Reading Between (the line)

Scene 21

Wincing in pain from my pounding head, I opened my eyes as slowly as I could. The light streaming brightly through my room window told me it was already morning. Enduring the hangover, I sat up in bed and began to recollect the events of the previous night.

The memories came flooding back, like scenes from a movie played in reverse.

"Mai and I... are girlfriends."

I vividly remembered being frozen in place when Praewa announced this to me last night. I felt my world shatter, both literally and figuratively, as my already weakened knees gave out right away, and I slumped to the floor in shock.

I smiled bitterly to myself as I recalled Praewa's indifferent gaze, devoid of any consolation.

Not even giving me enough time to recover, she turned her back on me and left. Just like that.

"P-Praewa..."

I even tried calling her name in an attempt to stop her, but my voice couldn't reach her anymore. I was too late. Very late.

I wiped my cheeks when I felt them getting wet. But no matter how many times I wiped them, they still got drenched by my own tears, which kept flowing endlessly. In the end, I covered my face with both hands and let myself wept loudly.

I cried hard for a while, not knowing how or when to stop. I felt my heart not just getting torn but ripped out from my body.

"W-what should I d-do now? I really love her... I really love you, Praewa. Am I r-really that late?" I mumbled to myself, regretting. Realizations slapped me hard.

Catching up to her? No, from the start, there had been no way for me to catch up. It was only I who deluded myself into thinking I could.

Praewa fell in love first. Hence, she was the one who fell out of love first as well.

Why did I have to fall so late? I hate myself.

---

"CUT!"

P'Tam's loud shout echoed after I messed up my line for the nth time today. I expected to be scolded by her right away, but to my surprise, she put everyone on break and called me to follow her.

She guided me towards her van and locked it to give us some privacy. The location for our shoot this time was an open field, with no closed rooms or tents available, so this was the best place for a private talk.

"What is going on with you?"

P'Tam's voice was neither mellow nor angry, but it oozed authority. I knew I had to give her an acceptable answer, but I couldn't tell her the truth either. "I'm sorry, P'Tam," so I decided to just apologize.

"I don't need your sorry, Noon. I need you to act well!" She scolded me, voice slightly raised.

"You're just a rookie, but despite that, I still picked you for this role. You know why? Because I saw that you're a great actress despite your lack of experience. You and Praewa."

She sighed after, calming herself down.

"I do not know what is going on, and I do not want to know either, as it is none of my business. However, if it affects your work in this series, then it becomes my business."

I opened my mouth to say something but she stopped me, "Save it. Just get yourself together and show me that I did not make a mistake in casting you in this series. Remember, if I pull you out, Praewa will be out too. It is not just you who will be affected—keep that in mind." She warned.