Chapter 59 – Two Perspectives: Carene
Chapter 59 - Two Perspectives: Carene
...
Although I very much wanted to say something to help Celesta, Isla quickly pushed her to me and beamed a very dazzling smile, as she spoke to me,
"Well~? She looks crazy hot, right~~~~? Huhuhu, I worked pretty hard this time, you know? Ah! I'm going to be late!"
"Sorry, Celesta. I must leave immediately. Remember to give me a call if any trouble crops up. Also! No need to bring back any money from your allowance, you hear me? I would get really angry if you do that. Bye then~!!!"
Without waiting to hear any of our responses, Isla swiftly dashed away, going out from the front door and disappearing from our field of vision.
Well, what can I say? She is surely a unique mother in her own right. Expecting any less mischief out of her would be a great disservice to her reputation.
While I was contemplating on how to judge Isla's new changed self, Celesta meekly pulled my wrist, as she asked me,
"T-That... do I, look good in this..?"
*Badum*
No good. My heart skipped a beat there!
But, it couldn't be helped this time. Celesta usually has a very upfront and decisive personality. In comparison, I have always been the meek one, following her lead whenever troubled.
However, the gap this time, from her confident self to her shy behavior now... it is almost as if our roles have been reversed!
D-Don't lose it, Carene... don't let yourself overthink!!
I-It isn't how it looks like. Celesta... she is just a bit nervous about wearing something that she is not used to.
As a supportive friend of hers... I must act properly. Remember the objective of this outing- to relieve Celesta of her unspoken stresses.
If I can't play a proper role in relieving her of those worries, then I must at least make her present much more joyful, enough to make her forget about those problems.
"It looks good on you, Celesta. V-Very much actually..."
A happy smile floated up on Celesta's face as she bent her head down to hide it.
N-No good... I might really lose it today.
...
After injecting myself with a dubious immunization of Celesta's fatal attractive cuteness, the two of us walked out of the house as well, moving towards the Bus Station. Celesta judged it to be cheaper for us to take a bus rather than going for a taxi.
Although I very much wanted to warn her of her own charm towards the onlookers, especially today... after seeing her looking forward to our outing, I couldn't help but stomach my thoughts in silence.
On the way there, I couldn't help but turn back once to gaze toward Sis Lin's house next door.
Sis Lin... she must have left for work already. I hope that the stupid perverts won't be pestering her again. I really don't wish for her to change the City again due to their hypocrisy.
Damn it. Don't let your mind wander elsewhere, me. Focus on accompanying Celesta right now. I must not let her notice that I am not paying attention to her.
But really, it's not as if I don't want to look at her, rather I am afraid that I would end up staring at her stupidly the whole way. Other than distracting myself with some other thoughts, I just couldn't think of any other way at that moment.
Calm down... calm down already!
Look, the passersby are already eyeing Celesta with perverted gazes. How I wish that I could poke them in the eyes or something. Even if it isn't their fault that Celesta is looking so gorgeous today, I still can't stop the resentment.
Having such unkind thoughts towards absolute strangers... I am surely turning into a very bad person. Really.
Unlike me, who was panicking on the inside tremendously, Celesta had a happy smile on her face, as she walked next to me, matching her steps with me perfectly.
Now that I remember, it has always been like this, huh? Her walking next to me like this...
But, didn't she separate from me for many years already??
What's going on? How am I getting confused over this?
So strange...
...
"Look, Carene. The Bus is already there! Let's go~!!"
As soon as the two of us reached the Bus stop, Celesta grabbed my hand and dragged me over to the Bus awaiting at the Bus stop.
Huuu... we made it. Fortunately, there are some empty seats here and the two of us could sit next to each other.
Maybe it isn't the rush hour of early mornings, hence the Bus is somewhat empty right now.
According to the ticket that we received from Isla, the movie should begin in one hour. Since the Movie theatre isn't that far away from here, we should be able to reach there in about twenty minutes. Well, according to Celesta's knowledge at least.
Thankfully, the traffic on the road wasn't heavy and the Bus could move around smoothly.
It was also when I realized my new predicament.
Celesta had chosen the window seat to sit on, while I chose the seat right next to it. And hence, I am faced with a dilemma.
Should I turn my gaze towards the window, as people generally do? But then, I would be directly staring at Celesta's charming appearance.
I don't trust my present self to be able to hold my reigns properly once I lose control, which I fear I am very close to losing.
And the other... is to not look at the window. Which in turn means... facing away from Celesta all the time.
I just don't have the heart to do that. I mean, it would look like I am intentionally ignoring her while she is making her small talk.
I have to make Celesta feel better, not make her even more depressed!
Even if the two of us don't have a lover's relationship... that kind of behavior is not acceptable even amongst friends.
What should I do now??
...
