The set of Evening Blossoms was nothing like she expected.
It was bigger. Louder. Brutally fast-paced.
Lina had read the script over ten times. Studied her lines. Practiced Jiwoo's every reaction in the mirror.
But nothing prepared her for the camera.
Nothing prepared her for how alone she'd feel in front of a hundred eyes, lights hot on her skin, and everyone waiting—expecting.
---
Her cue came fast.
She stepped onto the garden set. Fake cherry blossoms fluttered in artificial wind.
"Scene 14A, take one!"
The clapper snapped shut.
Lina opened her mouth.
And—
Blank.
Her mind went white.
Jiwoo's lines—gone.
---
[System Alert: Cortisol Spike Detected – Emergency Override Recommended]
[Activating Temporary Boost: Performance Clarity +1 | Memory Recall +2]
A calm voice echoed in her mind.
[AI Companion: Breathe. Line 1 begins with "Why do you keep pretending not to care?"]
Lina blinked.
She exhaled.
Then stepped forward, eyes locked on her co-star.
> "Why do you keep pretending not to care? Is it because if you do… you'll break like the rest of us?"
Her voice cracked in the exact way Jiwoo's should. Vulnerable. Defiant.
The director lowered his clipboard.
Someone whispered, "That was… real."
---
She finished the scene in one go.
When the clapper closed again, the silence was thunderous.
Then—
"Cut! Beautiful. Reset for scene 14B!"
Lina turned away quickly.
Not to hide fear.
To hide tears.
---
[System Task Completed – First Shoot Day Survival]
[Reward: Acting +1, Confidence +2, Affection (Cast): +0.3]
[Bonus Passive Activated: Scene Memory (Lv. 1) – Auto-Recall of memorized lines under stress]
---
But not everyone was happy.
Later, in the dressing room, someone had spilled a cup of black coffee all over her costume.
No note. No apology.
Just deliberate sabotage.
---
As she tried to clean it, a soft knock came at the door.
She expected a staff member.
Instead—
Kael.
Wearing black slacks, no tie, coat slung over one shoulder like he owned the entire building. Which, to be fair, he might.
"How did you—?"
"Your location's public now," he said. "Told you. People are watching."
He glanced at the stained fabric. His gaze darkened.
"Was it her?" he asked.
She didn't answer.
He stepped forward and handed her a small gift-wrapped box.
Inside: a replacement costume—identical to the ruined one.
"How…?"
"I came prepared."
"Why?"
Kael's eyes were steel. "Because I knew someone would try to hurt you."
She stared at him, speechless.
His voice dropped.
"I told you. You're not alone anymore."
---
[System Alert: Critical Scene Encounter – Hidden Affection Flag Raised]
[Kael Affection +1.1 | Current Level: 6.4 / 10]
[New Unlock: Protection Trigger – Kael will now act independently to safeguard host in public settings]
[AI Companion: Girl. He showed up with backup CLOTHES.]
---
Later that night, she filmed again.
This time, no one dared touch her things.
Word had spread.
And the one whispered in fear?
Wasn't Lina.
It was Kael.
---
System Log: Lina Vale
Set Status: Rising Threat
Passive: Scene Memory – Active
System Credit Bank: 90,000
Kael Affection: 6.4
Enemy Activity: Monitored
Confidence: Stabilized
Role Progress: 7% Complete
---
End of Chapter 22
---