Fugly Casanova

Jiwoo: [Exit 8 leads to a path connected to J Tower.]

Jiwoo: [Take the elevator to the 6th floor from there, it’s faster hehe.]

Joonki: [Oh thanks!!]

Joonki: [You already there?]

Jiwoo: [Yeah got here a bit early.]

Hansol: [Thx]

Jiwoo checked the time. There were twenty minutes left before the movie started.

The cinema hummed with weekend energy, long lines snaking from both the bathrooms and concession stands as the start time approached.

Catching the eye of a passing staff member, Jiwoo asked, “Excuse me, is there only one bathroom on this floor?”

“No, there are bathrooms on each floor,” the employee replied.

“Ah, thank you.”

Jiwoo scanned the area, thinking aloud. “We’ll meet here… Theater 4’s upstairs, so we can take the escalator… Anyone who needs the bathroom can go before we head in. But if we want snacks first…” She frowned. “Time’s gonna be tight.”

She sent a message in the group chat with Noeul, Hansol, and Joonki.

[The theater’s packed. It might be a good idea to buy snacks in advance?]

She took a picture of the menu and posted it in the chat.

[Take a look and let me know if you want anything. I’ll grab it for you!]

Hansol: [Wow, we should’ve met up a little earlier.]

Joonki: [Yeah :( Jiwoo’s doing all the work now.]

Hansol: [Thanks for the help. I’ll take sparkling water.]

Joonki: [I’ll have popcorn and Coke. Jiwoo, if you’re getting popcorn too, let’s just get a large one to share.]

Jiwoo: [Oh I’m not getting popcorn lol]

Joonki: [:( Then just a small for me…]

Hansol: [Let’s settle up later all at once.]

Jiwoo: [No worries. This is on me! Haha]

Joonki: [Eh, why? You already used your points to buy the movie tickets.]

Jiwoo: [The points were about to expire anyway lol. I suggested this, so I should at least cover the snacks.]

Hansol: [You don’t have to…]

Hansol: [But thanks, I’ll take it.]

Jiwoo: [LOL no problem!]

Jiwoo: [Noeul, what about you? Want anything?]

Noeul: [I’m good.]

Jiwoo read Noeul’s reply several times, feeling a twinge of disappointment. “Tsk… I was planning to get you something…” she muttered to herself. She quickly typed back.

[Okay! When you get off the elevator, just head right. There’s a Dead Man poster there, I’ll be waiting.]

Noeul: [OK]

Jiwoo stared at the brief reply for a moment before heading off to buy the snacks.

Minutes later, she stood in front of the Dead Man 2 poster, arms laden with treats. Five minutes before showtime, she spotted Noeul walking from the elevator.

Unable to wave, Jiwoo swayed side to side in greeting. As Noeul approached, she grinned. “I knew you’d be the first to show up.”

“Yeah,” Noeul said, reaching out. “Hand some of that over.”

Jiwoo held up a bottle. “No, it’s okay. Do you want this? You like Coke Zero, right?”

“No, I…” Noeul paused. “I already said I was fine.”

“Yeah, but I got it just in case you changed your mind. If you don’t want it, I’ll drink it.”

“Oh… okay…”

Moments later, Joonki and Hansol appeared.

“Oh, you guys arrived together?” Jiwoo greeted them.

Hansol nodded. “Yeah, we met up right here.”

Jiwoo’s eyes lit up. “Hey, those earrings look perfect on you.”

“Oh, these. I was obsessed with these and tracked them down to get them delivered from overseas. Thanks for noticing.”

“No wonder. You should just get them permanently attached to your ears,” Jiwoo remarked.

Hansol chuckled in response.

As Jiwoo handed out the snacks, Joonki said, “Thanks a lot. I’ll get us some dessert later.”

“It’s fine,” Jiwoo waved him off. “I guess it’s about time now.”

“Yeah, where do we need to go? There are so many people, it’s overwhelming.”

Jiwoo took the lead. “We just need to take the escalator up one floor.”

“Hey,” Hansol cut in, “I think I need to hit the bathroom first. You guys go ahead. If I wait in that line, I’ll miss the start of the movie.”

“There’s a bathroom upstairs too!” Jiwoo assured him. “It probably won’t be as crowded.”

