30. thirty
thirty
EZRA
“We could definitely add that line into the scene. I can’t believe I never thought of it before,” Lysandra exclaimed.
I found it odd to hear her being loud with excitement, although I knew she was ecstatic because we were officially filming.
She had also been much more flexible than usual.
Most times, she would almost fight me if anyone ever suggested a change to the way the book was being adapted.
She truly wanted her voice to come through the script. But today, she was different.
It was strange, especially after the way she ran away from me at the party a few days ago. I knew her mind was chaotic, and her moods were similar to the turns and dives of a rollercoaster. I found it hard to be on the same page as her sometimes. I almost never knew what approach to take.
Lysandra’s dark hair swayed as she turned to me with a wide grin on her face.
The muscles in my face didn’t hesitate as I returned a grin to her.
She looked back to the scene that had been unfolding.
It had become a bit difficult for me to concentrate on directing this film when she was right beside me.
Flashing me with her good looks and enchanting smile.
I hoped no one noticed how much of an effect she had on me.
I could be taken out of the project if someone were to report back to Zack that Lysandra was making me lose focus.
Zack only hated two things. Commitment and losing money. Although I didn’t mind if this project fell through, I knew Lysandra’s heart would be broken, and Zack would hate me for losing a fortune from this movie.
My friend never outgrew his greed. Luckily, I could say that I had.
After losing the woman of my life five years ago, I realized just how right she was about me.
I was used to having everything go my way, I was used to spending any money that I desired; I never thought that my greed could hurt others. Until I met her.
She helped me see just how rotten I’d been inside. And it hadn’t been my father’s fault. I couldn’t blame him. I chose to be that person. But since then, I have chosen to be the man I knew she would love.
I waited five years to be who she wanted me to be.
Those five years had been hell for me. Living 1,827 days without her had been far too long. I felt like I’d run out of oxygen when I watched her push me away in the hallway at Blackthorn House Academy.
It had been like she’d disappeared off the face of the Earth. Because of that, I made sure to be in the spotlight as much as I could be. Social media, news, TV, interviews. I did as much as I could so I could remind her how much she still meant to me.
She is unforgettable.
I truly hope she remembers me.
I’ll never forget her.
I hoped she understood all of the clues I left for her in my interviews. It was impossible not to call to her when I realized that wherever I turned, her shadow accompanied me.
I clearly remembered the nights I would wake up miserable from dreaming of her. Only for me to see her on a crisp autumn afternoon, with her ginger fiancé at a ring store. I’m certain he was her boyfriend at the time.
She’d been jumping in place as she admired the pear-shaped ring on her finger. I remembered the sparkle in her eyes when she examined the diamond. The green-eyed man beside her kissed her deeply right before me. I could never pass through that street again.
However, I harbored a deep indignation within me for having lost her.
I had to get to know her again. She had to know that I regretted everything I had done. Which was why I was here. Leading the project of her dreams, so that she could know that she still haunted mine.
“Now waiting on the director,” a monotonous voice said through my walkie-talkie. I jolted out of my nostalgia.
“Pardon. Is everyone in their places? Cameras ready?” I received multiple nods. “Ready, set, action!”
I glanced toward Lysandra, who had looked away as I set my eyes on her. I heard laughter erupting among the actors in the scene, which meant I would have to walk in soon and guide them through the next steps. I sighed.
“That was a very productive day, wasn’t it?” she asked as she fixed her dark curls.
“It was,” I replied. This was my chance. She was speaking to me; she had been in a good mood for the entire day. Perhaps my opportunity was dangling right in front of me.
What could I tell her? How could I seize the moment? I had already asked about her fiancé, her best friend, and her upcoming novel. No, I had to begin a conversation that would potentially lead to another topic.
Then, I remembered of her guilty pleasure. “Would you like to get some coffee?”
She never rejected coffee. She had to say yes. Please say yes.
Lysandra’s sharp eyes turned to me, she curved her mouth upward. “Of course.”
I’d been surprised. “Really? You’re accepting my request to get coffee at this hour? It’s almost midnight.”
“It’s never too late and never too early for coffee.
