The ride to the office was a blur of half-done makeup, a tangled ponytail, and Ellie mumbling to herself in the backseat of the car.
"A new series? Just like that?" she muttered, clutching her coffee in one hand and checking her phone with the other. Margo had already texted the building address, plus three separate "Hurry up!" messages.
She barely had time to pull on jeans and a simple white blouse before rushing out. And now, here she was, walking briskly into a glass-walled studio office, still unsure if she was dreaming.
Margo spotted her immediately.
"There you are!" Margo practically dragged her inside. "We've been waiting. The producers love your work in *When It Rains*. And when they pitched this new project, your name came up right away."
Ellie blinked. "Wait, they already know I'll accept?"
"You *will* accept," Margo said, not missing a beat. "Trust me. This one's good."
They stepped into the conference room. Inside, a few executives sat around the table, all dressed in business casual, the kind that said *we're cool, but we still sign million-peso deals*. There was a thick manila folder placed right at the center of the table it was Ellie's contract.
She sat down slowly as they introduced themselves one by one. A producer from a Prime. A network rep. A scriptwriter. Margo. All eyes were on Ellie now.
One of the producers opened the folder and slid it toward her. "We're excited to have you onboard. This series has the potential to be your biggest one yet. Before you sign, feel free to ask anything."
Ellie scanned the first few pages, her hands a little shaky. "Um... who's directing this?" she asked casually, flipping to the second page.
There was a beat of silence.
Then, from the far end of the room, someone stood up.
"I am."
Ellie froze.
That voice.
She looked up and there he was. Standing with his arms crossed, wearing a black jacket over a grey tee, dark hair slightly tousled, and that familiar crooked smile on his lips.
"Tristan?" she said, her voice nearly a whisper.
"Hi, Ellie," he said, like it had only been yesterday.
Her heart skipped.
Tristan Reyes. Her old college friend. Her *partner-in-crime* during some of the most chaotic years of her life. The guy who once pretended to date her just to make Kyla jealous.
He hadn't changed much, except maybe he looked sharper now. A little older. But still unmistakably Tristan.
Ellie tried to play it cool. "You're directing this?"
Tristan shrugged. "Surprise."
Margo, unaware of the sudden tension, clapped her hands. "You two know each other? Even better!"
Ellie nodded slowly, trying not to let her thoughts show on her face. "Yeah. We go way back."
**Back then...**
College, 3rd year.
It was one of those humid afternoons when the sun felt like it was sitting right on top of their campus. Ellie sat on the grass, sipping a melting frappuccino and ranting to Tristan.
"She barely looks at me anymore," Ellie said, defeated. "I think Kyla's really moved on."
Tristan leaned back, propped up on his elbows. "You seriously want my advice?"
"Do I have a choice?" she deadpanned.
He smirked. "Alright, listen. You've been too... available. You like her too much."
"Because I *do* like her!"
"Exactly. And she knows it. That's why we need to make her feel like she's losing you."
Ellie squinted. "How do we do that?"
Tristan took a long sip from her drink, ignoring her protest. "Easy. I flirt with you in public. Walk you to class. Make it seem like we're close. Let Kyla wonder what's going on."
Ellie stared at him. "That sounds evil."
He grinned. "It's *strategy*."
And it worked.
Two weeks later, Kyla cornered Ellie after PE and asked in the most casual, not-casual voice, "So... you and Tristan?"
Ellie blinked. "What about us?"
Kyla looked away. "Nothing. Just... you've been spending a lot of time together."
Ellie tried not to smile. "Is that a problem?"
Kyla didn't answer. But the next day, she showed up to Ellie's dorm with snacks and a half-baked excuse about "needing someone to talk to." That night, they watched three movies back-to-back, and Kyla kept moving closer, until her head was resting on Ellie's shoulder.
Tristan was right.
It worked.
**Back to the present.**
Ellie shook the memory from her mind and blinked at the contract in front of her.
"So," Tristan said, walking over, "are you in?"
Ellie glanced up at him, unable to hide her grin. "You still like pulling surprise moves, huh?"
He shrugged, the same crooked smile still there. "Only for people I actually like working with."
She picked up the pen and signed.
Margo clapped like they'd just won an award. "Perfect. We'll schedule a press announcement soon. You two can start story meetings next week."
After everyone left the room, Tristan stayed behind with her.
"You free tonight?" he asked casually, picking up his bag.
Ellie raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"Dinner. Celebration. Or catching up. Your call."
She smirked. "Celebration *and* catching up sounds good."
**That evening.**
They met at a quiet rooftop restaurant near BGC. Not too fancy, but cozy, with warm lights and a soft breeze. Ellie arrived in a denim jacket over a black dress, while Tristan looked like he came straight from a fashion editorial without trying.
They ordered pasta and wine. Talked about the new series, joked about college memories, and laughed more than they expected.
"So what happened to you after graduation?" Ellie asked, twirling her fork.
"Film school. Then freelancing. Eventually got noticed by a producer, and now I'm here."
"I always knew you'd end up directing," Ellie said honestly.
Tristan smiled. "And I always knew you'd be famous."
They clinked their glasses.
Just as Ellie took a sip, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Ellie?"
She turned.
Kyla.
Wearing a cropped hoodie, leggings, and that look on her face was a half confusion, half unreadable.
"Kyla? What are you doing here?" Ellie stood up, stunned.
"I was meeting Lara... but she canceled last minute," Kyla said. Then her eyes shifted to Tristan. "Didn't know you two were hanging out."
Tristan stood and smiled politely. "Hey, Kyla. Long time."
Ellie could feel the awkwardness creeping in. "Um... you wanna join us?"
Kyla didn't hesitate. "Sure."
She sat down.
*Right between them.*
Tristan raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Ellie blinked, trying to hide her amusement.
"So," Kyla began, reaching for the wine bottle and pouring herself a glass like she owned the place, "what's this all about?"
"Just catching up," Tristan said coolly.
"Looks like fun." Kyla took a sip, then glanced at Ellie. "You didn't mention you were meeting him."
"It was kind of last-minute," Ellie said.
Kyla turned to Tristan. "Still single?"
Tristan chuckled. "For now."
Kyla leaned back. "Interesting."
Ellie stared at her, trying to read between the lines. Was she... being territorial?
They continued chatting, though the vibe had definitely shifted. Kyla kept finding ways to cut into the conversation, tossing in inside jokes, light teasing, even nudging Ellie's arm once or twice.
By dessert, it was clear.
She wasn't just crashing the dinner.
She was staking her claim.
As the waiter brought the bill, Tristan looked at Kyla with a knowing smile. "Still protective, huh?"
Kyla blinked. "What?"
"Nothing. Just... some things never change."
Ellie glanced between them, lips twitching into a half-smile.
Old dynamics. New feelings. Complicated history.
She had a feeling things were about to get even more interesting.