Breakthrough

Drake felt the pressure of time ticking away. They had only rented the classroom for a few hours, but Lucas was struggling to deliver the right performance, necessitating multiple takes. If they couldn't wrap up the filming within the allocated time, Drake faced the prospect of additional expenses.

With Lucas having stepped out into the hallway, Drake ventured out in search of him. However, aside from a few cast and crew members, Lucas was nowhere to be found. Drake inquired, "Where's Lucas?"

Charlie, who was close by, responded, "He went out with Jennifer."

Drake was taken aback. Lucas going out with Jennifer? Regardless, Drake could only hope that Lucas would quickly regain his composure, allowing them to complete the filming in the classroom.

***

At the café, Lucas was taken aback by Jennifer's whispered insight. "She knows exactly what's missing in my acting?" he wondered silently.

Curiosity piqued, he couldn't resist asking, "Oh, you do?"

Jennifer nodded affirmatively, "Yes, I believe I do."

Intrigued, Lucas leaned in, eyebrows raised, "Really? Could you share your thoughts with me?"

With a shy mutter, Jennifer shared, "I think what you're missing is... the passion and yearning for... love."

"I'm lacking... love?" Lucas echoed, visibly surprised as he gazed at Jennifer, who confirmed with a nod.

Reflecting on her words, Lucas experienced a moment of clarity. His performance had elements of nervousness and joy, but his eyes lacked the depth of desire and love required for the scene.

"Thank you, Jennifer, for this insight. I'll never forget it," Lucas expressed his gratitude, looking deeply at Jennifer.

"Consider it a favor," Jennifer replied with a smile, sipping her classic latte. However, she hadn't stirred her coffee thoroughly, leaving a trace of foam on her lips.

Lucas, noticing the foam, chuckled, "You've got a bit of foam on your lips."

Embarrassed, Jennifer attempted, "Oh? Here?" trying to remove it, but to no avail.

Finding the moment endearingly awkward, Lucas offered a gentle hand, wiping away the foam with a touch that seemed unexpectedly intimate, causing Jennifer to blush. She hastily pushed his hand away, cleaning her lips with her forearm, and said with a shy blush, "I can manage on my own..."

This moment revealed a different side of Jennifer to Lucas. Previously, he saw her as strong, independent, and confident. Now, as they grew closer, he discovered her shy and charmingly awkward side, which made her all the more endearing.

"Why do you look so shy? Aren't we going to film intimate scenes together in the future?" Lucas asked, his chuckle lightening the mood.

Jennifer replied softly, "It's different. On set, I'm fully immersed in my role, and for the sake of the film, I can manage."

"So, off-camera, you're not comfortable being intimate with a co-star?" Lucas teased, still chuckling.

Jennifer nodded, "Yes, it's something like that," she admitted. Yet, deep down, she felt an overwhelming shyness and her heart fluttered from Lucas's close presence. Despite their brief interaction, she felt inexplicably drawn to him but couldn't bring herself to acknowledge it, let alone act on it.

"Is this really happening? We've only recently gotten to know each other, but why do I feel this way?" Jennifer wondered, her heart racing at the mere thought of being near Lucas.

"Alright, let's head back to set. Now that I understand what's been missing, I'm hopeful I can nail the performance," Lucas said, determined.

Jennifer smiled, offering encouragement, "Good luck."

As Lucas and Jennifer returned to the set, Drake, visibly anxious, hurried over to Lucas. "Lucas, you're here! Look at the time, we've only got an hour before we have to leave the classroom!"

Lucas acknowledged him, "Alright, but give me a few minutes to get into character, will you?"

Drake agreed, trying to calm down, "We still have an hour, so take a few minutes. It's only a short scene, after all."

Lucas nodded in appreciation, then took a deep breath, sat at the nearby chair, preparing himself under the watchful eyes of the cast, including the fellow lead, Felicity Jones.

What Lucas and the others didn't realize was that, to perfect his role, Lucas delved into the depths of his own mind, tapping into a unique skill he called the "Mind Workshop." This technique allowed him to vividly simulate the scene he needed to enact, bringing every detail to life before his eyes.

Within the confines of this "Mind Workshop," everything he needed appeared with astonishing realism. The characters, including the students, the professor, and Anna—the woman Jacob, his character, falls in love with at first sight—all materialized around him.

As Lucas, embodying Jacob, attempted to reenact the scene with Anna (portrayed by Felicity Jones within his mental realm), he encountered a problem. Despite Anna's flawless performance—given she was a figment of his Mind Workshop—Lucas felt no genuine emotion. The love and desire that should have driven his character were absent, leaving his portrayal lacking in authenticity.

Lucas tried to reset the scene in his mental workshop, hoping to infuse his performance with the necessary passion and desire. Although hours seemed to pass in his mental space, only minutes ticked by in the real world. Despite the urgency, Lucas struggled to convey the depth of emotion required.

The absence of real love and desire made his attempt at conveying genuine fascination, desire and subtle love fall flat.

Lucas attempted to reset the scene, aiming to infuse his performance with the missing emotions. Time seemed to stretch for hours in his Mind Workshop, but back in reality, only minutes ticked by. Still, Lucas struggled to capture the essence of love in his portrayal.

Then, a turning point came. Lucas's thoughts wandered to Jennifer. Her personality culminated warmth, strength, caring and independent, deeply resonated with him. The ease and natural connection he felt with her were unlike anything he'd experienced before. It felt real, unforced, as if they had known each other for years, despite their recent acquaintance.

Reflecting on their moments together, Lucas found the depth of emotion he had been searching for. Imagining Jennifer in place of Anna, he suddenly tapped into a wellspring of genuine fascination, interest and a subtle desire. His performance in the Mind Workshop was transformed, now imbued with a subtle, yet unmistakable spark of love.

Upon exiting the Mind Workshop, Lucas was immediately confronted with the real world, where Felicity Jones stood before him, curiously asking, "Were you napping?"