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-Mark-
"P'Kit, you don't have to look so terrified, you didn't even-"
"I am not terrified. How dare you enforce your accusations on me?"
I blinked slowly, looking over at my wall, where Kit was glued against. The moment we had entered our dorm, Kit had plastered himself against the corner of the entrance like an octopus and he didn't seem like he wanted to let go.
I mean, he did hold on to that one fact about being, um... a squid? But still.
"But you-"
"I can watch the movie perfectly from over here." Kit called out.
I stood in exasperation, gazing at him with such a blank stare before I moved my eyes to the couch. I raised my hands to explain, for a moment not even sure what I'm trying to convey.
"I do encourage physical exercise, P'Kit, but the couch and the TV is around the corner, you can't just stand there for two hours and simply listen to the movie. It's the watching we came here to do."
Kit crossed his arms but didn't move.
"Phi.." I said firmly.
"Fine, you know what? Whatever." He leaned down, undoing his shoes before setting them neatly to the side.
He took his own time to approach me, looking around at his surroundings with a face of unease.
"I don't have traps or lava pits." I made a point to gesture at the floor, "And no, those wooden planks do not trigger a trapdoor opening below you and dropping you into a river of hungry crocodiles."
"You're having fun mocking me, aren't you?" Kit snarled so violently, I jumped.
"I am not mocking you, Phi." I responded desperately, turning around as he made his way further into my living room, "I just, you just- I know you're really nervous and-"
"You're quite high up." Kit interrupted me, peering down from the large panel windows I have around, "Haven't seen a view like this in a while."
"Oh yeah? What floor are you on?"
"Don't think that matters since this building is much taller than mine."
"Mm." I folded my arms over my chest, taking a step next to him, "But I have to admit, even with a pretty view like this... sometimes it gets a little bit lonely."
Kit made a small sound of acknowledgment but didn't say anything.
"You're the first person I had up here in a while, you know. This is nice."
The overwhelmed look that grazed Kit's face was so sudden that I quickly stammered to take back my words.
"That- I don't mean anything by it! I'm just saying that it's nice to have some company when all this time I've been coming home alone and leaving alone, that's all. I didn't mean-"
"Let's just watch the stupid movie and get it over with." Kit pushed past me, moving over to my couch and taking a seat.
Quite timidly, I'd have to point out.
"Right." I clapped my hands together, "Popcorn?"
"No thanks."
"I'll.. make some popcorn." I hummed, turning around on my heel and heading towards the kitchen.
Something I learned with Kit; do not always ask him. Just go for it. On most occasions, he doesn't mind it. I mean, who can resist snacks when watching a movie? Tsk tsk.
From over at the pantry, I peered over at Kit every so often. I'm not sure if he was trying to hide his nervousness or not, but the way he was fidgeting with his hands and looking around timidly and sitting as if he doesn't want to move a single muscle, I don't assume he was trying to show it on purpose.
Which, honestly, made me a little sad. Because as much as I enjoy P'Kit's company, I don't want to make him uncomfortable.
But at this point, we are already here. I might as well try my best to make this night a good night for him.
"Don't you want to get rid of your bag? It must be a bit uncomfortable around your neck, no?" I asked, once I walked back towards Kit with a bowl of popcorn in my hand and two bottles of soda in the other.
He was still wearing his bookbag, the one which he always wears in university and carries around.
"I'm fine." Kit responded shortly.
"Phi, please. Here, give it to me. I'll hang it by the door for you." I reached out my hand.
Kit was a bit hesitant before he finally sighed, pulling the bag off his shoulder and handing it to me.
"Geez, what do you have in here? Bricks?" I couldn't help but laugh, the sudden weight catching me off guard.
"Books, I don't think you're one who can relate." Kit narrowed his eyes.
"Oh, I can relate alright." I called out, in the process of hanging his bag, "Just not everyday."
"Bold of you to assume that I carry those many books everyday."
"Do you not?"
Kit was silent before he rolled his eyes.
"I knew it." I chuckled, flopping down on the couch next to him.
I made sure to keep some space between us two for the sake of Kit's sanity and my medical bill.
"So! Are you excited for this, Phi?" I piped up, tapping through my laptop to connect it to the TV, "We're going to be the first ones in Thailand to watch it!"
"I am certain other people have found their ways to bypass the whole idea of not watching it in the theaters."
"Yeah? But I had my ways. Therefore, we are two of the special ones."
"If you say so."
"Mmhm."
I was done setting up a minute later, the intro playing on the flat-screen before Kit spoke up again.
"What am I even doing here?"
"You're..." I leaned back into the pillows, turning my head to raise my eyebrow at him, "Spending some time with your Nong."
Kit made a face of grimace, "Gross. You don't need to say it that way."
"What's gross about it? It's true."
"The way you sound when you pronounce Nong."
"What way is that?" I was truly curious.
"All smart and cheeky."
"You're calling me smart? Thanks!"
