Only Friends: Dream On.

Even though the revelations about Dean became the talk of the town, rehearsals for the play continued as normal.

 

"It's alright. If you choose me, you just come down," Arnold said, following his lines. He acted as if he were looking up and talking to his character, while Dean, his sparring partner, kept his head down, pretending they were conversing in the tower.

 

"It's not that simple. Others will try to stop us; they don't want us two together."

 

"If we stay together and love each other, we'll only have difficulties."

 

Jack scrutinised the scene with the eyes of a director. Everything was going well, but it still wasn't to his perfectionist nature. He clicked his tongue in frustration periodically, making Timmy, who was sitting next to him, shiver. Dean gave his all to his co-star, his facial expressions and body language truly portraying someone deeply in love. This caused Tua, who was sitting nearby helping with the set and watching from the beginning, to constantly observe Arnold with apprehension, developing an inexplicable possessiveness. Dean is still fully expressing his feelings to Arnold.

 

"If I go with you, I won't really regret it, will I?"

 

"I cannot make such a promise to you, but what can I do, since we love each other?"

 

‘Click’

 

The sound of camera shutters clicked rapidly and continuously. Boston was there today to capture behind-the-scenes footage as part of his job, but it distracted Arnold so much that he had to cut the scene, giving Jack an opportunity to comment on the performance.

 

"Let me say it again. This scene is a memorable one in the story. The audience has to feel like, 'You guys...They truly love each other."

"More, really?" Dean frowned, looking worried. He knew he'd managed just fine, but he was worried about Arnold, who was stiff as a log the entire scene.

 

"Arnold, can you try to bring out more of your inner self?" Jack asked. "You love this person so much, you can't bear to be without them for even a minute. Can you do that?" The young dancer, trying his hand at acting for the first time, sighed. Arnold was worried. Acting was a million times harder than he had imagined, but he didn't want to disappoint anyone.

 

"Wow, I've never loved anyone that much," Dean and Jack exchanged glances, both dejected by their tragic lives and weary of not knowing what to do.

 

"Okay, try closing your eyes and thinking about the person you love most in your life right now. Don't worry about anything else."

 

"It could be a romantic relationship, or maybe someone you care about."

 

Arnold reluctantly tried it, but surprisingly, it worked incredibly well. He saw an image of someone flash before his eyes.

 

"Now..." Jack's voice murmured nearby, 

 

"Slowly open your eyes and look at Dean. Place that person's face over Dean's, eye to eye, nose to nose, mouth to mouth, until you feel that the person in your thoughts just now and Dean standing before you are one and the same person."

 

As Arnold slowly opened his eyelids, he saw Dean, in the role of Romeo, right before his eyes. But this time, something was different. He was beginning to understand the character more... beginning to see that Dean as Romeo was an important figure, having a significant emotional impact on his own character.

 

"Tell him something," Jack nodded towards Dean. "He is your lover, remember that."

 

Dean moved closer to Arnold, the taller man lowering his gaze to examine the innocent face. That is protruding directly in front of you.

 

"Do we have anything cute?" Dean asked in a pleading tone.

 

"Your dimples are cute. I always find myself smiling when I see them," Arnold replied.

 

"Beautiful nose, smooth skin... You're different from everyone else," Dean's smile almost broke character before he grabbed the other's hand and cupped his own cheeks. He tried his best to convey the emotion to his co-star, and Arnold was already able to create the inner feeling.

 

"Your eyelashes are so beautiful, and your eyes are so clear. Looking at them is like being invited to leave and enter an unknown world."

 

Oh, it's not over yet. Dean almost broke character again, but his seriousness made him unsure whether Arnold's compliment was genuine or just him acting like Romeo.

 

"It worked!"

 

Dean flinched when Arnold sang. The young dancer grinned widely before pulling away and signalling to Jack that he was ready.

 

"Good! Then I'll have that one again."

 

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Although the rehearsal went well, that image made Tua feel a pang in his heart. He tried not to look, turning his attention back to sewing the black fabric for the prop until someone walked in and sat beside him.

 

"Those two have good chemistry, don't you think?" Boston started the conversation. I paused for a moment, then answered casually.

 

"In a drama, if they're a couple, there's bound to be chemistry." Boston frowned.

 

"What's wrong? Why are you so irritated?"

