[T/N] I apologize for grammar mistakes and incoherencies
Chapter 5:
I never did anything wrong, from narrowly escaping death last night, I woke up again at noon. I walked out of my room in a daze, but didn't see anyone. Nubsib must have gone to the gym for training yesterday as Ai'Tum told me on LINE.
I walked into the kitchen to make sweet coffee. At that moment, my phone that I carried with me all the time made a loud notification sound on LINE from Tum; It was a photo he sent.
Tum (Office Work Phone): (Sending a photo)
Tum (Office Work Phone): (Sending a photo)
Tum (Office Work Phone): Is the leading man handsome?
I pressed to view the photos and saw Nubsib standing with another person who seemed to be a stylist in a really bad-looking outfit. Both I and the accessories looked like Kinthra from the novel came to life. In one picture, Nubsib wore an ordinary student outfit, but unlike the usual Nubsib, he looked handsome and wore jeans instead of black shorts.
Gene: Well, I guess your kid didn't disappoint me.
Tum (Office Work Phone): Have you woken up? I saw Ai'Sib said you must be sleeping in.
I haven't had time to reply to Ai'Tum's message when he video-called. It wasn't a regular call, it was a video call.
“Uh...”
I answered and walked to sit on the sofa. The internet is quite stable now, so I could see the images clearly.
Ai'Tum smiled, holding the phone and rotating the camera around.
[I sent you the photos so you can have a look at this outfit, Ai'Sib's outfit. How does the leading man look? Do you like it?]
“Do you think I'm a fashion follower?”
[Haha, then believe me, you don't have to worry about it Ai'Gene. Even if his outfit isn't cool. If Ai'Sib wears it, you can be assured.]
“Okay.” I sipped the coffee again.
[Well, maybe you saw the picture I sent you already. He is so handsome until the girls fall in love.]
“What are you bragging about?”
[Yes, he is a guy in my agency, so I have to boast a little.]
“...”
Annoying.
[Well, okay. The first shooting day...]
[Phii Tum]
[Huh!? What?]
I saw Ai'Tum's exaggerated close-up face turn to the other side and heard a familiar call before he turned to answer. It seemed chaotic as he accidentally lowered his phone, and I caught a glimpse of his nose and chin instead.
[Who are you talking to?]
[Ai'Gene]
[Gene, has he woken up?]
And then I realised that the muffled voice was from Nubsib when Ai'Tum walked closer and heard more clearly than before, but there were still some indistinct sounds. I intended to tell him to be quiet, but it seemed like the other end was not paying attention and turned the camera around until I felt dizzy.
[Oh, he replied back to my LINE with a video call.
[Video?]
[Yeah, I just talked to him, you should try it too...]
I was about to listen when I set my phone aside and got up to look for something to eat in the cupboard. I found some bread that was not finished yet but was close to expiring, so I grabbed it even though I didn't toast or spread anything on it because I was lazy. I sat back down on the sofa. When I picked up my phone to look at it, I was slightly startled to see that the face on the screen was not Tum but an attractive face with a small smile of a kid.
“Uh....” I still had the bread in my mouth.
[Khun Gene, are you up yet?]
“Uh.” I quickly chewed and swallowed before answering, “Yeah, just now.”
[Is that bread your breakfast?] Nubsib raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at what was in my hand, [Is it just plain bread?]
“Oh, I eat whatever I find.”
I thought about reaching for my coffee to drink, even though it was instant coffee, the smell was good. I also decided to add more sugar to my liking. Just as I was about to put the taste in my mouth, Miss-Hwaan's photo, who was about to lick the edge of her mouth in a pitiful way when her taste buds didn't move.
But when I turned my gaze back to my phone screen, I had to pause.
“Nubsib...”
[Yes?] Nubsib smiled slightly, his eyes following my mouth [What's up?]
“Uh, nothing...”
The corners of his mouth curved slightly [Today, Khun Gene, you will be in your room writing a novel all day, right?]
“Uh, yes, something like that.”
