The Eternal Thread

Part 4

The meeting room was charged with a strange energy. It wasn’t just another production meeting—this was where everything began. The two leads of Supachai’s upcoming film were supposed to meet for the first time. The filming wouldn’t start immediately; first, there would be workshops, chemistry exercises, and rehearsals. It was standard for movies like this, especially when the relationship between the characters was so central to the plot.

Supachai sat at the head of the table, with Pongpath beside him, flipping through his notes. Ton, Arthit’s manager, hovered in the back, while Niren’s own manager, Ploy, sat beside him. She was always composed and focused, her presence reassuring, though Niren didn’t need it right now. His thoughts were elsewhere.

Niren’s fingers tapped lightly on the edge of the table, the anticipation building in his chest. He was curious about Arthit, the actor who had already made a name for himself in the industry. Was he really as good as people said?

The door opened, and Niren’s thoughts froze. He turned his head to see him.

Arthit walked in like he owned the place. His steps were deliberate, his head held high, and he wore a cool, casual jacket over a fitted tshirt, with a pair of headphones resting around his neck. His dark hair fell effortlessly across his forehead, and there was an unmistakable arrogance in the way he carried himself

and for just a moment, his gaze landed on Niren. Their eyes met briefly, and Niren felt a jolt of something he couldn’t quite place. Arthit’s sharp features, confident stance, and effortless charm made Niren pause for a moment—he hated to admit it, but Arthit was undeniably attractive. Arthit quickly looked away, breaking the eye contact as though Niren wasn’t worth noticing. But that moment lingered with Niren

Supachai cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Alright, now that we’re all here, let’s get started. Today’s meeting is really just a chance for our two leads to meet before the workshops begin. You’ll both be working closely together for the next few weeks, and it’s important that you build a good dynamic.”

Arthit took a seat, still not sparing Niren a second glance. His attention was already on his phone, swiping through notifications, completely uninterested in the conversation.

Niren’s irritation bubbled up. Is he serious right now? They were all here, taking this project seriously, and Arthit couldn’t even be bothered to listen?

Supachai continued, explaining the schedule. “The workshops will focus on character development, getting you two comfortable with each other’s energy. We’ve got chemistry reads, improvisation exercises—everything to help you get into the mindset of your characters before filming starts.”

Pongpath, ever organized, added, “These exercises are critical. The dynamic between your roles will define the film, so it’s important that you both understand each other’s approach to the characters.”

Niren nodded, determined to give it his best. He had been preparing for this role for weeks, diving deep into the script and thinking about the character dynamics. He knew what was at stake here, not just for the movie, but for his career.

But Arthit? Arthit just tossed his phone onto the table and leaned back in his chair with an exasperated sigh. “I don’t need weeks of workshops to figure this out. Just tell me what you want, and I’ll deliver.”

Niren’s eyes flashed with anger. He couldn’t believe the arrogance dripping from every word. He thinks he’s better than this?

The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. “It’s not about just ‘delivering,’” Niren said, his voice sharper than he’d intended. “It’s about making it real. If you think you can just breeze through this, you’re going to ruin the whole film.”

Arthit’s gaze snapped toward him, his eyes narrowing. “And who are you to tell me how to do my job? I’ve been in this industry long enough to know what I’m doing. Maybe focus on your part and leave mine to me.”

Niren scoffed, refusing to back down. “Yeah, clearly, you know what you’re doing. That’s why you’re acting like this is all beneath you, right? We’re supposed to be working together, but you’re already checked out.”

Arthit stood up, his expression cold. “You’ve got a lot of nerve talking to me like that, kid. Maybe once you’ve had a few more years under your belt, you’ll understand how this industry works. Until then, I suggest you watch your mouth.”

Niren stood as well, meeting Arthit’s glare head-on. “Years in the industry don’t mean anything if you’ve got an attitude like that. You’re not the only one working hard here.”

The room went silent as the tension between them escalated. Both stood, their faces inches apart, glaring at each other.

Suddenly, as they stared at each other, Niren felt his heart race, but not from anger. That same strange, familiar feeling washed over him—the same one he’d had in his dreams of the temple. Everything around him seemed to blur for a moment, and for a split second, it was as though he wasn’t in the meeting room anymore.

Niren blinked, shaking off the feeling, but the unsettling sense of déjà vu lingered. He glanced at Arthit, who had stepped back, but the feeling remained.

Their managers, sensing the tension, stepped in quickly. Ploy placed a firm hand on Niren’s shoulder, and Ton moved to stand beside Arthit. “Let’s all sit down,” Ploy said, her voice calm but authoritative.

Arthit sat down, his expression unreadable, but Niren couldn’t stop glancing at him. He didn’t even realize he was still staring.

Arthit noticed and smirked. “Can’t take your eyes off me?” he teased, his voice low and taunting.

Niren’s face flushed with embarrassment, but before he could respond, Supachai clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. “Alright, I think that’s enough for today. Let’s cool down before we start rehearsals.”

Pongpath added, “Yes, we’ll have time to build the dynamic during the workshops. Let’s all take a breather.”

The meeting wrapped up, but Niren couldn’t shake that strange, unsettling feeling. Something about Arthit was pulling him in, and it wasn’t just the tension from their argument.

That's it for todayy see you on the next part.Don't forget to share your thoughts and opinions in the cmnt section.. Are you enjoying it?? I'm curious 👀