[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Lovely Writer
Nubsib Wants to Flirt
'Gene' is a freelance writer, an ordinary man who is skilled in writing horror fantasy novels. But novels about male-male romance are currently popular in the market, so he cannot avoid writing his first gay novel, 'the Savage Engineering Husband', which has become so famous that it has been adapted into a series.
'Nubsib' is a handsome male model, one of the actors cast as the Number Eighteen. His noble appearance resembles a prince straight out of a fantasy novel, but little do people know that the true prince is actually a wolf in sheep's clothing. He pretends to be a gentleman to the point of driving the author of the story to his death, and will he become the real-life hero of the writer or not!?
The story becomes even more complicated when the co-protagonist actor from the series 'Aey', who initially seems to like the protagonist of the story. But then he turns out to be after Khun Gene, the author of the novel. As for Nubsib, who has revealed himself to be someone close to the writer, they end up living together and he was planning to conquer the writer's heart through the protagonist's ways. He pretends to be a good boy helping Khun Gene write intimate love scenes, almost to the point where the author can hardly differentiate between reality and fiction. And who knows if the romance between the protagonist and the novelist will find its way beyond the screen.
Chapter 0:
'Once upon a time...'
My fingers, which were pressing down on the keys of my MacBook, paused for a moment when my ears heard the sound of an engine approaching because the atmosphere in this area was quite quiet. Almost anything that made a sound did not need headphones to waste time.
I was sitting at a round high-legged table near the window. My forehead twitched as if in helplessness, hoping that the passing car would pass by itself so I could gather my scattered thoughts to face the keyboard in front of me, but...
Dangnong
Looks like today I don't really have much luck.
I changed from folding my arms to crossing them, leaning back with my head up and neck bent back, then closing my eyes with a face of utmost disdain. I raised both hands to slap my own cheeks as a show of frustration. I felt so annoyed that I didn't know where to vent my emotions.
“Phii Gene!”
“...”
“Phii Gene! Are you home? Open the door for me!”
Oh shit.
The sound of taking a deep breath became louder and I raised my hand to remove my glasses before jumping off the chair I had borrowed from the bar to use as a suitable seat. I walked tiptoe to unlock the house door. The locks that were used -- many were slowly opened one by one, starting from the corner of the upper edge of the door down to the bolt, followed by the chain in the very last order.
As the heavy wooden door swung open, I saw a small figure of a person who had caused chaos earlier in the morning, standing there.
“Ai’Hin...”
“Phii Gene, hello.”
“Why are you here? I've told you not to show your stupid face this whole week.”
The person who was being scolded smiles cheekily and raises their hand in peace, “Sorry, Phii, but there's something urgent.”
“How urgent could it be compared to what I have planned? If you're the one who said it yourself that this matter only requires five months of my time, I just finished gathering information yesterday, and I was about to start printing when you came and disturbed me.”
“Hey! Don't get all worked up, I have something important to talk about with you for real.”
“...”.
“Honestly. I swear.”
“If it's not true, I'll take a knife and stab you.”
“Um, it's actually true, but you have to consider the perspective of others. For me, it's urgent.”
I felt like raising two fingers and poking my eyes at the fluttering of Hin's eyelashes in front of me, but in the end, knowing that it probably had something to do with the original intention of my manuscript, I just turned my back and walked into the house. I heard him quickly follow, so I closed the door, took off my shoes in a hurry, as if afraid that I would change my mind.
I threw myself down on the sofa, and in front of me, there were stacks of books, papers written with pencil, some torn and crumpled, and a plate with crumbs of bread and a coffee stained cup.
My hand moved to slide the aforementioned cup.
“Go make me some coffee, okay?”
“Latte as usual.” He said before clearing the plates and cups from the table to place them in the sink in the kitchen.
I glanced behind for a moment before moving my gaze to the piles of mess in front of me. All of this, I had been sitting with it almost half the night. When I was done, I heaved my body up to lie down around three o'clock, give or take a few, and saw the clock waking me up again at nine in the morning. I grabbed something to eat and started working on the computer.
My main job is “writing novels.”
Yes, writing novels. About three or four years ago, I had walked the job application rounds with various companies in the field of study I had been educated in, but as I tried, I felt like a person who didn't like to be set by rules or confined to a loop of doing this or that every day. So I tried to find another job that I thought would suit me better.
Recently, freelance work has become more popular. You could work whenever, wherever, sleep whenever, only with a deadline set. So I sneakily sent my resume to a graphic freelance company.
