Chapter 8: Absolute Cinema

For a moment John was thrown off by Lala’s look. He realized he’d overreacted—but he still pushed on.

“I’m worried about you, Lala. My uncle Philip isn’t right for you. He never will be.”

Lala stared at him like he’d lost his mind. She scoffed, sharp and cold.

“Fuck you and your concern.”

Then she slammed the door in his face.

John stood there, frozen, his emotions tangled and impossible to sort through. He lifted a hand as if to knock, then let it fall. After a few seconds, he turned and walked away.

Inside, Lala went to the kitchen to make breakfast, still seething—especially about John showing up like that. And as she ate, another thought hit her: she didn’t even have Philip’s number.

After breakfast she headed upstairs, but the doorbell rang. She went to answer, hoping it wasn’t John back to wreck her mood again.

It wasn’t.

A delivery guy stood on the porch in a Christmas hat, holding a package.

“Miss, you’ve got a delivery from Mr. P,” he said with a grin.

Lala took it without hesitation, carried it inside, and tore it open. It was packed with snacks and little accessories. But what caught her attention most was a rubber ring. She held it in her hand and stared at it for a full three minutes, trying to figure out what it was supposed to mean.

Over the next few days, she didn’t see Philip. John didn’t show up either.

On the 30th, she was at work, debating whether to go spend time with her parents or stay back, when her phone rang. The number wasn’t saved.

She answered anyway.

“Hello?” Lala said.

John’s voice came through. “You’re not replying to my messages, and I couldn’t call you from my number. Did you—”

Lala ended the call immediately. She wasn’t in the mood to explain anything to John.

The doorbell rang. Lala got to her feet, walked to the door, and opened it.

To her shock, John stood outside. His eyes looked tired, his brows drawn tight. He stared at her and demanded, “Why aren’t you replying to my messages?”

Lala’s gaze turned complicated. When they were together, he rarely came to her house—she’d always been the one begging him to visit.

She wanted to say nothing. She wanted to slam the door in his face.

John stopped her, shoving his hand against the door. “Talk to me, Lala.”

Exasperation burst out of her. “Why don’t you understand, John? I’m not interested in talking to you. I don’t want anything to do with you. Just leave me alone—that’s all I’m asking. Go away.”

John’s jaw tightened. His eyes hardened as he sneered, “You’re still hoping my uncle will fall in love with you and get into a relationship with you? Keep dreaming, Lala. My uncle will never fall for you. He only treated you well on impulse. He has no plans for you. Stop being stubborn and stop throwing yourself at him.”

Anger flared in her chest. Lala inhaled slowly, forcing it down, then asked, “What do you really want?”

John leaned in. “Listen to me, Lala. Stay away from my uncle.”

Lala went silent. Their eyes met. Her lips pressed into a thin line, then she drew in a sharp breath and let out a short, frustrated laugh. “Fine. I heard you.”

John blinked, stunned. Before he could say another word, Lala slammed the door.

John froze, then the corner of his mouth lifted. With that assurance, his restlessness finally eased.

He turned and headed for his car, shouting back, “Lala, remember your promise. Don’t have anything to do with my uncle Philip!”

Then he got in and drove off.

At dusk, Lala went for a walk in the park. She sat quietly on a bench beneath a tree when a man approached and said, “Miss, someone asked me to give you this.”

Lala looked up, surprised, and accepted it. Before she could ask anything, the man hurried away.

She stared at the movie ticket in her hand. Turning, she noticed a cinema only a few meters away. The showtime was close.

She went inside and found her seat. People filed in one by one. As she sat waiting, a deep voice brushed her ear.

“Popcorn and cola,” Philip said, handing them to her.

Lala’s eyes brightened, her lips curving into an excited smile as she took them. “Thank you.”

Philip sat down. “Sorry I haven’t been around. I flew out of the country to close a few deals.”

“How did it go?” Lala asked.

“Perfect,” he replied.

Just then, John and Hannah walked into the cinema together. Hannah clung to John’s right arm. With a quick sweep of his gaze, John spotted Philip and Lala. His body went rigid, his eyes turning icy as his lips pressed tight.

Hannah looked up at him and called cautiously, “John?”

He didn’t respond right away. Frowning, Hannah followed his stare—and saw Philip and Lala leaning close, whispering, Lala smiling brightly.

Her grip on John’s arm tightened.

Without a word, John pulled her along and took the seats directly behind Philip and Lala.