The Cinema

When I heard that Tristan had never been to the cinema, I suggested we go on a date the next day. He was as happy as a child, and his excitement at something so normal to me was incomprehensible, but I wouldn't dare take it away from him in any way. I envied him, however, because he didn't have to pay for it, he could freely change the screening rooms when we got bored with the film without sparing money. I hoped he'd like it there and have something to do for the time of my exams.

"Do cinemas require a dress code like theaters or operas?" he asked stressed, and he didn't have to impress anyone.

"Once probably yes, but now no one cares how you're dressed there, anyway, it's dark and no one will see you there," I replied, applying mascara.

"Then why are you dressed so nicely?" he asked, eyeing me, his eyes telling me my skirt was too short and my haircut too frivolous. I walked over to him and pulled him to me, grabbing his shirt. He looked at me surprised, as if he didn't know what to expect, I took the moment and kissed him.

"I dressed up just for you," I replied with a smile. "It's a date, after all."

He muttered something under his breath that no one would see him and probably someone would pick me up again. I nodded and chased him, not wanting to be late for the movie. Looking through the repertoire, I settled on a 3D movie, hoping he'd enjoy it, although I knew keeping his glasses on for him throughout the movie would be a bit of a pain.

"Couldn't we make it at home and bring it here?" he asked, pointing to the popcorn I bought.

"You can't bring anything of your own," I replied, shrugging my shoulders. “Of course, everyone smuggles something, but I don't like doing it."

I showed the previously purchased ticket to the staff and asked for a second pair of glasses, explaining that my boyfriend would be late and that he didn't want to cause additional problems later. I was lucky that the guy who was there was totally screwed and he just granted my request. Tristan tried to get information out of me about what the glasses were for, but I told him it was a surprise. He also couldn't believe that up to ten films could be shown here at a time. He was impressed by the size of the rooms and how many people they could accommodate, and even more so when it turned out that more than half of the seats were empty. He was scared that they wouldn't play the movie then, but I calmed him down.

Even though it was his first time here, the commercials annoyed him and he sighed heavily every time he realized it wasn't the last one. I could stare at him for hours and watch a variety of reactions to such trifles, from delight to anger and even longing. I could only thank him for being so stubborn and not giving up when I pushed him away, and now I considered myself lucky. Ad time was finally over and a message appeared on the screen asking you to put on your glasses. Tristan wondered how he should do it, but I held out my hands and asked him to position them so that he could see clearly.

"It will be tiring for you," he said.

"Stop it," I whispered. "I want you to have fun."

Though he protested at first, he soon turned his full attention to the film, jumping up and down at almost every exaggerated effect. Even though his face was focused, as if challenging the filmmakers that he couldn't be fooled anymore, he reacted to the cinematic tricks anyway. I couldn't do anything else but smile at the happiness of the person I loved.