Novan's long strides descended the steps two at a time, but even so, he was careful and watched his step. In the boy's hand, there was a laptop with a myriad of movies. Most of them Novan hadn't watched yet.
Earlier, when he offered Uti the chance to watch a movie with him, Novan actually didn't expect too much, he thought the answer that would burst out of Uti's lips was a refusal. That's what Novan had in mind. But, apparently Novan was wrong. In fact, Uti agreed, which made Novan very happy and excited this time, Novan's mood became very happy, he was bursting with happiness.
If Novan was required to stay with Uti for a long time with a super-heavy and even difficult task, Novan would accept it gracefully, he didn't mind at all. As long as it was with Uti, everything would be fine.
With his laptop in his arms, Novan was now halfway there, he had seen Uti, who was currently eating the brownies that Novan had previously prepared. Uti seemed to enjoy it, and of course Novan was happy to see it.
"I already brought the laptop here, Ti." Novan complained as soon as his body was standing near Uti, the boy put a grin on his face, making Uti look up, then nod while smiling slightly.
Novan then sat where he was, and opened his laptop. "I have a lot of movies that I haven't watched yet, Ti."
"What movies do you have?" asked Uti, curious too, of course. Uti loved watching movies, for her, it was a very enjoyable activity. I think everyone else does too. Not just Uti.
"There are many, horror, adventure, sci-fi, thriller, romance, and fantasy, too. There are also cartoons. It's up to you, just choose which one you want." Novan answered so passionately that it was obvious that the boy was very excited this time, more so than Uti herself.
"There's romance? Do you like watching romance movies?" asked Uti, half mocking her with a smile.
"I'm a boy, but can't guys watch romantic movies?"
"Ah no, it's not that you can't, who said that? Movies are for viewing, and whether you're a girl or a boy, it's up to you what you want to watch. There's no prohibition. If you want to watch Barbie cartoons, no one will report you to the police, Van." Uti explained at length, like the tail of a train, her voice flowing softly into Novan's ears. Uti laughed a little too.
"So what?"
"Look, I just didn't realize that you like watching romantic movies."
"If the movie is good and the plot is exciting, for me, whatever the movie and genre, it will be fun to watch."
"Yeah, I agree with you."
"Okay, instead of discussing this, let's go to the kitchen first, Ti," said Novan. "Let's cook samyang first, I have a lot of stock in the kitchen."
"Are you asking me to help you?"
"I'm not insisting, if you want, you can come with me, or do you want to wait here? "Let me cook, and then you watch a movie by yourself first?" Novan offered another alternative.
And Uti didn't agree with that idea at all. That's why she shook her head firmly. "Watching alone? That's no fun, and this is your laptop too. I'll be relaxing while you're cooking. I don't think it's ethical."
"So, what do you want?"
Uti stood up from her seat quickly. "I want to come with you to the kitchen, let's make it together. Let's watch the movie together to make it more exciting."
Novan initially thought that his interaction with Uti would end with awkward words and both of them mostly silent. But it seemed Novan had guessed wrong again.
Novan, who was still sitting on the sofa, suddenly raised his hand. "Pull my hand, Ti."
"There's no need to be spoilt; you can do it yourself." Uti refused as she tiptoed away from Novan.
"Just pull my hand, it's easy," said Novan.
"It's easier to get up by yourself."
"Come on, my body is really tired." Novan's still outstretched hand waved, making Uti chuckle while scrunching her waist. With her lips pressed together, she shook her head slowly.
Novan blinked his eyes repeatedly, showing the boy's own version of puppy eyes. His lips were deliberately waving, his intention was to look adorable, but instead of looking like that, for Uti, the look on Novan's face this time was really very annoying. Uti pouted softly, but she still complied with Novan's strange request.
Uti moved closer to Novan and pulled his hand, which was not as easy as she thought. Novan was so heavy, Uti was even a little surprised, but she tried anyway, and then something unexpected happened.
