A Movie at the End of the World

The women’s clothing store we rushed into felt unusually warm. “…This one looks nice.” I pointed at the cardigan displayed near the entrance and asked Soyeon, “What do you think?”

Min Soyeon scrunched her lips in clear dissatisfaction and gave a half-hearted shrug. Even if she hated it, too bad. I dragged her inside the store anyway and asked the nearest employee about the size of the cardigan I had my eye on.

But when the employee heard the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠size, she tilted her head and asked cautiously, “Is this… for the young lady here?”

“Yes.”

“Ah… um…”

She stared at Soyeon with a troubled expression, as if weighing something, then said she’d bring it out and disappeared into the back of the store.

“Soyeon. Since we’re here, want to look at some other clothes too?”

“…No thanks.”

I was gently coaxing her, secretly planning to get her to change into a few tops, when the employee returned carrying an armful of garments and handed them to Soyeon.

“Would you like to try these on? This is the size you mentioned first, and these are…”

At first, I didn’t understand why the employee had brought so many different sizes. Only after Soyeon went into the fitting room with her and came back out did I finally grasp the woman’s hesitation.

“…How does it look?”

Min Soyeon stood there awkwardly, showing off the outfit. The buttons across her chest were stretched so tight they looked like they might pop at the slightest touch. What was supposed to be modest clothing had instead become something that shamelessly emphasized her figure.

Good grief… I silently cursed the fact that Soyeon had inherited her mother’s body so perfectly and offered a careful apology.

“…Sorry. Let’s get something else.”

“Thank you! Please come again!”

After receiving the employee’s cheerful farewell, I turned away and let out a quiet sigh, reflecting on the exhausting shopping trip. It was the season when clothes were getting thinner, so we’d tried on practically everything before finally settling on a loose, one-size-fits-all coat… but the journey to that decision had been brutal.

We left the clothing store, and since the timing felt a bit awkward, we decided to grab a light dinner. Fast food like burgers would’ve been the easiest choice for something quick, but since we were eating anyway, something a little healthier seemed better.

“Want to get sandwiches? There’s a place on the fourth floor.”

“…Sure, whatever.”

When I casually asked for her opinion, Soyeon just kept fiddling with the coat she was wearing, as if she didn’t care either way. She’d complained at first that it wasn’t pretty… but maybe she liked that I was the one who bought it for her?

…This is driving me crazy.

Swallowing my complicated feelings, I led her toward the sandwich shop. It was the kind of place where you could pick your own bread and fillings. I remembered it well—it was one of Yeonhee’s favorite spots, and we used to come here often when we were dating.

While we were eating the sandwiches we’d ordered, Soyeon took a big bite, chewed thoughtfully, and then glanced at the phone she’d set beside her.

“…”

She seemed to be checking the time. Without even unlocking it, she looked away and went back to eating. She must have been confirming the movie’s showtime…

I still had no idea what movie we were supposed to watch today or when it started. Earlier she’d clearly not wanted to tell me, so I hadn’t pressed her. But now that we were here, maybe it was okay to ask?

I swallowed what was in my mouth, rinsed it down with a drink, and spoke up carefully.

“…Soyeon.”

She turned her head slightly while still biting into her sandwich. “What movie are we watching today?” I asked in a gentle voice.

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠avoided my eyes with an indifferent expression and continued chewing. I assumed she’d answer once she swallowed.

But… slurp—she simply drank from her straw with a perfectly calm face, as if she had swallowed my question along with the sandwich.

It was her way of saying she didn’t want to tell me.

…Seriously, what kind of movie is she trying to hide even after we came all this way?

“…Soyeon. Can’t you at least tell me what time it starts?” I pleaded.

Only then did she finally look at me directly and mutter, “…7:55.”

7:55? I quickly pulled out my phone and searched for movies starting at 7:55.

But…

There were far too many movies starting at that time. I couldn’t even begin to guess which one it was.

…This is driving me crazy.

As I put my phone away in defeat, Min Soyeon, sitting across from me, lifted one corner of her mouth in a smirk. It was as if she were saying, ‘Did you really think I wouldn’t know what you were thinking?’

Unbelievable.

After we finished eating, there was still some time left, so I suggested we stay seated a little longer. That was when—

“!”

