Copter's POV

I continued to sit in bed even if I was already feeling sleepy and wanted to lie in my usual sleeping position beside P'Kim.

I sat waiting for him to come back to bed. He was in the bathroom for a very long time. I was afraid to knock and check on him.  I was pretty sure that I would be turned away.

After an eternity of waiting, he came back into the bedroom but instead of climbing into bed, he took his pillow and his blanket.

"I'm sleeping on the couch for now," he said, walking away.

I couldn't say anything. Even if I tried to stop him he would not have listened to me so I just let him do as he pleased.

I felt so abandoned and miserable. I felt that I was being punished for a crime I didn't commit.

I lay on my pillow, pulled my blanket over me and cried myself to sleep.

When I woke up, P'Kim was not on the couch, he was not in the bathroom. He was nowhere to be found inside our unit. I tried calling him and was immediately sent to his voicemail. He had blocked my number.

I did not leave any message but started getting ready to meet up with our manager. I would probably find P'Kim with her.

My assumption was right. When I got to the set I found him deep in conversation with our manager. They were going through a sheaf of paper which contained the script for our scene.

They looked up when they saw me approaching but P'Kim immediately looked away.

"It's good that you're here now, Copter," our manager said. "Let's rehearse the gym scene between you and Kimmon. Go and change into your gym clothes."

It must have been the professional spirit in both of us that made it possible for us to act naturally with each other. We were so good that when the cameras were trained on us nobody would have guessed what had just transpired between us a few hours earlier.

After P'Kim and I finished shooting our scene together, I had to join P'Tee and P'Godt for our outdoor campus scene where we are studying and chatting together and teasing P'Godt as Phana about his love interest Wayo. I tried my best to set aside my unhappy thoughts so as not to mess up my lines.

I felt so miserable throughout the day that I had no appetite to eat any of the lunch that was served to us. P'Tee immediately noticed and nudged me and gave me a "tell me what's eating you" look.  I just shook my head. I knew I wouldn't be able to talk about it without breaking down.

"Whenever you feel like talking about it, I'll make myself available," said P'Tee, putting his arm around my shoulder.

"Thanks, P'Tee," I said, "I appreciate it. I'll call you if I need to."

P'Kim avoided me the whole day. When evening came he didn't come to the unit. I sat on the couch watching TV without really watching.

I debated with myself on what to do when he comes in, if ever he comes at all.

When midnight came and he still made no appearance, I decided to turn in.

I had barely dozed off when I heard the door open and close. I got out of bed to see P'Kim stumble in, smelling strongly of alcohol. I caught him before he could drop to the floor.