A Date Full of Teasing

"You said that as a compliment, didn't you?"

"To me, that's an insult. Besides, Suho's the one copying me. I was born first, after all."

"Ugh, how childish. Everything you do is exactly like Suho oppa."

"What? You got something else to say?!"

"Whatever. Let's just hurry up and watch the movie. Kkuk."

"Fine by me."

And so we bickered all the way to the movie theater, where we bought our tickets. The entire time, our hands stayed firmly clasped together.

Jeong Sua kept glancing down at our joined hands, clearly bothered by the sweat on her palm, but I had no intention of letting go.

"A romance movie is fine, right?"

"We're not watching an action one?"

"You like romance movies more than action films, don't you?"

"Ah... you knew that?"

Nothing comes without effort. I could say that because I'd poured every ounce of work into it with the single-minded goal of becoming the protagonist.

Knowing exactly what the woman I intended to conquer liked was only natural. That was also why I despised Kang Suho. That bastard never put in even that much effort. He got everything simply because he was the protagonist. The kind of person I never wanted to associate with.

Anyway. Watching Jeong Sua get surprised over something so small made me chuckle. I went ahead and reserved tickets for a recently released romance film that had solid reviews.

"Do you like romance movies, Oppa?"

"I'm not particularly into them, but I don't exactly hate them either."

"If you're only watching because of me..."

"It's not that. I heard the girls at school raving about this one, so I figured I'd check it out too."

"Girls..."

Jeong Sua's face crumpled at the word. Jealous, was she? Cute.

She shook her head vigorously, as if trying to fling the thought away.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

"No, it's nothing... Let's just go in."

She wasn't going to press for details. A little disappointing. I would've loved to add something like 'That's why it's so popular with the girls' to stoke her jealousy even more.

"Want popcorn? I'll buy if you do."

"Sure. Then I'll get the cola."

"No need. I'll buy that too."

"Huh? But then you'd be paying for the tickets, the popcorn, and the drinks... That's too much..."

Jeong Sua looked genuinely uncomfortable. She wasn't some outdated girl who believed the guy had to pay for everything on a date. I simply wanted to spoil the girl I liked, but if it made her feel burdened...

"Then you can pay next time."

"...Huh?"

It eased her worry while leaving the door open for more dates in the future. Two rabbits, one stone.

Jeong Sua froze for a moment. She seemed to have trouble believing I was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠already talking about a "next time."

"Why the shocked face? You planning on never seeing me again or something?"

"But... you said you wouldn't see me anymore..."

"You said you like me."

"Wh-what? I-I never said I liked you! I just said my feelings were starting to change..."

"Same thing. Come on. We need to head in."

I walked up to the theater employee and ordered the couple's combo.

"Couple's combo..."

Jeong Sua's adorable little reactions to every single detail. Exactly what you'd expect from a girl who'd never dated once in her entire life.

"Why? Should I get something else? The couple's combo is cheaper, though."

"Ah, I see... Since you're paying, just do whatever you want."

She seemed to decide there was no reason to stop me from getting the couple's combo.

But her face had turned a faint shade of red. The word "couple" must have embarrassed her.

The fresh, innocent vibe of the pre-relationship stage is pretty nice. Once we're actually dating, that feeling will ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠disappear. Might be a shame. Then again, I can just seduce the other heroines after that, so it won't matter.

"Don't you have any other clothes at home?"

"Why? Does this look bad?"

"It looks cute and it suits you, but I prefer when more skin shows."

"Oppa... your mind is so perverted."

Jeong Sua narrowed her eyes and stared at me. I felt completely justified. It was her fault for showing up to our first date dressed like that. Think about it. The long-awaited first date, and the girl shows up in a white t-shirt and overalls? It was a total betrayal of the guy's sky-high expectations. Girls like that should be forced to walk the streets completely naked. But since it looks like you've never dated before, I'll let it slide this time, Sua. Next time, those overalls are going on with no panties underneath. And every time you disobey, I'll yank the straps ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up high.

"All guys are like that."

"Using that as an excuse for your own words is so sneaky."

"Then don't wear clothes like that. Ah, whatever, it's annoying. Next time, let's go buy you some new clothes."

"My clothes?"

"My stuff doesn't fit right anymore, so I was planning to shop anyway. Might as well get yours at the same time."

Jeong Sua's gaze instantly flicked to my upper body. She stared openly at the abs outlined beneath my t-shirt until a tiny gasp of admiration slipped out.

"If you're curious, you can touch."

"Th-that's not why I was looking!"

"Really? You were staring so hard I thought you wanted to feel them. Girls usually do, at least once. Or not. Your choice."

I'd love for her to just touch without overthinking it, but I wasn't going to force her. Her loss.

