She glanced at him again, smile soft but eyes unwavering. "Okay, enough talking about . I’m afraid if we keep going, I’ll end up spilling sothing even more embarrassing."
Rex smirked, taking a slow sip of his wine. "Oh? I’m kinda interested now."
She gave him a mock glare, then chuckled. "Of course you are." Then her gaze flicked toward the heart of the party. "But what about you? I saw plenty of pretty celebs trying to get your attention tonight. Why aren’t you out there... mingling? Why not go enjoy yourself? Sleep with one of them. Isn’t that what n like you like most? Instead, you’re here in a corner, talking to a nobody like ."
Rex laughed, not offended in the slightest. "Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t interested. So of them are... very attractive."
"At least you’re honest," she said with a raised brow.
He gave a half-shrug, eyes drifting toward the crowd. "I try. "But the truth is... I’m not gonna fall for just anyone, no matter how stunning they look under all that makeup. And almost all of them are rich, famous, and constantly surrounded by admirers."
"But I just saw those sa won ten minutes ago, flirting and clinging to three different n in a row. I’m not going to be soone’s trophy, or another notch in soone’s diary of flings. I’m not here to be paraded around like so prize, only to be forgotten the next morning. I’ve seen that look—like you’re just a na to add to a conquest list, another shallow win. No thanks. I’d rather be alone than be part of soone else’s highlight reel of vanity and lust."
His tone was calm but firm. "If it were just about the body, I could sleep with hundreds with this face. But I’m not looking for an empty husk. I want sothing real. Sothing that clicks—like our hearts are actually in sync."
Lena blinked, her amused expression softening into sothing more thoughtful, and then smiled softly.
"Despite your looks, you’re quite the old-fashioned romantic."
Rex smiled, a little crookedly. "I’d prefer to call it principled."
She nodded slowly, as if seeing him in a new light. "Principled. That’s rare around here."
Rex glanced at the chaotic party around them and muttered under his breath, "Maybe that’s why I’m over here, talking with you instead of out there, collecting lipstick stains."
She chuckled, her eyes lingering on his face. The heaviness that had hung in the air for so long seed to lift, just a little—like the weight of their truths had finally given them space to breathe.
A sudden voice, slightly hesitant and laced with surprise, broke through the mont.
"L-Lena...? Is that you?"
Both Rex and Lena turned toward the source of the voice. Approaching them was a beautiful young woman, her brows raised in disbelief as she walked over in tentative steps, as if unsure whether her eyes were playing tricks on her.
"Oh my god, Lena—it really is you! What are you doing here? When did you even co to LA? And you didn’t tell ?" the girl exclaid, practically rushing forward and pulling Lena into a warm, enthusiastic hug.
Lena blinked, startled for a mont, before a tentative smile ford on her lips. "Huh? Ellie...? Is that really you?"
"Of course, who else would it be? Cute and beautiful Ellie," the girl said with an exaggerated smugness, flipping her hair back playfully.
Lena chuckled, a bit of her earlier tension slipping away. "You... you still haven’t changed a bit."
"Why would I?" Ellie said with a wink. "I’m already perfect."
Rex glanced between them, sensing a history between them, and didn’t say anything, just took the sips, while looking at the reunion.
Then Ellie added with a dramatic sigh, "Seriously, if I’d known you’d be here, I wouldn’t have had to argue with my dad for days to get into this party. We could’ve co together like old tis!"
Lena blinked, then let out a soft laugh, the corners of her eyes crinkling. For a mont, the mask she wore all evening slipped, and sothing genuine—sothing warm—surfaced. She reached out and lightly squeezed Ellie’s hands.
"God," Ellie said, voice a little breathy, "I missed those tis we spent together. The stupid jokes, the long nights rehearsing, our endless complaints about that one awful professor with the squeaky shoes..."
Lena giggled. "Oh my God—Mr. Henley! I almost forgot about him!"
Ellie smiled wider, then her expression softened. "You don’t know how bored I’ve been since I ca here to the States. Everything’s so big, so loud—but also, sohow, so lonely. I thought I’d be out here living the dream, but most days it just feels like I’m running on fus, chasing sothing I can’t even na. It’s like I left everything familiar behind and ended up chasing shadows. And so days, it’s just... lonely."
Lena gave her a sympathetic look and pulled her in for another quick hug. "Yeah, I know that feeling. Everything here moves so fast, and yet it’s easy to feel stuck, like you’re not really part of it."
Ellie nodded, then let out a soft snort. "Well, at least I’ve found you. That’s already brightened my night."
"And I found you," Lena said with a small smile.
Ellie stepped back, still holding onto Lena’s arms as she looked her up and down with wide eyes. "You look amazing, by the way. Seriously. That dress? Total knockout. You look even more beautiful now."
"Liar," Lena teased, lightly swatting her arm. "But thanks. You look great too—still stealing the spotlight, I see."
Ellie struck a mock pose, hand on her hip. "As always. But tell everything—what have you been doing? How long have you been here? Are you working on anything new?"
Lena hesitated slightly, glancing at Rex, then back at Ellie. "Just trying to find my footing. Ca here hoping for... better opportunities."
Ellie nodded, her expression softening. "Yeah, I get that. This city’s a beast—but you’ve got grit. If anyone can do it, it’s you."
Rex, standing to the side, cleared his throat theatrically. "Hey, not to interrupt your romcom mont, but do I get introduced or am I just going to stand here like an awkward extra?"
Lena laughed and turned to Ellie. "Oh right! Ellie, this is Rex. A good friend of mine," she said, accentuating the words ’good friend’ with a knowing smile toward Rex, "the reason I could get into a star-studded party like this."
(End of Chapter)
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