Soyeon suddenly seemed to remember something. She picked up her phone and casually tossed out, “…Let’s take a picture.”

“Huh? Out of nowhere?”

I was confused by the abrupt suggestion, but she naturally turned her body, stretched out her arm, and tried to take a selfie. She clearly wasn’t satisfied with the angle, though—she kept moving her arm around, endlessly adjusting the position. It was obvious she didn’t take photos often.

“Soyeon. Give me the phone. I’ll hold it.”

“…Eh?”

I took the phone from her and extended my arm, recalling the angles Yeonhee had taught me. “…Whoa…”

Only then did Soyeon look satisfied. She let out a small gasp of admiration and leaned her face into the frame.

…She’s so cute.

The way she widened her eyes while staring at the camera was genuinely adorable. If only she would show this side of herself more often…

Click. Click.

I took two photos and handed the phone back to her. After checking them, she gave me a quick glance with a satisfied expression.

“…Not bad.”

Coming from her, that was practically high praise.

With a somewhat proud look on her face, Soyeon fiddled with her phone. Tap. Tap. Tap-tap. Her fingers flew across the screen as she typed something. Was she sending a message to someone?

At that same moment.

“…Hmph.”

Taxi: 8,620 won NOVIA: 129,000 won Busway: 15,700 won

Ju Yeonhee sat at the table, carefully examining the card transaction history of Min Soyeon and Yu Jihwan.

Just then—

Vrrr. Vrrr.

Her phone, lying beside her, vibrated briefly as if a message had arrived.

“…”

Yeonhee glanced at it, set the tablet down, and picked up the phone to check the message. And then…

“…Ha.”

She let out a sigh of pure disbelief and quietly placed the phone back on the table.

On the screen was a sweet photo of Min Soyeon and Yu Jihwan. Below it was an innocent, carefree message from Soyeon who clearly had no idea what she was doing:

At the same time.

Gulp. Gulp.

Gong Haeseon was stuffing pre-measured nutritional supplements into her mouth, replenishing her body’s needs.

Just then—

Vrrr. Vrrr.

The phone that had been rolling around on the floor vibrated briefly.

“Huh…?”

Haeseon was startled by the sudden vibration. A moment later, she remembered that no one usually contacted her and hurriedly searched for her phone, secretly hoping it might be from Jihwan.

But…

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“…”

It wasn’t the name she had hoped for. The message had come from an unregistered number. Disappointed, Haeseon unlocked her phone to delete it.

And at that moment—

“!”

Her eyes widened as she stared at the screen.

The photo showed Yu Jihwan and Min Soyeon looking cozy together, along with the message:

It was clearly a taunt. Haeseon immediately realized the sender was Min Soyeon.

“Hmph…”

She let out a small, dry laugh and quietly set the phone down. After brushing off Soyeon’s bragging, she finished the rest of her supplements and popped a pale milk-colored pill into her mouth.

Gulp.

7:45 PM.

The part-timer standing at the theater entrance shouted toward the lobby, “Entrance for the 7:55 screening is now open!”

I was sitting on a lobby bench, sipping the drink I’d bought earlier while waiting for Min Soyeon, who had gone to the restroom. Watching the crowd heading toward the entrance, I thought it would be better to wait a bit before going in.

“…Has it started?”

Soyeon, who had finished her business, approached me.

Oh, she’s back. I stood up from the bench and handed her the bag I’d been holding.

“Yeah. Which theater are we in?”

She took the bag, pulled out her phone, and checked the e-ticket she had secretly purchased.

“Theater 4.”

Theater 4, huh…

Only now, right before the movie started, did I learn which one we were seeing. I quickly scanned the digital board on the wall.

At the End of the World?

So that was the movie Min Soyeon had been hiding so desperately.

I definitely recognized the title…

“…Let’s hurry.”

Soyeon grabbed my arm and pulled me toward Theater 4.

“Ah, okay, okay…”

I followed her quietly, my eyes darting around as I searched for the poster for At the End of the World.

“Yes, this is Theater 4 for At the End of the World!”

After our tickets were checked, just as we were about to enter the theater, I ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spotted the movie poster on the wall.

…Huh?