The Lion at Home
K-rows 8 and 9. Even though I didn't book in advance and arrived just before the screening, there were still decent seats left. The reviews were decent enough, but maybe that's because it's been a few days since the release. I bought popcorn, an Americano, and a cola at the concession stand, tucked them under my arms, and approached Han Su-a, who was sitting quietly on the hall bench, handing her the cola.
"You said you wanted cola, right?"
"...Ah, seriously, you didn't have to buy it for me..."
"Forget it. It's not like it's expensive. You're a rich kid, why are you so frugal?"
"Just because I have money doesn't mean I was taught to spend it recklessly. I was taught how to use it as a base to earn even more..."
"Business, or something like that?"
"I don't know. I've forgotten it all now..."
Forgotten it all. I had expected as much, but it was a very Han Su-a-like answer. I chuckled and sat down beside her. Sensing my gaze, Han Su-a reached out, saying, "Give me the popcorn." She wore a look of grim determination over mere popcorn, as if she would take it by force if I didn't hand it over. It's fascinating. Why hasn't a girl like this managed to mix with the first-year crowd yet? Aside from her slightly fierce appearance, if she showed even this much kindness to her classmates—especially the boys whose brains are filled with nothing but sex—she could easily make as many friends as she wanted. There would even be a few guys who have a thing for fierce faces and want to be trampled by Han Su-a.
...Could it be that Han Su-a is trying her best, but Yozora, who is always by her side, is interfering so she can't make friends? If so, why? ...For my sake? Her?
While I was lost in these idle thoughts before entering the theater:
"Anyway, since there are many smart people among my cousins, they can take over..."
"..."
I was about to take out my phone to check the time, but I swallowed my words as I glanced at the popcorn bucket being pressed firmly against her breasts. It wasn't just the bucket being squashed; the popcorn piled high inside was being pushed against her chest, with a few pieces tumbling down one by one. ...Seeing Han Su-a still looking at me and grumbling about her relatives while this was happening, she didn't seem to be aware of the situation in front of her chest at all. She's such a girl—sometimes she seems quick-witted, but at times like this, she seems completely oblivious. The people around us were already busy glancing our way, but because of you, the stares from both men and women have become much more blatant.
When she said she was embarrassed about wearing a skirt earlier, she was shy about every single look from passersby. Why is she being so naive now...
Sigh...
"Still, I think you would have done well if you had learned. The image of a young female CEO would suit you well, too."
"...Ahaha... Well, I'm not as smart as I look..."
Still, I didn't feel bad. If I had to choose, it was actually on the pleasant side. It would be different if someone tried to lay a hand on my woman in front of me, but they were just sending looks full of envy from afar. The small sense of superiority I felt from those gazes was enjoyable. I stood up, deliberately stroking Han Su-a's hair affectionately so others could see.
"Let's go in and take our seats. Give me the popcorn. Oh, and the restroom?"
"No, no. I'm fine. Let's go together."
"I told you, you can speak comfortably outside. You were the one who asked to drop the formalities and be friends with me in the first place."
"I, I'm more comfortable like this now. It's stuck in my mouth..."
In front of the theater entrance, we showed our tickets to the employee who was standing with hands politely folded, then took the escalator to the theater listed on our tickets. As there were still plenty of good seats left, the theater was quite empty until just before the movie started. I had just assumed it was like that because it was more than half empty when I bought the tickets, but seeing it in person really hit home. If I had known, I should have gone to the very back corner and tried something bad.
'Did you turn off the sound? Your phone.'
I leaned over slightly and whispered into her ear, and Han Su-a nodded her head confidently. Is it true? I only saw her touching her phone earlier, but I didn't see her turn it off. Well, I guess she usually keeps it on vibrate or silent anyway. As I stopped worrying about it, she flinched in her seat a moment later and only then started fiddling with her phone.
"..."
...To be honest, I didn't think there would be anyone calling her anyway. I just thought that to myself and stuck my coffee into the cup holder in front of the armrest.
*
The movie was disappointing. Of course, I had expected it wouldn't be fun from the moment the genre was 'romance'. I'm not the type to go out of my way to watch movies, but if I have to, I prefer action movies with excellent direction or movies that focus entirely on teaching a lesson. However, what unfolded before my eyes for 100 minutes was: a man meets a woman by chance, love blossoms as various connections overlap, they doubt each other's feelings, gradually become honest, a crisis arrives and they drift apart for a while, they confirm each other's feelings once more, resolution, confession, happy ending.
There might be people who like this kind of thing like Han Su-a, but personally, I honestly don't know what to look for in this movie. If I had to pick one thing, maybe the fact that the actress is hot? Then should I immerse myself in the male lead's perspective? I don't know. Rather than that, I think it would be more fun to exchange conversations that are outside of common sense with Han Su-a next to me.
"It was so touching... Especially at the end, when the male lead hesitated for a few seconds and then slowly, after the BGM ended and it was quiet for a few more seconds, he..."
"Ah. That part."
I know. It was the part where I was trying so hard not to yawn that I had to put the back of my hand to my mouth. But without showing it, I said, "Yeah, I liked that part too," and Han Su-a, excited, started chirping a few more things. She didn't have the image of being this talkative...
