“Can we get a picture?”

Today marks the day the cast has to officially start publicising the movie. Right after we shot the new scene, we all went out. Well, the cast was supposed to all go out together, but Zen and my gut rightly went against the idea of me staying at the set with only the director. So, I tagged along.

This is a usual thing for us, but the paparazzi’s a new addition.

I wonder, I really do wonder how they found out where'd we'd be.

Of course, I don't.

They were given a tip, as they call it, to come here because welp, you guessed it, publicity.

Plus, today Zen and Yun are supposed to make it seem like they're a couple, or whatever. Aren't there rumors of her having a very real boyfriend? Doesn't everyone already know she does?

Anyways, it's a traditional publicity stunt, that I've gotten all too tired of witnessing. Once fans begin to ship their Otp, it somehow becomes mandatory to feed that craze, ehm~ obsession, ehm~ ehm~ dedication. That's the word. I am guilty of similar practices, like I ship people, famous and not- mostly not famous, it's just so much fun. Then those non famous people think I'm loony and promise to send me for special care, if I refuse to stop.

They haven't send me yet and I still refuse.

I look over to Zen and Yun and they really are professional actors. They're keeping all those cameras busy just by sitting all cosily close to each other.  Just talking, drinking a smoothie… I want a smoothie. Making their pretend romance look very real and subtle. They're just acting. Very good acting.

“Typical, don't you think?”

I'm not really paying attention, which is rude, but I do hear him. Omg! Where did she get those shoes? They're gorgeous!

“They do make a pretty good couple though.” He sounds very ‘sensitive’ about it. I side glance at Jii as he drinks what smells like beer. It's in a can and from this angle I can't really tell.

“You know she has a boyfriend, right?”

“Yeah, but I'm just going by looks. Do you really think a guy like Zen would ever go for anyone less than her? Any one, you know, like an average, non actress, non model girl?”

Why do I feel personally attacked by that comment?

“Zen doesn't go for a girl simply based on her looks.” I defend, this was also an attack on his integrity.

“Do you really believe that? Tell me you wouldn't completely lean towards a guy based mainly on his good looks.”

“Looks is a factor, but it isn't the only thing that matters. I'm shallow, I mean we all are to an extent, no hiding it, but if someone with a great personality stands out. That can be the winning factor.”

“So, if I'd ask you to be my date for the premiere?” he trails off, not sure what kind of answer he's expecting, but this feels like a trap and I do not appreciate being manipulated.

So that's what it’s all about. “Don't we have time until we have to worry about clothes and dates?” mostly clothes. I try to maneuver around it in the nicest way possible.

“You have no idea how quickly time flies in our line of business.” He takes another gulp of beer. “So, do I have a date?”

My throat dries up a bit, even though I just finished half of my strawberry smoothie.

I know I have to be honest. It's something I pride myself at. Not shying away from it, but I know I have to be careful how to use it. Jii is a sensible, understanding guy, he'll get what I'm talking about. “I'm actually planning on going alone.”

“You're just saying that because you're one of them.” he scoffs, crushing the can and setting it on the counter.

“Excuse me!? One of who?”

“The pretty people. Giving out sentiments like you can relate and never living by them.”

He's calling me right out shallow. Looks matter and so does, especially does the personality. It all contributes to a personal preference. He can't and no one can judge me on that.

I don't waste time with arguing, especially because I don't have the time and the stench of alcohol really bothers me.

It all may be said because he's under the influence or it could just be the way he is, but victimizing himself to make any girl seem like she's wrong because she has an opinion is worse than wrong.

So, I leave, taking my opinions with me.

A ping comes from my phone, right when I'm on my way out.

The house is ready.

Should I send someone to pick up your stuff?

I honestly didn't expect him to get it done anytime soon. I thought he forgot.

Just send over the keys.

I don't have much of anything to move.

I close up the phone and start my day with the usuals.

~°~

After the days work, Zen invites me, like he occasionally would, to come over and help him with his lines. I would almost always accept because we never end up simply just practicing his lines.

Take right now for example… it's too embarrassing to tell, but let's just say that it involves a hair moustache and a bad French accent and he plays along making the whole thing funnier and we're just laughing it up like it's nobody's business.

I have real tears at the brim of my eyes, like it's that bad.

“ Minette, this is supposed to be tragic.”

“Consider this training for the next lead actress who's acting goes completely AWOL.”

“Well, as long as you don't.” He smiles as his face looms close to mine. “ I'll be fine.” He's at it again. And in all honesty, I'm kinda used to it. He does it less, much less than before, but recently it's as if it's a habit that he simply can't help. And I don't mind.

I go marshmallow defensive mode with that lock of hair of mine and raise the most awkward pout to speak in, just so the hair won't slip off so easily from my upper lip.  “Are you trying to flirt with a French commanding office, Ma'am?” I raise a brow, utterly appalled by the idea, or that's how I want it to seem. “Pst~ you're lines. I can't keep my face like this.” I whisper, speaking between my teeth.

