บท 13: Forced to Quit Acting
"What are you doing here, Sister…?"
The sudden awkwardness overtook the intimacy entirely. It's not that Keira didn't want to see Selene's facial expressions, but the person holding her refused to move away.
Even during a critical moment, Austin continued to tease her. His face inched closer, lips brushing softly against her nose, threatening the purity of her lips at any moment.
His fingers teasingly inched downward, making their way into her jeans. Everywhere he touched burned. His gaze lingered on her reddened ears, slyly grinning as he glanced toward the unwelcome guest.
What is he doing?
"Ahem!" Selene coughed, making him frown again. His sigh tickled her ears, as he pushed himself off the table.
"I don't remember another cast member joining us so late in the fitting." His sarcastic words caused the already blushing Selene to turn red. She shyly twisted her body, twirling her hair nervously.
"S—sorry! I didn't mean to show up like this. I'm with the Blossoms In Our Hearts crew. I heard you were also doing your fitting, so I…I…"
Keira was finally released from his grip. The tips of his fingers that were in her pants teasingly pulled at the belt loops, before letting her go completely.
"I thought it would be good to get to know each other…" Seeing him sigh with boredom while running his hands through his hair, caused Selene's lips to twitch slightly. If one wasn't closely watching her, they would have never noticed the annoyance in her eyes.
Selene's gaze was directed toward Keira. Her hands brushed the soft locks behind her ears, and her eyebrows furrowed slightly while pouting.
"I didn't know Sister got a new role. Are you keeping secrets now?"
"It was recent—."
"You must hate me now, right? It was my fault, Keira. I didn't know they would replace you with me. Even though I tried my best to argue with them about their treatment of you—!"
Selene was good at crying pitifully. Her shoulders folded, and her tears looked like diamonds falling from an immortal. Any sane person would feel heartbroken for her.
Crocodile tears!
Keira glanced at Austin's expression with worry. She felt fear consuming her from the inside. It made her sick. What if Austin also…
"If you look at me like that again, I'll kiss you until you drop." Austin caught her sneaky gaze, making him grin humorously.
I forgot that he's not sane either…
Because of their long absence, Rita and the others came looking for them. They happened to arrive when Selene questioned her about her role.
"It's all in the past now. I would never be angry at my beloved Sister for taking my role. You think too much." Keira smiled lovingly at Selene.
"You are blaming me. I truly didn't take your role!" Her sobbing became louder. Her shivering body was then quickly pulled into an embrace.
"Young Miss, Keira. Living your whole life sheltered has led you to speak such blaming words. The entertainment is a cutthroat industry. A role can be given and taken from you in mere seconds. Selene has been trying her best to oppose your removal from the film, yet you paint her as an evil person stealing from others. How disappointing."
Lily stood her ground, blocking Selene from the other's gaze. She looked like a mama hen protecting her child from a dangerous beast, it nearly caused Keira to laugh.
Twisting my words again. These people are certainly talented.
Selene could perform such a stunt in front of anyone and fool them but not in front of the truly experienced. Her performance fell on deaf ears.
What drama had they never seen before? Celebrities walk in and out of this place nearly every day, how could they be tricked with such a simple act?
If Selene truly cared for her Sister, she wouldn't continue speaking on such a topic that even Keira had never mentioned during any of their conversations with her while taking measurements.
"I'll apologize, so please stop crying, Selene. You'll lose your voice." Keira felt exasperated at the constant sobbing.
"Making acquaintances with me had now taken such an interesting turn. Since you care deeply about your Sister, more than making friends with me, we should end our greetings at just this." Austin gestured for the head stylist to send the two out.
"Ahem! We were sidetracked by the sudden appearance of someone. We truly wish to get to know you, Austin!" Lily ignored the polite gesture of the head stylist. She attempted to approach him but was blocked by the others.
"Austin still needs to get fitted. Do come again some other time, Lily and Miss Selene." Rita said with equal annoyance. "Come, Dear. You and Austin are the only two who haven't tried on the outfits yet."
The two were left to their leisure. Lily could do nothing but leave with gritted teeth. If she and Selene were to pursue Austin Pierce further, they would have been looked at as rude individuals.
Selene felt confusion wash over her. It was the first time someone rejected her, causing her heart to feel distressed. Her shoulders trembled even more, making Lily worried.
"What's wrong? Are you not feeling well? Should we leave?"
"Take me home, please…" Tears continued to stream, down her perfect face. Her pleading gaze made Lily's heart hurt for her. The two left after informing their production crew.
