Chapter 15: Everyone Thinks We’ve Already Kissed. Only We Haven’t

Everyone on set thinks we've kissed.

The lighting crew, the script assistant, even the janitor every single one of them looks at me like we've committed a romantic crime behind the scenes.

But the truth?

We haven't.

Not even once and honestly… that's worse. Because now every look, every accidental touch, every silence between me and Ren feels like something's about to explode but never does.

---

"So… have you two kissed yet?"

That was the first thing Naya from lighting asked me while dragging a softbox past the hallway.

I almost choked on my iced coffee.

"WHAT?!"

She smirked. "Come on, Noa. You think we're blind? You two have more tension than the main couple in a K-drama."

"I—No!" I stammered. "We haven't kissed. I swear on every lav mic that's ever been taped to my chest!"

But of course, she didn't believe me.

Because the real problem wasn't just the gossip.

It was Ren.

Because Ren never denied it.

---

Every time someone teased us, Ren just smiled. Calm. Mysterious. Silent.

He didn't say "No."

He didn't say "Not yet."

He just let people think whatever they wanted.

Which made me spiral, obviously.

Because how am I supposed to act normal when HE'S acting like we've kissed… and I'm the only one who knows we haven't?

---

Like today.

We were recording a voice-over scene in Studio B. Just the two of us.

I was reading lines, trying to focus. Ren was sitting way too close for sanity.

His voice was soft when he leaned in and whispered, "Try slowing your breath on that line."

"My breath?" I blinked. "What's wrong with my breath?"

"You glitched on the 'you want me' part," he said.

I stared at the script.

It did say that.

But his tone…

His tone made it sound like he wasn't talking about the script at all.

---

By the time we finished, I was sweating—and not because of the booth temperature.

As we stepped out, two crew members exchanged looks and whispered.

"She definitely kissed him."

I turned to Ren, exasperated. "Wanna explain something?"

He sipped his drink. "Like what?"

"Like maybe clearing the rumors? For my dignity?"

He just smiled. "I kinda like your dignity at 40%."

I hate him.

I also want to make out with him.

It's a problem.

---

Later that afternoon, we sat in the break room.

Too close. Way too close.

I was pretending to scroll through my phone. He was doing the same.

But I could hear his breathing. And we were in sync. Unintentionally. That made it worse.

"People think we're dating," I said, eyes still on my screen.

"Hmm."

"Should we deny it?"

He leaned back. "Why?"

"So I don't have an identity crisis?"

He looked at me.

"You're confused?"

"Of course I am!"

---

Then disaster walked in.

Our assistant director.

She was holding a new script. "Hey, guys. Just a heads-up. You've got a reshoot next week."

"Which one?" I asked, cautious.

"The couple commercial. The client wants more… realism."

I blinked. "Define realism."

She smiled. "They want a kiss."

Silence.

My brain short-circuited.

KISS?

ON-CAMERA??

---

After she left, we just stood there.

Staring at each other.

Processing.

"I'm not okay," I said.

Ren's voice was calm. "Can you do it?"

"I don't know. Can you?"

"If I have to… yeah."

YEAH?

JUST 'YEAH'?

Not 'I've been dreaming of this'?

Not 'finally'?

---

I stood up, frustrated. "You never say what you're actually thinking! You just sit there and stare like a silent romantic assassin!"

He stood up too.

"I haven't kissed you," he said slowly, "not because I don't want to."

I blinked.

"Then why?"

"Because once I do…" he paused. "I'm not sure I'll be able to stop."

My lungs. Gone.

---

The break room was dead silent.

He stepped closer. Not touching. But close enough to make the air hot.

"Everyone thinks we've kissed," he whispered. "Only we haven't."

I swallowed. "So…?"

He tilted his head.

"Do you wanna prove them wrong?

Or prove them right?"

---

Before anything could happen, the door swung open.

Naya again. Of course.

"YO. You two are being summoned. Now."

I jumped. Ren stepped back.

She looked at both of us. Eyed the tension.

"Am I interrupting something? Were you about to kiss?"

I screamed, "NO!"

Ren said, "Not yet. Almost."

---

I left the room first, heart racing.

Everyone looked at us like we were one breath away from scandal.

And maybe they weren't wrong.

Because for the first time…

Maybe I didn't want them to be wrong.