The job wasn't boring, but it didn't really suit me. I tried doing two things at once until I lost track of what I was thinking. After watching a sci-fi movie, a time-killing movie while eating, I wanted to create some silly story of my own.
The truth is, I love watching movies. I can watch every genre, especially sci-fi or monster movies devouring people starting from blockbusters to grade B movies. Unbelievable. When I wrote a semi-sci-fi fantasy story and posted it on a famous website, the rating was surprisingly good, attracting attention and confusing people, even though the majority of general readers mostly liked romance or comedy novels.
At that moment when I realised that typing on the keyboard to describe the characters from the images in my head was more fun and relaxing than freelancing or sitting stiff as an office worker.
So, in the second year of working, I started gambling and writing novels in full swing...
Actually, at the age of twenty-five, at the age of twenty-six, now backtracking to the time when I resigned from work without much consideration, I felt like I was in a long, endless loop of me scolding myself in my mind.
I was too reckless. Writing without success doesn't mean I'm going to die by starving. But on the other side of my brain, I comfort myself by saying, 'It's by chance, you are lucky, Gene, it's not like that because your novel can sell!'
So I started writing science fiction mixed with horror ever since then.
Life got better, but... happiness only lasted for about two years. Suddenly, six months ago, there was a phone call from Bo-ku asking to have a long conversation. At that time, everything was unclear and I didn't know what was going on. It stretched on for roughly an hour, saying he wanted me to help him write an original in a different genre to submit for a book event. The event was coming up, but he couldn't find an original to submit, ‘Just one story, that's it. I believe you, Gene can do it. The big boss has approved it as well.’
In short… She wanted me to help and write a boys' love novel.
“Phii Gene, here's your coffee.”
The sound of the cup being placed in front of me made me alert. I reached out and took it, then sipped it, making sure to hold the edge of the cup close to my lips, “Thank you.”
“I'm sorry for bothering you while you are typing the manuscript.”
“Um.”
“It's about the casting of the fierce husband from the engineering story...”
My grip on the coffee cup almost shook slightly from the inability to receive it, but I readjusted my fingers around the cup to make it stable.
“It's your first gay novel, the Savage Engineering Husband.”
“Damn it, I already know what my novel is called, are you trying to search for something?”
The person listening laughed and made it clear that he intended to speak sarcastically to ease the tension, but listening made me feel even worse, “I'm sorry, but it's about the casting of the fierce husband story, the first round is already smooth.”
“...”
My face still felt stiff, so I didn't say anything more except for this blank expression.
Going back to the conversation where I was approached to write a BL novel...
The editor-in-chief hinted to me that this genre of novel is currently very popular. The publishing house I am under is not a small, insignificant publishing house; it has numerous categories for different types of publications, including science fiction, horror, romance, and even novels translated from Chinese or English. Therefore, for the category of male-male love stories, it's unusual for the publishing house to not have any.
However... to put it bluntly, why would you ask an ordinary guy who has never even thought about reading BL novels to write one?
Of course, I don't resist the prevailing concept. There is no way and no day that I could resist the ultimatum question, but my own limited experience leads me to think that I am entitled to have a say, even if it may be denied. Even though my novel may be published, it does not mean that I am the only one at the publishing house. If the original manuscript is rejected and sent back, I must accept defeat, no matter where it is sent.
I understand your frustration. The publishing industry intends to turn novels into projects, but finding a writer that they like is difficult. The big publishers prefer my unique style of writing. They have tried to get me to write plots for comics, both Thai and English, for study purposes.
Clearly tied and punched, but step firmly with determination.
Let me make it clear, I don't have any qualms about relationships between men that have been read by others. I see it as a love story, a unique type of novel that opens up new perspectives for writers who have never read such stories before. But if I were to write... I couldn't handle it, as I think I am still too inexperienced.
But that's it. In the end, I had to take a break and come back to the original BL story as requested. After printing four episodes and giving it an English title for submission and review, I was asked to change the title to 'Savage Engineering Husband' instead.
The name didn't suit me at all.
In the end... against all odds, the novel became so popular that it turned into a series. The publishing company was very happy. As my income increased, I had no choice but to continue writing.
“Your cheeks are blushing again,” he said.
“What blushing? You asshole.” I said, placing the coffee cup down with a clink, “And what about you, have you gone through the first casting round yet?”
“Pick the second round for the conference and they asked me to come and see along with you.” she suggested.
“Let them handle it.” I replied immediately.
“Hey! Not cool.”