Instead of Novan being pulled up, Uti was pulled towards Novan's body. It was truly something out of the blue. Both Novan and Uti stood still for a split second.
Uti's body was right on top of Novan's, pressed together. Their gazes were locked, neither blinking. Their hearts were beating fast, competing to see who could beat faster. In addition, Uti even held her breath. What the hell is this?! The distance between her face and Novan's was very, very close. In fact, their noses were almost pressed together.
Really, Uti didn't want anything like this to happen. She hurriedly got up and turned her face away. Uti was wrong, her body moved awkwardly. And look at her now, her cheeks were flushed, with a tinge of red easily visible there.
Novan himself was no different from Uti, the boy also felt something foreign infiltrating his heart. Novan looked at Uti, then swallowed. He smoothed his lips while stroking the back of his neck.
For the first time, the awkwardness was thick. Novan cleared his throat softly, trying desperately to break the ice. It was an unintentional thing.
"Uti-"
"Please don't say anything about that, I didn't mean to, I didn't mean to, it's not what you think." Uti's words came quickly, cutting Novan off.
"Sorry, that was my fault too. I shouldn't have asked for your help just now."
"Okay, let's not talk about it anymore, okay? I really need your help." Now, Uti began to dare to look at Novan's face.
"Yes, let's just focus on what we want to do. Let's go to the kitchen?" Novan stood up and took the first step, while Uti stayed where she was and closed her eyes as tightly as possible. Uti grumbled to herself, realizing how stupid her actions had been. What an unexpected thing to do.
"I'd rather not think about that!" Uti shook her head firmly, trying to push the disturbing thoughts away.
Then, Uti chose to follow Novan, who had disappeared behind the kitchen door. As Uti approached Novan, the boy was filling a pot with tap water, then placing it on the stove, before finally blaming it.
Uti cleared her throat softly as she took a step closer. And now, Uti was standing right next to him. "What can I do for you, Van?"
"Oh yeah, you can get the noodles from the display case up there." Novan pointed his finger. "Are you coming? If not, I'll get them for you."
"I got there." Uti replied, and opened the display cabinet. "There's a lot of stock, how much did you take?"
"Yes, there's a lot. How many do you think you can cook?" Novan asked.
"Three is enough. If I eat two packs, I'm really full. Not to mention the eggs, right?"
"That's right, I'm the same. I eat two packs most of the time, but sometimes if I only eat one, I feel like I'm not getting enough. It's weird." Novan joked, still trying to melt the atmosphere, which was still a little awkward. Still felt.
"Well, that's three, then." After she got it in hand, Uti closed the storefront door again. Then she put it on the table.
"Let me open it, do you have scissors, Van?" Uti asked.
"There are, I'll get them in a minute." Novan's nimble steps allowed Uti to quickly get what she wanted.
After unwrapping the noodles, Uti stood up from her seat and quickly put them into the pot where the water had started to boil. After that, she went back to cutting up the marinade. Novan's next task was to boil the eggs and make sure the noodles were cooked to perfection.
The instant meal was ready in no time.
"Come on, let's go to the front, oh yeah, there's a jar of crackers beside you, you can take it with you."
"This?"
"Yes, that one is right."
"Let's go."
Uti and Novan stepped back into the living room and placed their food from the kitchen on the table.
"The ice milk is about to run out, I'll make some more Ti, wait for me for a while." Novan moved swiftly, while Uti waited for him while tasting the noodles. Very spicy, of course, but very delicious on the tongue.
Not long after, Novan was back. "Have you tried it?" he asked as he put the teapot back in its original place.
"I have, it's delicious, of course, but it's too spicy for me."
Novan chuckled softly. "You don't like spicy, do you?"
"Not really, but I can still swallow this."
"Well, it's safe then. Time for a movie." Novan started to turn on his laptop. "What genre of movie do you like?"
"Whatever it is, the important thing is to watch it."
"What about outdoor horror? Do you want?"
