughter hostage—genuinely hooked on Marina★Harina.
This is bad... If I refuse, she'll really blab to everyone...
If he turned down this date invite, Do-young's eyes made it clear: she'd expose his secret to the whole school. He'd already seen once how her influence could sway opinions, thanks to Lee Jeong-gyu. If this were a created world like Marina★Harina, she'd be the queen ruling all the inhabitants at will—the protagonist. He'd just be a lowly extra forced to obey her commands. A pawn to exalt the queen's authority. Nothing more, nothing less.
"Um... sorry."
"Don't apologize—just come with me?"
Do Ha-min knew what happened if he upset her. But in the end, he turned away from her offer.
"...I don't think I can go with you. I don't deserve to."
From the moment he'd decided on this school, he'd resolved himself. Study only from now on. He'd failed to get into his top-choice prestigious high school. Why pick this distant place that took at least two hours to commute? To cut off his few friendships over three years and focus solely on studies. He'd even scrimped on allowance to painstakingly collect those novels and comics, then sorted them all out. It wasn't from his mom's punishments or discipline. It was his own decision.
He still couldn't figure out why the one missing volume of Marina★Harina had ended up in his bag, but what did it matter now? He'd already vowed to give up what he loved. No more indulging in solo entertainment or fun. At least not until he hit scores stable enough for his target university.
"What, you don't wanna go? You carry it in your bag, so you must know about the theater edition dropping this week."
"...Yeah, I knew."
"Then why apologize? You should say, 'Let's go together.'"
He never imagined Do-young talking about movies. For the first time here, he had a common interest to share with someone, a chance to enjoy together. It was pure joy. Especially since it was with Do-young—he was grateful.
Just one day. A fleeting moment swept along by her. But Do Ha-min had enjoyed being with Do-young. Enough to blur all those vows he'd made for high school life. It was only the second day here, and already his resolve was shaking. He felt pathetic, repulsive even. He needed to step back instead.
School life fun? That was a luxury he couldn't afford right now.
I failed my first-choice school—can't just play around like nothing happened now that I'm here.
That summed up his feelings best. But he couldn't use it as a reason to reject Do-young. It might be clear and logical, but it lacked consideration.
'I got into what you like, so let's enjoy it together.' Could he reject someone kindly offering that, for the same reason? Wasn't his refusal arrogant? It'd paint Do-young—who was living her school life fully—as just a 'kid who loves playing around.'
"Why not go? Studying on the weekend? Don't act like a model student when you're bringing novels to school to proselytize!"
"N-No... that's not it!"
So he gave another reason. Even if it bruised his pride a bit.
"S-Sorry... I don't have much money right now."
Do Ha-min bowed his head, offering a reason that wouldn't hurt her. It wasn't a total lie. A movie was a big expense for him. Even daily commute costs strained his allowance. Weekends added regional travel and ticket prices—expenses piled up fast.
"So sorry, but..."
Thwack! Do-young's finger flicked right into the forehead of the bowed Do Ha-min.
"Ow..."
His bangs flipped up from the snap.
"Idiot. No money, and you bought subway vending machine cola?"
"You kept complaining about it..."
"Repeat after me: One, cola only if it's 1+1 or bulk discount."
"Co-Cola only if it's 1+1 or bulk discount..."
"Sigh... no helping it."
Do-young sighed deeply, disappointment clear as she dragged over a chair and sat. Lucky break. Half-fake reason or not, it worked. She couldn't drag a broke guy along by force.
"I'll pay. You just follow."
"O-Okay... what?"
"I said okay, just now,"
Do-young pulled out the calendar from under his desk and circled Saturday in red.
"There, it's set. Skip and you're dead."
"Ah, aaa..."
The situation had cornered him—no more refusals possible.
**
"Movie...?"
"Cough, with Ha-min?"
"Yeah, set for this weekend."
After school ended that afternoon, once Do Ha-min took the subway first, I told Choi Sa-hyung—voice unusually hoarse—and Yoo Hye-rang—skin unusually shiny—about the movie plans with him, on the way home.
"How long ago did I tell you to keep distance, and you're already...?"
"What's wrong with it? That Lee Jeong-gyu punk didn't even show up to school today."
I hadn't forgotten Hye-rang's advice. Do Ha-min's Magical Girl Marina★Harina was just that good. Sincere 'lessons' can't beat pure 'fun' no matter what. My motto as Ban Do-young: do it fun, tackle anything enjoyably.
"But that guy. Tested me saying he had no money again. I held back till I snapped and said I'd pay, so just come."
"Ho, repaying yesterday's Zero Lime favor like this?"
"This too is the grace of Zero Lime..."
A bit excessive, sure. Popcorn and cola on him would be fine.
"I can't tell if you really wanna see the movie or just teasing Do Ha-min is fun. You're not forcing him into something he doesn't wanna watch, right?"
"What do you take me for... He reeled me in fi—mmph."
Close call. I hadn't told Sa-hyung and Hye-rang which movie. That'd spill all the secrets with Do Ha-min. Promise kept, Do Ha-min.
"But Do-young, you okay on cash? You said you blew your allowance on that coffee tumbler last time."
"Fine. Got fresh allowance at month-start. Worst case, movie tickets are..."
"Ah."
Forgot. Growing students' pockets are never easy.
"I'm not lending any, FYI."
"Noraebang cleaned me out too. Good luck."
.
.
.
"Love you, Dad! Gimme allowance!"
"No money, you little brat!"
"Tch."
When cash is tight, "I love you" slips out surprisingly easy.