The Perfect Date Course (3)
We picked a movie and headed straight to the theater. It was around weekend evening, so there were a ton of people. As we pushed through the crowd, the air around us shifted.
Fuck, this is so embarrassing...
Sticky stares followed us everywhere—people glancing casually at first, then whipping their heads away in shock. It was all women as far as the eye could see. Their gazes on me were overwhelming. I just needed to grab tickets quick, buy some popcorn, and get inside. The world had come a long way these days—even movie tickets were available at kiosks now.
I only had cash on me, so I figured I'd have to line up at the counter. But...
"Oh, I already got the tickets."
"What?"
By the time we reached the counter, Jeong-ah told me she'd bought them already. When the hell did she do that? I hadn't seen her sneak off to the kiosk.
"Oppa... you really don't use modern stuff, do you? I bought them on my phone right here."
"...The world's really changed."
I knew about mobile ticket booking, but I had no clue how it worked exactly, so I'd just stood there. Guess Jeong-ah was good at this kind of thing. Fine, she'd covered the movie, so maybe I could at least buy the popcorn.
We went to get popcorn with tickets in hand. At least this much I wanted to pay for.
"Whoa, no need! I'm covering everything today!"
"Nah... let me get this. Feels weird just taking stuff."
"It's fine! Oppa, you're so un-manly, trying to pay for everything..."
I still couldn't wrap my head around Jeong-ah's idea of "manly." Now that I had some money, I hated mooching. I wasn't the type to rack up debts anyway—if I could pay, I wanted to. But... if she insisted...
Best to just go with it for now.
"What popcorn do you want, oppa?"
"Me? What's on the menu?"
I checked the board she pointed to. Holy shit, popcorn came in so many flavors now? Back when I was homeless, theaters only had three: cheese, caramel, onion. Now there was salty? Salted milk popcorn—what the fuck was that? Staring at the options, clueless, I looked to Jeong-ah.
"How about the half-and-half combo? Caramel and onion's the classic combo."
"Yeah... whatever."
"Okay! Half-and-half combo, and uh, one butter squid too!"
She ordered a bunch more stuff, grinning, and came back to me. When our order was up, I went to the counter—popcorn, cola... and the extra squid she'd added.
"I'll carry it. Looks heavy."
"Huh? Oh... no, it's fine, I can manage."
"Nah. Let's go."
She looked flustered but not unhappy as she handed the bags over.
"Whoa... did that guy just carry her stuff?"
"No way... guys carrying bags? Unimaginable... what a gentleman."
"Is that his girlfriend?"
"Nah? She called him oppa—probably his sister?"
Apparently even carrying bags here drew attention? The whispers started the second I picked them up. Trying to ignore it, I lugged everything along... until
Damn, that butter smell is killer.
My mouth watered despite having eaten recently. That foodie aroma was tempting—just one squid ring couldn't hurt.
"Oppa? Everything okay?"
"Yeah... that butter smell? This squid—mind if I snag one?"
"Oh, sure! Want me to feed you?"
She gave the okay, but with my hands full, she offered to feed me. Circumstances being what they were, it was fine. I opened wide, and she popped one in.
Fucking delicious—buttery bliss melting in my mouth, chewy squid perfection. Nothing like the street squid from my homeless days. Made me crave soju.
"Good, right?"
"...Want another."
"Here!"
I'd blurted it out too honestly. Normally, as the moocher, I wouldn't dare ask for seconds—but this shit was worth it.
We checked the showtime after the squid.
"How long till it starts?"
"Um... probably an hour at least?"
More time than expected. I scanned around for something to do and spotted "arcade" ahead. My feet moved on their own.
"Oppa? Why the arcade?"
"Huh? Just curious what it's like."
I rarely hit arcades—games were pricey, prizes useless junk. But there was one game I loved here too, so I went looking.
KA-BOOM!!
"There it is."
"Pardon?"
I didn't arcade much—no good at games, claw machines pointless (prizes just got dirty pillows I'd toss). But one game I played religiously:
Punch machine—been forever.
Back home, I'd smash it to relieve stress—satisfying release, wiped away fatigue. Breaking my high score during rough homeless days? Pure thrill.
"Damn... couldn't beat the top score."
"Think that'll cut it? Lemme try?"
Two high school girls were about to drop a coin.
"Sorry... mind if I go first?"
"Huh? Wait a—gasp! Go ahead!"
"Whoa, a guy talked to us—jackpot."
"Y-yeah! Go first! Sorry!"
"Uh... thanks."
I'd jumped in impulsively. They freaked, apologized, and stepped aside. Felt like I'd stolen their spot—guilty, but I'd finish quick and yield.
I eyed the machine's record board.
[978]
[951]
Mostly 900s. Time to set a new record—I handed Jeong-ah the popcorn.
"Oppa? Gonna do this? It's tough."
"Nah, it's fine."
"Be careful... you could get hurt."
"I'm good."
I assured her and approached slowly. Coin in—ding ding—I clenched my right fist tight.
"Hup..."
"Huh?"
Jeong-ah gawked. Ignoring her, I unleashed a full-force punch.
KAAAA-BOOM---!!!
A massive thud echoed.
Whew... held back a bit for Jeong-ah. No new record.
But the numbers climbed:
[997]
Whoa... even at half strength, I beat it. Not bad. I glanced around—
"......What? Why's everyone staring?"
Snapping to, I saw nearby women—and a few rare guys—gawking. Shit? Did I break it? Too loud? The aggro was unbearable; I grabbed Jeong-ah to bail.
"Seonghun oppa... your strength is insane."
"What?"
Her words shattered the silence; murmurs followed.
"No way... a guy's that strong?"
"My boyfriend couldn't hit half that."
"What did I just see? And he's hot too."
"His girlfriend? So jealous."
Fuck... total aggro fail. I yanked Jeong-ah and bolted.
We escaped the arcade.
Shit... mortifying. Just stress relief—didn't expect this.
"Everyone's shocked seeing a guy use that much strength."
"It's... shocking...? Whatever, forget it."
Worlds apart—arguing wouldn't help; she'd never get it. Movie time anyway. I grabbed the popcorn again; we sat in the theater.
First time in ages at a theater... not scared of the horror flick, just clueless on etiquette. No screaming, right? Lost in worries, I watched till—
"Oppa? If you're scared, just tell me."
"Huh?"
"It's a horror movie, so... relax and enjoy."
I tilted my head at her words.
What kinda bullshit was that?