Ch.64Thump-thump!

#064

Tule Springs, located on the outskirts of Las Vegas, is a great area for families and couples to walk or play, with Floyd Lamb Park being particularly famous within the region.

It’s an excellent place to spread a mat under the shade of trees facing the small lake in the park and quietly enjoy lunch.

The May Nevada sun was hot, but it was relatively cool in the shade.

“Honestly, I had my doubts,” said Himena, wearing a light off-shoulder dress, as she sat on the grass under the tree shade looking at Dexter.

“About what?”

Dexter, dressed in a light short-sleeved shirt and jeans, sat beside Himena and took out a sandwich from the picnic basket.

“I didn’t think you’d be able to prepare properly.”

“Just what kind of image do you have of me in your mind?”

Dexter asked with a slight chuckle.

“At my age, you think I’ve never been on a date? Sitting in a nice spot with a picnic spread out, eating sandwiches—that’s the best.”

Dexter took a bite of his sandwich and pulled out plastic cups from the picnic basket, pouring chilled lemonade for them.

“What’s gotten into you?”

“No, this is actually unfair.”

Dexter wondered what kind of person Himena thought he was, to be so surprised by sandwiches and lemonade.

“Keep that up and I’ll take back the sandwich and lemonade. Eat up while I’m still being nice.”

“Tch, can’t even joke around.”

“I’m the only one allowed to joke.”

With the gentle breeze blowing her way and the truly peaceful atmosphere, Himena took a bite of her sandwich.

As the delicious and familiar taste spread in her mouth, Himena smiled unconsciously and said:

“Ah, this. It’s the BBQ sandwich I bought for you last time, isn’t it?”

“You seemed to enjoy it last time, so I bought it on purpose.”

At Dexter’s words, Himena gave him a thumbs up.

“You did extremely well. This really exceeds my expectations.”

Seeing Himena smile happily, Dexter reached behind his back and said:

“I’m glad you like it.”

Dexter was pleased that Himena approved, but he was also impressed that everything Dan had told him was working out perfectly.

‘Do you know anything about her?’

‘Yes, we’ve been meeting for a few months.’

‘Do you know what food she likes?’

‘She seems to enjoy BBQ sandwiches for lunch.’

‘Ah, from that soul food place?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘Then there’s a place called Tule Springs nearby with a nice park. Take her there, spread out a mat, and enjoy a leisurely lunch. Pack some sandwiches and drinks in a picnic basket.’

‘Will that be okay?’

‘Hasn’t she been busy lately?’

‘Yes, that’s right.’

‘That’s why she should eat lunch somewhere comfortable. Definitely avoid brunch cafes or places where you have to be formal.’

Dexter was secretly impressed by Dan’s advice, which was clearly based on experience, as he recalled their conversation from last night.

“So what are we doing after lunch?”

Himena asked as she nibbled on her sandwich. Dexter replied with a relaxed expression:

“I thought we’d spend some time here, then maybe watch a movie.”

“What movie?”

“‘The Longest Ride.'”

It was a recent romantic drama about the relationship between an art-loving woman and a rodeo rider.

Of course, this was also recommended by Dan.

“Is it good?”

“I haven’t seen it yet, but someone recommended it to me a few days ago. All I know is that it’s a romance.”

Dexter glanced at Himena briefly, then looked toward the lake ahead.

“Are you watching that kind of movie because of me?”

Himena asked cautiously, thinking that Dexter’s personality seemed more suited to comedy or action-packed films.

“No, I don’t discriminate when it comes to movies. Romance films are fine with me. And I’m definitely not making a sacrifice. Or do you dislike romance movies?”

When Dexter assured her not to worry because he was fine with it, Himena smiled brightly.

“Not at all. If it’s a romance movie, I’m actually happy.”

Dexter chuckled at Himena’s curious response.

“Let’s do that, then.”

As Dexter leisurely took another bite of his sandwich while gazing at the lake, Himena recalled the text message he had sent her last night.

[>Dress comfortably. We’ll be outdoors a lot tomorrow.]

[-Outdoors? We’re not going hiking all day or riding bicycles, are we?]

[>Nothing like that. Just wear clothes that are easy to move in. Don’t wear anything uncomfortable.]

[-I’m really going to trust you and wear comfortable clothes.]

Of course, Himena had no intention of showing up in workout clothes and sneakers just because he said to dress comfortably. She chose something between dressy and comfortable.

‘After all, this is our first real date.’

Although Dexter had said it wasn’t a date and they would just eat and part ways, it seemed he had made some preparations too.

‘Especially the BBQ sandwich I like, lemonade, and even a picnic basket.’

Living in Las Vegas, it’s very difficult to see greenery.

At most, you might see blue cacti or long-established palm trees used as street trees.

Especially for Himena, who spends most days underground or at sites with nothing but rocks and sand.

The lush green nature she was experiencing after so long.

The wide lawn, the tree shade providing perfect temperature, and the lake reflecting the sunlight—it was like a picnic from her dreams.

Himena lay down on the mat, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the sunlight filtering through the leaves.

“……”

Seeing Himena quietly drifting off to sleep, Dexter sipped his lemonade and gazed at the lake.

‘Not bad.’

They spent about an hour doing nothing but enjoying their time in the park.

“Himena, you need to wake up. Let’s go see the movie.”

“Hmm? Is it that time already…?”

“Yes. If we don’t leave now, we’ll be late.”

As Himena stretched and got up, Dexter helped her to her feet, picked up the mat and picnic basket, and headed toward the pickup truck parked nearby.

