When We Collided

The Premiere Night

"I got the mo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oves like Jagger!" Dee belted out beside me.

We were at a beauty salon in the posh side of town. Tonight was the advance screening of the movie we'd been working so hard on for the past months. Our hair and make up were being done for the big event.

Dee's make up artist scolded her a few times because she was bouncing her head to the music of the speakers. I couldn't help laughing at her.

"Isn't it exciting?" She asked me.

"I'm actually quite nervous," I confessed. "What if they hate it?"

"Stop stressing," she said in her usual carefree tone. "They will love it. Anyway, regardless of what they say about it, we will still get our big, fat paychecks."

"Still," I said. "it'll be the end of my dream..."

Dee stopped bouncing and looked at me seriously. "What is your dream?"

"To be a successful actor," I replied quietly. "Not necessarily award-winning, though I wouldn't say no to that. I want to do my job well and be remembered for it."

"I think you'll get there," Dee said slowly. The rest of the session passed in peace. Dee actually fell asleep, but I couldn't stop fretting silently.

Hair and make up done, we traveled the short distance to get our gowns. Mom and my sister smiled in awe when I emerged in my long, white greek-myth-inspired gown. It was simple yet it complimented my slender figure very well.

We got into the van and made our way to the cinema. I was still a nervous wreck but I tried not to show it. Finally the van stopped at a side entrance to the venue, where thankfully no fans and media were waiting. There was only Onyx, Finn, and some staff and crew.

I was about to step off the van when Onyx's hand materialised in front of me. I took it gratefully, his warmth infusing me with the calmness I needed and the strength he exuded.

We stared at each other. It was the first time we saw each other dress up for an event. He looked as handsome as ever in his suit, which defined his chiseled shoulders and chest. Without realising it, I felt an unmistakeably strong magnetic pull towards him.

The admiration was visible in his eyes as he took me in. For the first time, he made me feel like I was a very desirable woman. I felt the tension sizzle in the air between us.

And then we were being pulled into the cinema where flashing cameras, high-pitched squealing, and incessant questions were waiting for us. I snapped out of my daze and I tried to logically answer the questions being thrown at me. I recited the requisite answers. For the never-ending question about my relationship status with Onyx, I answered that we were just friends but getting closer. Management instructed us to say that we were just friends, which was the truth, but to avoid turning our fans off from our love team by giving them a little hope that we could be more than friends someday. Lately I found myself in the fans' camp, silently wishing that were true.

We finally filed into the cinema where nametags were affixed to the seats. On my right was Onyx, on my left was Felix.

The movie began.

It was better than I had expected. Suddenly, success didn't look too far away. I found myself amazed at the improvement in my acting. I also applauded my colleagues' wonderful performances.

And then there was the touching scene between Onyx and me. I started tearing up. I was so proud of the two of us. From the awkward strangers we were, we had come a long way. We had created something beautiful together.

He held my hand. I looked at our intertwined fingers, then up at his face. His eyes bore into mine. It was as if he could read my mind and understand completely. I felt a warm, tingling sensation invade our joined hands and spread throughout my body, travelling up my chest, prompting my heart to beat faster, making it hard to breathe.

What was this? Was I failing in my seemingly impossible mission?

And then the lights flickered on. The film had ended.

I slowly took my hand from his and clapped with the rest of the moviegoers. We both pretended that it didn't happen.

After the post-movie photo op, we smiled at each other and talked in our usually casual manner, but at the back of my mind a nagging voice kept on bothering me. I tried to read his mind, but he had his poker face on. It was impossible to know whether he was as affected by this as I was.

As I lay in my bed that night, I bravely acknowledged what I had long been denying.

I had fallen for him.

Photo credits: http://anime-chibi-girl.deviantart.com/art/What-is-Love-64117569