Chapter 38: Chapter 38: Luna doesn’t want to let go of Noah.
That day, Noah thought he was just going to watch a movie with Luna.
It happened after classes, while Noah was packing up his things and checking a message from Yume on his phone. She said she had to help her mom with some shopping and wouldn’t be able to see him until later.
Noah was thinking about heading home when Luna appeared beside his desk.
"Noah."
He looked up in surprise.
"Luna!? What’s up?"
"I just wanted to tell you that..."
Luna held her bag with both hands.
"There’s a movie I want to see."
Noah blinked.
"A movie?"
"Yes."
"Today?"
"Yes."
Noah waited for Luna to add something else, but she didn’t.
"Are you inviting me?"
"Yes."
The answer was so direct that Noah took a moment to react.
’She doesn’t look nervous.’
But after getting to know her a little better, Noah wasn’t so sure he could read her face anymore.
"What kind of movie is it?"
"A horror movie."
Noah felt his mood drop instantly.
"H-Horror...?"
"That’s right."
"Does it have a lot of jump scares...?"
"I hope so."
"Luna, that doesn’t make it sound better."
"It does for me."
Noah hesitated.
He wasn’t a fan of horror, so in his previous life he had always avoided those kinds of movies whenever he could. He didn’t like the tension, the sudden scares, or having to pretend they didn’t affect him.
But Luna was inviting him, and if he turned her down without a strong reason, she might think he didn’t want to spend time with her, which could indirectly lead to the end of the world.
"I want you to know I’m not very good with horror."
"I’ll keep that in mind."
"That doesn’t reassure me."
"I didn’t say it would."
Noah looked at her while Luna gave a small smile.
Noah sighed.
"Fine, let’s go."
"Good."
That was how they ended up at the theater.
The place was busier than Noah had expected. There were couples, groups of students, and several people waiting in front of the movie posters. Luna bought her ticket without hesitation, but Noah bought his with far less confidence.
Before entering the auditorium, Luna stopped at the concessions counter.
"Want anything?"
"Popcorn."
"Sweet or salty?"
"Salty."
Luna ordered a medium combo with a drink, and when Noah tried to pay for his share, she looked at him seriously.
"I invited you."
"But I can pay for mine."
"No."
"Luna."
"I already said no."
Noah gave up.
"Alright, thanks."
"You’re welcome."
They entered the auditorium and took seats in a middle row. Luna sat to his left as the lights gradually dimmed and the trailers began. Noah tried to convince himself it wouldn’t be that bad.
He was wrong.
The movie started calmly, but that calm only made Noah more nervous.
A family was moving into an old house where there were noises at night, doors that opened on their own, shadows at the end of hallways, and characters who walked slowly toward places no sensible person should enter.
Noah crossed his arms.
’I-It’s not going to happen, i-it’s just a movie.’
On screen, a little girl approached a closed door.
Noah gripped the sleeve of his shirt, and Luna, sitting beside him, glanced at him sideways.
"You’re tense."
Noah kept his eyes on the screen.
"No."
"It looks like you are."
"I’m focused."
"You’re waiting for the scare."
"That’s also focus, isn’t it?"
Luna leaned slightly toward him and lowered her voice near his ear.
"You can hold my hand if you’re scared."
Noah went rigid.
"I-I’m not scared."
"Then don’t hold it."
"Exactly."
Luna didn’t respond and looked back at the screen.
Noah tried to do the same.
In the movie, the girl opened the door and the hallway was empty.
Noah let out a small breath, but then a figure suddenly appeared right in front of the camera with a loud sound. Noah reacted before he could think.
He grabbed Luna’s hand tightly, and she didn’t move.
For a second, Noah didn’t understand what he had done, but then he looked down and saw his hand holding hers.
’Ah.’
He tried to let go immediately.
"Sorry, that was..."
He couldn’t finish when Luna closed her hand around his and held it firmly.
Noah blinked.
"Luna?"
"You can let go when the movie ends."
"That’s a long time."
"I know."
"Then you can let go now."
"When the movie ends."
Noah tried to move his fingers, but Luna wouldn’t let him.
She wasn’t doing it aggressively, but with enough strength to make it clear she wasn’t going to release him.
"Luna."
"You’re watching a horror movie, so it’s best to avoid sudden movements."
"That explanation doesn’t make sense."
"It can prevent accidents."
"What accidents?"
"You getting scared again by yourself."
Noah looked at her, and Luna continued watching the screen with complete seriousness.
’I don’t know if she’s joking.’
But when another loud sound happened in the movie, Noah squeezed her hand again.
Luna kept her grip, and the rest of the movie became a strange experience.
Noah tried to follow the plot, but every tense scene reminded him that he was holding Luna’s hand, or more accurately, that Luna wasn’t letting him let go.
Several times, Noah tried to carefully pull his hand back, but Luna simply adjusted her fingers and kept watching the screen.
At one point, Noah whispered.
"Luna, that scene’s already over."
She answered without looking away.
"Another one could come."
"That’s not a reason."
"Yes it is."
Noah couldn’t argue because right then another tense scene appeared, and he ended up squeezing her hand again.
Luna remained serious, but inside, she wasn’t.
’He’s holding my hand and won’t let go... well, he tried to let go, but I won’t allow it... no, that sounds bad... it’s just because of the movie... it’s just because of the movie.’
She looked at the screen, but barely processed the images.
She felt Noah’s hand in hers, the difference in temperature, the pressure of his fingers when he got scared, and the small movement he made when he tried to pretend he wasn’t afraid.
’I could rest my head on his shoulder.’
But she didn’t.
’I could tell him to get closer if he’s scared.’
She didn’t do that either.
’I could...’
Luna squeezed his hand a little tighter.
Noah whispered.
"Is something wrong?"
"No."
"You’re squeezing me."
"Sorry."
She loosened her grip slightly.
’Get a hold of yourself.’
When the movie ended, the auditorium lights came on gradually and people started to stand up.
Noah looked at their hands.
"Luna, the movie’s over."
"Yes."
"So..."
"Let’s go."
Luna stood up without letting go, and Noah stood up too because he had no other choice.
They left the auditorium holding hands.
Noah walked stiffly, glancing every now and then at their interlaced fingers. Some people looked at them as they passed, but no one said anything.
’In this world, maybe it’s not that strange to see a girl holding a guy’s hand firmly.’
That didn’t reassure him.
When they reached the main hallway of the theater, Luna stopped.
"I’m going to the restroom."
Noah looked down at their hands.
"Can I have my hand back?"
Luna looked at him.
"Yes."
She let go, and Noah moved his fingers.
"Thanks."
"Wait for me here."
"Alright."
Luna headed toward the restroom.
Noah sighed and leaned against a nearby column.
’It was a tough movie.’
He looked at his hand.
’And a tough situation.’
While he waited, he saw several people leaving the theater. Some walked toward the street. Others gathered in groups near the posters.
Then he noticed a girl with pink hair in a high ponytail and long, uneven bangs that fell softly over her forehead. She was walking while checking her phone and seemed distracted when a wallet fell from her bag.
Noah straightened up.
"Hey..."
The girl didn’t hear him and kept walking.
Noah picked up the wallet and ran after her.
"Excuse me."
Noah is about to make a serious mistake.
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