There's No Love In the Deathzone (BL) novel Chapter 186

Chapter 186: Chapter 180. The Red of Reminiscence

"How are we going inside without being recognized?"

Zein peered out of the car window, to the entrance of the movie theater which was packed with people. Some were there to watch movies, but there were also those who were just waiting for someone else, so the crowd would never thin, considering it was a Saturday night.

"You don’t think I’d take you here without any precaution, don’t you?" Bassena grinned. He drove the car to the underground parking lot, and proceed to park the car in a secluded spot that seemed to be reserved for special guests. "We’ll enter from different doors."

Ah, so there really was a way for high-profile people to enjoy mundane things without the fear of attracting attention--Zein thought as he came out of the car. He never went to a movie theater before, obviously, but he knew it would be dark inside, so that was a good place to hide.

He really didn’t want to deal with people right now.

Zein hadn’t been really comfortable meeting with people since he found out the truth about the incident. Pretending to be busy, or looking for something to keep his schedule packed, he had been avoiding interaction with others. But for things that he had been promised to people--lunch meetings, guiding--he couldn’t help but fulfill them.

Including this ’date’.

"Hey,"

A hand grabbed his shoulder and Zein flinched. Not much, but enough for an esper’s eyes to notice. There were two seconds of pause before the esper smiled, pretending that nothing happened.

Just how he had been these past few days.

"Let’s go?" Bassena said casually, pointing to a rather inconspicuous door with a guard waiting on the outside. The guard let them in and guided them to their designated theater.

Zein, who felt quite guilty for the awkward silence between them, managed to ask when he could see another door at the end of the hall. "What kind of movie is it?"

"Hmm...I don’t know," Bassena shrugged. When Zein gave him an unamused look, he added with a soft laugh. "I have no idea. Reina bought the ticket for us, and I only knew it was romance something. She said it’s a premier too, so she also has no idea what the full story is."

"Romance, really?" Zein raised his brow.

"Fitting isn’t, it?" Bassena grinned.

"For?"

"A date," the esper laughed for the last time, since they had arrived at the theater’s back door.

Zein would have scoffed and laughed if he was his usual self. But he wasn’t really in that vibe, although he managed to force out a chuckle. And then they had to be silent because the movie was about to play. It was also probably why Zein went through with this date even though his head was such a mess right now--because they didn’t have to talk and face each other for two hours or however long this movie would be.

The attendant, who was clearly almost hyperventilating despite managing to keep her professionalism, lead them to their seat. It was a private viewing box with a velvet couch enough for two, and a small table already filled with refreshments. The box was separated from the general seat with a railing--so much for experiencing mundane stuff--but it helped for keeping things private.

"Oh, we’re on time," Bassena whispered as they took a seat, as the opening logo of the movie’s production house appeared on the screen.

Zein had to admit though, as much as he hesitated going out today, the moment the movie was playing, he was absorbed. Not necessarily because of the story, which seemed to be following a plot of romance between an esper and a guide.

Ah...was that why Reina recommended this movie? Once they understood the plot, they glanced at each other and Zein actually let out a genuine, subdued chuckle. Of course, the story was nowhere near what happened between them, but they got the message.

After his own laughter had died, however, a sigh involuntarily came out. Zein leaned back on the couch and propped his head on the armrest. The massage wasn’t for Bassena, but for him; because it was him that had put a line on their relationship.

Well...who knows, perhaps watching the movie would shed some light on his muddle-up head.

What got him absorbed was the experience, and then...memories. Zein had never watched movies on a big screen like this. Movies, like any other luxury, could only be enjoyed by the elite member of the red-zone. He recalled a viewing room in Umbra’s headquarters, and if someone like him would like to watch a movie or something, they had to pay. Zein barely had enough money to eat, so there was no way he would waste it on two hours of motion pictures.

Fortunately, Scarlet Moon was one of the ’privileges’ in the red-zone, and they had televisions and other electronics. Sometimes, Alma or Zach would ask him to join them, and sometimes Zein would bring along the twins.

So he knew, Zein chuckled inwardly. He knew Araka’s dungeon break happened around this time.