” She shrugged. The black eyeliner around her eyes made them even more captivating.
Her dark turtleneck combined perfectly with her black and white pencil skirt, with a pair of matching leggings.
She’d been wearing her usual pair of loafers; they must’ve been her favorite.
The heels of her shoes clicked along the pavement in unison with my own.
“Can I ask you a question?” she asked almost immediately.
“You already did.” I beamed.
Lysandra slightly pushed my shoulder. “I’m serious.”
“Ask away, Guerrera.”
Her brow twitched, and so did her lips. Was she holding back a smile? I couldn’t tell.
“Do you think you could tell me more about yourself?” Lysandra questioned.
“You already know everything about me,” I said.
“It’s been five years. You’ve lived a whole life without me. I would like to know what you’ve been doing all this time.”
She was right. There was so much I didn’t know about her too. I wanted to know about her victories, her sorrows, everything. But I had to earn that gift once again.
I breathed in. “I didn’t do much.”
“Don’t lie. I’ve seen the interviews and articles.”
I grinned. So perhaps she had seen the clues I left for her.
“Fine, fine. I graduated from Blackthorn House Academy. Afterward, I worked in finance with my father. From there, I moved to real estate.”
Lysandra hissed. “That must’ve been miserable for you.”
I chuckled. I was glad she remembered our encounter in the library when I mentioned what I wished to work in once I had graduated from school.
“It was. But I never forgot about what I wanted to do, which was to work in films. Finance helped me fund the production company, and real estate helped me explore lots of land and areas that could serve as potential sets.”
Not even for one second did she break her gaze from me.
“How did you get into directing?”
She was curious about me. We were getting somewhere.
“One day I went to see how the production was going for one of our films, and I couldn’t help but want to be a part of the process.
Most producers aren’t as involved in their films as I wished to be, so I began going to as many film productions as possible.
I worked with other great directors who took a chance on me and taught me their best techniques.
Some of them recommended some great courses over at the University of Edinburgh. ”
“You went to the university?”
“Yeah, I took a one-year course for certification.”
“How come I never saw you?”
If she had seen me, would it have changed anything?
“It was mostly online. I needed that freedom, anyway, since I was traveling a lot with my father.”
“I heard about his…” she trailed off, almost too scared to admit it. I nodded, giving her the approval to finish her thought. “About his heart attack.”
“Yeah, it wrecked my mum.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. I probably should’ve reached out when it happened, I just—”
He didn’t deserve anyone’s pity. If anything, I had been more than relieved to be freed of his presence.
The only grief I had was for the relationship I didn’t have with him, rather than the fact that I would never see him again.
My mother would never have to bear wounds inflicted by him, and my sister wouldn’t have to worry about coming home ever again.
I shook my head. “Thank you, but you don’t need to apologize for that.”
She remained pensive for a few moments as she examined me. “Well, then. I’m glad that you’re doing what you love. One of the greatest fulfillments in life is making your imagination become a reality.”
I was half expecting her to make fun of me for using my father’s business to my advantage. Perhaps that was something that would be left in our bygones. I hoped. It always made my achievements feel worthless.
“What about you?” I asked.
“After we—” Lysandra began, then cleared her throat. “After the incident, I moved to Lachlan Prep. Camille transferred with me, and convinced them to let us be roommates there too.”
“Tell me that you are joking,” I chuckled.
“She is a force of nature, that girl. She made petitions, sent emails, and organized protests to be able to get the same dorm as me. When we graduated, we moved to the University of Edinburgh. In the meantime, I had begun to write a few interesting stories, and she received an internship at a publishing house here in Edinburgh. Eventually, she made some connections and became an assistant at a literary agency. She pitched my book to the agents there, and they loved my manuscript. Then, she was promoted to literary agent, and here we are now.”
I analyzed the way her stare seemed to be following her memories. She spoke in a sweet, yet nostalgic manner.
“Seems like I’m not the only one who has used nepotism to their advantage,” I chuckled, nudging her elbow.
Lysandra snapped her neck in my direction as she squinted her eyes. “That is rude. I am nothing like the people from your world.”
“I’m joking,” I laughed.