Mia slams the door behind her as she steps into her room, heart still racing.She leans against it, the weight of the memory pressing heavily on her chest.
Was it real? Or just a dream?
She can't be sure.But Ben's reaction—his eyes, his words—makes one thing clear: it wasn't a dream.
"Mia, is everything okay?" Jella's voice pulls her back. She's just come out of the shower, towel wrapped around her, water still dripping from her hair.
Mia exhales shakily. "This is bad."
"What? What happened?" Jella asks, her expression instantly shifting to concern.
"Last night…" Mia whispers.
"What about last night?" Jella presses. "Did something happen between you and Ben? Ugh! I knew it! I told Jay we needed to go back to their room—I didn't want you left alone with Ben. He told me I was too drunk and carried me to our room. I thought he left after I fell asleep, but he must've passed out, too."
Mia remains silent, unsure how to even begin.
Jella's voice drops to a serious tone. "Did he do something to you?"
Mia hesitates, then finally speaks. "A kiss," she says quietly.
Jella freezes. "A kiss?! HE KISSED YOU?! THAT MAN IS DEAD!"She stomps toward the door, with only a towel covering her, ready to confront him on the spot.
Mia quickly grabs her arm, stopping her. "No—wait. You've got it wrong. It wasn't forced. I… I let him kiss me."
"You did?" Jella turns to her, stunned. "Why?"
"I don't know why. Maybe it was the alcohol… but in that moment, I felt like I wanted to."Mia's voice is small, unsure.
"I feel so stupid," she adds, sliding down to the floor, burying her face in her hands. "Why did I do that?"
Then—a sudden knock at the door.
"Mia, it's me. Please… let's talk," Ben's voice comes from the hallway, low but urgent. There's a desperation in his tone that makes Mia freeze.
She turns to Jella and quickly gestures for her to handle it—to say she isn't there.
Jella raises a brow but nods. "Ben, sorry—Mia's not here," she calls out through the door.
"She's not there? But… I just saw her go this way." His voice sounds puzzled. "Please, just open the door so I can check."
"Sorry, Ben," Jella says with a little chuckle, "I just got out of the shower. I'm literally only wearing a towel."
There's a pause. Then Ben mutters, "Ah, okay… Just let me know when she gets back."
They hear his footsteps retreat down the hall.
Jella turns back to Mia, arms crossed. "Okay… why are you avoiding him now if you let him kiss you?"
"I told him that I don't remember anything about last night." Mia sinks onto the bed, rubbing her temple. "I don't know… I just—can't face him. Not right now."
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Later that day, after the shoot wraps up and everyone begins packing to go home, Mia still hasn't spoken a word to Ben. She keeps her distance, pretending to be busy, her eyes always darting away when they land on him.
"I can't ride back with you," Mia whispers to Jella as they walk toward the parking area. "I can't be in the same car as Ben."
Jella gives her a look. "Then what are you going to do? How will you get home?"
Mia opens her mouth to answer, but nothing comes out. Her mind scrambles for an excuse, for a plan—but comes up empty.
Just then, Kevin walks up to them.
"How are you getting home?" he asks Mia casually.
"Me? I… I'm…" she mumbles, avoiding his eyes.
Without waiting for her to finish, Kevin simply says, "Then come with me. I'll take you." He grabs her bag and begins walking toward his car without looking back.
Mia and Jella stare at each other, both equally baffled.
Mia blinks, stunned by his directness. But she follows.
Being in a car with Kevin, even after what he saw that morning, feels easier than being in a car with Ben. At least with Kevin, she can pretend. Lie if she has to. Make excuses.
As she walks behind Kevin, she feels someone is looking.
Ben stands nearby, watching them. He doesn't speak—but the look in his eyes says everything.
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Kevin places Mia's things in the trunk, then shuts it with a soft thud. He turns to her and gives a small nod. "Get in."
Mia climbs into the passenger seat, adjusting herself to sit comfortably.
A moment later, Kevin leans over, his hand reaching across. "Here," he says, calmly fastening her seatbelt for her.
"Let's go?" he asks as he straightens up.
"Yeah," she replies with a nod.
The ride starts off quiet—peaceful and somehow familiar. But that calm doesn't last.
Without glancing at her, Kevin asks, casually but clearly curious, "So… why were you coming out of Ben's room this morning? Did you sleep there?"
Mia lets out a light laugh, a little too quickly. "No, no. I just went there to get something, then left right away."
Kevin raises an eyebrow slightly, though he keeps his eyes on the road. "At 6 a.m.? That early? Just to get something?"
"Yeah," Mia replies with another awkward chuckle. "We're both early birds, so… it wasn't a big deal."
But even to her own ears, the lie sounds thin.
To avoid him pressing further, Mia quickly shifts the conversation. "So… what about Daisy? How's she getting home?" she asks, her voice a little too eager.
"She has her manager. He usually drives her," Kevin answers casually, barely giving it a thought.
A pause settles between them. Soft music plays in the background, filling the silence.
Then Kevin speaks again. "About Daisy…"
Mia's heart skips. He continues, "What did you mean yesterday—about her?"
Her mind blanks.
Right. She had forgotten about that conversation. The kiss with Ben had consumed her so completely, she hadn't thought about anything else since.
"Uhm…" Mia struggles to find the words. "Actually, six years ago… I saw you together."
Kevin turns slightly toward her, confusion creeping into his expression.
"The day before I… completely disappeared," Mia continues, her voice quieter now, her fingers nervously twisting the fabric of her sleeve. "I saw you with Daisy at the beach. Hugging."
Kevin's eyes widen. Quiet shock flickers across his face.
Without another word, he flicks on the right turn signal and pulls over to the side of the road. The car rolls to a stop, the engine idling softly.
Now, they sit there. Staring at each other. No words. Just the quiet hum of the engine and the tension between them, thick and unspoken.
Him looking at her—and Mia looking back at him.