The smell of buttery popcorn leisurely wafts through apartment. One whiff has Wendy's blood pressure sending out warning signs but the rest of her body cannot deny the savory goodness she's about to embark on.

"Wan?" Irene calls from the kitchen. "Snacks are almost ready. Did Seulgi let you in?"

"Yeah. She was heading out," Wendy replies. "Something about a bar?"

The living room already has the mattress and pillows set up. There are a couple of folded blankets on the side and the coffee table is close enough to for them to reach for snacks later.

Irene's apartment isn't very big but it is designed to be spacious. The windows are tall enough to let natural light in with thick curtains gathered on the side just enough to see the outside view.

The familiar walk towards the kitchen doesn't take very long. Wendy spots her... friend, yes, standing by the counters with a big bowl in hand and humming a cheerful tune under her breath.

"You don't mind sharing a bowl, do you?" Irene asks as she scoops up popcorn into the container.

"I'm good," Wendy shrugs. "I'll take the drinks to the living room."

Irene nods as they share a small smile in a quiet greeting before Wendy goes to grab a couple of sodas from the fridge.

Today marks the eighth movie hang out they both had planned. It's not a date. Definitely not a date, just like the previous ones weren't. They're movie buddies. Just friends. 

They're friends the way two single women who are secretly attracted to each other are, that is.

"What are we watching tonight?"

Irene walks in carrying a big bowl of buttery popcorn with a proud smile on her face. "You said you've never watched The Shining, right?"

"Hyun," Wendy groans. "I thought we've established we both bate horror movies."

Irene laughs, loud and carefree and Wendy secretly indulges in the fluttery feeling of having the most beautiful woman she's ever met react like this.

"It won't be too scary with the two of us watching," Irene smiles, a little too mischievous for her innocent face.

"Did Seulgi put you up to this? Is this a hidden camera?"

"Calm down, Wan," Irene giggles. She puts down the popcorn on the coffe table and plops down on the mattress. "You're too suspicious."

The TV is set, too. Irene types in The Shining on the search bar while Wendy settles next to the house owner.

"We're not gonna enjoy this," she grumbles.

"Just relax, will you?" Irene rolls her eyes playfully. "And besides, this classic will be our reintroduction to the horror genre and we'll be doing it together."

There's something about the way Irene said it that has Wendy turning her head to look at the other girl. She can't place it yet but her stomach feels a little funny and heart beats a little faster.

"The curtains aren't closed," Wendy says instead.
She gets up to cover the windows without waiting for Irene's response. This is the right thing to do, she thinks to herself. No sense of watching a horror movie with the windows wide open anyway.

It's not that Wendy hasn't thought about it. Some days, when she's not sober away with her close friends, she can admit to thinking what if's and could be's and chances being reciprocated.

But that's all she lets herself think of.

Irene has already cemented a place in her heart that she's too afraid to lose.

Wendy walks back to an expectantly smiling Irene who holds up a blanket for her.

"For you, scaredy cat," she teases.

"Please," Wendy scoffs, "we both know you'd be the ine screaming my ear off until this movie ends."

Irene only grins wider and pats at the spot next to her.

Wendy returns the smile and settles herself down as comfortably as she could.

They don't turn the lights off.

The movie starts off with some writer guy and a hotel. It's a steady build up, though a little slower than the typical american horror movie. Wendy still pulls up the blanket up to her nose, just in case.

They finish off the snack before the first half is even done but neither stand up to get some refill, both tok absorbed in the show.

One thing that Wendy will always appreciate when watching movies with Irene is that they don't talk while they watch.

Everything else, all the analysis and commentaries, are reserved for when the credits are rolling and they're either wiping their tears or smiling at a warm ending.

The first scare happens soon and Irene, as Wendy had predicted, squeals in fear as she hides behind her own blanket. Wendy isn't doing much better either, expressing her fear in words loudly.

Irene curses under her breath and for a second, Wendy smiles amused. There's another scary scene set to arrive soon with the sound of an anticipatory crescendo.

Wendy nearly screams her head out when she feels something cold creep onto her hand. Irene screams with her in surprise that they can barely hear the movie.

"What was that?!" Wendy cradles her hand close to her chest, eyes wide as she looks yo the mattress in search of whatever it was she felt.

"What?" Irene asks.

"Something held my hand!" Wendy exclaims. "Something small and cold!"

She expected compassion, maybe her fear being shared. What Wendy doesn't expect is to get hit as comprehension dawns on Irene's face.

"! That was my hand," she grumbles. "I thought something serious happened, jeez."

Wendy pouts and rubs at the spot Irene's tiny palm had landed. It doesn't hurt at all but it's still worth the tiny sorry and comforting patting from Irene.

"Were you trying to hold my hand?" Wendy asks and Irene just stops and sits back, a splash of attractive red slowly climbing up to her cheeks.

"Shut up," she mumbles, hand coming up to try and hide the warmth on her face. "I was just scared."

Contrary to how other people think, Irene can actually be pretty shy. Wendy smiles at the sight but doesn't comment further. Instead, she boldly offers her hand and waits for Irene to raise her head and see it.

"I'm here," she says.

Irene bites at her lip and looks at Wendy's open palm before placing her own hand to grasp a steady grip. Wendy adjusts the hold until their fingers slot seamlessly, palms touching warmly,  comfortably.

This feels natural. Wendy should feel scared how easy this all is but she's not. She should be scared how her what if's and could be's are crossing over imaginary lines but she's not. This feels natural.

"I don't even remember what's supposed to happen now," Irene says, eyes squinting at the TV screen as if in deep thought.

Wendy chuckles low and gives her hand a small squeeze.

"Let's rewind for a bit then. I don't remember either."

Irene hums as if she's considering it but ends up shrugging it off. 

"I don't really mind. We can just watch another one after this. It's almost ending anyway."

"Something funny this time?" Wendy makes sure.

"Of course."

And they do watch a funny movie, just like they do most nights. The snacks are refilled, the blankets comfy, and the pillows fluffy. Everything is in order.

It's movie night just like many other nights but it would be a lie to day it's all the same. Irene and Wendy get settled in with feelings louder than before.

Tonight, their hands don't let go.