“Why not?”
“I'm saying this for you. You can express your opinion. The person who knows the character of the protagonist the most is the writer.”
“But anyone can choose the cast, let anyone do it, even if you randomly select someone to read, they can still respond.”
“Crazy. How can someone else know the character better than you, Phii Gene?”
“You know Ai’Hin.”
A savage protagonist studying engineering and a cute but polite co-protagonist with a soft spot. Just read five lines, and you already know what kind of character you want.
“Anyway, you should go, Phii Gene.”
“Don't make it complicated, can you? I'm busy with the new manuscript already, can't you see?”
“Boss, take a break for a while.”
I blinked, “What did you mean by 'I should start writing the new manuscript 'as soon as possible' when you told me last Sunday?”
“Things like this are done as you go.”
“Damn it, so screwed up!”
“Boss, are you scolding the editor?”
“Yes!”
“The second casting round is at the WK Entertainment Center. The room and single room, I will LINE you that info in the evening.”
“...”
“Oh, I brought the documents and photos of the people that passed the first round with me.” and then Ai’Hin laid the document down on the table, interspersed with the piles of paper I had spread out in detail, “Those who have previously worked in a drama they are attached them nicely and in detail. Why don't you take a look, maybe someone from the casting will like it and tell him to pay special attention?”
“Got it.” I raised my hand.
“Then that's it, I won't disturb your time to write anymore.”
“Do you think I will be in the mood to write again today?”
“Alright, let's talk on the LINE. I'm going now.”
And then Ai’Hin made a faint sound of clearance before opening the door and leaving the house. My ears heard the sound of a distant engine running off and in a few minutes, the atmosphere returned to silence once again.
I took a deep breath, finished the coffee before taking it to the sink to wash it. I opened the water, poured it in, filtered it down into the palm of my hand, lifted it to my face, and rubbed my tired face.
It hadn't even reached noon and had already exhausted almost half my body's strength.
I didn't care about the documents Ai’Hin gave me, I had no intention of reading them yet. I walked strolling out the small back door outside the house, looking at the grass fields far out to the ears of the eye. Adorning the edge of the sky is a small fruit orchard, a few square metres. The air outside this suburban area is much less dusty and smoky. The more deeply the breath penetrates the lungs, the more it seems to call back the powerful force by one inch.
...but just an inch.
Chapter 1:
Actually, the house in the city outskirts is not mine.
The true owner is my grandfather who bought it with the intention of moving to rest in his late years. He wanted a small home surrounded by a quiet and peaceful atmosphere, decorated in a wooden house style favoured by foreigners and he didn't even have to use it. As soon as he passed away, this place was abandoned, and it became used by me when I resigned from my regular job and decided to write novels. I need concentration and nature to help me, so I asked for the house key to hold onto.
Truth be told, I'm not that picky about the location. I can sit and type in my own condominium without any issues. But sometimes I think about changing the scenery. I don't want anyone to disturb me, so I'll just drive there.
Before this, I stayed there for a week. I was determined to start writing a new BL novel according to the publisher's deadline, but I haven't taken the first step. The news of casting the lead actors from my novel by Ai'Hin the other day made me grab my bag and drive back to my own condominium to rest, and it looks like I won't be going back soon.
While thinking about the quiet atmosphere of the house, I looked through the car window at the bustling streets. The reality around me was the chaos in the capital city. The traffic jam behind dozens of cars and the long line made me have to take a deep breath.
The green traffic light doesn't last more than twenty seconds before it changes.
The mobile phone placed on the console in front of the car rang loudly, startling me. I reached out to pick it up and saw Ai'Hin's name displayed.
“How many times are you going to call?”
[Where are you, Phii?]
Before the word 'coming' could escape from my lips, Ai’Hin screamed so loudly that I had to move my hand away, “What are you screaming for? I am near the intersection close to the company building.”
[Oh, Phii, you’ve been here for half an hour. When will you arrive?]
“And what do you expect me to do? The traffic is bad. The green light has only turned red four or five times, and I've been stuck at the green light for three rounds.”
[Can you just get out and walk over?]
“Wait, I told you the traffic is bad. Should I turn off the ignition and park it somewhere in the middle of the road?”
[Oh, they have already cast the male lead, Phii.]
“I told you before to handle it yourself, I'm not concerned about the actors. The director and the channel will have more knowledge about this than me.” I thought to myself, the tone of resignation as I tapped the Bluetooth to connect the wireless earphones because the car was starting to move again, “Hold on, another five minutes, I've passed the fourth intersection. I'll turn into the building now.”
