WHAT YOUR FATHER SAYS ✓

17

CHAPTER 17
Dance of the Hours — Amilcare Ponchielli

//

today was one of the most exciting days of my life.

i studied until my eyes dropped, tension pressing into my eyelids until i realised i had a date! a date, a real date.

so i left my study book open on my bed, biology on it's pages as i stood up. i hadn't been thinking about the date with Hoseok, i didn't even think about a way to escape. how was i ever supposed to do this?

i contemplated leaving him alone, stood up, but from what i have watched and read, the men usually do that and i didn't want to be associated with that kind. i bit on my fingernails, feeling guilty even though i hadn't left yet. despite my father's mistrust and attitude, i didn't want to betray him.

but when has he ever cared about me? i really wanted to go.

i also couldn't imagine leaving Hoseok. he seems like the kind of boy who would wait for hours and he didn't deserve that. i didn't want to leave him alone even though i had been the loneliest being of my kind.

so i locked my bedroom door, pulled on some clothes. i didn't plan anything, i didn't know that was a thing. my outfit wasn't grand or elegant, it was a dress patterned with daises. i analysed myself in the mirror and decided to put a straw hat on my head as well as a pair of trainers to help me walk faster.

i've never watched a movie with anyone before. i've never even been to the theatre, just seen it when driving past but oh god, i had heard great things about it. sometimes, visiting and taking a trip can turn out to be better than the actual movie. i wanted to experience that.

i stood amazed in front of the theatre building. the neon lights bedazzled me as i bit on my bottom lip. how was i supposed to survive a whole movie when the building itself astonished me? my hat nearly blew off with the wind as i pressed my hand down before pulling my light hair into a ponytail.

"what the goose!" i had squealed when two hands grabbed my shoulders. i turned around to see Hoseok smiling.

i love that he didn't question my words, didn't question why i don't curse and the straw hat on my head. he surprised me successfully and the smile on his face was more illuminating than the neon lights behind him. his high cheekbones, melanin skin and smooth voice all made me feel something.

"hi there." Hoseok grinned, still giddy after scaring me. for some reason, i wasnt thinking about how i left my bedroom window open because i was too distracted by the view of the theatre! future Elisa, when you read this back, remember the red neon, the bustling people and the smell of both salty and sweet popcorn. "welcome to our date." and remember how it was the best and only date ever.

"wait, it really is a date?"

i followed Hoseok as he started to walk. it seemed like he's been to watch a movie several times. i love his comfortable nature. "i thought we already came to that conclusion?"

i nodded, unable to control the smile on my face as i joined his side. my eyes widened and twinkled as i looked up at the theatre before we stepped inside. "ah yes we did, take my hand." and he did, taken aback.

we went inside, finding the hand hold both intimate and friendly. it made me feel safe as he ordered snacks for us, not caring about the money before we took our seats. there were barely any people, i expected there to be crowds and queues but the atmosphere was so serene and quiet.

everything cliche happened, i won't lie to you. i fell in love with the movie, Little Women as Hoseok made funny comments throughout the advertisements and attempted to put his arm around my shoulder. he had to go to the toilet at one point, he made sure i was okay before he went and he nearly tripped coming back. i couldn't help my giggles and he pressed his hand against my mouth.

i kissed his palm and he blushed.

Little Women was a splendid movie, i couldn't stop talking about it even after we had left. we sat in a booth at the nearest diner, not opposite each other but beside each other. i saw a waiter gaze at us confusedly and i smiled.

we had milkshakes that were way too large as we discussed the modern, beautifully crafted movie.

i talked mostly, playing with the ribbon on my straw hat. "stop agreeing with everything i'm saying." i teased.

Hoseok was surprised by my blunt nature, so was i. "tell me about your life." i leaned forward with a happy smile.

"i'm Hoseok, i am a happy person but from one night with you, i realise that i want to be happy like you and maybe with you." that's what his eyes said.

what he actually said was, "i'm Hoseok, you can call me Hobi. my friends are closer to me than my own family, we share similar interests. i don't have a degree, just high school qualifications and well... i work as a dancer. dancing is my passion. i own a dance studio and mainly offer classes to kids."

he sipped his milkshake, eyes looking into my heart. "you?"

//

i listened to 'put your head on my shoulder' whilst writing this and i'm sure elisa would love it :))