Date
Date
We went into the nearest movie theater.
The one with an IMAX or whatever, with a screen as tall as a building.
"Oh... action movies really are something on a huge screen."
"Right, right? Noona will go get the tickets and be back!"
I didn't know if she was excited about seeing an action movie or about going on a date with me, but A-ra was the very picture of high energy.
Watching her back, a chuckle escaped me.
"Then I'll go buy some popcorn."
'Not buying popcorn at a movie theater?'
'Then why even come to the movies?'
I got in line at the popcorn stand right next to the ticket counter.
It seemed there were people even at this time of day.
"Yes... uh...! I'll take your order, sir."
"A large popcorn, half cheese half onion, and two medium cokes."
"If you buy the combo, it's cheaper. Shall I do that?"
"Yes, yes, and cheese nachos too, please."
"That'll be 10,500 won... Okay, card received."
The hand taking my card was a bit strange, but anyway I bought popcorn, drinks, and nachos.
The nachos were purely my taste.
By the way, did A-ra go all the way to the box office to get tickets?
Where did she go?
"Seong-hwan-a, did you buy popcorn?"
Just then, A-ra approached me from behind, wiping her hands.
She must have gone to the restroom.
"Yes. H-here, hold this for me."
"Okay, huh?"
A-ra tilted her head quizzically.
And she seemed a little down, too...
What, did I forget something?
"What about the butter squid...?"
"Huh? Noona likes butter squid?"
"Yeah... that's my favorite."
Wait, she got all down because of that?
Look at this adorable person.
I'd even bought cheese nachos.
I handed all the popcorn and coke I was holding over to A-ra.
And took my card out of my pocket.
"I'll get butter squid, what else?"
"Um... a hot dog?"
"Got it. Wait a sec."
I showed a smile and headed back to the counter to order.
*
"It was fun, but..."
"It was lacking in action thrills, right?"
We expected something like John Wick, but what we got was like Jeon Woo-chi.
Not that Jeon Woo-chi wasn't fun, but we expected a thriller full of guns and hand-to-hand combat, and instead spells and magic popped up, completely killing the mood.
"Still, the chase scene was so gripping it made my palms sweat."
"Right, right? That alone was good enough to put in my all-time top picks!"
A-ra started getting excited again as she recalled that scene.
Even though she was bundled up in sunglasses and a mask to hide, she'd probably been recognized just by her voice or something.
"U-um! Could I get an autograph..."
See.
Already a fan had appeared asking for an autograph.
A-ra slightly lowered her mask, went 'Shh,' silenced them, took the notebook the fan handed over, and signed it.
Maybe that person was the only one who noticed, because no one else swarmed us, so we decided to get out of there.
If we stayed, it wouldn't be a date, it'd turn into another fan signing.
***
"I'm hungry."
"Shall we go eat?"
It had been about an hour since we started holding hands and walking in the park.
A-ra's stomach must have started to growl.
"Instead of eating out, could you make me something at home?"
"I'm fine either way, but..."
"To be honest, your cooking tastes better than eating out."
Jjing.
Something welled up deep in my chest.
When she says such lovely things, how could I not do it for her?
She was utterly adorable.
I reached out and stroked A-ra's head.
"Hehe... Actually, there's something I want to eat today, too..."
"Just say the word. I'll make you everything!"
"Carbonara and crispy pork belly..."
These were also things from recent Qtube videos.
Especially the crispy pork belly, which blew up after a pretty famous overseas chef posted a video.
"Let's see... carbonara needs guanciale (cured pork jowl)... did they have that at Costco?"
"What's that? Is it essential?"
"Well, even without guanciale, I can substitute pancetta or bacon, so it's not a big deal."
"S-so it's possible, right?"
I nodded.
Seeing A-ra's brightened face, I felt like teasing her for no reason.
"Noona, do you know?"
"What?"
"That the black pepper originally sprinkled on carbonara pasta was coal dust."
"I think I've heard that before? Or maybe not?"
Originally, carbonara was a simple meal that miners would quickly fill up on.
Since they ate inside the coal mine, coal dust falling from above would land on the noodles, but they ate it without minding, and later that became black pepper.
"So today, I'm going to make 'authentic' carbonara."
"D-don't tell me... you're not actually going to...?"
"On A-ra Noona's pasta, I'll put coal dust..."
