daffodil

06

After arriving at the theater, I-han and Seo Jae-hee sit down on chairs for a moment and talk.

Seo Jae-hee: "Young master Dong-hyeon... no, older brother, how did you happen to get the tickets to this opera?"

I-han: "Ah, someone I know was involved in producing this opera. They gave me two tickets."

Seo Jae-hee: "What do you think this opera is about today?"

I-han: "Well, from what I heard, it’s a love story."

Then, admission to the theater begins.

I-han: "Huh? We’re going in. Shall we head inside?"

Seo Jae-hee: "Sounds good."

Once the opera starts, Seo Jae-hee becomes completely absorbed.
Between sips of water, she can’t take her eyes off the performance.
I-han watches Jae-hee like that with a slight smile.

By the time the opera ends, the sun has already set.
There were few people on the street, and the streetlights were turning on one by one.

Seo Jae-hee: "Today’s opera was so fun. The names were a little hard, but... still!"

I-han smiles as he watches Seo Jae-hee, eyes sparkling, chatter on about what she liked about the opera they saw today.

I-han: "What was your favorite scene?"

Seo Jae-hee: "Um... I... this is too hard..."

While Seo Jae-hee is deep in thought, suddenly from the alley behind her
a bicycle darts out.
I-han instinctively pulls Seo Jae-hee toward himself.
The bicycle narrowly passes by the two of them.

I-han: "That was dangerous... are you okay?"

Seo Jae-hee: "Yes, I’m fine. I was a little startled, though..."

Seeing Seo Jae-hee’s small face, which doesn’t even reach his chest, I-han’s heart beats a little faster.

I-han: "...Phew... glad to hear it."

He naturally lets go of Seo Jae-hee.
A brief, awkward silence hangs between the two as they walk.

Seo Jae-hee: "...Huh? That’s my house!"

Fortunately, they quickly arrive at Seo Jae-hee’s house.

Seo Jae-hee: "Dong-hyeon older brother, I’ll go in now. Please get home safely..!"

Her hair, slipping into the gate, flutters and reveals slightly reddened ears.
I-han stands there for a moment, then lets out a snort of a smile.

I-han: "....Cute."

On the way home, that day, I-han couldn’t get the round head of Seo Jae-hee that had touched his chest out of his mind.