5 Awkward Date (1/2)

”Can you let go of me?”

Muria's voice is cold, just like how I'd imagine it would be. However, I didn't anticipate her lowering her head, which made it so that her bangs concealed her face from my point of view.

I released her wrist and watched it as it swayed back to her side. Then, the two of us stood there waiting, waiting for the other person to speak up first. I looked at her with unease in my eyes, but this unease will likely past just like the clouds above that blocked the suns rays from the earth. That cloud will soon move away and the shade will vanish. In the end, the sun will always show, no matter what happens.

Due to us standing still in the station square, the crowd walked around us. Passersby didn't acknowledge our brief pause, they merely faced forward and went on with their daily lives. From the office workers dressed in suits to employees of local restaurants handing out fliers, we were ignored as the current of people rushed on around us.

”If you think the same,” I broke the silent seal, anxious to escape this awkward situation, ”I think we can go now.”

I paused for a second, waiting for a response from her. However, seeing that she is still silent, I decided that someone must be the one to trigger a change.

”...I'll be going now,” I said to her, turning back around to reenter the train station.

Just go home. That is what suits me the best. Spending a Saturday with a girl isn't like me. Leave that to the others. People like me should be rotting at home.

”Stop!”

Her voice was loud and made with authority. Immediately, my legs locked, forcing me to halt and stand in place. Some people around us stopped to look what the commotion is, pausing in their footsteps and waiting to see if things get any bit more interesting.

”Do you really think you can head home without my permission?”

She lifted her head and from her face, I could see that supercilious look on her face once again. What are you? An empress?

”Isn't that my basic human right?” I turned around and said back to her. For some reason, my body language is suddenly submissive as I answered her.

”Not anymore,” she crossed her arms in front of her chest. ”Follow.”

She made a 180 degrees turn and began walking once again. With my basic human right being denied, I had no choice but to go along with her agenda.

”So where're we going?” I asked as I quickened my walking pace so as to catch up with her.

”You don't need to worry about that,” she responded without looking over at me.

I let out a deep sigh. Why is it that she can interact with others in such a normal way but when it is me she's just so different.

”Are you sure you want me to stay?” I asked. ”Rumors might get started if someone sees me with you.”

Muria immediately paused in her steps, which caused me to almost bump into her if not for my superior self control of my lower body.

”You're right,” she placed a hand on her chin.

”So like I said,” I sighed, ”let us each go our own ways. You don't owe me anything.”

”Then take it as you owing me a favor.” She looked at me with a look that is as if what she's saying is an obvious fact.

”Why?”

”Because you don't usually get the chance to spend time with people. Especially of my caliber.”

”...” I sighed once again, giving up any hopes to reason with or argue with her.

After following her on the streets of Nocsinis for a few minutes, we arrived at the foot of a mall that is about ten stories tall. A metal statue of what appears to be the mall's mascot stood in the clearing in front of the escalators that led up to the main entrance of the mall. Right by the escalators is a large map of the mall locked safely within a glass display board like a picture within a picture frame.

”So which floor are we going to?” I asked Muria.

”Third,” she responded as she stepped foot onto the escalator with me following close behind her.

”Are we watching a movie?” I recalled the map of the mall marking the third floor as a movie theater.

”What else is there on the third floor then?”

I decided to not argue any further with her and just quietly follow her as we made our way up to the third floor of the mall. If it's just a movie, then I can manage since all that I'll be required to do is sit there and watch something for an hour and a half. Plus it'll be dark in the theater so no one should be able to see us. I mean it doesn't matter to me who sees us because I don't care about my reputation already and people from our school most likely wouldn't even know who I am if they do see me. Instead, I think it matters to Muria, since unlike me, she's somewhat active on the socializing stage.

Lucky for us, we didn't encounter anyone that we knew from school at the lobby of the movie theater. We waited in line in front of the many kiosk machines and approached one machine when it was our turn. I stood behind Muria as I waited for her to choose the movie that we were going to watch, standing idle and occasionally yawning.

”Give me 150 Vil,” she said as she walked over to me after buying the tickets.

”Why?” I looked at her with a bad feeling in mind.

”It's the price of admission.” The way her eyes looked at me with such innocence made it seem like it was only natural that I pay for my own ticket.

”You're not gonna pay for me?”

”When did I ever say I will?”

”Didn't you invite me out for compensation for my injury?” I lifted my bandaged left hand into the air and pointed at it with my right. ”Don't you remember?”

”I said the compensation is allowing you to spend time with me. You just weren't listening.”

”...” I looked at her with a look of disbelief. However, I know my limits and know that I will not be able to win in an argument against her so I just sighed and gave up.

Then, a light bulb suddenly went off in my head. I remembered the mission that I was tasked with and thought of a perfect and natural way to get her contact information.

”What's your phone number?” I took out my phone from my pockets.

”W-what do you need that for?” She covered her chest with her arms almost as if in fear.

Is she mistaking my intentions for something else?

”To transfer you money,” I said, showing her my virtual wallet on my phone. ”I don't have enough cash on me.”

”Is that so.” She reluctantly took out her phone with a look troubled look on her face.

”Come on.” I gestured with my phone for her to hurry up, trying my best to not let a smile betray my victory.

Muria sighed. ”Fine.” She then proceeded to enter in her number into my phone.

”Thanks.” I immediately grabbed my phone from her hands so that she won't be able to see the incoming notification from the Socialization APP.

—

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