Shouts Epilogue - Part II

Will

If there is one thing I understand in our profession, it is the advertising that is done to promote a series, but I don't like this new job of Nate's because of our manager's insistence on something that didn't work out. Sometimes it crosses my mind that somehow he doesn't accept our relationship, and that's why he insists so much that we can't be seen together. I know that all this could be just jealousy on my part, something I try not to develop, especially in relation to work, but lately it has become unavoidable, and I don't like to see my boyfriend with Lily.

Hearing him say about faking a dating that doesn't exist makes me uncomfortable, and I don't know what to say, I just watch as he hangs up the phone and looks at me waiting for something.

— Did you hear it? — he asks and I just shake my head. I get up, walk to the closet, grab some clothes, put them on, and go back to the bedroom. — Can we talk?

— Talk? What for?

— Will, do you understand that I can't do anything right now? — I ask, staring at him, then walking toward the door. — Will... Wait! You're right to be upset, it's past time for us to take over, but I've been listening to P'Dan, and...

— I'm glad you recognize it. I thought I would take the name of incomprehensible, that I don't support your work, don't help engage, and...

— Will, I...

— Don't worry, I promise I will watch the live stream, comment on it, root for your straight ship, and I'll be here waiting for you to arrive. I'll heat up the food in the microwave so we can celebrate Valentine's Day! — I speak in the most ironic tone possible, emphasizing the last word, which is one of the reasons for my irritation. I turn away, and before I can go on my way, he grabs my arm.

— Will, let's talk!

I pull my arm straight out.

— I don't want to hear anything!

[...]

Nate

When I chose to enter the entertainment business, I knew it wouldn't be easy, especially when I was in a relationship. The acting career requires a lot of patience, dedication and a little emotional structure, and this was visible when people started to say that I was not up to Will's standards, and that our ship only worked because of him, and I remember that I felt like crap when I read such mean comments, but at that moment I was a different person, I was going through a big change in my life, in many ways, I felt very insecure with everything that was happening. The fact is that falling in love with a man at that moment made me understand many issues that I didn't know before, and I saw a Nate I had never seen before, and Will was fundamental for this to happen.

I think about all this, and how hard it is to build this relationship without anyone knowing, and as hard as I try everything, I know that work has kept us apart, and I don't want to lose him because of it. While my mind is racing, I watch the people on the recording set, set up at Bangkok University, while I wait my turn to record, my phone rings, and my friend Oat's name appears on the screen.

— Hi!

— Hi, how are you

— Well!

— If I don't call you, you won't even remember I exist, Nate!

— Exaggerated!

— Exaggerated? It is the most pure truth!

— I don't have time for much lately, that's the truth!

— Have you at least been paying attention to your boyfriend, Nate?

— Has Will been to tell you anything yet?

— No, it's just that he had asked me for some ideas for Valentine's Day, and the answer he gave me was not very good....

— What was it?

— That Valentine's Day has been canceled, and he is having dinner with Lyn. When I asked him why, he said he didn't feel like talking, and since I am a gossip, I had to call you before I got sick!

— Go find something to do, Oat!

— Aren't you going to tell me that you are working on Valentine's Day?

— Worse, I have a live stream with Lily that day, and I will have to assume a fake fling with her because the ratings are so low. Will was pissed when he found out, and he doesn't care about me!

— I don't think he is wrong!

— I know it's not nice, but what can I do? Will doesn't want to see me, doesn't want to talk to me, and that's because we live in the same house, but he's just been avoiding me at all costs!

— Then I think you'd better fix it, don't you?

— How?

— I know it is difficult, but is there no other alternative? Do you have to assume a fake relationship instead of assuming your own relationship?

— You know it involves a lot of questions, Oat!

— I know, but I think we already have a lot of people with an open sexuality in the entertainment world, who are respected and have never stopped working because of it, on the contrary, they continue to be successful, so Will is right to be upset!

Will

The days have dragged on, and I still haven't spoken to Nate. Today, Valentine's Day, we could be somewhere enjoying our company, but my boyfriend will be pretending to be a couple with an actress, to promote a series that has no audience. I may be being selfish, I know that, but I would never submit to this for the sake of work, I feel extremely frustrated. My mind feels like it is going to explode from thinking about it all the time. I stare at Lyn, sitting in front of me in the restaurant, she watches me intently, runs her hand under her hair, puts her elbow on the table, does the thinker's position, and speaks.

— What did you come here for?

— Dinner!

— It doesn't look like it, you stare at nothing, and you haven't even touched your plate!

— I will eat, don't worry!

— Why don't you send him a message? Schedule something after he leaves the live?

— No, because there's no way he could see my message, by now the live broadcast has already started, and I don't want to talk to him either!

— You don't want to, and you stand there with that look on your face like you can't think of anything else! — she says, and then picks up her cell phone, fiddles with the screen, and it doesn't take long for her to see something that catches her attention. — It seems that your boyfriend is trying to get your attention!