For several weeks, I had diligently focused on finishing my work and was about to head to the climax. When I opened the original text, I planned to quickly finish the scene that Phii Bok had handed to me so I could have time to relax and then return to write my own horror-fantasy fanfiction.
“In that case, I'll go take a shower and check the original text first. See you later.”
At that, Nubsib told me to take care, smiled at me, and said goodbye in a strange, adorable way. As for me, as soon as I said goodbye, I quickly hung up, cut the call immediately, tossed my phone to the other side of the sofa, brushed off the thought that Nubsib looked weirdly different, then grabbed the remaining coffee cup, opened it to add sugar, and sat still, sipping it away.
Because last night I bought a lot of boxed rice and snacks to stock up, I was able to stay in the room all day and night to take care of my own work without having to go out and waste time.
I heard the sound of Nubsib coming back and going to university the next morning, but I didn't pay much attention. I sat comfortably with the next novel, until finally I tapped the enter key on the keyboard twice to finish the scene, leaned back in the chair to stretch out my arms and legs to relax my muscles and relieve the fatigue. The sunlight in the afternoon filtered through the curtains, shining on my slightly scattered face.
Oh, finally this week's goals have been achieved. I will not turn on the computer for a couple of days to relax.
I closed my eyelids halfway, planning to jump into bed if I felt drowsy, but my stomach growled first, so I had to get up to wash my face in the bathroom.
“Hmm...I can't see.” I muttered to myself tiredly when I noticed the corners of my eyes starting to droop because I stayed up late last night.
Hunger is stronger than sleepiness. I changed my shirt to wear contact lenses, because suddenly I wanted to eat shabu-shabu. I decided to go to the mall, eat ice cream, have some cake, and then come back to sleep until I was full in the morning.
I smiled at the housekeeper who was mopping the floor in the lift, then walked out with the car keys and elevator card, but as I was about to turn towards the parking lot, my eyes met with a very flashy car ahead.
A black European car parked next to the lift was in front. Not that I had never seen expensive cars before, but because I lived in this condo for many years, it was the first time I had seen something different. The car was always well-maintained and clean. I remember seeing it when I was a child. Back then, it belonged to the rich people near the large swimming pool in the village allocated with our house.
Although it was strange, I didn't pay much attention. I was determined to continue on foot, but the person who came out of a different car that had just parked turned and looked at me.
“Nubsib?”
Nubsib was actually on the other side in a normal student uniform, his hair was the same as I saw the day before, but his face...
It seemed a little messy and slightly flushed. His face looked like a prince who seemed upset, which I had never seen before.
“Khun Gene?”
“...”
It seemed that the other party realised they were being stared at, so they turned their gaze towards me, their handsome face suddenly changed in an instant, smiling slightly as they walked towards me.
“Uh...just came back from university. Who sent you here?”
“Someone else.”
“Oh!” I exclaimed as I passed by the tough-looking black European car that was driving out, “Hardship and you did not buy a car for yourself.”
Nubsib chuckled slightly, “What should I buy then?”
“If your parents won't give you a car, you can use my own money. You have modelling gigs and TV series anyway. Save up and you can buy one.” I said. But Nubsib, still smiling faintly, with a heavy heart, didn't say anything in response. His sympathetic expression made me decide to continue, “Alright then. When I am free, I'll take you to school.”
“Really?”
“Hmm.”
“...” Nubsib fell silent for a moment. Finally, he smiled wider than before, “Khun Gene you are really kind.”
“Um, yeah.”
“And this...” the person in front looked at me over, “You have no glasses today, are you going out for a meal?”
“Oh! Yep, going to get something to eat.”
“Get something to eat?” Nubsib's face looked puzzled and clearly surprised.
“Uh huh. Maybe at the nearby mall? Want to come along and have a meal together?”
“Sure.”
Just with that response from Nubsib, I already knew. So I pointed upwards, “Want to go freshen up and change shirts before that?”
“That can take too much time. Khun Gene, you might get hungry soon.”
I chuckled, “I can wait. How long can a man take to shower anyway.”