Keira was forced into the prototype armory. Her hands held a long whip that matched the silver of her armor, casually swinging it around.
"Miss Selene is quite the handful. Working in the period department has kept me from interacting with popular idols. She seems very sweet every time she appears on the screen."
The stylists gossiped amongst themselves. Their eyes often shifted towards Keira, watching to see if she would react to their words.
"How does Keira deal with her at home? Do you always just let her say what she wants?" They could no longer hide their curiosity. "It can't be that you never argue back, do you?"
"…" Keira couldn't even say anything back. They are right…I just stay silent…
"Hahaha! How can there be such a person!? You have too much patience!" Marley joined the conversation. She bursts out laughing after seeing Keira's guilty expression. Her good-humored nature was very likable. Keira couldn't even blame her for laughing.
"Selene is a lovable person. She can do no wrong." Keira felt along the length of the whip. Her eyes were cast downwards, hidden behind her long lashes. Her voice was monotonous, they were unable to discern her emotions in her wordings. "Everyone loves her."
"I doubt it! But you exist, so there probably is someone who can do no wrong. Austin must be dangerously in love with her then, since she is so lovable~" Marley teased the man who was standing a few steps away, listening in on their conversations.
"I'm dangerously in love with the weird and quiet ones." The fingers that were tracing the whip stopped. Keira frowned at his equally teasing words.
"Crazy! SO CRAZY!" Marley covered her cheeks and screamed. "I can't hold it in any longer! YOU TWO ARE TOO MUCH! HOW CAN YOU RUB EACH OTHER ALL OVER IN FRONT OF US LONELY PEOPLE!"
"What—?" Keira felt her stomach churn with embarrassment.
"That's right! I—SAW EVERYTHING!" Marley pointed at herself with a proud grin. "Not just me, everyone did. I could barely hold in my squeal! The way you had your hands in his sweater, rubbing here and there…I can barely breathe just thinking about it! GOODNESS!"
Marley twisted her body coyly. Her eyes sparkled as they teased Keira silly.
"Save the intimacy for your scenes, will you?" Rita cut the teasing short. Her eyes glared dangerously at Austin, warning him off from any future attempts. "You're not allowed to touch her unless it's during filming."
"I can't, huh?" Austin merely shrugged. "Alright. I'll touch on camera then."
"No—! Clearly, that's not what I meant."
"It's a deal. I'll touch her in public only." He lazily sauntered away from them after spitting out words that were enough to cause war. Rita choked, unable to speak for the rest of the fitting.
"No touching Austin Pierce, got it?" She turned her gaze towards Keira, emphasizing every word as if talking to a child.
"Oh, my~" Stifling laughter filled the quiet room. Marley winked towards Keira before leaving to change into another outfit.
Rita stared at Keira with satisfaction. The two no longer interacted nor spoke with one another after her warnings. It wasn't until she got a call urging her to bring Keira home that they left the building.
Her decent day was instantly ruined the moment she saw her family's darkened expressions. Everyone's eyes fell on her, watching with such intensity, that Keira nearly tripped the oppressive atmosphere.
They must be angry. Her eyes moved to the pearly white angel, sitting with her swollen eyes in between the big bad wolves. She's quick.
Keira could feel Rita's faltering confidence. Her usual straightened posture was stiff under their scrutinizing gaze. She cleared her throat and greeted them.
"What is the urgent problem you mentioned?"
"Sit." Her father gestured for them to take a seat.
"Yes, thank you." Rita nodded.
Keira blankly stared at them. She could already guess what they called her back for. As long as Selene was involved, they would react instantly.
"I don't remember you mentioning Keira and her new role. You might be my best friend, Rita, but I remember telling you to get my permission when it comes to Keira." Rania smiled. She put down her teacup, staring directly at her friend.
"I am her personal agent and manager, it is my job to put Keira first."
"She is my daughter. She's only there because I gave her my permission. Do you think she could pursue acting if not for our help?"
"Do you treat your other daughter like this? Does she need your permission to eat, drink, and sleep as well?"
"Keira is not the same as Selene. How can I just…let her do as she pleases." Rania's gaze shifted toward Keira briefly before looking away. Her smile had long dropped after being questioned by Rita.
"I don't understand. I've been watching her closely these past two weeks. Keira is diligent and hardworking, improving leaps and bounds rather quickly. It won't be good for her career if she needs to be dictated like this."
"That's right. You don't understand. Whatever it is, she can't be left alone." Rania sipped on her tea. "If I let her be, what happened today would happen again."
