Chapter 39
Sensing Natalie’s low mood, Jasper said, “I can help you look for other job opportunities.”
“Thank you,” Natalie replied, though she had already lost hope.
As they chatted, they arrived at the cinema
He parked the car, and before he could open her door, she unfastened her seatbelt and got out herself.
She looked up at the red–brick building in front of her, where a sign read–Kingston Cinema
Next to it, there was a line at a small ticket window of about ten people waiting to buy tickets. A small blackboard beside the window displayed the name of the movies being screened that day.
Since Jasper already had tickets, they didn’t need to go to the window. Natalie followed him directly into the cinema.
They heard a voice from a corner as they walked several steps. “Hey, hey, sir! Want some popcorn, peanuts, or soda?”
Natalie turned to see a man in a gray shirt waving at them, softly inquiring. Although the private business system wasn’t fully liberalized, small vendors weren’t being stopped.
She couldn’t imagine Jasper eating such things and was about to decline when she noticed him walking toward the ΠΑΠ with a serious expression.
Seeing Jasper in full military uniform with his cold demeanor, the vendor felt a bit intimidated but maintained his smile. “Sir, how about buying some snacks for your girlfriend? Popcorn, peanuts, and soda–all 20 cents each. What would you like?”
Without hesitation, Jasper pulled out 60 cents. “One of each.”
“Sure thing!” The vendor hadn’t expected such a big spender. After taking the money, he quickly filled a paper cone with popcorn and peanuts and opened a bottle of soda. He then handed everything over.
Jasper took the paper cone in one hand and the soda in the other, returning to Natalie’s side and gesturing for her to enter the cinema with him. They walked into the theater with five minutes to spare before the movie started. It was dark inside, and he walked ahead, occasionally glancing back to see her following. He smiled slightly before turning to find their seats.
Once they settled in, he handed her the soda. “This is for you.”
He tilted the paper cone toward her. “I’ll hold this for you”
Natalle was taken aback, not expecting the snacks to be for her. She accepted the soda, took a sip through the straw, and was delighted to find it tasted like the orange soda she remembered from the future. The sweetness spread across her tongue, and she smiled brightly at him. “Thank you, Mr. Locke!” He replied with a low “Mm“, a subtle smile forming at the comers of his lips in the darkness.
Unfortunately, she didn’t see it. Her attention was fixed on the white screen, where words began to appear.
The movie had
1 started.
It was the classic film “Tunnel Warfare“.
toa
Natalie enjoyed the show so much that she didn’t even notice when Jasper took the sada. When she returned to her senses, she found the soda in his hand but didn’t think much of it. Just as she was about to turn her head back to the screen, she heard him whisper in her ear, “Want some?”
She reached into the
paper cone and grabbed a peanut. It was the kind that was boiled in salt water, and it tasted good.
After eating one, she asked him, “Do you want some?
In the cinema, they needed to keep their voices down, and afraid of being overheard, they leaned close to one another. As her soft breath brushed against his ear, he tightened his jaw. Unexpectedly, he let out a quiet “Mm“.
Natalie didn’t notice the intimate distance between them and absentmindedly grabbed another peanut to offer him. Noticing that both of his hands were occupied, she split the peanut shell in half, holding out the botton part to his lips.
Jasper leaned down slightly, his thin lips brushing against her fingers as he took the peanut into his mouth.
The skin behind his ears flushed bright red in the darkness, his body igniting with a fiery warmth that felt overwhelming.