And while I kept nodding my head to Celesta's talk, glancing once in a while towards her, while mostly being lost in my thoughts, Celesta shook me lightly once as she called out to me,
"Carene? Carene! Hey, we are already here. Let's get down as well."
Ehh? W-We have arrived already?!
Oh no. My mental state is at the absolute rock bottom right now.
How could I not notice twenty minutes passing by at all?
How can I treat Celesta properly when my mind isn't even present here?
Get yourself together, Carene!
This is a battlefield! Win at all costs!!
...
Okay. I am calm now...
Phew. No stress. Don't overthink anything.
It's just a movie. A video clip. A bunch of animated images with some sound.
Nothing to fret about...
Actually, I haven't been much to the movie theatres, as it's not so much fun to watch them there by yourself. That doesn't mean that I haven't seen any on phones or TV.
The thing that is different this time... is the person accompanying me to watch one.
Celesta had been acting all joyful and energetic ever since we came here and took the lead to deal with all the formalities... leaving me to wander around in my dazed state.
Although we didn't know what movie Isla booked for us to watch, Celesta didn't seem to care much about that, as she fluttered around the semi-crowded theatre, waiting along to enter the movie hall.
Did I mention that we had been holding hands since a while ago?
As if she was afraid that I would get lost or get abducted by some evil villain lurking somewhere, Celesta kept me close to herself, as she continued to talk to me in her sweet and melodious voice.
Yeah, she smells nice too. It's not my fault, okay? We are so close together all this while that it is impossible for me not to notice this.
And... her hands, they are soft, and warm... if it makes any sense. Since she is a living human being, I would be more terrified if they were cold and rigid instead.
I had obviously underestimated the effect and sway that Celesta has over me... so much so that, now I finally realize it.
That I have chosen to battle a Level 80 Boss while being just a Level 15 noob. I was destined to fail ever since the beginning.
Damn it. I should have focused more on accumulating experience in these kinds of things, rather than just swinging my waist all the time. I deeply reflect on it.
For now, I am trying to do my best to act as normal and as calm as possible, at least until we are done with the movie here.
Wait a minute... now that I think about it, just what is it that one has to do while accompanying someone else on a movie together??
Hmm. Besides just sitting next to them and occasionally bringing some edibles... I don't think there is much to it.
Then! Shouldn't it be way easier to deal with things now?!!
Yeah! That's it!! Celesta would be too busy to watch the movie to care about me at all.
Un. I mean, we are just sitting next to each other, like we often normally do.
And the two of us are present in an enclosed space... away from the eyes of Celesta's family... uh.
And... and, the place just happens to be perfectly darkened as well... that doesn't happen as often at all.
Oh, God. Please help me here. Just... at least don't let this one be a horror movie at all.
If Celesta becomes scared of the movie's frightening scenes and clings to me in terror... I might just end up losing it.
...
As the movie finally began, from the opening sequence of the movie, it was based on the Medieval time period, with the cast suffering from daily life issues or Nobility troubles.
Is this a documentary film?? Just what was Isla thinking when she booked us a movie like this?
Well, at least it's better than facing a horror movie within this darkened enclosed space.
Yeah... it's all good here.
EH?! W-What was that weird sound just now??
It sounds like it came from the movie speakers instead!
Wait. W-What are these actors doing?! T-They are showing too much skin there!
Oh, God. T-They started... doing it too.
As I turned my eyes to look at Celesta, her face was already beet-red, while her body kept trembling involuntarily.
N-No good. This is... not good at all.
As if taking a cue from the movie, the couples in the audience began to... do some stuff as well.
Oh no... this isn't a simple movie theatre.
It's... A SEX DUNGEON!!!
...
Nonononononono... my dick is already giving the movie a standing ovation!
Thank God that I am not wearing a skirt right now, otherwise my erection would undoubtedly be on full display!
Let's take a mental note not to wear skirts or anything similar in public. I don't think that I would be able to take it if I was ever assaulted in public.
Gah! No, stop thinking about yourself, me!
How should I get Celesta out of this situation..? She just came here to unwind and to let go of stress, not to encounter something as traumatizing as this!
F-Firstly... I must help Celesta to calm down. It's my responsibility as her friend to prevent her from breaking down in this mess.
As I gathered my thoughts along with my remaining courage, I touched Celesta's hand while calling out to her,
"Um... C-Celesta?"
What happened next was something that I never imagined would happen.
Celesta flinched back from my touch and pulled her hand back to her chest while staring at me in... possibly fright?
I then noticed that she was already breathing heavily. Even her face couldn't be seen properly due to the darkness in the hall.
As I tried to approach her again, celesta suddenly stood up from her seat, as she shouted,
"I... I have to, go to the toilet!"
And, she left just those words for me, as she dashed away from beside me... and left the movie hall.
D-Did I just disgusted her with my touch earlier..?
Has she already begun to... hate me?
...
A/N: Kitty is always grateful for your love.