"Eeek! You can't!"
Watching A-ra smack my thigh with chalsal-chalsak,
I laughed heartily.
She really is someone who's fun to tease.
***
As usual, I tidied up the bedding
and started the laundry.
Come to think of it, school's starting soon...
Since the school is right in front, it's a relief I don't need to go into a dorm or anything.
Because I didn't want to be away from A-ra for no reason.
For the record, A-ra had gone down to Busan to film a program.
Since it's a tour program, it seemed it would take about two days.
Sigh...
Is this what it feels like to be a wife left at home while her husband is away on business?
It felt utterly empty.
Even though she's just a little further away, it feels different from when she went to the broadcasting station or agency.
Ding-dong~
Just then, I heard the doorbell ring.
What's that?
Did a package arrive?
I picked up the intercom receiver and pressed the button.
"Who is it?"
- Excuse me, is this Song A-ra's residence?
"Yes, it is."
The unfamiliar woman's voice made me tense up.
Because for some reason it sounded like she was lowering her voice, which made me a little scared.
- A registered mail came in the name of Song A-ra... are you the person herself?
What.
Oh, it was the post office Noona.
That startled me.
"No, I'm her husband."
- Sseup... do you know when Song A-ra herself will be back?
"Hmm... due to my wife's profession, it's a bit difficult to tell... but she'll be away for about two days."
- Ah. Then I'll stick a notice on the door, please pass it on when Song A-ra returns.
Before I could answer, the post office Noona had already run off.
Was she that busy?
Usually, when they're busy, they just stick a notice and leave without even asking when you'll be back—that's the post office for you.
I opened the front door and looked outside.
Indeed, the sound of someone quickly running off was not my imagination.
"Huh?"
She clearly said she'd stick a notice on, but there was no notice, not even a trace of a sticker.
Did she forget that too because she was busy running off?
I crossed my arms and sighed.
Then I took out my phone and logged onto a community site.
How could I keep such a hilarious story to myself?
[A post office Noona came and went just now, but she didn't leave a notice lol]
She said she'd stick one because the recipient wasn't home, then disappeared,
but when I opened the door, there was nothing.
I guess she must be really busy lol.
After going inside and writing the post, I tossed my phone onto the sofa.
Because the washing machine I'd started earlier was beeping and demanding to be unloaded.
Since A-ra changes clothes often, I have to do laundry every day.
Especially her panties and underwear.
They were so expensive that I needed to put them in a laundry net and wash them separately, so I had to take good care of them.
I picked up one of A-ra's panties.
"Keung-keung..."
It only smelled like fabric softener, but it was a little exciting.
I'd seen A-ra sniffing my panties before, so we're even.
"Heuuuup... Haaaaah."
Still, if anyone saw, it would look like something a fucking pervert would do.
So I tossed it in the laundry basket and headed to the veranda.
***
After hanging the laundry, taking down all the dry laundry, and putting it away, I sat on the sofa.
Surprisingly, housework is a lot of work.
"My shoulders are a bit stiff."
Should I ask A-ra to give me a little massage when she gets home?
Normally it'd be the other way around, but...
Come to think of it, I'd left a post on the community site earlier.
I turned on my phone to check the comments.
"Wow, look at these comments..."
I hadn't even checked the content yet, but it showed +999.
Just as I thought, you have to share funny things with others.
I went into my post and read the comments one by one.
ㄴThat, isn't that a kidnapping method that's been happening to young people lately?
ㄴI've heard stalkers use this kind of trick just to see your face.
ㄴOppa, you opened the door and there was no one, right? That's because they got caught in the middle of it and fled. You need to check the CCTV
and collect evidence and find witnesses.
ㄴTake note of what this scatterbrain says. It's even on the news lately, don't you watch the news, our gay?
ㄴAre you a girl or a guy?
ㄴDoes that matter, you horny bitch?
ㄴJust worried, that's all.
No matter how much I scrolled, I only saw replies with the same content—saying it's a method commonly used in kidnappings or sexual assaults.
The trick is to lure you outside by claiming you can receive the mail even if the recipient isn't home, then they either kidnap or assault you.
In attempted crimes, they act like it was planned: they'll say they'll leave a sticker saying only the recipient can receive it, then run off and disappear.
Then when you actually open the door and check, there's nothing stuck on it.
In that instant, goosebumps erupted all over me.