"What happened today…?" Rita glanced slightly at Selene who had been quiet this whole time. An understanding formed in her head. "If you are talking about their misunderstandings earlier today, I can assure you that Keira didn't say anything wrong."
"Misunderstandings? Keira being overly intimate with Austin Pierce is a misunderstanding?" Lucas's furrowed brows and sharp gaze focused on Keira.
"Madame Rita, as a married person without child, you wouldn't understand the dangers a female's action could have towards their family's reputation." Dylan wore a sly smile. "I heard all about it from Selene. How you let a man put his hands in your pants without as much as a struggle on your side. I think we need to talk, Keira."
Great. It would have been better to call me a slut.
"I don't want to talk." Keira pressed her lips together, holding in her anger as she turned her head elsewhere.
"Fine. No more acting for you. If you can't keep away from potential scandals, you don't deserve to walk the path of a celebrity." Her father wasn't as patient as the other. He openly glared at Keira with anger. "As long as you carry the name Castillo, you are not allowed to act in a way that could tarnish our family's name. Look at your sister, do you see her acting with such disgrace in public?"
"Dad…I didn't tell you this for you to scold Sister…" Selene clung to her father's arm, whining coquettishly. "I'm just worried for Sister…"
"I know you don't want me to scold her, but I can't let your sister act like this!"
"I don't want Sister to hate me any more than this!" Her swollen eyes became wet with tears again. "I just wanted to greet Austin Pierce as a fellow actress…"
I want to die. Why do I have to listen to her annoying sobbing again?
"I know that Sister is still angry with me because of the role, that's why she said those things that caused Austin to misunderstand and treat me so coldly!"
Her lips trembled, like an injured fairy, very delicate looking.
"I truly admire him! I really wanted to build some friendship and maybe in the future—," she cried even harder. "I didn't expect Sister to be…to touch and kiss him…I'm sorry! I won't hope for any connections from your man anymore!"
When did I kiss him? Keira stared at Selene in disbelief. Just telling them about her touching Austin was enough to get her grounded. Keira truly didn't understand the exaggerations of what had happened.
"I did touch him when I tried the measurement tool, but I never kissed—."
"STOP! Do you have to remind me of that? Why do you hate me so?" Keira wondered where Selene was getting her tears from. They continued wetting her face and clothes, showing no signs of stopping. She covered her ears, hoping to block out Keira's words. "If I had known that you two…I would have never liked him."
"This is ridiculous—," Keira felt like pulling her hair out in frustration. Her poker face no longer hid her emotions. She openly frowns with anger, staring daggers at Selene and her bullshit story.
"I think there has been a misunderstanding. I was watching them. They did nothing of the sort mentioned by Miss Selene." Rita felt a headache overtaking her sanity. The already terrible expressions on the Castillos had become even worse.
Rita had never seen the Second Young Master of the house's smile falter into a dangerous frown before. Dylan was someone who would smile even if a gun was pointed at him, such a person was openly showing his anger. It made her anxious.
"You were watching them and you let it happen? Enough with the excuse. Keira won't be stepping a foot out of this house from now on."Lucas was the only person calm enough to speak. "I will try to set up an opportunity for you to clear your misunderstanding with Austin." He spoke softly to Selene, patting her head to calm the frantic crying.
"You're grounding me?" Keira stood up from her chair. Her chest felt tight, tingling with discomfort as it ached. She could hear her own breathing become unstable.
"Come here." Lucas held his hand out, gesturing for her to approach him.
"I don't want to."
"Oh? Are you evolving or something? How come you've been doing all sorts of new things recently." Dylan also stood up. Even when angered, he still spoke with sarcasm. Keira didn't know if she wanted to praise him or be angry for still maintaining his speech pattern. "It seems the sparrow is ready to leave the nest. You should pack your things, June. She no longer needs your care."
"Dylan!" Threatening me with June?
"Rude. What happened to the 'Brother' you normally say before our names? Did you also lose your manners?"
How did it come to this?
Keira looked at the cause of all this. Her crying had long stopped amidst the chaos. Her hands were tightly wrapped around her father's, watching Keira with a glint of excitement in those red eyes.
"If June is leaving, then I am as well." Her eyes reddened, lips pressed tightly to suppress the smile that threatened to escape them. A suppressed sob accompanied by her tears sent everyone into a spiral of unease.
Two can play at this game. Let's see if it'll go your way, Selene. I dare you to try.
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