Chapter 4:

Chapter 4

Our story wasn't in the Script

Serena

“Director,” I called out, knocking twice on the office door.

“Come in.”

I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

And...just like every other time...he looked… ridiculous.

A rainbow-colored leather jacket, red jeans, and sunglasses resting on his head. Indoors. In the afternoon. I didn’t even question it anymore.

“Have you thought about it?” he asked, leaning back in his chair, one leg crossed over the other like he had all the time in the world. Like what I’m going to say isn’t gona blast his mind.

I walked toward him, steadying my breath.

“Actually… I want to turn down this request.”

He nearly choked on his coffee.

Expected.

The cup halted mid-air, his expression shifting so fast it almost made me take a step back.

“Well,” I continued, forcing myself to stay composed, “I just think it’s not fair for me- a newbie -to get a role immediately with the two of them when they’re both top-”

“Oh, don’t worry about that, Serenaboo."

Serena...boo???

My body stiffened.

Sofia. I hadn’t even heard her come in.

“Director,” she continued smoothly, stepping beside me like she’s welcome to interrupt my conversation anytime she wants. “what she meant is, it’s her pleasure to work with us.”

My jaw tightened.

This girl… does she ever stop?

She literally follows me everywhere like a dog. Well, that’s what she is.

“Is that right, Miss Serena?” the director asked, now watching me closely.

“No,” I said, my voice firmer than before. “I meant what I said. I won’t join the film. And miss Sofia, it’s basic manners to not interrupt others conversation when you’re not needed in it”

For a second, the room went still.

Even Sofia didn’t interrupt. And I saw the glare she gave me, and inside, I did a hairflip.

Good.

Because I wasn’t going to let her speak for me. Not again. Not about something like this.

It’s not that I don’t want the film…

I just...

I can’t.

Not with him there.

“Well then,” the director said slowly, leaning forward, a glint in his eyes I didn’t like one bit, “let’s make a deal.”

A deal?

My stomach tightened.

“What kind of deal?” I asked quietly.

I could feel Sofia beside me, arms crossed, just as alert.

“If you take this film,” he began, tapping his fingers against the armrest, “after it ends, you’ll get to choose your roles. Any project you want, and you can decline whatever you don’t, choose who you work with, and even get the lead role.”

My brows furrowed. And Sofia stumbled back. It must’ve been a slap in the face to her.

“And if I don’t?”

He smiled.

“Then you walk away from this opportunity. Including the lead role.”

Ah.

There it was.

Not a deal.

A trap wrapped in glitter.

“I don’t need the lead role,” I said, lifting my chin slightly. “But we can work with the part where I choose my future roles.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught Sofia’s expression falter for just a second.

Worth it.

“So that means you’re in?” the director asked, barely hiding his excitement.

Sofia clicked her tongue and stepped out of the room without another word, her heels clacking.

“Yes,” I said. “But… why go this far for me?”

That was the part that didn’t make sense.

Out of all actresses, why me?

He stood up, turning toward the large glass window behind him.

“Well,” he said casually, “your acting is… real.”

I didn’t believe him.

Not for a second.

But I didn’t push further.

Instead, I nodded slightly and took my leave.

The hallway felt quieter than usual.

Or maybe it was just my thoughts getting louder.

I was supposed to turn it down.

I planned to.

And yet...

Here I am.

Walking straight into something I know I shouldn’t.

Again.

As I approached our usual area, I heard a familiar voice echoing through the space.

Miya.

Of course.

“You were literally smiling at her, Daniel! SMILLING!” she snapped, hands flying everywhere as she spoke.

“I was being polite!” Daniel shot back, clearly exhausted.

“Polite doesn’t mean looking like you’re about to propose!"

I almost laughed.

Almost.

This wasn’t even new.

The other day she argued with him for five minutes straight because he said “good job” to another actress.

From my point of view?

She was jealous.

And from his?

He was absolutely doomed.

“So, how’d it go?!” Miya suddenly turned, spotting me instantly.

And just like that, Daniel was forgotten.

She ran toward me, eyes wide, energy practically exploding out of her.

“That’s what I love about her,” I muttered under my breath.

“Well… I took the film-”

“OH MY GOD, DO YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH TRISTAN?!”

There it is.

She didn’t even let me finish.

I sighed softly.

“The director said if I join this film, I’ll get to choose my future roles. And who I work with.”

I tried to sound satisfied.

Tried.

Miya’s expression softened instantly.

“You could’ve just turned it down,” she said quietly, stepping closer and taking my hand. “I don’t want you going through that again… like before.”

For a moment I couldn’t speak.

Because she was the only one who remembered.

The only one who understood what “before” meant.

Before I could respond, I reached up and plucked a strand from her hair.

“…White hair.”

Her eyes widened.

“…What?”

I held it up.

Silence.

Then-

“OH. MY. GOD.”

And just like that, the emotional moment shattered.

“I HAVE WHITE HAIR?!” she shrieked, grabbing her curls like her life depended on it. “NO- NO, THIS IS NOT HAPPENING- I NEED MY HAIRSTYLIST- RIGHT NOW- ”

“Miya-”

“I’LL CATCH UP WITH YOU LATER...AND YOU BETTER TELL ME EVERYTHING, OH MY GOD-”

And then, she marched off, muttering nonsense under her breath.

And I...

I laughed. Actually laughed. Not the fake kind. Not the polite kind.

A real one.

It felt unfamiliar. Like something I hadn’t done in years.

“…Wow.”

It slipped out before I could stop it.

It really had been that long.

But…

Not everything stays the same.