"You're back, superstar! So, how was it? How was your acting class today?"

 

As soon as I got back to the condo in the evening, my mischievous little sister, who'd spent the whole day at her extra classes but still had the energy to sit on the floor in front of the sofa doing TGAT English mock exams, looked up at me with a face full of curiosity.

 

"How was it, you ask? It was a disaster." I let out a long sigh, tossed my bag onto the sofa, and plopped down heavily. The delicious shabu hot pot I had earlier did little to ease my frustration. The more I thought about that guy's tone and expression, the more it made my blood boil!

 

"Huh? What happened?" View looked genuinely confused. It wasn't often that I showed this level of irritation.

 

"...Nothing, just something annoying."

 

"So what is it?"

 

"It's nothing much. Just forget it." I replied, brushing it off. I didn't want to dig up the irritating memory. If I started talking about it, I couldn't stop.

 

Actually, after that, the cold-hearted lead actor didn't say another word to me. To be precise, he didn't even glance my way. The acting class went smoothly after that. As soon as the class ended, Mr Big Shot excused himself, saying he had an evening event to prepare for. Nine were left with him, while the other actors all went their separate ways.

 

Renji and I, both free, decided to hit the mall for some shabu hot pot before heading home. My day was almost perfect-almost-if it weren't for Third and his snide remarks. I made a vow right then and there: I wouldn't be late again. I'd focus on my acting lessons, memorise my lines, and give it my all, even as a newbie. I wouldn't burden the production or give anyone a reason to criticise me. As for that guy, just wait. If he ever slips up, I'll make sure to rub it in!

 

"Okay," View said, sensing I didn't want to talk about it anymore. That's one good thing about her. Even though she could be spoiled, being the youngest and all, she knew how to read the room and rarely made things harder for me.

 

"So, how was it? Did you get a lot of moments with Nine?"

 

"He did talk to me. We're calling each other by nicknames now since we're the same age. He even encouraged me," I said, my previously sour expression lighting up with a wide smile. Nine was genuinely sweet, both on and off camera. He wasn't arrogant or stuck-up in the slightest. He was calm, supportive, and always cheering others on-

a true human vitamin. I couldn't be prouder. I definitely picked the right idol!

 

"Wow, that must've been amazing!"

 

"Yeah, I was so nervous. I kept debating whether to tell him I'm his fan, but I was afraid it might make him uncomfortable," I admitted.

 

To be honest, I'd already mentioned that I followed his work, but I didn't dare tell him I was such a big fan that I'd collect his merch, take photos, and help trend his name online. Now that we were coworkers, I wasn't sure how he'd feel about me being such a hardcore fan.

 

"Maybe you can tell him after the shoot wraps up. Like, surprise! From a fan to a coworker. I think he'd be happy to see his fan succeed," View suggested.

 

I agreed. I'd save it for the wrap party. I'd even tell him I met him once before he became famous. I bet Nine would be shocked.

 

"Hey, I'm curious," View suddenly jumped up from the floor and sat beside me on the sofa, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "What about P'Third? Is he as handsome in real life? Is he nice?"

 

The vein on my temple throbbed at the mention of his name. That cold, superior face, as if he were the best in the whole world, and those judgmental eyes were still etched in my mind.

 

"He's only got his looks going for him. His personality? Absolutely not worth it."

 

"What?! Really?!"

 

"Really. Listen to me. Stop liking that guy. I'm telling you, he's not as great as he seems on screen!" Once she hit a nerve, I couldn't hold back. I ended up spilling everything to my sister-how I went to the wrong place and was late, how Third scolded me, and even his condescending attitude during the break.

 

"Oh, I see," View nodded along as she listened. Meanwhile, my throat felt dry, so I got up to grab a bottle of water from the fridge and chugged it down.

 

"I mean, he might've been overly strict, but I get it. Some people are just like that. They're very particular, and it can be frustrating for them when someone's late and holds things up."

 

"What?!" Her words made me freeze. I glared at her. "Are you siding with him, View?"

 

"Maybe? I don't know. I like him, okay? Among his fans, it's known that he's like this. It's not a big deal. And you were late, after all," she reasoned, trying to defend her favourite actor. I scowled, refusing to listen.

 

"But it wasn't the end of the world, was it? Did he have to make such a big deal out of it? You didn't see the way he looked at me, View. I felt like an ant, like a bug. Do you get that?" I fumed. No one had ever made me feel so humiliated before. This guy was the first!

 

"Maybe you're overthinking it. He might've just been looking. He has that permanent 'don't mess with me' look," she said.

 

"No! He outright scolded me. How is that overthinking? Don't be biased, View."

 

"Really? Hmm, maybe he's not as nice in real life as I thought," she said, her big eyes showing a hint of doubt. I felt a surge of victory and puffed out my chest. "Exactly. Not nice at all. But Nine? He's just as sweet as he seems on camera."

 

"Oh, really..." she replied shortly.

 

I squinted at her suspiciously. "What? Why'd you say it like that?"