He's confused for like a minute before flipping through the pages of the script because I know I read it somewhere in there.

Looks like he found it. A mischievous grin pulls on his cheeks. “Sir,” he says in a sensual high, attempting a feminine, voice. “ I just wanted to get to know what makes you so commanding.”

Well, well, well.

My lips twitches, wanting to just burst out, but no.  No.
“It's called flab, baby.”

What the heavens is wrong with me?

I fall back on the sofa, laughing my butt off. He even did a hair flip because I was taking too long, like Zen. My guy. You're fabulous, I know, don't rub it in.

I look up at Zen. He is horrified. I probably traumatized him or something. He's just looking at me with a terrified look on his face, maybe thinking ‘Oh dear heavens, save me.’

“You want to try that from the top?” he kindly asks, shaking his head with a slight smile on his face.

“You really enjoyed playing the seductive assassin, didn't you?”

“I meant the original scene.”

“Oh.” seeing that the laugh has died down and now I'm just neutral. “Sure.”

He flips to the actual practice scene, he's just about to speak when he gets a message.

It should be noted that he's done this before, several times this evening and as he replies, another message comes. Smiling at his phone from time to time. It goes on like this for a whole forty five minutes.

I grab my phone from the table to check the time now and it's ringing.

For about three minutes.

Oh gosh! I forgot.

“Where are you?”

“Listen, I forgot and-”

“Just send me you're address. I already sent someone to pick up your stuff from your friend's place.”

He is going to flip if he finds out that I'm at a guy's place at this hour. My gaze catches Zen looking at me with a bit of concern, that's when he puts his head up slightly as if to ask me what's up.

With a small smile, I shake my head to convey a ‘nothing’ before getting off the couch, out of earshot.

“Minette, You there?”

“Yeah.”

“Send me the address.”

“Oh, yeah. Sure.”

Once I send him the address he tells me to wait here, that one of his drivers is going to pick me up.

While I wait, I start teasing Zen about how he should take his fake relationship to the next level, like going on a not so secret rendezvous together. Give the people something to talk about. We joke about it for a while but then he's back on his phone.

Like if you were going to have your head buried in your phone half the time, why invite me over in the first place?

I wonder who's he talking to anyways.

Curiosity has always been my greatest foe and persuader. Just a little peek. Zen honestly, usually, doesn't mind. We both usually get a glimpse or gist of what we're typing to whoever, but now feels different.

Just as I'm about to get a good look, the doorbell rings and Zen finally looks up, staring straight at me. “I was just-”

I'm cut off by him planting a kiss on my forehead. Just to look back at me with a smile. “It's Yoosung.” Oh. Of course it is. I don't know what I was thinking. “I'll get it.” He gets up and I'm a tad, teensy bit embarrassed and flooded with shock. So much so that it isn't till the sound of the driver calling me ‘Miss Briar’ do I snap out of it and by that time it's already too late.

He's so going to tell my brother.

I rush off the sofa, grabbing my purse and jolting for the door. Squeezing my way between Zen and the door frame and out into the hallway.

“Jumin's sent someone to pick you up?” he turns at me, eyebrow raised.

“Why would he do that? This is my brother's driver.”

“Your brother has a driver?”

“Yes. Well, now I should be going. See ya. I had fun today.” I say as I wave and descend down the flight of stairs. All the while Zen keeps a very skeptical look on his face.

As I get into the car that one memory keeps replaying in my head. A memory that would make any fifteen year old with an older brother pity.

It happened in high school. My brother had just graduated and you could tell that he was on edge about it. I'm his little sister, so who would look out for me, is exactly his thinking. He wasn't afraid of anything else, but boys. He knew I could handle myself in any situation I'm thrown in, but boys is one that he would rather I didn't even bother with.

So, guess what he did when he found out some kid had a crush on me.

He skipped his classes, drove miles away from his college and ends up taking the kid to a nice place so he can get to know him.

It doesn't end there. Turns out my brother was luring him in to get hundreds of medical tests and examinations. He tested his gene pool!!! His Frikin’ GENE POOL! For defects and such. After a couple more invasive tests, going into chit chatting about way too personal things and a complaint from the kid's patents, my brother had declared him unworthy of liking me. It's hilarious now that I think about it, but it was horrific when I was a kid and had to face everyone, every single day after that.

So, the real question is, am I freaking out right now? Why, yes I am. Scared how my brother will take this? Yes. Will he misinterpret mine and Zen's friendship? Definitely.

With all this worrying I hardly even realize that we're almost there.

As we park in front of the house I notice a four wheeler parked on the driveway.

“Who's car is that?”

The driver pulls out my luggage from the trunk, handing me not one but two different set of keys with a card.

“Your brother thought you might benefit from driving your own car. He calls it an early birthday gift.”

Ah, great.

I take my things to the front and look back to see the driver still right behind me.

Of course I'm a little weirded out. “Is something wrong?”

“Not at all, Ma’am. Your brother has asked me to escort you to your door and wait for you to go in before I leave.”

“Oh.”

How worried should I be now?

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