Movie nights were supposed to be relaxing—a time to unwind, cuddle, and enjoy each other's company. At least, that was what Ming envisioned when he meticulously set up the living room. A cozy blanket was draped over the couch, the scent of freshly popped buttered popcorn filled the air, and the TV screen glowed softly with a horror movie queued up.
Phana, however, had his own definition of movie night.
As soon as he plopped down beside Ming, the blanket shifted, and the neat arrangement Ming had painstakingly crafted went awry. Phana stretched dramatically, kicking off his slippers and shoving his feet under Ming's thigh for warmth. "Horror is boring," Phana announced, grabbing a handful of popcorn from the bowl in Ming's lap.
Ming didn't even glance away from the screen. "You're the one who insisted on watching this," he reminded Phana, holding up the DVD case with a pointed look.
Phana shrugged, popping a piece of popcorn into his mouth. "I didn't think it would be so slow. Where are all the ghosts? The suspense? This is just a bunch of people walking around in the dark."
"You're supposed to let the tension build," Ming replied, sighing as he leaned back into the couch.
Phana ignored him, tossing a piece of popcorn in the air and trying to catch it with his mouth. It missed and hit his cheek instead. Without missing a beat, he turned and flicked another piece at Ming, aiming for his forehead.
Ming caught it mid-air, his reflexes as sharp as ever. He glanced at Phana, his lips quirking into a half-smile despite himself. "Are you five?"
"No, but this movie makes me feel like I'm aging rapidly," Phana shot back with a grin, leaning into Ming's side and resting his head on his shoulder. "Let's do something else. This is boring."
"We can pick another movie," Ming offered, his tone patient.
Phana tilted his head to look up at him, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Or we could skip the movie and do something more fun."
Ming raised an eyebrow. "Like what?"
Phana didn't answer with words. Instead, he reached up and cupped Ming's face, pulling him into a kiss. It was soft and teasing at first, but when Ming sighed and tilted his head to deepen it, Phana melted against him.
"Is this your plan to ruin every movie night?" Ming murmured against Phana's lips when they finally broke apart.
Phana smirked, nuzzling into the crook of Ming's neck. "If by 'ruin' you mean make them memorable, then yes."
Ming chuckled, pulling the blanket over both of them and wrapping an arm around Phana's waist. The movie continued to play in the background, the eerie soundtrack barely registering as they snuggled closer. Phana shifted, his hand sneaking into Ming's, their fingers intertwining naturally.
After a few quiet minutes, Phana spoke again, his voice softer now. "You know, this is my favorite part of movie nights."
"What is?" Ming asked, brushing a stray strand of hair from Phana's forehead.
"This," Phana said, gesturing vaguely. "You, me, the popcorn, the cozy vibes. It's not about the movie. It's about us."
Ming's chest tightened at the simple sincerity in Phana's words. He leaned down and pressed a kiss to Phana's forehead, his lips lingering there for a moment. "You're such a sap," he teased, though his tone was filled with warmth.
Phana grinned, poking Ming's chest lightly. "Don't act like you don't love it."
"I do," Ming admitted easily, pulling Phana even closer.
They stayed like that for the rest of the movie, the horror plot completely forgotten as they whispered soft jokes, shared lazy kisses, and basked in the warmth of each other's company. It wasn't the relaxing movie night Ming had planned, but with Phana, it was better than anything he could have imagined.