Despite trying to sound mature and kind, I didn't hold back, my feet guiding me towards the grey sedan parked nearby, my body capable of controlling my limbs like a brain.
I started the car, making sure to fasten my seatbelt for safety. I gestured for the person next to me to do the same.
Confident that we would quickly find a place to eat at the nearby mall, within less than three minutes, I steered the wheel, reversed into the parking slot on the building's parking floor. As I walked past the security checkpoint, I saw people milling about inside and my face changed instantly, realising there would be a wait at the restaurant. But before I could think of anything else, I stopped.
Now I led the famous Number Eighteen who had a fan club around in public...
I turned slightly to look at the person following me. It seemed the other side still had the same expression as always, so I hesitated to ask.
“You okay?”
“Huh?” Nubsib looked puzzled by my question.
“Just wondering, are you not going to encounter any fans or anything like that?”
Despite wearing ordinary student clothes and blending in with the crowd, Nubsib's aura still made him stand out.
“It's fine. Others do their own thing. No one really cares.”
“Oh!...”
When I looked around, I realised that it was indeed true that they knew Nubsib, but because he was so prominent, many people walking in the mall had their own goals already. Eating, talking, choosing items, not just sitting still like on a bus or walking in the park together on the sidewalk. Many people probably don't think that there's someone famous walking in the park just like that.
The aura of Nubsib was intense, even though he said that there were some groups of people who noticed, but they only whispered, some hesitated as if unsure. They didn't dare to come closer, so I decided to trust him.
“So, would you like something special to eat?”
“Um...”
“But I feel like having a hotpot.”
Nubsib said, “Sure. Whatever Khun Gene wants to eat, I can eat it all.”
After receiving a positive response, I took Nubsib to a buffet hotpot restaurant. Luckily, we only had to wait for a short moment before the staff brought us to a table.
“What do you want, just tell me, I'll get it for you.”
...Wild
Although I said that, my hunger had not been satisfied almost all day, causing me to eat without tasting the food, but generally I'm not someone who eats a lot like that. After a little while, my speed started to decrease, and my stomach was finally full.
I looked up and saw Nubsib on the other side enjoying the fresh ingredients in the pot. As for me... I didn't even help put a plate.
“Oh, eat more, come on”
“Wait, I'll do it.” I quickly grabbed a plate of fresh food from the other side.
“Are you full now?”
The eye contact and smile made me bite my cheek slightly and nod in response, patting my stomach as I did, signalling Nubsib to eat his own food. I saw the kid eat without rushing or hesitating. Polite and charming.
Playing around, I sat back and watched thoughtfully, “It's almost time... the first day of filming is coming soon.”
“Really? Oh!”
“How's it going, did you get the script?”
As I asked, the eyebrows of the number eighteen seemed to twitch slightly, their expression seeming somewhat tense, “I read it, but I haven't rehearsed yet.”
“Oh.”
I have to be careful... How do celebrities normally rehearse? Do they speak alone in front of a mirror?
“And before you said there was something about the script you wanted to ask me.”
I looked up and saw Nubsib enjoying the fresh ingredients in the pot. As for me... I didn't even help put a plate.
“Wow, eat a lot, come on, I'll make it for you.” I quickly grabbed the fresh plate in the other person's hand.
“Full already?”
The eyes and smile made me bite my lower lip lightly, nervously replied in a low voice to answer in a casual manner and then waved my hand, signalling Nubsib to eat his own food. So I saw the bratty kid grab the food and put it in his mouth slowly but not too slow, and not too fast, looking cute.
Playing with me who was sitting happily, “It's almost time... the first show day is approaching.”
“Huh? Oh!”
“How's it going? Did you understand it?”
When I asked like that, the harsh brows of Number Eighteen slightly furrowed against each other. He seemed to be somewhat stressed and did not want to deal with it, “I've read it, but I haven't had a chance to practise yet.”
“Oh?”
I have to practise, too... How do normal actors practise together? The only person talking to the mirror, right?
