MileApo : Catching Feelings

one

One look at that beautiful man in white and Mile was taken back eight years in time, to the parking lot outside the faculty of communication arts, back to his old university campus. Mile sat in his car, scrolling through his phone, as he waited on his friend Masu. They had made plans to meet up with the rest of their band in the evening and Mile was the designated chauffeur.

Mile lifted his head as he heard the sound of group of men laughing and talking as they walked out of the building. Mile's eyes scanned the crowd, searching for his friend's face, but he never found him, because Mile's gaze landed on a particular man that held his interest. Mile's mind started filling up with memories of his favourite childhood show. He was talking among his friends, walking backwards, facing the group, his hands flying everywhere animatedly as he narrated something funny. Mile was unable to take his eyes off the man, as he laughed, and his mirth projected on his whole body. His smile was contagious, Mile couldn't help himself as his lips mirrored the stranger's smile.

Mile didn't see him enough during his time at the university but he was impressed enough with the man's aura to find out his name. Apo Nattawin. A name he had forgotten as the years built up and new names piled over the old ones. But when fate brought back that gorgeous man from eight years ago before him again, he didn't have to scour his brain for a name. It sprung to the top of his mind as if it had been waiting for this instant. History repeated itself and the same old smile found its way up to Mile's lips. There was no denying that Mile was somehow drawn to this handsome specimen right in front of him.

Apo was talking with an interviewer, his smile still the same as all those years ago, his eyes still held the same magic. Only his face changed, aged a little, the soft features of boyhood replaced by the sharpness of his late twenties. Mile was not too amazed by how he remembered all these details, Apo was not a face one could easily forget. He was overwhelmed with a curious excitement to talk to him. They had shared a few words during their time at University owing to their mutual friend. Thanks to Masu, it meant that Mile was not a complete stranger to Apo, so he has the grounds to start a conversation.

They were both at the casting event for an upcoming series and both had auditioned already and had received a Fastrack pass that let them into the next round. Seeing Apo with the pass made Mile a little happier as it boosted the chances of their future interactions. Mile stood around for a while hoping to talk to Apo, an unusual deliberation in all his actions. Mile was a people-person, he knew how to talk to people and how to make good impressions. But for some reason, Mile felt nervous about walking up to this man and starting a conversation. He decided that he should just go with the flow and meet him when the time comes. He didn't want to seem too eager. Mile sat himself on one of the chairs and continued going through his script again.

Mile had gotten the role of Kinn, the son of a mafia family, and he was rather pleased with the role. He had taken some time to read the novel on which the series is based and the character of Kinn intrigued him from the beginning. He also wanted to up his game from only having done a few commercials and short films to a full-fledged series. Mile was lost in thought as he went through the script given to him.

"P'Mile?" Mile was yanked from his thoughts when a vaguely familiar voice called his name. He looked up to meet the face of the man he so desperately wanted to talk to.

"Do you remember me? I'm Apo. We went to the same university." Apo offered information as if Mile needed any of it to recognise him. Mile played along and acted surprised at the coincidence of meeting an old acquaintance.

"Of course, yeah, I remember." Mile said with a smile. Apo seemed pleased that he recognised him and seated himself on the chair next to Mile.

"You are just as handsome as you were back then," Mile said. "Just like Zhan Zhao. You look just like him."