Project: Socialize (Chapters 1-197)

15. Movie 2.0

Once off the train, the three of us exited Nocisinis Station and walked down the busy streets in front of the station. We walked down the wide sidewalk and passed by numerous shops that were opened for business. From the glass windows, I could see the different stores' specialties. Almost all of these stores near the busy Nocisinis Station were stylishly furnished, and sold a variety of merchandises from clothing to accessories. In addition to clothing stores, there were also bakeries, cafes, and restaurants serving food from various regions.

I glanced into the windows as I walked, occasionally catching a glimpse of myself and the city around me through the faint reflection that was visible in the window. However, seeing that all was peaceful and well in the stores, I returned my focus back onto the road ahead of me. Loyd and Muria walked not too far before me at a distance that one could tell that I was with them. A silence enveloped the two of them, almost as if me forbidding them to talk about my past led to the death of their conversation.

Don't they have anything better to talk about? There's literally so many things to talk about. For example, you could talk about the weather. It isn't as hot today as yesterday, so that is good.

After walking down the familiar streets of Nocsinis, it would appear that we finally made it to our destination. The location of this movie theater was oddly familiar. The theater was located in a ten story tall mall building. At the front of the mall building, and in the small clearing before the escalators that led up to the entrance of the mall was a metal painted statue of the mall's mascot, and by the escalators was the map of the building. I've visited this place before with Muria...

"This place?" I muttered in disappointment.

"Come on," Loyd said to me as him and Muria stepped foot on the escalators and started for the mall's entrance.

Unwillingly, I followed them.

We made it to the third floor where the movie theater was located at, and we before we made our way over to the kiosk machines to buy tickets, we stopped in front of the many large monitors that shuffled through advertising posters for the many movies that were on in the movie theater.

"What do you want to watch?" Loyd asked us as he kept his eyes on the alternating pictures on the monitor.

"I'm fine with anything," I said nonchalantly, almost as if I didn't care at all what we watched, which I really didn't.

After perfunctorily responding to Loyd, I took my phone out of my pockets and checked the newest notification I received. It was a response from Loriana for my earlier message.

Got it. I have a company dinner today hosted by the other professors so I won't be eating dinner at home as well. I'll send you the location just in case.

After seeing the message, I slipped my phone back into my pocket and let out a sigh. It was a sigh of relief and also as sigh that mourns the extra efforts that I will have to exert later today. To be honest, Loriana isn't the best with alcoholic beverages. Therefore, I'll have to go to the site of the dinner and help her home. But, that is something that I'll have to worry about later.

"Umm..."

Muria stared at the screen in thought. Looking over, I could see the screen reflecting in those big, watery, azure eyes of hers. It was almost as if seeing a beautiful painting of some sort that just captivated one's attention by a supernatural force.

I followed her gaze and towards the screen. I was thus surprised to discover that the movie she was contemplating whether or not to watch was an animated film similar to the one we watched together alone.

Is she...into these type of films?

Muria noticed my staring, and her blue iris shifted over to the corner of her eyes in order to look at me. She noticed my stare and possibly mistaken it with a judgmental stare. Therefore, she blushed as she broke eye contact and looked away.