The studio lights were warm, almost too warm, casting a soft golden glow on Smart's face as he rehearsed his lines for the tenth time. The echo of footsteps on the set floor mingled with the buzz of assistants and camera checks, but all he could focus on was the sound of a familiar voice approaching behind him.
"Still practicing that love confession, P'Smart?" Boom's voice carried its usual teasing lilt, but Smart caught the tired undertone beneath it.
He didn't turn around immediately. "I don't want to mess up again. Khun Mee was watching last time."
Boom stepped beside him, the scent of his cologne subtle but distinctly him—fresh, a little citrusy, grounding. "You nailed it last time. You just... looked like you were about to pass out after saying 'I love you.'"
Smart exhaled, a short laugh escaping before he could stop it. "Maybe I was."
Their eyes met for a second too long. Boom was still in costume—his school uniform blazer slightly undone, tie loosened, giving off that boy-next-door charm their fans adored. But to Smart, it was different. Dangerous.
The director called for a quick break before the final rehearsal, and most of the crew filtered out for snacks or coffee. Smart made a move to follow, but Boom caught his sleeve.
"You okay?" Boom asked, quieter this time. The teasing was gone. It was just them now.
Smart hesitated. "Yeah. Just—this one feels different."
Boom tilted his head. "The drama?"
"You. Me. The scenes. I don't know. It's like we're pretending, but not really."
Boom didn't say anything for a moment. Then: "Maybe that's what makes it work."
There it was again. That edge. That invisible line between fiction and reality they kept tiptoeing over during interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, fan meetings.
Smart looked away, heart thudding.
"You ever think," Boom added softly, "what it would be like if the scenes weren't acting?"
The question hung in the air like the final chord of a song, unresolved.
Before Smart could answer, the director's voice boomed from the other side of the set. "Positions for Scene 18! The rooftop confession! Smart, Boom, let's go!"
Boom flashed a quick grin and walked off. Smart followed, his chest tight, unsure whether the heat on his face was from the lights... or from something he'd been avoiding for far too long.
I hope u all enjoyed this chapter😊
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More than scripted
RomanceWhen Smart and Boom are cast once again as romantic leads in a high-stakes BL drama, the lines between acting and reality begin to blur. Behind the polished smiles and perfectly delivered love confessions, both actors carry feelings they've never da...