“If you’re tired, you can sleep. You don’t have to force yourself to talk to me.”

“No… it would be impolite to sleep in the passenger seat…”

Despite saying that, Himena was still nodding off, not fully recovered from her fatigue.

“I said it’s okay to sleep.”

“No, really…”

Though her words denied it, her body was honestly nodding off. Seeing this, Dexter couldn’t help but smile.

Soon after, they arrived at a movie theater near Summerlin.

One peculiar thing about Las Vegas movie theaters is that those attached to hotels are often connected to casinos or have their own gambling facilities inside.

Of course, they’re not full-fledged gambling establishments—more like arcade areas with slot machines.

“Wow, I didn’t know places like this existed!”

Despite dozing off in the car earlier, Himena’s eyes were now sparkling as she looked around at the continuously spinning slot machines.

“I thought you’d been in Las Vegas for a while.”

Unlike Dexter, who was visiting a movie theater for the first time in 15 years, he had assumed Himena would be familiar with this atmosphere, but she was looking around as if seeing it for the first time.

“Not really. I was briefly stationed at the OSA New York branch before. I’ve been at headquarters for less than a year, I think?”

Himena, whom Dexter thought had been in Las Vegas for a long time, had actually arrived recently, just like him.

“So you really are a rookie agent.”

“Did you think I was lying?”

“No, it’s just that you give off the impression of having been in Las Vegas for a long time. You know all the good restaurants and everything.”

When Dexter explained his reasoning, Himena nodded in understanding.

“When you work in Residency Management, you move around a lot. It’s unavoidable when you’re trying to catch people who entered illegally or whose visas have expired.”

“I see.”

So she had become familiar with Las Vegas from traveling around so much for work.

“Do you want to buy any drinks or popcorn?”

“No, I usually just drink water when I go to the movies.”

“Really? Why?”

“The snacks they sell at theaters are too sweet or salty…”

“Isn’t popcorn basically flavorless?”

“If it has no flavor, why would you eat it…?”

Himena asked carefully but as if it were obvious, leaving Dexter confused.

‘Is… that so?’

As someone who hadn’t been to a theater in a long time, Dexter wasn’t sure.

In the end, Dexter bought only two bottles of water as Himena had suggested and headed toward the screening room.

After showing their tickets to the attendant and entering the theater, they found it relatively quiet except for a few families who appeared to be tourists.

The two sat down without saying much, and even after the scheduled start time, they began to tire of the lengthy advertisements.

“Were ads always this long?”

“Yes. They can go on for more than 20 minutes.”

“Earth is truly brutal.”

There was content similar to Earth’s movies in space, but he had never seen such long advertisements.

“Well, I chose the movie, so we’ll have to tough it out.”

“…Sometimes you say strange things, Dexter.”

After the tedious advertisements finally ended, the movie began.

“……”

As the movie started, Himena stared intently at the male protagonist.

It was a scene showcasing the male lead’s wild charm with a thrilling entrance.

But something was missing.

‘Why?’

In the past, this would have been a scene where she’d have to carefully swallow to avoid making audible gulping sounds.

Confused, Himena fidgeted with the armrest, and her left hand accidentally touched Dexter’s right hand.

At that touch, her gaze unconsciously traveled upward to Dexter’s arm muscles.

Himena remembered the large muscles she had seen when treating Dexter’s shoulder gunshot wound.

The beads of sweat, the firm muscles that twitched and pulsed under the doctor’s touch.

‘Ah, that’s why…’

While the actor in the movie was undeniably handsome, she couldn’t help but be more drawn to Dexter sitting beside her.

While Dexter was focused on the movie, Himena kept glancing sideways at him.

Especially when the male protagonist was driving a red pickup truck, she thought of Dexter’s pickup truck they had just been in.

‘Did he intentionally choose this movie?’

Though Dexter lacked the earnest devotion of the male protagonist loving the female lead, Himena recalled how Dexter had encouraged her not to worry even when he’d been shot.

‘Well, he said this is his first time at a movie theater since coming to Earth, so he probably didn’t choose it intentionally.’

From the middle of the movie, things changed a bit.

Himena, who had been quietly watching the film, began to make small exclamations.

“Wow…”

Being a PG-13 rated film, there weren’t particularly steamy scenes, but for Himena, who was watching as if she were the female protagonist, it was natural to react that way.

The story of a wild man falling in love with a woman reminded her of herself and Dexter.

Dexter, too, smiled warmly at Himena’s cute reactions.

He enjoyed watching her expressions change moment by moment from the closest vantage point.

As the movie approached its conclusion, tears began to well up in Himena’s eyes.

It was a scene where different timelines overlapped through tender love.

“……”

Himena’s exclamations stopped, and instead, she took out a handkerchief from her small bag and repeatedly dabbed at her eyes while watching.

Even Dexter found the scene moving, so he understood her reaction.

As Dexter alternated between looking at Himena’s face and the movie screen, he suddenly felt a warm sensation on his hand.

“…?”

Glancing down, he saw that Himena had placed her hand on the back of his while focusing on the movie.

Absorbed in the film, Himena seemed unaware of what she had done.

Normally, he might have playfully moved his hand away, but today, for some reason, he wanted to let Himena do as she pleased.

Dexter flipped his hand so that his palm faced upward, and saw Himena begin to hold his hand tightly.

‘So this is what it feels like.’

Gently holding Himena’s small hand, Dexter maintained that position until the end of the movie.