 

"What? That's just how I talk. You're so suspicious," View frowned at me. I raised an eyebrow, unconvinced.

 

"What? Are you still mad that I said I didn't like your idol? That was ages ago," View sighed dramatically before continuing in an exasperated tone. "I already told you I don't hate him. I just don't feel a connection. When I say I don't like him, I mean I'm indifferent. He's just not my type. Got it?"

 

"Yeah, yeah, I get it," I replied half-heartedly.

 

We'd already fought about this once. I liked Nine a lot, and when I told her, she said she didn't see the appeal. That led to a long argument, and I didn't talk to her for a whole day until we finally cleared things up.

 

It looked silly, but all siblings were like this. I understood what she meant, but it still bugged me every time it came up. We couldn't just force someone to like someone else, but it was a bit disappointing when someone important to you didn't share your admiration for someone you looked up to.

 

But my sister, seriously. How could she not like someone as sweet and charming as Nine? Instead, she liked a guy who was all looks and had that kind of personality. It drove me nuts! She probably liked him because he was (very) handsome. Sure, he was a good actor, but there were plenty of other actors who were both handsome and talented. Why did she have to like that guy?

 

"Anyway, just like someone else. Don't like this Third guy," I concluded. View nodded, but I had a feeling she was just humouring me. She had to experience it for herself to understand this.

 

"So, have you eaten yet?"

 

"Yeah, I have. What about you?"

 

"I'm good. My friend treated me for her birthday," she said, glancing at me and wrinkling her nose at the smell of shabu hot pot lingering on my clothes. "You should go shower and get some rest."

 

"I'm not going to bed yet," I said, putting the water bottle back in the fridge and stretching. My eyes were full of determination. "I'm going to study my lines a bit more."

 

"Wow, soooo diligent!"

 

"Of course. No one's going to call me a burden again," I said firmly. My frustration had ignited a fire in me to learn and improve!

 

"Just don't overdo it, okay? Take a rest if you need to. I want a brother who's a star, not a zombie."

 

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Just watch. Your brother's going to outshine Third someday!" I declared loudly, my voice echoing through the small living room.

 

I was a laid-back guy, not one for competition. But with Third? One day, I'd be bigger and better than him!

 

After showering and changing into fresh clothes, I sat down at my vanity with my iPad, reading through my script and practising my expressions, tone, and delivery as I'd learned in class. For someone with zero acting experience, it was tough. But I pushed myself, determined to portray Sky perfectly!

 

I glanced at the photo of Nine that I'd taken myself and printed out, tucking it into the grid of my desk. Whenever I felt exhausted, like right now, I'd always look at my favourite idol's picture for motivation. 

Nine's smile still managed to make me smile back, as always. Aside from striving to ensure no one could look down on me, I was also determined to make the first project

where Nine had a lead role as perfect as possible. No matter how much I disliked the other lead actor, Nine was far more important. As a devoted fan, I had to give my all for my idol. I'm not going to give up, no way!

 

The past two or three weeks could probably be the most exhausting period of my life. It was even more draining than preparing for university entrance exams. Not only did I have to attend workshops with the other actors in the series, but the agency also arranged for Renji and four other contracted actors, including me, to attend basic acting workshops twice a week. On top of that, I had to take personality development classes, speech training, and even visit beauty clinics for various treatments. 

 

Recently, I started doing small modelling gigs and product promotions. Occasionally, P'Jarin would take us to meet clients and pay respects to senior figures to build connections. Let's not forget that I was still a fourth-year university student who had to dedicate time to my research project. Even though I'd been advised to take a break from school if it became too overwhelming, this was my final semester. I was so close to graduating. I didn't want to waste time dropping out now. I wanted to graduate and receive my degree alongside my friends. So, I spent late nights after my packed schedule working on my research paper.

 

I was lucky to get four hours of sleep a night these days. The dark circles under my eyes practically screamed, I can't take it anymore! Please, just sleep!' But I had to submit progress updates for my research paper to my professor every class. Even if I wanted to sleep, I couldn't. The lack of rest left me feeling dazed and sluggish, sometimes slow to respond. Jay even teased me, saying I looked like a sloth.

 

Yeah, I missed that slow-paced life too. Honestly, did I make the right decision auditioning for this series? It was all Jay's fault for convincing me to do it.

 

"Hey, Wan," Nine's soft voice greeted me as I entered the small studio room. Today, the actors had been called in to try on costumes for the official training in two days. Everyone had gathered at the agency's office. Unfortunately, I had a class in the afternoon, so I informed them I'd be an hour late. When I arrived, everyone was already dressed in their costumes and checking the final details.

 

"Hello," I immediately smiled when I saw my bias. The fleeting hesitation I'd felt earlier vanished from my mind. I'd made the right decision auditioning for this series. Otherwise, how would I have the chance to casually chat with Nine? I wouldn't have to jostle among a crowd of fans, where it was hard to stand out, and Nine wouldn't even notice me.

