Cuddles, Chaos and A Kiss before the Truth.

The room was dim, the only light filtering in from the hallway before someone finally flicked it off. A low hum came from the air conditioner, now turned up to full blast, sending a crisp chill through the cozy room. The group had gathered for their much-anticipated horror movie night.

Snacks were scattered on the table—popcorn, chips, soda cans clinking faintly. A thick blanket was draped across the sofa, and pillows were tossed everywhere like a lazy nest.

Max and Aliyah had taken the edge of the long, L-shaped sofa, sitting close under the blanket. Max's arm was around her, and Aliyah leaned her head gently on his shoulder, sighing in comfort.

Just in front of the sofa, a mattress had been pulled out on the floor. Louis sat down there, and right beside him, Rozy flopped down with a smile, sharing the same blanket as she snuggled into her spot.

Prizey made her way to the center of the sofa, settling between Aliyah and a vacant space.

John, munching on chips, approached the empty spot beside her. Just as he was about to sit—

"Coming through!" Simon dashed toward the sofa.

But fate had other plans.

Simon's foot slipped on a soda can on the floor, and with a startled yelp, he fell forward—right onto Prizey.

"Oof!" Their noses brushed, eyes wide and locked in the briefest moment of frozen time.

Then—

Prizey shoved him up, furious.

Her voice came out sharp, flustered and angry.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?! Do normal people fall on people?!"

Aliyah blinked, stifling a laugh. "Calm down, Prizey. It was an accident—he's innocent!"

"Innocent?" Prizey looked between Simon and Aliyah, incredulous. "This thing? Innocent?! He's the definition of flirty trouble!"

Simon, meanwhile, was pouting like a kicked puppy, casting a sweet look at Prizey with an exaggerated lower lip.

Max groaned from the corner. "Oh great. You two again? Can we please have just one peaceful night without your fighting?"

Simon smirked as he turned to Max. "That's what I've been trying to explain."

Prizey shot him a death glare.

John, seeing an opportunity, slipped onto the seat beside Prizey with a grin.

Simon's eyes widened. "Hey! That's my seat!"

"Too late." John leaned back. "I sat down first. Law of sofas."

Simon crossed his arms like a grumpy toddler. "I don't care. I want to sit there."

"Not happening."

Prizey rubbed her temples. "Oh stars, why me…"

Meanwhile, Sonia finally picked up the remote and started the movie. She and Lina took their spots on the mattress, huddling under another blanket.

But Simon wasn't done.

He stepped in front of the TV screen dramatically, fake crying.

"If I can't sit with Prizey," he wailed, "then no one watches this movie!"

A collective groan swept across the room.

"Simon—seriously?" Max muttered. "John, just move to the other side of the couch or to the mattress. Please."

"But why me?" John argued. "He's the one throwing a tantrum!"

Aliyah looked between them. "John, please. Just this once?"

Prizey added softly, "John… please? For me."

That did the trick. John began to get up with a sigh.

But before he could fully rise, Simon abruptly turned and walked out of the room.

The air shifted.

No one said anything, but the energy changed. Even Aliyah gave Prizey a disappointed look and turned her face away.

Prizey inhaled deeply, understanding immediately. Without another word, she slipped out of the blanket and followed Simon.

He stood on the balcony, the moonlight casting silver across his figure. Though he was a dangerous werewolf, in that moment he looked... heartbreakingly human.

He didn't turn around. He didn't speak.

Prizey joined him quietly, her gaze lifting to the same moon he stared at.

"To think… even Mr. Drama has a temper," she murmured gently.

Still no answer.

She glanced sideways—and saw it.

Tears.

Prizey froze. Real tears sparkled in Simon's eyes, even though he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

That… didn't sit right with her.

"Simon?" she said, this time more softly, more real.

No reply. No movement. Not even a flinch.

Her heart clenched. She wasn't used to being ignored. And now, by him?

Anger stirred inside her. She stepped forward and grabbed his shoulders, turning him to face her.

"Why are you ignoring me?" she asked firmly.

Simon's eyes finally met hers—red-rimmed, silent storms.

"Go back to John," he muttered. "It's not like my presence matters anyway."

Prizey's breath hitched.

"It does matter," she whispered, before quickly changing the subject to hide the crack in her voice. "Okay—just tell me one thing. Why was it so important for you to sit beside me?"

Simon pushed her hands off gently. "Maybe ask John the same question. He seems eager enough."

"Because he likes me," Prizey replied plainly. "At least... I think he does. Based on how he acts. But he hasn't said anything."

Simon's gaze broke away again. His voice was low, wounded.

"Then go. Sit with him."

Prizey blinked, caught off guard.

"He hasn't confessed yet," she said after a pause. "It's just a guess. I could be wrong."

She stepped closer. "Now come on. Sit with me if you want to. Stop crying—people will think you're soft."

Simon gave her a weak chuckle through his watery eyes.

Prizey, without hesitation, wiped the tears from his cheeks. Her hand gently slid into his.

"Let's go," she said quietly.

And together, they walked back inside.

Scene Title: "The Unspoken Heartbeats"

The living room was warm with the soft hum of conversation and the buzz of anticipation — but as soon as Prizey entered, holding Simon's hand, a stillness took over.

Two hearts, quietly watching from different corners, broke — silently, painfully — as they saw the connection between the two. But they hid it well. No one let the cracks show. Not even to themselves.

John sat back down, expression unreadable.

Max, who had already sensed John's emotional turmoil, gently nudged him. "Let it go, bro," he murmured. John nodded, quietly shifting to the mattress on the floor.

