"Wan! Hey, Wan!"

"...Yeah?"

 

"Are you heading back to the condo? You look half-dead already," Jay frowned as he stared at me slumped over the lecture table, looking like I was on the brink of collapse while waiting for the professor to arrive.

 

"How am I supposed to go back? I've already maxed out my absences for this class," I replied, yawning mid-sentence, my eyes barely staying open. Honestly, it was karma. Back in my freshman year, I decided to drop my elective courses, thinking I'd just take them during my free time in senior year (as if I'd have any). Now, I was paying the price in my final semester.

 

"Then just check in for attendance and sneak out. Let's go. I'm too lazy to sit through this class anyway," Jay suggested persistently. He wasn't worried about me at all-he just wanted an excuse to go back and nap.

 

"You're already here, so just sit through the class. Think about your parents for once," I said, smacking the back of his head. Right at that moment, the professor walked into the room, ending our conversation.

 

Even though I told Jay to focus on the class, I couldn't do it myself. My body just wasn't cooperating. As soon as the attendance was taken, I dozed off for nearly an hour. I've been on back-to-back shoots for days now. Last night, we didn't wrap up until 10:30 PM, and it was late when I got back to my room. This morning, I had an 8 AM class. Honestly, it was a miracle I hadn't passed out yet.

 

At least today, I only had one class. That was a small blessing. Once it was over, I could head back and hibernate, temporarily disappearing from the world.

 

"Are you P'Wan? The one from Deep Dive?"

 

After class ended, a group of first-year girls approached me before I could even pack my bag.

 

"Yeah, that's me," I replied.

 

"Oh my gosh! I've been waiting to see your work! Can I take a picture with you?" The girl who spoke looked at me with hopeful eyes.

 

"Sure," I said, not wanting to disappoint her. The agency didn't have any rules against it, so I took out my phone for a selfie and posed for pictures with four or five others before leaving the classroom with Jay to grab something to eat.

 

"You're getting famous now, dude. Soon, you won't even respond when I call you, huh?" Jay teased, nudging my arm with his elbow. He seemed more excited about people asking for my photo than I was.

 

"You're exaggerating. I don't even know if I'll actually get famous," I chuckled sleepily. I wasn't sure what was going on with my life. I didn't have any solid dreams or goals. Acting? I could do it, but I wouldn't say I loved it. And with graduation just around the corner, I sometimes felt like I couldn't see the road ahead. I didn't know which direction my life was supposed to take.

 

"Famous or not, you're still gaining something. At the very least, people know who you are now. You can use those connections to your advantage. Plus, you get to work closely with someone you admire. That alone is worth it," Jay pointed out, listing the perks of being an actor.

 

I bit my lip under my mask, lost in thought. Initially, I'd thought the same as Jay-that at least I'd get to be near Nine, the artist I'd admired for years. But after working with him and seeing sides of him I hadn't expected, I started feeling conflicted.

 

People said that as a fan, you should only know what the person wanted to show you. I wondered if I shouldn't have auditioned for the series in the first place. I knew Nine was just a regular human being, not always cheerful and charming. But seeing things I hadn't anticipated, like how he never ate with the crew, avoided the food at the set, or sometimes showed frustration when other actors messed up their lines, left me a bit shaken.

 

"Wan, what do you want to eat?"

 

"Pork blood soup, I guess. I feel like having something warm," I said, not even realising we'd already reached the food court.

 

While waiting in line to order, I let out a deep sigh. I wouldn't say I was exactly disappointed in Nine. Bụt if I had a choice... I'd rather not have seen that side of him.

 

Today was another day with an afternoon shoot scheduled, so I arrived on set at 11:30 AM with Renji and P’Cher. The location was the same as usual-the university swimming pool. As soon as we got there, I went to get my hair and makeup done, planning to change into my costume closer to my turn since the crew would be breaking for lunch soon. 

 

While getting my hair done, I opened my iPad to review the script for today's scenes. It was another set of emotional scenes, three or four in a row. My character was constantly jealous, irritable, and frustrated in almost every scene. He wasn't the most likeable guy. But hey, he was the villain. I had to play him well because, after all, I was an actor.