"And he overlooks the word 'cheeky', classic." Kit muttered, turning his face away from me, "Anyways, the movie started. Let's get this over with."
"Aw, you're being so mean. Don't you like spending time with me?"
"No."
"Aww..."
I couldn't stop grinning though. The pouty look on Kit's face was way too cute.
I can recall what Kit said last time we watched a movie together, though. He's the type to be quiet, not really comment a lot. Kit is a very observant person, he prefers to sit silently and listen rather than engage. It's something that I've collected about him over time. I think that's great though, since I'm the type who tends to keep blabbering. We complement each other very well indeed, if I do say so myself. At least, in this aspect.
"P'Kit?"
"Hmm?"
"I would totally be able to pull off that fighting scene, don't you think?" I gestured my chin at the screen.
Kit, who was in the middle of drinking his soda, snorted.
"That?"
"Yes?"
"I doubt it. I would like to see you survive being on a moving broken bus, let alone fight a man with an amputated arm. If anything, you're the one vlogging."
"I'm the one-" I gasped, "How dare you, Phi? Do I look like someone who would bother to record a fight rather than join it?"
"Yes."
"Oh? Okay then, you're that old lady who got ushered into the other cabin with the other passengers. You didn't even witness all the fight."
There was a short silence before Kit burst into laughter, the hearty sound taking me by surprise.
"You idiot." He shook his head.
I chuckled in response, hugging the pillow closer to me. There was a warm feeling growing inside my chest, and I couldn't will it away. And for a few seconds there, I let my eyes stray away from the screen to look at Kit. I don't care what he says and how much he will deny it; but he is glowing and it is not from the street lamps.
"Pretty."
"What?"
"Nothing." I hummed under my breath, "I'm cold."
"Then wear a jacket." Kit replied breezily.
"Aren't you cold?"
"Nope."
"Hm." I took the chance of him being distracted by the screen to scooch a little closer to him.
He didn't notice.
I scooched a little closer.
He still didn't notice.
Trying to remove the smile from my face before he asks about my expression, I stuffed my mouth with popcorn.
"What do you think about love?" The question had spilled out before I could stop it.
"What's that has to do with anything?" Kit grumbled as he watched the movie with visual interest.
"Well..." I cocked my head at the screen, pausing thoughtfully, "Nothing in particular. Just- seeing how the sister ended up siding with her brother despite how she strongly felt rage towards him in the beginning; it just shows that family bonds are one of the most important aspects of life. It doesn't apply to everyone, of course, but in this case it does. I don't think they would have made it past their father if they didn't work together."
"Oh... you mean love between families. Well, yes, I do believe in your viewpoint here. Besides faith and trust, love is also very significant. What else can bond people together?"
"Do you believe in love?"
"Can't say that I don't."
"Mm."
There was a comfortable silence as I leaned back further into the pillows. In the meantime, Kit's eyes never left the screen.
"Man, this is an amazing movie."
"Shh, I'm trying to focus." Kit made a weak attempt at swatting me into silence, "You blabber too much."
"Do you think you'll ever fall in love, Phi?"
The answer was almost instantaneous.
"Me? Fall in love?" Kit snorted, "In your dreams."
I couldn't help but laugh, "Yeah?"
"Yes."
"What if you are my dream?"
There was a long pause and Kit's blazing eyes slowly trailing over to me made me rethink all my choices in life and oh my god was I about to get killed?!
"What did you say?" Kit's tone was seething and everything was screaming at me not to finish talking.
But I shrugged, "What if you are my dream? What will I do then?"
"I told you that sweet-talking me does not work. What do you want?"
"Who's sweet-talking?"
Because I had moved a little closer earlier, we were much closer than before, and I could see how the slight sparkle in Kit's eyes was reflecting off his face. There was a short moment of silence, as if saying anything would break the tension. Kit's eyebrows were furrowed, but he didn't look particularly mad. He looked... blank, confused... anxious.
"Mark, I don't understand you right now." He said slowly, seemingly wanting to imprint his words into my mind.
I raised my brow before leaning forward, "What's there to understand?"
And I had reached to grab some popcorn off the bowl on his lap, my eye contact steady, but my heartbeat the opposite.
"Let's rewind the movie a minute back, shall we? You didn't catch anything, did you?" I moved my attention back to the laptop, looking back at him just in time to find him shaking his head, "Right."
Over the sound of the playback, it was as if I couldn't recognize the sound of my own heart. My one heart, beating a little faster than ordinary in my chest. It was that warm feeling again. Yet, I also was feeling warm; I was feeling overwhelmed.
Swallowing lightly, I looked back towards Kit, trying to grab those little bits of sanity I had left to confirm it.
And sure enough, I felt my heart race a little faster.
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●○● A/N: don't mind me internally sobbing. s o b b i n g. 😭 There's one heart gone, who knew we'll be falling in love tonight? (also side note; not sure if anyone guessed it or recognized it, but the movie they're watching is Shang Chi) :3 tootles!