No Perfect Love, Just Real Love

Namtan slowly awoke, a tingling sensation running through her arms, quickly replaced by a dull ache from the awkward position she had somehow managed to fall asleep in. She blinked her eyes, trying to shake off the last remnants of sleep, taking a moment to gather her bearings. When her vision cleared, her heart skipped a beat. There, lying beside her, was Film—peacefully asleep, her face soft with the kind of calm only slumber could bring. Her breathing was steady, serene. For a moment, Namtan could hardly believe her eyes. The woman adored by so many—captivating, flawless Film—lay there beside her, without the usual makeup or glamour, only wearing her shirt. And in that moment, she was her, the woman Namtan had thought about endlessly over the past few months.

Namtan's breath hitched as she watched Film, her chest tightening with a strange mix of awe and longing. Gently, almost afraid that even the smallest movement might break this fragile moment, she reached out. Her fingers grazed Film's hair, carefully lifting her head and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. The act left Namtan feeling full, a warmth spreading through her, a quiet peace—and an ache that was equally tender and intense.

Last night, when Film had agreed to stay, Namtan had suggested that they take separate rooms—she'd take the living room, while Film could have the bedroom, as their apartment had only two rooms. But Film had refused, insisting they share the bed. And so, there they were, side by side, content in each other's company. Namtan had been careful, cautious of her flu symptoms, worried that being too close might make Film sick—she had a hectic shooting schedule ahead, after all. So, they had simply cuddled. But somehow, this quiet moment felt more peaceful than any sleep she had had in weeks—ever since Film had left.

She checked her phone and noticed the time—already past seven. Her heart sank as reality hit. She should have been getting ready for work by now. There were meetings, calls, emails to catch up on. But right then, with Film still beside her, with her presence as grounding and comforting as it was, nothing felt more important than this moment. No deadlines, no tasks, nothing mattered more than having Film back in her life. In that instant, Namtan knew—no matter how much she loved her career, it would never compare to what she had with Film.

With a quiet, reluctant smile, Namtan slowly slipped out of bed, careful not to disturb Film. She went through her morning routine, her movements automatic, but her mind was far from the usual rush. As she walked into the kitchen, she found Claire already sipping her coffee, casually glancing over at her.

"Well, look who's up," Claire teased with a sly grin. "Guess Film stayed the night."

Namtan's cheeks flushed a soft pink as she quickly busied herself pouring a cup of coffee, trying—and failing—to mask her nervousness. "Yeah, she did," she admitted, her voice carrying a slight edge of defensiveness.

Claire leaned back in her chair, eyes twinkling with mischief. "Okaaay... You definitely owe me an explanation. I didn't know you and Film were that close. So, what's the deal—just friends, or...?"

Namtan shot Claire a wary glance, trying to gauge whether she was serious or just messing with her. After a brief hesitation, she let out a quiet sigh, rubbing her temples. "It's complicated," she murmured. "I promise I'll explain later. But right now, I need to focus—I'm already running late."

Claire chuckled, clearly reveling in Namtan's discomfort. "Alright, alright, you're the boss," she said with a wink. "But don't leave me hanging for too long—I need the full story."

Namtan nodded, her heart still racing from the teasing. She grabbed her phone to check her schedule, but before she could let herself drown in the flurry of tasks awaiting her, she paused. A deep breath escaped her lips.

Once Claire left, Namtan turned her attention to making breakfast. The comforting aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, blending with the soft sizzle of eggs and toast. As she worked, a warmth settled in her chest—a quiet tenderness she hadn't felt in what seemed like ages.

Just as she cracked an egg into the frying pan, she felt a pair of arms wrap around her waist from behind. The familiar warmth of Film's embrace enveloped her, grounding her in the moment. And for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to simply breathe.

"Morning," Film murmured, her voice soft and drowsy, still touched by the remnants of sleep.

"Morning," Namtan replied, turning her head slightly to smile. "I thought you were still asleep."

Film nuzzled her chin against Namtan's shoulder, her arms tightening around her waist. "I woke up when you did," she murmured. "But I was still sleepy, so I tried to go back to bed. I didn't want to disturb you... I'm just glad I'm here."

The quiet sincerity in Film's voice made Namtan's heart flutter, a gentle warmth spreading through her chest. She let out a soft breath, allowing herself to lean into the embrace.

"I'm glad you're here," she whispered.

Film let out a small, contented laugh, her fingers gently tracing lazy patterns across Namtan's stomach. "I know we both have busy days ahead," she said, her tone a little more serious now. "But I was hoping we could steal a little time together tonight. How about I pick you up after my shoot?"

Namtan paused for a moment, considering Film's suggestion. "Your shoot runs late, right?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at her.

