“Cut!”
Director Eli’s voice rang across the set.
The shower rig suspended above them was immediately turned off, and the artificial rain that had been pouring down for hours finally came to an end.
Alyssa let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Her clothes were completely soaked, and strands of wet hair clung to her face and neck.
They had been filming the same kissing scene for nearly two hours, yet they still hadn’t gotten a satisfactory take.
Or rather, Fred hadn’t.
The male lead kept finding reasons to stop midway through the scene.
Alyssa wiped the water from her face and walked away from the set.
Why can’t he just kiss me?
Is it really that difficult?
The thought lingered in her mind.
As a C-list actress, opportunities like this didn’t come often.
She had been thrilled when she learned she’d secured the role of the third female lead.
Not only was it a decent role, but she would also be working alongside several A-list and B-list actors.
It was a chance she couldn’t afford to waste.
Unfortunately, being a C-list actress also meant she received very little special treatment.
There was no private tent reserved for her.
No makeup assistant hovering nearby.
No personal staff waiting on her hand and foot.
Only her manager.
Lisa was standing beneath a temporary shelter, holding a set of dry clothes and a towel.
The moment she saw Alyssa approaching, a smile spread across her face.
“You did great out there,” Lisa said, handing over the clothes.
Alyssa accepted them with a grateful smile.
“Thank you, Lisa.”
“Go get changed before you catch a cold.”
Alyssa nodded and headed toward the restroom.
Several minutes later, she emerged wearing a fresh outfit.
Her damp hair was tied into a loose ponytail, and the exhaustion from filming was evident on her face.
Lisa was still waiting outside.
“Done changing?” she asked.
“Mhm.”
The two women walked side by side toward the parking lot.
The evening sky had already begun to darken, and most of the crew were busy packing up equipment.
Just as they reached Lisa’s car, Alyssa stopped.
“I won’t be going home with you today.”
Lisa turned to look at her.
“Oh? Why not?”
Alyssa’s lips curved into a small smile.
“Today’s my boyfriend’s birthday. I want to surprise him.”
The fatigue in her eyes seemed to disappear the moment she mentioned him.
Lisa immediately burst into laughter.
“Wow. Look at you.”
“What?”
“Lover girl.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes, though a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.
“Stop teasing me.”
“I’ll stop when you stop acting like a lovesick teenager.” Lisa grinned mischievously.
Alyssa shook her head helplessly.
“You’re impossible.”
“Maybe. But I’m not wrong.”
Lisa opened her car door and climbed inside.
“Alright, go spoil your man. Just don’t forget you have an early shoot tomorrow morning.”
“I know.”
“And make sure he appreciates all this effort.”
Alyssa laughed softly.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Lisa started the engine and waved through the open window.
“Have fun. See you tomorrow.”
“Bye, Lisa.” Alyssa waved back and watched the car disappear down the road.
The smile on her face widened.
After such an exhausting day, she couldn’t wait to see her boyfriend’s reaction to the surprise she had prepared for him.
She walked into a nearby pastry shop, her mood lighter than it had been all day.
The sweet scent of freshly baked pastries filled the air as she approached the display counter.
After a brief look around, she pointed at a beautifully decorated chocolate cake.
“I’ll take this one.”
The cashier carefully boxed the cake and handed it over.
As Alyssa made the payment, a smile spread across her face.
Eldric was going to love it.
Today was his birthday, and after spending hours filming in the rain, all she wanted was to surprise him and spend the evening together.
Carrying the cake carefully in her hands, she stepped out of the shop and hailed a cab.
The ride felt unusually long.
Alyssa spent most of it staring out the window, imagining Eldric’s reaction.
Maybe he’ll be shocked.
Or maybe he’ll pull me into a hug the moment he sees me.
The thought made her smile.
Eventually, the cab pulled up in front of a modest two-story apartment building.
“We’re here,” the driver said.
“Thank you.”
Alyssa paid the fare and stepped out.
She stood there for a moment, looking at the building with excitement dancing in her eyes.
Then she hurried inside.
As she climbed the stairs, she hummed a cheerful tune under her breath.
Several residents passed by.
“Good evening, Alyssa.”
“Evening!”
She greeted everyone with a bright smile.
Her happiness was impossible to hide.
Finally, she reached the third floor.
Her heart fluttered as she approached Eldric’s apartment.
She shifted the cake into one hand and reached into her bag for the spare key he had given her months ago.
The metal key slid into the lock.
But before she could turn it, she realized something.
The door wasn’t locked.
“Huh?”
Alyssa frowned slightly.
That was unusual.
She wrapped her fingers around the doorknob and slowly pushed the door open.
The moment the door cracked open, her eyes widened.
Clothes were scattered across the floor.
A man’s shirt.
A woman’s dress.
A pair of shoes tossed carelessly near the bed.
On the bed, two figures were tangled together, completely absorbed in each other.
Alyssa’s face instantly turned red.
“Oh my God!”
She quickly shut the door before either of them noticed her.
Her heart raced.
Thank God they didn’t see me.
She pressed a hand against her chest and took a deep breath.
“Frank, you idiot,” she muttered under her breath.
“You should’ve locked the door.”
Frank was Eldric’s roommate.
Alyssa assumed he was inside with his girlfriend again.
It wasn’t the first time.
Trying to give them privacy, she stepped away from the door.
Then she remembered something.
She pulled out her phone and dialed Eldric’s number.
The call connected.
A second later, a ringtone echoed from inside the apartment.
Alyssa blinked.
The sound was unmistakable.
It was Eldric’s phone.
Her gaze slowly shifted toward the closed door.
“Did he leave his phone at home?”
Confusion flickered across her face.
“Where did he go?”
She lowered the phone.
Entering the apartment now would be awkward.
The last time she accidentally interrupted Frank and his girlfriend, Eldric had ended up taking all the blame.
Afterward, he had specifically asked her not to disturb Frank whenever he had company.
Alyssa sighed.
Maybe she should just wait downstairs.
Just as she was about to leave, a voice drifted through the slightly opened window.
A woman’s voice.
Breathless and soft.
“Eldric… harder…”
Alyssa froze.
The world seemed to stop.
Her smile disappeared.
Her body turned rigid.
For a moment, she wondered if she had heard wrong.
No.
No, that couldn’t be right.
Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.
Slowly, almost mechanically, she turned back toward the apartment door.
Her hands trembled.
Did I just hear…
Eldric?
The cake suddenly felt heavier.
Her breathing became uneven.
A terrible feeling began creeping into her chest.
One step.
Then another.
She reached for the doorknob.
Her fingers shook violently.
Please don’t let it be what I’m thinking.
Please.
With a pounding heart, she pushed the door open and walked inside.
The bedroom came into view.
The cake slipped from her hands and the box crashed onto the floor.
Chocolate frosting splattered everywhere.
But Alyssa didn’t notice.
Her eyes were fixed on the man lying on the bed.
The man she loved.
The man she had spent years supporting.
The man whose birthday she had come to celebrate.
Her lips parted.
The color drained from her face.
“Eldric…?”