By evening rehearsal, both Mia and Kris were running on fumes, the stress of the day clinging to them. Ms. Dubois had them working on the most climactic scene between Hermia and Lysander: their confrontation with the magical chaos of the woods, where Lysander is bewitched to love Helena. It was a scene demanding raw emotion, confusion, and betrayal.
"Dark night, that from the eye his function takes, the ear more quick of apprehension makes!" Kris delivered Lysander's bewildered lines, his frustration from the day's pressure bleeding into his performance, making his character's confusion intensely real.
Mia, as Hermia, had to portray heartbreak and a desperate struggle to understand why her love had suddenly turned cold. The exhaustion, the pressure from the competition, and the strange, complicated bond forming with Kris, fueled her performance.
"Am I not Hermia? Aren't you Lysander? I am as fair as I was erewhile," she cried, her voice cracking with genuine anguish, her body trembling with a vulnerability that startled even herself. The line between play-acting and pouring out her actual frustrations felt non-existent.
During a rare lull, as Ms. Dubois gave notes to other actors, Leo approached Mia, his concern more overt than ever. He noted the dark circles under her eyes, the slight tremble in her hands as she clutched her water bottle. "Mia, are you alright?" he asked softly, his voice laced with genuine worry.
"You look completely exhausted. Kris has you running ragged. First the briefings, then the training, now this full-day setup for his competition? It's too much. You need to take care of yourself, especially with the showcase on Friday. He's being completely unreasonable."
Mia opened her mouth to respond, a wave of exhaustion washing over her, making Leo's concern a tempting comfort. But before she could utter a word, Kris stepped between them, his presence sudden and commanding. His jaw was tight, his eyes blazing with a mixture of possessiveness and a barely contained fury.
"My assistant's well-being, Leo," Kris cut in, his voice low, a dangerous silkiness to it, "is my concern. And her commitment to the success of my event is non-negotiable. Perhaps you should focus on your own character's motivations instead of offering unsolicited advice where it's not needed." His gaze hardened, challenging Leo directly. "Some of us prioritize results over... well-meaning distractions."