Ziga stepped closer and snatched the shirt out of her body.
Ethel panicked and shouted. "What are you doing?" She tried to get the shirt back.
"See?" Ziga snickered. "You can't even face me without wanting to cover yourself, what makes you think you can be a bad girl?" He threw the shirt back at Ethel and walked away.
"It's because you suddenly ambushed me. As long as I want to, I can totally do it." Ethel got into the car that Ziga entered.
Ziga ignored her and started to drive away.
"Cut!" Director Sun yelled. He stood up and clapped his hands. "Wonderful! Finally, a scene that didn't have any forgotten lines or over the top acting. June, you did well. All the actresses that acted this scene got cursed out by Luigi because they couldn't concentrate. But you delivered your lines perfectly and didn't get lost in Luigi's handsome face."
Sari wrapped June with a brown blanket as soon as they were done. "You did well, darling." She whispered.
"Thank you, Director." June held the blanket against her body. She was shivering after into the pool that they used as a river.
Luigi looked at June, clearly impressed with her acting. Indeed, she didn't disappoint him.
The crew and other actors praised June's acting. They were impressed by how she embodied the character and brought it to life.
"Whoa! June didn't get charmed by Luigi and actually finished her lines without a mistake. I have to learn from her." Alicia commented cheerfully.
"What is there to learn from her? She was only doing what any other actress is expected to do." Renda scoffed.
"How many actresses have been able to get this scene done? Most of them failed to say their lines correctly and only indulged in admiring Luigi. Renda, can you act properly in front of Luigi?" Alicia shook her head and walked away.
"Renda, watch your words, before it gets you into trouble. To be honest, June did justice to her lines and acted very well. You should give praise when it's due." Zeren chastised Renda before going away.
"Let's prepare for Act 23, scene 7. Get ready!" Director Sun announced before turning to June. ", June, after this scene, you can get some rest. After today's shooting, we shall hold a welcome dinner for you."
"Thank you, Director. I will go and get changed." June hurried towards the changing room with Sari.
"You really made the right choice, Luigi. She is good." Director Sun said, after sitting next to Luigi.
"Of course! The woman I choose isn't some talentless beauty." Luigi said, proudly before going to change.
....
Act 3, Scene 7.
Mory East High school.
Class 3 of 12th Grade.
As soon as Ethel entered the classroom, three girls, whom usually bullied and made fun of her stood up from their desks.
"Isn't this our class virgin, who can't even get a man to sleep with her?" Sawee pointed out and laughed.
Their classmates turned to look at them. No one dared to cross the three girls.
"Where did you go yesterday after school? You didn't return to the hostel. Ethel, did you finally get a man to sleep with you?" Nora poked Ethel with her hand.
Ethel exhaled deeply and looked at them. "I went to sleep in my mansion because I was tired of sleeping in the school hostel. I got permission from the hall mistress."
"Your mansion? That empty house? I thought you didn't want to return there because you were afraid of the ghost of your parents haunting you?" Sawee asked.
"My younger sister is there, and that's my home. I never told you it was haunted. Sawee, don't indulge in gossip as all the time." Ethel picked her English book and stood up to leave.
"Sit back! I need you to buy me something from the store outside. You will go home again, right?" Sawee pushed Ethel back on the seat.
"I'm not buying anything for you. If you have the guts to smoke, then, be brave enough to buy the cigarettes yourself." Ethel looked at Sawee.
"How dare you talk back at me?" Sawee raised her hand to slap Ethel but Diamond, Ethel's best friend stepped in and held her hand.
"Who's that?" Sawee turned and saw Diamond, and immediately moved back.
"Get lost!" Diamond said coldly and the three girls ran away.
Ethel smiled at her best friend. In the whole school, Diamond was probably the only one that everyone didn't dare to mess with because of her powerful background. But as for Ethel, because she was an orphan, and didn't have parents that protected her, she was easily bullied.
Despite having a lot of fortune left behind by her parents, she still wasn't able to protect herself.
"How many times do I have to tell you to never let these girls bully you?" Diamond sat next to Ethel.
"If they don't bully you, then, you my best friend wouldn't protect me. I like the idea of you protecting me. Diamond, should I just marry you and make you, my wife?" Ethel placed her head on Diamond's shoulder.
"You wished! I love men!" Diamond said and they both chuckled.
"Cut!" Director Sun yelled.
Both June and Wanda exhaled after they heard the director's words. It was a relief. Wanda stood up and helped June up.
"You must be tired." Wanda asked.
"It's alright." June smiled.
....
June's changing room.
"I'm finally done with my scenes for today. I'm so tired. But I'm happy! Acting again gives me so much joy."
"June, you did so well. I was surprised by your acting. But do you know who else was surprised?" Sari said on the couch.
"Who?" June asked, while reaching for her phone.
"Luigi! He had this look on his face. Darling, he looked really impressed with you back there. Do you know how difficult it is to please that man?" Sari couldn't stop smiling.
"I wish he doesn't pay attention to me that much. What if he ends up finding about my secret?" June curved her lips and sighed.
"He won't know. We've done so well keeping it a secret all these years." Sari assured June. "Besides, it's just a condition you had from an accident. It's not like you contracted a deadly disease."
"That's true, but as an actor, I must be able to have all my senses working correctly."
"June, now that we have money, let's give the doctor in California a call. He said with the right therapy, your condition can be reversed." Sari suggested.
"Do we still have money left after the mortgage and other debts?" June asked.
"I'm yet to settle the mortgage, but I've paid off all other debts that we owed. We are officially debt free. Very soon, we will be able to get our studio back and everything will be fine."
"That's fine. As long as we are debt free." June smiled.
"But why do you seem not happy? It's something going on?" Sari asked.
"I'm just thinking. This whole thing seems too good to be true. What if 'that person' finds out and comes after me? That just crossed my mind, you know!" June had a worried look on her face.
"June, instead of waiting for him to attack you, why don't we find someone who has a lot of backing in the industry to lean on? I think you have some chemistry with Luigi..."
"Stop! I am not going to use him. I don't even know anything about him besides what the media says. Sari, let's not talk about using anyone. I will face it when that time comes." June didn't want to use anyone, much less Luigi, whom she barely knew.
"Okay! I'm going out to make a call. Get changed and let's join them for dinner." Sari stood up and left the room.
...
Adex Restaurant.
The private room was quite lively, as everyone chatted happily. When June and Sari arrived, and entered, they noticed that the only empty seats available were between Luigi and Tony. Not wanting to sit next to Luigi, Sari immediately sat next Tony, leaving the one next to Luigi.
"You traitor! I will get you for this..." June whispered. She looked around, and caught Wanda's gaze. As if pleading, June smiled awkwardly.
"Luigi hates women that try to get close to him. He's always sitting alone at dinner parties. I can't wait for June to get spite by him." Renda whispered to Zeren.
"June, you can sit here. I will ask the waitress for another chair." Alicia decided to give up her seat but before she could do so, Luigi spoke, and his words shocked everyone.
"Come over here!" He said, commandingly.
June exhaled deeply and reluctantly went to sit next to him. Luigi didn't look at her, but he picked up her plate and filled it with food, an set it before her.
"It's there anything you don't like?" He asked.
"No, thank you!" June was beyond speechless, but she couldn't reject his kindness, so she began to eat.
"Why do you all look surprised? Am I that hard to deal with?" Luigi asked, the obvious.
"Very hard to deal with, but you did well today." Wanda responded.