First of Jesse XIII

We finish eating in the restaurant and we only have to do is to pay the bill for our meal.

"Here's my money" I am giving my money but he only looked at me.

"No, it's on me," he said and smile at me.

What the heck and he treats me to a meal. I should be the one treating him because he saved me before. Anyways I just nodded and let him do what he wants to do.

He paid for our meal and then we went out of the restaurant

"What are we going to do next? Do you have any idea?" he asked me.

"Uh? Sorry but I don't know" I answered him. He is being weird right now because I don't know what the real reason is. Seem like we are on a date.

"We can't go to the arcade, it's embarrassing to an adult to go there," He said and he rubs his chin like he was in deep thoughts.

I just look at him while wondering why I feel weird towards him. I wonder if these feelings can consider love but I know Oliver doesn't love me so I think... I don't know.

"Right! Let's watch in the cinema!" He suddenly grabs me by my hand.

"Okay," I replied.

What is this feeling inside my stomach?

We walk inside the nearest cinema and I feel kinda shy because lots of people are looking in our direction. Maybe they are wondering why two men walking hand in hand entering a cinema.

"What do you want to watch?" He asked looking at me smiling like he is excited.

"Uhmm, I don't know. Horror or Sci-fi maybe?" I suggested it because I do really like both genres.

"Okay! I have in my mind now." He excitedly said.

He grabs my hand again then we go to the ticket booth of...

"A Quiet place?"

"Yes, they are both sci-fi and horror so I think you might like watching it. Don't you want to watch it?" he asked me.

I shake my head.

"I want to watch it. Let's buy a ticket" I answered him.

"Can you wait, there?" he said then he pointed at the bench near at the door in the cinema.

"Why?" I wonder what he is thinking and he wants me to just wait.

"I am buying the tickets for the both of us?"

I nodded at him and I walk towards the entrance. Well, I only agreed with him because I don't want to wait so long in the line with him. Just us together makes my heart pound like I run a million miles so I want to have a rest for a while.

Being nervous and shy is pretty exhausting you know, and seeing him from this distance is nostalgic. I saw his head turn in my direction and he smile and me while waving his hand. Crap, I don't know how to act right now so I just waved back and look in the other direction like something captured my attention but in reality, I just don't want to look back at him because I am reminiscing about the past at moment.

"Hey!" someone yelled and I didn't bother looking at that person because I know that I am not the one being called.

"Hey, why are you ignoring me" Voice is now beside me. Huh?

I look back at that person.

"You are so mean Jesse!" She yelled at me and then pout.

"Oh Marie, I am sorry. I thought I am not the one you are calling so I ignore it." I explain

"It's okay, any way you know I missed you!" then she jump at me hugging me.

I didn't hug her back because I feel that I don't have to do it. She pulled off the hug then grabs my shoulder and look up at me.

"What?" I asked because she is looking at me like I did a horrible thing to her.

"Nothing. Seeing your face after so many years is kind of weird." She started staring at me and still holding my shoulder.

"Well, you know every person needs a change in their life every passing year so I think it's normal" I explain to her.

"Yeah, but you've really changed a lot. I almost failed to recognize you but thanks to my strong intuition" then she winks at me.

She scans my whole body and then she finally lets go of my shoulder.

"Anyway what are you doing here? I don't see you with someone so maybe we can grab dinner and chat later?" she said. Oh no, I am with Oliver so I can't go with her.

"Actually—"

"He is with me"

A cold voice suddenly emerges from my back and I don't know why I felt chills because of it.

"Who are you?" Marie asked Oliver and somehow I can sense a tension between them but I don't know why.

"You don't have to know and we are about to watch a movie so if you'll excuse us," Oliver said and then grabs me by my wrist ad drags me away from Marie.

I saw Marie's annoyed face so I just mouthed a sorry and waved my other hand at her. She waves back until I lost sight of her.

Back to my current situation, I pulled my hands off his hold and we stopped walking then he looks back at me.

"What's up with you and you are being so mean to her earlier?" I asked Oliver.

"Nothing, the movie is just about to start, let's buy popcorn" he didn't answer me.

What the heck is really happening with him? Earlier he is in the good mood. Maybe the staff in the ticket booth annoyed him but that's impossible.

Oliver and I bought popcorn. When we are in the hallway I don't know what's gotten in my mind and I suddenly grab his hand that made him stop walking. He looks at me with a straight face and it made me nervous but I have to say something now that I have done something like this

"I-I'm sorry if I did wrong that made you upset," I said and look at the ground because of the embarrassment.

He squeezes my hand which made me look up at him and I saw his bright smile again.

"Don't say you're sorry. You've done nothing wrong. I should be the one apologizing right now because I sulk earlier without thinking." he stated and one word from him made me think twice if I heard it wrong.

"You are sulking?" I asked not believing.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," he said and he squeezes my hand once again.

"Why?" I asked because it's weird. There is nothing for him to get sulked.

"The movie will start in any seconds now so we should hurry" he didn't answer me again but I let it pass.

We enter the cinema and we sit in the middle because I know it is better in this part. We can have a better view here.

The movie starts.

Oliver seems he's really into movies but I think he is still mad or sulking something? His eyebrows are furrowing and he didn't give me a single glance.

"Popcorn?" I handed him the popcorn.

He looks at me and just smiled. Then he returns his attention in the movie. I can tell that something is bothering Oliver but I can't put a finger on it.

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The movie ended that both of us are not opening our mouths, just eating popcorn I guess. I quite enjoy the movie because it is really thrilling and exciting but...

We exits the cinema and we are currently walking our way somewhere when I heard Oliver mutter something but I didn't understand what he said.

"Hey?" I called his attention. I look at him while we still walking and I saw his serious face.

"That girl," he said. Girl? Oh, Marie?

"Marie?" I asked.

"That's her name? You two are close huh?" he snickered.

"Of course, we went to the same school before," I said.

"Okay," He said then he looks at me and laugh.

"Why are you laughing? Is there something in my face?" I asked him because he suddenly laughed. I touch my face and rub it to check if there is something.

"No, I'm sorry for laughing but you don't have anything to your face." He said when he stops laughing.

He stopped walking and I stop too. I scan the whole place and I realize we are in the bridge here at the central park.

"What is your problem?" I asked him and I feel my cheeks are getting hot again. I know I'm blushing but he can't see it because he is looking the other way.

"Yeah, what is my problem?" He smiled looking at nowhere.

"Red, thank you for today," he said and he look at me.

I smiled at him.

"No problem," I said. I am thinking if I can still give him the cake.

"Thank you for making my birthday happy," he said.

Wait! Did I hear it right? Birthday? Today is his birthday?

"Your birthday is today?" I asked eyes wide open because I am shocked.

"Yeah, let's go home now shall we?" he said then he extended his arms like he want me to take it.

I lowered my head and I played with the hem of my red shirt.

"Uhmm actually, I had something for you," I said but still looking down.

"Hmm?" I heard him.

"Actually I baked a cake for you" I shyly said

"But I didn't know that today is your birthday. So happy birthday and please accept it as my gift." I finally look at him.

"Really? Then let's head back and eat it together" he said. His face is showing nothing but happiness.

I nodded and we started walking and even if we don't have any contact in our bodies I can still feel his hands against mine.

"So you can bake?"

"No, not really"

"But still thanks to your effort"

"Sure"