My Only Star

A Sudden Change In The Air

Star slipped on the cap the mysterious celebrity had given her.

To her surprise, it fit perfectly.

The fabric carried a faint scent she couldn't quite identify. Clean. Familiar. Comforting somehow.

Ridiculous.

It was just a cap.

Yet she found herself adjusting the brim and leaving it on.

A small smile tugged at her lips.

"Thank you, whoever you are," she murmured.

Afterward, she headed into the coffee shop.

A few minutes later, she emerged carrying two iced Americanos and a box of matcha-flavored donuts.

Once everything was secured inside the car, she started the engine and drove toward the studio.

It didn't take long before the familiar building came into view.

For a moment, Star simply stared.

The place had become a second home over the past three years.

So many memories lived within those walls.

Her Sunday appearances on the network's long-running noontime show.

Her guesting's on entertainment talk shows after winning the reality competition A Hundred Days With My Idol, the show that had opened the door to a dream she'd carried since childhood.

Numerous product photoshoots.

Commercial shoots.

Magazine features.

Then came The Killer Smile.

The project that changed everything.

The project that made people finally remember her name.

And there should have been another one.

A new project.

A new opportunity.

A new beginning.

But now...

That future felt uncertain.

Star tightened her grip on the steering wheel.

The familiar ache returned to her chest.

No matter how many times she told herself to stay positive, disappointment still found a way to linger.

Because dreams hurt the most when they were within reach.

With a deep breath, she pushed the thoughts aside and parked in the basement.

She wasn't ready to give up.

Not yet.

A few minutes later, she stood outside Ms. M's office.

Unfortunately, the manager wasn't there.

The receptionist informed her that Ms. M had left earlier in the day for an appointment outside the network.

Star could only sigh.

"That's on me," she whispered.

She should've called first.

Instead, she had rushed here without thinking.

Now she had wasted time.

Gas.

And money.

Her gaze drifted toward the paper bag in her hand.

The coffee.

The donuts.

She let out a small laugh.

"Guess you'll be my snacks later."

Checking her watch, she saw it wasn't even one in the afternoon.

It was Saturday.

She had nowhere else to be.

Nothing waiting for her at home.

So instead of leaving, a sudden impulse struck her.

Why not walk around?

Who knew when she would be allowed inside these studios again?

The thought left an uncomfortable knot in her stomach.

Perhaps one day security would stop recognizing her.

Perhaps one day she would become just another former artist people vaguely remembered.

Before that could happen...

She wanted to see this place one more time.

Really see it.

The CBF Network was the biggest broadcasting company in the country.

Countless hit films and successful television series had been produced within these buildings.

Almost every major star had walked these halls at some point.

And once upon a time...

So had she.

Her wandering eventually led her to Studio Three.

The home of the network's famous Sunday noontime show.

Voices echoed from inside.

Music.

Laughter.

Directions from production staff.

Curious, Star peeked in.

The cast was in the middle of rehearsals for tomorrow's broadcast.

A comedy sketch.

She smiled.

How many times had she stood on that very stage?

Singing.

Dancing.

Laughing with hosts and guests.

Back then, she had never imagined things could change so quickly.

Not wanting to draw attention to herself, she slipped quietly into one of the seats near the exit.

Far from everyone else.

Hidden.

At least, that's what she thought.

She was watching the performers rehearse when a familiar face caught her eye.

Alvin Richards.

AR.

A genuine friend in an industry where true friendships were rare.

The sight of him immediately made her smile.

Then her gaze shifted.

And unfortunately...

Landed on someone else.

Rain.

For some reason, her eyes always seemed to find him.

Annoying.

Very annoying.

She didn't even have a crush on him.

At least that was what she kept telling herself.

Yet there he was.

Standing beneath the stage lights.

Tall.

Ridiculously handsome.

Looking unfairly good for someone simply rehearsing.

Star immediately looked away.

Only to glance back a second later.

Then immediately look away again.

"Get a grip," she muttered.

Unfortunately for her, she wasn't nearly as invisible as she'd hoped.

Across the studio, AR spotted her.

The actor immediately raised a hand and waved.

Star looked around.

Maybe someone was sitting behind her.

There wasn't.

When she pointed at herself in confusion, AR laughed and nodded.

Yes.

Her.

Embarrassed, she waved back.

A few moments later, the rehearsal paused for a break.

