It was nearly 9 p.m. when Earn and Susi arrived at the upscale condo building, the city lights casting a soft glow across the pavement.
The director, Klaharn Buathong, was known for being elusive, always busy, always in demand. Even this late, they were lucky he'd made time for them.
The condo entrance was quiet, save for the buzz of a nearby fluorescent streetlamp and the distant hum of motorcycles weaving through Bangkok's nighttime traffic.
Earn fanned herself lightly with the script folder in her hand, dressed in a loose cotton blouse tucked into high-waisted trousers. Her hair was tied up to keep the heat off her neck. Beside her, Susi, wearing a sleeveless top and jeans, checked her bag for the third time, then cursed under her breath.
"I left the papers at home," she groaned. "The signed contracts and treatment notes. Shit—Klaharn will kill me."
Earn turned to her, concerned. "Wait, are you serious?"
"Yes, they're on the dining table." Susi backed away, already hailing a cab. "I'll go grab them. I'll be back in, like, twenty minutes tops. Just wait here. Don't go in yet."
Before Earn could protest, Susi was gone.
With nothing to do, Earn idly pulled out her phone, scrolling through social media and emails, then she received a message from Fahlada.
How's it going there, my love? Did you arrive?
Yes, just waiting for Susi, she reply almost immediately.
Earn's thumb hovered over the keyboard, ready to clarify, when another message popped up:
I thought Susi was with you?
She was, she typed but her phone rang and Fahlada's name flashed across the screen, which she answered immediately.
"Earn, is everything okay?" Fahlada's voice was soft and warm, carrying a subtle note of concern.
"Hello to you too," Earn replied, a soft giggle escaping her. Hearing her wife's voice lifted her spirits. "You don't have to worry. I'm just waiting for Susi to come back. She ran out for a bit."
"Oh… How long have you been waiting? Do you want me to come over?" The concern in Fahlada's tone was unmistakable.
"I'm fine," Earn said, trying to sound casual, though her foot tapped restlessly on the pavement.
"Still… if Susi doesn't get back in a few minutes, you need to update me," Fahlada insisted.
Earn was about to reply when a familiar voice cut through their conversation.
"Khun Earn!"
Klaharn called, waving from the lobby entrance. He wore black slacks and a silk navy shirt that shimmered faintly under the light.
Earn waved back and said over the phone, "Okay, don't worry about me, I'll be fine," then hung up.
"So… where's Susi?" Klaharn asked, glancing around.
"She forgot something, she'll be back soon," Earn replied politely, slipping her phone into her bag.
Klaharn's smile turned teasing. "Wife?" he asked, pointing at her bag, implying she had just been talking to Fahlada.
"Yes," Earn answered, smiling slightly.
"Well, shall we go ahead? Susi knows my unit—she'll catch up," Klaharn said.
Earn hesitated. It wasn't common for a woman to go alone with a man in a condo. Klaharn noticed immediately and added, "This is a safe neighborhood. Do you want us to wait here outside instead?"
Earn realized staying outside together wasn't much better, and she reminded herself that Klaharn had a sterling reputation in the indie film scene. Plus, according to Susi, he was gay. That eased her nerves slightly.
"No, let's wait in your unit. I don't want your fans swarming for you," Earn said.
"Or your fans," Klaharn added with a grin.
"If I still have fans," Earn joked, and they laughed together.
They took the elevator, chatting lightly about personal things. When they reached his unit, Klaharn opened the door without a key.
"I left it unlocked for you and Susi," he said casually, but when they entered Earn heard the clicked of the lock, but she ignored it,
'it's not like he's gonna do something when Susi arrived'
The condo was stylish and minimalistic—soft lights, sleek modern furniture, film posters lining the walls, and a row of trophies that caught her eye. A faint trace of jasmine incense lingered in the air.
"Make yourself comfortable," Klaharn said, gesturing to the sofa. "Water, soda, or tea?"
"I'm good, thank you."
"Suit yourself."
As Earn sank into the sofa, her eyes drifted to a massive painting of horses. Next to it was a black door that looked out of place, almost secretive—but her attention snapped back the moment Klaharn sat beside her.
