My Dream of Going to the Movies with a Girl... Finally Fulfilled?
.......If only life were this simple.
"Why is there not a single person in the movie theater?"
Yujin, holding the large popcorn, was genuinely flustered. Things had felt off from the start, actually. Up to the theater entrance, it was fine. The savory popcorn scent tickling his nose. The moderately dim atmosphere that made him a bit drowsy. He'd worried that movie theaters in this world might be different, but surprisingly, it was a normal theater.
That thought shattered after just a few steps.
He really started thinking something was wrong once he entered the screening room. There wasn't a single customer inside.
"Is this movie just not popular?"
He checked out of worry, but no, it was definitely the right one. Clementine, the romance film everyone was hyped for this season. It was getting rave reviews, predicted to draw tens of millions of viewers—a masterpiece by all accounts.
Just skimming the reviews was enough to drown in praise! That's why he'd booked without hesitation.
"But a movie like that with zero people on a weekend? Is someone secretly filming this? Is this how movie theaters normally are?"
He'd never been to one before, so he had no clue. It was a place outcasts like him never visited.
Anyway, he sat in the seat number on his ticket. And Yujin was flustered once more.
"......Is this the right spot?"
"Y-Yeah, it is."
Unlike what he'd imagined, the seats were two stuck together. A passionate red color, heart-shaped for some reason. The width was a bit ambiguous—spacious for one, but tight enough for two to press close. At least it looked way comfier than regular seats.
"Could this be one of those legendary VIP seats?"
Park Secretary had said he'd handle it, and he'd scored a prime spot. At least gold tier or better.
"Hoo, so this is how VIP seats work in modern theaters. My knowledge has expanded again."
Honestly, it was so wide he could sit anywhere, but better to take his assigned spot. It'd be awkward if the owner showed up late.
Yujin slid into the inner seat first. Gotta give the lady the closer one to the bathroom, even if just a bit! That's what the cool kids cared about these days.
"Sit."
"Uh, y-yeah. We're really sitting here?"
"Why? Hate it?"
"N-No, it's fine......"
Younghee cautiously sat beside him. Up close like this, they were incredibly near. He could clearly see her pale skin, even feel her faint breath. Tension started creeping in. Well, if it was tension, he'd been tense since they first met.
"Good thing I picked a movie."
If it'd been somewhere else, his mind would've gone blank wondering what to say. He munched popcorn and forced his eyes on the theater ads.
But now the ads were fucked up.
"What the hell is this shit?"
The screen blatantly showed lewd footage anyone could see. A woman in an outfit that begged the question—worn to cover up or highlight what wasn't?—was pleading with a man not to. But he smirked, approached, and started groping her. Her breaths grew ragged despite her protests. Then he ripped her clothes off with satisfaction.
Once it really kicked off, she wrapped her legs around his waist, turning aggressive.
"Whoa, that outfit screams saintess, right? But how are her tits that huge? No way it's just the pose. Is this theater insane?"
He felt like he'd freeze in shock.
!.....
!.....
.......
"Is this the standard here...? If so, what a wildly perverted world."
Yujin turned to check on Younghee. Her face was beet red, like it might explode.
"Phew, good. This ain't normal, then."
Probably staff screwed up somehow. No idea how ads turned into porn, but if it was a mistake, he'd let it slide. Complaining took guts he didn't have.
But awkward was awkward.
To lighten the mood, he summoned his inner cool-kid aura from the depths and squeezed out words.
"Looking forward to the event coming up."
"E-Event?!"
"Yeah. I hear theaters here have special events after the movie. Straight from internet bros, so it's legit. No clue what, but hype."
"Maybe prizes since it's a theater, or signed merch from the actors."
But Younghee's reaction was weird. Fists clenched, shoulders trembling, eyes misty. Like she feared what was coming.
"This ain't a horror flick."
Come to think of it, he'd suggested the theater without much explanation. Hmm, should've asked if girls liked romance flicks too. But with the hype, it should be fine.
Meanwhile, the movie started.
"Whoa, still no one came in."
Just the two of them in this vast dark space. Never dreamed it'd turn out like this.
"Hehe, feels like we chartered the whole place. Nice."
Sipping cola, he watched the actors. The story was legit fun. He nearly teared up at the leads' kiss.
Suddenly, Younghee stood.
"I-I'm just gonna hit the bathroom real quick."
"Sure. You chugged that cola like you were stressed."
Alone now, he crunched popcorn. Heard you got fined if you didn't finish it here. Better hustle to polish it off before the end.
****
"Haa... what am I even doing?"
Younghee sighed while washing her hands. She hadn't really needed the bathroom. Just an excuse to escape her seat.
Originally, she'd planned to plead with Yujin today. Please don't touch Cheolsu. I'll do anything.
"But no time to talk, just drags me here."
She knew Yujin eyed her as a woman. But renting out a whole theater? Unimaginable. How much money did he have rotting away to pull this?
And swapping ads for porn? Thinking about it flushed her face again.
"That was straight-up sexual harassment."
Dark space, alone together pressed close, lewd vid upfront. By the time she sensed the vibe, it was too late. She'd even shuddered, thinking she'd fallen into a trap.
At least he hadn't pounced right away.
"But if I'd stayed... he might've."
Scared of that, she'd bolted. For Cheolsu, she'd do anything. That's what she'd thought. But her resolve fell short. She didn't want that humiliating crap.
"Still, gotta go back..."
Fleeing now might lead to who-knows-what. Movie was about two hours. Surviving that long without pissing him off was key.
As she exited the bathroom with those thoughts—
-Squish squish.
"Wh-What?! A monster?!"
A creature blocked her path. Black, round, wriggling liquid body. A slime. It twitched creepily as it approached.
But something was off.
"Wh-What's that?"
Monsters could pop up anywhere via rifts, all shapes and sizes. But she'd never seen one like this. Its body tentacles writhed disgustingly. Slime aside, pitch black? What kind was it?
"A-Anyway, run...!"
Younghee was at least E-rank hero level. But that factored her buffs and heals. Her direct combat sucked. Pure support type—she couldn't handle solo. Without weapons, even low-tier monsters were iffy.
"No one's around...!"
Theater bought out by Yujin (via Park Secretary) had no staff. She bolted for the exit.
"Eek! N-No! Let go! Get off!"
Too late. The slime lunged, slamming her face. Covered it completely.
"Mmph! Mmmph...!"
She thrashed to peel it off. Useless. Liquid phased through her hands.
Was this how she'd die? Then—
"It's... entering me?!"
It seeped into her ears and nose. Felt it invading inside. Not just that. It wrapped her mind.
-Kekeke, don't resist. Stay still. Makes it more fun.
"A m-monster talking?!"
Her eyes widened. Female instinct screamed alarm. Can't let it take my body. Horrors await.
She resisted desperately. But it invaded her mind directly.
"Hiiik?! N-No, let go! Stop iiiit!"
In vain. The slime claimed her bit by bit. Consciousness faded, body floated. Hard to hold on. Indescribable sensation made her tremble.
"Nooo... someone save me... Cheolsu..."
As the slime nearly fully possessed her—
"Younghee."
A gruff voice echoed down the hall.
"Is that your pet?"
Yujin, straw slurping, had appeared out of nowhere.