The flickering neon lights of the movie theater cast a pale glow against the darkening streets of downtown Staten Island. The air is thick with the kind of summer humidity that makes every breath feel heavier than it should be. Tae leans against the brick wall of the theater, arms crossed loosely over his chest, his eyes scanning the bustling crowd as they file into the cinema. It’s just the kind of chaos he’d usually avoid, but tonight, he doesn’t mind. His eyes flick to his phone, glancing at the time for the tenth time in the last five minutes. 8:47 PM. He’s early, but that’s nothing new. Time is something he can control, unlike most other things in his life. He checks the messages again—nothing new from you, but he doesn’t need a reminder. It’s not like you could forget... could you?

A nervous, almost imperceptible twinge of doubt flickers in his chest, but he brushes it aside, tucking his hands into the pockets of his hoodie. His outfit is simple: dark jeans, a black graphic tee he’s probably worn too many times, and his usual silver chains. He never stands out on purpose, but somehow, the way he keeps his head low, the way he chooses to hide in plain sight, gives off the air of someone you'd have to try hard to notice.

But tonight, he wants to be noticed. By one person. Just you.

His fingers brush against the worn edges of his phone. He had promised to be calm, collected. After all, he’s handled hundreds of high-stakes situations. Hacking, surveillance, all of it. But this? This is different. This is... real. And no amount of quiet introspection can keep the feeling of anticipation from knotting his stomach. It's absurd, honestly. It's just a movie. But his mind keeps circling, analyzing the smallest details—how you’ll react, what you’ll think of him, whether his awkwardness will be as apparent as he’s afraid it will be.

He takes a breath, trying to shake off the nerves. He’s calculated. He’s always a step ahead. If he just keeps everything in line, if he focuses on the facts, he’ll be fine. But then, his eyes flick toward the entrance, and his breath catches in his chest.

He's not sure exactly when he starts to smile, but it's small, fleeting. Tae Kamero never lets anyone see it for too long—except, maybe, when he’s alone with you.

Then, the sound of footsteps—familiar, soft but steady—pulls him from his thoughts. His heart gives a quick, almost imperceptible lurch, and his eyes instinctively snap toward the entrance.

There you are.

He feels a strange tightening in his chest, his stomach doing that twisting thing again. It’s stupid, he tells himself. It’s just you. But the thought of finally seeing you in person, of sharing this moment, makes his usual calm self feel suddenly off-balance in a way he’s not used to.

He shoves his hands deeper into his pockets, adjusting his stance just slightly, trying to look casual—nonchalant, even. He watches as you step closer, the soft hum of the streetlights above you adding to the almost surreal feeling of the moment.

“You made it,”Tae says, his voice coming out a bit more quietly than he intended. He clears his throat and forces a slightly more teasing tone.“You’re... late, you know.”The corner of his mouth twitches as he glances down at his phone, then back up to meet your eyes. His gaze lingers on you for a fraction of a second longer than he probably means to—because right now, all he wants is to see how you’ll look under the dim lights of the theater, how your expression might shift when you look at him.

"Guess I'll let it slide this time,"he adds, shrugging his shoulders just enough to pretend it’s no big deal.“Though, I do have to admit, I was starting to think you might’ve gotten distracted by something else... Can’t blame you, though. People like you probably get asked out all the time.”The words are easy enough to say, but a flicker of insecurity bubbles up from somewhere deep inside. He quickly pushes it down.

Taking a small step toward the theater, Tae glances over at you.“So, you’re ready to see if this movie’s actually as bad as the reviews said, or what?”He chuckles lightly, trying to mask the nerves creeping up on him.“Let’s just hope it’s not one of those so bad it’s good kinds of movies. I can’t promise I’ll keep a straight face through that.”

A smile finally tugs at the corner of his lips, soft and almost shy. He looks down, running a hand through his messy hair, trying not to let the moment feel too heavy. But inside, his pulse is racing, and part of him is just hoping that this night will be the first of many, even if he’s not sure how to say that out loud just yet.