 

"You look tired. Didn't get any sleep?"

 

"Oh... yeah. I was up all night working on my research," I replied. I'd only got about two hours of sleep last night. My foggy brain took a full two seconds to process Nine's question.

 

"No wonder. Your dark circles are pretty bad," he chuckled softly. I raised a hand to touch the bags under my eyes. The makeup artist was definitely going to complain about wasting concealer. But it couldn't be helped- I had allergies, and lack of sleep only made the dark circles worse.

 

"Wan, stop chatting, sweetie! Come grab this outfit and change, then come see me," P'Waen, the renowned stylist in charge of costumes for this series, called out in a sharp voice. P'Waen waved me over, handed me a shirt and pants, and pointed toward the restroom outside.

 

I dragged my feet in the direction, closing my eyes briefly in exhaustion. As I walked with my head down, I was about to turn the corner when I bumped into someone coming out of the restroom.

Thud!

 

"Ah.." I shook my head, feeling dazed. With so little sleep and two classes this morning, my brain was working more slowly than usual. But when I looked up and saw who I'd bumped into, I was instantly wide awake. It felt like an electric current shot through me as I locked eyes with those sharp, piercing black eyes glaring at me. Out of the twenty-something people here today, my luck had to be bad enough to run into Third!

 

And there it was again, folks! That cold, disdainful look of his. If someone told me this was his normal expression, I'd seriously wonder how this guy had survived to the age of twenty-one. He looked like he was picking a fight with everyone he glanced at.

 

"Sorry," I forced myself to say, my voice stiff. It was my fault for not watching where I was going, and I had enough manners to apologise. Third frowned, staring at me silently. His gaze was full of disapproval, just like in that acting class. It immediately reignited the irritation I'd been holding back.

 

"Could you move aside? I need to change," I said curtly. I would've stepped around him if there had been enough space. But it was a narrow corner, and this guy was ridiculously tall and broad.

 

"You," he said in a cold tone. I heard him sigh heavily, clearly annoyed. Then, his large hand grabbed my wrist, pulling me aside to a more private area.

 

"Do you have a problem with me?" he asked in a deep voice as soon as we reached the kitchen area. He glanced around to make sure no one else was there.

 

I yanked my arm free from his grip and snapped back with equal sharpness, "I should be the one asking you. Do you have a problem with me? I feel like you don't like me."

 

"Maybe," he replied.

 

His reply left me stunned. I hadn't expected him to admit it so directly.

 

"Wait... hold on. We've never even met before. What did I do to make you dislike me?"

 

"I don't like lazy people," Third said flatly, his sharp eyes scanning me from head to toe. His words made my face flush with anger, my heart pounding with frustration that burned in my chest.

 

"On the first day of the group meeting, you were late. During class, you seemed distracted and fidgety. Today, you bumped into me and gave me a half-hearted apology. Are those reasons enough for me to be annoyed?"

 

"Are you serious about being an actor?" 

 

Third cut me off before I could defend myself. His question hit me like a punch to the gut. "Or are you just trying to get famous by climbing the ladder through a BL series? It doesn't matter how bad your acting is because you know your looks will get you fans anyway, right?"

 

"Hey!!!" My eyes flared with anger. His condescending words infuriated me. Okay, maybe I hadn't auditioned because I wanted to be an actor. But I never intended to slack off in my role. I didn't want to insult the audience either. Yet here he was, judging me before the work had even started.

 

"What? Are you mad because you're not like that or because I hit the nail on the head?" He smirked coldly, his expression devoid of warmth. "Plenty of people enter this industry just to get famous, without caring about improving their skills. At the same time, many genuinely dream of becoming actors but lose opportunities because of people like the first group. Honestly, I don't care why you're here. But I can't stand unprofessional behaviour like yours."

 

His long-winded criticism left my ears ringing with anger. So this was what it felt like to be unfairly judged by someone who didn't know you at all. But fine, it was mutual- was prejudiced against him too!

 

"Fine. Maybe I've made some mistakes. But don't you think it's a bit much to judge me without giving me a chance to prove myself, Mr Famous Actor?" I deliberately emphasised the last phrase sarcastically, meeting his gaze without backing down.

 

"I've never had any acting experience before. This is my first time learning. You might think I'm not trying, but I'm giving it my all. I might not be as talented or naturally gifted as you. I might need a lot more time to improve. But I won't stop trying. I have no intention of dragging anyone down. If you're worried about that, you can rest easy."

 

"Good. I hope you back up your words with actions, not just empty promises," he said, lifting the corner of his mouth in a smirk that didn't reach his eyes.

 

"Now hurry up and change," Third said before striding away, leaving me seething with anger. I glared at his broad back, silently cursing him in my head.

 

What a jerk! This is outright disrespect. There's no way I can ever get along with this guy. I absolutely hate people who judge others prematurely without even knowing them. But I'm not going to act the way he looked down on me. I'm determined to prove to him that I can be a professional. I'm going to become an actor who earns respect, no matter what!