At eight o’clock sharp, fans around the world held on to their seats, anxious and excited to see the live interview they had been waiting for all week. The interview was like a tantalizing piece of meat served just before the main course - the movie of the century. 

At least in their minds.

Inside the studio, things were a little different. As the director counted down to zero, the main actor and actress took their seats on the two-seater couch, opposite the interviewer. The instant the director gave the cue to begin, smiles were plastered on their faces.

The camera zoomed in on the interviewer who introduced the topic of today’s interview. “In the next week, the remake of Romeo and Juliet will hit the cinemas. Today, we have the fortune of having our dear Romeo and Juliet pair with us. Please welcome Frank De’Honest and Genie O’Noway!”

The sound of recorded applause filled the studio.

                                                          (Around the world, fans screamed in excitement.)

Both celebrated actor and actress introduced themselves and their character roles. Discussion about their up-and-coming movie took up ten minutes of the interview and the interviewer made sure to direct questions at either Frank or Genie but never both at the same time as if it was an unspoken rule. It was only towards the end of the interview that he breached that rule. 

“Many people have commented on how great your onscreen chemistry is…”

The interviewer went on to show several shots from the movie that included: a still of Frank cornering Genie to the wall, his eyes ablaze with fury while Genie stared back defiantly…

                                                          (Fans cooed. Look at those passionate, loving eyes!)

…a short scene of Genie protecting Frank from a fight, his expression pained as if he couldn’t stand his ego being destroyed by a mere woman…

                                                          (Fans held back their sobs. Frank must be pained by the possibility that his loved one might get hurt.)

… and a still of Frank serenading Genie in the famous balcony scene while Genie cupped her chin in one hand, her eyes glazed over from boredom.

                                                          (Fans screeched. Genie was so in love!)

Meanwhile, Frank and Genie shifted uncomfortably on the couch. It was an old piece of furniture and who knew how many people had sat on it. Tugging on the hem of her skirt, Genie adjusted it to cover her thigh and prevent her skin from coming into direct contact with the couch. To her left, Frank crossed one leg over the other, discreetly rubbing it against his pants to soothe the raging itch on his knee. 

                                                          (Fans squealed. Genie must be remembering Franks's touch, they said. And look at Frank pointing his leg in Genie’s direction, as if he was teasing her!)

“... so fans have been asking how the two of you normally spend your time together offscreen?”

“Fighting” came Frank’s quick reply to which Genie rolled her eyes in exasperation. 

                                                          (Oh look at how adorable they are when they squabble, fans swooned.)

Genie crossed her arms over her chest. “Only because someone here is a coward when it comes to doing stunts. And to think he comes from a family of actors.”

Frank turned to her, his lips forming an exaggerated ‘O’. “Says the one whose character is as smart as her, yet never bothers to check whether Romeo has a pulse before committing suicide.”

                                                          (Imagine how rough their sex must be after a fight, fans thought.)

As Genie opened her mouth to protest, the interviewer quickly posed his next question.

“Well, would the both of you consider the other to be a potential girlfriend or boyfriend material?”

The question was so preposterous, especially given their answer to the previous one, that Frank and Genie immediately answered with a defiant “No”.

                                                          (Look! They think and answer at the same time; fans blushed at the thought.)

Trying to laugh it off, the interviewer changed tactics. “How would you describe each other… as an actor, I mean.”

Frank looked at Genie, a sneer on his lips. “Unlike me who graduated from the most prestigious acting academy, O’Noway never attended acting school. It’s honestly a miracle she was even cast. Without me, this whole movie would have collapsed.”

Genie refused to return his gaze but her steely tone said it all. “He’s right. If not for my intervention, he would have been a selfish brat that caused the whole set to collapse… Literally.”

                                                          (It’s so obvious they care for each other, fans sighed.)

The interviewer chuckled uncomfortably and turned to the camera. “Well, that’s all we have for today. Do check out Romeo and Juliet next week for the famous star-crossed - and a little quarrelsome - lovers!”

When the light from the cameras dimmed and the director yelled “cut”, the actor and actress leaped from the couch as if it were alive. Both sides stomped off to where their agent waited with a live stream recording of the comments left on the interview video. As they scrolled through the thousands of comments, Frank and Genie fumed and exclaimed - at the same time - “What the hell is wrong with these fans?!”

---

Author Notes:

Lessons to learn for ConCoct agents in RomCon:

People tend to make a big thing out of nothing. Turn it to your advantage.

Or if people make a big thing into nothing, then force a direct confrontation and spell it out for them.