On the last night of my first filming in Arxan, we were scheduled to film for the livestream.
While walking towards the main part of the inn, I overheard one of the staffs talking with Dylan. I immediately slowed my pace and silently hid on the side of the structure, away from their view. I then listened to their conversation.
"You shouldn't gossip Dy. That's bad you know." She said to him.
"I know jie. But what about the scenes that includes Yue and I?" He asked, sounding worried.
"Don't worry about it. We can edit it later and cut out some of it. Just follow us okay?" She answered.
"Got it jie. Thanks!" He then walked inside the main hall.
So he really didn't want me to be here. I was a nuisance, and he was just being force to even appear with me. Probably a publicity stunt because our love team was a summer hit.
All those jokes and pranks were all for show. We didn't pick up were we left off. There was nothing remaining of it. Not even crumbs.
Buddies? No, we're basically acquaintances now. And it seemed that the promises made before were just empty words said in the heat of the moment. I was a fool to even believe even a single thing of it.
I choked on the sudden onset of emotions, but as an actress I knew how to control my composure. I shook my head and breathe deeply.
It's okay Yue. It's just 1 more night and you're out of here. You will no longer be a nuisance to him anymore.
"Teacher Shen! Yue Yue! Come here, we're about to start the livestream." Dylan suddenly called out, acting once again.
I exhaled deeply and shook my head. Two can play at this game.
"Coming Dy! Save a seat for me!" I shouted.
During the livestream, we all tried hard to maintain a lively atmosphere.
I was seated at the back of Dylan, which was a good thing. Since I'll be able to hide from him. But unfortunately, the camera were facing us, making us aware of each other's expressions.
I caught him glacing at me a couple of times, while he also caught me doing the same thing. It was like playing tag with him, trying to find out who will catch the other first.
I stiffly did some scenes from the MG with him at the urging of the cast. But the main thing was that they're actually aiming for a love triangle among Dylan, Me and Wuyi ge. So this was their plan all along.
I tried hard to follow whatever cues they were implying. I laughed when they teased me to Wuyi ge, I kept quiet when they say something about Dylan and me. And as the filming went on, I could also feel the mood of Dylan getting even worse by the minute .
I was dying little by little inside. The final straw was when Kido answered one of the questions regarding the three of us.
"Well I think Wuyi ge and Yue are really compatible. They really look great together. They just make you feel that way. However with Dylan and Yue, I don't think their compatible in real life even if they had an on-screen chemistry." He mused.
Then Dylan added."Yeah. I'm not worthy enough for her." I don't know if it was bitterness or plain exhaustion. Since everybody kept on throwing us this love line.
My eyes were stinging from the effort I'm making to not show even a hint of my true feelings. He's completely right though. Dylan and I just don't work that way. If this was a love simulation, we were 99.9% incompatible. I'll leave the 0.01% percent for my already shattered heart.
When the livestream ended I immediately turned to Tao jie and Boss Wang ke.
"Jiejie, boss, can I go get some rest now? I want to wake up early tomorrow and start with the chores as soon as I can before we go home." I told them, determined to finish the task at hand and busy myself so much.
"Sure Yue. We'll also get some rest. Goodnight! See you tomorrow guys." They both waved at us. I then turned to the trio. I saw Kido was about to say something to me, but I was in such a hurry.
"I'll go inside first. Goodnight." I uttered. He clamp his mouth shot and nodded.
"Goodnight Yue." He said back. Wuyi ge also said the same thing. But Dylan just looked at me, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. I quickly looked away, not wanting to see him any futher. It was just too much for me. All of this was too much for me. It was getting harder and harder to pretend.
The truth is, I just wanted to escape. I wanted to be alone and rebuild whatever pieces of me that were chopped off awhile ago.
I was just laying down on my bed, waiting for the others to fall asleep. Once the silence continued, I grabbed my winter coat and silently crept out of my room.
I couldn't even sleep, not with all the things that had happened.
I walked towards the hammock once again, it became my hangout place ever since I came here.
I sneaked a few cans of beer in my room awhile ago. At the rate I was going, I needed an alcohol just to fall asleep, even for a little while.
I opened one and took a swig. I looked up to the stars, enjoying the solace it brought me.
Remembering that this was our last night in Arxan, my head looked down once again.
It was my routine to cry here silently at night. At least here, the wind and the trees were my company. I don't have suspecting eyes trying to judge me.
I jumped when I heard his voice.
