𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬

CHAPTER 3

Kiara and Vijay performing at Lux Golden Rose Awards above.

kilig

(n.) the feeling of butterflies in one's stomach

Kiara bent over to grab her bag from the backseat of Emilia's car and stepped out, inhaling deeply to dispel her discomfort. She wasn't foolish enough to think the voices in her head would disappear but that didn't mean she would stop trying to expel them. She stopped at the door as she begun to lose her nerve and peered back at Emilia, now standing outside.

Emilia waved enthusiastically, "Go on, bitch! Show 'em who Sakshi fucking Harrison is!"

Laughing and turning back to face the door with a renewed confidence, Kiara looked ahead pensively while the camera moved in for a close-up before slowing to a stop in front of her as she resolutely knocked on the door. She remained frozen in place for a few moments, waiting for the crew to finalise their shot.

"And that's a wrap!," the director yelled.

The alarm sounded, indicating shooting had ended for the day as Kiara completed her final scene for this season. The entire room remained silent, giving Emilia and Kiara a moment to recollect themselves, before erupting in cheers. She hugged Emilia as they jumped up and down excitedly, joining the rest of the crew to celebrate. Clouds of rainbow confetti exploded from streamers as Hadley brought out a cake, gathering everyone around. She clasped her hands in front of her chest, eyes glistening as she acknowledged those involved for their tireless work. Everyone applauded as Hadley blew out the candles and began slicing pieces of cake to serve.

Kiara sat cross-legged on the floor between Vijay's legs, leaning back against his chest, and contentedly tucked into her slice of cake while Emilia and Henry sat beside them with their own slices of cake. Poorna and Jeffrey had finished filming their final scenes earlier this week so went home on the condition that they would attend the show's premiere afterparty. Vijay pulled his phone out as it rang, reading the caller ID, and instinctively tossed his phone to Kiara. She fumbled to catch the phone and tossed it right back to him, refusing to clean up his mess.

"Coward," Emilia snorted, flicking her perfectly curled brown locks out of her face.

He gave her the middle finger before answering the call and placing it against Kiara's ear, forcing her to converse, "Nargis? Hey, how are you?"

She widened her eyes, hitting his chest in panic as she tried to form a believable excuse for why he hadn't answered the call, "Um... Jay's at a doctor's appointment."

He furrowed his brows, looking at her incredulously as she provided more details, "He's getting a... prostate exam? Yeah, a prostate exam. You know... to make sure the tools function satisfactorily."

Occasionally humming in acknowledgement, Kiara pretended to listen as Nargis ranted before quickly hanging up and turning around to angrily hit Vijay's chest.

He flicked the back of her head, "Couldn't you think of anything else?"

"I wouldn't want you to have performance anxiety."

He gave her a deadpan stare as she puckishly added, "About corroborating my lie! She's tough."

"You're obvious."

"Don't worry, happens to the best of us."

She grinned widely and held her arms out for a hug in mock sympathy as he huffed in annoyance, refusing to encourage her, "You can do better."