Minty: "Since that secret scene happened before the timeline of the book, do you think that experience—whatever it was—is the reason you were so drawn to someone as quiet and sleepy as Jervien? Like, was your heart looking for the peace he seemed to have because of what you had already been through?"
[An older man in the audience leans forward, his chin resting on his hand, looking like he's reflecting on how his own past shaped his first loves.]
Yvonne: "Yes. I adore how he doesn't care about what others think of him. He definitely doesn't hide his facial expressions! He's at peace... and maybe—just maybe—deep down, I crave for that kind of peace as well."
[A soft, collective "Hmm" of realization ripples through the room. The audience isn't laughing now; they're looking at Yvonne with a deep, quiet empathy. Minty's expression shifts from her usual playfulness to a look of profound recognition. She leans forward, resting her elbows on her knees, bringing her energy right down to Yvonne's level.]
Minty: "That is... wow. It wasn't just about the jacket or the city lights poems. It was about a girl who had seen some things, looking at a boy who was just unapologetically himself and thinking, 'I want that.' You weren't just falling for him; you were falling for the peace he represented."
[Minty pauses, letting that sink in. She looks at the denim jacket on the set, but this time with more understanding.]