Rewrite the Rules

Scary movie night!: Part 45

The exhaustion clung to me like a second skin. It had been a relentless week, a whirlwind of house calls for practically every client in Las Vegas. My phone buzzed constantly, a relentless symphony of appointments and confirmations. By Wednesday, my brain felt like mush.

As I slumped onto the couch, a wave of relief washed over me. Tonight, I was determined to indulge in a rare Wednesday night in. Reaching for my phone, I texted a quick "Thinking of you" to Namjoon, a small smile playing on my lips at the memory of the playful texts we'd exchanged throughout the week.

The aroma of popcorn and melted butter filled the air as I raided the pantry, assembling a feast of cinematic proportions – salty chips, mountains of popcorn, and a selection of candy so sugary it practically glowed in the dim light. Burrowing into my favorite oversized PJs, I cocooned myself in a fluffy blanket, the perfect fortress against the encroaching world.

Netflix hummed to life, the endless parade of titles blurring before my tired eyes. Finally, a promising new horror movie caught my attention, its title promising chills and scares.

Just as I hit play and settled deeper into the couch, a thunderous pounding on the door shattered the carefully crafted atmosphere.

My heart lurched into overdrive. Who could that be at this hour? Creeping towards the door, I peeked through the peephole. Disbelief washed over me. Flinging the door open, a jumble of questions tumbled out before I could stop them.

"Namjoon? What are you doing here? You weren't supposed to be back until tomorrow!"

He raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. "Easy there, speed racer. It's only seven-thirty. Why are you in your pajamas already?"

"Uh... movie night?" I stammered, gesturing towards the living room bathed in the flickering blue light of the TV. "Come in, come in! It just started, but I can rewind it. Watch the mirror in the background, first scene."

His gaze swept over the obscene amount of junk food piled high on the coffee table. A playful smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. "Is there a category you missed when you were stocking up?"

I swatted him playfully on the arm. "Shhh! Watch!" I hissed, ushering him towards the couch.

The movie resumed with the eerie soundtrack. Suddenly, a shadowy figure flickered in the background of the scene. "Wait, what the heck is that?" Namjoon exclaimed, a jolt of surprise evident in his voice.

A triumphant grin spread across my face. "Scary movie night!" I declared, relishing the unexpected turn of events. "Welcome to the chaos, Namjoon."

Relief washed over me as Namjoon explained his surprise appearance. "You were able to snag an earlier flight?" I asked, a delighted smile tugging at my lips.

"Managed to switch some things around," he confirmed, his own smile mirroring mine. "The guys are all off doing their own thing tonight – clubs, concerts, the usual. Figured I'd rather be here."

My heart skipped a beat. "Here, with scary movies?" I teased, tilting my head playfully. Secretly, I was thrilled he'd opted for a cozy night in over the usual celebrity revelry.

"Scary movies sound perfect," he agreed, stretching languidly. "Honestly, I feel like I've been running on fumes the past few days. Have you eaten yet?"

I shook my head. "Nope, but I was about to order in. Debating between Greek or Chinese..." My voice trailed off as a mischievous glint sparked in my eyes. "Actually, Japanese!"

A grin spread across Namjoon's face. "Japanese it is. But on one condition," he added, his voice dropping to a playful murmur.

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" I countered, raising an eyebrow in mock challenge.

"You share your blanket with me and no sea food for me," he declared, his eyes twinkling.

A blush crept up my cheeks, but I couldn't help but return his playful smile. "Alright, alright, you big softie. But only because scary movies are way more terrifying when you're cuddled up under a giant blanket."

With a quick text to security about the Japanese food delivery, we settled onto the couch. The aroma of delicious food soon filled the air, mingling with the flickering blue light of the TV. We devoured the sushi and noodles, laughter bubbling between us as we exchanged stories about our crazy weeks.

By the time the third movie started, exhaustion had finally caught up to Namjoon. Sprawled across the sofa, one leg hanging casually over the armrest, he was out cold within forty minutes.

His soft snores, barely audible over the creepy movie soundtrack, sounded more like a contented kitten's purr. A warmth bloomed in my chest as I watched him sleep, the image a stark contrast to the high-octane world he inhabited.

In this quiet time, nestled together under the blanket, he wasn't a K-Pop idol, he was just Namjoon – the guy who craved a normal night in just as much as I did.

Sleeping, how could one man be so handsome?

Secretly, a small flicker of hope ignited within me. As I tiptoed towards the bedroom, I couldn't help but glance back at him. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something real amidst the whirlwind he called a life. I burrowed under the covers, the events of the night replaying in my mind.

It had been a night I wouldn't soon forget. Laughter had filled the air, punctuated by shared screams and nervous jumps during the movie's more suspenseful moments. Every time a jump scare got us, I'd instinctively bury my face in Namjoon's arm, finding a strange comfort in the sudden solidity of his presence.

And during our watching breaks, we'd fallen into easy conversation, a comfortable familiarity settling between us. It felt surreal, almost like we were just a couple of regular folks hanging out, a world away from the glitzy world of K-Pop and celebrity.

A soft smile played on my lips as I drifted off to sleep, a single, silent wish echoing in my mind: that he'd wake me up when he stirred.

---

Sunlight, pale and tentative, peeked through the blinds, painting stripes of gold across the rumpled sheets. Disoriented for a second, I blinked the sleep from my eyes, the events of the previous night flooding back.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips as I turned my head, and there he was. Namjoon, sprawled across the top of the covers, looked for all the world like a giant, slumbering teddy bear.

"Hope you're comfortable crashing here," he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep.

A smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. Comfortable? That hardly seemed the word for it. The sight of him, so unexpectedly close, sent a flutter through my stomach.

"No worries at all," I murmured back. "Though, I have to say, the couch might not have been a better fit for your impressive height."

He chuckled, a low rumble that vibrated through the mattress. "Yeah, well, lesson learned," he mumbled, stretching languidly. The movement sent the sheets slipping further down, revealing a sliver of bare skin that sent a jolt through me.

"I think I might squeeze in a few more winks before the day gets going," I mumbled, more to myself than to him, using the sudden wave of heat as an excuse to burrow deeper into the covers.

But before I could fully retreat, a warm hand snaked around my waist, pulling me closer. His lips brushed against my ear, a current sparked between us. "It's nice waking up like this," he murmured, his voice husky with sleep.

My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drum solo in the quiet room. A genuine smile bloomed on my face, both unexpected and exhilarating.

Words seemed to fail me, so I simply nestled closer, his embrace a warm cocoon against the cool morning air. My head rested on his chest, the steady rise and fall a comforting rhythm lulling me back towards sleep.

The scent of him, a clean, masculine aroma that was uniquely Namjoon, filled my senses, replacing the usual sugary sweetness of candy apples. Nestled in his arms, a delicious sense of peace settled over me.

As sleep tugged at my eyelids once more, I realized a truth both terrifying and exhilarating – I was falling. Falling for Namjoon, and into a sleep as sweet and peaceful as the man holding me close.