Chapter 18: Cat Got Your Tongue?

People went crazy when the 6 minutes ad film was released. Austin's social media accounts were filled with fan comments. So many people were browsing AWAN's website that it crashed. They had to upload it on YouTube as well. In less than a day the video gained more than 15 million views. People were rushing over to buy the sportswear so much that it was getting out of stock. AWAN has to produce it more than estimated. People who don't even play sports also are buying it. Right now it's high on demand.

The cast from the new series Austin is working on also has them. They all clicked photos wearing them and also uploaded them on their social media accounts. Josh did the same too. Right now everyone's center of attention is Josh. When Austin saw the news on TV about the new sportswear selling like water, he felt like going underground for a while till everyone forgets about this. But nope. It's not something people are going to forget so soon.

"Good job," the manager said "I didn't expect things would turn out like this"

Manager's words were like thorns poking at Austin. This man has made Austin's life miserable. Austin can't do anything he pleases. He has forbidden hanging out with Josh as well. Austin has to sneak out so he could spend time with Josh

"Josh is past. You can't be seen with him too much. Focus on the new actress now. People are loving you both" The manager said.

The manager makes him do projects he doesn't want to. But he doesn't leave him any choice. He also wanted to handle Austin's social media. The manager wants to control him. He says that it's for Austin's own good but Austin knows what is what. Austin loves his fans. And his social media accounts are the only way to connect with them. He didn't want to lose that.

The manager is an opportunist and so he made him do several projects in two weeks so he could handle his own social media accounts. He made him work his ass off in those two weeks.

When Austin arrived at the shooting spot everyone's eyes were at him. It happens most often but this time it was different.

"P'Austin sure knows how to rock the screen" Dennis Haan teases. Even the new actress is shy when Austin is around. Before she didn't hesitate to deliver her dialogues or get close to him but she did several retakes this time. Her cheeks were already red. She didn't need makeup for it.

Today's shooting ended around 11 pm. Traffic is horrible this time. Austin was in his car checking his schedule and it's so tiring to do so much in one day. His car's window was closed, he could see outside but he wishes he didn't but he did. The shopping mall is still there so is the old fool selling balloons filled with methane. Not to mention the big billboard on top. Austin's bulge looks very big on it. He sighs and a motorcycle blocks the view. A man and his child were on it.

"Look, dad. It's so big" the boy says. The man quickly covers his child's eyes and Austin feels embarrassed.

"Driver, take me to AWAN please" Austin is furious.

Austin gets out of the car slamming the door so hard that the driver became anxious. He was going straight to the president's office but it was empty. He was in a conference and Bright was asked to wait but he's not someone who is going to wait to punch that guy's face. He walks fast to the conference room and drags the president out. The president doesn't want a scene to happen in front of everyone and so he frees his hands and asks Bright to follow him to his office.

"What's up with you?"

"You fucking asshole!" Austin screams at him.

"My name is Bryan. And stop screaming. I'm not deaf"

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. Wait. I didn't do anything. It's all you"

"I said I'd do that scene again but you didn't let me!"

"Isn't it good though? People are loving it plus our products are selling rapidly"

Bryan sounds calm which is the opposite of what Austin wanted. Austin can't take it anymore. He throws a punch on his face but Bryan has excellent reflexes. He moves to the right and holds Austin's fist, twists it a bit leaving Austin bent over the table. Austin's hand is twisted behind his back and Bryan has it in his grip. Bryan bends and leans forward to Austin's ear. Austin feels so helpless right now.

"Calm down, wild cat. Don't ruin the face you'll kiss later"

Austin has it enough. He moves his leg to the right and pulls it up. Bryan falls flat on his butt. His back hurts. Of course, it does. He tries to stand up quickly but Austin puts his hand on Bryan's chest making it hard for him to move.

Austin gets closer to him and he looks intimidating. But the weird thing is Bryan is still smiling. Austin pushes his chest harder and he grunts.

"You wish," Austin says "And one day I'll expose you and your company. Just wait"

Austin left afterward but Bryan was still lying down on the floor. His hands are where Austin's was. He's breathing fast but also smiling. Just Wait. Isn't it what I've been doing for two years?

***

The whole day after kissing Eric, no wait, Eric kissing Max was not easy for him. He couldn't think straight. The whole scene was playing on repeat inside his head. Legs. Waist. Kiss. That jerk took advantage of him and also he got teased by his professor.

"Get a room, you two" the professor had said. It was such an awkward moment for him. Eric did not just kiss him. He French kissed him. Eric's tongue was inside Max's mouth. Looked like Eric enjoyed it. Fuck! I enjoyed it too! What's wrong with me? I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.

Just look at that guy's guts. After the professor got past them Eric said, "Should we get a room?"

This wasn't Eric's plan but since Max got triggered, it encouraged him to annoy him even more.

Max couldn't even focus on the ad film properly. When everyone was jumping from their seats watching that, Max's attention was somewhere else. Arman was sleeping peacefully and Max couldn't.

The next morning Max looked lost. No one knows what happened yesterday except the professor. Hyun joined Arman, Laura, and Rita for breakfast today. They all looked at each other when Max was silent. Because usually Max would just talk and talk.

"What!?" Rita and Hyun said at the same time. The harmony. Both of them are shocked. Laura and Arman don't know what Max said to them. Asking is pointless because they wouldn't answer anyway.

"You kissed him? Why would you do that?" Hyun asks as if kissing Eric was a crime. He looks at Rita and Max who are staring at him with eyebrows raised and he clears his throat.

"I mean...."

"Whatever" Rita cuts him off "Was it good?" Rita sounds curious.

Listening to Rita, Max bangs his head on the table. Yes, Rita, it was good but I hate him. He looks up to answer but sees Eric right in front of his face. He gets nervous and words don't come out from his mouth.

"What's wrong? Cat got your tongue?"