Suddenly a Movie Extra

The empty and quiet classroom, bathed in the golden slant of late afternoon light, felt hidden from the world.

Wes tugged the curtain closed, shutting out reality entirely. He felt the soft weight of her presence against his side, the warmth of her hand in his. His chest tightened with anticipation, and as his gaze found hers, that feeling of longing pulled taut.

Time seemed to slow behind the thin fabric, folding around them like a secret.

In class, he was the role model who knew all the right answers, helped out the teachers, and set the standards other students couldn't measure up to. But here, he was a young man with a raw, aching desire to surrender to emotions unbound by rules and expectations.

The air between them hummed with something unspoken that made the composure he wore like armor crumble. He stepped closer, his heart pounding. She leaned in, and everything else dissolved.

The brush of their lips was electric, as though sparks were flying. His arms quickly shot around her waist, holding her so tight it almost seemed desperate. He moaned in contented bliss, eyes closed as he fell fully into the kiss.

‘I’ve spent my whole life planning, calculating, orchestrating. Yet, this—this is the one thing I can’t control.’

Every careful thought, every perfect score, every mask of calm—they slipped away. What remained was the sweet pressure of her lips, the subtle tremor of her breath, and the soothing rhythm of her heartbeat.

When they broke apart, Wes rested his forehead on hers and let out a pure, unrehearsed laugh. She smiled at him, and he was caught between savoring the sight and wanting more. He settled with tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, then caressing her face with tender affection.

“I love you.”

“Cut!”

The director’s voice echoed, thrilled and relieved all at once.

Mia stepped away immediately. Wes already missed her warmth.

“Great work! It’s perfect!”

“Just one take?”

“Were they even acting?”

Wes felt bad for enjoying it while Mia was so abashed. Her cheeks were bright red, her eyes wide and teary. She's overwhelmed, and he realized he hadn’t considered how much she could take.

Choosing this place as the film location for the school arc was deliberate. The posts Jenny mentioned from when Mia was sick were incorporated into the movie as promotional material, and given the heightened public interest in their newly discovered relationship, Wes made further use of this by initiating candid interactions with her for people to share online.

However, bringing her onto the actual movie set wasn't part of the plan.

“It’s alright, Mia. We're done now. You did well,” he reassured her, patting her head.

She whimpered, “I-I’m sorry, Wes. I’m terrible at this.”

“No, you’re amazing. You made it feel real, at least for me. That’s what matters.”

She giggled despite herself, burying her face in his shoulder. He held her for a moment, aware of how fragile she felt.

“Tell me honestly. Why did you agree to this?” He tilted her chin up so he could see her face, and seeing how vulnerable she looked, he gave her a comforting squeeze.

“I, um… I-I want to take a break from my part-time job, and the pay here can cover this month’s expenses.”

“A break?” His brows furrowed. “Why? Are you okay? Do you need help?”

“I-I’m fine! It’s just, uh… I'd like to focus more on my studies and the entrance exams. Please don’t worry.”

She smiled faintly, still flushed but steadier now. He smiled back, kissing her head lovingly.

“I understand. If there’s anything I can do, just come to me, Mia.”

---

‘I’m so sorry. I'm sorry for being such a bad girlfriend,’ Mia cried in her head, having never been one to lie.

She’d accepted the role not for her studies or the entrance exams, but for the fashion competition. This morning’s incident made going to school too early daunting, so she decided to do it after class instead. The problem was that she worked at night, leaving her with no option besides surviving on commissions in the meantime —

Until she received this offer to play as an extra in the movie.

‘The pay is good, even for such a small role. I wonder how much Wes makes in a day.’

Wes was still filming at school, though he’d expressed wanting to bring Mia home himself. After she told him about the car, he promptly called his driver and arranged a ride for her. But when class dismissed, Claire and Caleb suddenly showed up, taking on the task of dropping her off instead.

“And he thought he could keep his girlfriend all to himself,” Caleb grumbled from the driver’s seat. “He hadn’t even properly introduced us yet—us, his cousins!”

