The Duo Excluded from the List. (2)
A sharp sound.
As the car door closed and I sat down to buckle my seatbelt, a clap came from beside me. Turning my head at the sound, I saw Camila with an expression as if she had just had a brilliant idea, opening her mouth.
“Ah, that’s right. There’s a new movie out this time, right? Should we go see that too?”
Movies… I didn’t really like movies, but watching a new one after a long time and getting my fill of it didn’t sound bad.
“Sure.”
“Okay. Then, after lunch, let’s reserve for the next time slot?”
“Call.”
After starting the car, Camila, excited, turned on her phone and started asking about various movies to reserve.
Of course, since we had known each other for a long time, Camila knew my tastes because we had gone to the movies together on days off.
First, I never watched romance movies, and no matter how much I adapted to this world, I had no intention of watching movies or dramas where men acted coquettish. Moreover, I was picky about anything that seemed like something I’d seen before.
Since this world was similar to my previous life, movies also had many similar contents, especially big productions. Well, watching movies or dramas in the plane during long flights was daily life, so despite not liking movies, I had watched quite a few.
And watching movies similar to what I had seen made me feel like I was being spoiled, so it was a waste of time, and my movie taste had been consistent since I was young.
Horror, thriller genres without romance between men and women, or B to C grade action movies that I hadn’t heard of in my previous life.
Apart from that, movies similar to Leon? In this world, there was a movie called Matilda, and when I was young, I watched Leon from my grandfather’s house, which was like Matilda, quite fun. It was interesting that Matilda appeared as a killer?
It wasn’t a big twist, and the actress who played Matilda was pretty and had a bit of a tomboyish vibe, so I could watch it quite fun.
“…This one too isn’t bad?”
Anyway, since Camila knew my movie taste, I listed movies that seemed like my taste, but
“It doesn’t feel like it?”
…Unfortunately, there was no title that appealed to me. The world without corona, I had some expectations, but the names seemed like titles I’d heard before?
“Aww, really.”
Seeing Camila scratching her head while scrolling through her phone, I felt a bit sorry. The purpose of today’s outing was actually for Camila’s recovery, so if it’s a day like this, I should let Camila watch the movie she wants.
‘Yeah, I’ve been matching my friends’ tastes for a while.’
Still, I was good at making friends, and these guys had quite a bit of loyalty, and when going to the movies, they followed me and watched the weird movies I chose. Actually, horror and thriller genres were mostly adult content, so the movies we watched at the movies with the kids were mostly garbage action movies that we hadn’t heard of.
‘Yeah, I’ve been through a lot with the cast for a while, today I’ll match it.’
“Camilla.”
“Huh?”
“Just, today, let’s watch what you want to watch.”
“Then I’ll choose on my own?”
I glanced at Camila’s expression in the rearview mirror, and Camila smiled brightly. Seeing Camila smile brightly like that for just one movie, I thought I should match my friends’ tastes from now on.
I hadn’t noticed until now because my friends didn’t show their preferences when watching movies, but it felt like they had been taking care of me a lot.
‘Still, I won’t watch romance movies.’
Of course, romance movies were slightly difficult physiologically, so I couldn’t compromise on that.
Fortunately, the good thing was that girls probably don’t like romance movies?
While Camila tapped quickly on her phone, I focused on driving. Camila, who had hated getting into my car until just now, was now focusing on her phone while relying on my driving skills, which gave me a strange sense of pride.
‘Yeah, I’m not rusty yet.’
So, boasting about my driving skills, I parked the car towards the movie theater in the downtown area.
“Already here?”
“Yeah. I was surprised because it was so comfortable.”
“Really… You drive well. Ha-neul, when did you get so good at driving? You got your license later than me, but you drive better than me. You really can’t do anything wrong?”
Controlling the twitching corner of my mouth at Camila’s praise, I opened my mouth.
“By the way, did you reserve the movie?”
