1 Let's Break Up

In a cinema downtown, the petty screams of women were heard as a horror thriller movie played on the large screen. Ladies bumped into their partner's side as they quickly hid their faces from the fearful scene and their lovers were more than willing to accommodate them with a smile on their faces.

"Aish," A certain woman tsk-tsked, her eyes strictly glued on the screen where a hideous creature was mauling a human being, "This is why they say never walk under a flickering light yet you never learn, it's a beacon of danger," She murmured irritably, munching on her delicious burgers amid the bloody scene on screen.

This woman was no other than Dahlia and was the only woman unaffected by the movie unlike the others using their boyfriends or husbands as shields because they were scared.

However, just like the many other women who came to the cinema today, Dahlia was with her boyfriend who was no longer comfortable with her. 

Dahlia was so engrossed in the movie and her junk food that she didn't notice James shifting uncomfortably on his seat. He reached out as if trying to pull her to his side and treat her like the other women here but his hands only fell to his side unsure.

However, he still dropped his manly pride and quickly put his arm around her shoulder and to his side causing her to turn to him with questioning brows.

"What is it?" Dahlia asked, completely oblivious of the intention behind that sudden gesture.

"A-hem," He cleared his throat, "I thought you wanted to share body heat," He lied through his teeth.

Dahlia sighed, "Why would I want to share body heat with you as if this place isn't hot as it is,"

"Then I must have thought wrong," James let go, barely saving his pride. This was crazy, what was the point of coming to a cinema without sharing some form of intimacy between them? Nor was this the first time such a thing happened. 

His gaze traveled around to the various scenes of women seeking their partner's body for protection and James decided at that moment that it was over. He could no longer stand this boring relationship with her. However, he was a gentleman and would do it the normal way. 

"Hey James," Dahlia tapped him on the thigh to draw his attention oblivious to his antsy state, "Look at this," 

"Okay," James still managed to put on a fake smile and his attention was drawn to the scene where two couples were making out in the bathroom tub, only for a clawed hand to creep up the lady's body causing her to stiffen, her lover pausing as well. 

A sheen of sweat covered the female character's face and she was tense while her partner didn't dare to make a careless move. Then without warning, the woman's heart was suddenly ripped out as the monster fully emerged from the ground causing blood to splatter on her lover's face. 

At that scene, many women shrieked and hid their faces into their partner's body once more but Dahlia was busy chewing on the meat in her burger. 

How could she eat in this condition? James didn't know but he was sure as hell that he was done with this relationship. He must have been under a charm to have dated her for over a month now. 

As soon as the movie was over, while other women walked out of the cinema thrilled and some with their hearts still pounding in their throat, Dahlia was with a bored expression. That horror movie was not as good as the critics praised it, she could predict all the scenes. So annoying. 

"Dahlia," 

"Huh?" Dahlia was roused from her thoughts and that was a good thing because she finally recalled she was with James on a date. 

"Let's have dinner at the restaurant down there," He said hopefully. 

"Sure," Dahlia agreed even though her stomach was full. The burgers sold here were quite good. 

And together, they walked out, although she noticed that James didn't hold her hand like he normally does. She found those actions frivolous but he was intent on carrying it out so she let him be. Also, it didn't seem that bad, holding hands. 

The restaurant was not hard to find since they were in a busy area of the city. It was not really high-end but had a warm ambiance and James chose the seating arrangement closest to the window. 

The waiter came over to their table and handed the menu to them. However, just as Dehlia was going through it, she found out James was not ordering anything. 

"You're not eating?" she inquired. 

"I don't have the appetite," He said. 

Dehlia then closed the menu and turned to the waiter, "Just get me an iced tea," 

"Sure," The waiter took the menus and vanished from their sight only to appear a minute later with her drink on a tray. He served her and left. 

Dehlia lowered her head and took a sip of her tea through the straw and at the same time, wondered why James was staring at her that way. Does she have something on her face? 

"For how long have we been dating?" James suddenly asked. 

A normal person would be startled at that kind of question and would inquire the reason for asking such a strange question. But not Dehlia.

She simply pushed back the sleeve of her sweater and glanced down at her wristwatch, "That's approximately a month and thirteen days, twenty hours and thirty-five minutes, fifteen seconds since we became a couple," 

James snorted, "Do you think this is a joke?" his eyes now had a mean glint to them. How dare she fool around with him? 

Dahlia said innocently, "I don't understand what you mean. I just seem to have a good memory," she wondered why he was angry. 

"I can't believe this," James muttered under his breath. He didn't know whether to laugh or to just yell at her. 

He then glanced up and announced coldly, "Let's break up," 

"Okay,"