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A Sudden Change of plans
The air in the makeshift shooting area felt heavy, matching Ameya's mood. She wasn't wearing one of her usual vibrant outfits, opting instead for a casual yellow top and a simple dark skirt. Her typical infectious enthusiasm was noticeably absent; she felt a bit low, a dull ache behind her eyes.
She entered the set and saw the Director waiting.
"Ameya! Why the sulk?" he called out, a hint of concern in his voice.
Ameya offered a weak, forced smile. "No, no, small headache. Don't worry, I'm fine."
"Alright. You have only two scenes today, so can you push through?"
She nodded, her expression becoming professional. "I can. Where is my dialogue sheet?"
The Director cleared his throat. "Before that, I wanted to confirm something I mentioned earlier. This is our last shoot here."
"Yes, and you said I don't have any scenes outside this city," Ameya replied, trying to recall their previous conversation.
"I did say that, right? But things changed. The location shift has expanded—from outside this town to… abroad," the Director announced.
Ameya nodded, still processing the headache, keeping her reaction casual. "Okay, that happens."
"Yes. And another thing is… the story line changed, too. You actually have to come abroad as well. You have scenes there."
Ameya's casual demeanor shattered. "What?" she exclaimed, truly shocked. "But…"
The Director quickly added, "It's actually LA."
Ameya's eyes widened, the dull ache of her headache completely forgotten. Omg. It's an amazing chance to meet Rico in LA! The thought was immediate and overwhelming, a rush of excitement replacing her gloom.
She suddenly blurted out, "Yes!"
The Director was confused by her rapid shift in mood. "You don't sound upset, right? Because we changed the plan at the last moment."
Ameya gave him a brilliant, genuine smile. "Upset? No! It's a good opportunity to visit LA! Yes, I'm super excited!"
The Director smiled back, relieved. "Okay. Anyway, you have to be ready. Only two days ahead."
Ameya's House: Packing and Plotting
Back at home, Ameya was in a whirlwind, excitedly packing her things for the shoot abroad. Her phone rang—it was Jenna.
"Hello, did you contact Rico?" Jenna asked immediately.
"Still not answering. I think he blocked me," Ameya said, pulling out a heavy sweater.
"Aren't you upset now? You were literally broken when Rico left for abroad," Jenna reminded her.
Ameya paused her packing, placing the sweater down. Her voice was deeper, more resolved. "Yes, I was. But I'm done being broken."
"Shall I talk to him for you? You know, tell him that you actually want to get back together with him?"
"No," Ameya said firmly. "I will confront him. Do you have his location of stay?"
Jenna sounded confused. "Wait, for what? Are you going to… LA for him?"
Ameya smiled at the phone. "Mmm."
Jenna chuckled loudly. "I can't believe it! Really! I always heard the male lead chases his female lead, but… now you are going to chase him, right?"
"Actually," Ameya started, her voice laced with amusement, "I have shooting in LA, so… somehow, it's a good chance for me to visit him."
"And get back with your lover," Jenna finished mockingly.
"Okay, I have to pack. Bye. Don't forget the address!"
"Sure, I will ask Michael," Jenna promised.
Ameya hung up. A knock sounded on her bedroom door and her mother came in, carrying a small pile of freshly washed clothes. Ameya picked them up, folding them quickly and placing them in her luggage bag.
"Is everything packed?" her mother asked, scrutinizing the half-open suitcase. "Don't forget anything. And don't forget to call me once you've reached."
Ameya nodded, giving her mother a reassuring smile. The excitement for LA was almost palpable.
LA: A Sudden Detour
The long flight journey was finally over. Ameya and her crew had landed in Los Angeles. The entire shooting team, looking tired but energized, entered a large caravan parked outside the airport to regroup before heading to the hotel.
Ameya hesitated, looking around. The female lead in the movie, Freya, who was quite close to Ameya, noticed her anxiety.
"What happened?" Freya asked gently.
"Actually, my shooting is five days later, right?" Ameya checked.
Freya nodded.
Ameya leaned in. "I have to visit Rico before that. Can you help me?"
Freya smiled and gave a slight nod. "Don't you want to meet your lover?" she teased.
Ameya blushed slightly, shying away from the label.
Freya then spoke loudly to the Director. "Director, I need a specific BB cream."
"Yes, you can. We have shopping time tomorrow; you can buy it then," he replied casually.
"No, no, it's rare and a very specific branded one. I've already booked it online for pickup. Ameya will get that for me," Freya said, looking pointedly at Ameya, who instantly understood the setup. Ameya nodded quickly.
The Director looked skeptical. "Can you, Ameya? Because this is a new place for you."
Ameya smiled. "Don't worry, I have my digital map, right?"
Freya jumped in. "Don't worry, she can! Freya, bring Ameya's bag. We will place it in your hotel room. Go, hurry up!"
Ameya gave a small, grateful smile to Freya and ran out of the caravan, her heart pounding with purpose.
LA: A Crushing Reality
A few minutes later, Ameya was inside a cab, feeling increasingly annoyed because the cab was already late. She desperately wanted to get there.
She messaged Jenna: I'm on the way to meet Rico.
Jenna replied instantly with a smile emoji and the words: My brave female lead! All the best.
Ameya smiled, taking a deep breath.
One hour later, the cab pulled up to Rico's upscale hotel.
She paid the driver and rushed towards the grand hotel entrance. She went straight to the reception desk to ask about Rico. As the receptionist checked the system, Ameya whispered to herself, only loud enough for her to hear, "I will find you, Rico."
She turned, ready to step back, and her breath hitched.
There was Rico.
He was only a few steps away, looking at his phone, completely oblivious to her presence. He was stunning in his sharp office wear—of course, he was the next CEO of Herman's Group. Ameya was mesmerized, completely lost in the sight of him. She took a tentative step toward him.
Suddenly, a tall, beautiful girl, who looked like a foreigner, ran up and barged right near him. She was loud, cheerful, and immediately kissed him on the cheek.
Ameya stopped dead. Her world tilted. She didn't expect this.
Rico, too, looked confused and shocked by the sudden physical greeting.
The foreign girl stood straight, her face cheerful. "I didn't expect you came this fast! What a surprise!"
Ameya broke. All the hours of searching, the pain of the silence, the long flight, the desperate hope—it all crashed down on her. A single, hot tear escaped her eye and slid down her cheek. Her small sling bag, which held the precious address and her hope, slipped from her shoulder and fell with a soft thud onto the marble floor.
Rico's eyes instantly turned, drawn by the sound. He saw Ameya.
He froze, his face registering pure shock. He whispered, "Ameya."
The foreign girl saw Ameya too, but she didn't recognize her.
Ameya's eyes were locked on Rico, brimming with devastating pain, the question of the past few months suddenly answered in the most brutal way.
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To be Continued...
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