“And before you said there was something related to the script you wanted to ask me about.”
I remembered what had happened before. I had not even heard any problems of Nubsib regarding the script yet Nong Aey came to talk to the male lead first, so I didn't want to disturb their conversation and quickly excused myself.
“Oh! That's also... There are still a few points that I don't understand.”
“In that case...”
“...”
“When we get back to your apartment do you want me to help you with the rehearsal?
“Oh?” His hand reaching for the pot suddenly stopped, “Rehearsal together? Me and you rehearse together?”
“Yes.”
“Well, it's not good to practise alone. I can't rehearse those epic, heroic, or adventure movies at all.”
“Just read your part of the script, the leading man’s co-protagonist. I just want someone to work on the lines with.”
My face suddenly dropped, “Just reading the lines is enough for you to work on the lines with, I think it's...”
It's not just the usual awkwardness. It's awkward to the extreme... Those who read novels should know well that the words used in novels are sometimes not the same as in everyday life to spice up the reading experience. Especially in romance novels, even though I have never seen this series, both Ai'Hin and some of the related members have repeatedly said that the scriptwriters hardly change anything at all.
Let me read the lines I typed... It's awkward to the point of death.
“Alright, Khun Gene, just reading is enough, I will be the one to act it out.”
“...”
The serious expression and smile that seemed to be left by Nubsib made me unable to speak out.
“Is it okay?”
“Um... um.”
I was caught by the captivating gaze of the charming boy Number Eighteen, staring at me deceivingly until I accidentally turned my face and answered back. Realising it, I took a deep breath and let out a big sigh, diverting my gaze away from the handsome face that was smiling slightly, thanking in another way.
Excellent job, Ai'Tum... to have such a useful kid like this leading around is really worth it.
Not long after, both myself and Nubsib were full. I was the one holding the receipt to pay the bill, standing with a credit card in hand, ready to treat the other side. Raising my hand, I waved off Nubsib who wanted to take out the money for me.
Coming out of the restaurant, I asked if he wanted to buy anything, but Nubsib, being a good kid, politely declined. We then went back to the room to take a quick shower. We made it back to the condo faster than expected, taking just over an hour.
Twenty minutes later, I came out to blow dry my hair and opened the app to watch a movie on the iPad that I paid a monthly subscription for, waiting until my hair was dry before changing into a nightshirt, slipping into bed until I could hear the sound of spring pulling.
Stretching my arms and legs to the maximum extent, I realised that I was really tired... perhaps accumulated fatigue from some time ago. Despite just having taken a shower, my eyes were still wide awake. Another round of phone browsing was required before I could start to feel drowsy.
Knock! Knock!
When I took out my mobile phone to scan my fingerprint, the door to the room was knocked on.
“Khun Gene...”
The gentle voice of Nubsib floated in lightly, causing me to prop my elbows and turn my face towards the door with a silly look. The light shining through the bottom frame cast a shadow, and I knew that the other side was standing still in front.
“Are you asleep already?”
“Not yet.” I shouted back, “Is there something wrong?”
“Khun Gene, you seem to have forgotten the thing you talked to me about, haven't you?”
“Huh!?”
When I answered back with a puzzled tone, Nubsib's disappointed voice interjected, “Khun Gene, you agreed to be rehearsal partners with me. Did I... did I disturb you too much?”
“....” I hesitated.
“If you are tired, you can tell me.”
“I....” I chose the wrong sentence to reply back. Finally, when I thought of the distressed face of the speaker, I grabbed my glasses and jumped off the bed, unlocking the door and quickly opening it, “Okay, come in. What did you want?”
Nubsib seemed a bit taken aback by my hastiness, but when our eyes met, he smiled charmingly once again.
“I didn't disturb you, did I?”
“No. You didn't disturb me.”
“Khun Gene, you have finished bathing.” His eyes gradually scanned my pyjamas before returning to sweep across my face. Before I could even react, he leaned in closer, skimming his cheek near my nose and beautiful nostrils, close to the group of hair near my ear.
