Chapter 79: [79] Shrinking Violet, Hidden Dragon
Xavier slipped into the darkened theater, navigating the narrow aisle as the movie’s opening credits played across the screen. The five women had claimed a row in the middle section, with an empty seat between Selena and Naomi. Popcorn buckets and candy boxes were already being passed around as he approached.
"You’re late," Selena whispered as she shifted her legs to let him pass.
Xavier eased into the seat, offering an apologetic shrug. "Sorry. Got lost on the road of life. That’s all." He reached for the popcorn in Naomi’s lap. "Now pass the popcorn."
Naomi handed over the bucket, her perfectly manicured nails brushing against his fingers. "The road of life, huh?"
On his other side, Selena studied him. Unlike Naomi’s obvious interest, her gaze felt clinical, assessing.
"Shh," Margaret leaned forward from Selena’s other side. "It’s starting!"
Xavier settled back in his seat, popcorn bucket balanced on his knee. The movie—something about a shy girl with shrinking powers—held zero interest for him. He stifled a yawn as the protagonist stammered through her first day at a new school, her social anxiety literally making her shrink to half her size.
The women around him, however, were transfixed. Every awkward encounter between the main character and her love interest drew sighs and gasps. When the girl accidentally shrank during a class presentation, Calypso grabbed Xavier’s arm from two seats away, her fingers digging into his sleeve.
"This is so embarrassing," she whispered, loud enough that several nearby viewers turned to look. "I can’t watch!"
But she did watch as the protagonist fumbled through one cringe-worthy scene after another.
Xavier’s eyelids grew heavy. The combination of the dark theater, the soft seat, and the mind-numbing plot threatened to pull him under. His head dipped forward before he caught himself, jerking upright.