Invisible String (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 5. Gorgeous

Long awaited chapter 5! Sorry for a late update, but this chapter is a tad longer than usual! Enjoy! :)

When Edvin woke up, he felt a storm brewing. Today was the day that dreaded kiss photo would go public. And the text exchange with Adrian from yesterday was sitting on his phone like an unsolved riddle. Edvin couldn't help but mull over the message for several reasons:

1. Adrian liked men?  

2. Adrian was dating ANDREW? The same Andrew Edvin had nearly called a 'boyfriend' when he was eighteen?  

3. Adrian wasn't straight???

Suddenly, everything fell into place. Adrian's coldness and distance made sense now. Edvin had always been a drama queen, but back at eighteen, he took the crown. That year he spent with Andrew was etched in his memory, and not in a good way. In fact, it needed a boatload of therapy to even begin to process the emotional rollercoaster.

Edvin was still living in Serbia when he first met Andrew, backstage at his very first U.S. performance on Saturday Night Live. The producer of the show, older, charismatic, and powerful, was Edvin's first everything—first kiss, first hand-hold, first... But he was so young and he didn't know what he was doing. And then Edvin, in classic Edvin fashion, ran away from the impending storm. Seven years later, he still regretted the way things had ended between them. He wished Andrew had understood the whirlwind he was feeling at the time—his career taking off, everything felt like a pressure cooker. But he had fled, unable to risk his dreams. Yet he cursed himself for being a coward, unable to face Andrew and express his fears. Instead, he ran, leaving behind a trail of confusion and unspoken words.

And now, here it was, coming back to haunt him like an unpaid debt. But Adrian, he had met Adrian three years ago... did that mean they'd been together all this time? His head spun with unanswered questions. Should he reply to Adrian's message? Or maybe, maybe it was time to finally clear the air with Andrew?

As he reached for his phone, he noticed a message notification from Jess. A link led him to an article titled "Just co-stars? Heartthrobs Edvin and Adrian Wood seen sharing a kiss at the private event." Oh, here we go, Edvin thought sarcastically. The article did hint that it seemed as damage control more than anything, but it was working. People were intrigued, and some fans were now even more convinced that the actors embodied both 'rivalry' and 'romance.'

This wasn't the first time his sexuality had been scrutinized, but this time it felt different—more real. The reactions from his home country were particularly vicious since he was cast to play an openly gay character. And that was just the tip of the iceberg—Serbia's relationship with him was as complex as it was with itself. Proud yet ashamed. Especially with Serbia openly supporting Russia's actions against Ukraine, a stance that Edvin strongly condemned. Corruption, he reassured himself. He knew that most Serbians didn't support such moves.

Luckily, most seemed to grasp that the kiss was merely a role and not an insight into his personal life. It's been wild couple of weeks, but things seemed to be settling down finally. The storm was passing, and Edvin was ready to enjoy the rainbow. He hadn't replied to Adrian's text yet, but they had a public outing scheduled for later in the afternoon, and he thought a face-to-face chat was due.

As Edvin ascended the restaurant stairs, his heart raced. The location was chosen by the PR team, and he understood why—it was a cozy, intimate place with glass walls, practically a fishbowl. But despite the quirks, the ocean view tugged at his heartstrings, his ultimate weakness. After checking in at the reception, he was led to a sea-view table by the window. He was early, so he ordered an iced coffee to sip on while he waited. Tempted to order wine, he decided against it, memories of his last tipsy escapade still fresh.

Just as he was taking the first sip of his drink, he looked up just in time to see his co-star entering the restaurant. Adrian wore blue shorts, a casual T-shirt, and short sleeves shirt on top, and in that moment, Edvin felt oddly overdressed despite his jeans and tee. He rose to greet Adrian, but the words got stuck as Adrian beat him to it.

"Don't worry, no hugs this time," Adrian quipped before taking a seat opposite Edvin. "Just a coffee? No alcohol?"

He's been here for literally a second and Edvin could feel his blood boil.

"Excuse me, could we get a bottle of champagne, please?" Edvin hailed the host, locking eyes with Adrian. "We're celebrating the beginning of filming, remember?"

Adrian's expression morphed into bewilderment, but Edvin didn't flinch.

"What? Can't celebrate in broad daylight?" Edvin quipped, letting a grin touch his lips.

Adrian's silence spoke volumes, but Edvin didn't let it dampen his spirits. As the champagne arrived and orders were placed, the two sat in an awkward silence that felt like an impending thunderstorm.

"Why'd you audition for Elias' role?" Edvin broke the silence, attempting to thaw the icy air.

Adrian's retort earned a raised eyebrow from Edvin. "I didn't know this was an interview kind of thing?"

"Do you always answer questions with more questions?" Edvin replied with a roll of his eyes, thankful for the sunglasses shielding his emotions. "Listen, do you want this movie to be made or not? Can you at least pretend to have a decent time? I won't let anyone ruin this for me." Determination laced his words.

As anticipated, Adrian scoffed at the suggestion, only to follow it up a minute later with, "I love the book." Maybe, just maybe, Edvin's words were finally hitting home.

"Oh, I didn't know you could read," Edvin responded, his tone light and teasing.

Adrian surprised him with a genuine smile, even a chuckle. "And I didn't know you could be funny," the blonde actor quipped.

"See, being civil isn't rocket science," Edvin declared, clinking his glass with Adrian's. A smile danced on his lips.

Adrian reciprocated, and Edvin seized the moment to broach a topic he had been apprehensive about. "I know the Andrew situation adds a layer of complication for us to work together. But it's been 7 years. No excuses for my behavior back then, but I was 18, exploring my sexuality, and my world was spinning at breakneck speed. Maybe I should've handled things better, but people change. I'm not who I was before." He glanced at Adrian, trying to gauge his reaction. "This project means everything to me. I hope we can move forward, be professional."

Adrian's reply was a segue rather than a direct response. "What's your take on the script, being a fan of the book?" Though it wasn't exactly an answer, it felt like a step in the right direction. Edvin welcomed the shifting dynamics.

And so, they delved into a deep discussion about the script, sharing insights, airing concerns, and offering each other character advice. The hours sped by, and as it came time to part ways, Edvin couldn't help but feel a sense of progress.

Walking away, Edvin's thoughts wandered back to the blonde man's face. It was a GORGEOUS face to look at. The second he got home, he headed straight to the studio as an inspiration has struck.