He lightly inhaled before exhaling the warm air onto me, causing my hair to stand on end, “The shampoo smells...”
I opened my eyes and immediately backed away. If there was anything behind me, I would have definitely stumbled and fallen, but as I stepped back three paces away from Nubsib, I could see his thick eyebrows that had raised.
“Looking for something?”
“Um, no, not really. What are you asking for? Do you want me to be your rehearsing partner in something? Quickly, I'm feeling sleepy and don't know why.”
“Oh, please help me.”
I walked over and sat on the sofa in the living room. As for Nubsib, who had already finished bathing, he walked over, grabbed a towel from his room, and had two sets available. So, he handed one set to me, then sat down beside me until I, too, could smell the clean, cool shampoo.
This children's shampoo smells the same...
“Let's start with what you don't understand first, the previous question about where.”
“Kinthra's behaviour. Like this.” Nubsib moved closer to me, opened his script, and pointed, “And here, the emotions are divided into two parts. I want to know which one the character emphasises more.”
“Hmm?”
I turned my head and found it was a scene where the protagonist scolded his co-protagonist. After asking him to go far away, he sat down in anger.
“Oh! At this point, it feels a bit contradictory. If you ask about the character's feelings, Kinthra definitely likes Namcha. Well, one can say that it's love, but it feels more like... whatever.” I shifted my eyes slightly as I chose my words, “He can't accept, it's not about admitting defeat or having a high ego that can accept saying he loves someone. Kinthra's character can handle love, but...”
“Seems like he does not know himself, confused with himself, something like that.”
“Not knowing himself?” Nubsib muttered lightly, “So scolding and kicking is the same thing, right?”
“Um... it's hard to explain, but it's like that. You've never been in love, have you? Feeling love but feeling it was unbearable.”
“No.”
“Oh! So, I don't know how to explain deeply...”
“Khun Gene, have you ever?”
“What!?”
I paused when Nubsib interrupted with a question while I was still in the middle of telling a story. I glanced at the person sitting next to me suddenly, and then I looked at the strange gaze of the other person.
The sharp eyes still looked charming and envy-inducing as before, but it seemed to have an emotion of yearning swirling within it. I could still read the deep gaze of the person with a calm and quiet nature like Nubsib.
“Do you understand this feeling of love? Khun Gene, have you ever felt it before?”
I looked at the handsome face of Nubsib who leaned in closer. I even tried to lean back to escape, “I...”
“Khun Gene, have you had a girlfriend before?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Have you ever had one?” The person in front leaned in closer, indicating that at this point only the answer to this question was required.
“No... I have never had a girlfriend.”
“...”
Perhaps due to pressure, I blurted out without thinking. As soon as Nubsib finished speaking, he fell silent. I almost wanted to grab a pillow and bang my head to get rid of the embarrassing truth of myself.
This is... one of my secrets.
Not that no one ever liked or courted me, it wasn't to that pitiful extent. But during the early university days, my life revolved around friends. We hung out and partied together. Some friends in the group had girlfriends. There were times they would complain about the troubles of their significant others and there were times they would flaunt their love.
Seeing all this, I didn't even want to think about having one. Even after graduating, working, whenever someone asked if I had a girlfriend...
No girlfriend meant still single. Even though I didn't want to be single, I tried going out with girls who were friends.
“Never had a girlfriend?”
Nubsib's voice rang out again, pulling me out of my thoughts. My brain processed the question and hesitantly replied, “Yes...”
“...”
Initially expecting to see a look of surprise on Nubsib's face, but when I turned to look again, I saw a smile that seemed wider than before.
That smirk seemed to mock me, causing my heart to beat faster as if Nubsib wasn't wrong that day.
“What's wrong?”
“Nothing."
I exhaled a faint breath and adjusted myself to sit back in my chair, returning to the original topic, “So, do you understand now what I've explained?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
Nubsib smiled sweetly, “Certainly.”
“Well then, okay... Let's... rehearse your lines next.”
