Chapter 52: If I Were the Protagonist

“What, what is it?”

“Is it fun?”

“What?”

Hyun-woo flinched at the quiet whisper.

Luckily, they were seated in a corner, and the person next to them was completely absorbed in the movie, not paying attention to them at all.

“It’s just… okay.”

“I see.”

“……?”

Seung-hyuk nodded and turned his gaze back to the screen.

Did he really talk during the movie just to ask if it was fun?

Hyun-woo thought he would just watch quietly, so it was unexpected.

Hyun-woo also turned back to the screen.

But after that, he couldn’t focus on the movie properly.

He kept feeling a strange gaze on him.

The culprit was, of course, Seung-hyuk beside him.

“…….”

At first, he thought he was imagining it, but when his cheek began to tickle as if being stared at, he turned and met eyes with Seung-hyuk.

He wanted to ask what he was doing, but unlike Seung-hyuk, he couldn’t bring himself to talk inside the theater.

Every time their eyes met, Seung-hyuk casually looked back at the screen.

So Hyun-woo could only keep watching without saying anything.

Since when had he been staring? From the start of the movie? Or since he spoke earlier?

This made Hyun-woo unnecessarily self-conscious, so he stole glances to the side.

But after a while, the glances never met anymore.

It was a little unsettling, but he had no choice but to concentrate on the movie again.

• So, what will you do? Will you save your lover? Or…

In the latter half, the protagonist finally discovered a way to save his lover.

As is common in popular romance regression films — he had to sacrifice himself.

A man who seemed like nothing more than an extra earlier suddenly reappeared as a supernatural being, almost divine.

That being asked the protagonist if he truly wanted to save his lover.

And the protagonist chose to die in their place.

• Huh…?

The screen shifted, and the protagonist opened his eyes.

He stared blankly at the familiar ceiling of his home — the one he always saw when he returned to the past.

He must have thought he died.

But he was alive.

And his lover was alive too.

The date showed it was the day after the lover was supposed to die.

Reunited, the protagonist rejoiced.

He probably believed that the divine being pitied his love and helped him.

No one knew the truth.

But the ending scene left a lingering unease — the lover was shown the same flower they always said was beautiful right before death.

As if hinting that their hardships were not yet completely over.

“It’s over.”

“Yeah.”

“What did you think of the ending?”

“The ending? Hmm….”

As the ending credits rolled, the audience began to file out.

Since it wasn’t a movie with sequels, there was no post-credit scene to wait for.

Hyun-woo thought for a moment.

The ending… though slightly unsettling, it was still a happy ending.

So it was fine, wasn’t it?

Tilting his head, he replied:

“Well… since it was a happy ending, I think it was good.”

“Really?”

“Yeah… what about you?”

“…….”

But Seung-hyuk didn’t respond.

When Hyun-woo looked at him questioningly, Seung-hyuk finally spoke with a calm face.

“I also think it’s fortunate that it was a happy ending.”

“Knew it.”

Hyun-woo felt oddly relieved.

He had thought that rational Seung-hyuk might see it differently.

Even if the person before him was the protagonist of the novel, it was hard to imagine him struggling desperately to save a lover and ultimately sacrificing himself.

He was more used to the cold, indifferent Seung-hyuk.

But if it were Hyun-jin, maybe it would be different.

Even if he was always distant and cold, Seung-hyuk might react differently if it concerned Hyun-jin.

If Hyun-jin died in front of him, would he also fight fate like the protagonist?

“If I were the protagonist….”

“Hm?”

“If I was sure I couldn’t save my lover, I think I would have just died with them.”

“……!”

Seung-hyuk muttered quietly.

He must have been thinking of the midpoint in the movie, where the protagonist realized his lover was destined to die and despaired.

Although the protagonist kept returning to the past and never gave up, Seung-hyuk’s conclusion was different.

To simply follow the lover into death.

It was both something that suited him, and something that didn’t.

“No, but… dying along with them is too much, isn’t it?”

“I would have done it.”

“…….”