[Okay, I told the guard about you, he said he's already prepared a space for you to park.]
“Thank you.”
[Before you get here I think they will be casting the male lead partner. There is a break before they start casting the male lead’s partner again for five minutes. I just came out and I will follow up later.]
“Hmm.”
[Okay, see you. I'll wait in front of the elevator.] that's what he said before hanging up
It's not that I want to be a person who is irresponsible and not punctual. From my original business, I told Ai'Hin when I was free and when... To be honest, I'm still not confident enough and a little embarrassed to have to explain myself to others that I am a man who writes novels about men having sex with men. I think it will take some time before I can start to accept it.
I raised my hand to adjust my glasses that slipped off before quickly pressing the glass to notify the guard standing by the entrance. When he knew who I was, he called another colleague to come out to greet and escort me to the parking lot.
The weather in Thailand is hot all year round. As soon as I got out of the car, I hurriedly walked into the building. Asking the receptionist, he pointed towards the elevator and informed the floor with a polite smile.
WK Entertainment Company is considered reputable in the entertainment industry. They have their own shares and invest in producing their own series or movies. The company's building is tall, wide, and grand. Walking through the automatic glass doors, one can feel the cool and fragrant air of lilies in the air-conditioned lobby. In the middle of the lobby, a chandelier reflecting flickering orange lights catches the eye.
There might be people who are dying to be working with such a large company, but I feel more nervous instead.
As I looked at the floor number display in the elevator, I shuffled my feet and tapped my fingers like gathering my thoughts. Suddenly, a loud beep sounded along with the opening door. The first thing I saw was my assistant editor, named Ai’Hin, standing and leaning against the wall on the phone.
“Phii Gene! Oh, finally you're here.”
“Uh...”
“Didn't wear contacts today?”
“And I should be this hurried for whom?”
“You should hurry for yourself, right. Being a writer should have some spirit, okay?” After that, he looked at the clock and said, “You're still good, you came at the right time. Just ten minutes before they start casting the male lead. Come this way quickly. The others should still be in the room.”
With that, he turned and walked in the direction.
As I took a step, my eyes swept from left to right as if inspecting. This floor was still luxuriously decorated, not inferior to the welcoming area below. The soft red carpeted walkway led the way. Each room had a clear sign on the door indicating the exact proportions separated as ordered. I saw one glass door room that peered inside and found a group of men sitting together.
If I had to guess... those people must be casting for a novel, for sure.
Because this story is quite well-known. When the casting for the series was announced, the news spread quickly. Checking the hashtags on Twitter, there was an increase in the dozens of tweets. Once the casting of the actors was announced, there was a high level of interest, which is not surprising.
“Phii Gene, have you checked the background of the people who are casting?” Ai’Hin called out to me.
“Open it up.”
He raised his hand to his forehead, thoughtful, “I think I know...”
“Don't pretend you're tired of me, I'm handling a new novel.”
“I already told you to take a break.”
“I've done my research. If you don't hurry, I'll lose my traction before I finish, will you take responsibility?”
“Oops, my mistake.”
He spoke without sincerity, even for a moment, turned his back and stopped in front of a room. He raised his hand, knocked before pushing the door open immediately.
I was still standing in front. As the door opened, I could see clearly inside. This room was spacious, the first thing I noticed was the fragrant smell of coffee floating into my nose. The walls and floor were painted white, giving a clean and tidy look. On the opposite side was a glass window that was covered with curtains to block out the light. Close to each other was a long table with four chairs. There were no other furniture additions.
There were already a group of people sitting at the long table, seemingly taking a coffee break together.
“Oh, Hin, you are here.”
“I've arrived.”
“Would you like some coffee?” One of them raised a glass, seemingly inviting.
Did it take him three hours to get friendly enough to sit with them like this?
“No, thank you. Oh! This is Khun Gene, the author of this novel. He happened to dropping by to watch the casting while returning from errands.” Ai’Hin said, gesturing towards me with a look of recommendation.
As for me, I sneaked a glance at him with a hint of annoyance... dropping by after errands. Why didn't you call me instead?
“Oh...” There was a murmur from the group before I saw one person stand up and walk closer. He was a tall, middle-aged man with a beard of sorts. Judging by his demeanour, he seemed to be the head of the group.
He smiled and I instinctively nodded my head in greeting.
“It's hard to believe that the author is a man.”
“Well, yes.”
