Date and Stalking (8): Tae-il the Scaredy-Cat
Tae-il was a scaredy-cat. Not in the sense that he was psychologically timid around people or anything like that. He was just purely hopeless when it came to horror—freaking out way too much at monsters, ghosts, and the like.
The funny thing was, even though he was terrified of ghosts, he never flinched at real haunted houses or gutsy dare challenges. Even Ayane, who knew him the longest, hadn't believed him when he'd said he didn't want to watch horror movies because they scared him. She'd thought he was making up some ridiculous excuse just to avoid watching with her. And since her mental state had been shaky at the time, Kurone had nearly descended.
"Eek!"
Thankfully, no Kurone possession occurred. It was back in middle school, during New Year's. While the parents from both families drank and chatted, Tae-il and Ayane had watched a late-night movie in his room. It was a mystery flick heavy on jump-scare horror. Tae-il had gone in thinking it was an occult detective story and regretted it big time.
"Gahhh!"
Even in scenes that didn't faze the secretly timid Ayane, Tae-il freaked out dramatically. Each time, she'd smirk. It was the first time since puberty had kicked in that he'd voluntarily clung to her first. That's how scared he was. Especially vulnerable to intangible visual and auditory horrors and shocks.
How bad was it?...
"Argh!"
At the eerie background music with crow caws and a chilling atmosphere, he jolted at a mere screen transition, his whole body jerking. Popcorn rained to the floor as his seat shook violently. Sakuya, forgetting the movie, looked worriedly at Tae-il beside her.
"Tae-il, you okay?"
"Y-yeah, totally fine! It's b-building up! When's that ghost from the poster gonna show...?"
Tae-il, belatedly noticing her gaze, bluffed hard to act tough.
And then. In the glorious scene where the poster ghost finally appeared...
"Hk!"
"Whoa, that startled me."
Sakuya, watching beside him, jumped—not from the movie, but from Tae-il's girly scream.
"Mommy! That crazy... fucking dog XXX! Psycho XX!"
Later, he hugged his legs, plastered to the seatback, straight-up cursing the screen in Korean.
"XXX...?"
Luckily, Sakuya didn't catch it. Finally, at the climax where humans and ghosts tangled dramatically for the ghost's revenge...
"No way, it was set up for them to exorcise it and everyone survive!"
"Haha, sudden total wipeout. Surprising. Thought they'd spare the kid."
At every splatter of blood, he'd cover his ears and squeeze his eyes shut like it hurt him.
"Eeeeng! Sorry, Sakuya! I really can't watch anymore!"
Forget male pride or dignity—he just bawled.
"Pfft!"
Sakuya, startled more by Tae-il than the movie, twisted sideways in her seat to openly watch him. Movie-watching turned to Tae-il observation mode. At every death or ghost jump, his intense reactions had her face aching from suppressed smiles and tears. First time watching horror and hurting from stifled laughter.
"Haa. Haa. Tae-il, if it's... too scary, wanna just close your eyes? I'll hold your hand. Sound good?"
"Sakuya, you... "
Tae-il teared up. The vulnerable side of the guy she liked stirred her protective instincts.
"There, there. It's okay. Big sis is right here."
"You're not my big sis..."
"Don't ruin the mood, clueless."
"..."
By mid-movie, she was more curious about Tae-il's end-reaction than the predictable plot. Soon, Tae-il leaned on her shoulder—the one place he felt safe—blocking the movie from view.
Even so.
[Kyaaahhh!]
Jerk!
[Give me back my mom! Give back our mom!]
Jerk!
Not even 4D, but those creepy screams and effects made him flinch hard every time. Why's that child actor so damn good? Tae-il resented a talented kid actor for the first time. The ones who sucked and broke immersion—helping him regain courage—died quick.
Hmm. At this rate, can't even eat popcorn.
Sakuya couldn't touch popcorn or drinks with Tae-il jolting and shaking the whole seat. For a food fiend like her, it should've annoyed her... but
Feels so full.
Instead, a smug smile lingered.
So this is what they mean by 'full without eating'...
Sakuya blushed, stroking the trembling Tae-il's head. He was so cute today. Funnier still: despite fearing ghosts, when the theater sound quieted, curiosity won—he'd peek...
[Kyahahahaha!]
"Eek!"
...then freak at the bloodshot-eyed ghost reveal and slam his eyes shut again.
"Ahaha!"
Sakuya praised herself for picking horror. Her life's best decision: watching it with Tae-il.
"Ah..."
The eternally long movie finally ended. End credits rolled. Tae-il, pride keeping him till the end, collapsed jelly-like into his seat.
"F-freedom..."
"Ahaha!"
Sakuya caught a hint of masochistic glee in his gasp and clutched her stomach laughing. Movie over, she abandoned stifling it—her hearty laugh filling the theater. Throat hoarse from laughing, she chugged the flat, melted cola.
"Oh no. Tae-il was so funny, I don't remember a thing about the movie."
"Lucky..."
"Something's seriously wrong when I remember every bit of the movie you forgot," Tae-il muttered, one with the seat.
"'Cause you moronically opened your eyes at the worst moments?"
"Sh..."