"Yeah," Film confirmed. "But maybe we could just stay in tonight. Have dinner at my penthouse. Order something in."

A smile tugged at Namtan's lips. The idea of a quiet night with Film, away from the chaos of the world, sounded perfect. "I'd like that," she said, her voice soft with warmth. "I'll be there."

Film squeezed her tighter, pressing a kiss to the back of Namtan's neck. "Good. I can't wait. You're the best."

Namtan turned around in Film's arms, her eyes meeting Film's with a mix of affection and something deeper. "I'll bring dessert," she said with a playful wink.

Film's eyes softened, her smile deepening. "Deal."

They lingered in that moment, enjoying the stillness, the unspoken connection between them. The world outside seemed to fade away. For once, it didn't matter that their schedules were packed, that the days ahead were filled with responsibilities and deadlines. All that mattered, for now, was this—the warmth of Film's embrace, the possibility of a future they could share.

Namtan felt a wave of gratitude, something deep and real. She didn't know what the future held, but she knew that this was a step in the right direction. She wasn't just going through the motions anymore. She had found something—someone—that made everything else fade into the background.

---

The hours crept by for Namtan, despite her busyness. The endless stream of work refused to relent. By the time she felt the telltale throb of a headache, it was already 7 p.m. Claire had left hours earlier but not before teasing her relentlessly.

"Are you sure you don't want me to order dinner for you?" Claire asked, leaning against the doorway of Namtan's office. "You've been glued to that desk all day."

"I'll figure it out later," Namtan replied without looking up from her laptop.

Claire smirked. "Later? It's already later. What's the plan? You're off to see Film, right?"

At that, Namtan glanced up, narrowing her eyes. "How do you always know?"

"Please," Claire said, rolling her eyes. "You've got that 'I'm seeing someone special tonight' vibe. Don't forget, I've seen it before. You light up like a Christmas tree."

Namtan shook her head, fighting back a smile. "Fine. Yes, I'm planning to see her. If I ever finish this, that is."

"Don't work too hard," Claire called as she left. "And tell Film I said hi!"

At 8 p.m., Film texted Namtan: "The shoot's running a bit longer, but I should be done by 9 p.m. I'll let you know as soon as I'm on my way."

Relieved, Namtan smiled at her phone, typing a quick response: "Take your time. I'll wait."

However, by 11 p.m., Namtan found herself staring at the clock, her smile long gone. There was still no word from Film, and her texts had gone unanswered. Sighing, she packed up her things, trying to ignore the pang of disappointment. Before leaving, she sent one last message:

"I'm heading home. You should go straight to your place and rest when you're done. We'll talk tomorrow."

At home, the apartment was enveloped in a serene silence, the kind that only late nights could bring. It was clear that Claire had already gone to bed, as the soft glow under her door hinted at her usual habit of falling asleep to a podcast. Namtan sighed, her exhaustion weighing heavily on her shoulders. Without pausing, she headed straight for her bedroom.

She placed her bag on the desk and peeled off her work attire, slipping into the comforting rhythm of her nightly routine. The warm water from the shower was a temporary relief, soothing the tension that had built up over the long day. Her headache, however, lingered like an unwelcome guest. After drying off, she grabbed a pill from the medicine cabinet, swallowing it with a glass of water she kept on her nightstand.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, she picked up her phone, hopeful for even a single reply from Film. The screen remained stubbornly empty, save for their earlier texts. Disappointment twisted her heart, but she tried to reason with herself. She's busy. It's not her fault. These things happen.

But the more she stared at her phone, the harder it became to convince herself. With a heavy sigh, she turned it off. She knew if she didn't, she'd end up checking it every few seconds, a habit that would only keep her restless. Placing the phone face down on the nightstand, she turned off the light and settled into bed.

The silence of the apartment now felt oppressive, and her mind raced with thoughts of Film—where she was, why she hadn't replied, and whether everything was okay. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself to let go of the thoughts. But sleep didn't come easily. It took a long time before the weight of exhaustion finally pulled her into a restless slumber.

---

By the time Film's shoot wrapped up, it was already 1 a.m. The weight of exhaustion hung in the air, but the moment the director called, "Cut!" she bolted toward her belongings.

Her hurried movements caught Kiera off guard. "Whoa, slow down!" her manager called out, jogging to keep up. "What's the rush?"

Film barely acknowledged her, frantically digging through her bag for her phone. As soon as she unlocked the screen and read Namtan's last text, her heart sank:

"I'm heading home. You should go straight to your place and rest when you're done. We'll talk tomorrow."

"Oh no... she went home," Film whispered, regret thick in her voice. "I completely messed up."

Kiera, now standing beside her, tilted her head in concern. "What happened?"

