“Come on. Just say yes.”

“No.”

“Lia, seriously. You owe me one.”

“No, I don’t.”

Mary crossed her arms, leaning dramatically against the bookshelf where I was sorting returned textbooks.

“You remember that one time I covered your library shift so you could study for midterms?”

“That was because you literally begged me to help you with bio homework the week before.”

“Still counts,” she said, grinning. “This is the balance of the universe. Cosmic debt. Karma.”

I slid a book into the shelf a little harder than necessary. “What is it this time?”

“Volunteer gig,” she said casually. “For the film set.”

I stopped. Turned. Narrowed my eyes. “No.”

“Lia—”

“Absolutely not.”

“You don’t even know what I’m asking!”

“You said ‘film set.’ That’s enough.”

“It’s not a big deal!” she said, flipping her hair. “They just need a few students to help organize props and take attendance for extras. You won’t even be near the camera. Barely an hour or two a day. Free coffee. A snack voucher. Maybe some credit.”

“No.”

Mary pouted. “Why are you like this?”

Because that guy was there. That’s why.

But I didn’t say it.

Instead, I muttered, “I already work two jobs. I don’t need a third one where people scream at lights and yell ‘cut’ every five minutes.”

Mary burst out laughing. “That’s... honestly fair.”

She tapped her fingers against the shelf. “Okay, okay. But just do one day, yeah? Today. Just for me. I promised the film coordinator I’d find one more helper and she’ll kill me if I flake.”

I hesitated.

“One day?” I asked.

“Just today,” she said, hands in prayer.

I sighed. “Fine.”

Mary jumped and hugged me. “YES! You are the best! You won’t regret it.”

I would.

I absolutely would.


---

One hour later, I was in the auditorium lobby, surrounded by cables, garment racks, and people shouting over each other like caffeinated parrots.

“Hey, you — you’re the one Mary sent?”

A tall woman in a headset marched toward me, holding a clipboard.

“Uh... yeah. Elena.”

“You’re on wardrobe delivery. See those crates?” She pointed to the corner. “Help carry them to the costume trailers out back. Then take these ID badges to the director and cast. Clear?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I turned to grab the crates — and froze.

There he was.

Standing by the mirror-lined hallway that led to the dressing rooms, laughing with the assistant director.

Tom Kang.

In sweatpants and a black fitted shirt now, sipping an iced Americano like he owned the building.

Of course he did.

Everyone in the room was orbiting him like moons around a smug planet.

I quickly turned back toward the crates, pretending I hadn’t seen him.

Too late.

“Need help with those?”

I jumped.

He was suddenly beside me. Just like that. Like he’d teleported.

“I’m good,” I said quickly.

Tom glanced at the crate, then at me. “You sure? They look heavy.”

“I’m sure.”

He smiled. “You work here now?”

“No.”

“So… fate again?”

“More like extortion,” I muttered.

He raised an eyebrow.

“My friend Mary begged me to volunteer,” I added. “I didn’t realize you were part of the package.”

“Surprise,” he said, still grinning. “Didn’t take you for the type to follow stars around.”

“I’m not. I work for snacks.”

He laughed. A real one this time — low and warm. It annoyed me.

“Well, Snack Girl,” he said, stepping aside, “allow me to escort you to wardrobe.”

“Don’t call me that.”

“What should I call you, then?”

“Elena.”

He gave a mock bow. “Well then, Elena. Why didn’t you stop to talk when I called your name the other day?”

He didn’t even blink at the familiarity. As if we weren’t strangers. As if he hadn’t been silently watching me for weeks. As if he belonged here — in my space now.

I hated how casual he was.

But I hated more that I still noticed the way he smelled — like coffee, clean linen, and something expensive I couldn’t name.

“I was busy preparing for my next gig,” I said flatly. “I don’t have time for some famous actor’s one-on-one talk. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t keep calling me every time you saw me.”

Then I hoisted the crate onto my hip and started walking.

He watched me from behind as I go.

Of course he did.


---