ASPIRING ACTORS

Ten

Katherine 💛

Katherine strides into her parents' house, her frustration palpable. She couldn't focus on her script with Leo after what happened. Feeling perplexed, she seeks out her brother Josh, knowing he can be a bit of a handful, but also the only one she can truly confide in.

She knocks on his door. Josh opens it, looking tired but concerned as he sees his usually smiling sister's somber expression.

"What's up, pumpkin?" he asks, his brow furrowed.

Katherine wrapped her arms around her brother, embracingdemeanourhtly. "I need help. I don't know what to do."

"Here, here, Pumpkin," Josh whispered as he returned her hug, sensing the distress in her voice.

"Can I come inside?" Katherine asked.

Josh glanced behind him and noticed the disheveled state of his bedroom. Nataki had only left an hour ago. The tense atmosphere hinted at impending complications.

"Yes, you can come in," he replied hesitantly as he gestured for Katherine to enter.

Katherine made her way inside Josh's bedroom, taking in her surroundings. The room smelled of a sweet, floral perfume, and she couldn't help but notice that his bed looked disheveled and unmade.

"You had a girl here?" Katherine arched her brows, suspicion evident in her tone.

Josh nonchalantly walked over to his closet, grabbing a shirt. "I did," he admitted with a mischievous grin.

Katherine rolled her eyes, a knowing smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Who is she?"

Her brother cocked an eyebrow, a sly glint in his eyes as he probed, "You want to meet her?" Katherine nodded in response, but before she could say more, Josh interrupted, "I'll let her know you want to meet her."

Katherine's eyes widened as the realization hit her. "You do have a girlfriend."

I do," Josh said with a warm smile, enveloping his sister in a tight hug and planting a delicate kiss on her head. "Pumpkin, we're not here to discuss my relationship status. Can you confide in me about why you seem so distressed?"

Katherine let out a heavy sigh, gratefully accepting her brother's comforting embrace. He was her pillar of strength, and without him, she felt lost.

"Can I be completely honest with you, Josh?"

Josh nodded, releasing his hold a bit and giving his full attention to his sister."Of course,"

Katherine began, noticing her brother's attentive demeanor. "I'm in love with my professor."

Surprise briefly lit up Josh's face before he nodded. His sister had just confessed her love for her acting teacher, but he hadn't realized she was actually in love with him. Katherine continued speaking, and although Josh didn't say anything, he listened attentively. "But, I don't feel the same connection with him as I do with the other one," Katherine confessed.

Perplexed, Josh asked, "Which other one?"

Katherine hesitated, and Josh sensed that something was off. "His name, Katherine," he urged, pressing her to reveal the other guy's name.

After a moment of deliberation, Katherine sighed and finally admitted her secret to her brother. "His name is Leo. We act together, and I can't deny that there's something there when we kiss. But I'm not in love with him. Why do I feel this way, then?"

A frown creased Josh's face as he listened to his sister. "Katherine, you're supposed to be focused on your acting career. Boys can be distracting."

"I know," Katherine murmured, feeling shame wash over her. She realized that she shouldn't have disclosed her personal life to Josh because he was very protective of her. "But I can't help my heart from falling in love."

Josh could sense that his sister, Katherine, needed a friend more than a brother at that moment. He made a conscious decision to put aside his protective older brother role and be the understanding friend that Katherine needed. As they sat together, he looked into her eyes and said, "To be honest, Katherine, I may not fully understand how things work for you, but I do know this - follow your heart. It will never lead you astray. Whatever choice you make, I'll be there to support you. Your happiness is what matters most." Katherine hugged Josh tightly, feeling comforted by his words. Josh hugged her back, enveloping her in warmth and reassurance. "You got this," he whispered.

"Thanks, Josh," Katherine replied, knowing that his advice might not be exactly what she was hoping for, but feeling grateful for his unwavering support.

.........

Leo💙

Indigo lightly tapped his friend on the arm, noticing that Leo appeared to be lost in thought. Leo's gaze was fixed on the captivating figure of Katherine, who was engrossed in conversation with her two best friends right in front of them.

"Wow, she looks stunning," Indigo remarked, skillfully redirecting Leo's attention to himself.

Leo let out a sigh. "I have feelings for her."

Indigo was taken aback. "You have feelings for who?"

"Katherine," Leo confessed, stealing another glance at her. Despite his efforts to catch her eye, she hadn't acknowledged him.

Indigo's eyes sparkled with excitement as he said, "Leo, listen up. Your dad is a big shot director in Hollywood. You're practically a celebrity. You could have any girl you want, especially Katherine. You just have to let them know who your father is."

But Leo shook his head firmly. "I don't want to use my dad's fame to impress anyone, especially not to get a girl. I want them to like me for who I am."

Indigo sighed, realizing it would be tough to convince Leo to capitalize on his father's fame.

"But Katherine dreams of being an A-list actress. If she knows who you are, she'll adore you," Indigo insisted, excitement dancing in his eyes.