Nubsib flipped to the first page of the script, and I hesitantly started reading my character's lines, feeling awkward speaking my own character's dialogue out loud but still leaving room for Nubsib to respond. I didn't want to see Nubsib look so sad like that, so I resisted the urge.
The opening scene should probably focus on Nong Aey, Nubsib's friend who had just started his first day at university. Being a freshman, he was still a bit lost and unsure as he entered and met his new friends, the three male leads of the story. They talked amongst themselves before moving on to talk about the senior male characters at the university before going to have lunch together.
The cafeteria was crowded, and the awkwardness made it cute as I accidentally bumped into a tall, handsome guy and spilled his drink. Nubsib and I would start rehearsing from here.
“Alright.”
I said, while staring at the lines I had to read.
“Do you even realise what you did?”
“...”
But then... just as Nubsib stared the tension returned.
The soft murmur of the people in front of me was drowned out by his harsh words. His sentence was filled with intensity. As soon as his eyes shifted from the script and looked at the person speaking, Nubsib, who was not like Nubsib at all, I felt like I was being scrutinised from head to toe.
“Khun Gene?”
“...”
“Gene.”
“Oh! Uh, sorry!” I stuttered, looking at the paper in my hands again, “I...I apologise. I wasn't paying attention.”
The co-protagonist's lines were read out confidently by me, but Nubsib didn't seem to notice anything, laying a thick script close by while still focused like he was immersed in the role
“Awkward.”
“I'll take care of it.”
“No!” The aggressive tone suddenly turned gentle, as Nubsib's ability to switch between fierce predator and gentle prey was unsettling, “If you ruin my shirt to the point of no return, I'll have to continue studying. How will you make me wait then?”
“So what am I supposed to do?”
“Wipe it all off.”
“What...wipe it all off? It...it's not...”
The situation got awkward...
“Clean it up, don't leave any for me to be upset about.”
“It's...it's not...”
“Now!”
I was startled. Right here is where in the text it said that Namchaa was startled and shocked, then I quickly turned to him. Continuing to read, Namchaa's story, which started off as a neat and cute boy, was completely transformed by me into a boy with a gravelly scared voice and a rough demeanour, devoid of any emotions. While reading it as a rehearsal partner for Nubsib, I couldn't help but worry that I had messed it up so badly that he wouldn't be able to continue the story.
Just by reading, I could see Kinthra's shadow looming over Nubsib, a match made in heaven. I wasn't disappointed that I chose this boy.
“I apologise...”
Snap!
“Damn it!”
The foul language blurted out of my mouth, but it was a whimper because the thick hand that had just lightly pushed both my cheeks, it didn't hurt but it surprised me enough to open my eyes wide.
Nubsib immediately stopped, releasing his hand before it turned into using his index finger to brush my cheeks lightly, “Sorry, does it hurt?”
“Uhm... no...”
“I tried to be light...”
“No, I'm not hurt.” I turned my face elsewhere but then pulled Nubsib's hand away before raising my eyebrows, “Wait a minute, this isn't right. What are you doing? We don't have to act this game, just reading the script is enough.”
“It's not like that.”
“But acting like this is for real. I don't want this. I'm not going to act out this scene.”
Seeing the script that I was holding, which stated that the shaking Namchaa was becoming a little too much for Khun Gene to bear standing right in front of Shin, I couldn't take it anymore.
Nubsib, who was still smiling faintly at my exasperation, said, “Khun Gene, if you don't want to rehearse. I can rehearse alone.”
“Huh!?”
“Khun Gene, you can just read. I'll do the acting. It's not difficult, right?”
“You'll look weird practising alone, Nubsib.”
“Or maybe you want to practise with me.”
“No.” my voice came out quickly, and Nubsib chuckled lightly in his throat.
“Then I'll just act alone then, okay?”
I looked at Nubsib's expression, then blinked and took a deep breath, “As you wish.”
Nubsib may irritate me, but he still manages to become the character without any problems. It's like this person has a switch inside them. They can decide to close or open it anytime.
“In such a casual manner but your mouth is more stubborn than you think.”