“Really? Thank goodness.”

As they chatted, Jiwoo caught Noeul’s gaze. He seemed to be staring at her absentmindedly.

“Let’s go, Noeul,” she said softly.

Noeul blinked and nodded, snapping back to attention.

Inside the theater, the ads were playing. Joonki whispered, “Where are our seats?”

“We’re in row K, seats 10, 11, 12, and 13. Follow me,” Jiwoo replied, leading them to their row. She let the others file in first, with Noeul and Joonki taking the middle seats, and Jiwoo settling at the end.

Joonki looked over, concerned. “Jiwoo, you’re way over there. Are you sure you’ll be able to see okay?”

“Let’s switch,” Noeul offered, starting to stand.

But Jiwoo gripped the armrest, pressing herself into the seat. “No, no, no. I want to sit here. Sit down, Noeul. Hurry up, the movie’s about to start.”

Noeul glanced at the screen. “They’re just showing the emergency exits. Come on, let’s switch.”

“No way! I love watching the Kumho Tire mascots,” Jiwoo insisted with a grin.

Noeul sighed. “You’re so stubborn… Fine, have it your way.”

Jiwoo giggled as Noeul hesitated before awkwardly sitting back down.

***

The aroma of freshly cooked chicken filled the air as Jiwoo arranged the forks on the table. “Apparently, the green onion chicken here is amazing,” she said.

Joonki nodded appreciatively. “Looks like this place is legit. The wait is crazy long. If you hadn’t made a reservation, we might’ve been out of luck.”

Jiwoo’s eyes crinkled as she smiled. “The reviews said reservations are a must.” She glanced around the table. “So, is everyone getting draft beer? Noeul, do you want draft beer or a Coke Zero?”

Noeul hesitated before muttering, “I’ll just have the draft beer.”

“Okay,” Jiwoo continued smoothly. “Let’s order one green onion chicken. What about the other chicken? Hansol, any preferences?”

Hansol’s eyes darted across the menu. “Me? I’m good with anything. Everything looks good… It’s hard to choose.”

“Then how about we keep it simple with fried chicken?”

“Sounds good.”

Jiwoo waved over a server. “Okay. Excuse me!”

As they waited for their food, the group fell into easy conversation, trading jokes and stories. Noeul chimed in occasionally, but his usual energy was noticeably absent.

Beneath his quiet exterior, Noeul’s mind raced. He’d always believed that his worth in the group depended on his ability to entertain. Without that, why would they keep him around? The thought of becoming a burden, of hearing empty concerns about his well-being, made his stomach churn.

Years of experience had taught Noeul to minimize his presence while maximizing his value to the group. It wasn’t a conscious strategy, but a deeply ingrained survival instinct. He never complained, always insisted he was capable, and claimed to be fine even when he wasn’t. Deep down, he was terrified of being abandoned if he didn’t.

Today, though, he was breaking his own rules. From the cinema to now, he’d been withdrawn and passive. With each passing moment, he felt himself drifting further from the group. Yet every time his gaze fell on Jiwoo, a sharp, numbing sensation sapped his energy.

“Oh, it’s here,” Jiwoo’s voice cut through his thoughts as the server arrived with their food and drinks.

Jiwoo distributed the small plates, but as she reached Noeul, she paused. With a subtle movement, she swapped the plate she was about to give him for another, keeping the one with a small chip for herself.

Noeul’s eyes locked onto the chipped plate in front of Jiwoo, and a wave of shame washed over him. These small acts of kindness only served to deepen his sense of unworthiness. How dare he have ever entertained the notion that someone as kind and decent as Jiwoo might return his feelings? The very thought now seemed foolish and arrogant, filling him with self-loathing.

He felt like a fraud, as if he’d committed some terrible transgression behind her back. The guilt gnawed at him, making it impossible to act naturally around her. What if she knew? What if she was just pretending not to notice his feelings out of politeness?

From the moment he’d spotted her at the cinema, Noeul had been struck by Jiwoo’s effortless beauty. Even in simple jeans and a T-shirt, she’d stood out from the crowd. He’d hesitated to approach, afraid that his own flaws would become glaringly obvious in her presence.

