Director Mason used to have hair.
Not great hair—
but respectable hair.
Dependable hair.
Hair that stayed where it was supposed to.
Then Aria Lane entered his life.
And now?
Now his hairline was fleeing like civilians during an evacuation.
The Morning After Viral Chaos
Mason stood in his trailer, staring into the mirror.
He lifted his bangs.
Lowered them.
Lifted them again.
"…That's new."
Daniel leaned in behind him.
"That spot wasn't there yesterday."
Mason whispered:
"It was."
Daniel squinted.
"No. Yesterday it was a suggestion. Today it's a statement."
Mason closed his eyes.
"I have aged ten years in one press cycle."
The Stylist Tries to Help (Fails)
The hair stylist approached cautiously, like one might approach a wild animal.
"Director, maybe we can… style it differently?"
Mason laughed hysterically.
"STYLE WHAT?! THE EMPTY SPACE?!"
She held up a mirror at an angle.
"This lighting makes it less noticeable."
Mason pointed at his head.
"THIS IS NOT A LIGHTING PROBLEM.
THIS IS A LIFE PROBLEM."
The Root Cause (It's Always Her)
Daniel flipped through Mason's phone.
"New emails. Studio wants another teaser. They love Aria's 'calm under fire.'"
Mason groaned.
"They're weaponizing her vibe."
Daniel nodded.
"Also, a shampoo brand wants to use her in a commercial."
Mason snapped:
"SHE DOESN'T EVEN USE SHAMPOO!"
Daniel blinked.
"…Wait. What?"
Mason buried his face in his hands.
"She rinses. She just… rinses."
Daniel stared into the distance.
"That explains so much."
On Set: Everyone Is Thriving Except Mason
Aria arrived early.
Calm.
Collected.
Hair perfect without effort.
Mason glared.
"That's it. I hate her hair."
Daniel whispered:
"She doesn't condition."
Mason's eye twitched.
Julian walked over, relaxed and glowing like he slept eight hours.
"Morning, Mason."
Mason stared at him.
"You're aging backwards."
Julian smiled politely.
"I drink water."
Mason screamed internally.
The Comparison Becomes Unbearable
Makeup artist whispered to the lighting tech:
"Aria doesn't even need touch-ups."
Lighting tech nodded.
"Explosions give her volume."
Mason overheard.
"STOP TALKING ABOUT HER HAIR LIKE IT'S BLESSED BY THE GODS."
Aria blinked at him.
"…Is something wrong?"
Mason pointed at his forehead.
"YES. EVERYTHING IS WRONG."
Aria studied his hairline thoughtfully.
"…It is retreating."
The set went silent.
Daniel slapped a hand over his mouth.
Julian coughed.
Mason screamed:
"WHY WOULD YOU SAY IT LIKE THAT?!"
Aria tilted her head.
"Retreat is strategic."
Daniel burst out laughing.
Julian didn't even try to hide his smile.
Mason collapsed into a chair.
"I am losing to my own scalp."
Studio Pressure Makes It Worse
The studio called again.
On speaker.
"We'd like Mason to appear in a behind-the-scenes interview."
Mason screamed into the phone:
"NO! MY HAIR IS NOT CAMERA-READY!"
The executive paused.
"…We could frame you waist-up."
Mason hung up.
Aria Tries to Help (In Her Own Way)
Aria approached Mason later, holding a small container.
"I have something."
Mason eyed it suspiciously.
"What is it?"
"A balm."
Daniel froze.
"…From where?"
Aria answered calmly.
"I made it."
Julian raised an eyebrow.
"With what?"
"Oil. Herbs. Heat."
Daniel screamed:
"ABSOLUTELY NOT. DO NOT LET HER APPLY HOMEMADE COMBAT BALM TO YOUR SCALP."
Mason waved it away.
"No. No. I refuse. I will go bald with dignity."
Aria nodded.
"That is acceptable."
Mason wept.
The Final Insult
Rick walked by casually.
"Director, just so you know…
fans are calling you 'The Man Who Survived Aria.'"
Mason looked up.
"…They know my name?"
Rick smiled.
"Very much so."
Mason leaned back.
"…I have become a meme."
Daniel patted his shoulder.
"A heroic one."
Mason whispered:
"At what cost?"
Closing Line
Aria passed by Mason on her way to set.
She paused.
Looked at his reflection in the mirror.
Then said gently:
"…It is progressing."
Mason screamed.
Julian laughed.
And somewhere, another hair retreated.