Suddenly, Simon pulled his hand away from Prizey's and without a word, plopped himself down on the mattress beside John.

Prizey, caught off guard by his small act of rebellion, chuckled softly. She couldn't help it — Simon looked ridiculously cute acting this childish.

She folded her arms.

"So... everyone's that mad at me that no one's even going to talk to me now?" she huffed.

Simon glanced up at her from the mattress. Then, with a sudden move, he wrapped his arms around Max's legs like a sulking toddler.

Everyone froze for a second — then burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"Simon!" Max exclaimed dramatically, "Don't be this adorable! Or I swear, I'll have to question my whole existence and turn gay for you!"

The room erupted. Laughter bounced off every wall. Simon grinned and gave Max a playful punch on the leg before scooting a little away.

Still smiling, Prizey walked toward him again and held out her hand.

"Well, Mr. Simon," she said teasingly. "I don't think Ed Warren ever got this offended during an exorcism, huh? And don't forget… you're a paranormal investigator. You're supposed to be brave, not pouty."

Simon looked at her hand for a long moment, then quietly stood on his own — refusing her gesture — and walked over to sit on the couch.

Prizey sighed and followed, taking the seat beside him.

"Sonia," she called out, "play the movie."

With a nod, Sonia hit the play button. The Conjuring began.

The room dimmed. Shadows from the screen danced across everyone's faces. One by one, they slipped into their roles, mentally preparing — focusing — except two.

Prizey and Simon.

Prizey leaned a little toward him, offering the snack bowl silently. He didn't take it.

She frowned. "So how long are you planning to stay mad?"

Simon didn't reply. His eyes stayed on the screen. Cold. Silent.

Now she was annoyed. With a dramatic sigh, she handed the bowl to Aliyah instead — only to freeze a second later when Simon leaned right in front of her… and picked a snack from Aliyah's hand instead.

For a moment — a blink — his eyes locked with Prizey's.

This time, he broke the gaze.

And Prizey… couldn't look away. Her fingers stayed frozen on her lap as she watched him return to the screen like nothing had happened. But inside her chest, something shifted — something warm, something uncertain.

On the far side of the room, as the movie took a creepy turn, Rozy let out a small squeal and clung tightly to Louis's arm.

Without saying a word, Louis gently wrapped his fingers around hers — and never let go, not even once, for the rest of the night.

The movie flickered across the screen, but Prizey's mind had already drifted away. Her gaze, uninvited but unwavering, found its way to Simon again.

> You know what, Simon… I don't even know why… but sometimes, deep inside, I feel like you're Xavier. The same Xavier who brought so much pain into my life — since childhood till now… a shadow that never truly left.

Her eyes softened as she watched Simon laugh at a silly scene, tossing popcorn into the air like a child.

> But then you do things like this… your stupid jokes, your goofy smile… and I just can't help but laugh too. And suddenly, I start doubting myself.

She tilted her head slightly, a faint smirk rising to her lips.

> Because Xavier could never be this adorable. He's supposed to be serious… a dark, dangerous sigma type. Right? Not someone who sneaks snacks in the middle of a horror movie and calls it a 'midnight popcorn crisis.'

> But still… whatever the truth is — I'll find it. I have to. Because Simon… you're seriously too adorable.

With that, she pulled her thoughts back to the movie, her heart still racing a little from its own secrets.

The film continued all night, looping in the background as everyone focused on learning their expressions, movements, and cues. Every frame burned into their minds like they were truly living it.

Next Day

The sun peeked over the horizon. As the last scene of the final movie replay faded into black, Prizey stepped forward, clapping once to get everyone's attention.

"Well done, guys," she said with a proud smile. "Seriously… thank you for giving your time and energy. I know you must be tired — so for now, let's get some rest. After that, we'll start the dialogue rehearsals. Alright?"

In a chorus of exhausted, sleepy voices, everyone replied:

"Okiiiii…"

Yawns followed. One by one, the cast wandered toward their rooms, dragging their blankets behind them like little kids after a school play.

But Prizey stayed.

Sleep wouldn't come to her. Not yet.

So she decided to quietly prepare the rehearsal set herself — arranging props, fixing lights, and sketching marks on the floor with tape. She was halfway through adjusting a lantern when she noticed something on the mattress across the living room floor.

Simon.

Fast asleep.

He had probably fallen asleep while watching the movie again, arms lazily folded and one foot sticking out from under the blanket. His hair was a complete mess.

Prizey paused, watching him with a little grin she didn't mean to have.

> "Oh Simon… there's no saving you," she whispered, chuckling softly.

Without a second thought, she fetched a pillow and carefully slid it under his head. Then she pulled a blanket over him, gently tucking it up to his shoulders. Her hand hovered there a second too long before she caught herself.

Still smiling, she settled onto the nearby sofa. She hadn't intended to sleep — just rest for a moment.

But that moment turned into minutes.

And minutes turned into sleep.

Hours later, without realizing it, she shifted in her sleep — turning too far to one side.

With a soft thud, she slipped off the sofa and landed right onto the mattress beside Simon.

The light sound stirred him awake. His eyes blinked open slowly, and he found her there, sleeping beside him, curled up like a feather caught by the wind.

He blinked again, confused — but then, slowly, he smiled.

Without making a sound, he leaned in, brushed a strand of hair from her forehead, and pressed a soft, barely-there kiss just above her brow.

> "Goodnight, stubborn girl," he whispered.

Then he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her gently into his warmth.

And together, in that quiet living room where secrets softly breathed, Simon and Prizey slept — close enough to feel each other's heartbeats, yet still oceans away from the truth neither of them dared to say aloud.