The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

IT'S the weekend and Astrid couldn't sit still ever since morning. There's really only one reason for this. He was waiting for the news about the Thornleys that would blew up today. If Olivia's plan went smoothly, then that would happened today. Maybe tonight. Since the episode of [Baby's Day-Off] where he and Livi appeared would air this afternoon.

Olivia's plan, or as Astrid understood it, was for her to get so much criticism after that episode aired that the general public would focus their attention on the Thornleys. Which was inevitable.

Olivia was a pretty famous celebrity back in her heyday. Even if she hadn't been active for years, any news about her would still be newsworthy. After the criticism about her 'parenting' start to circulate online, maybe she even hired someone to blow up the whole issue.

And then when everyone associated the Thornleys with the 'parenting' issue, the news about the current viscount's misdeeds to the public would the be released. Most people probably wouldn't put two and two together and think that Livi appearing on a variety show would actually lead to a scandal that could ruin the whole family.

Since Astrid now had knowledge on how things had arrived to this point, it was easy for him to see Olivia's way of thinking. For her to calculate everything like this, she really was one tenacious woman. Someone who wouldn't stop until she reached her goal.

Now, aside from waiting for the news about the Thornleys, he was also worrying about what Olivia would choose to do at the end. He was still not sure whether the other would choose to make it up with her son or if she would continue on with her plan to fake her death.

For Livi's sake, Astrid hoped that it would be the former.

"Aster, stop moving back and forth. You're making me dizzy."

Reas' voice stopped Astrid. It was then that he only noticed that he was walking back and forth from the living room to the kitchen. Since his apartment wasn't that big, he probably had already walked back and forth countless times. That would definitely make someone watching dizzy.

He let out a sigh and sat down beside Reas. "Sorry, I'm just feeling antsy."

"Aster, whatever might happen, it's already out of your control. So, what's the use of worrying like this?" Reas said.

His brother had already told him the whole shenanigan about the Thornleys and this Olivia woman. The main reason the other was worried was because of the kid named Livi. Astrid was most likely became attached to the kid during the filming of that variety show. His brother was soft that way.

"I know, but I just can't help but be worried," Astrid said. "If you could have seen the kid, Reas. You would also feel the same way as me."

"I don't know. Unlike you, I'm not really that generous with my affection," Reas said with a shrug.

Astrid turned to his brother. "I don't know. You are Emmaline Townsend's son, there's no way you wouldn't have a box full of affection inside your heart."

"Yeah, for people I care about, sure. But for a stranger? It would take a while for me to really give a damn," Reas said honestly.

"And you know I'm the same," Astrid said. "But it's hard not to get attached to the kid—"

[When he reminds me so much of my past self.]

But, of course, he didn't say that out loud. Reas would just get confused and ask him what kind of connection he could possibly feel for a kid with a lonely childhood when his own was very much full of happiness. It's better to just not say anything so as not to create a misunderstanding.

"Is this your way of asking me to watch the variety show with you so I can make my own judgment?" Reas asked.

"You'll watch it with me anyway. So, there's no need for me to ask."

Reas stood up. "Since we still have a lot of time before that program starts, why don't we go out and have some fun?" He stretched out his hand and pulled his brother up. "What do you say?"

"A morning date with my favorite brother?" Astrid hugged Reas' arm. "I couldn't ask for a better activity."

"For the record, I'm your only brother," Reas said. "We had to do something about your hair and eyes first though."

----------

The twins went to a diner first to have breakfast. Astrid's hair was temporarily dyed red. He even permed it. He also put fake freckles, as well as making his skin much paler. If his eyes weren't so sensitive, he would have put contact lenses. With a bit of make-up, his features looked much more Westernized. Just like everyone else in this era.

"It's kind of weird seeing you in that get-up," Reas said as he cut the steak he's eating.

"Hey, you're the one who told me to do something about my face," Astrid said, cutting his bacon and eating it. "And you shouldn't eat such heavy meat so early in the morning. You might get indigestion."

"Well, I'm a growing man. I need all the protein I could get. Like real protein, something that isn't liquid."

Astrid chuckled. He knew that most of the meals in the military academy were in the form of nutrient solution or at least something that was unpalatable. As much as Astrid wanted to send the other a meal while he's studying, his schedule just wouldn't allow it.

"Just make sure to drink medicine for indigestion after," he said.

As they were eating, Reas received a message from his Terminal. He opened it and saw that it was from Ash.

[Hey, do you have anything going on today? Let's go hang out. I'm boooored!]

"From Lauren?" Astrid asked with a playful tone.

"It's from Ash," Reas said in a dry tone. "Besides, Lauren is busy shooting some right now. He wouldn't have time to message me like this."

Astrid raised his brow and said teasingly, "And how did you know Lauren's schedule?"