The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

THE moon hung low in the sky, casting a silvery glow upon the Harborview beach. The rhythmic lull of the waves created a serene backdrop as Jace and Abby strolled along the shoreline, their footsteps leaving imprints in the damp sand.

Jace, usually brimming with exuberance, felt exceptionally calm in Abby's presence. Something that had always been the case ever since the two of them met. She just had that kind of effect on him. Maybe that's why he'd been enjoying this little journey across this town with her.

They walked in companionable silence, the only sounds being the whispers of the ocean and the soft rustle of the night breeze.

As they reached a secluded cove, Jace couldn't help but steal glances at Abby. The moonlight caught the subtle play of emotions on her face as she gazed out at the horizon. Her eyes held a depth—a reservoir of unspoken stories and silent dreams. Something that he had long noticed since the moment he laid eyes on her.

As he gazed at her, he felt drawn and captivated. Her vulnerability, masked by her reserved demeanor, captivated him. It was as if the moonlight had unveiled the layers of her soul, and Jace found himself drawn to the mystery that lingered beneath.

Without breaking the tranquility of the night, Jace found himself gently reaching for Abby's hand. He felt nervous, afraid that the other would push him away. But still, he held on, hoping that she would do the opposite.

And she did.

Abby looked at him in surprised but she did not show any discomfort. Instead, a lovely blush appeared on her cheeks. It made Jace's heart beat like crazy.

Their fingers intertwined. The simple act of connection spoke volumes, the warmth of their clasped hands echoing the unspoken emotions in the air.

Jace felt a subtle shift within him, a realization crystallizing in the hushed symphony of the night. The way Abby's eyes reflected the moonlit sea, the softness of her smile, the melody of her voice carried by the breeze—it all wove a spell around him.

In that quiet moment, under the vast canvas of the night sky, Jace fell in love. It wasn't a grand proclamation or a dramatic revelation. Instead, it was a gentle recognition, like the waves that kissed the shore with unwavering devotion.

***

"And cut!"

After the Director Hale's shout, both Astrid and Charlotte let go of each other's hands.

"Should we see how that scene turned out?" Astrid asked Charlotte.

Charlotte nodded, and they both walked to where the director was. Director Hale also knew why they approached and quickly played the scene they filmed just now. As they all watched that, all of them had a satisfied expression on their faces.

One might think that it was just a simple scene, with two people walking on the beach, not saying anything to each other. But it was not.

The fact that the scene depended mostly on the emotions on Astrid and Charlotte's faces and their small gestures proved just how hard this scene was. If they did some things excessively, it wouldn't come off as good, or even believable. It should appear as natural as possible.

Not only that, when people watched this scene, they should feel the sweetness and innocence of first love. For that to successfully be executed, the actors involved should at least have some level of chemistry.

And thankfully, Astrid and Charlotte had it.

"We did well, right?" Astrid asked as he glanced at Charlotte beside him.

"Yes, it really felt like watching Jace fall in love with Abby," Charlotte agreed. She turned to Astrid and gave him a thumbs up. "Good job."

Astrid chuckled at that. Truthfully, such a scene was only possible because he and Charlotte had finally gotten close. That awkward barrier between them had now disappeared and they could now honestly consider each other as friends.

It all started with that simple lunch two weeks ago. Since then, he noticed how Charlotte became less 'scripted' in her actions whenever she interacted with him. So, Astrid just continued to approach the other and talk to her to ease the relationship. And as one could see, he had been very successful with that.

Now, Charlotte no longer talked to him as if she was following some kind of 'to-do list'. Even her smile had become much more natural. And thus, this scene became possible.

"The both of you did a wonderful job," Director Hale said. "If there was even one of you lacking, we wouldn't be able to get this scene in one take. Great job, you two."

After thanking the director, they got ready for the next scene to be shot.

-----

The shooting for the day ended at about 10 in the evening. Astrid felt very tired, but also very fulfilled. He always felt that way during a day of good filming.

After returning to his hotel room, he took a quick shower and changed into his pajamas. He sat on his bed and reviewed his script. It had been two weeks since they started filming. Everything had been great so far. It's not just about the actors doing their job properly, but also the peaceful atmosphere and environment.

Since everyone was just focused on filming, no one was making unnecessary trouble. Thus, filming went smoothly. If they continued on like this, they would be able to wrap up in two weeks.

Speaking of, Snow would arrive here tomorrow. Although the character he's playing only had a short screentime, the role had a big impact on the overall story. Especially on Charlotte's character, Abby. One of the heaviest scene in the movie was between the two. Hopefully, they would be able to film that with no problem.

As Astrid was reading his script, a notification at the upper corner of his Terminal showed that someone was requesting a video call. He clicked that and a smile automatically crossed his lips when he saw who it was.

He answered the call, feeling that his tiredness was already melting away.

And the handsome face of Wulfric appeared on the screen.