2 The meeting

PIREND, SEILIU

Buzzing capital city where the madness doesn't stop. Madness where people are always rushing to get front point A to point B. Time is always of the essence for everyone. And you wouldn't expect anything less from people living and working in one of the richest cities in the world.

From where Lina is currently is standing on, the 75th floor balcony of a penthouse owned by a world-renowned movie director, Director Chen, it feels like she's closer to the skies than the ground. She can't hear the noise from below but she can still feel how busy they all are. It's been a while since she's had a time like this, a time that she can think and just look into her own life and she can't say she likes it. It makes her feel melancholic about life.

She just turned 21 and for the past 3 years she has kept herself so busy with work. But she can't blame anybody, it is her choice to do so. She has not been home for the past month or has it been 2 months, she just finished shooting a new film in Europe. She's always moving, in a different location almost every 4 days. Quiet times like this are rare and far in between, and Lina is not used to it.

Lina has been just recently named the world's most beautiful person in the world, again. She was awarded the same when she was 16, the youngest to receive such accolade, and just the year before. She has won multiple acting awards, achieved record breaking streak for back-to-back awards won ever since she started acting at the age of 15. From the time her first movie came out, no year has passed where she hasn't released a movie, sometimes more than 2 movies a year. She's earned a great reputation in choosing her films and productions she takes on so anything she releases is a sure blockbuster in a variety of genres. Her movies are listed in most top watched movies of all time, some better than others. She's got schedules booked 3 years in advance and only takes 2 weeks off every year and for the birthdays of her closest family and friends.

She really is the most beautiful woman in the world. Dressed in a camel knitted sweater, light blue jeans and white flat slip-ons, her face free of makeup and the wind blowing her shiny light brown long hair - her beauty is still hard to match even in her simplest moment. Jaws drop, feet's trip and fall all over themselves when they see her all dolled up and dressed to the nines, she's a goddess that gracefully landed on Earth, simply unbeatable.

"Here's your hot chocolate." Mrs Chen hands out to her.

"Thank you, I hope it wasn't a chore for you, you didn't have to." Lina tells the kind wife of the director, she's also a famous novelist.

"Not at all, I know you don't drink alcohol. I'm really glad you made the time to pass by."

"Our flight was delayed going to Anemopolis for a few hours so I made it. I'm not sure if I'll be able to take the time off before we start filming next year. By the way, I read parts of the script, you did really great!" She tells the novelist writing one of her upcoming movies.

"Lina, you flatter me." Mrs Chen tells Lina.

One of the maid waves to Mrs Chen, taking her attention. "Let me just see to that."

Lina nods slightly and sips on her drink.

There're only a few people inside the penthouse, they have come to greet Director Chen on his birthday. It's very unusual for her to be able to come to gatherings like this due to her packed schedule but she had the time today so she came. Lina and Director Chen are scheduled to film their 2nd film in over a year's time from now, it will be shot in Seiliu mainly using the Seilish language. She's considered an oddball amongst her peers in the movie industry because she rarely party and join social events. Even now, she prefers the solitude the balcony gives her.

It's just the beginning of spring in Pirend so the breeze is still a bit chilly. She savours the warm chocolate drink in her hands before taking her mobile phone out. She sends message to her assistant, Jenny, "Please pick me up from here in 1 hour".

"Hi, are you okay there?" A masculine voice asks her from behind her in Seilish.

She looks around and sees the "pizza guy". He came in earlier with boxes of pizza. He's cute. No, he's not cute at all. He's a manly man and he is very handsome! Chiselled face with strong features, and a body that comes with it. He's wearing black jeans and black trainers with white shirt and navy bomber jacket. How he fit all his muscles in there, Lina can only guess.

"Hi, yeah, I'm okay", Lina shyly replies back in the language. She has faced countless people with different walks of life. She does not get shy. Maybe he's a local actor, wouldn't be strange in a director's party. And he definitely has the looks for it.

"Your Seilish isn't bad," he tells her. By now, he's standing right beside her. The railing that reaches her chest is only just above his waist. She stands at 5'5" so he must be around 6'1 to 6'2". He's a giant standing so close to her.

"Ah, yes. I've been practising." she responds weakly before taking a sip from her cup, trying to shake herself from staring at the new guy too much. She has seen good looking men. She's constantly surrounded by them. She's spoken to them, touched them, have even kissed some but this guy is affecting her differently.

"So, should we test it our more?" He asks her while looking at her with his piercing dark brown eyes that wants to eat her up, or so she would like to think. She nods, a bit too vigorously which earned her a smile from this gorgeous human being.

Lina is internally panicking, and her thoughts are in jumbles. "I think I need to go out more. Was I too lonely this past few months? I went on a date with another actor 4 months ago or was it 5 months ago? I even let him kiss me but why do I feel butterflies in my stomach just talking to this guy." She thinks to herself when her gift by the heavens "pizza guy" excused himself and went inside.

Lina knows how to speak 8 other languages - some more proficient than others - but she knows it. This is her ninth language, she passed 2 proficient exams for Seilish already but why is she so tongue tied talking to this guy. What's his name again?

This caused another rush of panicked thoughts, "Oh no, I never asked, but he never asked mine too. Am I supposed to know him? I need dating lessons! What am I thinking, this is not a date? Please Lina, don't embarrass yourself."

She slaps her face lightly, as thoughts just pours out without control, so she can focus and whispers to herself, "It's not him, it's just me. I forgot how to interact with people, when he comes back, I'll be cool." With a deep breath and clear mind, Lina feels better and more in control now.