Chapter 30: Invitation

"Ahh~ It feels much warmer now. The air isn't too cold and the drink just the right temperature..." I sighed into my mug as I watched the marshmallow shaped like a corgi spin as I swirled the hot chocolate.

"Well, it could be warmer if I turn the heater on." Aries said as he moved towards the heater.

"No! It's not winter yet. There's no need for that. We can use the blankets." I stopped him as I grabbed his arm and shook my head.

I hadn't receive the funds for the project this month so most materials came out of my pocket. Saving some costs on electricity had to be made. Plus, once winter comes it'll definitely be more colder. It would be more cost effective to only begin using the heater on super cold nights.

"Alright then. Why don't we watch a movie or something? You don't look that tired yet." Aries asked as he lined some crackers on a plate and carried it to the coffee table.

"I guess that's fine. I haven't had the time to watch anything when you were not around." I trailed after Aries, mug in hand, as I headed over to the couch and plopped myself down.

Aries then laid on my lap comfortably before I turned towards him with surprise. "What are you doing?"

"I need a Sol recharge. This is the fastest way to do so." Aries said as he grinned back at me.

"Don't blame me if I spill anything." I said as he handed me the remote.

"You won't."

"Blind trust leads both to downfall."

"If its you, I don't mind."

"Quit that. There's no reason for you to place 100% trust in me. It's scary."

"Why is it scary?"

I tilted my head to look at Aries before frowning. "I don't know. ... ... Actually... I'm scared to lose that trust. You know what happened last time..."

"Don't be sad. You won't. Promise." Aries smiled as he patted my head.

"Okay, then. Thank you. You have my complete trust as well." I replied with a smile before noticing the conflicted emotions in Aries' eyes.

"Uh... that's great. Why don't you select a movie?" Aries quickly switched the subject as he turned away.

I didn't think too much of it but the look in his eyes made me feel anxious. He freely trusted me but doesn't want me to trust him? No, that can't be. Maybe he felt the same thing I did that made it uncomfortable for him to truly place 100% of his trust in me.

"How about this?" I asked as I scrolled to the romcom section.

Hey, come on. Everyone loves a good ol' romance movie. There's no such thing as a girly taste. People who say stuff like that are just biased.

"Oh, this one. Sure. I heard pretty good feedbacks on this one." Aries said as he glanced at me from the corner of his eyes.

"Great. Always better to choose the safer option." I mumbled before I heard Aries snickering.

"Definitely better than that time you nearly wet your pants watching a horror movie." Aries said as he held onto his stomach trying to supress his laughter.

"I did not! Why you-" I stood up and let Aries fall onto the floor before sitting back down and wrapping my arms around my legs.

"No lap pillow for you!" I exclaimed and stuck out my tongue at Aries who pouted as he rubbed at his head.

"Don't be like that... Sorry~" Aries pouted as he climbed onto the seat beside me and slung his arm around my shoulder, shaking me as he blinked his eyes at me.

"Stop that and be careful! I nearly spilled my hot chocolate. I'm not falling for it this time. Also, the movie is starting." I said in the most serious voice I could muster at the time.

"Okay, okay. Let's watch the show. I'll stop teasing for the time being."

"How about forever?"

"Hmm... No." Aries grinned after pretending to think about my suggestion seriously.

I rolled my eyes in respond before turning to face the screen before us. The opening credits flashed before the screen as the protagonist walks down a busy road.

"Seems like something I never see you do." Aries suddenly commented as I glanced at his direction.

"What do you mean?"

"I never see you outdoors. It'd be a miracle to get you away from your lab."

"What? I do leave the lab!"

"Really? Going to town for groceries doesn't count though." Aries returned the look and caught my eyes as he smirked at me.

"I-it does!"

"Doesn't."

"Does!"

"Doesn't."

"Does!"

"Does!"

"Doesn't... Ah! Dammit!" I found myself caught in his trap as he chuckled.

"If you want to... Wanna come over with me on my next shoot?"

"Huh?"

"We're heading to the Snow Lodge in XXX Town."

"To that town... is it a winter shoot?"

"Well, it's classified but then again it's the only thing that makes sense so yes."

"Couldn't they just wait till winter to shoot?"

"Beats me. I'm just the model." Aries said as he pulled my cheeks, stretching them out.

"Sowwy! Sowwy! Stah it!" I hit Aries' hand lightly before he let go of me.

"So your answer?"

"You want it now?"

"The sooner the better. Just say yes now. I can provide everything you need there. You just need to bring yourself." Aries said as he turned towards me and cocked his head to the side.