 

I glanced over at Mr Famous Actor, who was sitting with his eyes closed, meditating before his scene. The more I worked with him, the more curious I became about who Third really was. At first, he seemed to dislike me; he was cold, blunt, and indifferent. But as time went on, I saw his good side. He often encouraged new actors, not just me, but others as well. He never got annoyed when others struggled with their lines. He'd even bring snacks or drinks to share with the crew. He wasn't the type to chat and joke around, but he never acted superior, either. He always ate at the same table as the crew, checking in on everyone. 

 

The catering lady on set adored Third because he often ate the meals she prepared, not just the fancy food sent by his fans. He seemed hard to approach, yet not entirely out of reach. He appeared emotionless, yet there was warmth in him. Why was this guy so contradictory?

 

During the lunch break, everyone scattered to eat. Nine disappeared with P'Sunny as usual. Meanwhile, the other actors and crew gathered to eat together. Renji, P'Cher, and I had already eaten before arriving, so we sat down to snack on some treats Renji's fans had sent.

 

"P'Wan, want another one?"

 

"No, I'm good," I said, shaking my head as Renji offered me another cupcake. I pulled my iPad out of my bag. The afternoon scene was one I had to shoot with Third, so I figured I'd go over my lines again. I'd once told him to his face that I wouldn't be a burden to him, so I was determined to keep my promise. This time, I aimed to get it right in no more than three takes...

 

"I'm going to sit in the room for a bit to review my lines," I told P'Cher and Renji, who were happily munching on cupcakes.

 

"I'll come with-"

 

"Stay here. Don't bother Wan," P'Cher said, pulling the tall boy back down into his seat, even though he still had a snack in hand. Renji pouted but nodded reluctantly, not wanting to upset P'Cher.

 

"I'll be back soon," I said with a small smile, patting Renji's shoulder reassuringly before heading off to the empty dressing room to study my lines in peace.

 

Sky and Copter, our characters, couldn't stand each other. So, almost every scene with Third involved sarcastic remarks, arguments, or even physical fights. The fight scene was scheduled for this evening, so I needed to memorise my lines thoroughly. I'd also have to focus on safety during the shoot. As I was reading, I heard the door open. Looking up, I saw Third walking into the room.

 

"Studying your lines?" Third asked in his usual monotone voice.

 

"Yeah. The first scene after lunch is with you... uh, I mean, with you," I quickly corrected myself. Even though we were the same age, we weren't close, so I didn't want to come off as overly familiar by using 'you' in a casual tone. Not that it mattered. He always called me casually anyway. 

 

"Just talk casually," he said, sitting down in the chair next to mine and opening his iPad.

 

"Alright," I replied. If that's what he wanted, I wouldn't argue.

 

"Wan."

 

"Hmm?" I raised an eyebrow. Was this the first time he'd called me by my name?

 

"Let's run lines together."

 

"Huh?" I turned to him, surprised. "With me..? Why?"

 

"We've got a scene together. Who else would I run lines with?" Third raised an eyebrow, looking at me like I was the weird one. He leaned one arm on the table, resting his head on his hand as he opened the script on his iPad. This guy's always acting cool, no matter the situation. It's almost annoying.

 

"Oh.. uh, sure," I said, scratching my cheek awkwardly. I'd run lines with Third before, but it was always with the director or acting coach present. This was the first time we'd be doing it alone, without anyone forcing us to.

I scrolled back to the scene we'd be shooting after the break. It was another one where Sky picked a fight with Copter (again). The dialogue wasn't long, but it required a lot of emotion.

 

"Let's start. Put some energy into it so we can see if anything needs adjusting," Third said.

 

I cleared my throat and began, "Hah! This is the guy the coach keeps hyping up as the next big thing? All I see is a loser who couldn't even make it past the club's tryouts."

 

"Shut your mouth," a deep, restrained voice replied.

 

Even though it was just a line, I couldn't help but think that Third would be terrifying when angry. Just hearing his voice gave me chills.

 

"What's the matter? Can't handle the truth that you're a loser?" I snapped, smirking mockingly. "You're all talk. That one win you had? Pure luck. Too bad it'll be your last."

 

"What? Why are you staring at me? Are you mad, or can't you handle the truth I just said?"

 

"...

 

"Keep trying, keep struggling. I love seeing that disappointed look on your face. It screams loser. Haha!" I laughed smugly, fully immersed in the role. Acting out scenes like this felt less stressful without the director or acting coach hovering around. Somehow, it felt easier to perform.