Before Star could escape, AR was already walking toward her.

"Star!" he greeted warmly. "Long time no see."

Star stood and smiled.

"AR. It's been a while."

"How have you been?"

The question was simple.

The answer wasn't.

Still, she smiled.

"I'm surviving."

The actor's expression softened.

"I heard about everything."

Star already knew what came next.

The sympathy.

The pity.

The uncomfortable silence.

To stop him before he could say more, she grinned.

"If you're about to feel sorry for me, don't."

AR blinked.

Star lifted her chin.

"If one door closes, another one will open. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow. But it will happen."

There was determination in her eyes.

Even if a small part of her didn't fully believe it.

"I'm coming back."

AR laughed.

"Now that's the Star I know."

"Exactly."

"And when that happens, don't forget your friends."

"Never."

The actor smiled.

"Good. Because if you need someone to talk to, I'm here."

For a moment, genuine emotion crossed Star's face.

"Thank you."

She meant it.

"You're welcome."

Wanting to lighten the mood, she grabbed the paper bag beside her.

"Actually, I came prepared."

AR raised a brow.

"What does that mean?"

Star pulled out the coffee and donut box.

"I was supposed to give these to Ms. M, but she wasn't there."

The actor gasped dramatically.

"You're telling me those were abandoned?"

"Tragically."

"That should be illegal."

Star laughed.

"Want them?"

"Absolutely."

Together they settled into the nearby seats and began sharing the snacks.

From across the studio...

Someone was watching.

Rain's expression darkened.

His gaze lingered on the sight before him.

Star and AR.

Laughing.

Talking.

Sharing food.

The scene was innocent enough.

Yet he found himself staring longer than necessary.

Longer than appropriate.

Longer than he cared to admit.

And for reasons he couldn't explain, something inside him felt... irritated.

Rain frowned.

That was strange.

He wasn't normally bothered by other people's relationships.

He wasn't interested in gossip.

Or romance.

Or who spent time with whom.

Then why was he still looking?

The answer refused to come.

"Carl."

His assistant immediately appeared beside him.

"Boss?"

Rain pointed toward a spot directly between himself and the guest seating area.

"Stand there."

Carl blinked.

"Sir?"

"Stand there."

"...Okay."

Though thoroughly confused, Carl obeyed.

A few seconds later, realization dawned.

Because the moment he occupied the spot...

Star and AR disappeared from Rain's view.

Carl nearly choked.

Oh...

Oh no.

Slowly, he turned toward his boss.

Rain was already reviewing his script.

Or at least pretending to.

Carl immediately looked away before he laughed.

The situation was becoming painfully obvious.

To everyone except Rain.

Fifteen minutes later, rehearsal resumed.

Star remained in her seat.

The comedy sketch eventually transitioned into an action segment.

This time involving Rain and AR.

The two actors took their positions.

The director called for action.

Immediately, the energy shifted.

Rain's performance was intense.

More intense than usual.

Even from the audience seats, Star noticed it.

His movements felt sharper.

The tension in his expression heavier.

Then came the choking scene.

At first, nobody reacted.

Rain was known for realistic acting.

But seconds passed.

Then more.

And AR appeared genuinely uncomfortable.

Star sat upright.

The smile vanished from her face.

Around the studio, a few staff members exchanged uneasy glances.

Even the other actors looked concerned.

AR's face was turning red.

"Cut—"

Before the director could finish, Rain abruptly released him.

The studio fell silent.

For a brief moment, nobody moved.

Rain stepped back.

His breathing was steady.

His face unreadable.

Then he patted AR's shoulder.

"Sorry."

A faint smirk appeared.

"Got carried away."

Laughter slowly returned to the room.

The tension eased.

Several people shook their heads.

"That's Rain for you."

"Too immersed in the role."

"Method acting again."

The rehearsal continued.

Most accepted the explanation.

Star wasn't completely convinced.

Because from where she sat, she had noticed something.

Just before the scene began...

Rain had looked their way.

And during that brief moment after he released AR...

His eyes searched the room.

Until they found her.

Their gazes met.

Only for a second.

Then Rain looked away.

His expression unreadable.

Dark.

Controlled.

As though something had unsettled him.

Star stared after him.

The unease in her chest growing.

For the first time since meeting him, she found herself wondering—

What exactly goes on inside Rain's head?