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.
"You did well today. Right, haven't 3Plus entertainment being calling us? I spoke with one of their directors and they are interested in signing you. Now that you are gaining popularity, they want to sign you."
"Weren't they one of the agencies that refused to work with me when I got into that scandal? Sari, let's not work with them." June said, decisively.
"Okay, but since they are calling me, I still have to go and listen to what they have to say, right? Will you be fine alone? You still have one final scene to film before the day's over."
"I'll be fine. Go and do what you have to do. There's still an hour before the next filming, I will take a short nap before then."
"Okay, if you need anything, just call me!"
"Mm! Go!" June smiled.
Sari picked her bag, and phone and left the room.
June sighed and stood up to change.
.....
Tilly Restaurant.
After a long and stressful filming day, June finally got some time to rest and decided to go to Tilly's for some food. She hadn't eaten anything the entire day and was quite famished.
"Hi, it's there an empty table available!" June asked the receptionist at the counter.
"Yes, Miss! This way!" The receptionist cordially led June to an empty table.
"Thank you!" June appreciated the kindness of the receptionist. She smiled and said down.
"Someone will be here shortly to take your order!" The receptionist said to June before returning.
June removed her purse hanging over her shoulder and took off the mask that covered half of her face. She looked ahead and froze when she saw a very familiar figure, sitting directly across the man she just had a passionate kiss with earlier on at the set.
Luigi seemed to have noticed her the moment she entered. She had always had an exceptional aura. She neither smiled nor frowned. Her expression outside filming set was inexplicable. As if she had no hopes or maybe her trust was broken by the wrong people.
Although, they never really communicated outside of filming grounds, he could tell from the videos he watched of her that, she was once a bright person.
Right now, she looked nothing like the girl she was a few years ago. She wasn't a cold and indifferent person, but she neither opened up to anyone. She didn't seem to have friends either, outside the two he knew of.
June immediately looked away and simply lowered her head. She wasn't afraid of people watching her, but it was different with Luigi. His gaze was always deep and made her feel insecure.
They were just three years apart, but he had achieved so much in just a few years, and had control of his career.
She felt insecure, just standing next to him. Even though, he had been quite accommodating of her on set. He rarely got angry when she made a few mistakes today during the next scene after the kiss scene.
June was tempted to put on the mask, but a waitress walked up to her just then, and engaged her in a conversation.
"Hi, Miss, have you decided on what to order?" The waitress asked with a smile.
It was then that June realized the menu was on the table.she quickly grabbed it and glanced through.
"I will have this, and this. Thank you! And a mug of cloves tea, please." June pointed out what she liked and gave the menu back to the waitress.
June took out her phone and heard someone mention her name behind her. She turned and her face changed.
"June, it's really you, June. I thought I was mistaken." Greta smiled. "Are you alone?" She asked.
June's face became instantly unfriendly. It was clear she didn't have a good relationship with this lady.
"Why? Can't I come out alone?" June asked.
Greta wasn't perturbed by her indifference and continued. After all, it wasn't easy catching June outside, alone without Sari or Gita.
"Right, I heard you got casted on the movie with Luigi Oren? Congratulations! At least, I don't have to feel bad anymore. You're finally out of your acting slump. Actually, I've been thinking about you all these years. But after what happened that night, you completely blocked everyone and wouldn't talk to me again. I always felt bad that I invited you to that party."
"Miss, your meal is ready!" The waitress arrived with June's food.
"Thank you!" June removed her card to pay, but Greta beat her to it.
"Use this card! The meal is on me, after all you just started acting again, you still need all the help you can get. June, I'm so proud of you, and the fact that you decided to act again." Greta chuckled.
Her words seemed to mean well, but June knew better. Because, this was the same woman who caused her downfall. She would never forget that night!
June picked her purse and stood up. She was getting sick if Greta's pretentious behavior.
"June!" Greta held her hand just when June stepped out of the table. "Where are you going? You haven't touched your food!" Greta's grip suddenly tightened around June's wrist threateningly.
June glanced at her wrist and exhaled tiredly. "I just lost my appetite. Since you paid for it, take your time and enjoy it." June removed her wrist with a force.
"June, do you have to be so heartless and cold towards me? This is the first time we are meeting again after five years, and I just wanted to be nice to you. Do you have to be so difficult and embarrass me this way?" Greta stood up and asked.
At this point, people were beginning to notice them, and June didn't want that. Part of her contract was to avoid bad press.
"It's been five years, and your acting hasn't evolved at all. You are still following the same tired ass script of a white lotus. If you aren't sick of it yet, then, I am. Excuse me!" June turned to go and Greta got furious.
"Stand there!" Greta stood up. "June, I just wanted to be nice to you, but it turns out you are still arrogant as before. Didn't you learn anything about this industry after what happened to you? Let me let you in on something. The reason why you got that gig is because I rejected it."
"So? Do I have to be grateful to you?" June asked sarcastically.
"You don't have to be, but just so you know. I got an offer from Director Filn. I am going to be part of the new crime series 'Database 2'. Even before finalizing the cast list, it has received several investment proposals from different companies."
"It's that so? Congratulations, then! When you are busy with that one, you won't have time to mess with me." June smirked.
"A piece of advise though. Working with Luigi Oren isn't going to be easy. He's known to be difficult and has quite a temper. Six female leads quitted before you, three rejected the script because of him. Do you think, you can handle such a cold and indifferent man?" Greta was quite cocky.
June chuckled. "Why should I be able to handle him? Whatever his character is, I don't care, as long as it doesn't affect my work. Besides, Luigi Oren is neither my boyfriend, husband nor family member, so why should I care about the rumors surrounding his life? Let's get this straight. You probably rejected the script because you knew you couldn't keep up due to your bad acting. You shouldn't blame Luigi for that too."
"Hey!" Greta couldn't handle how June spoke back, but before she could say anything, June was already getting out of the restaurant. She panicked when she saw Luigi on the other table.
Luigi gave Greta a cheeky glance and ignored her afterwards. Greta picked her purse and took the card from the waitress and left the restaurant.
....
Next day.
On the set of "Lovely You*
"June, why didn't you tell me that you met that ungrateful woman yesterday?" Sari entered the changing room and asked June.
"What are you talking about?" June was having her makeup done.
"Are you done? I will do the rest. You can go and attend to the other actresses." Sari dismissed the makeup artist, in order to speak to June alone.
"Someone recorded you with Greta yesterday. Tell me, everything that happened, without leaving a thing to me."
June sighed and began to narrate everything that transpired at the restaurant to Sari. Afterwards, Sari hit her palm on her thigh in a rage.
"The nerve of this woman to still come to you after what she did to you. If it wasn't for you trying to protect her, would you have gotten ill-attention from 'that person ', which ruined your life and almost drove you suicidal? Let me tell you, if you ever run into her, just ignore her. No, in fact, I won't let you go out alone again. If I'm not with you, then, you must go out with Gita."