A kiss, yet it wasn't a promise—
In the darkened theater, the audience knew Spider-Man was Peter Parker, the bookish guy who had secretly loved Mary Jane his whole life. But Mary Jane didn't know that.
And then there was Harry.
Yes, Harry. The Green Goblin was his father, causing chaos and targeting Spider-Man, making the situation a tangled web of complexity.
So what would happen next? When would Mary Jane clear her thoughts? When would Peter muster the courage? What would happen to Harry?
As expected, the worst scenario unfolded.
Spider-Man continued to play the role of New York's good neighbor, helping as much as possible. During a fire, he did everything he could to rescue a baby and, upon discovering there were more people inside, rushed back into the flames. Unbeknownst to him, it was a trap set by the Green Goblin.
Green Goblin wanted an answer—
When Peter refused, Green Goblin attacked without hesitation, catching Peter off guard and injuring his left forearm.
Amidst the blazing inferno, Peter maneuvered and leaped with agility.
This scene was unlike any previous fight. Slow-motion and close-ups interspersed with dizzying camera angles pressed the audience firmly into their seats, making them feel the searing heat as if it was right in their faces.
The immersive experience caused murmurs of astonishment to ripple through the theater.
After a grueling battle, Peter managed to escape before the fire consumed the scene, leaving Green Goblin to be engulfed by the flames.
Or so it seemed.
The next shot revealed Norman's sweat-drenched, disoriented face. Without his armor, Norman was slipping into a state of madness, his rationality eroding as he fully transformed into the Green Goblin, losing all reason.
After the fire, Norman attended Thanksgiving dinner at Peter and Harry's apartment, where Aunt May and Mary Jane were also present. Harry finally introduced Mary Jane to his father.
However, Norman scrutinized Mary Jane with a critical and disdainful gaze. Clearly, he disapproved of her, seeing her as no different from other materialistic girls.
The dinner was uncomfortable, filled with an eerie, tense atmosphere.
Norman discovered Peter's injured forearm.
Suddenly, Norman recalled Peter's tardiness and the strange occurrences in the house, connecting the dots and realizing: Peter Parker was Spider-Man.
In a rush, Norman left the dinner. Harry chased after him, trying to salvage the situation, but Norman was indifferent, berating Mary Jane harshly. Harry stood silently, unable to defend her.
Mary Jane, devastated, left the house, while Harry took out his frustration and anger on her.
The evening ended on a sour note.
Norman left hastily because he felt his rage boiling inside. Realizing Peter was Spider-Man nearly pushed him to act out violently. He had to leave before he lost control.
Back home, Norman struggled to suppress and control himself, battling with the Green Goblin's persona in his mind. Ultimately, he failed, and the Green Goblin took over once more.
That night, the Green Goblin went to Aunt May's place, threatening her as a warning to Peter—if he didn't cooperate, there would be worse to come.
Though Aunt May was unharmed, she was terrified, lying in bed, screaming about "those horrifying yellow eyes."
Peter, piecing things together, realized, "He knows who I am!"
He spent the night wrestling with his thoughts.
The identity of Spider-Man and his powers were pulling him into a storm. If he continued to resist, those around him might get hurt—first Uncle Ben, now Aunt May. What next?
But if he gave in to the Green Goblin, would it mean more innocent lives would be harmed?
Peter struggled deeply.
He was just a kid, freshly graduated, new to the world, worried about his job, and his heart racing for the girl he loved. He only wanted to use his powers to help, but now he faced harsh real-world decisions.
So what should he do?
The next day, Peter stayed in the hospital room, where Mary Jane came to visit.
They chatted, and Mary Jane mentioned she seemed to have developed feelings for Spider-Man but felt it was absurd to be so captivated by someone she had never met. Peter quickly reassured her not to worry.
Peter pretended he "knew" Spider-Man and had spoken about Mary Jane. Mary Jane, anxious, asked what Peter had said.
Peter looked at Mary Jane, mustering his courage for the first time in his life.
"I said."
"Spider-Man, Mary Jane's greatest quality is that when you look into her eyes, and she looks back at you, everything… becomes special."
"Because you feel stronger, yet more vulnerable; you feel excited, yet scared."
"The truth is, you don't know what that feeling is, only that you want to become the kind of person who can make it happen."
"It's like achieving an unattainable dream, yet being utterly unprepared for it."
Calm, gentle, yet resilient.
Mary Jane gazed at Peter, stunned. His words revealed a deep understanding of her true self, her hidden vulnerabilities, laid bare before him. Peter didn't mock or belittle her, he simply stood by her side.
For the first time, Mary Jane truly saw Peter.
Her eyes showed a flicker of emotion.
But—
Gloria's gaze remained fixed on Peter—
Those clear, bright eyes, like the starry sky, gentle and serene, hiding the bitterness and turmoil within the night's darkness. The vast, deep universe made one want to explore it further.
Mary Jane saw herself in Peter's eyes, and Peter saw himself in Mary Jane's.
No one knew what the future held. He had the dream powers he had always wanted but was unprepared. Choices and dilemmas lay ahead, and he had no answers. What he knew was what kind of person he wanted to be, the final lesson from Uncle Ben.
So he knew what he had to do.
Despite the difficulties and uncertainties, he had chosen his path.
Just as the Green Goblin said, they had made their choices and would carry their burdens forward.
In his deep blue eyes, a hint of determination shone through.