The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

WULFRIC only felt his heart jumping wildly. It felt like it would jump to his throat at any second. Then he saw the playful glint on Aster’s eyes and he knew that the other was teasing him again. Despite the jumping up and down of his heart, a helpless smile still crossed his lips.

He raised his hand and tapped the other’s nose. “Stop being too naughty.”

Or else, he might really end up being a ‘criminal’. Like the example Aster gave him earlier. Of course, he would try his best to hold back. But he wasn’t really known for having great self-control. The only thing that’s probably stopping him from completely letting go was the fear that Aster would hate him.

And yet, this ‘unscrupulous’ kid seemed to always try testing his limit since this morning. Not that he hated it though. Despite the constant heart attack, he enjoyed that fluttering feeling in his stomach. As if butterflies were flying inside. It’s uncomfortable in a way. But it’s probably the best kind of discomfort he had ever felt.

Feeling the tap on his nose, Astrid pouted a bit. “I’m not being naughty. I’m simply telling the truth. After all, you are indeed a prince.”

“Yes, yes,” Wulfric could only say, his voice full of pampering.

The two finally sat down at the center of the boat. The moment they did, it automatically sailed towards the center of the lake. Its speed wasn’t too fast. Just enough to create a gentle breeze.

“What do you want to eat?” Wulfric asked.

“You can order for me,” Astrid responded.

“What if you don’t like what I ordered?”

“I doubt it. I’m not very picky when it comes to food, you see,” Astrid said, then he smiled and added. “Unlike some.”

Wulfric raised one of his brows. “Why do I feel like you’re talking about me?”

Astrid showed a very fake shocked expression. “How could I even dare?”

The two looked at each other and then laughed together.

“Fine. I’ll order for the both of us. Just don’t complain later,” Wulfric said after a while.

While Wulfric was ordering, Astrid looked around the lake. There were artificial ball of lights floating around. In this dark environment, these balls of light seemed like fireflies floating around them. With the full moon hanging above their heads and the stars sprinkled on the dark night sky, everything was just simply beautiful.

He turned to Wulfric. The other had his brows furrowed while looking seriously at the virtual screen in front of him. It was as if he was trying to solve a national level problem.

Cute.

Wulfric finally finished ordering. When he closed the virtual screen and raised his head, he saw that Aster was staring at him.

“What’s wrong? Is there a dirt on my face?” he asked, touching his face.

“No. I’m just thinking how handsome you are,” the other said with a smile while gazing softly at him.

And Wulfric’s poor heart went to another overdrive. He could feel his whole face heating up. He put his hand on his nape and gazed away. “Ah seriously. Are you so hellbent on giving me a heart attack today?”

Astrid was startled hearing that. But seeing the shy look on Wulfric’s face, he couldn’t help but smile. Was he really teasing the other too much? But most of the time, he was just telling the truth though.

He wasn’t really thinking much when he said the things that gave Wulfric ‘palpitation’. He was simply saying the first thing that came to his mind at the moment. The fact that that was the case showed how comfortable he was with the other.

He would have never expected that something like that was possible. Especially if he thought of the first time the two of them met. All he felt back then for the other was annoyance. All he wanted was to not ever meet the other again. And yet now here they were. Having dinner at such a romantic place. Fate really seemed to move in mysterious ways.

Astrid put his chin on his palm and smiled at the other. “Well, you’re free to take revenge. I won’t be mad even if you do.”

Wulfric stopped and then turned to Astrid. His expression suddenly turned serious. “Can I really?”

Astrid nodded.

Wulfric stood up and walked to his side. He leaned down towards him. The other’s action quickly shortened the distance between them until there’s only a few inches separating his face from his. Astrid subconsciously wanted to move back but he stopped himself and stared straight at Wulfric. He couldn’t help but wonder what the other was planning to do.

He saw Wulfric reaching out to him until his rough, callused hand touched Astrid’s cheek. The other continued on with his descent, as if trying to kiss him. But when there was only an inch between them, Wulfric stopped, his whole face suddenly turned red. Then the other jumped back, like a puppy that got its tail stepped on.

“W-why didn’t you move away and avoid me?” Wulfric asked.

Astrid was stunned and then stared at the other. Seeing Wulfric’s blushing face, he couldn’t help burst out laughing. The other was the one who initiated it but at the end he was too shy to continue. Now, Wulfric was blushing from his neck to the roots of his ears.

Wulfric’s question lingered in his mind however. Yes, why didn’t he try to move at all? The answer was pretty obvious if he really thought about it. But he didn’t really to think too much right now and analyzed everything that’s happening between them. He simply wanted to go with the flow. Let the wind take them where it should, that kind of thing.

But at that moment, when the distance between them was only an inch away, a certain expectation bloomed in his heart. Just thinking of that, he felt his ear tips heating up.

Astrid looked at Wulfric who was still blushing red. “I think you already got your ‘revenge’.”