In the Spotlight
Mizi couldn't believe she'd gotten the part in Alien Stage. She'd auditioned with only a slim hope of getting in, but the directors seemed to have noticed something special about her. Jittery from nerves and lack of sleep, Mizi walked into the building where they would be filming and stopped at the front desk. "Hi, I'm Mizi. I'm part of the..."
"Film, got it." The woman at the desk typed something into the computer, then waved her hands towards a different door. "Just go that way, you can meet the rest of the cast."
Mizi nodded and determinedly set off in the direction the woman had pointed. She was blinded by bright, flashing lights, that she assumed were photos and videos for online. Everyone else was sitting in a circle of chairs with a plate on their lap, so Mizi quickly added some snacks to her paper plate and sat down.
The director smiled. "Great, now that everyone's here, you should go around and say your names. Since we're trying to keep it as realistic as possible to connect with the audience, your characters will keep your same name. Why don't we start going... this way?"
A tall girl with long, flowing brown hair smiled. "I'm Hyuna."
"I'm Sua." Mizi could hardly believe her eyes-she'd seen Sua in so many other movies and musicals that she could barely process meeting her in real life. Sua was her idol.
"Till," said a boy with silver hair. He looked familiar, and Mizi thought that maybe she'd seen him in a movie before.
"Luka." He had a coy grin pasted onto his face. Mizi knew immediately that he wouldn't be playing a very pleasant role.
"Ivan." Mizi definitely knew the black-haired boy-she'd watched him in films multiple times, and was a pretty good singer. Mizi wondered how big his role would be.
Other cast members went around the circle, and Mizi went last. "Hey, I'm Mizi." She wondered whether her voice sounded weird, or inexperienced-after all, she hadn't been in anything before.
The director was handing out scripts. "I expect you all to read this through tonight, and memorize as much as you can. As for now, you can feel free to get to know each other, or just hoard the chips."
As soon as he stopped speaking, Mizi hopped up from her seat to where Sua was standing awkwardly in the middle of a group of people who, for the most part, weren't talking to her. "Oh my god, you're Sua. I'd hate to be a bother, but I just wanted to tell you how much I admire your work." Mizi was babbling, but her mouth wouldn't close and she forged on. "I am literally your biggest fan."
Sua's lips turned upwards. "Mizi, right?"
She knew her name!
"I heard you when I was leaving auditions, and you can really sing. However big your role is, you're going to be perfect for it." Sua was blushing slightly, as if embarrassed to admit she'd been listening in.
~~
Sua reread the script, taking note of all the times Mizi and Sua would interact. Sua was happy to know more about her role, and to give someone else a chance as the lead while she worked on other projects. She was looking forward to seeing Mizi as a lead.
She'd obviously noticed Mizi during the first practice today, with her vibrant pink hair and stunning eyes. How could anyone not notice her? Mizi had that same lost look in her eyes like Sua had during her first few films, unsure of who to talk to and how to act. Perhaps she could take Mizi under her wing, to show her around.
The next time, they got straight to filming.
The director read from a clipboard. "Mizi, Sua, I assume you've both read through the script." It wasn't a question. "I'd like you to take some time and get to know each other, build up a connection between your characters, and the vocal director will be working with you on the songs."
Sua smiled at Mizi. "I can't wait to get to know more about my universe," she said, referencing the script.
Mizi paused, considering this, before understanding dawned in her eyes and she broke into laughter. "I can't wait to interrogate my god," she replied once she caught her breath.
~~
"Cut!"
Mizi and Sua anxiously turned to the director, awaiting feedback. They'd ran through this scene so many times, and wondered when they would ever be finished with Round 1.
The director gave them two thumbs up. "That was it!"
Mizi's first instinct was to hug Sua, and that was exactly what she did. "Finally," she breathed. "I thought we would never finish that episode."
"Tired of me already?" Sua teased, tugging Mizi's hair.
She rolled her eyes. "Never. But the sooner we're finished, the sooner the round is posted."
Sua suddenly remembered something. "The ships can get a little crazy sometimes. There's always a whole lot of rumors going around towards the beginning before anyone can shut them down."
Mizi looked horrified. "So someone might think Luka and I are a couple?"
Sua raised an eyebrow. "Are you?"
"No! Never!"
Sua seemed surprised. "I get that his character sucks, but as a person he and you could be cute together-"
"I'm lesbian," Mizi said. "There's no way that I would ever date him."
Sua's jaw dropped, ashamed. "I didn't know, sorry." She winced internally.
"No worries," Mizi assured her.
~~
Mizi almost choked on her water when she was scrolling on her phone. She was on call with Sua, who immediately asked what was up. "Round 1 was only posted a few days ago!" Mizi exclaimed and sent her the link to the article she found: "Behind the Scenes-Something More?" which was about fans who speculated something going on between Mizi and Sua.
Sua laughed. "That's earlier than usual," she said. "I've never been shipped with someone until at least a week after release."
Mizi straightened, an idea forming in her brain. "What if we sort of fed the fans?" she said. "Not lying to them about us dating, but just casual, extra gestures that friends wouldn't do."
"I'm on board," Sua agreed instantly. The next week, they met up in person to go to the movies and called afterwards to discuss some of the headlines-they all brought up how Sua turned to Mizi every time there was even the slightest jump scare.
~~
"I wanna kiss you," Mizi said out of the blue one night when they were at a party.
Sua laughed, but it was strained. "Mizi, you're wasted. You can't mean that."
"Says who?"
Sua gave in and was delighted when Mizi remembered their kiss the next day.
~~
One of the reporters in the crowd thrust a microphone towards Sua. "What do you say to the rumors about you and Mizi dating?"
Sua squinted past the bright lights. "Hmmm," she thought. She took Mizi's hand in hers and smiled softly. "Who said they were rumors?" There were a chorus of "awww"s from the reporters, and many new posts the following day.