To think positively, it means she's become that much more comfortable with me than other men. At this rate, the 100 minutes I invested weren't a waste. As we left the theater with the empty popcorn bucket and other trash, the sky outside the window was already covered in a pitch-black color without a single star. Checking the time, it was 8 PM. The time I have left to use freely is... about 3 hours? It overlaps perfectly with the rental time.
I crumpled this and that into the trash can and carefully interrupted Han Su-a, who was still reciting her review.
"Su-a. What do you want to do for dinner? Are you hungry?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe because I ate popcorn... Ah, no. If you want to eat, Teacher, then I..."
"No, no. I asked because I didn't really feel like eating dinner either."
"...Ah. You're not hungry..."
Should I grab Han Su-a's wrist tightly and take her with me? Or should I make her say it first? Both have their own pleasures, so it didn't really matter. But if I had to choose, the latter was slightly more to my liking. Whether it was when we just came out of the clothing store, or when we monopolized people's gazes in the movie theater lobby, a woman who draws people's attention even when she's just walking around without a thought—begging me to do something naughty before I do—it's a turn-on, isn't it? But given Han Su-a's introverted personality, that would be hard to see.
That's why, just as we finished quietly taking the escalator down together, I was about to bring up the 'next destination' first.
"...Te, Teacher!"
Han Su-a, who had followed me down, spoke with emphasis on the 'Teacher' part. Because of that, people passing by started glancing our way. ...I just hope they don't have any weird misunderstandings about the word 'Teacher'.
"Why?"
"Th, that, um..."
It's so like Han Su-a to stutter after calling out to me first. Thinking that, I added, "It's okay to speak slowly," and stood there for a long time. Until the people who had left the theater with us disappeared like an ebbing tide. For a long time.
"..."
After the commotion around us had faded, Han Su-a's lips parted cautiously.
"...Is this the end for today?"
"..."
"...Teacher?"
"...Yeah. I guess so?"
A question you can guess just by hearing the first sentence. ...A cute question that would make any man feel mischievous.
"Why? Are you sad to part ways with me?"
"Rather than sad... It's just..."
"Then are you not sad?"
"...No, no. I am sad, but...! I am sad, but..."
Even though I only made a light joke, she was flustered and stammered to fix it. She doesn't know it herself, but with her earlobes prettily flushed. With her cheeks also faintly flushed. Even if a man with no sense saw her, he could clearly tell what kind of thoughts were filling her head.
"Then shall we walk around a little more? Like taking a walk around here together."
"No. It's not like that... Ugh..."
She probably doesn't want that. Even if Han Su-a didn't answer, I could tell just by looking at her expression. Far from smiling brightly, she was just twisting her ten fingers together in front of her lower abdomen, cheeks flushed like before.
"...It's only 8 o'clock."
"Yeah."
"...What time do you go to sleep, Teacher?"
"A little past 12. Even if I'm late... 1 o'clock... 2 o'clock. I should sleep around then?"
"Then there are about 6 hours left..."
"I said 'even if I'm late'. Why are you making me go to sleep at 2 on your own?"
"Ah, anyway...! If you just go to sleep late, there are about 6 hours left until you fall asleep..."
I had guessed how this ridiculous conversation would end from the moment Han Su-a started talking to me hesitantly, but... I didn't want to obediently give her the answer she wanted. When I first had sex with you in the infirmary. Because I was the one who ravished you, who didn't offer much resistance. The time we had sex until late at night, when you said you'd stop being my sex partner with the cute excuse of worrying about neglecting Yozora because of me—that was practically me ravishing you by force, too. I wanted to see you begging to have sex yourself, just once today.
I ask again.
"So, why is that?"
"..."
"Su-a?"
"Wa, wait. Let me prepare my heart..."
"...Who says that out loud while doing it?"
"Ju, just thirty seconds... No, twenty seconds..."
After counting numbers in my head. When I reached about 45. Han Su-a, who had been pressing her face with the back of her hand, stepped a few more paces closer to me. Whispering. Even though there was no one around anymore. Standing on her tiptoes as hard as she could. As if she wanted to let only me hear it.
"...Wo, would you like to go... see a lion...?"
"..."
"Ah, I mean... At my house... A lion... ...Ah, damn... That's not it..."
"..."
She blew warm breath into my ear.
"Pfft... Did you hesitate this much just to say that?"
"Wh, what do you mean just...!"
"It's a famous saying on the internet. Mutant-types use it like, 'Do you want to come to my house to see a puppy? A cat?' something like that."
"...Is, is it famous? I saw it in a webtoon... and copied it..."
"If it's in a webtoon, it's already worn out. You idiot."
"...Pl, please pretend you didn't hear that..."
"I already heard it all? Teacher. Would you like to go to my house to see a lion..."
"Ack, ack...! No...! I didn't say it...!"
"I got it. I got it. I got it, so step back a little. People will think it's strange."
"..."
"..."
"...So, do you want to see it...?"
"...Yeah."
"..."
"..."
"...It would be better to take a taxi, right?"
"Didn't you say earlier that even if you're a chaebol, you shouldn't spend money recklessly?"
"It's okay. ...Because it's a lion."