They began discussing her career, the new project, and the role in question. Klaharn leaned forward, thoughtful, his gaze intent on her as if weighing every word.
"I actually want to know more about you," he said. "The character is complicated. She has a pregnancy she didn't plan, a life that keeps pushing her down. Despite being financially stable she fights for her child as long as she can—but there comes a point when even that isn't enough. The choice she makes… it's divisive, but heartbreakingly human."
Earn's breath caught. "Abortion?"
Klaharn nodded.
"Could you channel that kind of pain?" he asked.
She blinked rapidly, the tension coiling around her ribs like steel. She had thought this would be a simple meeting, a line read, a routine conversation. She hadn't imagined it would feel like standing in front of a mirror that reflected every fear she had buried. But Klaharn, the director whose name alone carried weight, was waiting. And maybe, just maybe, this was the moment she couldn't avoid anymore.
Her fingers fidgeted with the edge of her script. Her voice trembled when it finally emerged, barely above a whisper. "No one really knows this, but I've had two miscarriages."
Klaharn paused, his pen halting mid-note. He didn't speak. He just watched, silently, as if giving her permission to keep going.
She swallowed hard, the words clawing their way up her throat. "Even the network doesn't know. I kept it hidden because it was too much. The first time, it shattered something inside me. The second almost broke my marriage."
A single tear escaped, trailing down her cheek. She pressed her palm against her mouth, trying to stop the trembling. "I always imagined being a mother. And every time I thought I could hold that dream, it slipped through my fingers." Her voice broke on the last word, ragged and raw.
"And now the character that I need to portray is someone who doesn't want to be a mother. I did not expect her to be the opposite of me when you told me she's someone who has carried more than most people could bear." Her voice trembling slightly. She looked down at her hands, twisting her fingers nervously.
"But I can imagine that—the decisions she will have to face, and I know that I can bring her to life." Earn said with conviction then met Klaharn's gaze, eyes glistening.
Klaharn moved closer, a calm presence beside her.
"I can only guess how difficult that is in real life," he said softly. "I'm sorry you've had to go through that. But… I'm glad I chose you for this role. I needed someone who can carry that depth…"
Earn swallowed hard, her chest tightening. Her lips quivered as a shaky laugh escaped. She brushed at a tear she hadn't noticed. "I'm sorry. I don't know why—"
"No," he interrupted gently, tilting her chin with the lightest touch, "You don't need to apologize. That raw, aching truth… that's exactly what will bring this character to life."
She took a shaky breath and turned her face away from his touch. Talking about her miscarriages had always felt impossible; just the thought of them made her stomach churn, but here she was, facing it anyway. She tried to steady herself as Klaharn leaned closer, his hands resting lightly on her shoulders.
"Earn, with that emotion… I could make you the lead, even over my upcoming films."
Her eyes widened. "Really?"
"I believe in your talent," he said, voice steady. "But… this role—she's hardened by survival. Without money, she has to sell her body. There's a scene where we need to show she's given everything… even her dignity."
"What do you mean?"
"I'll need to see your body," he whispered closer to her ear that run shivers to her skin she stood up abruptly.
"I'll pretend I didn't hear that." Earn said, and kept thing he's gay isn't he, I shouldn;t be feeling this way, but this is wrong. And how long is Susi gonna make her wait with this man'
Klaharn stood infront of her and softned his gaze "I understand you're scared. You need to relax, we can approach it carefully. There's no camera here, just the two of us. It's the emotion that matters most."
Bur Earn doesn;t know what to feel about it she did not reply and took out her phone,
"Let me just talk to, Sus—"
Klaharn interrupted her and snatched her phone.
"What the hell are you doing?" Earn snapped.
"Earn, you're a veteran actress, shouldn't you be taking advantage of this? You just need to take your clothes off, and we're done."
Earn's eyes widened. Her mind froze. She'd been warned about situations like this as a rookie, but she'd never encountered anything like it firsthand. She had always been careful. And this was Buatong—Klaharn. The name alone carried weight in the industry. Professional, respected… could he really be capable of something so horrible?
Klaharn tilted his head, a slow, calculating smile playing at his lips.
