The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

REAS drank the latte that big brother ordered for him.  He was surprised when he tasted that it was much sweeter than he expected.  His brother probably added on a note while he was ordering earlier.  Like to make his latte sweeter than normal or something.  Which was the complete opposite of what he said earlier about making his latte not to sweet.

He smiled a bit.  His brother still looked out for him.  This delicious latte totally offsets that comment made by you-know-who earlier.  Surprisingly enough, he no longer felt that irritated.  Anything sweet could really easily clean one's soul.

He secretly glanced at the slice of key lime pie Astrid was eating.  That certainly looked delicious.  With how good this latte tasted like, he was sure that the desserts would definitely be heavenly.  If not, then the other person sitting across from them wouldn't be wolfing down on his parfait.

"You're right, Lauren.  This place really does have the best tasting dessert I've ever tasted," Astrid commented.  Then he turned to Reas.  "Do you want to have a taste, Reas?  Even though I know you don't like sweets, eating one bite should be fine, right?"

Reas almost cried invisible tears.  He knew it.  His brother was still the best for him.  This time, he no longer tried to act and just simply nodded. 

Astrid smiled inwardly.  He scooped a big bite using the spoon he was holding from the slice of key lime pie and then stretched his hand to put it in front of Reas.  His brother looked at the spoon hesitantly, most likely thinking that it was embarrassing to eat in this manner.  One could really see the struggle on his face.  But at the end, he closed his eyes as if he was resigned to it and just ate what was being offered.

Then he suddenly opened his eyes as if surprised.  Because Astrid was sitting right beside Reas, he could see the glitter that appeared in his eyes.  It was quite obvious that he really liked the taste of the pie.  His expression right now was actually really adorable.

Ah, how could his brother be this cute? – Astrid thought.

Surprisingly, he was not the only one thinking this way.  Lauren, who happened to see this scene, also thought so at the moment.  Then he quickly berated himself.  Why the heck would he think that this Andreas guy was cute?  Was he crazy or what?

He shook his head.  Anyway, it's better to just concentrate on this parfait.  If another crazy thought entered his mind, he might just be completely unable to enjoy his food.

"How did you find this place?" Astrid thought of asking Lauren.

"Ah?  It's because of the owner.  He's a family friend," Lauren simply answered.

The owner was actually someone who was sponsored by his family because of the other's talent.  His family supported his studies and now the other was one of the most celebrated painters in the Empire.  He built this atelier as a form of reprieve to other artists like himself. 

The painting hanging on every wall of this place was actually painted by him.  He just changed the style a little bit so most people wouldn't recognize that he was the one who made the paintings.  Because if people knew that there were paintings made by the great Pietro, they would probably be stolen right the next morning.

"Then, props to him for ensuring the quality of food this place serves," Astrid only commented.  "By the way, is it really alright for us to go visit Polaris' headquarters?" he asked, smoothly changing the topic.  "I heard Polaris is very strict when it comes to letting outsiders enter their territory."

He actually wanted to ask Sienna if she could bring him to Polaris the moment he had thought that this company might be a good fit for him.  After all, she was the one who asked him first if he wanted to join the said entertainment company.  But then he found out that from her [Cyberspace] post that she was currently busy promoting a movie.  Of course, not the one they shot but some other.  So, how could he ask her?

At the end, he could only ask Lauren.  He was actually quite hesitant at first since the other was such a scandal magnet.  But he didn't expect that he would also have a considerate side.  As evidence of the fact that he asked to meet somewhere first before directly going to Polaris.  Which directly lessen the percentage of them being seen by paparazzi. 

Lauren chuckled when he heard what Astrid said.  "You're making it sound like we're a gang or something.  I assure you, it's fine.  But I might not be able to tour you around because, you know, no matter how good an organization is, there would always be a bad apple among the bunch."

Astrid understood what Lauren was saying.  If the other really personally tour him around the company's building, some artists who saw them might think that he was holding Lauren's thigh or something along those lines.  "It's okay, I understand."

Reas was quite surprised.  Because he too understood what this guy – Lauren – meant by what he said.  Who would have thought that he would have such a considerate side?

"Don't worry, I'll have one of my assistants to show you around the Polaris' building," Lauren added.  "Just tell him wherever you want to go and he will bring you there." 

They soon finished eating their dessert and decided that it was time to go.  After paying, it was Astrid who walked out of the room first.  Reas was about to follow when he happened to look at Lauren.  Then he saw that there was cream on his cheek.

He was planning to just ignore that when he remembered that this guy had been pretty considerate to his brother.  So, he sighed and just told the other about it.

"You have cream on your face."

Hearing that, Lauren felt embarrassed at first.  Then he quickly wiped his cheek.

"It's the other side," the other's cold tone said when he finished.

So, Lauren tried to wipe the other cheek.  But to his chagrin, he still missed it.  Which made Reas quite annoyed.

Before Reas could think, he had already stretched out his hand and wiped the cream himself.  "What are you, a kid—"

He stopped because he saw Lauren staring at him with wide eyes and then the other's whole face just turned red.  Which in turn, only made him more embarrassed. 

"What are you two doing?" Astrid's voice suddenly asked, breaking whatever awkward atmosphere that was surrounding the two. 

Reas almost jumped back.  The same was true for Lauren.  Then, both said at the same time;

"Nothing!"

Astrid raised one of his brows.  What he saw was definitely not 'nothing'.  Well, at least the atmosphere was.  It was more like 'something'.  But he decided not to meddle.  Whatever relationship that might develop between the two, that was between the two of them.  Although it would probably develop into a direction that both of them would have never expected.

He turned around and continued walking.