Within the spaces

Episode 1

The room fell into an uneasy silence after Yoko finished singing. It was as if everyone was holding their breath, waiting for P'Wan's reaction. Yoko had a sweet voice, in fact very sweet voice, the kind that would make you smile, that will make you forget everything else. Faye couldn't help but feel a strange connection with Yoko as the girl stood there, nervously waiting for the judgement. There was something about the way Yoko looked at her - innocent yet intense - that made Faye's heart skip a beat.

P'Wan finally broke the silence. "Thank you, Yoko. That was... unexpected but in a good way. We'll be in touch." Her tone was neutral, revealing nothing about her decision. Yoko nodded politely, trying to mask her disappointment. She wasn't sure if she had done enough, but she was relieved it was over. She gathered her things and headed towards the door. She glanced once again towards Faye and couldn't help but smile. Faye was not sure how to respond to that. She was a bit concerned for the little girl though.

As Yoko was about to leave, P'Wan called out, "Wait, Yoko." Yoko stopped and turned around, her heart pounding in her chest. "Before you go, could you stay back for a few minutes? I'd like to talk to you about something."

Yoko's eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly nodded, "Sure."

P'Wan smiled and gestured to the others, "Let's take a quick break, everyone. We'll resume in 15 minutes."

Faye watched as the rest of the crew slowly filed out of the room. She knew this was her moment to talk to P'Wan, but something was holding her back. The look in Yoko's eyes, the vulnerability and hope, made Faye feel protective, almost responsible. It was an unfamiliar feeling, and it left her conflicted.

Once the room was empty except for the three of them, P'Wan turned to Faye. "You had something to discuss with me?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing.

Faye hesitated, glancing at Yoko, who was now fidgeting with her phone, trying to avoid eye contact. "Can we talk privately, P'Wan?" Faye finally said, her voice low but firm.

P'Wan looked between the two women, sensing the tension but not fully understanding it. "Of course. Yoko, could you wait in the next room? I'll be with you shortly."

Yoko nodded quickly and left the room, casting one last glance at Faye before closing the door behind her.

Once they were alone, Faye took a deep breath. "P'Wan, I'm not sure I can do this," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

P'Wan raised an eyebrow, "Do what, exactly?"

Faye sighed, running a hand through her hair. "This role. I mean, the character, the age gap, the intimacy... I just don't know if I can pull it off."

P'Wan studied her friend carefully before responding. "I understand your concerns, Faye. But I chose you because I believe you can bring something special to this role. It's not just about acting; it's about embodying the emotions, the conflict, the love that defies societal norms. You have that in you, whether you realize it or not."

Faye looked away, feeling the weight of P'Wan's words. "But what if I can't connect with the character? What if I don't find that chemistry with whoever plays Aneung?"

P'Wan smiled knowingly. "You already have, Faye. I saw the way you looked at Yoko. There's something there, an unspoken connection. That's what I've been waiting for. I want to see where it goes. I am not asking you to fall in love with this girl. I am asking you to try and empathise with your character a bit. She has never been loved and then there is this girl who turns her life upside down. Can you please not say no before you try?  Faye?"

Faye's heart raced at P'Wan's words. Could it be true? Was there actually a connection she felt with Yoko? How did Wan see that? She didn't know what to say, so she simply nodded.

P'Wan patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Let's give it a shot. If it doesn't work, we'll figure it out together. But I have a feeling this is going to be something special."

Faye nodded again, this time with more conviction. "Alright, I'll try."

P'Wan smiled warmly. "Good. Now, let's go talk to Yoko."

When they re-entered the room, Yoko was sitting nervously on the edge of a chair. She looked up, startled, when they walked in.

"Yoko," P'Wan began, her tone professional yet kind, "we'd like to offer you the role of Aneung."

Yoko's eyes widened in shock. "Really? Are you sure?" She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

P'Wan nodded. "Yes, we believe you're the right fit for this character. But it's going to be a challenging role. You'll have to work closely with Faye here," she gestured to Faye, who smiled gently at Yoko, "and there will be some difficult scenes. Are you up for it?"

Yoko looked at Faye, her heart racing. There was something about this woman that drew her in, something she couldn't quite explain. And she was surprised that she had to act alongside her. But despite her nerves, she felt a strong urge to say yes.

"Yes," Yoko finally replied, her voice trembling with excitement and fear. "I'm up for it."

P'Wan smiled. "Great. Welcome to the team, Yoko. We'll start rehearsals next week. In the meantime, I'll have someone send you the script and a schedule. We will have a few workshops to establish the chemistry between you two in the first week. Is that okay?"

Yoko nodded, still in a daze. She couldn't believe it—she had gotten the role! But as she glanced at Faye again, she realized that this was just the beginning. There was something more to this project, something that would change her life in ways she couldn't yet understand.

As she left the audition room, Yoko felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension. And a sweet fragrance. Faye was really the most beautiful woman she had seen. "Faye? How do I not know her?" She realized she had some research to do. But one thing was certain—she couldn't wait to see what happened next.