I was nervous, I guess that's normal. This was the first such serious casting awaited me. In addition, I was applying for the lead role, my friends said that the role of the young master Kuea Keerati, who was hiding under the stage name Kirin, suits me perfectly. I decided to take a risk. Cow and Mel kept repeating what a great opportunity this was for me and that I had to do my best. I had great friends who supported me, they could point out my mistakes to me, they usually took me for walks, to the cinema or to some restaurant. Only they could convince me to do so. Although they also called me a nerd.

I was counting on the fact that besides myself there would be many other equally good candidates, and therefore I prepared as best I could. I rehearsed the role with my friends who were a great blessing to me. While I sat at home learning my lines by heart, they brought me food and made sure I slept for a minimum amount of hours. I was a bit worried about not letting me study 24 hours a day, but I was really grateful to them. I don't know how I would have managed without them. Melanie and Cow escorted me right to the door of the building and wished me good luck.

At the end Mel corrected my hair one more time, her fingers lifted the corners of my mouth up, making me smile.

- A smile is the key, you have to make a good first impression, you have to dazzle them and show that this role is made for you - She instructed me.

- We already have to go to class, write as soon as you're done, okay? - Cow asked.

Cow was only a month younger than I was, but he was much taller and very handsome, and the girls looked back a lot, and he was aware of that. Melanie was tiny, slender, even shorter than me, though not much, and had the habit of having colored highlights in her loose hair. This time, she chose purple and green, which was the reason for her little argument with Cow, who thought it looked quite childish.

_Okay, okay, go ahead. And thanks - I chased them out.

I took a deep breath, closed my eyes for a moment to calm myself down.

I felt a lot of pressure. My friends were counting on me to succeed, and I wanted it myself. Playing in movies or TV series has always been my dream, since I was a child I liked performing and singing. I loved it so much that my mother signed me up for extra singing and dancing lessons. I did not lack courage and performing in front of the audience was not that much of a problem. What seemed worse was how important the rank of this performance was: it's an audition for the lead role. I've been waiting for this moment for so long ... I was afraid that I would do something wrong, that I would forget something or it would turn out that they were looking for someone completely different.

- It's just a BL series, nothing like that. - Cow tried to downplay the casting, but Mel always thwarted his efforts.

- BL series only ?! Can you hear yourself ?! It's something more, you'll see it's going to be a hit, remember my words! - Mel said to Cow with anger.

We always teased each other like this, Cow and Mel were masters at it, and I didn't think I could meet someone who would master this art to even more perfect perfection. The future was to show how wrong I was.

I shook my head to rid myself of the unwanted thoughts, took a deep breath a second time, and bravely stepped into the hotel where the interviews were being held. It was a beautiful, modern building with a large, spacious lobby and brightly colored reception area. Lots of light shone through the large windows.

Before entering the casting, I saw two otherwise familiar faces: Max and Nat. Max and Nat were actors who had been almost inseparable for two years, they had already played together in two series and it was said that they would also play here, although it was decided to do auditions for all roles just in case. We didn't know anything before except the director's name, but somehow that didn't bother me. I was expecting a lot of people my age to show up, Nat was just a year younger than me and we were both 21st century kids, both born after 2000. Max and Nat were sitting in chairs in the hall, mostly talking to each other. I watched them closely, hoping to learn something useful from them. They acted as if they did not see the world outside of themselves. I envied them a little.

For the past few weeks, I watched every possible BL series that was available, analyzed the actors' performances, looked for their mistakes, I wanted to be the best, I wanted no one to beat me. I really cared about this role, it was supposed to be the first so serious, so it's no wonder that I was stressed.

Suddenly Nat turned his face towards me and smiled when he saw me looking at him. He whispered something to Max, then got up and walked over to me.

- Hi. I'm Natasitt Uareksit, you can call me Nat.

- Hi _ I greeted politely, putting my hands together and tilting my head slightly to show him the respect I had for him. _ I know who you are, I saw you in "Why R U". I'm Chawarin Perdpiriyawong, but my friends call me New.

- Cool. From what I can see, I think we are of a similar age.

Surprisingly, I immediately found a thread with Nat. Max, on the other hand, seemed a little inaccessible to me, he was looking at me with no emotions whatsoever, but I was sure he was watching me and drawing conclusions, I just hoped it wouldn't be anything negative.

-I think so, if I remember correctly, you are a year younger than me - I explained to him.

- Oh, then I'm keeping my fingers crossed for all three of us to get roles in this series. Come on, I'll introduce you to Max.

