11. Let's Go Watch a Movie.
Episode 11. Let's Go See a Movie.
Na-eun paced back and forth in front of her closet repeatedly. The pile of clothes she'd tried on and discarded lay heaped on her bed.
Standing before the mirror, she twisted her body left and right. She couldn't look like she'd dressed up too much. But looking sloppy wouldn't do either.
She needed that perfect balance—innocent yet somehow mature.
She dabbed foundation onto her fingertips and patted it onto her face. A light touch of color around her eyes, and a lip tint so subtle you couldn't tell if she'd applied it or not.
The art of looking like she'd done nothing at all.
That was the key.
She wanted to look good for Jin-hyeok.
When her eyes met her reflection, Na-eun's cheeks flushed crimson. She bit her lip, curling it inward. The memory of their kiss still lingered.
Their first kiss.
Just thinking about it sent a shiver through her lower belly. It wasn't like she needed to use the bathroom, but that phantom sensation kept welling up inside her.
'Oh... we can do it again today, right?'
The thought made her fingers freeze mid-motion.
'Would that be too forward?'
She studied her reflection again. Her excitement was too obvious.
What if she seemed cheap?
Na-eun tightened her grip on the powder puff. Yet she couldn't tear herself away from the mirror. Trying to strike that perfect balance—done but not overdone—she kept fussing over the same spots.
Finally finished, she gave herself one last look. The corners of her mouth kept twitching upward. Forcing her expression neutral, she opened her bedroom door.
As she stepped into the living room, Eun-ju's voice came from the couch.
"Where are you going?"
Na-eun's shoulders jerked.
"Nowhere. I have to study."
"Since when do you dress up like that to study?"
Na-eun's face burned instantly. She twisted her body slightly, avoiding her mother's gaze.
"Hehe... just felt like it."
Dodging the question, she perched on the edge of the couch. She pretended to focus on her phone, but her eyes kept drifting toward the front door. Her toes tapped restlessly. Unable to suppress the smile spreading across her face, she covered it with the back of her hand.
Her daughter's glowing profile was radiant.
Eun-ju watched her quietly.
She recognized that youthful excitement—the dry lips from waiting for someone special, the endless mirror-checking over imperfect makeup, the giddiness from a single meaningless text. Her daughter made no effort to hide any of it.
A slow bitterness filled Eun-ju's mouth.
Na-eun could openly display her affection like this. Preening, waiting, glowing, smiling. Without worrying about anyone's judgment.
She couldn't do the same.
Even thinking of the same person, Eun-ju couldn't change her expression. She couldn't show her excitement or say who she was waiting for. These feelings had to stay buried in the dark. Watching her daughter's bright face made something cold tighten in her chest.
And yet, something else rose within her.
Her daughter didn't know.
The man that girl was waiting for had already kissed someone else, had already reacted to her touch, had already made sounds in her car. Knowing none of this, Na-eun was blushing over her first kiss.
The corners of Eun-ju's lips lifted faintly. It wasn't quite superiority—that felt too sinful—nor was it guilt. It was something sweeter. Jin-hyeok and she were already that kind of relationship.
Places her daughter had never reached, depths far beyond.
Eun-ju stood without a sound.
"I'm going to wash up."
Na-eun nodded absently without looking up from her phone.
Entering the master bedroom, Eun-ju sat at her vanity. She opened a drawer and took out a perfume bottle.
She spritzed her inner wrists, the nape of her neck, behind her ears—heavier than usual, applying fragrance wherever her hands reached.
Eun-ju studied her reflection. Jin-hyeok would arrive soon. In the narrow entryway, the living room, at that almost-brushing distance. Right in front of her daughter.
The scent lingered at her nostrils.
She bit her lip, refusing to acknowledge the thought—that she wanted someone to notice.
Ding-dong.
When the doorbell rang, Eun-ju was the first to move. Her steps toward the door were lighter than usual. She unlocked it and pulled it open to reveal a familiar face.
"Hello."
"Come in."
Before Eun-ju could finish greeting him, Na-eun came rushing out behind her.
"Oppa."
Na-eun nudged past her mother and threw herself into Jin-hyeok's arms. Caught off guard, he embraced her small frame. She buried her face in his chest, rocking on her toes.
Eun-ju crossed her arms and watched.
Her daughter in his arms. His arms around her daughter. Seeing that peaceful image, something cold clawed up from the pit of her stomach. She was jealous of her own daughter. The realization made her mood darken.
Jin-hyeok gently disentangled himself from Na-eun.
"Ready to study?"
"Yeah."
He gave Eun-ju a slight nod. She forced a smile.
