Chapter 708 - 708: JEALOUS (AND PETTY) WULFRIC
WULFRIC sat alone in a massive, empty theater. He would’ve preferred watching [Serendipitous Summer] in his home theater, but that came with too much hassle—especially since the movie was just premiering today. If he wanted to watch it privately at home, he’d have to wait for the official HoloDisc release.
So instead, he rented out a theater near the army base. And, of course, he chose the VR version. If Aster’s character was going to laugh, cry, or fight in this movie, Wulfric wanted to feel it all right alongside him.
He eagerly put on the VR helmet—and instantly, the theater vanished, replaced by a sunlit coastal town so vivid he could almost smell the saltwater.
He barely paid attention to the panoramic scenes or the female lead, his focus drifting. But the moment Aster showed up—riding that old motorcycle—Wulfric sat up straighter. Even with the helmet on, he’d have known that posture anywhere. Then Aster took off the helmet, and Wulfric swore time slowed down just to stretch out the moment.
His black hair fell into place, messy from the ride, and when he turned his head, the sunlight caught the sharp lines of his face just right. Those dark eyes—familiar and endless—scanned the horizon, and for a heartbeat, Wulfric could pretend they’d found him instead.
The way Aster’s lips quirked at the corners, the careless grace of his fingers brushing through his hair—every detail burned into Wulfric’s mind like a star searing through the atmosphere.
The movie began strong, and Wulfric was fully absorbed in watching Aster. But as the story progressed—as Aster’s character grew closer and closer to his co-star—Wulfric’s jaw tightened without him realizing.
He knew it was stupid. This wasn’t real—Aster was just acting. But every time Aster’s hand brushed the girl’s arm, or when he smiled at her like she hung the moon, or when he looked at her like she was the only person in the world, something hot and ugly coiled in Wulfric’s chest. He wanted to punch a wall. Or maybe her.
Which was totally barbaric. But he’s not really the type to discriminate against genders. Whether male or female, as long as he didn’t like them, he wouldn’t hesitate to show it.
Wulfric reached his limit when Aster gave CPR to that… girl. It might not have any romantic connotation and it was done to save her character, but their lips still touched! And that’s the main point. His hands clenched so tight the chair’s armrest probably cracked under his grip. He lunged forward on instinct, reaching to yank Aster away, but his fingers passed right through empty air. The frustration of not being able to touch him, to stop this, burned worse than the jealousy.
He seriously wanted to just remove the VR helmet and stopped watching. But this was Aster’s first movie where he’s the lead actor. How could he not finish it and show his support just because of his petty jealousy?
Wulfric forced himself to sit through the entire movie. It might’ve been the most patience he’d ever shown in his life. But he was still petty. So when the final scene played out, he moved to stand where the girl was, pretending he was the one Aster was talking to.
As Aster said, “I’m yours to keep,” Wulfric muttered back, “I’m yours too.”
When the ending credits rolled, Wulfric removed the VR helmet. He looked at his armrest, and yes, they’re no longer in good condition. He ignored it. It’s not like he could do anything about it, aside from paying for damages. So, he just opened his Terminal and posted his thoughts on [Cyberspace].
***
At that moment, Astrid was sitting in a small theater where one of his fan-organized viewing parties was happening. The space only fit 100 people, making it private and cozy. Since the only option here was the 5D version, everyone could see each other’s reactions as they watched—giving the whole thing an intimate feel.
He sat at the very front, face hidden under a hat and mask. Keeping a low profile wasn’t hard—just a slouching and staying as silent as possible. Ellis waited outside with the security team Polaris sent. They would enter later, after the movie ended and Astrid revealed himself to his fans. The security presence felt excessive to him, but Ellis had argued that crowds—even in fan events—could get unpredictable. Better to have protection ready than risk a mob scene or worse.
Astrid couldn’t say anything to rebut that, so he just agreed.
As the movie played, he quietly listened to the surrounding crowd. He hid a smile when they laughed at the funny parts or whispered excitedly during Jace and Abby’s romantic scenes. Some even cried during Abby’s moments with her brother and when she opened up to Jace about him.
Watching their reactions, it was clear—all the hard work from the cast and crew had paid off. That thought made him smile again.
After an hour and forty-five minutes, the ending credits began to roll. Astrid stood up and made his way to the mic stand that had been set up earlier. He picked up the microphone and stepped onto the makeshift stage. Then he took off his hat and mask, storing them inside his space ring. Finally, he turned to face the audience—who were still buzzing with excitement, chatting loudly about the movie they had just watched.
He tapped the mic to get everyone’s attention. “Ahem. Hello everyone. This is Astrid Townsend. Thank you so much for attending this viewing party.”
At first, most people just turned toward the stage with confused looks. Their expression was like saying, ‘Who is this guy?’ A few froze, eyes widening in disbelief. Then came the first scream. Another followed. And another. Within seconds, the entire theater erupted. His name bounced off the walls as fans jumped from their seats, some clutching their faces, others scrambling for their Terminals to record. The initial quiet disbelief had shattered into pure chaos, every voice in the room screaming his name like a mantra.
“Aster!!!”