Excluded Duo. (3)
On the way to the movie theater, there was a brief commotion, but we managed to arrive safely.
The moment we stepped inside, Camila immediately lit up like a kid in a candy store, scanning the concession stand with sparkling eyes.
“Hey Ha-neul, can I have some popcorn?”
She sounded so adorable that I couldn’t help but smile. Fortunately, she didn’t seem to mind the small scuffle that had broken out earlier. Sure, some rowdy guys had tried to pick a fight, but it was only natural that they backed down when they realized who they were dealing with.
I was a little annoyed myself, but watching Camila forget about it so quickly made me think she was truly something special. Too pure, maybe?
If some thugs had come at me right after I turned eighteen, I probably wouldn’t have held back.
“No.”
Of course, I couldn’t let her eat whatever she wanted. The food at the theater was way too sugary, and I was still in my recovery period after the injury. Feeding her junk food would only slow her down, and I didn’t want to face Angela with that on my conscience.
“Nachos too?”
She was already eyeing the nachos like they were the most tempting thing in the world. How had she been this obsessed with junk food since she was little?
“Camilla, you want to turn into a pig again?”
I tried to pinch her belly the way I used to, but my fingers hit nothing but padding. Camila just laughed, clearly enjoying the moment.
“Hey Ha-neul, you’re being so picky. You said no snacks while we watch the movie, remember?”
She suddenly looked up at me with those big, puppy-dog eyes, but I couldn’t give in. Especially not when she was still recovering. If I let her eat something that could set her recovery back, I’d never be able to look Angela in the eye again.
“Water. I’ll get you some.”
“Eek…”
Camila pouted at my firm tone, and I almost reached out to ruffle her hair. But then I remembered how sensitive her height was, and my hand stopped mid-air.
“Shall we head in, then?”
“Okay…”
With a dejected Camila by my side, we entered the theater. It had been ages since I’d been to a movie, so I was curious about what we were seeing.
*Was this some kind of trap?*
The theater wasn’t packed, so it probably wasn’t a blockbuster. Most movies in this genre were like that anyway. Still, a few people trickled in, and only after the lights dimmed did I finally took off my sunglasses.
The moment I did, a rustling sound came from beside me. I glanced over and saw Camila already peeling off her jacket.
*She really is wearing a sports bra underneath.*
After eating, I figured even a light jacket would be enough to keep her warm. I shrugged off my own jacket and draped it over the empty seat beside me. Just as I settled in comfortably, my gaze drifted unconsciously around the theater—and suddenly locked onto Camila’s chest.
*…Huh.*
The fabric of her training top clung to her body, and something was clearly pushing against the material. That prominent curve right in the center of her chest was impossible to ignore.
*…A sports bra?*
In this world, sports bras weren’t unusual. Hell, they weren’t even special in my previous life either. In Korea, seeing women without them was rare, but in Europe—and especially Spain—they were everywhere.
Still, this was the first time I’d seen Camila like this, and I couldn’t stop my heart from racing. Even though sports bras were common now, we were athletes. In the old days, before sports bras existed, there were players whose ribs had been torn apart. Sports bras were essential for us.
So it was the first time I’d seen the edge of something peeking out from under her training top.
“Hey Ha-neul, are you hot? Your face is red.”
My face was red? Me, who had seen countless women naked? I touched my cheek in disbelief. It was warm, but not burning up.
*Am I… really this affected?*
I tried to deny it, but the image of Camila’s chest wouldn’t leave my mind. I had to admit it. Seeing a close friend like this had more destructive power than I realized. In my previous life, I never had female friends, so I had no idea how intense it could be.
*Sorry, Camilla.*
I had never once thought of her that way, but the unexpected sight hit me like a truck.
*…It was that bad.*
The blood was rushing so fast I could barely think straight.
The theater lights brightened as the movie studio’s intro played. If Camila looked down, she’d see everything. And since she was wearing her usual uniform bottoms, my current state was painfully obvious.
I answered her question as casually as I could.
“I-it’s fine.”
“Really? Your face is still red.”
Camila reached for her forehead, then tried to touch mine. I dodged her hand and replied quickly.
“W-well, the movie’s starting. Shh.”
“Eh? Eh…”
I managed to avoid contact, but my eyes kept drifting toward her chest anyway.
*Get a grip, Ryu Ha-neul. What are you doing, staring at a friend? She’s younger than you… No, damn it, you’re not a teenager. Focus!*
I squeezed my eyes shut and tried to listen to the speaker. But the more I tried to ignore it, the more the image from earlier burned behind my eyelids. The screen showed a dark, eerie island landscape that looked like the main setting.
*Still, at least it’s a thriller.*
If I focused on the movie, maybe those bad thoughts would disappear.
A couple appeared on screen. Like any B-to-C thriller, the first part was their sweet romance—simple kisses, nothing more. But the tension was already there, so the blood in my veins refused to settle.
*This won’t do.*
I needed an emergency fix. I glanced sideways at Camila and timed it perfectly. The second I saw her completely ignore me, I reached over and quickly secured the fabric with a band.