“Yeah. There was one like a thriller. Title is ‘Dangerous Invitation’. Have you seen it?”
Dangerous Invitation… It seemed like I’d heard it somewhere… No? Anyway, since I didn’t think much about it, I shook my head at Camila’s question.
“Explanation says, at the invitation of a friend, the protagonist couple is invited to a house on a remote island, and suddenly contact with the outside is cut off. What do you think? Isn’t it good?”
Camila continued while reading the movie description.
“Yeah, just from the description, it sounds good.”
Fortunately, the movie Camila chose had a thriller feel? There were quite a few thrillers with similar plots, but I didn’t remember watching a movie with that title ‘Dangerous Invitation’, so the chance of wasting time was low.
“By the way, this is the first time I’ve seen a movie like this at the theater?”
“Yeah. Because of the age restriction, I couldn’t watch horror movies at the theater. Camila, you don’t mean you’re not going to watch it like last time because it was scary?”
“No, what are you talking about from middle school! I watch it well? And, it said there’s no ghost.”
“You look like you’re scared a lot?”
“Want to bet? The one who shouts first loses?”
“Call. By the way, what time is the movie?”
“Yeah, since we’re eating lunch, I reserved for 1.5 hours later.”
“Okay. Then, let’s eat lunch simply first and go.”
Since Barcelona’s center was our neighborhood anyway, choosing a restaurant wasn’t that difficult. However, since we were quite famous in Barcelona or Spain, we had to cover half our faces with large sunglasses to get out of the car.
“Then, let’s eat lunch first. As a commemoration of removing the cast, I’ll buy lunch today.”
“No, today I drove because of you, so I’ll buy.”
Camila’s action of wanting to buy lunch because she’s a woman was cute, but if I laughed or refused here, it could hurt Camila’s pride, so I just nodded.
*
On the way out of the restaurant, there was a murmuring sound. At that moment, Camila thought that they might have been discovered, but since there was laughter mixed with the sound, it seemed not to be the case, which was fortunate.
‘Yeah, if discovered, it would have been chaos by now.’
Ha-neul, who was trying to join the ranks of global sports stars, and herself who was quite popular in Barcelona or Spain, if identity was discovered, it wouldn’t have ended with just murmuring.
Although the trend of respecting privacy was strong, still, greeting was part of daily life. And Camila, being a young player, liked such attention quite a bit.
I thought about taking off my sunglasses a bit to enjoy popularity secretly, but I dropped that thought because of Ha-neul beside me. And, a thought popped up in my mind.
‘…But why are they murmuring if they don’t know who we are?’
They don’t know that Camila and Ryu Ha-neul are here, so why…?
Is it because of the outfit? Since both are soccer players, we were wearing soccer uniform pants with padding in this winter, so it wasn’t really suitable clothing for this weather.
But, the reason wasn’t just the outfit.
“Look at that. The man looks like a model, but the woman has small eyes.”
“I want to flirt with that guy once. The woman next to him doesn’t look like much.”
“Haha, if you approach, that little guy will run away scared?”
Just some random people going somewhere were murmuring about Ha-neul and me.
‘Just some insignificant guys…’
Among the women smoking and looking at us, there were tall ones, but Camila had never thought of being honeyed anywhere, and since she fought with taller guys than them, it felt more like indifference rather than anger.
At the moment I thought I should take off my sunglasses and say something to the guys, Ha-neul’s hand grabbed mine.
“Then, shall we go?”
Ha-neul held my hand as if to say so and smiled. But Camila, who had known Ha-neul for a long time, immediately realized that there was anger mixed with the smile.
Half of the face was covered by sunglasses, but the feeling of Ha-neul holding back as a pro player was felt.
Probably to raise his own spirit that was being ignored by these insignificant guys since he couldn’t vent.
But, more important than that was the fact that I held hands with Ha-neul for the first time in a long time.
