Chapter 6

   Tristan

“I love you.”

Those words… I wish I hadn’t heard them from her mouth.

Not when she doesn’t mean it.

I held her tighter in my arms anyway, like if I loosened my grip even a little, she’d disappear completely.

I wish we could stay like this forever…

“Tristan, let go of her and say your line!” the director snapped.

Reality cut through the moment like a blade.

My hands hesitated on her waist for half a second longer than they should’ve.

“I’m sorry…” I murmured, my voice low as I cupped her cheeks, Jack speaking now, not Tristan. “I didn’t mean for it to end like this.”

“I know…” she whispered back, tears gathering in her eyes. “Maybe someday again… ”

And just like that… we separated.

The distance between us felt louder than the entire set.

“Cut! That was raw, perfect! Great job!” the crew clapped.

Sofia didn’t come over.

Not that I cared right now.

Serena had already walked off.

I excused myself as soon as the shoot paused, grabbing my jacket and heading out into the parking lot.

And then I finally found her.

Serena.

Sitting alone at the edge of the lot, drenched completely, her hair sticking to her face, arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to hold herself together.

Something in my chest tightened.

I walked over and held out my jacket. “Wear it.”

She glanced at it but didn’t take it at first.

“I don't need it, my pick up will come soon,” she said quietly.

A pause.

"You're wearing white..." I said insisting her to take it.

Then she took it anyway.

I didn’t stay. I shouldn’t have stayed.

My job was already done.

I turned away taking a step.

And then-

“Tristan…” Her voice stopped me instantly.

Low. Broken. Fragile in a way that didn’t match the way she had just shouted at me minutes ago.

“…What?” I turned back slowly.

She was standing now, clutching my jacket tightly around her body like it was the only thing keeping her upright.

And her eyes...

God.

They weren’t acting anymore.

“Why did you hug me longer than scripted?” she asked, her voice trembling.

I exhaled sharply, forcing calm into my face.

“It was a random mistake,” I said.

A lie.

A convenient one.

But she shook her head immediately.

“No.” Her voice cracked. “Don’t give me stupid reasons like that.”

My jaw tightened.

She took a step closer, the artificial rain water dripping from her lashes.

“When you were rehearsing with Sofia… why were you looking at me?”

Silence.

I didn’t answer fast enough.

And that hesitation betrayed me.

Tears welled in her eyes now, and it felt like watching something quietly fall apart in real time.

“I don’t understand you,” she said, voice rising. “I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but stop it.”

My chest felt tight.

“You should go inside,” I said instead. “You’ll get sick.”

That was all I could manage.

But that only made it worse.

“FOR GOD’S SAKE, TRISTAN!” she snapped.

The sound of her voice cut sharper than anything else tonight.

“Stop it. Stop this act!” she shouted, stepping closer again. “If I did something wrong, then say it! Stop acting like you have no fault! Stop acting like you care when you don’t!”

Her hand slammed the jacket against my chest.

I caught it instinctively, but I didn’t pull her back.

She turned away like she was done with me.

And that...

That hurt more than I expected.

“I have no idea what you’re saying,” I said quietly, stepping forward just enough for my voice to reach her . “But if you don’t take this jacket properly, I swear I will do things I’m not meant to.”

She froze.

Just for a second.

Then I pressed the jacket back into her hands.

Before I could say anything else, Sofia appeared.

Of course she did.

Perfect timing.

She smiled like nothing in the world was wrong.

“Oh hi, Serena-boo. I didn’t know you were with Tristan,” she said sweetly. Then turned to me. “If you don’t mind, I’ll borrow him for a whi- ”

I pulled my arm away instantly.

Hard.

“I’m not a damn toy,” I snapped. “Get your hands off me.”

Her expression flickered, just for a second but she recovered fast.

“The director wants to meet us. You should come.” Sofia grumbled as Serena walked away.

She didn’t wait for a reply.

Just walked.

Just like that.

Leaving tension behind.

“We’re not done yet,” I called after her.

I didn’t even know why I said it.

Maybe I just needed her to stop walking away from me.

But she didn’t turn back.

“There’s nothing for us to talk about,” she said softly. And then she gave me that look again.

That same look. The one she used to give me when she says she's tired of doing the homework's.

And I wondered...what's the meaning behind that look, for her to give it to me in a situation like this...

And then, as her pick-up came, all I could do was watch her walk away.