“Places, everyone,” Marshall said through the speakers, signaling the start of the second day of rehearsals. Since yesterday was about rapport among the cast, Seri knew the sound director would be focusing on technicalities today.

Which means no thinking about unnecessary things, she told herself. If Vassi tried to talk to her about what happened between them yesterday, she would tell him with her best carefree voice that it was just like scratching a one-time itch. She would tell him it meant nothing, and she would say it like she meant it.

Because she did.

That part of her life was best buried in the past. The present, however, still had something to offer, and what happened today had the power to make a difference in both her present and future. She had to bring her A-game and remember that her job was her life. This was what she had always dreamt about and what her own mother had dreamt for her.

Seri mentally nodded to herself. A-game. She was going to---

“Switch places with me, will you, D?” she heard Vassi ask.

“Huh? What for?”

“Little sister and I got into a fight yesterday. If we’re next to each other, we’ll just end up arguing again.”

She was going to kill herself.

Seri’s jaw started to ache at the way she held on – hard – to her smile while Vassi and Daniela switched places.

Daniela turned to her with her usual, irritatingly friendly smile and blindingly perfect white teeth. “You’re okay about this?”

She couldn’t answer right away. By facing Daniela, she was able to see Vassi standing behind the other girl as well---

He was still the same gorgeous Vassi she loved---

And yet, something had changed.

If it seemed like he had nothing better to do than torment her yesterday---

Today, she didn’t seem to matter him at all. He was texting on his phone, and as if sensing her gaze on him, Vassi’s head lifted and their gazes met.

She expected to see something – anything – in those silver eyes, but all she saw was surprise, almost like he didn’t understand why she had any reason to stare at him.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” he asked good-naturedly. “It would be bad if we work side by side.”

She heard herself say, “Absolutely. We’re just going to kill each other if we’re working side by side.”

“Oh.”

“Told you.”

When Vassi tried to ruffle Daniela’s hair, the other girl irritably swatted his hand away. “Stop that. You know how long it took me to fix my hair this morning.”

And how would Vassi know that, she wondered hollowly, unless he had spent the night with Daniela?

“Five minutes before we start.” Marshall’s announcement effectively finished the conversation between them, and Seri clumsily swung away from the two.

Beside her, Vassi and Daniela started arguing again.

“I don’t need your advice, Grachyov,” she heard the other girl mutter resentfully under her breath.

“Even so, you’re going to get it.”

“If I make a mistake, I’ll learn from it, so stop being so damn fussy.”

“If you make a mistake,” Vassi countered, “it’s because you’re being so damn proud.”

Seri stared hard at her script.

She almost, almost wanted the two to start flirting. Or start kissing even.

At least then she could tell herself Vassi simply had a twisted desire to see her jealous and affected. At least then it would mean he hadn’t just fucked her yesterday for closure.

Recording began.

And Daniela and Vassi continued to bicker between scenes---

Just like she and Vassi used to do, she realized sickly.

“Seri.” Marshall’s abrupt voice broke through her reverie.

Looking up almost guiltily, she stammered, “Yes?”

“You missed your cue.”

She paled. “I’m s-sorry.”

“Just don’t let it happen again,” Marshall said curtly. “Everyone, let’s start from the top.”

A-game, she reminded herself desperately. She had already lost her family. She couldn’t lose her job as well. The thought was paralyzing and instead of helping Seri concentrate on her task, everything only went downhill from there.

She found herself overthinking every little thing and because of it, she committed the kind of mistakes only newbies got wrong.

With every mistake she did, Marshall grew more and more impatient and conversely, she became stiffer and stiffer with fear.

It was like seeing a bus coming straight at her---

And all she could do was just wait for it to run her over.

---

“Thirty-minute break for everyone,” Marshall said tersely.

The studio remained silent, with everyone aware it was the sound director’s slightly polite way of telling Seri to get her shit in order.

Seri choked out, “E-excuse me,” before walking past everyone to leave the room.

Staring after Seri, Daniela confided worriedly, “Your little sister doesn’t look so good.”

Every cell inside of Vassi urged him to go after her, but he forced himself to remain in place, saying flatly, “She’s a big girl now. She’ll need to learn how to clean up her own mess sooner or later.”

When Seri returned twenty minutes later, Vassi saw the other actors give her awkward smiles as she passed them by. But instead of pretending she didn’t see anything to save face, Seri returned their smiles and promised them she would try to do better this time.

And she did.

Only she was trying too hard.

“Too soft, Seri. Start from the top, please.”

“Too loud this time.”

“Too damn fast.”

“What the hell, Seri? Now, it’s too damn slow.”

Vassi’s jaw clenched as he heard Seri whisper, “I’m sor---”

“I don’t need your sorry. I need you to get better.” Releasing a sound of frustration, Marshall said over the speakers, “Five minute break.”

The silence inside the studio was unbearable, and even with his father’s bleakly voiced wish ringing in his ears, Vassi couldn’t stop himself from slowly turning towards her.

She had the script up, covering her face---

Fuck.

Her hands were shaking so hard he knew she had to be crying and that script was just to cover the fact.

Vassi inhaled sharply.

Common sense told him that she could just be acting, that the real Seri was a tough, mercenary bitch that wouldn’t cry so easily.

And yet---

His chest tightened at the way her hands kept shaking, and it was almost like he could hear her inside his mind, silently crying for his help.

But at the same time, he could also see his father’s lined face---

He could hear Fyodor’s bleak voice saying---

“Ouch!” Daniela’s sudden gasp broke through his thoughts.

Forcing himself to focus back on the present, he saw Daniela gingerly touching her left eye. “What’s wrong?”

“I was fixing my contacts, and I think something got in my eye.”

“Let me see.” He gently peeled her hands from her face. Peering into her eyes, he murmured, “I don’t see anything.”

“Just blow on it, will you?” As Daniela spoke, he saw Seri slowly lower her script and turn to look at him.

Her eyes were shining with tears. I need you, too, Vassi.

He swallowed.

I’m begging you, son.

If you respect me – if you love me as your father---

Vassi heard himself say, “I’m going to do you one better, D. It’s the best cure in the world.” He kissed her eyelids.

Daniela gasped.

The other actors, seeing it, cheered and clapped, and began teasing them about dating in secret.

The sound director sighed, “At least there’s one good thing that’s happened today.”