"So Kido was right. You're always out here at night, crying by yourself." Dylan said.
I quickly wiped the tears away. Shocked that the cause of it was standing just right behind me.
"I'm not. My eyes are just always tired. I guess I've read too much books." I told him.
"More like too much to drink." He mused.
"Ay! I barely drank a can of beer." I defended.
"Why are you always out here Yue? And drinking by yourself on top of that." He prodded.
"You've decided to finally talk to me?" I asked back. He just stared at me, crossing his arms while leaning on the trunk. Still waiting for my answer to his previous question.
"Nothing of your concern Dy. I just wanted to enjoy my last night here in Arxan." I said.
"That's a complete bull Yue. And you know that. I heard you sniffing awhile ago. In case you forgot, I know you better than that." He mused.
"Do you really Dy? Do you really know me?" I laughed bitterly.
"What are you trying to imply by that?" He asked, standing in attention.
I sighed. "Nothing. Just forget it. You know, you don't have to force yourself to come here and talk to me." I told him.
"I'm not. I really wanted to enjoy some fresh air. It's just so happened that you were the first one to get here." He reasoned.
"Oh. Sorry for assuming then."
"You know they're planning to make you a permanent worker here, like the three of us." He said to me.
Uh oh. I don't think that would be good for the both of us. I froze, about to take another swig of the beer. I gulped then place it down grabbing another can, I handed it to him. He accepted it.
"Really? I wasn't aware of that. Seems like I'm not aware of a lot of things around here. Do I get a voice on the decision?" I asked.
"Don't think so. Why? Don't you like it here? It seemed you were enjoying it. You were really into the chores. You even get along with everyone." There was an edge to his voice. He took a large swig of the beer.
"I'm not so sure. And I know you don't want me here." I absentmindedly said. Realizing it too late, I covered my mouth, turning to look at him.
I saw him balled his fist. His eyes had a sudden glint to it.
"What makes you say so?" He asked, staring ahead.
I shrugged. "I don't need to be a mind reader to know that. You were always pissed off Dy. Every little thing I do irked you. I know that. You could've said it to my face. It would've been better for the both of us. I could even get out of your way." I told him straight up.
He scoffed. "You don't know anything Yue." He bit back.
"See? You're getting angry even if I was just stating a fact." I pointedly looked at him.
He sighed.
"Go get some sleep Yue. You're overthinking too much." He muttered.
"I think I'm going to stay here for awhile." I said back.
"It's late and it's cold. Go back inside before you catch cold." He demanded. He drank the rest of the beer and deposited it on the container I had carried with me.
"I can take care of myself. You can go in first." I was still relaxing on the hammock still looking on the vast expanse in front of me.
I squealed when Dylan's arms went around me and lifted me up on his shoulders like a sack, my head facing his back.
"You jerk! Put me down! I said I can take care of myself! You barbaric asshole!" I shouted at him, trying to wiggle out of his hold.
He just tightened his arm on the back of my thighs.
"Keep your voice down if you don't want the others to wake up. Imagine what they will assume once they see us together. Can you explain it properly to them?" He whispered at me.
I shut my mouth, suddenly worried. I then lifted my upper body up and kept hitting his back in the process.
He then deposited me in front of my bedroom door. I tried to kicked his leg but he managed to block it.
"You asshole!" I whispered yell while slapping his chest.
"You don't have the right to manhandle me!"
"Get inside Yue. Sleep." He ordered and pointed at my room.
I just crossed my arms and just decided to walk around him.
"I don't want to. I haven't finished drinking my beer yet." I said cockily.
I tried to get around him but he just grabbed the back of my coat and pulled me back in front of my bedroom door.
"If you don't get inside, I'll carry you once more and personally tuck you in bed. I don't care if the cameras catch us. Don't test me Yue." He said with finality.
I pushed him but when I looked up to see his face, I knew he meant business. I rarely saw him looked at me that way. It only happened once, when I kept working to the point of exhaustion when I was sick during MG.
He was really angry at me that time for overworking myself. I was like a kid being grounded by her parents. The same expression was present on his face right now.
I huffed and stubbornly stomped to my room, I then turned to him seeing that he still haven't left.
"I wish you have nightmares." I spitefully said and slammed the door to his face.
I leaned on the door and brought my hand up to my face.
"Very mature Yue." He said through the door.
I just don't get him. One moment he's pissed and cold to me, the next he's so controlling and overbearing. What do you want from me Dylan?