“I’m sorry?” Jace asked, eyes wide and voice unsure, cracking just slightly at the edges. He wasn’t sure he heard right.
He believed he was ready. His heart was still pounding, and his throat was still tight, but even then, he felt he could do this.
Zeno’s words had truly helped. For what felt like the first time, he didn’t feel lost! However, Victor halted the momentum.
Victor’s expression was as unbothered as ever.
“How are you an actor if you still don’t have the basics down?” Victor asked, loud enough for everybody to hear.
Jace’s brows furrowed. Victor’s tone was kind, but his words were far from it. Somehow, this felt
like a public humiliation.
It had only been one take.
One.
He had more in him.
However, Victor’s words seemed final.
“What’s happening?” someone whispered from the side of the set, a crew member leaning in toward another.
“Was that his last chance?”
Victor sighed.
“I’ve been watching you since last week,” he said.
“And it seems you cannot get this role right.”
Jace’s stomach dropped.
“This role—you simply cannot do it,” he said slowly.
Jace’s head bowed so low it looked like he was trying to disappear. The sting behind his eyes welled up fast, but he clenched his jaw, willing it down.
“I can do it,” he said, sounding desperate. “Please.”
In his mind, this was his first opportunity—his real one. The kind that people waited years for. Moby and Bobby had cheered him on. Sarang and Leni appeared very excited for him. Zeno had helped him adjust in the set!
Now, it was being taken from him just like that.
He stared at the floor.
Why can’t I do anything right?
Zeno looked around and sighed in relief when he saw Moby wasn’t around. He wasn’t going to take it well seeing Jace like this.
Victor tilted his head, observing Jace. “How many years have you been acting?” he asked.
Again, his tone sounded soft and kind, but Zeno knew better. He was exactly like a rose with thorns—deceptively beautiful but dangerous if held wrong.
This was a facade he wanted to keep to make sure he still appeared good in front of everybody.
Jace opened his mouth, but nothing came out at first. He sucked in a breath, then spoke again.
“Seven,” he said finally. “Seven years.”
Victor didn’t speak, but he pursed his lips to hold in a scoff. Meanwhile, others gasped to find out that Jace had been in the industry for so long. Misha’s breath also hitched because he had been acting even longer than her.
Jace looked up slightly. “I’ve worked so hard.”
A few of the other actors looked at him now. Some sympathetically. Some awkwardly.
“I know I’m not the most talented. I’ve been in the industry for so long, but my acting is still that of an amateur. However, I’ve always tried my best, sir.”
“I made it to the Ninth Circle, and I really want to stay.”
He dropped to his knees. Zeno’s fists clenched to the side as he looked at the pitiful display.
Gasps broke through the silence.
“What is he doing?” someone muttered.
Misha’s brows furrowed.
However, Jace stayed kneeling in front of Victor PD.
“I want it this time, sir,” he said. “Please.”
His head remained down, hands trembling at his sides.
“I want to do well.”
The room was still, and the silence grew painful.
Victor broke the silence with a deep breath.
“Wanting to do well,” he said, “and doing well are two different things.”
Zeno’s face hardened while the rest of the cast and crew held in their breaths, suppressing their emotions. They glanced uneasily at each other, some wanting to speak up but not having the courage to do so.
Victor sighed when he realized the mood he had put everybody in. With that, he once again reverted to a kinder tone paired with a kinder choice of words.
“Trust me, young man,” he continued, going closer to Jace and placing a hand on his shoulder.
“The world is like that. It’s cruel. You lose your place, and that’s it. So, I suggest you look for something more suited for you.”
“Don’t worry. We’ll keep your previous parts. You’ll still appear. That doesn’t change. You’ll still have your screen time.”
He smiled thinly, the kind of smile people gave you when they already knew the outcome of your fight.
“But for this,” Victor said, tilting his head toward the center of the set, “let’s just consider your character… dead, hmm?”
Dead.
It sounded so casual coming out of his mouth.
“I’ll even have the car arranged to take you back to the city,” he added. “Oh, and feel free to eat at the buffet later. Think of it as a parting gift.”
The set was dead silent. For most of them, it definitely felt wrong. However, somehow, it felt like a slap of reality.
The others couldn’t refute. They were in the same situation, after all.
Sora looked away, guilt eating her up. She couldn’t bear to look at Jace anymore.
Billy pursed his lips and shifted on his feet. Despite being an innate asshole, this somehow made him feel uncomfortable.
Victor sighed before turning back to the crew. “Let’s look for someone else to do it.”
A few nodded stiffly while others stared at Jace like he had already disappeared.
Misha’s fists clenched at her sides.
She took one step forward. She was about to say something, but before a single word could leave her mouth, another voice rang out.
“Get up.”
Jace froze. Then, his head lifted slightly.
Zeno didn’t look at Victor. He didn’t glance at anyone else.
He had eyes only for Jace.
However, everyone’s attention was once again captured.
He took a step forward, hands in his pockets.
“Stop kneeling for someone stupid.”
Victor turned slightly, stunned by Zeno’s choice of words.
“Excuse me?” Victor asked.
Zeno continued to ignore him and merely helped Jace get up on his feet. Once Jace was up, Zeno finally turned to Victor PD.
“Are those the words that should come from someone who failed for ten whole years or more?”