Central Park, Delacorte Theater.
The lights in the theater were dim, and the seats were filled with rows upon rows of heads.
Among the crowd were Luca and Lima.
On the screen, the image flickered. Under a gray, gloomy sky, a gray, gloomy forest appeared.
The fog that drifted through the woods made the scene feel eerie.
In the middle of this creepy forest, there was an old, dried-up well that rose half a meter above the ground.
In the movie, the main character stood staring quietly at the well. Suddenly, a pale hand clawed its way out of the well, followed by a ghost with long, black hair climbing out.
"Ah~"
A piercing scream echoed through the theater.
Luca shook his head. This version wasn't as good as the 3D version of *The Ring*.
"Oh, Luca, it's so scary!"
Lima clung tightly to his arm, her face a little pale.
"It's okay, it's okay!"
Luca put his arm around her shoulder and patted her gently.
Originally, they had bought tickets for *Catch Me If You Can*, but after running into Leo, Lima didn't want to watch it anymore. Instead, she picked the new horror movie *The Ring*, and Luca didn't mind.
He just hadn't expected Lima to be this scared.
"Lima, if you're really scared, we can switch to another movie."
"No, I actually like horror movies. I was too scared to watch them alone before, but now that you're with me, I want to watch more."
Lima clung tightly to his arm.
At that moment, the ghost that had crawled out of the well on the screen moved through the television and fell onto the floor. Its pale hand looked like a corpse preserved in formaldehyde, and its long black hair was thick like coagulated blood, creeping closer to the protagonist.
"Ahhh!"
Lima screamed again, diving into his chest, wrapping her arms around his waist, and saying how terrified she was.
Luca smiled slightly and held her tighter.
Lima seemed to enjoy being in his embrace.
She buried her face against his arm, sneaking peeks at the screen as if that would make her less afraid. But when the ghost with disheveled hair showed up, she screamed once more.
By the time the movie was over, Lima's voice was hoarse.
"Luca, you're so brave. That movie was terrifying, and you didn't even flinch."
As the movie ended, they walked out of the theater, hand in hand, with the crowd.
"Honestly, I was scared too. I just pretended to stay calm to make a good impression on you."
Luca laughed softly.
"Really?"
"Yeah, my palms are still sweaty."
Lima touched his hand, and sure enough, it was damp. She giggled lightly.
"Luca, you don't need to do that. We're already good friends, and even though we're on a date, we can still act the way we always have."
"The way we always have?"
"Yes, just like before. You can call me a dummy, and I can call you a perv. We don't need to put on a perfect act for each other. It'd be too uncomfortable."
Lima smiled, tilting her head and looking at him with her sparkling blue-gray eyes.
"That actually sounds pretty great!"
Before the date, the two had been really close.
When they were together, they could joke around and say whatever they wanted, just like best friends. But once they started dating, they had to face the awkward transition from friends to something more. Things didn't feel as easygoing as before, and sometimes it even got a little awkward.
But now that they'd talked it out, it felt much more relaxed.
"So, Lima, are we still going to that concert?"
He wasn't a fan of those kinds of places.
"Hmph, you know I don't understand music at all. Do you really want to see me fall asleep at a concert?"
Lima teased him without holding back.
Luca chuckled. "Honestly, I don't get music either."
"Then why did you get tickets?"
"Kate set it up. She said for a first date, we should go somewhere classy."
"Kate?"
Lima frowned, annoyed. "That girl knows us better than anyone. She knows we both hate places like that, and she still suggested a concert. She's definitely messing with us on purpose."
"Uh, really?"
Suddenly, Luca remembered Kate's mischievous smirk when they left that morning. He hadn't understood it then, but now it made sense—that was definitely a teasing smile.
"Kate would totally pull something like this. How could you, dummy, fall for it?"
"Alright, my bad."
Luca smiled helplessly. "So, where should we go now?"
"Let's just head home. I know you don't like walking around outside, right?"
Luca nodded. "Lima, you don't really like shopping either, do you?"
"Exactly!"
Lima glanced at him, and he looked back at her.
"So why are we wandering around outside?"
"Ha, let's go back and play some video games at my place!"
"Sounds good!"
As evening fell, their date ended, and Luca returned home.
In the brightly lit living room, Kate was lounging on the couch, dressed in pink pajamas, lazily reading a book.
When she saw him return, Kate put down her book and smiled softly. "How was the date?"
"It went well!"
Luca smiled slightly and glanced at her book—*Jane Eyre* by Charlotte Brontë. It was his recommendation. Since Kate's book *Twilight* was about to be published, whether it did well or not, she needed to look the part of a serious author, which meant reading more classic novels.
"Did you go to Lima's house?"
"Yep."
"Oh, what did you guys do?"
Kate asked with a mischievous grin.
"Played video games—*Call of Duty*."
"Just video games? Oh~ such a perfect opportunity, and you only played games? I remember when you used to go all the way on the first date."
Luca shook his head, smiling. "Lima's our friend, isn't she?"
"Emm~ well, I hope you take her seriously."
Kate stood up and helped him hang up his coat. "After walking around all day, does your back feel sore?"
"No, most of the time, I was sitting. Didn't walk much."
"Sitting too long isn't good either. Lie down on the couch, and I'll give you a massage."
"Alright."
Luca lay on the soft couch in his T-shirt and shorts.
Kate sat on his legs and used her fists and elbows to massage his lower back, easing his muscles. She'd learned this technique at the hospital, and she massaged him whenever she could—it worked wonders.
After a while, his lower back felt warm and comfortable, and he couldn't help but let out a soft groan.
"Too much pressure?"
"No, it's perfect."
Luca mumbled into the soft pillows.
"Kate, I ran into Bundchen at the café today."
"Oh, did you talk?"
"Yeah, she brought up the novel."
"Heh, I'm sure it wasn't anything nice. That arrogant brat!"
Kate sounded annoyed, and her hands pressed harder.
Luca sighed. "Kate, I'm sorry the novel got rejected and embarrassed you. Ah~"
Before he could finish his sentence, she pressed hard on his lower back, making him cry out.
Kate giggled softly. "This is my problem to deal with. Don't worry about it."
"But I feel bad for causing you so much trouble again."
"Haha, you dummy!"
Kate playfully ruffled his hair and laughed. "You wrote such an amazing story. I'm so proud of you. No matter what happens with *Twilight*, in my eyes, you'll always be the most talented writer."
"Kate~"
Luca felt a little guilty. After all, he'd copied it.
"Luca, don't worry about what other people say. Just keep writing, and I'll always support you. I know you'll write something that'll blow those haters away."
Kate said softly.
"Kate, I'll do my best."
Luca sighed lightly, wondering if he should try writing a novel of his own.
Hmm, maybe not. Even copying might flop, so writing one himself would be a disaster. Better not take the risk!
"Luca, do you have another date tomorrow?"
"No, tomorrow I have a photoshoot for Armani."
"You should be resting more. You don't need to work so soon."
"Kate, it's just a photoshoot. It's not exhausting."
"Not exhausting?"
Kate raised an eyebrow and laughed mysteriously.