Eternal Pressure

Hyunjin already imagined that she would buy a large caramel popcorn plus 3 cups of soda and then eat it together with her friends at the cinema later. But her imagination was shattered when she found the two complete with their boyfriends at the entrance of Cinema21.

'What the hell!?' she grumbled.

"So you guys are going to present lovey-dovey activities in front of me?" Hyunjin asked Heejin and Gowon.

"Hehehe. We were going to have a double date, but thinking about you alone at home on a weekend like this, I'm concerned," Gowon said.

"So we invited you too!" Heejin exclaimed.

Hyunjin sighed. It was her fault that she only has two friends, moreover, they have sold out, and it was only she who remained single.

"Come on, Hyunjin, you won't be alone. I brought my cousin here," Jeno who was now embracing Heejin said.

"Who's your cousin? Do I know him?" Hyunjin asked.

Jeno just shrugged, "Maybe? He was in the same middle school like us."

Hyunjin just nodded briefly and didn't bother with the description of whoever Jeno's cousin was. All she thinks about was that she has a friend so she won't be trapped alone between two couples who are in love.

"Oh, there he is," Jeno said.

"Mark!"

Everyone turned to where Jevano shouted and saw a boy in a maroon shirt with a gray jacket and black jeans waving.

Hyunjin tilted her head, she seemed to know this person. 'But who?'

"You've been waiting long?" asked the boy.

Heejin, who had escaped from her lover's embrace, shook her head, "No, Mark. We just arrived a few minutes ago."

Jeno then turned to hug his cousin and introduce him to the others.

"This is my cousin Mark. He's in his first year of college. I mean, he's a year apart from us."

The boy smiled and adjusted his glasses, "Hi! I'm Mark," then he went to greet them one by one and the last one was Hyunjin.

"Hi, Hyunjin. Long time no see," he said friendly.

The girl who was asked responded by blinking her eyes while tilting her head, a characteristic whenever she was confused.

"Mark Lee!? The one who became my partner when performing in the middle school prom, right?" said her excitedly.

Mark just laughed and nodded.

"Wow, long time no see and I kinda forgot your face, Mark. Sorry."

Mark laughed again and Hyunjin started to suspect that his hobby was laughing.

"You're getting taller now too. And you're not wearing braces anymore, huh."

Hyunjin glared and hit Malik's shoulder in annoyance, "I've always been tall. You're the short one."

The two people were too absorbed in their interactions that they didn't notice that the others seemed confused there. 'How can Hyunjin get to know Mark so quickly?' they thought.

"Ah come on, the movie is about to start. Come on in," Jaemin said while holding his lover's hand.

They walk with their respective partners. First, there was Gowon and Jaemin. Then behind him there was Heejin with Jeno. Last but not least, our single duo, Hyunjin and Jeno's cousin, Mark.