I blushed, embarrassed that Netflix exposed me. Traitor.
"Maybe," I said. "I've already seen most of them, though."
Jian wasn't letting this go. He leaned in, careful not to dislodge DJ Muffin, and said teasingly, "I didn't realize you were such a big fan."
"That's the thing! I watched them, but they all sucked. They're so unrealistic and cheesy."
"Isn't that the point? It's an escapist fantasy."
I handed him the remote. "Here, pick a horror movie, then."
"Sure you won't get too scared?"
I rolled my eyes. "I'll live." I paused. "Besides, it's less scary since you're here."
Jian smiled. It lit up his eyes, which made my chest tighten.
"Also, I'm a grown-ass man now," I went on. "Look, I'll prove I'm not scared."
I flicked off the lights, plunging the living room into darkness. Now the only light came from the glow of the TV.
"I'll believe it when I see it. Come here, Kola," Jian said while patting the space beside him. "You don't have to sit on the floor in your own home."
"But then I'll be sitting on your sheets."
"I don't care," Jian said with a chuckle. "I'm going to press play now."
"Fine, fine, I'm coming."
I sat next to him, not too close but not too far, enough that our shoulders would touch if I leaned an inch.
Jian picked the movie, promising me that it wasn't as scary as some other ones. I found that hard to believe since even the thumbnail was freaky, but hey, it was what he wanted. I glanced at him. He watched the screen with a smile, like he was having a great time.
"I didn't know you liked horror movies so much," I remarked.
"Ah, I suppose you wouldn't. I wasn't such a big fan as a kid. I only acquired a taste for them as an adult."
"What changed?"
He held my gaze. "Hmm. I guess... knowing that the supernatural monsters aren't so bad."
I laughed. "You say that like you know them personally."
Something flashed across Jian's eyes. Or it was the lighting from the TV. Damn, was the movie already messing with my head?
"But you're right," I said. "The movies with a 'monster' are never as scary as the ones with a regular human dude with a knife or something."
"You think?"
"Yeah. Because one's real, and the other isn't, y'know?"
"Right," Jian said slowly. He hesitated like he wanted to say something else.
"What's up?" I asked.
A loud bang from the movie distracted us. I yelped and hugged my knees to my chest. But when I looked at the screen, it was just a slamming door. One of the characters pranked the other one and laughed about it.
"Ugh, I'm already so jumpy," I said with an embarrassed groan. "Sorry if I scream."