Nubsib's thick hand gently grabbed my chin once again before pulling me closer. He himself leaned in, feeling a bit awkward and strange. However, because we had previously agreed to rehearse in a playful manner, I didn't say anything. I tried to look elsewhere when Nubsib used intense, threatening eye contact like Kinthra staring in my direction.
Despite the fact that this gaze is slightly less intimidating than Nubsib's, I still couldn't stay calm on the other side. Suddenly...
“Just a moment.”
“Yes?”
Nubsib, whose switch I couldn't figure out, let go of my hand and moved closer to grab my wrist that was pressed against his chest.
“What are you going to do?”
Continuing to act out the scene, Nubsib moved closer until I had to raise my hand to signify backing off. He glanced at the script in my other hand, then his face tensed.
“No, no more practising?”
“But... There's a kissing scene here.”
“Well...” Nubsib looked puzzled, as if confused by my statement, “Yes?”
“It's a kissing scene. How are you going to play it out?”
“You can't do it, can you?”
I can't do it, darn it!
I was flustered, “How can you have a kissing scene with a man?”
“If I have to film this scene then I have to kiss a man, right?”
“But I'm not an actor. I don't want to cross that line. Just this much is already too much.”
As I said this, Nubsib fell silent, his intense gaze fixed on me. Not accusatory, but more like he was examining me. As I furrowed my brow, ready to ask him for help, the person in front of me beat me to it.
“Khun Gene, have you ever kissed anyone before?”
“Huh!?” My eyes widened, “What do you mean?”
“Khun Gene, you seem to pay special attention to kissing...”
...
Not wanting to kiss does not mean never having kissed before. And also... I have to pay attention, considering that Nubsib is a man. I can guess that the other party doesn't seem too interested in having to kiss anyone. Nubsib's attention and interest are all focused on rehearsing the script. I wanted to help him with practising but... I just can't handle the kissing part.
“The issue is not really there.”
“...”Nubsib saw the restless and anxious expression on my face. At first, the other party seemed puzzled, but a moment later, they seemed to understand. They took a step back as if afraid that I would feel suffocated. They pursued their lips and smiled.
“Khun Gene, if you are embarrassed and uncomfortable about kissing, then it's okay not to do it.”
“…”
“I don't want Khun Gene to be upset like that.”
“...”
My eyebrows twitched. I don't know why it makes me feel so upset.
I stared at the person in front of me, who still had a faint smile and seemed reluctant to make me uncomfortable or embarrassed. His gaze seemed comforting, as if trying to reassure me. But to me, it felt like being ridiculed by a younger, more immature person.
Nubsib doesn't care about kissing. He is so dedicated to the act that he's willing to rehearse it in this way. As for me... the writer, I am willing to help rehearse, but I feel uncomfortable with the idea of kissing and find it hard to believe.
Damn, he doesn't seem like an adult at all.
Just a kiss...
“Alright.”
“Huh?”
“I said it's okay. Just a kiss, that's all. No problem.”
Nubsib stopped pouting. Then he leaned in a little, “Would that be okay? I already said I don't want you to be upset, Khun Gene.”
“Well, I said there's no problem.”
There were still traces of hesitation in Nubsib's stern eyes, so I leaned in closer to the other party instead. I lightly grabbed the script I was holding as a way to speed up the process.
“Do you want to kiss? Just kiss me quickly.”
“If that's the case...”
The warm touch of the other party's hand came to touch my cheek and chin. Meanwhile, the other side slowly took off their glasses, “In this scene, Khun Gene, you might be surprised, but right now, you can close your eyes if you want.”
...
I could feel the body temperature of the person in front of me rising almost to the point of scorching. I thought I would close my eyes, look away and let the scene flow smoothly, but when the handsome face moved closer, my heart was beating so fast that I didn't want to see anymore. I accidentally closed my eyes without realising it, ignoring Nubsib's voice as he continued to deliver his lines in the scene.
Well, the next moment, I felt the edge of the other party's lips pressing down on mine...