buzzer beater ✦ j.sc | ✔

book one ✦ [ix]

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2

Sungchan picked you up at 7:00 p.m. on the dot for your first date. You made sure to take your nighttime meds early and silence your alarms so there was nothing to bother you that night. Migraines notwithstanding, of course. You still had to bring your go bag just in case you needed anything acute, but you didn't think twice about leaving the majority of it in the car, tucking just a couple individually packaged tablets into your pocket before accepting Sungchan's hand that he offered to you after opening your car door for you.

Walking into the movie theater with him after he bought your tickets, you were about to start off in the direction that the usher had pointed you when your date stopped you.

"You want anything from concessions?" He nodded towards the long line of other couples, families, and groups of friends.

"I'm not big on overpriced popcorn," you shook your head with a smile. "Thanks though, Sungchan."

"You sure you don't want a soda or candy? How's your, you know, blood sugar?"

It was then that your polite smile morphed into a genuine, touched one, and you squeezed his hand that you were holding. "I'm doing good, promise. I made sure I ate before. But thank you, seriously. You're really sweet."

"Okay, but let me know if you need anything."

"Sungchan, can I tell you something?" You ducked your head in towards him conspiratorially.

"Yeah, of course."

You gently shook one side of your jacket, and a muffled rattling sound came from within it. "I snuck a bag of Skittles in," you whispered to him.

He chuckled as you dropped your jacket back down and smoothed over the inside pocket inconspicuously. "Two steps ahead of me."

"I just didn't want to ruin our date if I got low."

"It's very thoughtful, thanks."

"So are you!" You tried to reassure him.

The two of you entered where your movie would be showing, and picked your seats. The previews had already started, so you had to drop your voices to whispers.

"But you're going to be good with the bright light, and the sounds?" Sungchan double-checked with you.

You nodded insistently. "You're the one who made me compile a list of stuff that I could do, remember?"

"I know, but you also came to that party knowing that it was like 100% guaranteed to give you a migraine. So I think I've earned some skepticism."

"Okay, fine. You got me there," you sighed. "But I get nothing out of suggesting things that will give me migraines other than cutting our time together short. Which I don't want to do."

Sungchan shifted in his seat, and when you looked over at him, you could see a small, bashful smile on his face. "Good. Glad we got that cleared up."

The previews finally ended, and the entire theater quieted down, including you two. You settled in to watch the movie, scooting closer to your date, looping your arm under his, and resting your head on his shoulder. He hesitantly leaned his head against the top of yours.

✦

As you left the theater hand-in-hand with Sungchan, you two were deep in discussion about the movie, and in the back of your mind, you realized with a panic that you had far too much that you wanted to say that wouldn't fit into the short ride back to your apartment. Not to mention that you didn't want your night with him to be over yet.