Chapter 68: Girlfriend

"Do you live around here?"

As the morning sunlight bathed the surroundings, Britney got out of the car, put on her hat and sunglasses, and joined Matthew. "You treated me to dinner around here last time."

Matthew stood at the entrance of a small park, casually pointing in a direction, "I live in that apartment building over there."

"Let's go," he beckoned Britney to walk into the park. Since it was a weekday, there were very few people around. "Let's take a walk."

He had chosen this location carefully—few people meant no disturbances for Britney, and the open space of the park was less likely to provoke the discomfort or negative implications that a rented apartment might.

But Matthew's traditionally Eastern way of thinking wasn't really applicable to Britney.

As they walked further into the park, Britney asked with curiosity, "Aren't we going to your place?"

Matthew thought of the mess at home and pressed on, "It's better not to."

Britney, driven by a typical youthful curiosity, pressed on, "Why not?"

"Cough..." Matthew feigned a cough, covering his mouth with his fist and looking at Britney, his mind racing for an excuse. "There are two reasons, one true, one false. Which do you want to hear first?"

"The true one?" Britney shook her head. "Let's hear the false one first."

Matthew laughed, "I wanted to take a walk with you last time too, so I picked a park with a nice view."

"I wanted to take a walk with you last time too," Britney's eyes dimmed slightly, "but..."

"It's okay, Bubba," Matthew maintained his radiant smile. "You must have been busy."

Britney was touched by his understanding and urged him with a smile, "And the true reason?"

"We can talk while we walk," Matthew led her deeper into the park. "My room hasn't been cleaned in a while, it's dirty, messy, and bad. I would be embarrassed for you to see it."

"Is it full of stinky clothes and takeout boxes all over the floor?" Britney recalled her own past messes.

Matthew nodded, then asked, "You've done that too?"

Britney didn't hide her past embarrassments in front of Matthew, "At the Mickey Mouse Club, I soaked a load of clothes and put it under my bed, planning to wash them later. I forgot, and they ended up fermenting and stinking before I remembered."

"So, you've been through it too!" Matthew laughed heartily.

Britney glared, "Don't laugh, I really just forgot!"

Matthew turned onto a paved path, suggesting to Britney, "It's nothing. Once, I was working in the desert, didn't shower for a week, and didn't wash clothes for a month."

"It must have been awful," Britney recalled Matthew's past stories. "Texas weather is so hot."

Along the paved path, Matthew led them to the spot where he had previously met with Iliana Poyar. He pointed to a shaded stone table and chairs, "Shall we sit there?"

"Sure, I came today just to be with you," Britney followed alongside Matthew.

They sat down at the stone table and talked for a while. Noticing that Matthew's phone hadn't rung, Britney looked at her watch with concern, "No call yet?"

"No," Matthew shook his head. "It hasn't rung at all."

"Do you have your phone with you?" Britney appeared more anxious than Matthew. "Is it on silent?"

Matthew pulled out his phone, checked it, and said, "Everything looks normal."

Britney glanced at her watch again, "It's working hours for the crew; they are really slow!"

Hearing this, Matthew, who had been fairly calm, started to feel anxious too. This role was very important to him. He checked his phone settings to make sure the ringtone wasn't off.

As he said, everything was normal.

Britney, clearly less patient than Matthew, stood up and started pacing. "Why don't you call your agent to check?"

"Okay."

Matthew looked up Helen Herman's number and called her; she answered quickly.

"What's up?" Helen asked.

"Any news about the audition?" Matthew got straight to the point.

"Nothing yet," Helen's voice was calm. "I'll let you know the moment there is."

With that, she hung up. Matthew glanced at his phone, Britney leaned over and asked, "What did she say?"

"No news yet," Matthew shook his head.

Britney removed her hat and sunglasses, placing them on the stone table, and began pacing around, clearly very anxious on Matthew's behalf.

Although Matthew was generally more composed than Britney, impatience is contagious. Soon, he couldn't sit still and stood up to pace with her.

The two circled

 the table, Britney frequently checking her watch and Matthew his phone. They must have appeared quite odd to anyone watching.

Fortunately, the park was nearly empty on a weekday, and this secluded spot was especially quiet.

