Sweet Nothings

Past

The transition from the quiet, salt sprayed air of the coast back to the neon pulse of Tokyo feels like waking up from a dream. Haru and I shared a promise under the first snow, and the silver sun bracelet on my wrist is a constant, cool reminder of the heat in his eyes that night. But as we step into the high rise conference room for our first official table read, reality asserts itself with the force of a tidal wave.

The room is sleek and intimidating. It is filled with directors, producers, and the other co stars who will fill out the world of After the Bell Rings. I take my seat and smooth out my oversized flannel shirt. My style is decidedly more American casual than the polished, high fashion looks of the other actors, but it fits my character, the introspective loner, perfectly. To my right sits Abby. He looks every bit the professional model today.

I expect the seat to my left to remain empty for a moment, but then I feel a familiar presence. Haru sits down with a quiet confidence. He has been a constant in my life for nearly a year, yet my heart still performs a frantic skip at the sight of him. He looks down at his script. His dark brown hair falls just above his eyebrows, hiding the gentle crinkle at the corners of his eyes. We do not exchange a word, but the air between us feels thick with the secret we carry.

"Alright everyone," Mr. Han says while clapping his hands. "Let us jump right into the chemistry tests. Aurora, Abby, you are up first. We are reading scene forty-two, where the athlete and the loner get locked in the equipment room after hours. Give me real emotion."

I clear my throat and try to find my center. I live for deep, authentic emotions, but performing them in front of Haru is a different challenge. Abby turns toward me. His expression shifts instantly from his usual witty smirk to something intense and vulnerable. He is a natural charmer who knows exactly how to play a role.

"You don't get it, do you?" Abby says. His voice drops into a low, melodic register as he speaks his lines. "I spend all day surrounded by people who only care about the jersey I wear. But when I am in this dusty room with you, looking at the world through your lens, I feel like I finally exist. I don't want to leave this room, Aurora. I don't want to go back to being a trophy."

He leans in closer, his full lips slightly parted. It is a perfect romantic delivery. Just as I open my mouth to deliver my response, I feel a sudden, firm pressure. Under the heavy mahogany table, Haru’s hand has moved. He rests his palm squarely on my knee. His thumb traces a small, slow circle against the fabric of my skirt.

The heat of his touch shoots through me like an electric current. My breath hitches, and for a split second, the script blurs before my eyes. I can feel Haru’s quiet gaze fixed on his own papers, but his hand is a possessive, silent claim. I have to prove I am a great actress. I take a steadying breath, force my heart to slow down, and look Abby right in the eyes.

"The world outside does not see you because you do not let them," I whisper. My voice trembles with a mix of scripted emotion and very real, unscripted flustered energy. "But I see you. I have always seen you."

"Cut! Excellent!" Mr. Han exclaims. "The tension is palpable. That is exactly the kind of spark we need."

I pull back and feel my face flush. Haru’s hand slips away as if it had never been there, leaving a lingering warmth on my skin. He does not look at me, but I see the ghost of a smile on his lips.

As the weeks progress, the production turns into a grueling marathon. We see each other daily on set, but we are never truly alone. The drama focuses on our four characters forming a filming club, which means Rie is always nearby. She bounces between scenes with her trademark energy. We are constantly surrounded by cameras, stylists, and managers. The stolen moments become our only oxygen. A lingering look in the makeup trailer, a quick brush of shoulders in the hallway, or a secret text under the table during lunch keep us going.

Finally, after a particularly long day of filming, Haru and I manage to slip away for a quick dinner at a small, dimly lit ramen shop two blocks from the company. We sit in a corner booth, tucked away from the windows.

"I missed this," I say. I reach across the table to touch the sleeve of his dark coat. "Just being able to talk without a script in my hand."

"I know," Haru replies. His brown eyes soften as they meet mine. "The practical side of me says we should be resting for tomorrow's 5:00 AM call, but I needed to see you. I hate that there are walls between us now."

We share a bowl of noodles and laugh softly at a story about Abby tripping over a light cord earlier that day. For thirty minutes, we are not idols or actors. We are just two people in love. But as we walk out of the shop, I see a familiar figure standing near a black sedan across the street. It is one of the senior managers. He does not say anything, but his eyes follow us as we walk toward the station. My stomach drops.

The next day, the tension in the air is different. When Haru and I arrive at the practice building, Abby and Rie are already there. They are whispering fiercely. They stop the moment we enter. Rie steps forward. Her expressive eyes are wide and her beauty mark is twitching slightly. This is a sure sign she is holding back a secret.

"Okay, spill it," Rie says while crossing her arms over her petite frame. "Are you two dating or what?"

Abby leans against the wall with a triumphant grin on his face. "Don't bother lying. We have been watching the two of you for weeks. The lingering glances, the way Haru suddenly becomes a bodyguard whenever a male co star gets too close to Aurora, and the fact that you both disappeared for dinner last night. The manager mentioned seeing you. He was suspicious, but we already knew."

I look at Haru. He sighs and rubs the back of his neck. He looks at me for permission, and I give a small nod.

"Yes," Haru says. His voice is steady. "We are dating."

Rie lets out a squeal of delight and jumps up to hug me. "I knew it! Abby, you owe me fifty yen. I told you they would not be able to keep it a secret for more than a month."

Abby chuckles and shakes his head. "I should have known better than to bet against you. But seriously, guys, we are happy for you. We are also terrified for you."

"The company has strict rules," I say. My voice drops to a whisper. "If we get caught, our debut and the drama could be cancelled. I do not want to lose our dream, but I do not want to lose Haru either."

"That is why we are going to be your shields," Abby says. His eyes turn serious. "If you two go out alone, it is a scandal. If the four of us go out together, it is just the cast of the drama building chemistry. We can go on group dates, and once we get to the location, we can split up. We will keep watch for you."

Rie nods vigorously. Her blue highlights shimmer in the fluorescent lights. "We are a club in the drama, and we are a team in real life. We won't let them take this away from you."