Chapter 3

The date was set at a cat cafe.

I loved cats. I figured even if we didn't like each other, we could just pet cats, and it wouldn't be too awkward.

Then, I saw my date: a guy over six feet tall, wearing sunglasses and a black leather jacket, looking like he had just walked off the stage of a rock festival.

If Ethan was the epitome of gentle, polite, and refined, the man before me was the exact opposite. He looked like he belonged in a biker gang.

He took off his sunglasses and walked straight toward me. That was when I finally saw his face clearly.

To be objective, he was very handsome, with long fingers and a sharp nose. He looked like... the type of guy who would be incredibly wild and good in bed.

I nodded politely and greeted him.

"Hi, I'm Chloe. Mrs. Gable set us up."

"Hey, I'm Ryder."

I was actually a bit intimidated by guys who looked fierce and hard to get along with.

But Ryder gave off a very honest, bright, and simple vibe. He blushed when he looked into my eyes, nervously glancing down at the orange cat meowing at his feet.

How could a guy loved by cats be a bad person?

I had a great impression of Ryder. We agreed to grab dinner at the nearby mall afterward.

Inside the mall, I kept feeling like someone was watching us.

I didn't think much of it. After all, if I saw a couple with such contrasting styles like Ryder and me, I’d probably steal a few glances too.

After dinner, he suggested we watch a movie, and I didn't refuse.

"Is there anything you want to watch?" he asked.

"Isn't there a new zombie movie out? I heard it got really good reviews."

The movie was extremely popular. The only seats we could get were the couple's sofas in the very back corner.

Ryder was on my left, and another couple sat to my right. From the moment the trailers started, the couple was shamelessly flirting.

I was too embarrassed to ask Ryder to swap seats with me, so I just prayed their giggling and cheesy whispering wouldn't last through the entire movie.

The theater went dark, and the movie began.

Only ten minutes in, soft whimpering sounds started coming from my right. She was clearly trying to hold it in, but I still noticed.

The theater was pitch black, especially in our corner, and the high backs of the sofas blocked them from view. They were completely reckless.

I immediately realized what she was doing.

The breathless, suppressed whimpers drifted into my right ear. My eyes narrowed, and my hands clenched tightly.

My heart raced from a mix of morality and voyeuristic thrill.