181 Days of Madeline Jesty

Chapter 24: First Time in the Theater

"We'll watch a movie?"

She nodded as she gave me my popcorn and cola. "You may not be fond of movie dates, but I swear this one's a good movie."

I didn't want to look disappointed, but I was. Maybe my expectations were too high since this was our first casual date outside school without wearing our school uniforms. I wasn't a movie goer too; both Steph and I were the type who'd skip the hype and wait for the Blu-ray format of the movie so we could both watch it on their audio-visual room or ours.

"You don't like it, do you?"

Torn between not hurting her feelings and being honest with her, I composed and prepared myself. "We're having a short dinner somewhere after this, right? And talk about last week?"

"Yeah, I was about to open that when we were in the café, but the malls close early. The movie will end at eight." She sighed, noticing the disappointment on my face. "I know you would rather be in yacht dates and expensive restaurants, but you said you wanted to feel things for your story, and this is how—doing things you don't usually do, taking roads you don't usually take."

Ah, yes, why do I keep forgetting my made-up story? I thought before speaking. "For the record, I do watch movies. I just don't watch in theater malls and prefer watching on my own. Besides that? Security purposes."

"Why do you need security?"

I stared at Mickey in disbelief. "You do know how powerful and influential Mom is, right? The least I want to happen is to be called a burden right in my face. Knowing that is enough."

She laughed and patted my head. "You think these people know you?"

Blushing because of my own arrogance, I crossed my arms and punched her arm. "Better be sure than sorry," I defended myself before changing the topic. "What are we watching anyway?"

"It's a romantic dramedy."

"Dramedy?"

"A romantic drama-comedy film."

"You can combine drama and comedy now, huh?"

"Oh, my queen, you sure don't watch a lot."

"You do? I didn't know you're a cinephile."

"Not really movies per se, but stories. That's why I'm trying my best to help you with your writer's block at the same time materialize those feelings."

Which wouldn't happen, I thought to myself, as the ending of my story was already foretold. "We'll see," I lied as I checked out the movie poster that was right beside us. There seemed to be three couples that would represent different age groups in the film. "This looks tragic."

"It's about love. And its depth, its complexness."

"To be fair, love is tragic," I replied. "How'd you know that? So you've watched this?"

"Yesterday."

"Yesterday?! And you want to watch it again?"

"I rewatch great films. I reread great novels. Don't you?"

I blushed. I'd never get used to Mickey's ability to shut me off and remind me to stay grounded. "I don't. I watch once, read once, and then find another one. Repeating a movie or a book just doesn't make sense to me."

"One-night stands." She chuckled. "Maybe you haven't found the book or the movie you want to repeat or keep in your shelves. The same concept applies to the pastries and drinks you order from Cornelia's Café."