The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

"NOT to me, though," Astrid said, an amused smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He hadn't expected Wulfric to openly rant about his jealousy. Sure, he had anticipated some jealousy—it was only natural—but hearing Wulfric admit it so readily still caught him off guard. Then again, this was Wulfric. He had always been so unabashedly honest when it came to his feelings for him.

It's one of the things Astrid liked about him. At least with Wulfric, he didn't have to guess how he was feeling or what he was thinking. Wulfric wore his heart on his sleeve, unafraid to be vulnerable, especially when it came to Astrid. It was refreshing, really—comforting in a way Astrid hadn't realized he needed. With Wulfric, there were no games, no hidden meanings to decipher. Just raw, unfiltered honesty.

And though it sometimes caught him off guard, like now, it was also one of the reasons he found himself drawn to Wulfric again and again. It made him feel seen, valued, and cherished in a way he hadn't experienced with anyone else outside of his family.

While his family's love had always been a steady and reassuring presence in his life, this was different. Wulfric's feelings weren't born out of obligation or familial bonds—they were a choice, freely given and deeply personal. It was a kind of love that stood on its own, unshaken and unwavering, and that made it all the more significant to Astrid.

Now, he found himself regretting the decision to set a timeline for giving Wulfric an answer to his confession. Moments like this, when Wulfric was being so effortlessly adorable, made it hard not to give in to his impulses. He was tempted—so very tempted—to throw caution to the wind and say yes, to tell Wulfric he wanted to be with him right then and there.

But he managed to rein himself in just in time. His self-control was too strong to let himself be completely swept away by his emotions. It was a trait that served him well in many ways, though he couldn't deny it could be frustrating—both for himself and, perhaps, for Wulfric.

"You're the only one who thinks so," Wulfric said, his voice tinged with a hint of a pout that was impossible to miss.

That drew a chuckle from Astrid. See? Absolutely adorable.

They talked a little more, the conversation slowing as the night grew later. Eventually, with a simple exchange of goodnights, the call ended.

----------

The next morning, while getting ready for school, Astrid found himself scrolling through the online reactions to the [Serendipitous Summer] trailer.

[Astrid's portrayal of Jace already looks so perfect! He's exactly how I imagined him from the novel!]

[I wasn't sure about the casting at first, but Astrid and Charlotte look like they're going to bring Jace and Abby to life beautifully!]

[The cinematography and the acting in the trailer are stunning! Astrid is definitely going to shine in this one.]

[I don't recognize the actress playing Abby, but she holds her ground with Astrid. This movie might be her breakout!]

[The trailer gave me chills! Astrid and Charlotte really embody the bittersweet vibe of the book.]

[Astrid as Jace? Perfection. Charlotte as Abby? Can't wait to see how she pulls it off. This movie is going to be amazing!]

Of course, alongside the positive comments, there were plenty of negative ones as well. But Astrid didn't bother to read them. He's just glad that majority of the comments were mostly positive. The trailer even trended for 15 minutes. Which was already a huge thing considering that [Serendipitous Summer] was not a huge production.

Astrid figured they probably owed a lot of the trailer's attention to the dedicated fans of the novel. Their enthusiasm and excitement had clearly played a big part in boosting its visibility.

That's why, as soon as the trailer was released last night, Astrid wasted no time reposting it. Along with his post, he made sure to thank the original author, One Leaf, and the devoted fans of the novel for their unwavering support and enthusiasm. One Leaf also shared his post, thanking him in return. The interaction subtly boosted Astrid's follower count, drawing even more attention to the trailer.

As he continued to read through the comments, two particular ones attracted his attention.

[Starlight For Aster @muscledbubblegum: We're excited to announce that we're organizing private viewing parties for [Serendipitous Summer] across selected locations in the Empire! Everyone is welcome to join, but there's a catch: you must be a registered member of Aster's fan club AND show proof that you've reposted the trailer. Let's make this a celebration to remember for our dear Aster!]

Astrid raised his brow at that. It seemed that @muscledbubblegum had changed their name in [Cyberspace] to 'Starlight For Aster'. It was clear he was taking his job as the fan club president quite seriously.

Astrid liked the post, a small smile tugging at his lips. Maybe he should reach out to @muscledbubblegum one of these days to personally thank him for his dedication. It might also be a good idea to plan a surprise appearance at one of the private viewing parties they were organizing—his fans would undoubtedly love it, and it felt like the perfect way to show his appreciation.

His gaze then shifted to the second comment that had caught his attention.
Find your next read at My Virtual Library Empire

[@astridsnumberonefan: I've watched this trailer so many times my Terminal is probably sick of me continuously replaying it. Does Aster even realize he's out here ruining lives with that face? Like, how am I supposed to function knowing he exists? Anyway, if the movie doesn't have at least 80% Aster screen time, I'm rioting.]

Astrid blinked at the comment. Then, a laugh burst out of him, louder than he expected. He rubbed the back of his neck, still chuckling. The sheer dramatic energy of the post was ridiculous, but he couldn't deny it was also kind of amusing. It wasn't every day someone claimed his existence was ruining lives—in a good way, apparently.

Oh, Wulf...