Film ran a hand through her hair, her shoulders slumping. "I told Namtan I'd see her tonight. We planned to have dinner together—I promised I'd be done by nine. But the shoot ran late and was nonstop, so I didn't even get a chance to text her again. She waited... and now she's gone home."

Kiera's expression softened as she placed a reassuring hand on Film's shoulder. "You've been working nonstop. It's not like you meant to stand her up. She'll understand."

Film sighed, guilt gnawing at her. "I hope so. But I should've let her know. I hate that she waited for me and probably felt ignored." She quickly dialed Namtan's number, only to be met with an automated response:

"The number you have dialed is currently unavailable."

Her chest tightened. "Her phone's off."

Kiera offered a sympathetic smile. "She's probably asleep by now. You should get some rest too."

Film shook her head. "I can't just leave it like this. I'll go to her place first thing in the morning. I have to make it up to her."

"Well, let's hope you wake up on time for once," Kiera teased lightly, trying to lift her spirits. But Film's solemn expression remained.

Determined to stay awake until 5 a.m., Film sat on her bed, phone in hand, fighting off exhaustion. But despite her best efforts, sleep eventually won.

When she finally opened her eyes, the harsh glow of her clock read 10:00 a.m.

Panic shot through her. Crap! she muttered under her breath, scrambling for her phone. She checked for any messages from Namtan—nothing. Heart pounding, she tried calling again, but there was no answer.

The silence felt heavier than before, and the realization that she had missed her chance to see Namtan sank deep, filling her with regret.

Wasting no time, she jumped into the shower, rushing through her morning routine. As she emerged, towel wrapped around her, she found Kiera standing at the door,  an iPad in hand.

"Oh good, you're ready," Kiera said, giving Film an approving glance.

Film blinked. "Ready for what?"

Kiera let out a long-suffering groan. "The flight to Los Angeles? I told you about it last night, but clearly, you weren't listening."

"Oh no!" Film exclaimed, darting around the room to gather her belongings. "It's today? I completely forgot!"

"Yes, today," Kiera said with exaggerated patience. "Anne and Rob are already in the car waiting for us." She referred to Film's personal assistant and bodyguard.

Film paused mid-motion. "But we have to stop by Namtan's office first. I still can't reach her."

Kiera raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you plan to go early this morning? You seemed pretty determined last night."

Film winced, her guilt showing. "I fell asleep."

Kiera sighed, checking her watch. "We're cutting it close, Film. If we stop, you have to be quick."

"I will be," Film promised, already throwing on a jacket. "I just need to see her and explain."

---

The ride to the office was thick with tension. Film's foot tapped restlessly, her gaze flicking to her phone every few seconds despite knowing Namtan's number would remain unreachable. She couldn't shake the anxious feeling gnawing at her stomach. When they finally arrived, Film stepped out of the car quickly, Kiera close behind her, sensing the weight of the silence between them.

Inside, Film was greeted by the same receptionist as before—Raya, if she remembered correctly.

"Good morning," Raya said with a bright smile, her eyes widening slightly as she recognized Film. "Oh my gosh, Ms. Film, it's so great to see you again! Can I help you with anything?"

Film blinked, caught off guard but doing her best to remain polite. "Oh, thank you. I'm actually looking for Namtan."

Raya's expression shifted as she straightened up, professionalism settling in. "I'm sorry, Namtan and Claire are in New Jersey for a meeting today."

Film's heart sank. "Oh... I see," she murmured, trying to keep the disappointment from creeping into her voice. Namtan didn't even tell me.

She understood—Namtan was probably upset. But hadn't they agreed to talk things through first?

Swallowing the lump in her throat, she forced her tone to stay even. "Will they be back today?"

Raya nodded, her voice apologetic. "Yes, but it'll probably be late tonight. The meeting is scheduled to go through dinner."

Film hesitated for a moment, her voice quiet and unsure. "Does she have her phone with her?"

Raya's smile softened with sympathy. "Yes, she does. But she's probably in the meeting and can't check it. If she knew you were looking for her, though, I'm sure she'd reach out. Would you like me to leave her a message?"

Film nodded slowly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just let her know I stopped by. And... call me when she's back."

With that, Film turned and walked back to the car, her shoulders heavy with the weight of unspoken words. She climbed into the backseat, her expression distant, as if the entire world outside the car window had suddenly become a blur.

Kiera slid in beside her, studying her with quiet concern. "Are you okay?" she asked, her tone gentler than usual.

Film stared out the window, her voice a soft, almost inaudible murmur. "No... It's only Wednesday, and I already miss her. Now I won't see her again until next week."

Kiera's frown deepened, but she said nothing. She understood there wasn't much she could say to ease the ache in Film's voice. The car began to pull away from the curb, the hum of the engine filling the silence as Film lost herself in her thoughts, silently vowing that when the time came, she would make things right with Namtan.