Trust Me

Chapter 6

“Hey, where are you?”

“Almost there.” Ji-ah replied, huffing, “My boss was being an asshole.”

Minho chuckled softly at her comment. “Take your time. I’ll wait for you next to the ticket counter.”

“Sure! See you there!”

The man cut the call before switching over to another app. His eyes glinted as they followed the small red dot moving in the map as it approached the movie theatre. The closer it came, the more his smile grew. His hand reached for the locket on his neck, and he rubbed it furiously.

“You’re here.” He smiled, looking up at the panting girl.

“Hey, I am not too late, am I?” She asked in between deep breaths.

“Relax, you are in perfect time. Would you like me to buy some popcorn?”

“Let me buy it. You already got us the movie tickets.” Ji-ah said. “What flavour do you like?”

The pair walked to the popcorn station, making small talk. A few weeks had passed since their first meeting, and in that time, Ji-ah had discovered in Minho not only a great friend but also a kindred spirit. They bonded over shared interests and engaged in deep discussions about topics close to Ji-ah's heart. Minho proved to be a willing listener to her impassioned rants — something she didn’t find even in her best friend. But of course, friendship wasn’t the only thing on Ji-ah’s mind every time she was in the presence of the handsome man.

Minho’s charm and allure were dangerous traps; and it wasn’t long before Ji-ah found herself willingly walking into them. Not to mention, his casual flirting was not lost to Ji-ah. Minho’s crooked smile and hearty chuckles had now become fixtures in her dreams, lingering long after they parted ways. Ji-ah yearned for their encounters, much like Juliet yearned for Romeo in the dead of night. She couldn’t help the red blush that seeped into her cheeks, nor the rising palpitations of her heart.

And so, when Minho asked her out for a movie night, Ji-ah had agreed without hesitation even though it was a week day swarmed with work.

“Was work too tiring today?” Minho asked as they stood in line for the popcorn.

“It wasn’t the work, honestly. I mean, it’s the same every day. It’s my boss who’s being insufferable. I really can’t stand that man.” Ji-ah sighed. “One large popcorn, please. Cheese and caramel mixed. Oh, and two peach Milkis.” She said to the boy behind the counter.

“What did he do?”

“It’s not what he did. It’s what he didn’t do. He forgot to inform me about a meeting with a VIP customer. I was caught off guard when she came in. Apparently, she’d informed my boss about it. But it ‘slipped’ out of his mind. Thankfully, she wasn’t too mean, and let me off with a warning.” Ji-ah thanked the vendor as she took their food.

“Did you confront him?” Minho asked on their way back.

“I did, and that’s what made me late. He told me it was my fault that I didn’t ask him about it. Then he went on to berate me for being a woman. This world is an unfair place for us.” She sighed.

“I’m sorry that happened.” The man said, empathetically. “Let’s forget about all that by watching the movie.”

“Right… Oh, I never asked you how your day went.” Ji-ah said sheepishly as they sat down on their seats.

“Eh, it was nothing special. The best part of today is this date.” He winked at her in the darkness.

Immediately, Ji-ah’s cheeks flared red. “Date?” She asked, trying her best to calm her heart down.