"Come on. It's just for the character. I need to see if you can be vulnerable. Age-wise, you're not twenty anymore, Earn. You have to be bold. We can also pair you with a male lead, and you could skyrocket. Can you imagine the fame if you… got more explicit with a man instead of a woman?"
His eyes roamed over her, as though he'd already undressed her in his mind. Earn's stomach churned.
This wasn't about art.
"I'm… sorry," she said firmly, taking a step back. "No. I'm not comfortable with that. If this role demands it, I'll have to decline."
Klaharn chuckled, a low, unsettling sound, and took a step closer. "Why so serious all of a sudden? It's just a screen test. Don't actresses do this all the time?" He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "We could even… try a bed scene. Just the two of us. Feel it out."
Klaharn unbottoned his clothes slowly and Earn's pulse raced. She instinctively stepped back.
"What the — I thought you were gay? Why would you—?"
"Gay? Me?" he smirked as she completely removed his upper clothes showing his packs and broad shoulders "Do you want me to prove you wrong?"
Before she could react, he pushed her gently against the wall. Her back hit the cold surface, and he leaned in, hands brushing her blouse.
"No!" she shouted, slapping his hands away and shoving him back. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! This is disgusting!"
Klaharn touched his hand where she'd hit it, feigning surprise. He tried to move closer again, but Earn's reflexes kicked in. She grabbed a glass trophy from a nearby cabinet, holding it like a weapon.
"Stay away from me, or I swear I'll smash this over your head!" she barked.
"Do you think I'm desperate enough to trade my dignity for a damn role?!" Her voice cracked, tears threatening to spill. "I trusted you! I thought this was about the craft, not—whatever this is!"
She snatched her bag and stormed toward the door, her whole body trembling.
Then—Clap. Clap. Clap.
Klaharn's slow, deliberate applause echoed through the room. His eyes glinted with satisfaction.
"That," he said, voice smooth, "That was exactly what I needed. Susi, you can come out now."
Earn froze. Her gaze darted toward the black door beside the massive painting. Susi stepped out, a calm, knowing smile playing on her lips, as if she had been waiting for this moment all along.
"…What? What's going on here?" Earn demanded, her chest heaving.
"I'm sorry, Earn. I'll explain later. You did well." Susi's arms wrapped around her in a reassuring hug.
Klaharn's lips curled into a small smile. "That was the test. I needed to see if your emotions were real—and they were. You passed. You're perfect for the role.""
He stepped back, rubbing the hand that still throbbed. "If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'll just grab an ice pack. Aside from being a good actress, you also have strong hands," Klaharn teased.
Earn didn't respond. She couldn't. Her mind was spinning, trying to process everything that had just happened. The room felt both suffocating and unreal.
Susi gently guided her back to the sofa. "Okay… you have to explain this to me now. How are you here? I saw you get into the cab!"
Susi took a deep breath. "It was all part of the plan. Klaharn has done this kind of test before, to assess actors' real emotions. Sometimes he does extreme things—like telling them a parent died suddenly—anything to see if the actor can truly feel the moment. That's why his films have been so successful: he gets real, raw emotion.
"He tested you with my approval. I went to the back side of the condo and came in first. That's why the condo was unlocked. That massive painting? It's actually a two-way mirror. From there, I could see everything. I even told him I'd step in if things went too far, but I trusted you… I knew you wouldn't do anything reckless, and I believed you'd pass the test."
Earn shook her head, still trying to catch her breath. "I… I don't know what to say. I just… didn't expect this at all."
"Well," Susi said with a small laugh, "he's been the best actor for years before becoming a director. So yeah… he's definitely good at this."
Earn pressed her hands to her face. "You could say that again. I was scared. My heart's still pounding. I… I don't even know what to say."
Susi smiled, placing a reassuring hand on Earn's shoulder. "The real question is… do you still want the role?"
Just then, Klaharn emerged from the kitchen, holding an ice pack and a towel. He gave her a lopsided grin.
"I need to know more about the role…" Earn muttered, still uneasy.
Klaharn walked over and sat in the chair opposite her. "I'm sorry about your hand, by the way. But honestly… you deserved it."
"Hey…" Susi warned softly, "remember to stay respectful."
