The Promise Date

{THE DAY OF THE DATE}

7:47 AM. Shin was waiting at the mall.

"Shin!" Sam arrives. "Did I make you wait for too long?"

"No, I just arrived here." Shin paused. "Do we really need to meet up here? You know we can just go here together, right?"

"Yeah, I know that we're living on the same roof," She paused a bit. "but meeting up is a part of the date."

"Is that so? I don't know about that, since I did not date someone before."

The fact that Shin didnt date someone before made Sam happy.

"Oohh, so I'm the first one?" She said.

"That's the case."

"I seeeee, I'm your first timeee…" She was really happy about it. And mumble, "So, It's not only your FIRST TIME that i get…"

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"No, nothing. Let's just go already." She grabs his arm and starts walking, but after getting a few steps, she remembers something that made her stop. "Wait."

"Huh? Did you forget something?

"Yeah."

"What is it?"

Sam released Shin's arm and went in front of him then, while facing towards him, she put her hands behind her back.

"What? Did you forget to wear something? Your bra?" Shin asked.

"No, idiot."

"Then what did you forget?"

"Not me, you."

"Huh? Me? I didn't forget a thing. And aren't you the one who said that you forgot something a while ago?"

"You're really dense. You got first strike for that."

"Strike?"

"It means, you got one ❌ already."

"Huh? Why?"

"On a date, it's necessary to compliment the women's clothes they're wearing."

"If that's the case, then your clothes look neat."

"No, that's not it!"

"Then what?"

She sighed. "Just forget it." after saying that, she grabs his arm again. "Let's just go."

"Why don't you just tell me?"

"No, you figure it out yourself. But remember you got one strike already, you have two more left."

"..."

A strike, a baseball term when a batter that ain't able to hit the ball as the ball is thrown towards. Using that term to qualify someone's expectation. For Shin, having that, means he's in the batting area. And him knowing that made him think, "What if i got 3 strikes? Is our relationship over?" just reaching that conclusion making him not to mess up anymore.

"Let's just go already." Sam said.

"Alright."

Then they continue to walk.

🏃

While walking, Sam remembers something and talks about it.

"Hey, you can't believe what just happened yesterday." She said.

"What?"

"Remember, I requested boss for a day off for today, and he approved it without asking the reason. Unbelievable right?"

Shin twitched. "Yea…"

______________________________________________________________________________

{3 DAYS AGO} WHEN ALICE REMINDED SHIN THAT THE BOSS CALLED HIM

I was working, then suddenly Ms. Alice called me. And she said that boss called me into his room. Knowing that boss called me then, it might be important, so I went there immediately.

After reaching the room, I knocked on the door.

"Come in."

"B-boss… Ms. Alice said, you want to talk to me about something."

"Yes, there is."

I am still anxious about what it is. "A-about what, boss?"

"Oh, it's just about your salary."

"M…my salary?" I became more anxious when I heard that, thinking if he would cut it. So I asked him, "W-what about my salary?..."

"Hhmm…"

Him making that noise and his face looking stern makes me more worried. Guessing what will happen next, I should apologize now before that. "Boss, sorry."

"Huh? Why are you apologizing?"

"Huh?"

"You're apologizing, why?"

Boss says that Sam seems not to have asked for it yet. So I lied my way out. "No, I just blurted out."

"FuHaHaHa!"

He… he laughed. After saying, "No, I just blurted out." he suddenly laughed. Why? Is that something laughable?

"Ha…ha… you really think that I'm mad at you?"

"Huh?"

"Come here."

Saying he's not mad, then making me come to him, was rather doubting, so I hesitated going to him.

"Why don't you get closer? I'm not really mad."

He says that again, but he's weirdly smiling. "Boss… you're not angry about it?"

"About what?"

After asking him, he answered with a question. Does he not know, or is he mad that he questions the question?

So I tried to confirm, "Boss, did Sam come here?"

"If it's before you joined, then yes, but if it's since after until this day, the answer is no."

"Sam did not come here and ask yet?"

"Before or after?"

"After."

"No, not yet."

The way boss said that was convincing, but I never know if he's just lying and trying to lure me in. But since I have no right to refuse, I just followed his order and went closer to him.

After getting closer to him, he starts talking. "Like I said, it's about your salary."

"What about it, boss?"

After asking about it, he opens a drawer to his table and takes out a small envelope that is as big as a brick inside.

