A Wistful Summer's Night

Chapter 17: Choices

The last few days have been stressful...to say the least.

Somehow Jimin has remained calm during this whole fiasco but I'm sure it's just a front not to worry me more. He must be just as scared as I am about all of this.

The great plan I suggested was to...stop seeing each other.

We're not breaking up! But we're not seeing each other in the literal sense which means no talking on set or anywhere at work for that matter unless we have to be in the same room together. Never be alone together and no meeting up outside of work, so no going to each other's apartments either.

The anonymous photographer or photographers I should say as there seem to be multiple accounts distributing the photos which has made it more difficult to determine who is the culprit and who are just simply people being copycats. They have given Jimin an ultimatum to admit to the public about his relationship or they'll release pictures revealing my face.

Jimin is willing to call their bluff but I am not.

"Layla, help me move these boxes. Pretty please?" Eun-Hye asks, fluttering her eyelashes at me.

"Oh, sure."

"Yay!" She claps her hands together. I pick up one of the boxes and follow behind her as she walks up the hallway.

"Ugh, my mum is bugging me at the moment it's so annoying."

"Hm?"

"Yeah so like, she's really pressuring me to find a boyfriend like chill I'm not a grandma just yet! And I want a boyfriend sure but all the guys I've met so far are just...ugh but I mean Jin and Jungkook are nice. Jungkook's all muscular too and he showed me one of his new tattoos and his hair...I-I mean his hair is just so glossy and soft-"

I can't focus on what Eun-Hye is saying. What if the photographer does have pictures of my face? How will I be perceived at work? I mean I'll be fired and everyone will think I'm some desperate wannabe using actors to climb my way up into the industry, first Taehyung and now Jimin...but what will become of Jimin? Will I ruin his career? He's worked so hard to come to where he is today...

I can't do that to him.

"Oh, but Jimin-"

"Huh? What? What did you say?" I suddenly blink myself out of my internal monologue of worry.

She stops in her tracks turns her head and raises her brow at me "You don't know? He's got a girlfriend! Well did have a girlfriend? I dunno but everyone is talking about it." She points her finger in the air "It's the number one hot gossip right now."

I avoid her gaze "Ah, right..."

"And it's a huge scandal!"

I shake my head and step forward, walking beside her "But why? People have relationships all the time."

"Well yeah, but he's a celebrity so it's different."

"Different how?" I press.

"It just is! You know we live in two different worlds, they're celebrities and we're-"

"Just a runner."

"What?"

"I-uh." I look at the floor "It's nothing...sorry I just remembered I needed to speak with uh-I gotta go." I drop the box and run off.

"Oi, Layla!"

Jimin POV

"Cut!"

I pull my phone out of my pocket and sigh. She's still not replying to my texts...I know we're not supposed to be interacting with each other but texts should be okay, right? A bad feeling twists its way into my stomach.

"Jimin?" the director calls.

"Yes!" I walk over to the director's chair, Yoongi's face is sour.

He removes his glasses and rubs his eyes "You seem very distracted today."

"I'm sorry."

"I get it," He sips his drink "You're all over social media and it's stressful but at the end of the day, you've still got a job to do. I have big hopes for you Jimin, show me that energy you had before any of this."

"I'm sorry. I won't let you down."

"Good man." Yonngi pats me on the shoulder and puts his glasses back on "For this scene I need you to play it more bittersweet okay?"

...

Two hours later

Damn it.

I still couldn't focus throughout that whole shoot. I just can't get Layla off my mind. I need to see her and reassure myself.

I walk around both buildings A & B and I spot both of her friends but not her...it's like she's disappeared from the film lot altogether. No, I'm sure she's around here somewhere.

Voices grow behind me.

"Oh yeah, I have to get drinks for Han-Wool and Ha-Yoon. Gah, what did they say they wanted again?" One voice says.

"Iced coffee and a frappuccino with a shot of vanilla." Another voice says.

"Oh thank god you remembered."

They laugh "Want me to come with you?"

"That's probably best yeah. Ah, did you hear what Jack said to me as we were walking out?"

"No?"

"He had the cheek to ask me to get him a drink as well, like no I don't think so."

"What? He really said that?"

"Yeah! Just because you get a promotion to assistant doesn't mean you're on the same level as the actors. Get your own bloody drink."

The other one laughs "Right."

I turn and face them "Oh, excuse me." The two stop in their tracks.

"Sorry for eavesdropping but I heard you were getting some drinks." I smile warmly.

They both blush "Ah, yes! Would you like us to get you something?"

"Well actually I already asked someone but it's been a while and they don't seem to have come back yet."

"Oh, do you remember the name of the person? I can give them a call maybe."

"Ah I think it started with an L? Lara-no wait maybe Layla?" I say obliviously.

"Oh, Layla!" The two look at each other and then at me "Um, she won't be coming back so we can get your drink-"

"Not coming back? What do you mean?"

They both squirm slightly "Well because..."

"She's quit." The other says.