Popcorn and the Sweet Surprise
“……”
With a sigh that sounded more like reluctant resignation, he shook his head and kept walking ahead of her.
On the escalator too, Kora stood a few steps behind Tristan, her eyes drifting naturally to the back of his broad shoulders.
Big build, loose hoodie, looks even roomier than he already is.
Most campus guys dressed casual like everyone else, but the sheer size of him made him look like a sports model walking the runway. People passing by stole glances too—whether they meant to or not.
Still, dating this guy makes him way too noticeable to the rest of the world.
By the time they reached the movie theater floor, Tristan bought tickets from the kiosk. When he started scanning seats, Kora spoke up suddenly.
“Plenty of empty seats. Let’s sit one row apart.”
His fingers hovered over the screen, then froze. He slowly turned his head, expression tightening as he gave her a cool stare.
“Just so you know, I’m not contagious.”
“…”
“I just wanted to use the full armrest on both sides.”
He clicked his tongue, then booked G10 and H10. With a sharp ch-ch from the machine, Kora accepted the tickets and pretended to inspect them closely.
He exhaled a heavy, exasperated sigh again.
“……”
Keeping distance between them on purpose was to avoid sparking rumors. In a theater, sitting this close would look exactly like a date to anyone watching.
With other Chatsworth students everywhere, one wrong rumor linking them could turn into a total headache. She had no desire for that drama.
A moment later, Tristan tried to break the awkward silence.
“Want some popcorn?”
“…”
“Popcorn?”
Kora’s eyes widened slightly before a soft laugh escaped her.
“What’s so funny about popcorn?” Tristan asked, puzzled.
“Oh, nothing. I haven’t eaten it in over ten years.”
Figure skating demanded weight control for jump stability, so anything rich in carbs and fats was strictly off-limits for athletes. Even after she retired, Kora still followed those old habits like second nature.
Tristan studied her quietly for a second, then spoke.
“You’re skipping popcorn but eating marshmallows? What’s the rule here?”
“What?”
“Last season, in the cafeteria, you poured marshmallows straight into the hockey team’s cereal bowl. Remember?”
“…”
“Do you?”
After digging through her memory, the forgotten moment surfaced faintly.
A tired guy who couldn’t stop complaining from the first bell, and Tristan glaring at her from beside him like he wanted to devour her on the spot.
Maybe that was the exact moment his bad impression of her got locked in.
“Right, that’s what happened. But the marshmallows weren’t for me—they were for garnishing cocktails at the pub. I forgot I put them in my pocket and accidentally left them there.”
“Ah, I see.”
Kora was secretly surprised he remembered the day. His memory must be sharp. A sudden thought made her smile again.
“Turns out the ones I brought were past the expiration date anyway. I hope none of them gave him food poisoning.”
“None. That game was huge to me, and you helped me win.”
“Really? That’s great.”
She looked up at him, and Tristan continued.
“What sport were you in high school?”
“Huh?”
“What position did you play?”
“…”
“How did you know I played?”
“Lifetime of diet control plus the way you stand—anyone can tell. I’ve been training since I was little too.”
She didn’t even need to say it. The long neck, straight posture, and rock-steady walk all screamed strong core.
Compared to her slim frame, her thighs and glutes were noticeably defined.
His gaze dropped lower, tracing the sexy muscle of her split calf under the skirt. Her throat bobbed visibly.
This was the body of an elite athlete who had trained for years.
Waiting for her answer, Tristan’s eyes stayed fixed. Kora hesitated.
I mean, being a figure skater isn’t some massive secret, but I don’t want to say the word “figure skating.” Talking about it makes my chest hurt. I don’t even want to bring it up.
She suddenly understood why she’d avoided popcorn all this time.
Now that she’d retired, she could eat whatever she wanted… but maybe she still carried the stupid hope she might step back on the ice someday.
It made her feel strangely bitter.
Realizing her silence was stretching, she cleared her throat and steered the conversation.
“Popcorn sounds good. Caramel? Since you bought the tickets, I’ll treat you.”
She turned and headed toward the counter where sweet popcorn wafted through the air.
Tristan watched her back, eyes darkening with something unreadable.
***
The evening showings were almost empty.
Only one couple sat in the far left corner, and five people in the next auditorium—everyone else had crowded into the blockbuster next door.
Tristan sat right behind Kora. She felt like she’d accidentally chosen the wrong seat.
Too close? The gap between seats is tiny and his knee’s practically touching my seat back. I can feel every breath he takes.
His steady breathing, the soft rustle of fabric when he shifted, and the occasional sip of his drink all drifted straight to her.
Then there was the constant prickling heat on the back of her neck—like he was watching her the whole time.
If this is how it’s going to be, I should’ve sat next to him instead.
Finally the Columbia Pictures logo bloomed and the lights dimmed.
The film was an independent masterpiece by a legendary director, following a young woman chasing her dream of becoming an actress in Hollywood.
The protagonist worked as an aerobics instructor and part-time at a cupcake shop, constantly failing auditions but never giving up.
Kora had been drawn in, but then Tristan’s breath ghosted her ear.
“You haven’t touched the popcorn at all.”
“Looks like you’re barely a hundred pounds. Eat something, you’ll waste away.”
She twisted just enough to answer flatly, “Keep your voice down so we don’t disturb anyone else.”
He narrowed his eyes, clearly annoyed by her sharp tone.
“Why are you so cold?”
“Maybe because your first impression was the worst. You already forgot about the beauty tax?”
Tristan let out a soft, mocking chuckle.
“That what got your panties in a twist? I was just telling you not to waste your looks. You’re making the comeback comment feel longer than I intended.”
Yes, it would sting for her.
But the world was full of guys who only wanted to use her beauty. Better to use them first than get used. He was quietly flexing his own worth while warning her to stay away from the low-level opportunists around her.
He knew exactly how she felt, and the way she was deliberately prickly only made him want to keep poking the wound.
Anyhow, the usual problems faced by beautiful poor girls came down to one thing: not using their own value. If you don’t know how much you’re worth, you’ll just get taken advantage of.
With so many men everywhere trying to shake you down, you’d better sharpen your radar and learn how to read them.
Tristan’s thoughts had gone that far. He leaned in, lips brushing her ear again.
“On second thought… you’re handling this way better than I expected. Keep throwing up those walls. Don’t let your sharp temper die.”
“……”
“The more you do that, the more I like it.”