Such extreme thinking.

Hyun-woo swallowed hard.

In the dim lighting, Seung-hyuk’s face couldn’t be seen clearly.

But his eyes were sharp — too sharp.

And as that intense gaze lingered on him, Hyun-woo suddenly felt overwhelmed.

Wincing slightly, Hyun-woo stood up.

“Let’s go.”

“Going home?”

“Yeah, it’s time to head back.”

“…….”

He didn’t know what Hyun-jin was doing, but if he had no plans, he’d be home.

And the movie was long — it was already evening.

Had he eaten? Probably not.

Hyun-woo almost called him right away, but stopped.

He should talk calmly at home.

“What are you doing? Come on.”

“…I’m coming.”

“……?”

For some reason, Seung-hyuk hesitated before standing.

Hyun-woo blinked, not understanding why.

Was he still thinking about the movie?

He didn’t give it much thought as they left the theater.

“Mmm….”

Reaching the front door, Hyun-woo hesitated.

On the way, he had asked Seung-hyuk to call Hyun-jin and check if he was home.

Though Seung-hyuk looked slightly annoyed, he still called.

Fortunately, Hyun-jin had been home all day.

The call was surprisingly short — which worried Hyun-woo a little — but knowing Hyun-jin was home was enough.

Hyun-woo had also bought plenty of food, knowing Hyun-jin probably hadn’t eaten properly.

“What are you waiting for? Aren’t you going in?”

“…Just give me a second.”

He still hadn’t forgotten their argument at the hospital.

It had shaken him deeply.

But he reminded himself of Seung-hyuk’s advice — not to act emotionally too fast.

With that resolve, he slowly opened the door.

beep

The lock clicked, and Hyun-woo stepped inside.

The entrance lights flickered on in the dark.

There was no sign of movement.

“…Hyun-jin?”

He checked the hall, the living room, the dining room — then finally stopped in front of Hyun-jin’s door.

He knocked softly.

“Hyun-jin?”

The door swung open.

“Hyung!”

“……!”

Hyun-jin threw his arms around him.

Hyun-woo blinked, startled, and tried to gently push him away — but something felt strange.

“You… were crying?”

Sniff “I was wrong, Hyung.”

“Hey, why are you crying… huh?”

His shoulder grew damp.

Hyun-woo awkwardly patted his back.

“You were gone for so long… I thought it was because of me… I was scared.”

“It’s not like that.”

In the real Hyun-woo’s memories, Hyun-jin had always been a quiet crybaby.

He cried easily, but never loudly.

Even as a child, he had been too aware of adult reactions.

So the real Hyun-woo would take him to his room and comfort him privately.

Even now, grown up, he still cried silently.

Feeling sympathy, Hyun-woo stroked his back and glanced behind him.

“I’ll comfort Hyun-jin. You should go to your room.”

“…….”

He said it thinking Seung-hyuk might worry seeing Hyun-jin crying.

But Seung-hyuk’s expression was… unreadable.

His gaze swept over the two of them — sharp, cold.

“…Okay.”

He didn’t argue.

Hyun-woo quietly exhaled in relief.

“I had fun today, Hyung.”

“Ah… y-yeah….”

The words Seung-hyuk added for no reason made Hyun-woo answer awkwardly.

Hyun-jin’s body trembled faintly in his arms.

There were many ways to explain why they returned home together — but Seung-hyuk had chosen that line.

Now Hyun-woo couldn’t explain anything.

He frowned slightly, watching Seung-hyuk walk away.

“Hyung… were you with Seung-hyuk all day?”

“No, not like that… We just ran into each other while I was out.”

“…….”

Hyun-jin lifted his head.

His face was a mess, stained with tears.

His eyes drooped in hurt sorrow, making him look unbearably fragile.

Hyun-woo gently stroked his cheeks.

“It’s true. I was just looking at books at the bookstore and ran into him. Then we ate together. That’s all.”

“…….”

He couldn’t bring himself to mention the movie.

Hyun-jin stared directly at his face.