(all from Exo's Showtime)

“What’s wrong?”

On the 85’x40’ HD screen, a young man’s neck was slowly severed by a floating chainsaw as worms crawled out of his eye sockets.

“N-nothng,” Suho whimpered into his smuggled bag of carrot sticks.

“I know, it’s not as suspenseful as the prequel," Kyungsoo said, munching on his popcorn.  “But at least the graphics are better.”

“R...right…” 

They were on their first Movie-Date-Maybe-Thing, exactly a week after Kyungsoo had suggested that they start Dating-Or-Something-Maybe.  Suho was distressed. This was not going the way he had envisioned.  According to the romance dramas his sister liked to watch, he should be trying to put his arm around his date and offering to share snacks so that their hands would 'accidentally' bump into each other’s.  Except Kyungsoo had rejected Suho’s prepared bag of carrots with a wrinkled nose, and Suho definitely wasn’t about to eat any of that unhealthy processed corn Kyungsoo had bought at the concession stand.

Blood spattered the screen and Suho choked on his carrot.

“Amateur mistake,” Kyungsoo scoffed.  “He should’ve aimed away from the chest. Less cleanup that way.”

Suho nervously touched his own chest.

As the movie progressed, Kyunsoo sat up straighter in his seat, while Suho’s head sank lower and lower until his eyes were barely peeking out of his jacket.  Suddenly a monstrous figure burst through the trees onscreen, blood dripping from its teeth.  Gasps filled the theater; you could practically feel the air molecules shuddering in unison. Even Kyungsoo's chewing stopped, popcorn forgotten.

“I can’t do this anymore!” Suho cried, darting out of the plush chair with a violent squeak of its hinges.  Grumbles and hisses of "SHHH!" followed in his wake as he dashed out the theater, heart threatening to shoot out of his throat.

After Chainsaw Killer Grudge 3 ended with the promise of an equally gruesome sequel, Kyungsoo found Suho sitting on the couch in the theater’s bathroom, sipping on his tea, nibbling on his carrots, and reading the book he’d brought along.  Kyungsoo frowned as he took a seat beside his friend.

“You missed the good part.”

"Kyungsoo!" Suho yelped, slamming his book shut guiltily. “ I—I—is it over already?“

“Yeah. and you ditched me."

“I didn't...I was just…sorry.”  Suho sighed.  “The plot didn’t resonate with me. You know, Kyungsoo, maybe we’re just not compatible as a roman—“

“You are an awful date.”

Suho frowned, because 1) he hated being interrupted, and 2)

“...I am not!”

“Yes, you are.  You’re definitely the worst date I’ve ever had in my entire life.”

“You’ve gone on dates before?” Suho asked in surprise, ignoring the strange stab of jealousy Kyungsoo's statement brought.  But then he processed Kyungsoo’s sentence and puffed his chest in indignation.  “And what do you mean, I’m the worst date you’ve had?  That's impossible!” Suho Kim was never the worst at anything.

Kyungsoo shrugged.  “I guess even you can't be perfect."

Suho’s eyes narrowed as he studied Kyungsoo.  He slammed his book shut and stood up.  Taking a deep breath and pasting a bright smile onto his face, he grabbed Kyungsoo’s hand.

“Come on, Soo, let’s go get dinner.  I’ll pay.”

“I want to eat that.”

“But it’s unhealthy…”

Kyungsoo gazed at him.  BAD DATE flashed in warning letters in Suho's mind, and Suho hastily slid his credit card out from his wallet.

“One hot dog,” he informed the amused owner of Chanyeol's Super Hot Dogs.

Several credit card transactions later, Kyungsoo and Suho settled in a booth at the corner of the theater's food court.  Kyungsoo munched on his hot dog and slurped on his soda, while Suho watched in growing concern.

“You know, you should watch your carbohydrate and lipid consumption.  It’s never too early to start thinking about your cholesterol.  Actually, I have a book on healthy eating choices I could lend you—mmmf!” Kyungso had just stuffed some french fries into Suho’s open mouth.  “Kyungfooooo! What waf that fooooow?”