 

The next line belonged to Third, so I paused, waiting for him to continue. But when no sound came from the lead actor, I glanced up from my iPad and found him staring at me. More importantly, the corners of his mouth were slightly curved upward.

 

"Hey... what are you smiling at?" I asked, suddenly feeling uneasy. It was strange to see someone who used to dislike me now sitting there, smiling like this. Even though Third's smile made him look really good, it still felt… Wait a second, why does my chest feel all fluttery...?

 

"...Nothing," he replied, his face turning serious as he cleared his throat. He shifted his gaze back to the iPad screen and began reading his lines.

 

I lowered my head to read along, but the strange feeling in my chest lingered. It wasn't a bad feeling, though. It was just unexpected. I couldn't bring myself to meet Third's eyes again for some reason. What's wrong with me...?

 

"Hey, what are you two doing here by yourselves?" P'Pai, the director, opened the door to the break room. Seeing the two of us reading lines together, he raised an eyebrow in surprise. 

 

"Practising lines? Wow, you two must be getting along now."

 

"Well, it's work," Third replied coolly, glancing at me briefly before continuing in a flat tone. "This way, we won't have to do too many takes during the scene. It'll save you the headache."

 

"Exactly," I chimed in with a wide grin, putting on an innocent face that contrasted with my words. "Yeah. Unless the guy who just spoke is the headache."

 

"You two, I swear," P'Pai sighed, rolling his eyes. Everyone on set knew that Third and I had some minor issues in the past over something or other. But what they didn't know was that we were fine now... I think. At least I didn't dislike Third anymore. As for what he thought, I had no idea.

 

I glanced at the taller guy, who was also looking at me. Even though we'd just mocked each other, it didn't feel like Third was trying to insult me like before. This time, it felt more like playful teasing. My thoughts were confirmed when I noticed the slight curve of his lips and the absence of the usual cold or harsh glint in his dark eyes.

 

"Alright, go wait on set," P'Pai said, shaking his head before leaving the room. We got up and followed him, with Third walking ahead. My eyes drifted to his broad back, and my mind wandered back to the smile he'd given me earlier. That smile-both on his lips and in his eyes-felt genuine. If I didn't count the times he smiled in front of the camera, this might've been the first time I'd seen him smile like that. And I couldn't deny that it was a very captivating smile. 

 

"Cut! Great job, Wan! You're getting better and better," P'Pai praised me after my solo scene in the afternoon wrapped up.

 

"Thank you!" I clasped my hands together in a wai, grinning so wide it almost hurt. A compliment from the director, in front of the crew and other actors, felt like a refreshing rain for a rookie actor like me. All the hard work-practising lines in front of the mirror every day to the point where my little sister would knock on my door, thinking she heard a ghost.-had finally paid off. I didn't need as many retakes anymore!

 

"Alright, go change. Third, Nine, Renji, get ready for the next scene!" P'Pai called out to the actors for the upcoming scene. Meanwhile, I had to change into swim trunks and a warm-up jacket for another scene.

 

"Congrats, bro!" Renji, who was waiting with Third and Nine, gave me a thumbs-up, his grin as wide as if he'd been the one praised. Nine gave me a small smile before turning away, probably to focus before his scene. As for Third, he nodded at me. His expression was neutral, but a faint smile in his eyes made me feel unexpectedly good.

 

"Alright, time to show off that body," P'Waen, the stylist, said while handing me the outfit for the next scene and pushing me toward the bathroom to change.

 

Since this story was about a swimming club, shirtless scenes were inevitable. Over the past two months, I've been controlling my diet and hitting the gym to get in shape for these moments. Luckily, I was already someone who exercised regularly, so it wasn't too hard

 

I might not have a perfectly chiselled six-pack like Third or Renji, the kind that would make girls scream, but I had some visible muscle definition. At least, that's what my sister, View, said. Or maybe she was just trying to make me feel better...

 

"Wan! Get ready!"

 

"Got it!" I called back to P'Jen, the assistant director, while P'Susan, the makeup artist, touched up my face. Then, I quickly ran to the set.

 

This scene involved Sky accidentally running into Noel's group by the pool. Seeing Noel and Copter together made Sky jealous, so he decided to stir up some trouble. When P’Pai signalled through the walkie-talkie, I confidently entered the scene, ready to confront the group.

 

"I'm hungry. Let's go grab something to eat," Noel, played by Nine, said his line while stepping back.

