The Greatest Showman #1428 – Delusion

Melissa stood frozen, watching the retreating figure, her heart racing uncontrollably. The rhythmic beat she'd grown so accustomed to had disintegrated, replaced by a chaotic, erratic pounding in her chest. Pain shot through her ribs as if her very bones were echoing the tumult inside.

Yet, beneath the panic, a sweetness lingered at the tip of her tongue. It was like a stone sinking into a still lake, rippling out in ever-widening circles that refused to stop, building to an overwhelming wave.

"Card!"

Damien's sharp voice broke through her daze, snapping Melissa back to reality. Her heart continued to beat wildly as she quickly lowered her gaze, pretending to examine the goods displayed in the glass counter. But her focus wavered, her vision oscillating as her thoughts raced, refusing to settle.

Fortunately, no one seemed to notice her disarray. Or if they did, they didn't care.

Damien stood up and offered a quick nod of approval before walking toward Renly, a thumbs-up exchanged, simple and direct. His focus then shifted back to Melissa, giving her another nod before turning to the rest of the crew.

"Alright, we're moving on to the next scene. No issues with this one—speed it up!"

His announcement was clear and decisive, bringing an end to the current shot. It wasn't that Damien was rushing; the chemistry between Renly and Melissa had been so effortlessly perfect that there was no need for further refinement. From eye contact to dialogue delivery, every aspect of the scene had been flawless, all under Renly's skilled direction.

For Damien, the technicalities of acting might be beyond his understanding, but he knew when something felt right. And in this case, it felt perfect. Time was limited in the cinema, and Damien was intent on making the most of it.

For Melissa, the scene had ended, but the emotions it stirred in her hadn't. She could still feel the energy, the pulse of youthful excitement and innocent longing lingering in her chest. Those eyes, that smile, those movements—though awkward and unpolished—had been filled with such sincerity, such honesty.

A flutter of emotion swept through her, like the wind lifting her heart higher and higher. It felt like first love—pure, untamed, and impossibly beautiful.

She tried to focus, to shake the feelings away. But every thought seemed to lead her back to him. Renly. She couldn't stop replaying the moments, even if it was all just fantasy. Hadn't she been too hasty? Should she have been more patient, more cautious in her feelings?

Her thoughts spun in circles, each one contradicting the last. Despite herself, she couldn't help but smile, that gentle warmth spreading across her face. She tried to hide it, but it was too late.

Renly, like me…

The thought repeated itself, more vivid with each passing second. But Melissa couldn't deny it. What she'd felt, the connection—was it real? Was it just the acting? Or was there something more?

She didn't have the answers, and maybe she never would. But she couldn't ignore the rush in her veins.

"Melissa?"

The deep voice startled her out of her reverie. Her cheeks flushed hot, and she could feel the heat radiating from them. She didn't need a mirror to know how she looked. It was that same shy, embarrassed feeling she couldn't shake.

She looked up to find Renly standing before her, his face warm and bright with that same sunny energy. His presence seemed to fill the room with life.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Her heart pounded in her chest. She had to steady herself, clutching the counter to calm her shaking hands. Her movements felt stiff, awkward as she adjusted a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"What's the matter?" Renly asked gently, his voice calm and reassuring.

Melissa cleared her throat, trying to regain some composure. She had to maintain professionalism, even if her heart was betraying her. "The next scene is ready. Do we need to transition?" she asked, her voice softer than usual.

Renly raised an eyebrow. "This scene requires us to leave the counter area. The camera angles and positions are different."

"Oh," Melissa replied, catching up to the conversation, though it took a moment longer for her to fully focus. "Right. No problem. Uh, should we... take a seat first?" She stumbled a bit, but she tried to regain her professionalism, even if it was an act. She was determined to show Renly that she could handle this.

She stepped away from the counter, her gaze inevitably drawn to Renly's tall, confident figure. The energy around him was magnetic, like a strong, silent force that couldn't be ignored. She felt a warm flush creep up her neck again, and her movements became more hesitant, more reserved.

As she tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, she couldn't help but notice the subtle curve of her chin in the reflection. She knew Renly must have seen it, too.

Renly's eyes flickered with understanding. It was clear that something had changed in Melissa, though he wasn't sure exactly what. Perhaps it was a deeper connection to the role, or perhaps a shift in her approach to him. Maybe, just maybe, Melissa had started to trust him—trust his word that their off-screen interactions wouldn't interfere with their work.

Whatever it was, Renly welcomed the change. It could only help both of them in their future scenes together.

As the crew prepared to move forward, Renly knew that the best performances were yet to come. For now, the filming of "Boom Drummer" had finally hit its stride, and everyone could breathe a little easier.