"Ethel?" Ziga arrived and called for Ethel from inside the hall. He placed the groceries on the kitchen table and walked out to the poolside.
"Ethel..." Ziga exhaled when he saw Ethel in the swimsuit. Sitting at the edge of the pool with her eyes closed, she probably had no clue what she was doing to the man watching her.
Ziga turned at once and went back inside. He emerged again with a grey towel and threw it at her, waking her up.
"You are here?" Ethel only held the towel but didn't use it to cover herself.
"Didn't I tell you not to come near the pool when I'm not around? Do you want to drown?" Ziga refused to look at her. He was looking forward while talking to her.
"I just came out to get some tanning. You talk as if you allow me to even swim when you are here."
"You have asthma, I'm not going to risk your life. You and water are not compatible."
Ethel finally stood up. "Then, what about you and I? Aren't we compatible?" Ethel stepped closer and Ziga moved back.
"Put the towel on and go inside. Get changed and meet me in the kitchen." Ziga started walking away as he spoke.
"Ziga..." Ethel called and he turned. She smirked and did the wildest thing ever by spreading her arms and falling into the pool.
"Ethel..." Ziga yelled and jumped into the pool. He swam to her her and held her. "Are you crazy? What is wrong with you?"
Ziga carried her out of the pool and sat her down. "There's a limit to being willful. Do you want to die? Ethel, I'm warning you, don't cross the line with me or I will discipline you."
Ethel could tell Ziga was really mad at her, but she still asked. "Are you angry?"
Ziga looked at her coldly. "Get in and change you spoiled brat!"
Ethel stood up furiously. "I am not a spoiled brat, you old man!" She yelled at him before turning away.
"Old man? Hey!" Ziga cussed. He closed his eyes, took deep breaths and tried to calm down.
Suddenly, before he could register what was going on, Ethel had planted a kiss on his cheek before running inside.
He didn't even know when she had turned back and done that, but his heart couldn't stop racing.
"Cut!"
Immediately after the director yelled cut, Luigi grabbed the towel on the chair and wrapped it around June. His actions surprised everyone, most especially, June.
It was unlike him to be so considerate. June held the towel against her body and went in to get ready for the kiss scene which was up next.
"What was that all about?" Tony immediately got closer to Luigi and asked, as the latter walked away.
"I don't understand what you mean." Luigi replied.
"Are you afraid that the men will lust after your woman's body, so you quickly covered her up? Let me tell you, she is not yet your woman. You can't also do anything at the moment because of the clause you kept in the contract." Tony reminded him.
Luigi sighed. He had indeed put a clause in the contracts of all the actors and actresses, forbidding romantic entanglement while filming last.
If he knew this very clause was going to bite him back, he surely wouldn't have kept it there.
Though he had yet to really process what exactly he felt towards June, he couldn't help but pay attention to her, no matter what she does.
Luigi stood up and went towards the washroom and Tony followed him.
....
Preparing for the kiss scene wasn't easy for June. It was impromptu and she didn't know how to handle it.
After finding out that Luigi was going to be doing the kiss scene himself, she had brushed her teeth five times, sprayed mouth refresher, but the nervousness on her face couldn't be hidden.
The news of Luigi Oren doing his first kiss scene in a movie broke the internet. The expectation was high and the production team were banking on this scene as a major teaser and selling point for investors.
No matter the amount of affirmations, June gave herself, she still felt extremely anxious and just wanted to find an excuse to not do it.
Honestly, she hadn't kissed a man in the last five years. She had almost forgotten how to kiss someone.
If this scene wasn't executed well, the internet would chew her, and her career was going to suffer a major setback.
This was her first drama in five years, and she didn't want to mess it up. She only got the role because others rejected it. She therefore had to work extra hard to earn a good name.
June sighed. Her head was already aching.
"June, are you ready?" Sari knocked on the washroom door and asked. June was still inside there.
The door opened and she stepped out. Sari looked at her and asked. "Still nervous?"
June noted her head. "Sari, what if I mess this up?"
Sari gave June a hug. "It's just a kiss. Close your eyes and it will be over in a second. Knowing Luigi Oren, I doubt the kiss will last up to five seconds. Babe, let me tell you something that will calm your nerves. I heard that, the reason why Luigi doesn't accept kiss scenes is because he is a bad kisser. So, you don't have to worry at all Let's go!"
Soon after they left, the door to the male washroom opened and Luigi came out with Tony.
"Am I a bad kisser?" Luigi turned and asked his assistant.
"I don't know. You've never kissed me before!" Tony replied.
"Why would I kiss you?" Luigi frowned.
"But the reason why you stopped filming kiss scenes was because that actress fell for you after the kiss scene and wanted you to be her boyfriend. She stalked you for months and even spread false news about dating you."
"Why did it suddenly become, I suck at kissing?" Luigi scoffed. "I will make sure you don't forget this kiss in a long time." Luigi walked away, pissed.
Scene 58
Ethel came out of the bathroom in a tiny sleeve nightgown. With a seductive aura, she walked to the bed, where Ziga was seated.
"What do you think about this outfit, Ziga? I bought it specifically to celebrate your big win. How do I look?" Ethel's voice was tender and mesmerizing. She leaned against the table closer to the couch in the room.
Ziga got up from the bed and moved closer to Ethel. He touched her hair, and ran his fingers over her face, down to her chin.
"Don't bite more than you can chew, Ethel. I'm a man who doesn't play by the rules." Ziga warned her.
"What a coincidence? I don't either!" Ethel gave Ziga a light kiss on the cheek and turned to leave, but he held her hand and pulled her closer.
"I warned you, now you are going to learn how to not mess with me..." Ziga placed his hand around her slender waist and pinned her against the couch, towering over her.
"Now, it's my turn!" He whispered before lowering his head to kiss her. When his lips touched her, Ethel quivered.
In actual fact, the one who quivered was June, and she tried to stop the kiss midway, but Luigi held both of her hands against the couch, leaving her powerless. He kissed her passionately. Maybe a bit aggressively, but also possessively.
When she tried to pull away, he deepened the kiss, and June gradually became powerless.
"Cut!" Director Sun yelled, but they didn't hear any response.
The production crew, other actors and managers became confused. They weren't sure if the two people on the couch were still acting or being real?
Just when June was about to kiss him back, Luigi let go. He stared at her deeply and whispered into her ear.
"Do you still think I suck at kissing? I don't mind taking this further, but people are watching. I will let you off today!" Luigi pulled the blanket at the end of the couch and covered June's body, because the nightgown had slipped over her shoulders.
Sari rushed over and helped June to stand up. "Director, I will take June back to remove her makeup."
As she walked away, June glanced at Luigi. He looked different. When he was kissing her, it felt real than fake, but now, he was back to being nonchalant, as if nothing happened.
Also, what did he mean? Did he perhaps hear Sari's words earlier on? June was confused. She didn't know how to feel about this.
Soon after June left, Luigi's eyes followed her. Earlier on, he was shaken by the way he handled the kiss scene.
It might have seemed like mere acting, but he knew the truth very well. The moment he touched her lips, all conscious efforts to play it safe was thrown out the window.
Why did he lose himself in that manner? Was he sex-starved? Luigi shook his head to clear his thoughts.
....
June couldn't still shake what happened off her mind. Especially, after he whispered those words to her.
"June, are you alright?" Sari asked worriedly.
"I'm fine." June replied with a smile. She didn't want to tell Sari what Luigi told her.