Chapter 67: A Day of Uncertainty
Zamian finally stilled, giving Mira the opportunity to sit up and adjust her dress. Who would believe they had done such a thing inside a movie theater? The thought made her stomach twist. Oh heavens! The lights were still dim, but once the movie ended, they would have to step into broad daylight. ’H-how would she face him after... after this?’
Her heart raced. What just happened was so out of place, so unlike her, yet the rush of excitement it brought couldn’t be denied. She bit her lip as her mind circled the same question over and over: ’How could she face him now?’
Would it be better if she lied about what had just transpired? The movie was already halfway through, and yet, she hadn’t paid attention to a single scene. The characters on screen blurred together, their dialogue incomprehensible as her thoughts spun in her head. She fixed her gaze on the screen, pretending to be absorbed by it, avoiding even the possibility of meeting Zamian’s eyes. That would only make things worse.
’Why is he so quiet?’she wondered. She could feel his presence next to her, his warmth radiating in the small gap between their seats. He wasn’t speaking. ’Why wasn’t he saying anything?’His silence gnawed at her, more unsettling than if he had spoken. She was used to his boldness, his teasing, but this... this silence was unnerving.
Still, despite her curiosity, she refused to look in his direction. No, she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of catching her attention, not after what had just happened between them. Her mind struggled to concentrate on the movie, her thoughts still racing even as the movie on screen concluded with a dramatic.
"The End."
The movie was over, but Mira didn’t want to move. A sense of dread crept over her, tightening her chest. ’What had she done’ She couldn’t admit it, not even to herself.
’This was just too embarrassing.’
Then she heard his voice, low and composed. "Let’s go."
His words sent a wave of nervousness through her. She forced a laugh, trying to sound casual, but the sound that escaped her lips betrayed her true feelings. "I... I want to see the cast and producers," she blurted out, grasping at anything to prolong the moment in the theater’s dim, comforting light. Here, at least, she didn’t have to face reality yet.
Zamian raised a brow, his voice neutral as he responded, "What are you going to do with that? They’re not important."