“I’m Mai. I am the director. You can call me whatever you want.” He said with a nonchalant posture and a laugh, “As for you, Khun Chin, right? Nice to meet you. You say you are Chinese, you have large eyes but don't look Chinese at all, right?”
...This is a joke, right?
I stubbornly corrected my own pronunciation, “I don't mean the country, China. My name is spelled G-E-N-E.”
“Gene? A part of a chromosome?”
Can I punch this director?
“Haha… It comes from Greek, meaning "good origin.”
“Hehehe I like to joke around, just joke around.” He reached out his hand to pat my shoulder a few times, each sound distinctly loud, then he put his arm around my shoulder and pushed me towards the table where the others were sitting, “I have some free time today so I followed the assistant to watch the first round of auditions with the kids.”
I already knew why after three hours Ai’Hin had become cosy with this group of people.
The director led me to introduce myself to the other members of this group of four. There were two women, who seemed to be responsible for casting. Everyone was genuine. Especially the two women, because as soon as they knew that the author of the boy love novel was me, a man, they all began to behave very openly and revealingly.
This doesn't mean that men writing in this genre are scarce, they just differ greatly.
“Hey hey don’t ask Khun Gene too much. We won't catch up with the schedule.” The director interjected.
Then someone handed me another new document.
“This is a list sorted by the phone number of the actors who will come, some are already famous young idols. Some are new faces from prestigious universities. We have cast faces and heights for the first round already. The script we need to show today is marked inside. Khun Gene, take a look to see who fits the character perfectly.”
“Thank you.”
The director clapped his hands for the assistant to bring another chair for me, because the long table was only for four, so I ended up sitting on a soft, comfortable chair, but on the other side against the wall. It's great that Ai’Hin is standing beside me, he is the only one I know here.
A staff member opened the door according to the signal from the director, calling out names and numbers before leading the casting members in one by one.
My protagonist is a fifth-year engineering student. He’s a rough, tough, fierce character but loves his wife a lot. And because the character is like this, at first, I gave him a tough and powerful name like Hin, but it was rejected. I was told not to use that name as it didn’t feel cool at all. So I had to come up with a new name, 'Khintro.'
As described, the protagonist in my novel is a bad boy. If he were to dress up for a formal event, he would wear a team-tone or black and white shirt, with his hair swept to the left. He would use gel or something similar. This has led people to cosplay in this style, everyone dressing up in similar outfits.
However, I feel that many of them are overdoing it.
They are trying to make themselves look like a bad boy, but in the process, they end up looking like they are trying too hard. It doesn't come across as naturally... After seven people, I still haven't felt special about anyone.
“Running away won't do you any good... The bite mark I made is a warning to let you know that you belong to me.”
The actor's voice echoed throughout the room.
Damn it... I feel embarrassed deep inside my heart.
Although many people may not catch it, I still respect and admire their acting spirit. It takes courage to say such an embarrassing line from the novel with such determination. As I imagine myself doing the same thing, I nod my head approvingly.
“What's up, Gene?”
Ai’Hin crouched down and whispered, making me look at the number written on the small piece of paper placed in my hand, “Number five, right?”
“Just like I thought. A young and famous actor is already there. If we cast that person instead, the show might have a better rating.”
“Really?” I raised my eyebrows slightly as I wasn't aware of the information written down in the file in my hand. It was true, but not as obvious, “But looking at it, I think this subtle enchantress-like stance suits the character Tawan better.”
Tawan is a character in my novel who falls for the protagonist’s lover... nothing unusual, as the protagonist’s lover is cute, there are bound to be admirers. He can be considered a main rival to the protagonist.
“Haha.” Ai'Hin grinned, “We can talk big at first and then let's choose freely. Now sit and watch. This is just part of the analysis.”
I squinted at him, “Mess with me and I'll mess with you back.”
“Hey! Don't blush yet. Come on, highlight number five. We'll talk to the director later. It's passed by many people...
“Number 18, Khun Nubsib, please come forward.”
Before Ai'Hin could finish speaking, the staff's announcement calling the next casting person interrupted our conversation. Just hearing the name made me more interested and intrigued.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the room until it reached the middle, and when my eyes met that figure, my mind became chaotic and complex.
In my brain, I perceived various emotions arise simultaneously, including excitement, attraction, admiration, and... disappointment.
The tall figure in front is wearing a tight shirt and jeans, with only a silver earring on one side. His dark, slightly tousled hair is styled simply, not too much or too little, because the face of this man looks very handsome naturally. Everything looks harmonious, the lips slightly pout, the prominent nose, the beautiful cheekbones and jawline complement each other perfectly.
