Chapter 120: A Day of Ordinary Miracles

It had been a long time since they had enjoyed an outing alone, without their child. Knowing Seo-woo would undoubtedly insist on joining them if she were awake, they had to slip away quietly during her nap. I found myself hesitating, a pang of unwarranted guilt stirring within me. Sensing this, he suggested we buy a gift for Seo-woo on the way back. At his words, my heart felt a little lighter. Watching the showtimes, debating what to watch, he produced the tickets he had already booked. The movie title struck me as familiar; upon closer inspection, I realized it was the very film I had once casually mentioned wanting to see.

“Didn’t this movie finish its run already?” I asked.

“Luckily, there were still some screenings,” he replied, shrugging as if it were no big deal. With the showtime fast approaching, we quickly bought popcorn and cola.

Entering the theater, our hands laden with snacks, we discovered we were the only two audience members.

‘Perhaps others will arrive after the commercials,’ I mused.

We settled into the central seats, offering the best view of the screen, and casually munched on popcorn throughout the advertisements. I usually made an effort to avoid snacks, yet this caramel-coated popcorn was surprisingly delicious, making it impossible to stop at just one handful. The emergency exit instructions concluded, and the theater plunged into darkness. The movie was about to begin, but we remained the sole occupants.

“Jung-ah.”

“Yes?”

“Did you perhaps rent this place out?” I asked, though I scarcely believed it possible. He couldn’t quite conceal his expression, as if my question had hit its mark. Then, he attempted to divert my attention, claiming the movie was about to start.

While I had many questions, I decided to focus on the film for now. He, who had been subtly watching for my reaction, also fixed his gaze forward once I immersed myself in the movie. Often, high expectations lead to disappointment, but this film proved immensely satisfying. I found myself completely engrossed in the lead actor’s performance, laughing and crying along with the story.

As the movie concluded and the ending credits rolled, a sudden thought struck me: ‘What was I like when I was Yoo Joon-hee?’

‘Was my acting like this?’ I wondered.

Did people immerse themselves in my performances, laughing and crying alongside me? I wished it had been so.

“What are you thinking about?” he asked, leaning closer to me.

When I stammered that I wasn’t thinking about anything in particular, he narrowed his eyes, a clear sign of suspicion.

“Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“It really wasn’t anything important.”

“Whether it’s important or not, I’ll decide after I hear it.”

Seeing his clear implication that he would wait until I spoke, I reluctantly shared the thoughts that had occupied my mind moments before: ‘What was my acting like when I was Yoo Joon-hee?’

“When you act, hyung, everything else fades away, and only you are visible,” he explained. “And before I know it, I’m looking for only you.”

“Aren’t you just seeing me in too good a light?” I asked, a hint of skepticism in my voice.

“I don’t make empty promises when it comes to acting,” he asserted.

He met my gaze, urging me to trust his words. Seeing the utter sincerity in his eyes, I could only nod in agreement. A satisfied, radiant smile lit up his face.

“Shall we move on to the next part of our date now?” he proposed.

“Where are we going?”

“What typically follows a movie theater on a normal date?” he teased.

Leaving the theater, we headed to the arcade situated right next door. It was a cacophony of sounds, an overwhelmingly noisy place.

“Is there anything you’d like to try?” he asked.

“Not particularly…” I replied.

“Then play that with me,” he said, pointing.

The game he wanted to play was basketball, one where you simply had to shoot basketballs into a hoop across the way. It didn’t look particularly challenging.

“Should we make a bet?” he suggested.

“The loser grants the winner a wish?” I proposed.

“Sounds good,” he agreed.

Accepting my challenge, he returned with change. As we simultaneously inserted our coins, basketballs cascaded down from behind the acrylic barrier. I calmly threw the balls one by one, sinking them into the hoop. The distance wasn’t great, so it seemed easy enough. If only it continued this way…

“What is that?” I exclaimed.

Suddenly, the hoop began moving frantically from side to side. Though momentarily flustered, I quickly regained my composure and continued shooting. Unlike before, however, my shots no longer found their mark.

“Joon-hee hyung, keep going!” he cheered, playfully.

Unlike me, who was struggling, he seemed to have ample room to tease his opponent. A surge of frustration welled within me, and I continued to hurl ball after ball, my gaze fixed solely on the moving hoop until the very end.

When the time ran out, the acrylic barrier, which had disappeared, rose again to block the basketballs. It was now time to check our scores.

“Hmm, looks like I won,” he announced.