I lifted the hem of my t-shirt to wipe the sweat that had cooled in the theater's air conditioning off my forehead. The way Jeong Sua kept sneaking glances at my exposed abs was honestly hilarious.

"O-oppa!"

"Jesus, you scared me... Why are you yelling? I can hear you just fine if you speak quietly."

"Don't wipe it on your clothes like some slob. Here. Use this handkerchief instead."

"What's with the handkerchief? Wiping with my shirt is fine. Why would a guy need a damn handkerchief?"

"Oppa..."

Jeong Sua glared at me like she wanted to kill me. Her jealous expression was incredibly cute, but if I pushed any further she might actually get mad, so I decided the teasing ended here.

She should understand by now that I'm fairly popular. That makes her an incredibly blessed woman for receiving my attention. She should consider it an honor to her family.

"Alright. There. Better?"

"Good job. Hehe."

When I lowered my shirt and wiped my forehead with the handkerchief, Jeong Sua beamed at me. That gentle smile. The one I wanted her to wear while stroking my hair as I sucked on her nipples. I definitely needed to make that happen.

"The screening room is now open. We'll check tickets and let you in."

Following the employee's announcement, we entered the theater.

I sank into my seat and leaned back. The fatigue in my body melted away instantly.

As expected from a modern theater, there was a convenient spot in the middle for the popcorn bucket.

"I'll put the popcorn in the middle so we can share."

"Okay."

Boring advertisements played before the movie started. I hated this part. I'd paid good money to watch a film, yet I still had to sit through pointless commercials. When people should enter the theater? Not my problem. It's common sense to show up before the movie begins.

Crunch.

The sound of Jeong Sua eating popcorn came from beside me. She seemed fully focused on the ads.

I waited, then deliberately reached into the bucket at the exact moment she did.

"Ah..."

Our hands brushed. Jeong Sua yanked hers back in surprise.

This is the golden rule of rom-coms. I'd forcibly triggered the exact love-comedy event I'd seen in anime.

After all, I'd decided to claim every single event that should have gone to Kang Suho.

Wearing a slightly hurt expression, I popped a piece of popcorn into my mouth and said, "Why are you overreacting so much? It makes me feel bad."

"Ah... I'm sorry. I didn't expect us to touch..."

"We were holding hands until just now, but you freak out over a little brush?"

I picked up another piece of popcorn, but instead of eating it, I brought it to her lips.

"Say 'ah.'"

"Huh?"

"Open wide. I made you miss one, so I'll feed you this one."

"Oppa, that's..."

"Don't overthink it. Anyone can do this. Look around."

Using the light from the screen, Jeong Sua glanced around the theater. There were plenty of other couples besides us. As she watched them, her eyes widened with interest.

Even before the movie started, some were already holding hands. Others touched each other's thighs in open skinship. In the darker, more secluded corners, a few couples were even kissing before the film had begun.

There were far more couples than usual for a regular movie, and the air between them was thick with a suggestive, intimate atmosphere.

In truth, the movie I'd chosen wasn't ordinary at all. I'd told Jeong Sua it was a normal romance film, but it was actually an adult movie.

Still, I didn't lie. It does have romantic parts, and it's true that the girls at our school love it.

Thanks to that, Jeong Sua—who had zero resistance to this kind of atmosphere—had flushed red cheeks. Even her breathing had grown strangely heavy. Being so pure, she seemed to absorb the mood around her like a sponge.

"It really... is like that..."

"See? Feeding each other is something anyone can do."

"But we aren't even dating yet..."

"If you keep putting up walls like that, should I just leave? You're the one who suggested watching a movie, kid. You're the one who pestered and guilt-tripped me into coming even though I said I didn't want to. Can't you at least do this much?"

How long do you think I'll keep going easy on you? Huh? Keep acting like this and dating me won't be fun at all.

"I get it, okay... ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Ah..."

I slowly placed the popcorn between her slightly parted lips. As I pulled my finger back, it brushed against her soft lower lip. If I could, I'd have her suck on this finger right now.

"Tastes good, right?"

"...Yes. It does."

"Have you ever done this with Kang Suho?"

"No, never..."

"That's a relief."

I gave her a sharp, handsome smirk. After confirming her dazed expression, I casually turned my attention back to the screen.

Achieve the goal, then walk away without lingering. Excessive attachment wasn't my style.

"......"

Jeong Sua looked like she wanted to say something but ultimately stayed silent.

Right then, a vibration came from her bag.

"Looks like someone's calling you."

"Ah, I forgot to silence it."

Jeong Sua pulled out her phone, looked at the screen, and flinched slightly.

Wondering who it was, I glanced over.

My face crumpled into a deep frown.