Number Eighteen’s put me into a trance for a moment, but then I felt like I was dropped from the sky because... despite looking good and dressing up nicely, the atmosphere and demeanour of this person did not quite fit in with the Kinn.
He looked calm, not cold but rather indifferent. His tall figure stood still, with a hint of politeness in his attitude... quite the opposite from the other side.
“Here comes Nong Nubsib, Nong Nubsib is here.”
As I looked at Number Eighteen through my glasses, I heard the voices of two women exclaiming joyfully.
Is he an old star...
I lowered my head to look at the history in my hand with curiosity.
'Nubsib Phipitphakee (Sib), 20 years old, Sophomore at University X majoring in International Business Administration.’
Below was more information indicating that he completed his secondary education in a foreign country, and had some small achievements in modelling and fashion photography in that country before returning to Thailand and taking on some modelling jobs here and there.
There were screenshots of his Instagram photos and links to his Facebook page attached as well. Judging by the number of followers, it was clear that he was quite well-known.
“Not a star, but famous on the internet”
“Oh!” I received a whisper from Ai’Hin saying, “But he has never acted into movies, so he might not be able to handle it”
I secretly admired his slim figure a little bit.
I was captivated by the photo of Number Eighteen in the attached modelling photo. I tried to dismiss the thought of this person's name at first, but when I looked up again, I had to stay still as I saw the tall figure of the other party staring intently at me with narrowed eyes.
Our eyes met.
Um... what
I blinked once, then smiled politely.
“...”
“...”
Number Eighteen returned a small smile.
“Nong Nubsib, you are casting for your second round today. After the scene given yesterday, are you prepared to start?”
The assistant director asked, and both Number Eighteen and I turned to look.
There was no more prominent smile or gesture at that moment, unlike the previous candidates who tried to showcase themselves.
“If so, if Nong Nubsib is ready, we can start.”
With that, the white room fell silent.
The chosen scene for the casting involved the protagonist chasing his co-protagonist who had escaped from the luxurious condo of the male protagonist the morning after. After a wild night of partying, the co-protagonist of the male protagonist tried to evade and when caught by the male protagonist, he was pushed until his back hit a wall. The male protagonist's cruel and barbaric attitude was pulled out to intimidate him and show his possessiveness
When this scene was uploaded to the web, the comments were approximately saying, “Exciting! I can have a peaceful death with a funeral in pink, green, white, yellow... everything.”
I raised my hand to scratch my head, and the other hand spun the pen continuously. I did not expect anything like this reaction from Number Eighteen.
“So you're staying here, huh? You sneaked away from me this morning without saying anything.”
“...”
However, as soon as the first sentence escaped from the mouth of the tall figure, the pen in my hand suddenly stopped moving. My eyes, which had been previously distant from this man, were pulled back to him once again.
The atmosphere around me, which had seemed calm and peaceful, changed completely. It was as if a switch had been flipped, as both the facial expression and the gaze turned sharp and threatening, still exuding a sense of sensuality. The voice became commanding, making everyone in the room tense.
“You even have the strength to run, huh? I thought I wore you out last night multiple times until you had no strength left.”
I was startled by the performance of the man in front of me. I inadvertently stared until I couldn't, but I felt myself again when I noticed that the man who was pretending to be a character was looking at me. He turned his face towards me, as if he were acting with me.
Just a minute.
A part of my heart rose, thinking of turning away, but I couldn't.
Me... along with the others in the room all seemed to be captivated by this man.
The tall figure stepped closer to me, step by step, slowly creeping closer until I could see the situation as if the protagonist was chasing the antagonist until the real wall appeared directly in front of him.
Suddenly stopping a few steps away from where I was sitting, tension filled the room.
Snap!
“Jesus!”
I jerked in surprise, as his thick hand reached closer. The corner of his mouth was slightly lifted.
“There is no use trying to run from me.”
A slender finger traced along the curve of my neck, then slid down the collar of my shirt to make it lower on one side. He pressed his finger against the base of my throat near my pulse, then twisted his finger until the unfamiliar warmth of my skin tingled strangely.
“...”
“The mark I made is a warning that reminds you that you belong to me.”
The same sentence that others had casually mentioned during casting, but this time it made everyone's heart race.
My heart was the same, not because of the words, but because of the handsome face leaning in close. His other hand rested on the armrest of the chair.
Then I felt the warm breath blowing closely.