 

"nothing"

 

"Are you being possessive of your friend?" the cameraman asked, hardly believing it. "Dean, you mean?"

 

"Why would I be possessive of Dean? He's as big as a buffalo."

 

"Oh..." Boston narrowed his eyes, beginning to understand what was going on. "So, he's probably possessive."

 

"That's Arnold, isn't it?"

 

"Aren't you going to take some behind-the-scenes photos?" Tua lost his patience. "Don't meddle. Is that okay? Can't you see I'm working?"

 

"After we're done here, shall we go have dinner? I know a really good restaurant, and I'd like to take you."

 

"Isn't there anyone else to invite?"

 

"Did you forget?" Boston laughed. "I told you, this time I'm going to try to win you over again."

 

"Try to act more like you're being flirted with."

 

"one" Arnold's voice rang out like a life-saving bell that arrived at the perfect moment. Arnold asked himself with a look, "Okay?" The young stylist nodded in response, while Boston observed the two of them alternately, scrutinising their reactions.

 

"I already have a date with Arnold," he said. "You go invite someone else." Having said that, he abruptly stood up and moved to work in another corner. Arnold continued to watch. Boston observed the situation cautiously before being called back to the set by Jack. The young cameraman began to understand. Boston narrowed his eyes and smiled slyly. A fun plan popped into his mind.

 

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The play rehearsal ended on time. Jack thought he would be the last to go home, but it turned out Raffy was still waiting, looking like he wanted to talk to him.

 

"How is it going?"

 

"Hang in there, man," Raffy smiled. "I know things are tough lately, with all the training and everything else."

 

"We need to raise money for production, and then there's the Dean leak too," Jack said, slightly annoyed that the other person brought it up, but he didn't show any posture whatsoever.

 

"If you need advice or someone to talk to, just let me know. Hey, I'm willing to listen."

"Thanks a lot. No need for anything else. I just ask that you practice hard and do your best. What you're doing is enough."

 

The compliment made Raffy's heart swell; he couldn't help but smile before nodding and waving goodbye.

 

Jack thought he would get some quiet time alone, but he was disturbed. It happened a second time.

 

"What did that celebrity's kid talk to you about? Your face is beaming like a dog's food bowl!" Jack knew it was Dean even before he actually saw him.

 

"Speak well of him."

 

"Wow, you're really protective," the Prince of Sin crept closer, his hands clasped behind his back as he approached Jack, as if harbouring some ulterior motive. "Want to hear some good news?"

 

"What trouble have you gotten into this time?"

 

"What kind of person do you think I am?" Dean pouted, but quickly broke into a smile.

 

"Someone called me in for an audition. The fee is eighty thousand baht!"

 

"That's good then," Jack said, not understanding why the other person needed to tell him.

 

"Don't you want to come with me?"

 

"Ah," Jack understood, "you need a driver, right?"

 

"No, I need encouragement. Neither Tua nor Timmy are free, so you're the only one left," Dean quickly came up with an excuse. 

 

"I don't want to give you encouragement."

 

"Me?"

 

"no"

 

"And if I don't pass the audition, do I have to go home crying because there's no one who actually went to give support?"

 

"Why are you being so dramatic?"

 

"Really?" Dean began to play the tragic role. "How miserable can life be?"

 

“Where is it?" Jack was starting to lose his patience. He let his hair down until it was a messy bird's nest. In the end, they were completely defeated by persistence.

 

"Okay, okay, I'll go! But as a friend, understand?" Dean, who was about to pout and act like he was going to cry for sympathy, stopped abruptly. He then grinned widely, just like the dog food bowl he'd insulted Raffy with earlier, and walked over to pat the tall man on the shoulder.

 

"Friends don't kiss in a theatre," Dean said, laughing gleefully at the young director's stunned expression. Nevertheless, Jack went along with him anyway. In the end, the Prince of Mercy always gets what he wants.

 

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"I told them the car broke down! It's fine, I'm about to take a taxi. The traffic isn't bad."

 

"Okay, we'll be there in half an hour." Raffy hung up the phone with his mother, irritated. His handsome face was extremely displeased because his car, which had been working perfectly fine all morning, suddenly wouldn't start. He tried to fix the problem with the limited knowledge he had, but no matter what I did, I couldn't succeed, and in the end, I had to give up. If I didn't hurry now, I would definitely miss my mother's important event.