 

According to the script, Nine was supposed to bump into me lightly before turning around to argue. But the impact was stronger than I expected, and since I was mid-step, I lost my balance…

Splash!!!

 

"Cut!"

The sound of water splashing echoed alongside P'Pai's call to cut. As I surfaced from the pool, I heard the chaotic commotion on the poolside, followed by Nine's panicked voice as he rushed over to where I'd fallen.

 

"Wan! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!"

 

"It's fine, really," I said, waving my hand while wiping water off my face. Other than feeling a bit dazed from the unexpected fall, I was perfectly okay.

 

Nine reached out to help pull me out of the pool, apologising profusely. As the crew quickly wrapped a towel around me, I reassured him that I wasn't upset. Accidents could happen all the time. Sure, I'd have to redo my hair and makeup, but they could just shoot another scene in the meantime. No big deal.

 

"Are you okay?" a deep voice asked from above. Third was standing there, looking down at me with a serious expression.

 

"I'm fine," I replied shortly, while Nine continued to apologise.

 

"I'm really sorry."

 

"It's okay, really," I said with a light laugh. 

 

Even if I'd been annoyed, seeing Nine's guilty face and hearing his soft voice, plus the fact that he was my bias, made it impossible to stay mad. But Third, who was standing nearby, shot a sharp glare at Nine, making me frown. Was he upset about the delay caused by the accident? It wasn't like Nine did it on purpose. These things happen.

 

"P'Wan, are you sure you're okay?" Renji, my little buddy, hurried over as the crew led me to change clothes. He looked like a sad puppy as he scanned my soaking-wet state.

 

"Yeah, I'm fine. Go get ready for your scene," I said, patting his shoulder before heading off to change. Little did I know, a pair of eyes filled with subtle concern had been watching me the entire time.

 

One hour later, we finally reshot the scene, and it went smoothly. After several takes earlier in the day, the cast had started to settle into their roles, making the process flow more efficiently. By now, it was only 8 PM, and we only had a few scenes left to shoot. I secretly hoped we'd wrap up before 10 PM tonight...

 

"Third, Wan, get ready for your scene!"

 

Finally, it was time for the last scene (for me) that I'd been waiting for-the argument scene that Third and I'd practised during lunch. Before shooting, we had to rehearse to ensure no one got hurt. In this scene, I'd punch Third's character, Copter. Copter was supposed to throw a punch at me, but his friends would step in to stop him just in time.

 

"Just graze him like this, and Third, dodge this way. Let's try it. Punch, dodge-yeah, like that," P'Pai instructed us for a while before heading back to the monitor to prepare for the take.

 

I took a deep breath. Let's do this, Wan! After this scene, I can finally go home!

"5, 4, 3, 2, 1... Action!"

 

"Hah! This is the guy the coach keeps hyping up as the next big thing? All I see is a loser who couldn't even pass the club's tryouts," I said, striding confidently toward Copter, sitting dejectedly by the pool. Third-no, Copter-looked up at me with a glare, his voice low and menacing. "Shut your mouth."

 

"What's the matter? Can't handle the truth that you're a loser?"

".."

 

"You're all talk. That one win you had? Pure luck. Too bad it'll be your last." I smirked wickedly, staring at my opponent with pure satisfaction. At this moment, the person in front of me wasn't a colleague but an enemy despised. So, I had to dig deep into the darkest parts of my soul to bring Sky's character to life as perfectly as possible.

 

"What? Why are you staring at me? Are you mad, or can't you handle the truth I just said?"

"...

 

"Keep trying, keep struggling. I love seeing that disappointed look on your face. It screams loser. Hahaha!" I laughed out loud like a maniac.

 

The entire set fell silent, holding their breath as the emotional scene unfolded beautifully. Third stood up as directed, striding toward me with deliberate steps. His eyes were filled with mockery.

 

"I might lose this swimming competition, but in other things, I won't lose to you," he said with a sly smile, his voice low and confident. His incredible acting energy transferred to me, fueling Sky's anger and pulling me even deeper into the

character.

 

"Is your hatred for me really just about swimming? Or is it because Noel chose me, not you?"

 

"You!!!" I roared, snapping as his words hit a nerve. I clenched my fist and swung it as the director had instructed. But being so immersed in the role, my anger made the punch harder and faster than I intended. By the time I realised how much force I'd put into it, it was too late to stop my arm.

 

"Hey!"

Thud!