“Wait...”
“Excuse me.”
The voice raised again, and then the shadow that had loomed over me moved away... in that split second, our noses gently touched.
“Huh!?”
I feel like a stuttering person, feeling that my words come out awkwardly.
“Did I surprise you? Thank you so much for agreeing to stand in for the scene.”
“...”
I stood still like a statue on Easter Island, my ears catching the enchanting yet polite murmurs around me. The atmosphere was swirling and intense, slowly fading away, leaving a slight dizziness.
My eyelids blinked, then I felt myself moving, realising what was happening.
“Um...uh, you did really well.”
But I didn't want you to continue adding lines. You're going overboard, showing off too much in front of others, really kid. I held my breath and restrained myself from saying anything else.
“Is that so?” His eyebrows furrowed slightly, then he smiled faintly, “Thank you...”
I chuckled, but it was a dry, forced chuckle. The director and the other actors who had escaped the abyss joined in applauding and getting up, calling out for Number Eighteen to come forward and ask a few questions as if it were an interview.
As for me, my heart pounded away in my chest, and I turned my gaze inward, alone.
This guy is truly amazing. From what I could see and feel from the outside, he didn't fit the role, but as soon as he acted, it was like a switch had been flipped. He did so well, beyond expectations, so much so that my heart raced along with it.
“Oh.” Ai'Hin, who had been quiet for a while, muttered.
“What's up?”
“I was just imagining you as a novel protagonist’s co-protagonist earlier. Ah, my heart won't stop racing.” he raised his hand to his chest.
I pursed my lips in embarrassment, “I am not here to be casted as a novel protagonist.”
“Well, go on. Earlier, when Nubsib was acting using you as the protagonist, you seemed stiff yourself.”
His words and the glint in his eyes made my face redden uncontrollably. I kicked lightly at the shin of the person standing near me, saying, “Wait until I shoot you.”
“Uh, yeah, I'll just dodge all of your shots.” he winked, “So, what's next?”
“I pick Number Eighteen.” I said quickly.
“I also like Nubsib. The directors and staff will make the decision, and there are still people who haven't been cast yet.”
I turned towards the directors at Ai’Hin's words and saw a staff member leading Number Eighteen to another room for certification, which was different from the others who were done casting and sent outside to wait together.
The director then walked over to ask for my opinion, and from his expression, he had already made up his mind. If I didn't choose Number Eighteen, he would have prepared to argue dissatisfied, but when I agreed, his face changed to a smile. He patted my shoulders before walking back to his seat, telling the staff to bring the next person in.
Having someone in mind, but having to manage until it's over. It's not fair to others, but it's hard to say it's unfair because Number Eighteen really acted the scene well.
Thirty minutes passed. Finally, casting was completed with all the actors. I handed over the main responsibilities to the team members and once everything was done, I closed the file and returned it to the staff.
...No one is better than Number Eighteen.
“We've chosen the protagonist co-protagonist before you had arrived, Khun Gene. Here are the details, do you have any issues?”
I shook my head, “I have no issues. It's up to the director.”
“Based on the decision of the team today, I somewhat trust that they will do well... but it's their job after all.”
“The two actors are waiting in the reception room to be briefed. Khun Gene, go with them. They don't know you're the writer yet. Go introduce yourself and give them some advice as a formality. Come on.”
“Um, wait a minute.” I raised my hand to push the heavy arm that was about to pat my shoulder, “It's not a good idea. Let's save it for next time.”
“Is there something else you have to attend to?”
I smiled awkwardly, “Not really. The next original story I am writing is important.”
“Oh, alright then, we'll save it for next time. I'll have someone inform you of the other details. It's certain that there will be a meeting to inform the actors in two weeks. Hin already mentioned that you will be coming. Let's meet then.”
“Oh! Um...”
...Hin said I would come?
I turned around and almost shot laser-like eyes at the person standing quietly behind me, and a smile crept back.
The director patted my shoulder again, laughing. As we waved and said our goodbyes, he walked into another separate room. He must be going to discuss the details with the person who received the lead role. As for me...
I raised my hand to wave goodbye and took a deep breath, “Can I go now?”
“Yes... Uh, wait.”
“What else?”
“I have a stomachache and need to use the restroom for a moment. Can you take me to the restroom at the office, but wait for me for a bit?”
“You little shit, am I your assistant that I have to wait for you to finish shitting and then send you off?”
“Hey! Why do you think like that? I'm the one who has to take care of you.”
“Oh, really?”