“Here. Try some soda.”

"I don't want..."  BAD DATE BAD DATE-  “…fine, but only if you try some vegetables too.”  Suho took a tiny sip of the offered carbonated drink and made a face.  “There.  Now, eat this.”  He stabbed his plate of broccoli with a fork and held it out to Kyungsoo.

Surprisingly, Kyungsoo accepted without protest.  He closed his mouth around the fork before blinking up at Suho. He looked so cute; Suho couldn't help but smile.

“Not bad,” Kyungsoo said after swallowing.

“See?" Suho beamed. “It's good. Do you want more?”

“I’ll always want more,” Kyungsoo murmured in a low voice, still gazing up at Suho.  He his lips.  Somehow, he didn't seem quite as cute anymore. Suho gulped and shoved his entire plate of vegetables into Kyungsoo’s hands.

“Great!  Here, take them all!  I’m going to use the restroom! Excuse me!”

An hour later, Suho dropped Kyungsoo off by his doorstep. It was a scene they'd repeated various times in the last ten years, but the expectations were higher tonight. Suho had done everything he possibly could to redeem his status as the "worst date," from drinking more of Kyungsoo's nasty corn syrup drink, to lending Kyungsoo his jacket, to opening every door for him, to holding his hand at every red light. (That had been kind of awkward)

There was just one thing left, to complete the Perfect Date.

Bending down (even though Suho was barely an inch taller than the other boy), Suho gripped Kyungsoo firmly on the shoulders (“Ow!”) and very carefully and precisely placed his lips against Kyungsoo’s.

At least, that had been the plan.  All care and precision flew out the window, though, when Kyungsoo pulled him closer, scooting backward so that they were pressed against the wall.  Suho gave a muffled “mmf!” as he fell onto Kyungsoo’s body, their mouths still connected.  Kyungsoo took that opportunity to slip his tongue into Suho's surprised mouth.

Suho felt his pulse skyrocket and couldn’t stop the moan coming out of his mouth.  It was completely out of character and unplanned, but he found that he didn’t quite mind.  He copied Kyungsoo’s movements, moving his own mouth and tongue against the other boy’s, drawing out similar sounds.

By the time Suho’s dwindling lung capacity forced him to pull back, Kyungsoo was staring at him with wide eyes.

“…I guess you're an okay date.”

Suho stared after the closed door, breathing heavily and wondering at the unusual hyperactivity of his heart and constriction of his pants.  

“Suho oppa…are you okay?”

“F-Fine!” Suho stammered, averting his gaze.  Two weeks ago, he would've been admiring the way Seohyun’s sleek black hair was held neatly in place by her headband, and how she color coordinated her outfit from headband to sock.  But he couldn't anymore.  He had to think of Kyungso's feelings--no doubt the other boy was still longing after the class salutatorian.

What did Kyungsoo see in her, anyway?

"Are you sure?" Seohyun placed a concerned hand on Suho's arm as Suho continued to stare three inches above her face.  "We can reschedule, if you’re not feeling well.”

"Yes!  That sounds good." Guiltily, Suho forced himself to make eye contact.  Seohyun smiled at him and tucked a strand of perfect hair behind her ear.  Suho smiled automatically back, but just as quickly his smile faded when he noticed someone else in the library.

Staring at them from between the bookcases, like something out of a horror movie himself, was Kyungsoo.

"We’re working together on a project!” Suho explained, rushing after Kyungsoo. “I promise, I'm not making any advances on her!  It’s a strictly academic affair!"

"Affair."  Kyungsoo stopped and whirled around to glare at Suho.

"Yes, exactly!  I didn't mean to hurt you, Kyungsoo, but my grade is very important to me, and Seohyun is the second-most intelligent person in the class. I couldn’t possibly let her partner with anyone else."

“Partner.”

