Hiromitsu sets his phone down, a faint smile lingering. He glances toward the living wall — a soft glow reflecting off the leaves, the rhythm of nature inside his carefully curated calm.
He flips open his notebook again — and under a half-written page titled "Control", he writes a new line beneath it:
"Even the most disciplined hearts crave company."
He looks at it for a long moment, then closes the notebook — the faint hum of the room swallowing the silence.
FADE OUT.
[INT. VALENTINE HOUSEHOLD – NIGHT]
The front door clicks open.
Lisa and Carlotta Valentine step in — Carlotta immediately kicks off her heels with a dramatic sigh, juggling her purse, iPad, and phone all at once.
KALEENA (V.O):
"Some people chase the spotlight.
Others were born under it — and spend their whole lives trying to step out of its glare."
LISA
(deadpan):
"Such a long day...."
CARLOTTA:
"Long week. And tomorrow's about to be longer."
Lisa tosses her bag on the couch, scrolling through her phone as she drops onto the armrest.
Her screen lights up — a text from Aria.
ARIA:
<(Marco said there's a wrap-up party for the movie tomorrow night! You going?😄)
LISA:
(You know I'm down.😏)>
ARIA:
<(good. I'll be there too🥳.)
Lisa smirks faintly — she needs this distraction.
She looks up at her mother.
LISA:
"Mom, I'm going to that wrap party Anders is hosting tomorrow night — the one for the film. Just got the invite and QR code."
Carlotta barely looks up from her tablet, already typing something.
CARLOTTA:
"Since it's Anders, that's fine. Have fun — think of it as a PR event for you."
Lisa arches a brow.
KALEENA (V.O.):
"That's the thing about fame — even when it's love, it sounds like management."
LISA:
"PR event? It's a party."
CARLOTTA:
"Which means cameras. Which means image. Which means you'll be smiling even when you're tired."
Lisa sighs.
CARLOTTA
(continuing, with a tight grin):
"Tomorrow we're doing a full prep day. Spa in the morning, salon right after, then wardrobe at the mall—"
LISA
(interrupting):
"Mom, I can do that all myself."
CARLOTTA:
"Representation—"
LISA:
"—matters, I know. You've said it a thousand times. Look, you can book everything, fine, but I'm going with Aria. She'll help me pick something out."
CARLOTTA
(pausing, calculating):
"As long as you show up looking like a Valentine."
KALEENA (V.O.):
"Perfection's a family business in this town.
And no one ever really quits — they just rebrand."
Lisa exhales, leaning her head back.
LISA:
"I will. But before all that, I'm hitting the studio in the morning. I need to practice for Trials.
YOU ARE READING
∙ 𝚁𝙸𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙶 𝚂𝚃𝙰𝚁 ∙
Fanfiction[PLEASE BE AWARE, THESE CHAPTERS ARE LONG AS THE LENGTH OF WATCHING A 30+ MIN EPISODE AND IT DEPENDS ON YOUR READING SPEED, THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE A BINGE BOOK] 🎬✨ HOLLYWOOD U: RISING STARS - NEON ERA In the glittering chaos of Los Angeles, on...
Ep 21 - Off-Script and On-Site (Pt 1)
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