The filming studio was finally quiet.
Hours ago it had been filled with cameras, staff running around, directors shouting instructions. Now only a few soft lights remained, casting long shadows across the empty set.
Est sat on the edge of the stage, swinging his legs slightly while scrolling through his phone.
"Still here?"
The familiar voice made him look up.
William stood near the entrance, jacket half on, hair still slightly messy from filming.
"I could ask you the same thing," Est replied with a small smile.
William walked over, stopping a few steps away. For a moment neither of them spoke. The silence between them wasn't awkward—it was the kind that felt warm.
"You did really well today," William said.
Est raised an eyebrow. "That's the fifth time you've told me."
"And?" William shrugged. "Maybe I'll say it a sixth."
Est laughed softly.
"Are you always this supportive," he asked, "or just when cameras aren't around?"
William tilted his head, pretending to think.
"Honestly?"
Est nodded.
"Mostly when it's just us."
The words landed between them like something fragile.
Est's smile faded into something softer.
Outside, rain had started tapping lightly against the studio windows.
"You're going to make fans think we're actually dating if you keep saying things like that," Est joked.
William stepped closer.
"And if we were?"
Est blinked.
William's voice had lowered, more serious now.
The rain grew heavier outside, filling the silence.
Est's heart raced in a way that had nothing to do with acting scenes or fan service. He searched William's face for the playful expression he expected—but there wasn't one.
"You're not joking…" Est said quietly.
William shook his head.
"I've been trying to figure out the right time to say it."
Another step closer.
"Turns out there's never a perfect time."
Est exhaled slowly, nerves and excitement tangling together.
"You know," he said, "this sounds exactly like the confession scene we filmed last week."
William smiled.
"Yeah."
"But this one's real."
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Est reached forward and lightly grabbed William's sleeve.
"Good," he said softly.
"Because I was hoping it was."
William's smile widened, warm and genuine.
The rain outside the studio grew louder, drumming softly against the windows.
Est still held onto William's sleeve, his fingers curled into the fabric as if letting go might break the moment.
Neither of them moved.
William glanced down at Est's hand, then back up to his face.
"So…," William said quietly, a teasing smile tugging at his lips, "does this mean you're accepting my confession?"
Est scoffed softly, though his cheeks were starting to warm.
"You confessed and then immediately asked for confirmation? That's cheating."
William leaned slightly closer.
"I'm just making sure I didn't imagine that part where you said you hoped it was real."
Est looked away, pretending to focus on the rain outside.
But the smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed him.
"You're really brave tonight," Est said.
"Or maybe I'm just tired of pretending," William replied.
The words were simple, but they carried weight.
For months they had been acting together—holding hands for scenes, looking into each other's eyes for dramatic moments, standing close enough that fans could easily imagine something more.
But the rule had always been clear.
It was just acting.
Fan service.
Nothing real.
Except… it had stopped feeling like acting a long time ago.
William sat down beside Est on the edge of the stage.
Their shoulders brushed.
Neither of them pulled away.
"You know the fans are already convinced something's going on between us," Est said.
William chuckled softly.
"I've seen the edits."
"Some of them are… very convincing."
Est laughed, covering his face briefly.
"Please don't tell me you watch those."
"Only the good ones."
Est nudged him with his shoulder.
"You're unbelievable."
William turned slightly so he could see Est better.
"I'm serious though."
His voice softened again.
"I like you, Est. Not just as a co-star."
Est's heart thumped loudly in his chest.
For a moment he didn't trust himself to speak.
When he finally looked up, William was watching him carefully—as if waiting for permission to breathe.
"You're making this really hard to ignore," Est said quietly.
William raised an eyebrow.
"That's the idea."
Est laughed nervously.
"You realize if anyone from the staff walked in right now—"
"They'd see two actors sitting on a stage."
"Very close actors."
William smirked.
"That's normal in our industry."
Est shook his head, but the smile never left his face.
The rain outside softened slightly.
Somewhere in the distance, thunder rolled.
William hesitated before speaking again.
"There's something else I should probably say."
Est turned to him.
"What?"
William rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking less confident.
"If this makes things weird… if you'd rather just stay friends… I'll respect that."
Est blinked.
"You just gave a dramatic confession five minutes ago and now you're backing out?"
"I'm not backing out," William said quickly.
"I just don't want to make things uncomfortable for you."
For a second Est simply stared at him.
Then he laughed.
Not the polite laugh he used for interviews—the real one.
"William."
"Yeah?"
"You're overthinking."
William frowned slightly.
"I do that sometimes."
Est turned toward him fully now.
Their knees brushed.
"Let me make this easier for you."
William held his breath.
Est reached out and gently took William's hand.
The contact was simple.
But it felt completely different from every scripted touch they'd ever shared.
No cameras.
No director.
No audience.
Just them.
William looked down at their hands, clearly stunned.
"Well," Est said softly, "does that answer your question?"
William's smile slowly spread across his face.
"Yeah."
His fingers tightened slightly around Est's.
"I think it does."
Outside, the rain finally began to fade.
But neither of them noticed.