Chapter 202 (1): A Stormy Silent Night

Cambrook County.

Wayne finally remembered that he was a middle manager amid his busy schedule. Driving to Cambrook County to make an appearance, he brought Ottilia a box of ancient books and asked her to a movie in the afternoon. It would be a date.

Ottilia turned down the date and expressed her lack of interest in monster movies, but since Wayne had brought her precious ancient books, she was willing to watch a film that featured her friend.

That wasn’t a date.

Good news, the ticket inspector in Londan was spared from throwing the ticket punch away in anger. Bad news, Wayne had planned a midnight screening with High Reverend Filomina, who hadn’t watched his debut.

Inside the screening room, Ottilia sipped her beverage while Wayne sat beside her with a bucket of popcorn. They had a pleasant chat about the forgotten period in history.

Ottilia was quiet and elegant with a reserved temperament and a maturity that belied her age. It felt like she had rehearsed every move in her head before she carried it out in action. Wayne believed that she likely had a strict upbringing.

He had asked about it, but she never went into detail about herself. He was in no position to press for more information.

After spending some time with her, Wayne believed he had come to understand her pretty well. She was only quiet and reserved on the surface. Just like other college girls her age, Ottilia was curious, defiant, and adventurous, and she craved new challenges. She hid that side of herself due to her upbringing, pouring all her yearnings into books.

While she was a disciple of the Goddess of Nature, her faith wasn’t steadfast. Her independent spirit was very much in line with a free mage. Coincidentally, that was also the kind of person Wayne was. He shared a commonality with her and the same interest in forgotten history. After some time, Ottilia came to see him as a friend.

She didn’t have many friends, so it was difficult for her to say no to one of them. She lowered the ancient books she had been glued to and accompanied Wayne to the cinema.

Soon, though, the hipster girl found herself getting immersed in the hipster movie. She praised the director, Wallace, for being a genius and showered Wayne with praise for his acting chops. When she saw his character give his life for love, she couldn’t help but get teary-eyed, unlike her usual calm self.

“Don’t be sad. This is only art.” Wayne caught her hand. “If you feel envious, shake off your shackles and make a leap of faith. As your friend, I’ll support you fully.”

“It’s not the same. I’m in a complicated situation, so I can’t devote myself to love like you do...” Ottilia stopped herself, looking at the hand Wayne had taken and then at him, exasperated. She considered him a friend, but he was hitting on her?

“What is it? Keep going!” Wayne looked at her with a confused expression, urging her to tell her story.

Ottilia pull... pulled her hand out and rolled her eyes at him. “Given how good you are at fooling girls, you must have many girlfriends.”

“I’m single, thanks,” Wayne lied blatantly. Since she hadn’t said the line he wanted to hear from her, he continued the conversation on his own. “Like the kissing scene on the cruise ship. It was staged. I still have my first kiss!”

Ottilia covered her mouth and chuckled. She had read many books, especially history books. He couldn’t fool her so easily.

“You’re embarrassing me by laughing.”

“Then what should I do?”

“You should be curious about when I’ll give my first kiss away and who the lucky girl will be. And I’ll say that the girl is in this very screening room,” Wayne deadpanned. Then he broke character and laughed.

Ottilia didn’t. She looked at Wayne with a frown, like she was considering it.

“Wait, you actually want it?” Surprised, Wayne pointed at his pouty lips. “We’re friends, so just tell me how you want to kiss me. I swear I won’t fight back.”

Only then did Ottilia crack a smile. She said bluntly, “You’re nice as a friend, but not as a boyfriend. It’ll make life tiring.”

“How would you know without trying?” Wayne urged. A scientific conclusion could only be reached after scientific experiments. One shouldn’t simply assume that the hypothesis was the answer.

Ottilia didn’t fall for it. She stared at the end credits blankly. “I envy your freedom to do whatever you want, whether it’s starring in a movie or skipping work. You go wherever you want to go.”

“You can do the same!”

She wordlessly shook her head. “The movie’s good. I’d like to watch it again.”

Wayne checked his watch. “Sure. I have time. I’ll buy the tickets.”

“Are you in a hurry?”

“Yeah, I have a date with my girlfriend tonight. I’m going back to Londan to watch the movie with her.”

Ottilia rolled her eyes. What an unexpected response. She envied Wayne even more. He was able to say whatever he wanted to say with no reservation.

***

The second watch ended. Inside the screening room, girls from the college town sobbed as their boyfriends comforted them warmly. The boyfriends seized the chance to profess their devotion and claimed that they would also give their lives for love, earning them a kiss.

Wayne, with half of his face covered by a scarf, gave himself a thumbs-up. How wise of him to disguise himself in advance, or he would be in trouble with all the female fans coming up to him to kiss him. If he said yes, their boyfriends would become single instantly; if he said no, it would make him an arrogant movie star who didn’t respect his fans. It was difficult to be a celebrity!

Ottilia had a complicated expression as she looked at the young men and women snuggling in their seats. Perhaps what she was feeling now was envy.

Suddenly, she found herself tilting, pulled into Wayne’s arms. When she looked up, he was leaning toward her slowly.

After a pause, she blocked him and pushed his smoldering face away, casting a pretty eyeroll his way. “Stop messing around. We agreed to be friends.”

“I’m not messing around, but giving you courage,” Wayne said shamelessly. “Just do it. Say no to your past self. You can defeat yourself.”

“It’s not so simple...” Ottilia shook her head. Then she asked curiously, “Wayne, if someone defeats themselves, will they have won or lost?”

“That’s such a philosophical question. In my opinion, it’s a victory.”

“How so?”

“The present me is me, not the past me. Since the present me has defeated the past me, that’ll be my victory.”

“That... makes some sense.”

“That’s right.” Wayne pointed at himself. “So? Do you want some courage to triumph over yourself?”

“No. You look like trouble, and I am trouble, too.”

“It’s okay. I’ll keep my first kiss for you. If you ever want it, just ask.”

“Hm, okay.”

It was Wayne’s turn to be at a loss. Judging from Ottilia’s expression, she had answered him after careful consideration. She was being serious!

“Ottilia, did you have a fever that damaged parts of your brain? Maybe we should head to the hospital. I’ll pay the bill.”

“No, I’m being serious. Half a year later, if I...” Ottilia paused. “I’ll give you a chance to fool me. However, I won’t be the present me by then. The price of fooling me will be great. It may cost your life!”

Wayne blinked. Who was she trying to scare? The price of fooling him was great, too. The cost would be a life, only it would be a life born rather than a life lost.

“Ottilia, what’s wrong with your family?” He couldn’t contain his curiosity. He wanted more answers.

“I don’t want to tell you. I want to watch you get stomped by the gorilla again.”

Wayne checked his watch. He wouldn’t say no to that.

“What, in a rush to go to your girlfriend?” Ottilia teased.

“I’m single, thank you.”