Marvel: My Symbiote System

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, Saturday finally arrived for Ethan.

The day before, after making plans to meet Gwen, Ethan had practically skipped his way back home. His cheerful mood was unmistakable, and it didn't take long for his parents to notice. He was grinning so wide that it nearly touched his ears—his face practically screamed "Happy!"

At the dinner table, Hana and Luke exchanged a look, silently communicating with just a glance. Hana raised an eyebrow and asked, "Son, what's got you so happy today? Got something exciting to share with your mom?"

Ethan, seeing the curious glint in his mom's eyes, chuckled and shrugged it off. "Nothing special. I'm just always in a good mood."

Luke, overhearing the exchange, looked at his son with a knowing smile. "You know, I've been through that stage too. When a guy's this happy, it's either because of a girl, money, or sometimes both."

Ethan awkwardly laughed, thinking he'd done a good job of hiding his excitement. Hana shot Luke a playful, yet reproachful look, silently telling him to be less blunt.

Ethan put down his bowl, met his parents' curious stares, and finally admitted, "Alright, I'm meeting up with some classmates tomorrow. That's it, really. Nothing else."

"So, it's about a girl," Luke said, immediately understanding. Who else would have this much joy about meeting a classmate, if not a female one?

Luke pulled out a card and handed it to Ethan. "While you're with her, don't forget to have some fun, but keep your head in the game. Build a real connection, but don't get carried away."

Ethan, touched by his dad's gesture, took the card with a grin. "Dad, you're the most handsome guy in the world. Seriously, only a man knows how to give advice like this."

Luke smiled proudly at his son, then exchanged a fond glance with Hana. "You bet I am! Back in the day, I was known as quite the catch."

Hana chuckled, shaking her head. "You're acting like you're still young. You're getting older, but you still act like a teenager."

She then reached into her bag, pulled out five hundred dollars, and handed it to Ethan. "You can't just take the card. Take some cash too, just in case. And remember to send her home early. It's not safe out there at night."

Ethan nodded, understanding the concern. He knew all too well how dangerous things could get after dark. After all, he'd had his fair share of run-ins with petty criminals.

---

On Saturday morning, Ethan woke up early, excited for the day ahead. He showered, fixed his hair, and carefully picked out his outfit, making sure everything was just right.

Soon enough, a handsome young man was ready to go.

Driving his little black car, Ethan followed the address Gwen had sent him, heading toward her house. After pulling up and sending her a quick message to let her know he had arrived, he parked and waited outside her door.

Not long after, Gwen appeared, accompanied by a middle-aged man who had a commanding presence. Ethan figured this must be Gwen's father. He looked serious, dignified—someone who commanded respect. No surprise, though; he was the police chief.

Gwen walked over and introduced them.

"Hi, Ethan, this is my father. Dad, this is Ethan, the classmate I told you about who's really good at basketball."

"Hello, sir. I'm Ethan, a classmate of Gwen's," Ethan said, stepping forward and offering his hand.

George nodded and shook it.

"I've heard from Gwen that you beat Flesh in a game. I've met him before, so I know your basketball skills must be pretty solid."

Ethan smiled modestly. "It's nothing too impressive. I'm not that great."

'Well, I've only been practicing for about two and a half years,' he thought to himself, chuckling internally.

George seemed to have a good impression of Ethan—handsome, polite, and charming. After offering a few pieces of fatherly advice, George turned and headed back into the house.

Ethan then drove off with Gwen, heading toward their lunch spot.

Their destination was an Asian restaurant. Since Ethan was from Singapore, he had a personal preference for Asian dishes. He had visited this place before with his family, and although the food was good, it didn't quite compare to what his father cooked. But for a date, he couldn't exactly bring her to his dad's place. This restaurant, however, was his best choice.

On the way there, Ethan and Gwen chatted easily, and they even made a few stops by some nearby shops. By noon, they arrived at the restaurant.

The place served all kinds of Eastern Asian dishes, including some Indian options. One could imagine the spiciness of it all. However, to suit local tastes, the restaurant toned down the spice level a bit, but if you were brave enough, you could request the full, authentic heat.

"Gwen, is there anything you don't like to eat?" Ethan asked.

When you're on a date, it's important to know what the other person likes and dislikes, rather than just letting them order whatever.

"I'm not picky at all, but I'd love to try the original spicy level you mentioned—the one before it was adjusted," Gwen said, her eyes sparkling with excitement, eager for the challenge.

Ethan had told her about the extreme flavors in some Asian cuisines, but she seemed genuinely excited to experience the authentic spice.

