Love as rich as chocolate ~TodoBaku~

Chapter 18: typical, yet also unique

Akio Todoroki

I...was ashamed that I was scared by some of the things in the movie. Having seen all 12 before it (yes, including the dumpster fire that was Halloween 3: Season of the Witch. Michael Myers isn't even in that film!), one might be led to believe that I'd have some sort of radar for the expected jump scares. In which case, one would be proven very wrong.

We're maybe an hour or so into the movie, and so far it's been nothing short of bang-average. One of the most 6/10 movies I've ever seen, nothing really going for it, but no real reason to hate it. It had delivered on the typical "Michael Myers can't die" trope, and I found myself cringing at the fact that they still haven't killed off Laurie Strode. The lady that plays her must be in at least her late 60s by now, plus the character has survived being stabbed, shot, and run over! You might think they'd be tempted to just be rid of her, but noooooo!

Anyway, rant over. During this particularly creepy scene which details Myers attacking an elderly man with dementia for no apparent goddamn reason except to remind us that he's evil, I had found myself leaning in towards Hiro for support. He'd been so composed watching the movie, it was almost as if he'd seen it before. Whenever he could sense a jump scare coming, he'd always look over at me to chuckle at my nervous face, which occasionally earned him a slap on the arm. But now, in this (admittedly well shot) scene, I was properly spooked. I made contact with his arm, but instead of swatting him away, I clung to it, feeling both embarrassed and terrified. I felt him moving the arm, and tried to cling to it, but was reassured after it stretched around me and he got a proper grip, hugging me close as I hid my face with my hands, keeping it pressed...respectfully against his side.

I peeked through my fingers at just the wrong moment, and flinched like crazy as Myers's knife came thrusting through the man's throat, entering at the nape of his neck and coming out the other side. Blood gushed everywhere as he felt to the floor, and Myers did his typical head tilt as he admired his victim, then casually walked out of the house as if nothing had happened.

To be honest, I'm not even sure if I realised that Hiro was gently stroking my hair throughout the scene. I felt it, sure, but it felt...pretty natural, not something worth even being embarrassed over. This newfound confidence was a little refreshing, so for the rest of the movie - also a 6/10 - I stayed close to Hiro's side, and his arm stayed over my shoulder, holding me close. He'd laughed like crazy at my reaction to the scare, innocently smiling as I play-pouted at him. That grin was enough to settle me down again though, and I can't lie, I was fighting sleep by the end of the movie. Wrapped up in our blankets, we were both so comfortable that it was tempting to just not move, but I heard (and felt, weirdly) Hiro's stomach rumbling, and he sheepishly gave me a look that said "so about that pizza..."

"Sounds like a good time to me! What toppings do you want?"

"...if I hypothetically liked ham and pineapple, what would you do?"

"I'd order a really big ham and pineapple pizza, and ask for extra pineapple"

"That...genuinely sounds amazing"

"Coming right up!"

Once the food was ordered and I'd sorted out the details for delivery and shit, ended up sort of mulling about for a while, idly chattering on about anything that seemed even vaguely interesting. I learned that Hiro had a recently adopted a kitten called Leon, named after a friend of his uncle's over in Canada. It was a confusing reason, but I liked the name, so didn't say anything. He talked about how he was already sleeping on his bed with him, but sometimes wouldn't jump high enough, so would angrily meow until he was lifted. He sounded adorable, much like his owner.

By the time the pizza came, almost an hour later than the ETA, we were both practically salivating over it. We shared it evenly, not even bothering to find something to watch, instead just eating and talking between slices. We ended up having yet another cliche moment as I wiped some errant pizza sauce from his cheek, though didn't go so far as to lick it off my finger. Once we'd finished and I'd reluctantly cleaned up, Hiro said he needed to go. I obviously didn't want him to, but kept a smile on my face as he stepped out the house.

"Hey...thanks for today. This morning I thought it was gonna be the same old shit, work then home, but you've made it pretty interesting"

"Heh, I have a habit of messing up people's plans"

"Well...I'd say you made mine. See ya!"

Thump thump thumpTHUMPTHUMPTHUMP

Don't mind me, I'm just melting down the doorway after he's turned the corner at the end of the street. His words had crashed into my heart like a wrecking ball into a desolate building, and suddenly he seemed like so much more to me. He didn't feel like a passing fling, a one-time crush.

I wanted him

Forever
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Get ready, things are about to get spicy!!!

Fact of the Day: or are they...?