Damn. Hands over face, Korean curse slipped in burning self-loathing. He'd learned today how horrific it was that ears stayed open even with eyes shut. Theater sound boomed—ghost cackles and victim screams pierced despite plugged ears.
Sakuya lowered the shared armrest, propped elbow, rested chin naturally, and asked.
"You always this weak to horror?"
"Kinda..."
"Kinda?"
"Kinda a lot..."
"Kinda a lot?"
"Fucking a lot..."
"Mhm. That's my boy."
Sakuya patted his head, impressed by his honest admission.
"Urgh..."
Too embarrassed to lift his head.
"Sigh."
Sakuya chided him gently.
"Idiot. If horror's too much, just say so upfront."
Had he, she'd have picked action or anime movies they could enjoy comfy. She liked both. Horror was purely to fake scares for natural skinship.
Though it succeeded in a totally unexpected way?
Sakuya giggled softly at his lingering warmth on her shoulder and arm.
"Couldn't help it," Tae-il confessed.
"Bailing mid-way felt unmanly..."
"Pride pay the bills? Dummy."
No gain from pride—just exposed weakness to her. Total loss for him.
Sakuya advised, "Guys flex pride only for non-negotiables or real merit. Got it?"
"Sorryyy..."
Non-negotiable stakes. Equal merit. She was right.
"Sorry. Next time, I'll gauge and not force it..."
"Hehe. You better."
Today: eternal black mark of humiliation for Tae-il.
For Sakuya: unforgettable first date memory.
Win-win? Nah, all Sakuya.
"Man, if this weren't a theater, I'd have filmed your every reaction."
"I'd kill myself. For real."
"Over that? Guys can fear ghosts too, y'know."
"Even empty words help..."
"Not empty."
Sakuya's purple eyes met his, more serious than usual. Simple message: I like you. No way something like zero horror tolerance changes that.
So.
Show me more defenseless you. Only in front of me.
Sakuya smiled softly, indulging impossible fantasies. Tae-il whined hoarsely.
"Next time, let's do romance..."
"Sure."
Just him saying "next" satisfied her hugely.
Next time.
She repeated it mentally, vowing never to forget.
"Hehe. What's next on the date plan? Anywhere in mind?"
"Uh..."
Pondering, Tae-il rubbed his stomach cautiously. Two hours screaming left him hungry.
"Bit early, but dinner? I'm starving."
"Sounds good."
Sakuya offered her hand first. He took it gladly, rising slowly down the theater stairs.
"Any restaurant in mind?"
"Yeah."
Then lights came on.
"Eep!"
Sudden brightness made him flinch instinctively. But as dark fully fled, his face relaxed like nothing happened.
Sakuya teased immediately.
"Whoa, you gonna be too scared to sleep alone tonight? Want big sis to stay over?"
"No thanks. Think I'm some kid scared of nighttime ghosts?"
"Not?"
Sakuya's serious counter made him flush and yell.
"No!"
Then ant-crawl whisper: "Just sleep with lights on..."
"Puhahaha!"
Sakuya roared. Exiting, she wiped laugh-tears from eye corners.
"Too cute to live. You doing this on purpose?"
"Crazy? Warning ya: calling a guy 'cute' is insult, not compliment. Got it?"
"Is it?"
Innocent grin from Sakuya.
"Girls kinda dig cute guys sometimes. No interest?"
"None. Never. Ever."
Cute? Bull. Imagining himself aegyo made him gag.
"Ahaha! Hate it that much?"
"Beyond hate—gross."
"That bad!?"
His dead-serious face drew deep regret from her.
"Aww, cute Tae-il would've slayed. Shame."
"Keep it up, I'll sulk."
"Pahaha! Sulking. Gonna die laughing. You planned to kill me with laughs today?"
"Argh. Shouldn't have said it. Gives me chills."
Even he found it weird—rubbing goosebumps off his arms.
"Ah."
End credits done, lights on. Viewers, lost in afterglow sharing thoughts, finally rose one by one.
First up: Ayane in the back row.
"Where...?"
Amber eyes scanned frantically for Sakuya's silver hair.
But no silver locks.
"Why not...?"
Perplexed, she swept the theater again. Lips bitten in growing anxiety.
"No way Shin-jerk went to anime instead...?"
No. She shot that down. Tae-il lacked guts for public date-vibes anime with a girl.
He was a scaredy-cat.
Would he pick horror over flashy Hollywood action...?
No. Thumb bitten, denied.
"How...?"
Confused chaos. Mori Yuuya, spotting her daze, checked her phone for end times and sighed.
"As expected..."
Horror ended 20 minutes early.
"Wrong pick. They must've seen the earlier horror."
"When'd that end...?"
"20 minutes ago."
"What about action flick?"
"30."
Ayane closed eyes. Missed them. Unless Sakuya hit the bathroom, tailing impossible.
Still, she wanted to bolt out, chase Tae-il—denying reality.
But couldn't.
He'd refused horror with her forever, yet okayed it with Sakuya? Unbelievable.
"...I'm going back."
"...Junior?"
Motivation gone, Ayane shuffled into the exiting crowd.
"W-wait...!"
Yuuya grabbed her binoculars and bag, chasing.
"This girl...!"
Yuuya snapped, at her limit too. Childhood friends, huh? Both juniors a handful—she grumbled inwardly.