Here we go again—lights, cue, drama.
It felt like we were stuck in some endless loop of romantic tension and awkward pauses. Like a never-ending rom-com blooper reel.
Kairo stepped closer, and I felt his warm hand gently cup my face. His eyes were soft, and for a second, everything else disappeared—the noisy crew, the glaring lights, even River's annoying antics.
Just when I thought this moment was finally ours, I caught movement out of the corner of my eye.
There was River, whisper-shouting like it was the most natural thing in the world, "Yeli, if you're not sure yet, how about me instead?"
I swear, if someone had recorded my face in that moment, it would have been a priceless meme. I almost screamed. Actually, I wanted to scream. But instead, I just stared at Kairo, wondering when this scene would finally end. Or at least pause.
Just as Kairo leaned in for the almost-giggling moment—
I sneezed.
Like, a huge, totally out-of-nowhere sneeze that sounded like it came from the depths of my soul.
"CUT!"
The director's voice cut through the awkward silence like a whip. Everyone groaned like they were all personally offended by my sneeze.
River applauded dramatically. "Brilliant. Oscar-worthy sneeze. 10/10."
I wanted to disappear. Or at least throw a milk tea at River—yeah, I was that annoyed.
After the disaster—I mean, the shoot—I fled to the vending machine, hoping sugar and juice could fix my embarrassing mess. Everything felt off. Kairo was unusually quiet—well, he's always quiet, but now it felt different. Like he was maybe a little annoyed or maybe just as awkward as I was. The director looked like he aged ten years in the last five minutes. And River? He looked like he just won "Best Disturber of Peace" and couldn't be prouder.
I whispered to the vending machine, "Pineapple juice, please fix me."
"Grape's better," a voice said behind me.
I sighed and turned around. Of course, it was River, leaning casually against the wall, arms crossed like he owned the place. Why is this guy everywhere?
"I'm fine," I muttered, hoping the juice would magically erase the entire last take from my brain.
"You're not," River said with that irritating confidence.
"Excuse me?"
"You're panicky. You talk fast when you're panicky. You avoided eye contact with Kairo after that scene. And you sneezed like your soul left your body," he said, then chuckled like it was the funniest observation ever.
Okay, wow. Observant much?
I grabbed my pineapple juice, refusing to look at him. "Maybe I just have allergies."
"Maybe you just have developing feelings."
My hand froze mid-grab. I looked up, confused. Was he joking? Or was he serious?
"Don't worry," he said, stepping closer with a smirk. "I won't tell anyone. Your secret's safe with me." Then he winked like he was the keeper of all juicy secrets.
"I don't have a secret," I said quickly.
"Then why are your ears turning red?"
"I am not!" I denied, even though my cheeks felt like they were on fire. "I was just embarrassed earlier, remember?" I added, hoping that would be enough to dismiss the whole thing.
I tried to walk away, clutching my juice like a lifeline, but River followed, sipping his grape juice like this was some casual picnic.
"You're weird," I told him, hoping to end this awkward conversation.
"Thank you. You're panicking again."
"Am not." I lightly swatted his arm. He just laughed.
Then suddenly, he said, "You only call people weird when you're confused and panicking."
I AM NOT PANICKING. I AM—okay, maybe a little.
I finally stopped and turned to face him. "Why do you even care?"
River blinked slowly. "I don't."
Ouch. Super blunt, huh? Didn't even bother to lie to spare me.
He looked at me again, softer this time. "I mean… not in the way you think."
I didn't get it. What did he mean by that?
"Don't be sad, dummy."
I don't know if I was touched or annoyed because he was trying to make me feel better but called me a dummy. True, though, but it still stung coming from him. A slap of honesty, wrapped in sarcasm.
"I'm not sad!" I protested.
He just shrugged and walked ahead, tossing his empty juice into the bin like he didn't just drop a mini emotional bomb.
Then he turned around, walking backward with a grin. "See you tomorrow, leading lady."
And just like that, River disappeared—leaving me standing there with my pineapple juice and a heart that refused to stop racing.
-_-