Behind him, Mia fidgeted. “Erm… S-Sorry for the trouble, a-and thank you for taking me home.”

“Don’t worry about it. We’ve been wanting to see you anyway,” Claire said next to her in the passenger’s seat. “How are you, Mia? It must’ve been a shock.”

She knew at once what she meant. “Y-Yes, but it’s okay now, a-and it’s nice… Not having to hide it, I mean.”

“That’s great to hear.” Claire smiled, sincere and encouraging.

Caleb leaned back and grinned. “And now that the secret’s out, call me big brother! You can rely on me, too. I’ve got your back!”

“B-Big brother?” Mia blinked, dumbfounded. “Uhh… I, umm…”

“You’re making her uncomfortable.”

“What?! That’s not true. Right, Mia?”

The Ashthorne family was unexpectedly quite lively.

Upon arriving, Mia was surprised to find Jenny and Louis waiting outside her door. She hesitated for a moment, now aware she’s with well-known personalities. But then, Claire and Caleb stepped out of the car with her, not minding to be seen by others.

“Claire and Caleb Ashthorne?!” Her friends’ reactions were instantaneous.

“I can’t believe it’s really you, Claire! I’ve been listening to your songs!

The musician smiled warmly. “Oh my, thank you.”

“Your last match was awesome, Caleb! Ah, of course, I watched all of ‘em!”

“Ha, ha, ha! Thanks!” the athlete laughed cheerfully.

“Can I get your autographs?!”

“Pictures, too! Let’s take selfies!”

“E-Excuse me,” Mia interjected, hesitant. “Sorry for interrupting, but… M-Maybe we can take this inside? My neighbors…”

“Ah, sorry, Mia.” Jenny gave an apologetic smile. “We just came to check on you since… Well, you know, after what happened…”

Claire straightened at this. “What happened?”

“What happened to my little sister?!” Caleb exclaimed.

“Little sister?” Louis gasped. “Mi-Mi is my little sister, though.”

“Oh? A challenger!”

“That’s unfair. I’ve been telling Mi-Mi to call me big brother for a long time. It should be my win.”

“In sports, it’s not about who started first and last. It’s about who refuses to quit, and that’s me!”

“I’m not giving up either!”

“Well, then! Bring it on-”

“Enough!” Claire thundered, stopping the two men. “You’re being ridiculous, and we’re talking about something serious here.”

“Right, thank you,” Jenny sighed and turned to her friend. “Something about a car following you, was it? Let’s talk about it more inside.”

“That Wes, I swear… He didn’t tell us.”

“He must think he can deal with it by himself. That snob.”

“Oh, you met Wes? Yeah, that does sound like him.”

‘Jenny and Ms. Claire don’t seem to have a good opinion of Wes.’ Mia listened to the exchange wryly while she pulled out her key to open her apartment door. “Um, it might be a one-time thing. He said he’d pick me up tomorrow morning, so whoever it was would probably-”

Her voice froze along with her hand that’s on the knob. She hadn’t turned it yet. She hadn’t even inserted the key.

But the door was unlocked.

“It’s…open,” she said, and everyone went silent.

“Don’t go inside.” Caleb was the first to react, his tone and expression grave. “Claire, call the police.”

“H-Huh?! Wait-”

“Mia, did you forget to lock the door earlier?” Jenny asked, her apprehension palpable.

“No, I-I didn’t.”

“And it’s already fixed. Wes has a spare key, right? But he’s filming at school all day.”

“Y-Yes. It’s not him.”

Louis stepped towards the door. “I can check, but even if I find nothing, it’s obvious by now.”

“It is. First, a stalker. Now, a trespasser,” Claire groaned, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Mia, it might be better for you to stay at a hotel or at Wes’s place for tonight.”

“But I-I can’t just…”

“Listen, Wes once said...” Caleb trailed off, pausing for effect, “...‘What’s the point of all this money if my woman doesn’t want it?' So, yeah, go on and take him for all he’s worth.”

It would’ve been quite a humorous story under normal circumstances, and this situation was by no means normal.