 

The young man grabbed his bag, about to order a ride on the app, but his eyes caught sight of someone walking by. The other person hurried off with long strides without even bothering to turn around and look.

 

"Aren't we going to greet each other at all?"

 

Rome almost walked past, but the tall figure stopped, sighed, and made a decision. He turned around to look.

 

"what"

"You're acting like you don't even see me here, huh?"

 

"Perhaps," the young DJ said, crossing his arms and observing the situation with a neutral expression. Rome paused for a moment before craning his neck to look at the car in the back. "Is it broken down?"

 

"It won't start," Raffy replied hesitantly, trying to gauge the other's reaction. What mood are you in? "Are you... angry at me?"

 

"What could I possibly be angry at you about?"

 

"Since the day you talked to me, you haven't contacted me at all."

 

"Why? You're in a bad mood and can't find a way to vent, so you thought of me again?"

 

"What's wrong with you? I'm trying to have a nice conversation with you," Raffy started to get annoyed. "Whatever."

 

"Go wherever you want, I'm in a hurry too."

 

Seeing Raffy's seemingly sulky expression, Rome surprisingly softened. The young DJ decided to walk over and stop in front of him, his hawk-like gaze scrutinising Raffy's face as if to make up for the longing they had shared after not talking for several days. Raffy looked at him with a questioning expression.

 

"what"

 

"Where are you going? I'll give you a ride."

 

"No way. You'll just mess around and take me to some random place again. I really need to go see my mom." Raffy snapped back. He didn't trust him, knowing the other man must be angry.

 

"What kind of person do you think I am? I was being genuinely kind, Ek. Go ahead, manage your life. You're just a spoiled brat, I'm done with you."

 

"Wait!" Raffy was terrified when he heard that, as if he really didn't want to lose Rome. 

 

'Okay, I'll go with you. That's all."

Rome didn't pester him much. The tall man nodded and turned his back, walking ahead to his car, but still glancing back at Raffy, who was running closely behind him.

 

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"Hello, my name is Dean, I'm twenty years old, and I'm here to audition for a role where I play a guy eating snacks."

 

"He's good-looking."

 

The speaker smiled broadly in front of the camera at a commercial casting shoot as they introduced themselves. Once the script was ready, the crew instructed him to perform it. Dean took a bite of the snack in his hand, making a loud crunching sound!

 

"Delicious - crunchy today, crispy until the next! Plus a new fragrant pizza flavour!"

I challenge you to try it!

 

It ended with a thumbs-up confirming the taste. When the director called cut, the crew nodded and communicated with each other through eye contact, clearly showing how pleased they were with Dean's skills. One crew member said they would contact him if he was selected.

 

"Thank you, everyone."

 

With a gentle smile, she bowed to everyone before leaving the casting room. In the waiting area outside the room, Jack was engrossed in revising his troupe's play. The Prince of Fine Arts hopped over like a rabbit and reported what he had to say.

 

"Everything went smoothly."

 

"Are you that confident?" Jack smirked, but deep down he believed what the other said. Dean was always serious about everything he did, especially when it came to acting.

 

"Should we go back now? I need to revise the script."

 

"Okay, but I need to go to the restroom real quick. You wait for me in the parking lot."

 

"Okay."

 

As Dean went off to run errands in a good mood, Jack quickly gathered both his and Dean's belongings and slung them over his shoulder. As he walked out of the studio, he overheard people on set talking near the smoking area. The young man pretended to be indifferent but took in every detail of their conversation.

 

"I was rooting for Dean, but what can I do if he's not interested?"

 

"Are you talking about social media popularity?"

 

"Yeah," the voice was rather irritated. "He’s the best performer, that's true, but his Instagram followers aren't even 50,000. No client would want him." 

 

Those words stung Jack, but he also felt resigned. He knew that in this industry, having a good reputation always outweighed skill. Everyone in his major understood this. Ultimately, some of them would graduate without jobs. Many seniors went to work in companies in positions unrelated to their studies, leaving their dreams and talents behind as directors who loved performing arts. Jack only hoped the industry would give them more opportunities, but as long as money was the main concern, he couldn't deny this reality. Dean is talented, but unfortunately, he'll miss out on this opportunity simply because he's not a celebrity.

 

"Are you ready?" Dean returned just then, so Jack forced a smile and pretended everything was normal before they walked away together to the car.