— What do you mean?

— People are commenting on Twitter that he is singing a song, check it out!

Lyn points her cell phone in my direction. On the screen is a paused video, in which Nate is playing a guitar. I press play, and hear his soft voice singing the song he wrote for me more than three years ago, which was included in the soundtrack of Fake D8. I watch quickly and hand the cell phone back to my sister.

— There's no big deal, he's just playing to please his fans!

— I don't think that's quite it!

— Why?

— By the hashtag they went up!

— Which one?

— #NatemissesWill

— Nonsense, it was created by a fan!

— That may be, but the things he said in the live, before singing the song made it clear that he misses you!

— Now?

— Stop being proud, I know you're dying to throw yourself into his arms!

— He's going to have to do more than sing a song and say nice words on a live stream, since he's going to take over the fake dating!

— I don't think you will like it here!

— What? — Lyn shows me a part of the live stream that Nate participates in with his scene partner, Lily.

She is standing next to him, with a vibrant smile, her long hair loose, her eyes emitting a radiant glow, and like thinking that if she is acting, she is beginning to convince me of her happiness in taking up dating Nate.

— I can't believe that on Valentine's Day, I have to go through this! It's too unpleasant...

— Easy little brother, being famous sometimes costs a lot! You need to be patient...

— Patience? I can't take it anymore, I have to pretend my relationship doesn't exist. This isn't easy, Lyn!

— I imagine it's not easy for you at all, but you need to have a little more patience, sometimes your work requires a tiring delivery!

— I know Lyn, but it's my boyfriend who is going to be on a live stream on Valentine's Day next to a girl, claiming to be dating her, is that easy? I feel terrible...

[...]

While Lyn went to the bathroom, I grab my cell phone and go into the hashtag to check what he said, I scroll down the screen, and find some loose video clips from the live. I click and watch him say words to please our fans, and probably convince me. The host of the live, questions him by saying.

— Nate, your routine has been intense lately, hasn't it?

— Yes.

— Do you miss something, which you can't do lately?

— Before this intense recording routine, I used to get together with my friends, and I miss that. Most of all, I miss hanging out with Will!

The video ends, and a smile forms on my lips, but at the same time I reproach myself for it. I keep scrolling the screen, and find another video, and press play. The presenter asks If you were not here in this live, where would you want to be?

— I would love to be in a resort relaxing, looking at the sea...

— Accompanied?

— Probably!

— By whom?

— Probably by someone very special!

— So you have someone special in your life? — as she asks, the camera focuses on Lily's face, and the presenter continues. — Is that special someone here on the stage?

— No... — hearing this, I confess that her "no" made me smile, and before I could continue checking her participation, my brother comes back from the bathroom, and I hang up the phone.

After I saw some parts of the live I kept thinking that we could be together at this time in a hotel room on some island. Having dinner, talking, laughing about something silly, taking a relaxing shower, and doing something we haven't done in weeks, sex. Lyn was right when she said that I was dying to throw myself into his arms, in any case, I know that it's not his fault, but sometimes his excessive devotion to work annoys me.

— Earth to Will! — Lyn's voice as she says this sounds distant, in fact, I am too distracted to think of anything but Nate.

— Sorry, I was just thinking here...

— No Nate!

— Is it that obvious?

— Yes, from the first day you told me that he bothered you somehow, because he seemed to make no effort to want to be near you before the workshops, remember?

— I remember!

— So, can you take me home?

— Didn't you come by car?

— No!

— All right, I'll take you!

— There is one thing, first I have to stop at a place...

— What place?

— A friend's house, to pick up a book!

— All right!

[...]

During the ride to her friend's house, Lyn seemed preoccupied with something, talking all the time by text with someone who wouldn't give her a break. I thought it was a little strange, but when it comes to my sister, nothing is strange. Lyn's friend's house was in a neighborhood close to our parents' house, in a gated community. We stopped at the entrance and my sister spoke to a member of staff who let us in. We followed the road, passing several luxurious houses, until we saw an all-white house, many windows, and a long lawn with a small bed of roses.

— That's my friend's house!

— But is it all dark? Are you sure?

— I do. She watches movies in the dark. Stop in front and I'll come over!

I do as Lyn asks, and she walks to the entrance of the house. She rings the doorbell, and it doesn't take long for the door to open, but no one appears, and she enters the house. I find it a little strange and keep my eyes peeled. More than ten minutes pass, Lyn doesn't appear, and the house is still dark. I feel that something is different, and I decide to get out of the car. I grab my key and cell phone, before closing the car door, I turn on my phone, and as soon as it updates, a flood of messages starts to arrive all at once, more normal, something strange. I get out of the car and walk quickly towards the door, before I get closer, my phone rings, I stare at the screen, and my sister's name appears. I answer, the call stops, and at that very instant I hear the screams of a woman coming from the house.