Deep breath, and another deep breath—
Kate had been adjusting, adjusting her mindset, her rhythm, and her pace. She felt like she was getting very close, but sothing always seed to be missing just slightly.
Unlike before, Kate wasn't irritated or anxious. She had returned to her familiar work mode, completely focused on the character. Nothing could stop her from continuing to perform and imrse herself in the role.
Finally, she was ready.
But... where was the cue?
The director hadn't called for action yet, or had he, and she missed it?
Suddenly, Kate lifted her eyes, taking in the entire apartnt from the kitchen. Only then did she notice the crew mbers, all completely absorbed, their eyes fixed on Anson. Her gaze followed suit, unintentionally.
For a brief mont, Kate felt an illusion—
As if the whole world had pressed the pause button. Everyone else's ti was frozen, while only the two of them continued moving, aning they could do whatever they wanted, as freely as they wished.
The small space was crowded with people, yet it felt like the vast world contained only the two of them. That strange stillness amidst the noise caused her heart to beat in sync with his. Her soul began to sink, slipping into another body, and Kate beca Clentine.
A little nervousness, a little excitent.
A little thrill, a little joy.
Various emotions churned and surged in her chest. Clentine couldn't control herself any longer. She just wanted to leave the kitchen and be with that man—
She had no idea where this feeling ca from, but she didn't care.
Just enjoy it.
Grabbing two glasses of alcohol, she didn't even care as so spilled onto her finger. Reflexively, she raised her finger to her mouth, licking the alcohol clean before turning and walking away, afraid to make him wait even a second longer.
"Two glasses of Blue Ruin."
Clentine flashed a big smile, a bit giddy, and her steps even bounced lightly—
Completely forgetting that she was holding glasses, causing the alcohol to spill.
Clentine looked down at the stain on the carpet and muttered quietly.
This scene didn't escape Joel's eyes.
Joel was a bit flustered, a little amused, a little panicked, but mostly tense. He could feel Clentine's lively energy, which was clearly beyond what he could handle.
Instinctively, he took half a step back.
Joel regretted it. Escorting a stranger he'd just t ho was already too much for him; now being inside a stranger's apartnt was completely overwhelming.
Joel felt like he was about to explode.
However, Clentine didn't give him ti to.
Without hesitation, without stopping, and without even glancing at the carpet, Clentine was already standing in front of Joel.
Joel's small step back ant nothing. He lowered his head, took the glass from Clentine's hand, and avoided looking into her eyes, staring down at the glass instead.
But due to his height, even though he looked down, Joel could still see Clentine.
By accident, the corner of his eye caught sight of her sleeveless top...
Joel quickly lowered his gaze again, pretending to study the glass, examining the patterns on it. This clearly wasn't a wine glass, and the blue liquid inside didn't even look like alcohol, leaving Joel with a head full of questions.
Clentine seed dissatisfied that Joel's attention wasn't on her. She stepped forward and swayed her body gently—
There was no music.
But Clentine still couldn't stay still, as if she were in a bar, lightly swaying to an invisible rhythm, naturally closing the physical distance between them.
"Down it in one, young man."
Clentine whispered a spell into Joel's ear.
Joel still didn't dare look Clentine in the eye, staring at the glass in shock, estimating the amount of alcohol inside.
Clentine noticed and leaned forward slightly, "This makes seducing you feel more natural."
Joel froze completely—
Awkward but sincere.
Clentine couldn't hold back, bursting into laughter, bending over with laughter, "Haha, hahaha."
As she laughed uncontrollably, Clentine raised her left hand to rest on Joel's shoulder, naturally finding a support point, and physical contact happened just like that.
Clentine's eyes and smile were full of joy, "I was just joking."
Joel blinked, finally looking at Clentine, only to see clear and bright sincerity in her eyes, like the sun. Panicking, he quickly looked away again, focusing on Clentine's right hand—
More alcohol had spilled. Blue.
Clentine was now watching Joel's face, from bottom to top, leaving Joel's eyes nowhere to escape. She adjusted her posture as she pursued eye contact, boldly seeking a connection.
Chasing and evading.
That intense gaze left Joel with nowhere to run.
Instinctively, he lifted his eyes, eting Clentine's. Their eyes locked.
In that brief mont of collision, a smile tugged at Joel's lips, and a muffled laugh bubbled in his chest, but their eye contact broke again.
Joel was the first to give in, retreating in haste.
He smiled, awkward and embarrassed, using laughter to cover his nervousness, even raising the glass to take a sip.
But.
Clentine's left hand slid down from Joel's shoulder, landing on his chest, her fingers and palm feeling the heat radiating through his shirt, so hot it almost burned her hand.
A sudden impulse surged up.
Without hesitation, Clentine pushed against Joel's chest forcefully.
Startled, Joel staggered backward, ultimately falling onto the sofa.
Without missing a beat, Clentine followed, straddling Joel's lap, her now free left hand wrapping around his neck, gazing deeply into his eyes.
Joel: Uh.
His gaze darted left, then right. His wildly pounding heart felt like it would leap out of his chest, and he barely breathed, his entire body stiff as a board.
A bit of intimacy, a bit of awkwardness, two conflicting atmospheres clashing together, but sohow, it held the attention.
Clentine noticed.
Even as she sat on Joel's lap, her arms around his neck, looking down at him, Joel's eyes still darted around, avoiding her.
Up, down, left, right—his gaze flickered, but he never dared to look at her directly.
This made Clentine pause.
Sure, she was bold, passionate, and direct, like a fla; but that didn't an she couldn't read the signs.
Her smile froze slightly at the corners of her mouth. Clentine finally realized she might have been mistaken, and the thought caused her heart to plumt.
Heh.
Clentine let out two dry laughs, masking her embarrassnt. She didn't linger, climbing off Joel's lap and sitting down nearby, scratching her head awkwardly as a mix of disappointnt and frustration filled the air, her eyes drifting elsewhere.
The atmosphere chilled instantly, as if a cold front had suddenly rolled in.
belamy20
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