Gray Areas | Englot | GxG

15. Friends

POV CHARLOTTE

The tension on set today was thick in the air. The scene we were shooting was supposed to be simple-a party for the launch of a diamond line, where Voss and Iris share their first dance together.

The scene was meant to feel light, relaxed. But somehow, the atmosphere shifted. Each time Engfa and I tried to dance, there was an invisible distance between us.

Our movements felt stiff and unnatural, as if something unspoken was holding us back. The tension made us redo the scene over and over, much more than we'd expected.

From behind the monitor, I could see Aoom, our director, watching us intently, her eyebrows furrowed in concern. She studied us both, trying to figure out what wasn't clicking.

Finally, she picked up her megaphone, her voice echoing across the room, "Cut!"

With steady steps, she walked over to where we were standing on the ballroom set.

"Engfa... why do you look so tense?" she asked calmly, pausing beside me and placing her hand on my waist to show how to relax into the position. Aoom then looked over at me and adjusted my hand on her shoulder, guiding my movements with the grace she always had.

"Like this, Charlotte," she said, looking at me to make sure I understood. "And you, Engfa, watch how she's following the direction. This movement has to feel natural and comfortable." I saw Engfa nod slightly, her eyes not leaving Aoom and me, trying to take in every detail she was demonstrating. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that maybe it was this unspoken tension that was making her stiffer than usual.

"Okay, let's try again," Aoom said as she stepped back, removing her hand from my waist. Engfa stepped closer, and I could feel her firm grip on my waist. Without hesitation, I draped my arm around her neck, and we stood in a dance position.

She looked over at Aoom, waiting for her approval. "Like this?"

Aoom studied us for a moment, her gaze moving between our faces, searching for alignment in our expressions. "Now, I want to see some emotion," she finally said.

I looked into Engfa's eyes, trying not to overthink it. I took a slow breath, aiming for a small, genuine smile, the kind I'd give to my scene partner. But as Engfa looked back at me with a soft smile on her face, time seemed to stop for a moment. Her gaze was deep and sincere, and for a split second, I felt truly connected to her.

"Charlotte, focus too," Aoom reminded, snapping me back. I nodded and tried to match Engfa's gaze, returning her smile with intent.

"All right, let's roll again," Aoom said as she returned to his chair, ready to give the signal to start. We held our positions, prepared to begin the scene.

I moved a little closer, tilting my head slightly, and whispered, "Don't overthink it. It's just a simple scene. Why are we doing so many takes, Engfa? This is getting ridiculous."

Engfa looked at me with a serious expression. "Easy for you to say. It's complicated, dancing with someone like you."

Her words caught me off guard, leaving me momentarily taken aback. So, she wanted to bring back her snarky attitude, huh? Fine, but it still stung. I masked it with a small smirk, raising an eyebrow to seem unfazed.