Earn exhaled slowly, a small smile forming. "It's okay. I like that we can be casual with each other. Makes it easier to communicate… without all the director-and-actor formality."
She relaxed a little, finally beginning to understand the situation. She could see now that Susi's presence had been genuine support, and that Klaharn's test, as extreme as it was, had a purpose.
Klaharn leaned back in his chair, his expression shifting from teasing to earnest. "The story's called The Way I Love You, I actually wrote it. It's about a woman who finds herself pregnant… by a man who's already married. At first, she's unsure if she can raise the child alone."
Earn's hands tightened in her lap.
"She's struggling—not just emotionally, but financially. Burdened by debt, haunted by a traumatic past, unsure how she'll survive. At one point, she even considers abortion, and… well, she's offered prostitution to cover her costs, which she declined, that was the actualy scene that we did, because the man was supposed to forced her since she's already pregnant, and might as well earn money from it which she declines" Earn try to look away as she remember what happened just moments ago but Klaharn's gaze didn't waver. "Nonetheless, she's helped by a compassionate woman… who eventually becomes her lover. That love, that support, gives her the strength to keep her child. She chooses life despite fear, judgment, and hardship."
Earn's breath caught, her pulse still high from the earlier confrontation.
"It's a story about love in its many forms," Klaharn continued. "Love for herself, love for her child, and romantic love that helps her survive and grow. Themes of resilience, sacrifice, moral courage… the power of human connection. You can read everything on the script, I hope you can take it to your heart."
Susi squeezed Earn's hand gently. "It's intense, but it's also beautiful. That's why Klaharn needed to see you today. To know if you could bring all of that to life."
Earn pressed her hands to her face, exhaling shakily. "I… I see it now. I can feel her pain—and her strength. It's just… a lot to take in."
Klaharn smiled softly. "Good. That reaction—fear, shock, anger—that's exactly what I needed. And now I know you can carry her story."
Earn swallowed hard. Her thoughts were still racing, but a quiet resolve settled in her chest. "Then… I want the role. I want to do her justice."
Klaharn's eyes gleamed. "That's exactly the answer I was hoping for."
He lifted a finger lightly. "And please—don't share this with anyone yet. My boyfriend doesn't even know the full pitch."
Susi shot Earn a knowing look, the kind that said See? I told you. The unspoken reassurance eased the tension in Earn's shoulders.
"You got me," Earn said with a short, breathless laugh. "You're a really great actor."
"Hey," Klaharn chuckled, gesturing toward the cabinet lined with trophies, "I wouldn't have all those if I wasn't."
Then his expression softened as he turned back to her. "I'm sorry about earlier. And… thank you for trusting me with what you shared. No woman should ever have to go through that."
He reached for his phone, hesitating just a beat. "In return," he said, "let me show you a picture of my boyfriend. I trust you. Just, don't let it get out, okay?"
Earn nodded, a faint smile forming, the last of her fear finally giving way to a sense of relief.
They all stepped into the elevator. Klaharn and Earn walked side by side. Susi trailed behind, moving slowly, distracted by her phone.
Earn's phone buzzed, a message.
"Wife?" Klaharn asked.
"Yeah," Earn said with a tired smile, glancing at her phone. "She's a worrywart. Just checking up on me."
Klaharn chuckled softly. "She's a good partner."
"She is," Earn said proudly, warmth blooming in her chest. "She's always been the one constant, no matter how messy things get."
Klaharn glanced sideways, impressed. "Then you're lucky. Most people in this industry don't get that."
"I know." Earn exhaled, brushing a loose strand of hair from her forehead as they stepped into the warm, humid air outside the condo building. "I can't wait to tell her about this role."
What they didn't see, just beyond the glow of the lobby lights, was the figure standing behind a parked motorbike—hidden beneath a black helmet.
A glint of metal caught the moonlight.
Then—
Click.
The camera shutter snapped once. Then again.
One photo captured Earn's teary-eyed expression beside the director.
Another caught Klaharn's hand lightly resting against her lower back.
And the final shot, just before the pair disappeared into the darkness, framed them walking close, shoulder to shoulder, while Susi trailed several steps behind, holding her phone.
The lens didn't catch context, but it captured just enough to spark questions.
To invite assumptions.
To light a fire.