"Here's your salary." he said.

Just like that, him saying that, and the money is there, made me think a negative thing.

"Am… am I getting fired?..." I asked.

In just two weeks, I'm already fired. Not a salary cut, but a dismissal. Just that word, made me think of two things; one, What should i do? Two, where should I go? It's just been two weeks, so the fact that the school or the cops will still be finding me, since not long ago on what i caused there.

"Wait, I didn't say severance pay, I said it's a salary."

"Means…"

"Yes, I'm not firing you. It's just a payment for the job."

"S-sorry, i misunderstood, boss."

"It's okay, I know you're just a high schooler, so you don't know that."

"...but, boss, are you sure you will pay me already? It's just been 2 weeks since I started working here."

"Yeah, I already decided. The salary is monthly and today is already the end of month and since you need money to buy some clothes right? So I made a decision that I will also pay you."

"Boss…" I was glad when I was called here and made me worried about that thing, but that was not the case at all, rather it's a good thing. Means Sam has not come here yet or not asked for it yet. "Boss, I'm really grateful for the advance payment."

"Well, I know that you require it. Such as for clothes, important things, or for some event like a date."

"Yes, need it– wait… boss, can you repeat what you said, boss?"

"I know that you need it."

"N-no, the second one."

"What, you meant the date?"

He said it bluntly, and I was surprised by it. He said, Sam didn't ask yet, but how did he know about that? Did he lie?

"I didn't lie about Ms. Sam not coming here yet, or rather not asking yet."

Again, he surprised me again. He answered me about what's in my mind as if he can read it. Perhaps, that's boss ability?

"I don't have mind reading ability."

He read my mind again, but he said he has no mind reading ability.

"Then boss, how did you know that I have a date?" I asked.

"Surveillance."

CCTV? Does the CCTV have a hearing function too?

"If you're going to ask how I can read your thoughts, my answer will be because I have experience."

I was just about to ask him, but he already answered it.

"Experience?"

"Yes, my experience."

Experience ha… is it because of boss old ag–

"Yes, it's my age."

"..."

He read my mind again, but I'm not surprised. Rather, I'm surprised that the boss' expression was like when he said that, it's a face like he's been through a lot.

In a deep thought, I didn't realize that he stopped talking and just stared at me.

"...what?" I said.

"No, nothing. Anyway, like i said, this is advance salary." he slides the envelope closer to me. "Use it for buying clothes and for your date as well."

"I appreciate it, boss, but are you really sure to pay me already and give Sam a day off just like that?"

"I'm fine with it, it's not a bad thing at all, or rather it's a good thing."

"Good thing?"

"Indeed, a good thing."

I can't grasp what the boss meant by "good thing" about it, but since he already approved it, I should just accept.

"Boss, once again, I really appreciate it." I said, then took the envelope. "Then boss, can I go now?"

"Yes, you can go now."

After he said that, I turned around and opened the door, but before going out, he said something, "Enjoy your date." Then I left completely.

______________________________________________________________________________

{BACK TO THE PRESENT}

"Even though it was a long time ago, I tried many times, but he rejected it."

"Long ago?"

"When I'm still new here, even though he did reject it, I still bail out."

"Did he find out?"

"Yeah and he warned me. Furthermore, I got my salary cut. So because of that, I decided not to do it again."

"Then why did you think of that again if boss will reject it?"

"It's just this once, and it is this day. And well I can't afford to cancel it."

"..."

What Sam said doesn't make sense to Shin, but for her, it was something she's excited about.

They talk about the things they did during work while walking, but then suddenly Shin was a bit confused on where they're heading, they're inside the mall, and they're heading out.

"Huh? Why are we going out?" He asked.

"It's a date, so we're going to the amusement park."

"Eh?"

"Hmm? Something matter?"

"No, nothing."

Shin's plan was to buy some daily things for him while dating since they are in the mall, but that idea has been scrapped once it was unexpected that Sam has a date plan.

"Let's go."

So they left the mall and rode a bus. It takes them 3 hours to reach the amusement park.

"Finally, we're here!" Sam said as she stretched her arms. Then she grabs Shin's arm afterwards. "Let's go there already." She said as she dragged him.

Dragging him everywhere, hoping from rides to rides. Sam was enjoying the date, but it's a bit off for Shin. Sam noticed it and asked him, "Are you enjoying this?"

