PROMPTS

Hands

"You don't need to flatter me, Mister," she teased. "I already said I'd marry you... and I'm pretty sure I'm sleeping with you tonight."

He threw his head back and let out this big booming laugh. "Aha! I knew the peonies would work. I'm glad I got you a giant bouquet," he replied, referring  to the meaning of the flower in her latest drama where the flower seemed to imply something a lot less innocent. "A dozen peonies... that should be at least two days of —"

Her eyes widened as she cut him off. "I have a press conference on the 16th!"

Kissing her nose, he whispered, "Well, you look so beautiful after we do it. Your makeup artist would probably thank me for reducing her work."

This time, she threw her head back to laugh before pinching him. "Oh you! You're lucky I love you and your horniness."

Running his hands through the loose tendrils of her hair that had fallen on her face, he continued, "Maybe you're right. We should wait until after your press conference in 2 days. The last time we had a wild night you were sore for at least that long."

She gently smacked him. "You are awfully confident today!"

He chuckled along with her. "I am awfully HORNY, like you so correctly noted, and well rested. I'm being overconfident to put you off," he admitted shyly. "I don't want you tired for work."

"You don't have to hold out," she told him biting her lip. "You know that you're my priority and work only comes second to you. As such, I can't have you limping around with blue balls because I need you to give me babies."

He didn't let go of her hand that entire night and she felt so connected to him that she woke up feeling like she had fallen in love with him all over again.

"It doesn't matter when," she whispered watching her son. "We wanted you. Appa and I are so glad you're here with us, my little sweetheart."

When her baby let go as he fell deeper into his sweet slumber, she stroked his arm then stared at her hand again. She recalled a time when her hands were empty — when she was just starting in the industry and she had no scripts, no offers and no awards. Luckily, she was often offered commercial films because of her looks, which she thanked her parents for. She was grateful for the work and strived to put herself out there so that agencies took notice.

Finally, she held a script. She held a couple of scripts. Some were okay, some were bad but work was work and she needed to start somewhere.

Through hardwork, she eventually was recognized for her acting skills and the awards followed. But, as she deposited her trophies to her agency, she went home to an empty room and slept in her bed alone. Her hands hugging her pillow and not a warm body to share it with.

She was loved and it was something she never took for granted - her parents, her sister, her nephews, her friends... She told herself that this would be the life she would lead. It was difficult to date an actress, after all, and it was even more difficult when it was someone like her who demanded perfection from her job and gave every work her all.

She used to lament why this seemed to only be an issue for female actors, but she often shrugged it off. She can change it a little but she knew that changing the industry might take more time.

So, she got used to the loneliness.

Perhaps if she welcomed this melancholy, she won't hate it so much when she grew old.

Then, he came along.

Him.

He who started off as a good colleague to her, who listened and shared thoughts and ideas for this unusual movie they were shooting. Him - who continued communication with her after their project was over and became a good long-distance friend because of their busy schedules.