Percival had stepped out of the bathroom not long after, with the towel tied around his waist. That was when his nose twitched and he perceived the fading scent of Hayley.

Then a split second later, he heard the starting sound of a car’s engine downstairs.

He looked towards the door for a moment, tilted his head curiously, then shook his head to forget about it before going to change into a clean pair of trousers.

It was right as he buttoned the trousers that a sudden realization hit him. A flashback scene from that morning crossed his mind in that instant.

-

[Flashback Scene]

Hayley sighed. "Look at you getting tickets for Aliyah, meanwhile Ethan isn’t even around."

"Young lady, for the second time, that boy is locked in with someone else. Find another... Wilson seems like a good start."

"Ew, fuck you," Hayley said back at him as he laughed at her.

[Flashback Scene Ends] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

-

"No..." Percival began, then quickly ran in a blur towards the drawer where he kept them.

"Nooo..." he said again, seeing that the tickets had been replaced with a single gold grit, obviously left by Hayley as compensation.

And although the gold grit was more than ten times the price for both tickets, it didn’t stop him from furiously speeding out of the room in one instant blur, without putting a shirt on.

By the time Percival had reached the entrance, the vintage sedan had just crossed into the street and the last of it was what he saw going out of sight.

"HAYLEYYYYYYY!!" Percival yelled at the top of his voice.

Hayley, who was the one at the driver’s seat, was laughing her heart out.

"No way... I thought you said he gave it to you," Ethan said, half amused and half worried with guilt.

"So maybe... that part was not totally true," Hayley said, her face scrunching up in a guilty grimace before breaking into a grin.

"Shit..." Ethan turned his head out through the window and sighed before turning back. "So he was planning to go out then."

"Now you see, that’s the tricky part. Last time we talked about it, he said he really wasn’t sure," Hayley said.

"Well, that reaction says otherwise," Ethan shook his head amusingly. "Percival will kill us for this."

"Oh, come on, he’ll get over it," Hayley said back, now chuckling a bit at the mischief.

But Ethan sighed again.

They eventually got to the movies and checked in at the stand. But while that happened, Ethan noticed on the sign post that the same movie was going to play again at 10, two hours from now.

Right then, he paid to make reservations for two more at that time, setting down their names as Percival Arcorys and Aliyah Keiler, while paying for an additional two extra-large popcorns for them both.

He and Hayley continued on their way with their popcorns in one hand. Though Ethan pulled out his Arcphone and began texting Percival.

Me: Hey man, I know you’re fuming right now, but just know I got you and Aliyah reservations for the viewing at 10. Only two hours from now, with additional extra-large popcorns for you both.

Percy 🐺: Tell Hayley she’s dead.

Ethan shook his head, shut the phone off, and focused on his way in.

The movie was a comedy action, and it played out in exactly the way they both loved. Harlie Chapman’s comedic timing was as sharp as ever, and the action sequences were surprisingly well choreographed. They laughed at the ridiculous one-liners, the absurdly over-the-top fight scenes, and the predictable yet satisfying plot.

Halfway through, Hayley had leaned her head against Ethan’s shoulder, and he didn’t mind at all. She’d occasionally nudge him when a particularly funny moment came up, and he’d chuckle along with her, both of them lost in the glow of the screen.

By the time the credits rolled, they were both grinning satisfactorily.

Eventually, it ended and they both stepped out, having a few animated laughs between them as they moved.

Then Hayley’s nose twitched and she turned away from Ethan and turned towards the distance in front, where Percival glared at her dangerously with two fat popcorns in both hands, while Aliyah by his side held two as well.

"Shit, it’s Percy. Let’s go the other way," she said, about to make a quick turn to a different corner.

But it was then that Ethan quickly held her by the wrist. "You will face this with honor," he said with a straight face while still staring at the now approaching Percival.

"What?" Hayley said, looking between Ethan and now turning to realize that Percival had already closed in.

Then she adjusted herself to face him.

Percival first off dropped his popcorns atop Aliyah’s, managing to balance them so that they didn’t fall off.

And Aliyah adjusted accordingly not to let them fall too.

Then Percival slowly walked towards Hayley, who had begun averting her gaze.

"Hayley Erna Arcorys, I will be the end of you!" he threatened with a slightly raised tone as he straightened his posture, looming over her with this authority.

Hayley winced her face and closed her eyes while pulling further away from Percival.

After what felt like at least five seconds of more threats, he then turned towards Ethan. "And you..."

"I swear, man, I had no fucking idea," Ethan began, almost laughing actually.

"I don’t care. You were an accomplice in this vile act, and I want more compensation than mere extra-large popcorns," he said.

"Oh, come on, I left you gold too," Hayley tried to butt in.

Percival turned to her quickly and gave one nasty glare. "Are you talking right now?" he barked.

And she winced again and averted her gaze.

Ethan shook his head amusingly and said, "Alright, your royal highness, what shall it be?"

"Fifty percent wage increase this week for me and Aliyah," he said.

"Yes, yes, I agree on that!" Aliyah said from behind the popcorns.

"Done," Ethan simply said. He genuinely didn’t mind at all.

"Hm... wait, that was too easy. No, I want one hundred—"

"Don’t push it," Ethan cut him off.

Percival nodded. "Alright, fair, fair. We got a deal at fifty," he said, raising his hand towards Ethan, who took it back with a handshake.

Then Percival turned one more time to Hayley, made a gesture with his finger making a line across his throat while clicking his tongue in a way to liven the threat.

Hayley rolled her eyes.

Percival took the popcorns back and said, "Let’s go, Aliyah."

And with that, the four of them parted ways, with Hayley and Ethan now laughing at the situation as they left the movies.

—

A/N: (2/20)

400 tickets bonus from last month✅