Please, Love Me Again

Chapter 43: I'm Smiling Because I Found You Laughable

The woman was stunned to see the expression of the man in front of her. His acting skill was excellent beyond words. His expression, his aura, and his charm were flawless. He perfectly portrayed or perfectly brought out the life of the character so well.

Her eyes fluttered subconsciously. Then she closed her eyes, pulling out the right emotions for her character. When her eyes met his eyes once more as he opened them, affection or romantic feelings that she tried to bury in her heart gushed out once more like a water fountain.

She teared up unknowingly, enough to make her realise that they were just acting.

Alyssa Curtis dabbed the tears in her eyes using her index fingertip. Afraid to ruin the atmosphere, the woman quickly mustered back the emotions and expressions of her character and began the act.

The woman smiled beautifully, like the fabulous sunset in the exquisite blue sky, eyes filled with love, like the clear spring in the desert mountain— pure and innocent.

"I have not said anything yet." The woman said, face glowing with affection.

Brother Luke's eyes slightly narrowed. "Have you not? Perhaps I heard it wrong. Forget it. Perhaps it was just a whisper of the wind."

The woman's smile widened even more. Her expression became those flowers in the blooming season. Full of a sense of warmth, vitality, life, love, and freedom.

"I indeed have not said anything yet, but I do have something to tell you. Before that, I should have to thank the wind because it made you initiate a conversation with me. Brother Luke, I have been hiding this in my heart. I thought I won't have this chance to tell you my feelings." The woman kept that wonderful smile on her lips but only herself and God knew how nervous she was at the moment. On her side, her hands seized her clothes sternly like she was trying to tear them off her body. On the contrary, she was determined to let the man know how she felt. "Brother Luke, I like you. No! I just don't like you. I love you. I love you very much! Can you give me the honor to call you as my man?"

The man's expression stiffened. Eyes narrowed sharply. Hands balled into fists so tight until the cracking sounds of his bones were heard.

The man remained silent. Not because he refused to reply but because he was lost for words to say.

Xander Villaruel's expression returned to it's usual self— cold, stern, and distant. "That's it. That's the exact expression needed in your confession scene. You did great, Alyssa Curtis. Congratulations."

Alyssa Curtis wore a stiff smile. "Thanks for your help, Brother Xander."

Xander Villaruel shook his head. "Don't thank me. I did not help much actually. Even with my help, if you don't help yourself, the outcome is still the same—unlikeable. Well, do the same thing in the shoot later. Always remember that feeling when you are rehearsing with me and applying the same emotions during the shoot. I assure you, the result will surpass our expected outcome."

Alyssa Curtis nodded. "I will. But no matter what, I still have to thank you for your help. Don't deny that. Remember, it's you who taught me to be grateful for every effort the person gives to you even if it was a little favor or a little act. So, thank you."

Xander Villaruel nodded. "Alright. Alright." He picked up the spoon stuck in the cake and ate a mouthful of it. After swallowing it, he spoke again. "Miss Curtis, I know there are some things we can't grasp under our control. But do always remember, our future depends on us. To achieve great things in life, we have to force ourselves to fight and overcome problems or troubles although we find them extremely hard. Hard to the fact that we wish we just died or just sat in a corner and waited for fate to decide our future. Miss Curtis, I may be great in your eyes. But remember, I am not the only one who is great in this world. There are plenty of expensive fishes in the sea. You can pick one in the future. Most importantly, don't let other people affect you. It's not worth it to live your life because of other people. Other people can't hurt or influence us actually. But we, ourselves, can. Because we know what we like, what we want, and what we love. Our choice and determination defines how our future became."

He threw a serious look at the woman. "I am not forcefully or trying to impose my own thoughts on you. Just take these words of mine as friendly advice. You should know that I don't wish anything bad to happen to you. And also because,,, I have been in such a similar dilemma like you before. But luckily, I survived. If I can do it, perhaps you can. Did you get me?"

Alyssa Curtis closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She did not actually understand the man's words but she felt his sincerity to overcome her problem. "I will keep that in mind Brother Xander. Thanks for the enlightenment. Well, it's almost time. I should be going now."

Xander Villaruel nodded. "Alright. Go ahead and good luck for the shoot."

"Okay." With that said, the woman turned away and left.

Xander Villaruel sent the woman out of the restaurant with his eyes only. While doing so, his expression turned gentle and feeling sorry. Stuffing a mouthful of cake in his mouth once more, the man uttered in his mind as he followed his sight to the direction where the woman was taking. "Miss Curtis, I'm sorry for the pain I brought to you. I didn't mean to hurt you and deceive you. I just hope you can move on so easily. Otherwise, I would be living in guilt for breaking your heart. Perhaps, if you learn the truth in the future, you will hate me. And everything I did for you can't do anything to lessen that hatred if that happens."

Xander Villaruel ate up all his cake. When the plate was emptied, he opened his laptop and saw another breaking news in Weibo. With the same people involved— Alyssa Curtis and Allen.

Xander Villaruel closed his eyes as he pinched his brows, mumbling, "The battle begins."

The director clapped, calling the attention of everyone in the scene. "Okay, everyone, kindly gather around. Let's resume the shoot."

Xindy Apostol ran inside the dressing room with a tumbler of warm water. She was panting as she entered inside, attracting the male and female leads attention who looked like they were in their different worlds. If during this morning, an intense argument happened between them, this time, they were out of each other's world.

The male lead was leaning his back on the chair while listening to music in his headphones. And the other one was reading through her script.

Edo Padilla just mysteriously smirked in a corner. As for the two, they both looked at Xindy Apostol. The man remained cold while the woman frowned.

"Is there a fire in the scene?" Alyssa Curtis asked. "Or there's some crazy dog that is chasing after you? What are you running about that makes you almost breathless?"

Xindy Apostol inhaled deeply and then sighed, then swallowed her saliva. "Sister Alyssa, work is about to start. Director Bronze is calling you guys over to resume the shoot."

Alyssa Curtis put down the folder she was reading and stood up, fixing the collar of her new robe but in the same color and design. "Let's go. We can't be late."

Edo Padilla snorted. "Of course you can't be late. You already kept making mistakes during the shoot. You can't be idle enough to be late. Otherwise, you are not only dragging the shoot but also wasting everyone's time."

Xindy Apostol glared at Edo Padilla. "Are you starting a fight again? Mister Padilla, why can't you just close your mouth? Use your mouth to its proper use, not to pull a fight to anyone. Have you had enough?"

Alyssa Curtis tapped Xindy Apostol's shoulder. "Little Xin, let's go. Don't waste your time fighting with insignificant people. That's only an insult to ourselves."

"Who are you referring to as an insignificant person?" Edo Padilla shouted. "Miss Curtis, I advise you not to act so arrogant. One day, if you fall suddenly from what you are now, I won't laugh at you."

Alyssa Curtis halted her steps and smirked. "I don't need you to worry about that thing. Mister Padilla, you better worry for yourself. Plenty of mad and stray dogs are being hunted today. I'm afraid you will be the next."

Edo Padilla's face turned sour as he yelled angrily, "You better watch out for yourself, you motherfucker! Not me! You b***h!"

Joseph Raval just ignored everyone. He walked, passed through them without saying anything. He neither enticed his assistant to start a fight nor stopped him from arguing. He just let him be and walked out the room alone.

Hearing Edo Padilla's nasty remarks, Alyssa Curtis turned around and looked at him seriously. However after a while, a sweet and elegant smile formed on her kissable lips.

"What are you smiling at?" Edo Padilla glared.

"I'm smiling because I found you laughable."

"What did you say? Are you regarding me as a clown?"

Alyssa Curtis shook her head, that similar wonderful smile remained on her lips. "Edo Padilla, you really have an excellent sense of humor. To be honest, I felt my day was boring and dull at first but with you around it became cheerful and lively. Mister Padilla, don't waste your time provoking me. Because I am telling you now seriously this time, this won't work anymore." The woman placed her hand on her assistant's shoulder. "Little Xin, let's go."

"Okay, Sister Alyssa."

Edo Padilla watched the two with overflowing hatred in his eyes, killing intent aroused in his heart. And when their shadow was completely gone, the man gnashed his teeth, cursing as he kicked his foot in the air. "You funking b***h! b***h! b***h! b***h! How I wish you just died. I really want to ruin your life. Hmmp, you guys just wait until tomorrow. You're working together to bully us huh? Then wait. I promise you won't be able to even laugh. Let's see if you can be as arrogant as you are now."

Back to the two women.

On their way back to the scene, Xindy Apostol endlessly mumbled about that guy named Edo Padilla. "Sister Alyssa, what's wrong with Edo Padilla? How did we offend him? Why did he keep pestering us? Sister Alyssa, if I am not worried to implicate you, I would have pounded on him already and made his head bald. I am already so annoyed by his face. I'm disgusted to see his face. How I wish he will leave the entertainment industry. I feel he is not a good person."

Alyssa Curtis playfully poked the assistant's nose. "You're so heartless, Little Xin. But, I agreed with you. People like Edo Padilla don't suit working in our industry. He is gossipy. He can't be trusted. If he is an assistant or a manager, he can take care of you when it comes to work but he can also destroy you in just one strike when he is upset or planning to betray you. People like him can't stay in this industry. Unfortunately, we can't do anything to make that happen."

"Yeah, right." Xindy Apostol nodded as she pouted in a cute way. "He is a man but he is not acting like one. How can he bully a beautiful woman like you? He must be blind."

Alyssa Curtis laughed soundly. "My Little Xin, you have such a sweet tongue. Be careful. I might get used to that." She winked and then grinned.

"I allow you to get used to that Sister Alyssa. Because I will be telling you more praises in the future. Besides, it's the truth."

"You are becoming more and more excellent at this kind of thing. Alright, let's hurry or it's shameful to make them wait. I can't lose my face again and again."

"Alright, Sister Alyssa." Xindy Apostol grinned sweetly and then assisted Alyssa Curtis to walk in the hallway.

Exactly when the two arrived, everyone included to the confession scene already gathered in the set and they were looking at their arrival with disdain, boredom, and anger.

"Look at her. She was even late for the shoot. Does she really think she is something and it's just fine to drag the time of shooting and waste everyone's time? How arrogant! If not because of her, we are probably resting from work by now. So annoying."

"Yeah. She is really thick-face. Because of her repeated mistakes this morning, the shoot is delayed further. I hate her."

"Hateful indeed. Today is my anniversary with my girlfriend. We planned to have a date tonight to celebrate it. But I can't come or prepare for our dare. How are we going to end so soon today if our female lead is incompetent?"

"Hmmp, if I could, I would have already replaced that woman with someone else. Her ability doesn't suit her to be the female lead."

"You guys are right. This casting is such a mistake. How can she get her to be the female lead."

"Have you had enough?" Xindy Apostol shouted to them. "Why are you bullying Sister Alyssa? Yes. She is not as great as you think but she is also not bad. She is just not in a good condition today and so she kept making mistakes. But that doesn't mean she is incompetent. Why? Have you ever experienced such a problem before? I dare you say you did not!"

"Why are you so fierce, little assistant? We are just telling the truth. She is such a burden!" One from the crew exclaimed. "If she can't do her work well and just exhaust everyone without result, she better quit from her role. Or much better she quit her career. It is much better for her to get married and just stay at home, taking care of her kids and fulfilling her duty as a wife. That kind of work is suitable for a brainless and incapable woman like her.

"How dare you say that about Sister Alyssa?" Xindy Apostol's face flushed in rage.

Alyssa Curtis took a deep and silent breath. Then she patted Xindy Apostol's shoulder, whispering, "Little Xin, ignore them. Don't fight with them just because of me. I will feel guilty and sorry for you. It's not worth it. Not worth the time."

Xindy Apostol pouted in frustration. "Sister Alysda, I hate the faces of those people. I really want to gather them with Edo Padilla and burn them alive. They are so disgusting."

"It's fine. I am not affected anyway." Alyssa Curtis smiled as she pulled her in the corner. "Little Xin, remember. We can't let others affect us. Later I will do my best to act the character well. Only that way I can prove I am not incompetent and brainless."

Xindy Apostol sobbed like a child. "Sister Alyssa, goodluck for that. I will just be here. I will support you forever unconditionally. Wish you all the best. Fighting."

Alyssa Curtis's tall nose wrinkled as she smiled as she said, repeatedly, "Wish you all the best. Fighting!"