Winning My Ex-Crush

Fenella’s POV

Several days after our meeting, I was already sitting in the makeup chair in front of the mirror. Wearing a long-sleeved black knit sweater and jeans, I looked like an ordinary woman. Indeed, that was the concept of today’s ad: just a couple going shopping to prepare for a winter vacation abroad.

“Okay, all set,” the makeup artist said to me after doing my face with neutral tones.

“Thank you,” I replied softly with a small smile.

She then left to report to the director. I sighed and waited in my makeup chair, looking at my phone. There was a text message from Laird, and I read it immediately.

‘Hey. Has the shooting started yet?’

Since yesterday, he has sent me multiple messages and called me several times. I knew he was trying to restrain himself from being jealous, but the tone and anxiety in his voice couldn’t lie.

Laird and I decided not to inform him about the shooting details because we believed Laird might go crazy hearing the detailed story behind the scenes. Besides, I didn’t know the detailed mechanisms until I spoke to the makeup artist earlier this morning.

‘Not yet. I just finished my makeup.’

‘Is your meeting over?’

Shortly after, he replied directly.

‘Are you wearing clothes to cover your body?’

‘I just finished and will proceed to the next meeting.’

“Fenella, we will start shortly. Gather for rehearsal with the director,” Jessy called out to me from the door of the makeup room.

“Oh, yes. I’ll be right there,” I said as I rose from the chair.

‘For this first scene, I will still be wearing clothes. A warm sweater and jeans.’

‘Good luck! I have to go now. Shooting will start.’

After waiting a few seconds, he replied briefly.

‘Ok.’

That’s it? Ugh, I’m sure he’s worried about my shoot with Alan today. I couldn’t deny that I had trouble sleeping last night because I was anxious about today.

I took a deep breath and exhaled. It was time to truly test my acting abilities. The dialogue was minimal, but I was afraid of forgetting it while shooting. Previous ads were easier, just with simple movements and big smiles.

I walked out of the makeup room and immediately spotted Alan in a gray long-sleeved sweater and trousers. We really looked like a couple you could meet every day. For the first time, I appeared in an ad without glamorous dresses or heavy makeup. This unusual situation made me even more nervous.

“Hey,” I approached Martha and her assistant, who were surrounding Alan.

“Hey, Fenella. Are you ready?” Martha squeezed my arms.

“Yes, I’m ready.”

We listened to the style and expression directions for our first scene. After preparing for some time, Alan and I finally walked to the set. The room had been set up to look like a small drugstore. We stood in the middle of the store, facing the shelf displaying 4U condom products.

Near us, an older-looking female model had also gotten ready, wearing a white lab coat. Her hair was neatly tied up as if she were a professional pharmacist. She smiled at me and raised both thumbs.

“You can do it,” she whispered.

“Break a leg,” I replied with a wide smile and two thumbs up.

I prepared for the first scene. Everyone said I didn’t need to be afraid of making small mistakes, but I was too scared of not being able to do it perfectly. I didn’t want to disappoint everyone, and I hoped not to waste their time. One take was my hope.

“Nervous?” Alan asked softly.

“A bit,” I said, exhaling through my mouth repeatedly.

Suddenly, Alan grabbed my hand. My eyes widened momentarily. This was definitely not in the script. I tried to pull my hand back, but Alan tightened his grip and pulled strongly.

“It’s okay. Just act natural, like an intimate couple shopping at a supermarket. It will look better on camera. Trust me.”

Although hesitant, I ultimately followed his lead. Maybe he was right. We were a couple looking to choose a condom, so physical contact should be normal.

Ugh! It all felt wrong! I exhaled once more to settle my thoughts. This was just acting, nothing more.

“Alright. Everyone is in position! Everyone quiet,” the assistant’s voice came through the megaphone. Everyone immediately fell silent and stood in their respective positions.

“Action!”

My heart was racing! I immediately searched for the displayed product shelf according to the script. My voice murmured loudly, as requested in the script.

“Hi. Can I help you?” the pharmacist asked.

“Hey. I’m looking for a condom that suits us,” I said as Alan picked up one box.

“Do you know your size?” she asked calmly, as if inquiring about a shirt size.

Both Alan and I were puzzled. “Maybe a standard size?” Alan asked, blinking rapidly.

“Do you want to try to find the right one first?” she asked.

We all fell silent, as our dialogue had already finished. After a few seconds, the assistant director finally spoke loudly through the megaphone.

“Cut!”

The studio immediately buzzed with noise again. We all turned to the director.

“Fenella, relax; we want to see more smiles. Loosen your grip on each other’s hands, and that’s good. Pump up your spirit a bit more!”

Oof, my bad. “Yes! Sorry.” I kept bowing repeatedly to the people around me, as it seemed I was the reason for this scene having to be repeated. We repeated the scene over and over. It wasn’t until the fifth try that the director was satisfied with the result.

“Cut, okay!”

Okay? Finally!

The shooting continued by jumping to the last scene in the script. With the same clothes, we went straight into the scene where Alan and I waved to the pharmacist, holding a paper bag full of condoms. Our hair was styled messier, and we walked off the camera screen with big, satisfied smiles.

One hour later, I sat waiting in the makeup room. A satin robe covered my body, while I only wore a breast patch covering the front of my chest to conceal my areolas. My hair was arranged to be more voluminous, thick, and long to cover my chest. I was almost wearing nothing for the second to all through the last scenes!

I only had on a skin-toned G-string, and my body was quite exposed. The director said he would ensure no vital areas were highlighted by the camera, and he would adjust the screen positions to not be too revealing. However, I still felt embarrassed after seeing how minimal the fabric I was wearing was. It could be said that I was almost naked.

“Fenella, you can come out now,” Jessy said, opening the door.

“Oh, yes,” I said nervously. Perhaps he noticed my tense jaw, so he approached me.

“Are you okay?” His hands squeezed my shoulders.

“I don’t know. I’ve never worn this minimal clothing in front of so many people. Even the bikinis I’ve worn during photoshoots have never been this revealing.”

I never wanted to be photographed naked again because of the harassment I experienced at the beginning of my career. Now, although not entirely, it could be said I was half-naked in front of dozens of pairs of eyes at the shooting location. This was on a level higher than when I danced striptease at the Oscar club!

“It’s okay, Fenella. I know, even bikinis usually have colors that differentiate between your skin and the bikini fabric.” Jessy squeezed and massaged my shoulders and arms to calm me down.

“Yes, I don’t feel confident enough.” I grimaced as I looked at Jessy.

“Fenella, you are very beautiful. You have to be proud of your body, and everyone should know that you are also proud of and love yourself. Trust me, only words of praise will you hear after all this is over,” he reassured me.

“Relax; you are in the hands of professionals.” He held both of my hands and squeezed them tightly.

“Oof, okay.” I exhaled deeply.

We then left the makeup room for the prepared set. After this, I would truly be doing a steamy scene with Alan! Even though it was just acting, our hips would still touch, and everyone would think it was normal for us as a couple.

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