"Wow. What a privilege if you say so. But I'll need to think about it though." I said as I thought about his offer.

"What's there to think about? I'll be working. You just need to be there and enjoy yourself."

"Exactly. It doesn't seem fair."

"We can go fool around after. I'm the one shot king after all." Aries laughed as I stared at his face in disbelief.

"That sounded so wrong."

"What did?"

"The way you said... nevermind. I understood it so there's no need for you to repeat it."

"What did I say wrong?"

"There's no need to repeat that sentence."

"What sentence? .... One shot king?" Aries asked as I burst out laughing.

"One shot king~" Aries sung it out as I tried to suppress my laughter. Even the mup in my hands threatened to slip out from my fingers.

"Stop. The movie is basically watching itself now." I laughed as I tried to catch my breath.

"So? Will you come?"

"Fine. Fine. I'll just let Darryl know." I said as I headed to grab my phone which I had been charging for a while.

"Darryl? Who's that?"

"My sponsor. Kinda like my boss for the time being." I replied as I punched in his number on the dial pad.

The phone rung for a few times but there was no answer on the other end of the line. After a few attempts, I received a busy line and no calls could get through.

Taking it as a sign that I should give up for the day, I hung up and joined Aries back on the couch.

"Maybe I'll call tomorrow. He seems to be busy. Or well... I think its quite late." I trailed off when I noticed the time on the digitalised wallpaper.

"And I wondered why your boss was still up around midnight." Aries chuckled before I narrowed my eyes at him.

"You could have told me."

"I thought he was a night owl." Aries laughed as I hit him with the couch pillows.

"It's okay. Call him first thing tomorrow. The great scientist needs a break to get some inspiration as well, no?" Aries asked as he held onto my arms that had been hitting him with a pillow.

"I knew I could count on you for an excuse." I grinned before Aries pulled me towards him, toppling over the couch and rolling onto the floor alongside him.

"What are you doing?" I laughed as our gazes met.

Our faces were so close, our noses practically touching each other's. I had fallen on top of him and his hands were still holding my arms that I was stuck to him.

I didn't know whose heart it was, but the beating resounded heavily in my ears as I felt the heat running from his palms all the way to my cheeks.

"Oh my! I'm so so sorry... I will clean that up right now." the sound of the movie running in the background was the only thing that kept me aware of the situation we were in.

"Uh, I..."

"Sol... There's something you need to know. I--" Aries looked so serious all of a sudden before his fluffy ears sprung up again.

Oh my gosh. How did I forget about them.

"Yeah, your ears. They're back again." I blurted out loud, ruining whatever weird moment we were having.

"Eh, huh? Wha-?!" Aries touched his head as he felt the ears.

"Darn. I'm sorry. I didn't expect that." Aries said in a low grumble, almost as if he were upset the ears popped up at that moment in time.

"It's alright. I did tell you how I would study it more but Uh... You were sort of gone for 2 months so not much progress there." I smiled as I tried to push myself off of Aries before he pulled me back down.

"Huh?"

"Sorry. I think I'll calm down faster this way and that it will go away for the time being." Aries said as he held onto me firmly.

"Uh... okay then? Do I... do anything?"

"Just stay calm." Aries said as I felt his breath tickle at my nape.

"An easy assignment." I laughed as I leaned into the embrace and gently ran my fingers through his hair.

"Indeed. Is it going away now?" Aries asked as I glance at him and couldn't focus on the ears on his head.

"...."

"Sol?"

"Wh? Uh Yes. It looks like it's gone." I said with a smile as I felt Aries' grip loosen.

"Well, after this movie let's get ready to head to the location of shooting."

"Didn't you say we didn't need to pack anything?"

"Maybe the essentials. You're not going to wear display briefs, are you?"

"Why was that oddly specific?"

"I mean uh... you just look like the briefs kind of guy."

"There's a certain look for someone to prefer briefs? Will you say the same thing if I liked wearing thongs?"

"... You do?" Aries replied as his face turned red.

"What? N-no! It's an example!" I gasped as I slapped his chest.

"Are you sure?" Aries asked as he grabbed my ass.

"Eek! Eh, yo! What the heck?" I shrieked as I sat up and held his hand that had grabbed my butt.

"Just needed to make sure."

"E-even if I was wearing thongs, it's my preference." I said in a fluster as I felt Aries giving me a slightly unsettling look.

"I kind of... want to s--- I mean. Er hmm... Why don't we uhh... finish the movie and call it a night?" Aries said as he quickly put an end to our awkward conversation.

"Why don't we?" I agreed as I got off of him and took my seat back on the couch.