As they sipped their coffee, Saint's expression turned serious. "Guys, can I talk to you about something important?"
Freen, Becky, and Pnam exchanged curious glances. "What is it, Saint?" Freen asked.
Saint leaned in, his voice low. "I want you both to build momentum off-screen, like you're a couple. But don't admit it directly, okay?"
Pnam's eyes widened. "You mean, like a secret relationship?"
Saint nodded. "Exactly. And Pnam, I need your help to make this happen. No one else can know this is fake, got it?"
Freen and Becky exchanged uneasy glances. "Saint, what's going on?" Freen asked, her voice hesitant.
Saint sighed. "I'm sorry to put you both in this position, but trust me, it's for the best. I've done this before, with Seng and Billy in our previous BL drama. And it turned out great! They're still together, and their chemistry on-screen is undeniable."
Freen's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Seng's name. She and Seng had been in a secret relationship, but they had never publicly admitted it. And now, she was being asked to pretend to be in a relationship with Becky?
Becky, sensing Freen's discomfort, reached out and took her hand. "Hey, it's okay. We can do this."
But Freen's mind was racing. She was still in contact with Seng, meeting him in secret and talking to him like they were still a couple. She hadn't broken up with him, and now she felt guilty for betraying him with Becky.
Pnam, sensing the tension, spoke up. "Hey, let's just focus on the task at hand, okay? We can make this work."
Freen nodded, trying to push aside her feelings. But as they continued to discuss their plan, she couldn't shake off the feeling of guilt and betrayal. She was caught between her loyalty to Seng and her growing feelings for Becky. And she didn't know how to reconcile them.
Afterwards Saint and Pnam left for another shoot, Becky and Freen remained at the cafe, having completed their scenes.
Becky noticed Freen's stress and took her hand, trying to calm her Down.
"Hey, babe, what's wrong? We're in a real relationship, and it doesn't change anything if we show it to the public," Becky said soothingly.
"But what if Seng finds out?" Freen asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
"Seng? Your ex? Don't worry about him. You're with me now, and that's all that matters," Becky replied, her tone reassuring.
Freen changed the subject, concerned about their families' reactions. "How are our families going to react to all of this?
I know your family will get it, but mine will be hard to handle. They're quite traditional, and they might not understand our situation."
Becky reassured her, "Don't worry, Freen. We'll tell them it's just work, and there's nothing more to it. They'll understand. And even if they don't, we'll face it together. We'll explain to them that our relationship is real, and that we're happy together. That's all that matters, right?"
Freen nodded, feeling a bit better, but her concerns still lingered. "I hope so, Becky. I really do. I just don't want to hurt them, or lose them. They mean everything to me."
Becky squeezed her hand. "I know, babe. And I'm sure they'll come around eventually. They'll see how happy we are together, and they'll understand that our relationship is genuine. And even if they don't, we'll still have each other. That's all that matters, right?"
Freen smiled, feeling a bit more reassured. "Yeah, you're right. We have each other, and that's all that counts."
As they sat there, holding hands and talking, Freen felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew that she still had to confront her secret.
Just then, Becky's phone rang. Her mother asked her to come home for her father's birthday party.
Freen accompanied Becky to the party, bringing gifts for her father.
However, Freen's mind was still preoccupied with Seng and her secret, making it hard for her to enjoy the celebration.
Becky's brother Richie, also an actor, tried to engage Freen in conversation about work, but she remained distant, still stressed about her situation.
As they sat down for cake, Becky's mother asked about their relationship. Becky took Freen's hand, smiling. "Mom, we're doing great. We're happy together."
Freen forced a smile, feeling guilty for not being entirely honest.
After the party, Becky offered to drop Freen off outside her place. As they stood outside, Becky calmed Freen down once more.
"Hey, babe, don't worry. Everything will be fine. We'll face whatever comes together, okay?" Becky said, her voice filled with reassurance.
Freen nodded, feeling a bit better, but the weight of her secret still lingered, waiting to be addressed.
"Thanks, Becky. You're always so supportive," Freen said, her voice sincere.
"That's what partners are for," Becky replied, smiling. "Now, let's go home and relax. We can face tomorrow together."
Freen smiled back, feeling grateful for Becky's understanding. But deep down, she knew she still had to confront her feelings about Seng and be honest with Becky about their complicated past.