“K-Kyungsoo.”  Suho gulped at the darkening expression on Kyungsoo's face. “I promise, there’s nothing going on.  I wouldn't be so heartless as to pursue the woman you love.  I know you have feelings for her, so I will be sure to maintain a professional distance.”

“The woman I—You! Are so stupid.” Kyungsoo seethed, before stomping away.  Suho gaped, too shocked to chase after him.

“Excuse me? Did you just call me stupid?”

"Hey!  You again!  Where's your boyfriend?"

“None of your business,” Kyungsoo replied shortly.  “One Super Happy Meal with nachos, please.  And can I have the Bulbasaur toy?”

Bulbasaur was Suho’s favorite Pokemon, even if Suho liked to pretend he'd outgrown such childish things.  Kyungsoo still remembered the backpack Suho insisted on wearing every day back in kindergarten.

Chanyeol was unfazed as he punched in Kyungsoo's order.  “So you’re at the movies alone? Aw, man!”

“Is there something wrong with that?” Kyungsoo demanded.

“No, no!  Of course not!  Kinda lame, but it's okay!  Which movie are you seeing?”

Kyungsoo shrugged. “Don’t care. Doesn't matter.”

“Oohhh,” Chanyeol nodded sympathetically. Must've been a bad breakup.  “Well, personally I recommend A Weekend in the Big Apple. My sister said it's super romantic.  It’ll fix your heartbreak problems in no time.”

"I don't have heartbreak problems," Kyungsoo scoffed.  "So, no thanks."

“Dora, I’m not good at expressing myself, but I can't let you marry him.  I love you.  I’ve always loved you.  Not Becky, not Luanna, not Kristina, not your sister—sorry about that, by the way.  All those women meant nothing to me.  You’re the one I want…”

Kyungsoo stared incredulously around the theater.  This was romantic? It seemed like John’s words were working, though, because there was not a single dry eye in the audience.  As A Weekend in the Big Apple wound down to its final scene, Kyungsoo reached into his pocket to pull out his cell phone, dialing a familiar number.

“…your blue eyes like the ocean sky.  The way you bite your lip when you’re unsure about something.  The way you always add three sugars and no milk to your coffee.  The way you’re always five minutes early to everything. The pain you try to hide when you smile like that." 

“Hello? Kyungsoo?  Kyungsoo!  Thank goodness you called!  I’m assuming this means you’re ready to have a mature discussion.  Now, I’d like to address that completely-uncalled-for remark you made yesterday, because I AM NOT STUPID…ahem, not that it’s been bothering me all day or anything.  First, let me remind you that I have the highest marks in the school, I have read every single book in the library excluding the references section, and I was voted ‘Smartest in Class’ since kindergarten.  Second, obviously there's…"

"I love kissing you, touching you, and just being near you makes it hard to think. I want to stay by your side forever, if you'll let me. No one will ever compare to you. I want to be yours...”

"...award, which I'm sure you know already.  Third...Kyungsoo, are you listening? Kyungsoo?”

“Suho,” Kyungsoo muttered into the phone, eyes darting to the subtitles on the movie screen.  “I’m not good at expressing myself.”

“It's okay! That's what open communication is for—“

“I l-love you. I’ve always loved you.  Not…whatever her name is.  She means nothing to me.  You’re the one that I want.  I love every little thing about you. Your blue—uh, I mean, brown—eyes.  The way you bite your lip when you’re unsure…which is never because you always have to be right about everything which is really annoying. The way you...never add sugar to anything because you’re a weird health freak.  The way you’re always five minutes early...actually, that’s also kind of annoying when you do that, never mind.  I love kissing you, touching you, and just being near you makes it hard to think. I want to stay by your side forever, if you'll let me. No one will ever compare to you. I want to be yours.”

“…”

“And I..." Onscreen, Dora flung herself into John's arms. "Oh, I guess that's it.” With that, Kyungsoo hung up in time to witness the couple's passionate reconciliation.

On the other end of the line, Suho sat frozen in his chair.  It wasn't the first love confession he'd received in in his young life, but it was the first that he would never forget.