I pinched my nose, flicked it lightly, and waved my hand to hurry him to go into the bathroom.
Ai’Hin smiled faintly, then walked with a limp towards the end of the hallway. I took a deep breath and followed behind him. Near the bathroom, there was a long chair placed, with a water dispenser and an automatic confectionery dispenser nearby, which was quite rare in Thailand.
I glanced around before dropping a coin and pushing a button to get a special sweet iced coffee out to drink and freshen up. I thought Hin might be in the bathroom for a while, so I sat down to wait patiently.
Damn it! The assistant coordinator, working with the writers, this was Ai'Hin's job, and not mine; there was no room for argument.
I frowned at the thought of the person spewing shit in the bathroom. I sipped on the iced coffee while twirling the coin I had exchanged from the arcade.
Clang!
I spun the coin, but it slipped from my fingertips.
“...” I quickly glanced around, only to see tenner coins rolling on the floor, bumping into someone's toe before coming to a stop.
My body, which was about to bend down to pick it up, froze in place as well.
Just like in a movie where the character slowly looks up and down at the newcomer from head to toe.
“...”
“...”
Number Eighteen.
The tall figure stood three steps away, then slowly bent down to pick up the tenner coin.
“Here you go.”
“Oh! Thank you.”
The other side smiled and still had the aristocratic look, “Thank you again earlier.”
The guy’s handsome looks were striking, and I didn't want to stare too long, so I averted my gaze to the side.
“Uh! Um...”
If this were an anime, there would be sound effects of a breeze passing through, but unfortunately, it was silent to the point of suffocation.
“I just found out that you are the author of the Savage Engineering Husband story.”
“...!”
Oops! The coffee can almost slipped from my hand when Number Eighteen suddenly brought up this sentence.
“The director just said that earlier, so from now on, I will be bothering you asking for tips for my character.”
“Oh! Don't think too much.” I waved my hand, “I'm just a writer. I signed the contract for the series with the channel already. You...”
As I spoke up to this point, I paused because the other party did not address me as 'Phii,' but used a more polite term instead. I hesitated on how to address him. Even if I call him 'mister,' you don't seem to mind, “Um, mister... we probably won't see each other often. If you need to bother someone about the acting tips, it should be the director or the team members.”
Hearing that, the other party raised his eyebrows slightly.
Although this kid seemed quiet, he looked polite like a real prince. Talking to him, I felt like I had to carefully consider my words before every sentence, not knowing how to proceed.
As I was about to excuse myself and find Ai’Hin elsewhere, the sound of the bathroom door opening suddenly became louder.
“Oh maw god, that was a good one, Phii... Ouch!” The person who had disappeared for a while poked my back when our eyes met the tall figure of the novel's male protagonist standing there. He smiled helplessly, looking embarrassed like a young girl, “Nong Nubsib.”
“Sir.”
“Have you finished talking to the director?”
“The director is calling me. I need to use the bathroom.”
“Oh.” Ai’Hin startled, “Oh! My name is Hin. I am the assistant taking care of Khun Gene; the writer. From now on, you would be meeting more often.”
“...” I turned to look at the person who spoke immediately.
This damn Hin, after I had just told the person in front of me that we won't meet often, he had to come up with this kind of speech. I could only glare at him. It's just a side job, you know. I don't come here often. Period.
“Yes.” Nubsib, who was still standing in his position, added a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, “See you later.”
“See you.”
Ai'Hin replied with a friendly tone. And I stayed silent for a moment when I saw that Number Eighteen talked to Hin in that way but he looked at me as if he was saying it to me. The aura of the other party made me feel uncomfortable again, so I had to force a smile and turn my face away.
I stood up from my seat, tossed the empty can into the trash can, and then turned to pull the collar of the shirt of the person who made me wait to follow him to the elevator immediately. Even though I dragged him like this, he still had the nerve to turn around, waving his hand to Nubsib who was standing in another position.
I felt a bit confused. When the elevator door opened, I gently pushed him in before following. I couldn't bring myself to turn back and look.
Number eighteen was still standing in the same spot. He used sharp eyes to gaze at me. When our eyes met in silence, he sent me a smile. I could only pretend not to notice and not point it out. It was as if I hadn't looked in that direction at all, quickly stepping into the elevator.
I am not a director. Not an organiser Just an ordinary writer. No need to meet each other, right?
“Can you send me to my place, Phii Gene. Oh! Help me go buy fried mussels at the corner Thai stir-fry shop.”
“...”