"Because it's daytime, and I have friends to watch it with, so maybe I'll just agree, I'm not afraid. There's you." Uti was now grinning at Novan.
"Yes, why should I be afraid? Just relax with me, after all, it's broad daylight, just relax, there are no demons anyway. Let's watch it now, shall we?"
"Okay."
Of course, the next thing they enjoyed was watching a movie while eating. The duration of the movie that was playing was two hours, but it didn't feel like it at all because of the excitement of the movie that Uti and Novan were watching. Although Uti was caught screaming several times and ended up apologizing to Novan, it didn't make Novan change her mind. Until finally, the movie was over.
Uti leaned back on the sofa, her breath coming from her nostrils and mouth. "The movie was fun, but there were a lot of jumpscares, I was shocked all the time, and I'm sorry if I screamed all the time."
"Just relax with me, I was shocked a few times too. What do you think about the movie we watched?"
"Good, I like it."
"Yes, I like it too. Do you want to watch it again or end?"
"I think I'll just end it first."
"Alright, I'll close the laptop first."
"By the way, that laptop of yours looks really shiny—just bought, huh?" asked Uti.
"Oh, it's not really new."
"Has it been a month yet?"
"Not yet." Novan shook his head.
"That's new."
"Whatever you say."
Then, Uti suddenly remembered something. "Oh yeah, speaking of movies, remember that time you wanted to take me to the movies? When I refused, do you remember that?"
"Ah, that one, yes, I remember it. Why are you suddenly talking about that?"
"I just want to apologize about that."
"Apologize why, you feel like you're apologizing to me a lot today, even though you didn't do anything wrong."
"That's what you think, it's different from what I feel," said Uti.
"Okay, so what's wrong with that?"
"I just realized that at that time, the way I refused your invitation was too harsh, so I feel guilty."
"It's nothing serious, you had something to do. It's okay."
"So you accept my apology?"
"Yes, that's what you want, right? But if next time I invite you to go, just once in a while, don't refuse me."
"I'll think about it."
"Thanks."
"By the way, what movie did you watch that time?"
"Ah, about that." Novan now sat straighter. "I'm not going to see."
"So what about the movie ticket? Did you just throw them away?"
"I gave them to Marcell and Weeby, and they went. But it wasn't actually a movie ticket, it was a ticket to a local concert."
Uti narrowed her eyes. "But, didn't you say movie tickets? I can't be wrong, right?"
Instead of answering Uti's question, Novan smiled mysteriously. And Uti himself didn't ask any further questions.
Novan took a deep breath, his head nodding slowly. He looked at the dirty plate in front of him. "I want to put the dirty dishes in the kitchen first, wait a minute."
"Yes."
I don't know how many times Uti saw Novan going back and forth. Uti then remembered the thing she was drying outside.
"I think it's dry, let me check it out." Uti stomped away from her seat, the girl was sneaking out of the house. And apparently, her guess wasn't wrong at all, Uti was right in guessing.
Of course Uti brought it, and at the same time Novan appeared, who had just come out of the kitchen, the boy hurriedly approached Uti.
"I've brought it, it's already dry." Uti immediately said, knowing that Novan would definitely ask.
"Well, let's sit down and assemble."
They went back to work, not realizing that time had passed so quickly. Their task had been completed, and relief colored both of their faces. Unexpectedly, the results were quite satisfying.
Uti laughed softly at her artwork. "I didn't expect that, and the results are good too."
"Yeah, maybe we're pretty good partners. We're not that bad."
"Haha, yes, I agree."
"Alright, let me keep it, you'll have a hard time getting home from this."
"Okay, but don't forget, don't forget to bring it to Mr. Hockey's lesson. Don't miss it, just watch out if it happens." Uti glared while showing her fist, while Novan just chuckled softly.
"Ready or not, I won't."
"Alright, I'm ready to go home first, it's already late afternoon."
"Oh yes, you be careful on the road later. Just watch out, don't hit the cat."
Novan and Uti looked at each other again, and their laughter then immediately became airborne.