Supernova||Book 1 [Wattys 2024]

Episode 16: A Very Thin Line

"I think we should go." Jorah said to Nine and Jade after glancing at their surroundings. To him, it was like dark clouds converging in the sky and he knew if they stayed much longer, they would get caught in the storm.

When Jade looked over his shoulder, there were already quite a few phones pointed in their direction. Nine looked at Jorah and nodded without protest.

Today it was the three of them, Jade, Nine and Jorah. They'd spent the afternoon shopping and had stopped for lunch.

The food on their plates were half eaten but they all agreed leaving now was best. Jorah had ignored it for as long as he could, but it was getting progressively worse with more and more people showing up.

Jorah sighed, realizing their day off was ruined. All he wanted was to relax with Nine and Jadewho'd been in his skin about meeting up for the longest time.

Day after day he'd complained bitterly about 'missing his friend' and Jorah not having time for him anymore. So at the first chance he got, Jorah invited him out to spend the day.

Both Nine and Jorah wore casual clothes and hats pulled deeply on their brows with masks to give them a little extra cover.

Perhaps that's why they had not been bothered until now. They'd shopped in peace. It was only at the point of check out that the store clerks recognized either of them and when they did, they were often too stunned to do anything but smile at them as they left.

They couldn't eat through the masks and so the chances of them being recognized had multiplied. Jorah paid and they grabbed their bags.

As expected, when they moved, those that had converged also moved. Pointless as it was now, Nine put his mask back on and pulled his hat on his brow. "Let's go." Jorah allowed Jade and Nine to go first.

The trio began their trek back to the parking lot even as the swarm grew closer.

Knowing they'd been outted, Nine and Jorah gave polite nods of acknowledgement in an attempt to placate the group as they continued to move forward but it quickly grew chaotic.

Devices were being thrusted in their faces, people were yelling their names and asking ridiculous questions when they just wanted to get to their car.

"Are you on a date? Can you take me with you? Are you going together?"

Jorah gritted his teeth, even as people continued to jostle.To his left, Jade was caught in the frenzy and trying his absolute best to move forward.

When he looked to the right, Nine wasn't there. Jorah stopped dead in his tracks. A few steps behind him he realised Nine was trapped.

Trapped in a circle, Nine seemed to be making his best effort to move but couldn't.

Bumping the bodies that were in his way, Jorah quickly made up those few steps back to Nine's side.

When he saw Nine's flustered expression, Jorah frowned darkly. Putting his bags in one hand, Jorah grabbed Nine's wrist and attempted to pull him out.

Even though he pulled Nine's wrist with some exertion, Nine didn't move. Annoyed, Jorah looked to see what the problem was now. In one glance he saw the problem. A fan was holding on to Nine's forearm to detain him.

Jorah's frown deepened.

"Please let go." Nine beseeched the person detaining him. Being undeniably less subtle about things, with a firm hand, Jorah threw that person's arm from Nine's body.

With a huff he pulled Nine forward, keeping a hand on his wrist not to lose him again.

The crowd continued to keep step with them until finally Nine had an idea. He stopped and turned to face them.