It caught a little on the edge of her panties, but thanks to the loose top I was wearing, it wasn’t visible from outside.
*Whew… This should be enough to hide it.*
I checked Camila again. She still hadn’t noticed.
*Hurry up and kill someone. It’s an island, so there must be a murderer somewhere.*
I prayed for the romantic scenes to end and the thriller atmosphere to take over. I wasn’t some degenerate who got off on gore, so I figured I’d calm down soon.
[Hey, Sherry. Shall we come visit the island where we live? We built a villa there. We’re planning a grand opening party to celebrate its completion.]
[Umm… Should I tell my wife it’s okay? If we go, we’ll have to go as a couple.]
*Damn it, this isn’t even adultery—it’s straight-up cheating.*
The movie was hard to focus on. But the moment I realized it was about adultery, I could already guess how it would play out. Someone was killing people on an island where contact with the outside world had been cut off. Probably the husband of the woman named Sherry, or the wife of the adulterer. Or maybe just a psycho.
That unpredictability was exactly what made B-to-C thrillers so fun.
It helped that thinking about it made the blood in my head settle a little.
*Good. Kill someone already.*
But even after arriving on the island, the steamy scenes kept coming, and my body reacted again. Even a B-to-C thriller shouldn’t have that many of them. The thought made me curse under my breath.
*Damn…*
I was about to close my eyes when my instincts betrayed me again, locking onto Camila’s chest. The timing was terrible. The way her chest rose and fell in real time was burned into my vision.
Yeah, I was a little affected, but there was no way Camila, who had no tolerance for this kind of thing, would be fine.
The training top’s too-tight elasticity was infuriating.
And the way my own body reacted to the sight was even more infuriating.
*Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come…*
I bit my tongue and silently recited the Lord’s Prayer. When I was younger, the club had dragged me to church and I’d been annoyed. Maybe this was God’s plan for this exact moment. The feeling of being purified by the Lord’s holy grace slowly helped me calm down.
*Thank you, God.*
I finished the prayer and offered my gratitude.
But once I’d seen it once, resisting my instincts became almost impossible. Even if I tried not to look, Camila’s chest and that prominent curve kept flashing before my eyes.
*Please, please. Kill someone already!*
The eerie BGM played from the speakers. Was this the start of the murder? I waited for it to begin, but instead the adulterous victims were shown committing adultery. And the protagonist watching it all.
*No way.*
I finally realized the truth. This movie wasn’t the thriller I expected.
An erotic title, “not for minors,” adultery, an island cut off from the outside world…
*Damn it, it’s an adult film?*
I felt nothing but resentment toward Camila for choosing to watch this. But I couldn’t just blame her. I had glanced at the trailer too and thought it looked like a normal thriller.
Still, this was an erotic thriller. It wasn’t common, but my previous life had plenty of movies like that, so it wasn’t strange.
The only problem was my own situation.
*Ah. I’m screwed.*
I forced my eyes to stay fixed on the screen with superhuman willpower. The movie was lewd, but nothing compared to the sight right beside me. So I had to focus on the film.
*Ryu Ha-neul, what are you doing? You’ve known her since you were kids.*
I tried to soothe myself with sheer willpower.
But how had that kid grown so much?
Of course her height was still shorter than mine, but the body I had seen at the pool was that of a full-grown woman. It was only natural, but realizing it now made me feel guilty.
*Ugh…*
I bit my tongue to hold back my thoughts. But the sound slipped out, and Camila glanced at me once before turning back to the screen. She hadn’t noticed anything.
*Whew… Focus. Or don’t focus.*
Every time a lewd scene appeared, my eyes would drift toward Camila’s chest. Or more precisely, toward the prominent curve.
But if I didn’t look, every rustle beside me would make me wonder what she was doing, and that would be even worse.
The movie continued with more lewd scenes and moments of psychological horror, and I endured as best I could while time slowly passed.
[Sherry, I love you so much. I love you enough to kill.]
After the protagonist and her husband shared one final intimate moment, the man committed suicide, and the movie ended.
“…”
“…”
I couldn’t even look at Camila’s face. Probably she felt the same way.
“Shall we go?”
A faint heat lingered in Camila’s voice. She was excited too. I had known that the whole time, since we kept making eye contact. In the end, I was a failure who couldn’t control my desires.
If she knew how I felt, she’d be disappointed. The thought of the always-smiling Camila looking at me with contempt made my heart ache.
“J-just wait a little longer? There might be credit scenes.”
But I couldn’t just stand up and leave the theater like nothing happened. Walking right now would be too painful.
“R-really?”
Camila had noticed my state? A chill ran down my spine. Before she could look down, I kept talking.
“E-even if other people aren’t coming out, it looks like something’s happening.”
Fortunately, I wasn’t the only one. A lot of people were still sitting. Among the single women, some had already left, but the couples who came together were still there. Other men must be in the same situation.
I pulled my sunglasses back on and hid my face. I met Camila’s eyes through the gap in her clothes. Thanks to the sunglasses, she hadn’t noticed.
But one thing was certain. The moment we got back to the dorm, I would need some alone time—no matter how long it had been since the last time.
I needed to calm down.