When he finally drew near, her sweet, honey-like scent had made him dizzy. But that intoxicating fragrance only deepened his melancholy. Beautiful things like Jiwoo only reminded Noeul of the vast distance between them and himself.

Yet he couldn’t stop himself from admiring her—the graceful curve of her neck, the soft hair falling near her shoulder blades, her skin that looked as smooth as pudding, her delicate fingers, her small, plump earlobes adorned with dangling earrings. Every detail about her captivated him, even as it intensified his self-hatred.

“Do you want this? You like Coke Zero, right?”

“Yeah, but I got it just in case you changed your mind. If you don’t want it, I’ll drink it.”

Jiwoo’s thoughtfulness only made things worse. Her consideration in buying his favorite drink “just in case,” her effort in arriving early to handle everything, her lack of entitlement despite her beauty—it all served to make Noeul feel even more unworthy.

Why does she have to be so good? he thought bitterly. Why can’t she just be beautiful and selfish? Her kindness only widened the chasm Noeul felt between them, leaving him more conflicted and ashamed than ever.

He should never have come. Surrounded by Jiwoo, Joonki, and Hansol, he felt like a dark stain on an otherwise perfect picture. Their brightness only highlighted his own perceived flaws, making him feel glaringly out of place.

“Noeul, are you feeling okay?” Jiwoo’s concerned voice broke through his thoughts.

Joonki and Hansol looked at him, concerned.

Feeling the weight of their gazes, Noeul squeezed his eyes shut before reopening them, feigning exhaustion. “I don’t know why, but I’m so tired. I can’t even muster the energy to move.”

Joonki’s teasing tone cut through the air. “Noeul Han, you’re bringing the mood down.”

“No one can be energetic all the time,” Hansol offered, trying to ease the tension.

“But Noeul usually is!” Joonki insisted. “Come on, Noeul, pick it up! We need you to revive the mood!” He playfully placed a hand on Noeul’s chest, mimicking CPR.

Noeul played along, his body jerking in response to the mock resuscitation.

“Why are you making Noeul do it?” Hansol said, laughing. “You should be the one lifting the mood.”

“Me? That’s Noeul’s specialty.”

“What’s your specialty, then?” Noeul asked.

“My specialty?” Joonki pondered for a moment.

“Your face?” Hansol suggested.

Noeul’s eyes flickered, his expression tightening slightly.

Joonki waved his hand dismissively, though he seemed pleased. “Ah, come on, it’s not all about looks.”

“But it is,” Hansol insisted. “You know it—you think you can just sit there and do nothing because you’re good-looking.”

Noeul’s face grew more rigid.

What is this feeling?

The realization hit him—he felt betrayed by Hansol. In his mind, she had been different, above superficial compliments. But was it fair to blame her? No, Noeul realized, the fault lay with him. He had crafted an idealized version of Hansol in his mind, one that didn’t truly exist.

Silently, Noeul mocked himself.

“Hey, I might be known for my looks in our department, but there are plenty of guys in Gangnam who are better-looking than me,” Joonki continued.

Hansol tilted her head. “So, Mr. Handsome, do you ever actually try to be entertaining, or do you just coast on those good looks?”

Joonki paused, caught off guard. “Entertaining? I mean… I guess I do? Sometimes?”

“Sometimes?” Hansol pressed. “Or is it more like you’ve never really had to worry about impressing people?”

“Why would I worry about that? Life’s too short. Gotta stay confident, you know?”

Hansol rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that tracks. You’re completely oblivious, aren’t you?”

“Wait, what?” Joonki’s brow furrowed. “What am I missing here? Are you calling me dense?”

“Dense? No, no,” Hansol laughed. “You’re brilliant… a beautiful, brilliant genius.”

Their back-and-forth continued, the playful banter drawing them closer. Noeul watched silently, noting how easily attractive people seemed to click. It was natural, after all. Someone like Noeul, on the other hand, had to work much harder to make a good impression and build relationships.

Jiwoo’s voice cut through his thoughts. “Hey, you two,” she said, raising her beer. “Are we having a private conversation or a group dinner? Let’s toast!”

Noeul, Hansol, and Joonki lifted their glasses.

Jiwoo’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “Today was so much fun. We should definitely do this more often. Cheers, everyone!”