Inside the elevator, Irina stood in front with the boys behinds, along with Jinkyung and Mijin both at each of her sides.
She kept checking her phone.
"Why aren't those two replying? The movie's starting soon. Are they even coming?"
Mijin glanced at her. "Did you try calling?"
"Yeah. They're not picking up."
She huffed.
They're probably having way too good of a time.
Jinkyung adjusted her bag. "I'm sure Seolhyo will come. She's never broken a promise."
Suwon snorted. "Those two probably won't. Why hang out with us when they've got each other?"
Mijin crossed her arms. "Yeah. If I had a boyfriend, I wouldn't waste my weekend with you guys either."
Irina smirked. "Yeah. If."
The elevator arrive at the 9th floor.
The doors slid open, and they all shuffled out into the cinema lobby.
Park Dong stretched. "You think the movie's even good? Doesn't look like there's much action."
Mijin scoffed. "With actors that hot? How could it be boring?"
Irina nodded seriously. "Exactly. The entertainment is in the faces. I'm tired of seeing your ugly ones."
Suwon and Park Dong turned toward her in sync.
"What did you just say, you midget?"
They ended up waiting near a bench in the lobby. Behind it, large movie posters covered the wall.
Park Dong's attention locked onto one on the left a darker, gritty-looking action film.
"Have you guys seen this? Cruel Street is insanely good."
Jinkyung smile slightly. "We're underage. We can't watch that, right?"
Park Dong chuckled, hood pulled low, hands tucked into his pockets.
"When it says 'Adults Only,' it actually means teenagers will enjoy it the most."
Suwon burst out laughing. "HAHAHA, that's true!"
Someone suddenly tapped Park Dong's shoulder.
He turned around
And blinked.
Seolhyo stood there, arms stretched.
"Why are you just standing there like that?"
Park Dong scoffed. "Oh, look this punk finally showed up."
Seolhyo brows slightly furrowed. "We've been here ten minutes early. I even waved when I saw you guys. How could none of you see us?"
Irina crossed her arms. "But seriously, why weren't you replying?!"
Seolhyo glance at her. "I was printing the tickets. I even tried calling you."
Irina threw her hands up. "Sheesh. I thought you two weren't coming."
Jinkyung tilted her head. "Where's Seojin? He didn't come?"
"Hey, guys."
They turned as Seojin walked over casually.
Seolhyo nodded toward him. "He's here."
Jinkyung asked, "Did you two eat before coming?"
"Yeah, we did."
Seolhyo glanced at Seojin. "Wait… where did you go? You were just behind me."
"Bathroom," Seojin replied simply. "Anyway, I'll grab popcorn. You want something?"
Seolhyo nodded immediately. "Yeah. Popcorn, some candy, and soft drinks."
He was already walking toward the concession stand before she finished.
Seolhyo cupped her hands around her mouth. "Get me a grape soda, okay?!"
Without looking back, Seojin raised his hand in acknowledgment, giving a casual wave as he walked off.
Irina suddenly stood up from the bench. "Why is it so hot in here? Let's go to the restroom."
"Sure~"
The four girls headed off together.
Park Dong stared after them. "…Why do girls always go to the bathroom in groups?"
Suwon and Park Dong dropped onto the bench.
Park Dong leaned back and glanced sideways at Suwon, who also had his hood up and hands in his pockets.
"Hey. Take off your hood. We look like a couple."
Suwon glance at him with disgust. "That just killed my mood."
"Hey, you two!"
They both turned.
Seojin stood near the concession stand, arms loaded with popcorn buckets and drinks.
"If you've got nothing better to do, help me carry this!"
Park Dong's eyes lit up. "Nice. It's free."
Suwon grinned. "Good. I was planning not to buy anything. My allowance is almost gone."
They both got up instantly.
In the girls' bathroom, Irina burst out laughing."I thought you were going out with that oppa!"
Seolhyo shot her a sharp glare. "Shut up. Stop bringing up that guy."
Mijin blinked. "Oppa? Who are you talking about?"
Jinkyung immediately perked up, leaning closer.