Matthew and Britney paced around the table, becoming more agitated with each round. Their anxiety was evident on their faces, and it grew with every passing moment.

Checking his phone again, it was nearly 10:30 AM. Although they could expect news by noon, Matthew's patience was wearing thin under the weight of his anxiety. He was even considering calling Helen to urge her to check on the audition result.

He had never before felt such an eager anticipation for his phone to ring. But the more he hoped, the quieter the phone seemed, almost as if it were turned off.

"Still no news?" Britney asked again.

Matthew shook his head, just about to respond when the iconic Nokia ringtone unexpectedly sounded.

"Is that it? Pick it up!" Britney stepped closer to Matthew.

The caller ID showed it was Helen Herman. Matthew pressed the answer button and brought the phone to his ear, immediately hearing Helen's voice.

"Congratulations, Matthew."

At that moment, Helen's voice was incredibly sweet to Matthew's ears, making him feel utterly relieved. "You got the role!"

"I did?" Matthew's tension dissolved instantly. "I really got it?"

He had devoted so much to the role of Ronald Speirs over the past month, even undergoing ten days of intensive pseudo-military training.

"Yes!" Helen's voice was very firm. "You got it!"

At that moment, Matthew felt all his efforts were worthwhile.

"You got it?" Britney's face was full of concern.

"I got the role!"

Matthew, still a young man, couldn't help but swing his fists in the air, a feeling of ecstasy spreading throughout his body!

Suddenly, Helen's voice disappeared from the other end. Matthew, caught up in his excitement, simply hung up and stuffed his phone back into his pocket.

"That's amazing!" Britney's voice came from across the table.

"Did you hear that, Bubba!" In his euphoria, Matthew grabbed Britney's shoulders. "I got the role of Ronald Speirs!"

"Congratulations…"

Britney opened her arms, seemingly wanting to hug Matthew.

At his most ecstatic, Matthew embraced Britney tightly and planted a kiss on her smooth forehead.

Britney was initially stunned, then embraced Matthew in return.

A young man and woman held each other tightly, and what was initially a congratulatory hug took on a different flavor.

For a brief moment, they were engulfed in silence, holding each other tighter without a word.

Holding the vibrant young Britney, Matthew felt as if flames were burning inside him, combined with the thrill of securing the role, his typically reserved Eastern mindset finally shifted.

"Bubba..." Matthew whispered in Britney's ear, his lips close, "I like you. Will you be my girlfriend?"

Britney looked up at Matthew, pondered for just three seconds, and nodded, "Yes."

Then, she closed her eyes, stood on her tiptoes, and leaned in for a kiss.

Matthew lowered his head, and their lips met in a clumsy kiss that initially bumped noses and then teeth.

After they each drew back, laughing at the awkwardness, Matthew tried again. This time, his kiss landed perfectly on Britney's lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck, eagerly responding.

They stayed locked in the embrace for a long while before finally parting, breathless.

"I like you too, Matthew."

Young love often comes with an overwhelming rush, especially for outwardly emotional celebrities like Britney, who was no exception. Holding Matthew, she felt incredibly sweet. "I love you! I'll always love you."

Matthew gently pinched her cheek. "Me too."

Britney was young, sexy, beautiful, and endearingly simple, which was utterly enchanting.

He admitted he wasn't a saint; his confession was driven more by attraction than anything else.

Now that Britney had accepted his advances, there was no need for any more complications.

Suddenly, Matthew's Nokia phone in his pocket rang again.

Britney stepped back, and Matthew took out his phone to find another call from Helen Herman.

"What now?" he asked.

"Why did you hang up on me?" Helen demanded.

Matthew smiled at Britney and made up an excuse, "Got a bit distracted by something."

"You need to come to the Angel Agency right now," Helen didn't dwell on trivial matters. "The crew wants us to go to Warner Studios this afternoon for a meeting."

"Alright." Matthew knew the priorities; the crew wouldn't wait for a small actor like him. "I'm on my way."

"I'll be waiting!" Helen added before hanging up.

Matthew pocketed his phone and told Britney, "My agent wants me to head back to the office, and I need to go to the crew this afternoon, Bubba

…"

Britney looked reluctant, holding Matthew's hand. "Can I drive you there?"