Minra had to stay away from him.
That was the only solution.
Because she had already stepped too close to something she shouldn’t have.
Because Shuun was watching her too much now.
Because every time she let herself react, he saw it.
So, starting today—she would avoid him.
She wouldn’t look at him.
She wouldn’t get close enough for him to talk to her.
She wouldn’t react, even if he did something wrong again.
She was going to disappear from his interest.
That was the plan.
And for a while, it worked.
.
For the next few days, Minra kept herself busy.
She stayed where she was supposed to be.
She focused on actual crew tasks.
She didn’t watch him act.
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She even left the set early before his scenes started, just to make sure she wouldn’t be caught in one of his tests again.
And—for the most part—it worked.
Shuun didn’t seek her out.
He didn’t say anything.
He didn’t approach her.
Maybe—just maybe—he lost interest.
Maybe he let it go.
Maybe Minra was safe.
…Or so she thought.
Because Shuun wasn’t stupid.
And Shuun noticed everything.
.
It happened three days later.
Minra had lowered her guard.
Just slightly.
She was going through the day’s schedule, checking off completed scenes, standing at the far end of the studio—far away from Shuun.
She wasn’t looking at him.
She wasn’t thinking about him.
Until—
He messed up.
Again.
.
It was a small thing.
A missed cue.
A hesitation in his reaction.
A slight pause in his delivery.
Subtle enough that no one noticed.
No one—except Minra.
Her fingers tightened around her clipboard.
Because she knew.
She knew he was doing it on purpose.
Again.
And the worst part?
He knew she knew.
Because the moment he made the mistake—
He looked at her.
.
It was only for a second.
A brief flicker of his eyes toward where she was standing.
A small, unreadable smirk at the corner of his lips.
Like he was saying—“Caught you.”
And Minra?
Minra hated that it worked.
Because she hadn’t meant to react.
She hadn’t meant to notice.
She was supposed to be avoiding him.
But now?
Now she had given herself away.
Again.
.
The scene ended.
The director nodded in approval.
Shuun walked off set—and headed straight for her.
Minra panicked.
She immediately turned, ready to walk the other way.
But—
Too late.
A voice—low, smooth, knowing—stopped her in her tracks.
“Avoiding me?”
Minra froze.
Slowly—hesitantly—she turned.
Shuun stood in front of her, arms crossed, watching her like she was a puzzle he wasn’t done solving.
Minra forced a neutral expression.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Shuun’s smirk deepened.
“Lying again?”
Minra’s breath hitched.
Because he had seen through her.
Again.
And now?
Now, there was no avoiding him anymore.
.
Chapter 9: The First Move