Irina grinned mischievously. "There's this guy who waited near Seolhyo's house last night. He gave her a gift and asked her out. It was so dramatic." She laughed again.
Jinkyung's eyes widened. "Wait, is that the oppa you meant? That guy?"
Irina nodded.
Mijin frowned slightly. "...Really? Isn't that kind of creepy?"
"To be fair," Irina said, lowering her voice, "he was hot as hell. No, wait-"
She suddenly bent forward, clenching both fists. "Heeeee's-"
She threw her arms up dramatically. "Freaking insanely good-looking!"
Mijin gasped. "Really? As good-looking as Seojin?"
Jinkyung tilted her head. "Well… they have different charms."
"I still think Seojin looks better," Irina said with a shrug. "Seojin a natural. I heard that oppa had eye surgery."
"Just eye surgery?" Mijin said. "That's not so bad. If he's really that handsome, I bet he's super popular."
Through all of this, Seolhyo stood facing the mirror, looking exhausted by the teasing.
Mijin suddenly leaned closer, eyes sparkling. "Kyaaaah! This feels like a drama. Two hot guys fighting over one girl!"
Jinkyung giggled. "It's not really a fight. Seojin's already dating Seolhyo."
Seolhyo rolled her eyes at Mijin's reflection. "Exactly. It's not even a contest. That guy's just weird. I'm already ignoring his texts doesn't that say enough?"
"Well," Mijin teased, "maybe he can't help it. Maybe he's hopelessly in love with you!" She burst into laughter.
Irina snorted. "That guy has thick skin. Maybe after becoming handsome, his face got thicker too."
Mijin clapped her hands. "This is way more entertaining than a movie. Why even bother going to the cinema when Seolhyo's love life is a live drama?"
The three of them laughed loudly.
Seolhyo rubbed her forehead tiredly.
Suddenly, Mijin stepped closer and started tickling her waist."Kyaaaah! You're so beautiful, Seolhyo! You can charm any guy without even trying!"
"Ugh, stop it!" Seolhyo squirmed, trying not to laugh.
The girls stepped out of the restroom and immediately spotted Suwon in the hallway, casually hugging four large sodas against his chest.
He grinned when he saw them. "Delivery service. Who wanted cola?"
"Me," Jinkyung said, raising her hand.
Suwon nodded. "Take the one on the left."
"Thanks."
Mijin stepped forward. "Good boy. What about Sprite?"
"The one in the middle."
Behind him, Park Dong was struggling carrying four popcorn buckets.
"You! Stop staring and help me carry these!"
Irina ignored him for a second lifting her phone and snapping a photo first.
"Wait, this is hilarious."
Only then did she take two of the popcorns from him.
Seolhyo drifted naturally back to Seojin.
Without a word, he handed her a grape soda. "Here."
She took it, their fingers brushing briefly.
Since everyone was here and snacks were secured, they headed into the cinema hall.
The lights dimmed as they found their seats.
The giant screen flickered to life, trailers rolling across it in bright flashes.
Seolhyo sat beside Seojin.
The armrest between them was lifted, so she leaned slightly into him, her shoulder resting against his chest. Seojin slouched comfortably into his seat, relaxed.
His fingers absentmindedly brushed along her cheek… down to her neck… lightly tracing the edge of her ear.
Seolhyo didn't react much her eyes fixed on the screen but she reached into the popcorn bucket and held a piece up without looking.
Seojin leaned forward and took it from her fingers.
A second later, he tilted the soda toward her lips so she could sip from the straw.
It fell into a quiet rhythm.
feed him a popcorn.
Taking a sip from the soda.
A shared flinch when something loud happened onscreen.
A soft shake of their shoulders when something funny came up.
They didn't say a single word.
But the silence between them wasn't empty.
The quiet, unspoken intimacy between them said enough
From the same rows seat, Mijin leaned toward Irina and whispered, "Look at those two. Flirting even in here."
Irina didn't look their way, not wanting to torture herself with envy.
"Stop watching them. You're the only one suffering if you keep paying attention to everything they do."