"Huh?" he's like out of place. "Yes, yea, I'm enjoying it."

"Tell me the truth, does something bother you?"

"No, nothing."

"You're acting weird. So tell me."

"But its punishment–"

"Just tell me."

Sam looks serious, so Shin dont have a choice than to tell her.

"Actually… today, I plan to buy some daily necessities since I thought the date was supposed to be in the mall."

"..."

"Right, sorry. I know that this date was already set scheduled, and it's just rude to add something like that."

"...that's strike two."

"..."

"This is disappointing." She sighed. "Let's go."

"Yes."

Sam was mad about what Shin brought out. After the talk, they continue their date without bringing out the topic again. Shin thought that he's the worst, Sam was mad, and he wasn't able to buy things until his next day off. Sam was walking ahead of him without looking at him, in that situation he thought that their relation was already over…

That's just his thought, but that's not the case at all as they headed towards the exit of the amusement park. But that time Shin thought that they're just going home until they rode the bus and stopped at the mall.

Sam stood up from the seat of the bus. "Let's go."

"Huh? Where?"

"Ha? Didn't you say we're going shopping?"

"...huh?"

"Let's just get off this bus."

"Ah, right."

They get out of the bus.

Just him being there was confusing for him, asking in his mind why he's here even though they are on a date, and Sam is angry.

"Why are we here? Are we canceling the date just for my selfish request?" Shin asked.

"What you're talking about, canceling?" She sighed. "For your information, shopping is a part of a date too. For not knowing that, you know that's a strike, right?"

3rd strike… a strike out.

"But since this is your FIRST TIME, that should be just a foul ball. Even so, dont be at ease since you have 2 strikes already. Just one more strike and you will fail."

"Right, I need to be careful."

"Hmm, don't be serious, I'm just evaluating you, so don't forget to enjoy yourself."

"Alright."

Just the fact that Sam is not angry was assuring to him. Now the only thing he should mind was the Valuation. But that valuation is just a test for Sam to have fun because of her habit.

The date continued by them shopping.

"Try this and this and this." Sam was enjoying making Shin wear whatever she picks.

From store to store, they looked at what Shin needed. Casual clothes, clothes for going out, and a phone.

Now that he has all of that, the only last thing he requires is… a weapon.

So he asks her. "Sam, you know some place that sells weapons?"

Sam was shocked and panicked, looking around and luckily that people were from far.

"Shhh… dont just loudly blurt that out in public." She whispered.

"Right, sorry." whisper.

"If it's a weapon shop, I don't know one." whisper.

"Is that so?" whisper.

"Why don't you even want a weapon?" whisper.

"It's for commission. I need something to protect myself." whisper.

"Why don't you just use your ability?" whisper.

"I can't just use bare hands." whisper.

"But sorry about that, I really don't know one since I'm only using my ability. Just asked others about that." whisper.

"Well, it seems that's the case." back to normal voice.

"Sorry, I really can't help you with that." back to normal as well.

"It's okay, you already help me with shopping."

"Not shopping, it's a DATE."

"Right, right."

Sam looks at her phone. "Oh, it's already night. I didn't expect we spent so much time shopping, I was thinking that we can watch some movie after that, but we should go home now."

"Well, the reason that we took so much time shopping was because you got carried away, making me wear all the clothes from every shop we went to.

"He-he, is that so?..." She's trying to deny it. "Let's just go already."

So they went outside the mall.

"Let's take a taxi instead, since we're bought so much." Sam then tries to call a taxi.

But Shin stopped her. "Wait, Sam."

"What?"

"...is this really enough?"

"What do you mean?"

"We didn't really have fun dating, the date in the amusement park was cut and spent shopping."

"Didn't I say, shopping is a part of a date as well."

"Yeah, you said that, but this is supposed to be my punishment, and I'm the one getting benefits from it instead. I can't be satisfied with these." Shin was serious. "So i was thinking that we should go to some hotel and… do something, you know what i mean…"

"I already said, don't force yourself."

"I am not! Rather… I want to do it." he paused. "You, I know that you're forcing yourself to restrain yourself, I know you change, and It's something good, but sometimes you need to be honest."

"..." Sam became silent in short order of time, then muttered, "saying that should be a strike, but you bunt it."

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"I said, let's go already!"

"To where?"

"Where else than what you proposed."

And so they went to a nearby hotel.