I hadn’t held hands since I was young, except for hugs or high-fives during soccer, or skinship like Ha-neul stroking my belly, but holding hands like lovers was the first time since I was young, so Camila’s heart started pounding loudly.
‘…I’m a bit grateful.’
Even for that long-awaited hand touch, these bastards would be grateful.
“Hey, are you going to freeze? Wrap your waist or something.”
But Ha-neul thought the reason I was standing still was something else, so he came closer and whispered.
“Yeah, …yeah.”
Ha-neul had touched my belly many times, but I had rarely touched Ha-neul’s belly, so even with padding, Camila hesitated to put hand on Ha-neul’s waist.
“Ah, then my pride would be hurt a bit?”
But soon Ha-neul showed an expression as if sorry, so Camila missed the chance sadly.
‘Ah, I should have done it quickly.’
Of course, putting hand on the waist of a taller man than herself was slightly humiliating, but the height difference was only about 5-6cm, so it wasn’t that important to Camila.
Even in winter, Ha-neul’s hand was warm. Well, it was natural because it was right after leaving the restaurant. But, warmer than that was Ha-neul’s caring heart for me.
So, moving my steps, we got closer to the group of bastards.
“Pfft.”
And as we passed by the guys, Ha-neul let out a laugh.
Hearing that sound, curses came from behind the group of bastards. Ha-neul’s hand holding mine trembled. Actually, it was trembling with anger from meeting these shitty guys after a long time, but Camila, without knowing that, worried if it was trembling with fear.
‘Tina said what? She said to aim at the jaw first?’
I prepared to aim at the jaw if they approached, but fortunately, it didn’t happen. Soon the road came out and the bastards didn’t follow.
“Sigh, fortunately they didn’t follow.”
In my previous life, I had gone to the police station after beating some people while drunk, but this time it ended without getting involved in a battery dispute, which was good, but Camila’s heart felt heavy at that word.
‘Because of Ha-neul…’
Seeing Ha-neul’s weak side who always showed strong on the ground, even if it was Valentina next to Ha-neul, would she have gone through this?
“Camilla, not scared? You held my hand too tightly?”
Because of that thought, the hand became too tight. Camila held Ha-neul’s hand tightly and looked into Ha-neul’s eyes. Since the distance was close, Ha-neul’s beautiful eyes were visible through the sunglasses.
“Ha-neul.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not like that. If those bastards rushed at me, I would have beaten them? I’ll protect you, so don’t worry.”
And I want to protect you forever… I said to Ha-neul while hiding those words.
Ha-neul’s eyes behind the sunglasses widened.
“Anyway, you’re full of bravado. There were 4 of them, how can you protect? Let’s go to the movie faster. We might be late.”
Ha-neul laughed brightly and answered Camila’s words. Probably the words with sincerity sounded like a joke. Camila felt sad at that appearance, but the smiling Ha-neul was beautiful, so my head became complicated.
‘Still, he’s just a friend…’
Still friends. But if I keep trying like this…
Forgetting to let go of the hand, Ha-neul led me to the movie theater. Camila walked in step with Ha-neul quickly, thinking that if I stumbled, I might lose this hand.
But while walking, a mirror appeared. In the mirror, I and Ha-neul walking like lovers holding hands were visible. Feeling a bubbling feeling in my lower abdomen at that lover-like appearance, Camila stopped for a moment.
And following my gaze, Ha-neul’s gaze also turned to the mirror.
“Eh? Yeah. Sorry. I kept holding it.”
Ha-neul let go of the hand. Camila wanted to hold that hand again, but still just friends.
So Camila put the hand in the pocket pretending to be nonchalant and kept the warmth given by Ha-neul’s hand.
“Let’s go fast. The movie will be late.”
Ha-neul moved steps again and turned back with a bright expression as if forgetting the earlier incident.
I couldn’t hold hands again, but seeing Ha-neul’s bright appearance, my mood wasn’t that bad.