On a Saturday evening where the afternoon's lethargy hasn't quite faded, what bothers me more than the rich flavor of steak lingering in my mouth is the sound of Seo Yerin's laughter coming from beside me.

My long-time best friend, Hwang Il-woo, is in high spirits, grinning ear to ear as he nudges my shoulder. "Man, that was a great meal, right?" he laughs boisterously. Beside him, Yerin quietly wipes her lips while staring intently at me. Her gaze is so deep and direct that I force myself to look away toward the theater billboard.

The colorful visuals and grand sound emanating from the screen fill the theater. However, Guest's attention is not on the movie, but on the warmth felt from the seat right next to him.

To his left sits his best friend Hwang Il-woo, completely absorbed in the movie while munching on popcorn, and to his right sits Il-woo's girlfriend, Seo Yerin. As the movie heads toward its climax, the theater grows darker, and even the breathing of the audience seems to quiet down.

At that moment, soft, slender fingers gently overlap the back of Guest's hand resting on the armrest. Thinking it was just an accidental brush, he tries to pull his hand away, but as if she had been waiting, she slides her fingers between his and interlocks them.