While I had somewhat anticipated it, his victory was overwhelming. He grinned, clearly pleased to have secured a wish, while I, having lost, felt a distinct pang of displeasure.

“What’s your wish?” I asked.

“I won’t say it here,” he replied.

“Why not?”

“It wouldn’t bother me, but I don’t think you’d feel the same way, hyung.”

The moment I saw the sly curve of his lips, I instinctively knew what wish he intended to ask of me. Accepting that bet had been nothing short of digging my own grave.

“I quite liked it this time. The rabbit,” he murmured, loud enough for me to hear.

‘Perhaps next time I’ll try a cat,’ he continued, teasing me with his audible musings. I knew the best course of action was to ignore him, yet a part of me felt uneasy, knowing that if it were him, he was certainly capable of following through.

“Let’s try that one next,” he said, pulling me along.

Before I could wallow in my defeat, we moved through the entire arcade, playing every game that looked interesting. As I became fully engrossed, even the cacophonous noise that had initially assaulted my ears no longer bothered me.

We played many games, but the most enjoyable was the shooting game. We had to eliminate zombies that popped up from various points on the screen. Unexpectedly, he was terrible at it, while I excelled.

After leaving the arcade, we went for an early dinner. We visited a renowned restaurant, rumored to have reservations booked years in advance, where we recounted tales of the movie we’d just seen and our delightful time at the arcade.

Having finished a meal where the conversation proved more memorable than the food, we drove to the outskirts of the city. Leaning against the car, I sipped an americano we’d purchased from a cafe on the way, gazing up at the expansive sky.

“Did you have fun today?” he asked.

“Yes,” I replied simply.

“How much fun?”

“A lot.”

My answer seemed to satisfy him, as he broke into a bright smile. Leaning against each other, we fell into a comfortable silence for a while. It was I who eventually broke it.

“That was my first time ever going to an arcade,” I confessed.

“I know,” he responded softly.

“Actually, I’ve never been to a movie theater either, except for stage greetings.”

“That’s quite surprising,” he remarked.

Having lived a life known to the public since childhood, my existence had always been far removed from anything ordinary. It was quite inconvenient, after all, to be recognized wherever I went.

As I gradually eliminated places I could visit, my home became the only sanctuary where I could truly feel at ease. Perhaps this was also why I wasn’t particularly fond of going out.

“I wouldn’t have even imagined this in the past,” I mused.

“Right? Both you and I had quite a few people who recognized us,” he agreed.

“Especially you. You have too many fans.”

Even now, a chill ran down my spine when I recalled the threats I had received from Seon Woo-jung’s fans after the dating scandal broke.

“Back then, we were busy hiding,” he said.

“And covering our faces completely,” I added.

“Wearing those masks was incredibly stifling,” he admitted.

No matter how thoroughly we disguised ourselves, those who recognized us always managed to do so. More importantly, with paparazzi tracking our every move, we could never meet with true peace of mind.

Consequently, our dates were limited to meeting at each other’s homes, away from prying eyes, or visiting private restaurants or secluded cafes in distant outskirts.

To blend among people, watching movies, playing games, and dining out—such things had been unthinkable dreams. Perhaps that’s why today felt so exceptionally special. Though, soon, it would become their new normal.

“Do you ever think that, hyung?” he asked.

“Think what?” I replied.

“Just… that all of this might be a dream. That kind of thought.”

He seemed still afraid that the happiness he’d found, this second chance so unbelievable to others, might one day vanish like a mirage.

I, too, occasionally experienced such anxieties. Yet, each time I woke, seeing him and Seo-woo first thing, I would quickly realize that this beautiful present was undeniably real.

“Jung-ah, look at me.”

His gaze, which had been fixed on the distant horizon, now turned to mine. I took a step closer, took his hand, and placed it against my cheek. His trembling fingertips gently traced the contours of my face.

“It’s not a dream, is it?” he whispered.

“…I suppose not,” I murmured in return.

A soft smile graced his face, the anxiety seemingly erased. His hand, which had been lingering on my cheek, gently pressed against my lips. He then bent down, and our lips met.

We remained there, feeling each other’s breath, until, without a word, we both burst into laughter.

“You know how much I love you, don’t you?” he asked, his voice tender.

“Yes, I know,” I confirmed.

The profoundly painful times were now firmly in the past. From this moment, days filled with happiness would unfold, by his side and alongside the miracle that had found them.

“I love you, Jung-ah.”

And so, they would live.

****

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