"Go ahead inside. I'll be right..."
"Okay."
Na-eun practically skipped toward her room, humming under her breath. Thud—the door closed.
The two of them stared at it for a long moment. Only after confirming the sounds inside had faded did they finally look at each other.
No words were needed. Their bodies collided as if pulled together. Eun-ju's hands fisted in Jin-hyeok's shirt collar while his arms locked around her waist.
"Welcome back."
At Eun-ju's whisper against his ear, Jin-hyeok replied.
"I missed you."
Before the words fully left his mouth, his lips covered hers.
Smooch.
Slurp.
His tongue slipped deep between her parted lips. A familiar, lingering kiss, their tongues exploring without restraint. When they finally pulled apart, breathless, Eun-ju pushed lightly against his chest.
"Go on inside."
"Okay."
Jin-hyeok turned reluctantly. Eun-ju watched his retreating back as he headed toward Na-eun's room. Her body, reignited by that kiss, burned—she pressed her fingers to her lips, struggling to suppress it.
At the desk, Na-eun studied Jin-hyeok's profile as he graded her papers.
The pen in his fingers. His long hands flipping pages. Just stealing glances at his indifferent side profile made her heart flutter. Then her nose wrinkled slightly.
A scent.
Sweet and heavy—a woman's perfume. Coming from Jin-hyeok. Not one she wore.
Who?
The faint question flickered through her mind but quickly dissipated when Jin-hyeok set down the papers and spoke.
"You got everything right."
Color rushed to Na-eun's face.
"See? I did well, right?"
"Yeah. Your scores keep improving."
The praise made her toes wiggle. She stole a glance at him, hesitating before speaking. What if he thought she was being too obvious? But the feelings she'd held back for days spilled out.
"So... as a reward, can I get a kiss?"
Her voice trailed off. Na-eun stared at her knees, waiting for his reaction.
Jin-hyeok's hand slowly reached out to cup her cheek.
"Okay."
His voice was a whisper.
Na-eun's eyes drifted shut. Soft lips pressed gently against hers. The lingering weight stole her breath. In that moment, his tongue slipped inside.
"Hngk."
Startled by the unfamiliar sensation, Na-eun's tongue recoiled. Not knowing what to do, she tried to retreat further, but Jin-hyeok's tongue followed, coiling around hers. Slowly, inexorably, leaving no room to escape. His skilled movements made her shoulders tremble.
"Nn, nngh..."
Unswallowed breaths escaped through her nose. Her mind went blank as he relentlessly pursued her retreating tongue. She could only follow his lead. Her hands, resting on her knees, clenched and unclenched in empty air.
Pwah.
Jin-hyeok's lips parted from hers.
Dazed, Na-eun slowly opened her eyes. His face wavered blurrily before her. Her exhales through her nose were scalding. Her entire face burned. Her pounding heart sent dull waves of pain through her chest, and deep in her lower belly, heat pooled.
"O...ppa."
When she finally managed to speak, Jin-hyeok smiled faintly.
"Want to do it again if you get better scores next time?"
"Y...yeah."
Jin-hyeok turned back to the papers. Na-eun pressed a hand discreetly to her chest. Her heart was racing wildly. What if he could hear it? The thought embarrassed her.
As she tried to calm her pounding heart, another thought pierced through.
He was too good.
That kiss just now. The way his tongue had expertly captured hers as she tried to retreat. From start to finish, she'd been at his mercy. The realization cooled a corner of her excitement.
Where had he learned to kiss like that?
Was there another girl? Did he have a lot of experience? Once the suspicion took root, it wouldn't fade easily. A friend had once told her—guys like innocent girls. Chewing on that thought, Na-eun's lips pursed.
She didn't want to yield Jin-hyeok to some unknown woman.
Fidgeting with her fingers on her lap, she cautiously spoke.
"O...oppa."
"Yeah?"
"Let's go see a movie."
"A movie?"
Jin-hyeok set down his pen and turned to her.
"Yeah."
"Weren't we going after your mock exams?"
"I need a break too."
Na-eun trailed off, watching his reaction. A faint smile touched Jin-hyeok's lips.
"Sure, sure."
"Really?"
"Can't study sitting down all the time."
Na-eun's eyes widened instantly. Swallowing her excitement, she fiddled with her fingers.
"Then... I'll come to your school on Friday."
"You want to?"
"Yeah."
The corners of Na-eun's mouth lifted uncontrollably. She'd been worried—that Jin-hyeok might be embarrassed by her, might tell her not to come. But he'd agreed so easily.
"Hehe..."
Jin-hyeok laughed at her barely contained joy. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair.