When Two Stars Collide

01: Facade

“Thank you for having us here again, Tita Girly!” Heilith said enthusiastically to the host, flashing her brightest, most charming smile. The program was nearing its end, and the studio lights were warm and blinding as always.

“Until next time! Don’t forget to catch our next episode of Tonight with Tita Girly!” Tita Girly beamed at the camera, her hands clasped together in delight.

“AND CUT!” the director shouted, signaling the end of the taping.

The crew began packing up equipment, and the guests stood up to make their way off the set. Tita Girly pulled them aside for a brief moment, her eyes shining with genuine affection. She spoke about how perfect they looked together, how their chemistry was undeniable, and how happy she was for them.

If only there really was an “us”…

Heilith’s heart sank, though her smile never faltered. She walked beside Rashid, their hands loosely intertwined as they had been trained to do for the cameras. But the moment they stepped out of the studio doors, away from the flashing lights and watching eyes, Rashid pulled his hand away abruptly, as if touching her burned him.

This was how it was when no one was watching, they were strangers.

It was cold, cruel, and painful. He acted as if he were made of ice.

“D-do you have somewhere to go?” Heilith asked, her voice trembling slightly. She feared his rejection, or worse, his total indifference. She had fallen for this man against all logic, against all the warnings inside her heart, and she didn’t even know exactly when it happened. She just knew she was trapped in this misery now.

When did it all go wrong? In the beginning, it had been fun, exciting, full of pretend romance and shared dreams. But somewhere along the way, everything changed.

“Why do you care?” Rashid replied, his tone icy and devoid of any warmth.

Because I am supposed to be your lover, even if it’s just a lie… she wanted to scream.

“Have you forgotten your place, Heilith Rynessi Uchida?”

Ah, right. She reminded herself bitterly. She was his fake partner, his on-screen lover, and once he was done using her for the benefit of their careers, he would throw her away without a second thought. He saw nothing else in her.

“Of course, I am well aware of where I stand,” she said softly, her eyes lowering to the floor. “Can’t I just be concerned?”

Where was the caring Rashid? Where was the gentle Rashid? Where was the Rashid who used to laugh, even if it was just for the cameras? The man standing in front of her now felt like a complete stranger, cold and distant, hating her with every breath he took.

She couldn’t believe she was breaking her heart all over again. She thought she had prepared herself for this pain. She thought she had enough strength left, but it seemed her heart was never going to learn. She looked at him from a distance, her eyes swimming with unshed tears. Are you going to go to her again? Why her? Why can’t it ever be me?

Eve, her manager and assistant, walked over with a tablet in hand, glancing between them with a sympathetic look in her eyes. “If you aren’t going with him, we can reschedule the meeting for your upcoming series, Ryn,” she said gently.

Heilith nodded, forcing herself to look away from Rashid’s retreating figure. Eve knew everything. She knew the truth of Heilith’s feelings, and she knew the history that stood between them. Three years ago, before they became a love team, before they were the ‘King and Queen’ of the industry, Heilith’s name had been dragged through the mud. There was a scandal, rumors that she was a homewrecker, that she was a woman who destroyed relationships just to get ahead. The company she worked for back then had denied everything, claiming it was all lies and fabrication, but the damage was done. Rashid believed every word of it. To him, she was still that woman, a liar, a cheater, someone who would do anything to climb the ladder.

“I’m fine, Eve. I’ll just have the driver send over the documents he needs to sign later,” Heilith said quietly, stepping into the back of the van.

She wanted to run away, to escape these feelings while she still could. It hurt too much. She thought it was okay to gamble with her heart one more time, but she had lost again.

“This is exactly what I told you, Ryn… no feelings should be involved,” Eve said softly as she sat beside her, her voice filled with concern. “You know this is all just work.”

Heilith knew Eve was only looking out for her. It was the same reminder she told herself every single day. Just work, nothing personal. But somewhere along the line, she had failed. She had fallen for him, hard and deep, and now she was paying the price.

“Are you going home? I’ll have the driver take you. I have a business dinner with one of the big brands that wants you as their endorser for their new product,” Eve said.

Heilith raised an eyebrow slightly. Despite everything, her career was soaring. She was the face of many products, especially hair care brands, ever since the day she and Rashid first shot that commercial together. It was ironic, really, that the very thing that brought them together was the very thing that made them hate each other.

“No, I have somewhere else to go. You take the van. I’ll just book a ride,” she said, stepping out of the vehicle quickly. Eve called after her, but Heilith kept walking, needing to be alone.

12:37 AM

Heilith stepped out of the quiet bar, the cool night air hitting her face. She had only gone inside to gather her thoughts and calm the storm inside her chest. She hadn't even finished her drink. She was actually ready to go home, tired and wanting nothing more than to curl up in her bed and forget everything for a few hours.

She adjusted her coat and began walking toward the main road to book a ride, her head down, her mind filled with painful thoughts. It was ironic, really. They were never actually together, never truly belonged to each other, yet the pain of his rejection felt like a heartbreak worse than any breakup.

“Look what we have here…” a rough voice cut through the air.

Suddenly, two men blocked her path, stepping out from the shadows. They looked drunk and dangerous, their eyes roaming over her in a way that made her skin crawl.

“All alone, pretty lady?” the other man sneered, stepping closer and grabbing her arm roughly before she could react.

Panic flared inside her. She tried to pull away. “Let go of me! What do you think you are doing?!”

She struggled, but they were stronger, dragging her slightly back toward the darker alleyway near the bar. She was terrified, her heart pounding against her ribs, when suddenly, the man holding her was forcefully shoved away, stumbling back.

Heilith gasped, catching her balance, and looked up to see who had intervened.

It was Rashid.

Of all the people in the world, it had to be him.

He stood there, tall and imposing, his expression dark and cold. He didn't look like a hero saving a damsel in distress, he looked like a man who was annoyed to even be standing there. The two men, seeing his size and demeanor, quickly muttered curses and backed off, disappearing into the night.

Heilith stood there, shaking, her hand clutching her chest, waiting for him to say something kind, or concerned.

Instead, Rashid just scoffed, looking her up and down with pure disgust in his eyes. He straightened his jacket, his face hard and cold.

“Typical,” he said, his voice dripping with disdain. “I should have known I would find you in a place like this. It really suits you, doesn't it? Hanging around bars at night, looking for attention or trouble. It’s exactly the kind of behavior I expect from someone like you.”

His words hit her harder than the hands of those men had. It was cruel, sharp, and intended to hurt. In his eyes, she was still that woman from three years ago, someone with no morals, someone who belonged in the dirt.

Heilith felt her throat tighten, tears pricking her eyes, but she bit her lip to keep them from falling. She looked down at the pavement, feeling small and worthless under his gaze. This was how he always saw her, how he always judged her.

She took a shaky breath, her voice barely a whisper, devoid of any argument or defense. She knew anything she said would just make him hate her more.

“I… I was just about to go home anyway,” she said softly, her tone flat and defeated. “I’m sorry you had to see that, or deal with me. It won’t happen again.”

She stepped back, putting distance between them, her heart aching painfully. “I’ll be going now. You don’t have to worry, I won’t cause any more trouble for you.”

She turned her back to him, walking away quickly, fighting the urge to break down right there on the street.