***

The beginning wasn't easy, but I knew what I had to do. I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and started playing. I focused on it so much that the world and people around me ceased to exist, only what I wanted to show and convey was important. I wanted to fully show the feelings that tormented the main character at the time of the conversation with Hia Lian. I vaguely heard someone shout "Cut!" As if we were already recording the scene. Then they asked me to sing. I was in my element.

- Thank you, I think that's enough for us - Said someone from the team. I smiled, bowed slightly and left the room. I had no idea how it went. Was it okay? Or maybe quite the opposite? Maybe I screwed up and it wasn't that at all? I had been practicing it for so long, and still couldn't be sure it would be enough. After all, the others would be great too, as far as I could see, real crowds came here, although Nat assured me that most of these people were just coming to support their friends.

As soon as I left, Nat ran up to me and started asking me questions.

- How was it? Were you stressed? Have you forgotten anything?

- And you know it wasn't that bad? The beginning may not have been perfect, but then everything went smoothly.

- How cool! I feel that this is not our last meeting - Nat's smile and his positive approach to everything were influencing me as well. Nat seemed a calm, quiet, polite boy, he was very much like me. - Will you wait for us? Would we go eat together?

- Sure, that sounds cool.

- Max and I will come in together because we have to show a scene together.

He said "Max and me" so he puts Max first. It's even cute.

While they disappeared outside the door, I took one of the vacant seats right against the wall and began giving a written report in our group chat. Cow and Melanie wanted to know everything.

Mel: eeeey,you and what, was there Zee Pruk? I heard it should be

Cow: Mel, get it over with, I doubt if they made him play a role-play, apparently he got the job first

Mel: So what? He could always come, if only to see the actors with whom he would potentially work

Cow: You're unbearable

Mel: You're mean

Mel: Besides, I'm not asking you

Mel: New, so how is Zee?

New: unfortunately I haven't seen him, but there are Max and Nat for that, you know, the two who played together in "Why R U"

Mel: are they there?!?!?!

New: yes

Mel: It means Zee is there too

New: and? Let it be, I don't care

Mel: Yeah, because you didn't go to that casting at all just because he was supposed to be there

New: I went because our label organizes it

Cow: talking ... we all know you went there for him

Cow: P'Zee, can I have an autograph? P'Zee, can we take a picture of ourselves? P'Zee, let me ask you for a date! "👬👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨👨‍❤️‍👨💋❤️

I shook my head in amusement as I read our conversation. The only reason my friends teased me was because once while we were watching BL series together, I inadvertently admitted that one of the main actors was my type. I regretted it now, because Mel and Cow had reminded me of it at every turn. I wrote back immediately.

New: You're totally crazy

New: you have nothing better to do?

Cow: It just so happens not. You went to this casting and left us alone, we are dying of boredom 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

New: hey, because I'm blasting you in the head!

Cow: Meeeeeel! He's threatening me! Save!

Mel: New, but Cow's right, it's boring here without you, come back soon

New: I can't, I have dinner with Max and Nat

Cow: For dinner?

Mel: WITH MAX AND NAT? 1?!?!?!?!?!?! AND YOU SILENCE ?! YOU DIDN'T TELL US !!!

New: you didn't ask 🤷🏻‍♂️

Mel: take me with you! I want to see if MaxNat is a real couple or just a ship 👀

New: from what I saw, real

Mel: AAAAAAAAA !!! I WAS RIGHT !!! YEEEEEY! MY SHIP IS REAL!

Cow: Chawarin 😡🤬 I will murder you! ☠️💀

New: For what? What have I done?

Cow: why did you tell her? Now she would be flying around the dorm and screaming, and I was hoping for one quiet day

New: sorry!

I apologized, although I felt no remorse. Even a week ago, Max's relationship with Nat was the subject of a heated dispute between my two friends. Cow believed that Max and Nat were only very close friends, while Melanie was sure they were also together in their private lives. For a long week, she tried to convince us that she was right by showing them videos of their participation, including those from meetings with fans or behind the scenes. I was not involved in this. I did not like that Mel and Cow were so interested in someone else's private life, I thought everyone had a right to privacy, I myself was sure that if I were in Max and Nat's shoes, I would like to keep information about our relationship for myself. Mel and Cow were able to represent the fans very well.

I locked my phone and looked around discreetly.

I already knew some of them, we had met some time earlier. Yim recognized me and pulled the Tutor towards me, grasping his hand not very discreetly.

- Hi New -He said hello.

- Hi Yim, hello Tutor, it's nice to see you guys again.

- I am happy too. That's what we thought you would come -Tutor replied.

They both seemed as excited about the hearing as I was.

- Well, probably since you are here, we can not count on the main role - joked Yim. I patted him consolingly on the shoulder.

- Wow, seriously! Who said I would get the role?

-A little more self-confidence, New, you're great, you always did well in class. - Yim smiled at me.