Seeing Gwen's enthusiasm, Ethan smiled. "That one's really spicy, you know? How about we start with just one dish and see if you can handle it?"

Gwen nodded, agreeing that was probably a more reasonable way to go about it.

Ethan then called over the waiter and ordered Mapo Tofu, requesting that it be made with the usual level of spiciness.

When the waiter heard the order, he immediately added, "Alright, sir. We also recommend you order a drink to help with the spice."

The waiter wasn't surprised by Ethan's request. Many customers who dared to take on the regular spiciness often ended up questioning their decisions. So, he kindly suggested that Ethan get a drink to help with the heat.

Both of them decided on large glasses of cold orange juice—refreshing, and a perfect complement to spicy food. However, they did need to be cautious. Too much spice, and they could both end up as "spray warriors."

Ethan definitely didn't want either of them turning into that, so he figured it would be best to start with just one dish, letting Gwen test the waters first. After all, how would the date continue if lunch ended with them both regretting their spice tolerance?

The food arrived quickly, and Ethan couldn't help but be impressed by how skillfully Gwen used chopsticks.

It clicked in his mind that Gwen had mentioned in the car that she used chopsticks often, but he hadn't expected her to be so proficient. He thought she could probably handle them, but this was something else entirely.

Noticing his surprised expression, Gwen smirked and said, "Hmph, now you believe me? I used to eat Asian food with my family all the time."

She carefully picked up a piece of tofu. The tender, white cubes were coated in a vibrant red bean paste, with a light sprinkle of fresh green onions on top.

Before the tofu even reached her mouth, the fragrant, numbing aroma hit both of their noses. The tantalizing scent combined with the tingling spice made their mouths water in anticipation.

Gwen blew gently on the tofu, then took a bite. The combination of numbing, spicy, and savory flavors exploded in her mouth. She was immediately hooked on the Mapo Tofu.

Ethan sat across from her, watching as Gwen became fully absorbed in the food. He couldn't help but question his own life choices.

'Isn't this dish spicy? Wait, no, I had some too, and it's definitely pretty spicy,' Ethan thought, getting ready to pass her the juice.

'And look at her chopstick skills. I don't even know if I could pick up the tofu like that.' Beyond just handling the spice, Ethan was impressed by Gwen's technique.

If she weren't a blonde, blue-eyed girl, Ethan might have suspected Gwen was a native who had come to New York for work. Her skills were just that good.

Noticing that Ethan hadn't touched his food, Gwen started to wonder if she had eaten too much and made him feel uncomfortable. She suddenly felt a little shy.

She looked at Ethan and asked, "Ethan, why aren't you eating?"

Ethan snapped out of his thoughts and, noticing Gwen's slight embarrassment, quickly understood. He had been sitting there without touching his food, which probably made her think something was wrong.

"I was just thinking about ordering another dish. What do you think of the spiciness?" Ethan smoothly shifted the conversation to ease the awkwardness.

"I think it's great. I love it! I'm not sure what else to add, though, so I'll leave it to you," Gwen replied.

Hearing that, Ethan steeled himself and thought, 'I can't back down now! If Gwen can handle this spice, then I can too. No way am I going to quit.'

He called the waiter over again and ordered three more dishes: spicy ramen, spicy kimchi-jjigae, and a plate of Hainanese chicken rice—spicy, of course.

The waiter gave him a surprised look, but Ethan nodded confidently to confirm his order.

The waiter had never seen a customer who wasn't completely overwhelmed by the spice and still wanted to order more. He could only imagine how Ethan's butt would shape like.

The dishes arrived one by one, and Gwen continued eating happily.

Meanwhile, Ethan was starting to feel the heat more and more, barely able to handle it. He drank three large glasses of orange juice throughout the meal. Gwen even asked if it was too spicy for him.

"Of course not," Ethan firmly declared, though his face told a different story. "I'm just a bit thirsty."

When it was time to pay, the restaurant owner, who usually kept a low profile, came over to greet them. He had heard about the blonde, blue-eyed beauty who wasn't afraid of spice and wanted to meet her.

The owner had a great conversation with Gwen and even gave her a special VIP card, offering her a 12% discount on future visits. He also handed Ethan a large cup of juice, which he gladly accepted.

"I'm definitely a bit thirsty," Ethan said, chuckling, as he thanked the owner.

After the meal, the two headed to the cinema to catch a movie. They followed that with a leisurely drive, and then Ethan safely dropped Gwen off at her place.

Thankfully, Ethan had a strong constitution and wasn't completely overwhelmed by the spice, or else the date might've ended after lunch. Though, if we're being honest, his trip to the bathroom later might've told a different story.