HEAR ME OUT

A few seconds feel forever with all the awkwardness together in that room. Until Din breaks the silence.

"I guess it can't be helped then." Din's opened his refrigerator.

"Well, I think I'll sleep here for a bit." Nan awkwardly walks away and sits on the sofa, trying to behave normally.

"No, you can use my room over there. I'll sleep here," Din pointed to his room.

"No, I'm the one who'll sleep here." Nan pats the sofa.

"How can I let you sleep on the sofa? No way" Din insisted Nan, not to sleep on the sofa.

"This argument will never end."

"Hm… Then, why don't we stay up late?" Din suggested.

"Good idea. You have a beer?"

"Hmm... No," Then Din takes something from his lower kitchen storage. "But I have wine. How about it?"

"Cool!" Nan agreed happily because she rarely drinks wine. She cleaned up the table and Din prepared the wine. Din has poured the wine and they say, "Cheers!" Nan and Din drank the wine.

"Wow, this is good! How much does it cost?" Nan asks because it looks really expensive.

"I don't know. This is a present, so I keep it." Din lied.

"I see..."

There was a huge silence for a moment. Nan takes another sip. Din bit his lips and followed Nan. The awkwardness increasing each time the clock is ticking, Nan tries to make a conversation.

"Oh, you just heard about me from Veo, now is your turn,"

"Huh?!"

"Spill it!"

"Haha! Hm... Where should I start?"

"Well.. how about back in school?"

"About that, I don't have anything special to tell you about school. US indeed has a high education standard, but I rarely talk to people around and don't have many friends. It's boring."

"Then… How did you become an actor?"

"I have actually been interested in acting since high school. I take classes for that."

"Then you apply for an agency here?"

"..."

Then Din explains that his career now is because his father, Mr. Oat, made a way for Din to get into showbiz. Din told Nan that his father is not a busy, strict, and egoistic businessman like in a drama. Even though he's busy, he always takes family as his first priority. He didn't want his children to struggle so much, but keep them educated that every single thing cannot be achieved without effort. Din thought that his father knows enough about how important is acting for Din. That's why he did that.

"Well, everyone still sees me as a rich boy…. not as an actor. Well, you saw it too. My father is the main sponsor of our project." Din said in a painful smile.

Nan actually already knows the things that Din explained because she read it on social media. But, Nan just knows that Din has been through such pain and she thought maybe it's because of the alcohol, she really wants Din to relieve his pain.

Nan took another sip and spoke, "Din, do you know the difference between fans and admirers?"

"I... Guess so. Why? Isn't this out of topic?"

"Just..." Nan gulped down a gas that almost came out. "Hear me out." Then she continues, "a fan only cares about you being handsome on-screen, screaming whenever they see you and desperately want to be recognized. Sometimes, I can treat you as an object, not a person. You must feel this way."

Din heard Nan carefully and waited for her to continue, "Then, what's the difference with admirers?"

"I don't need to be recognized by you" Nan yawned and continued talking. Din realized that Nan used the word "I".

"We just want to see how you do your best and like you as you are. Don't think too much, about what they said. Think of people who supported you in anyways. Sooner or later, you'll be a great actor. I'm sure of it! We don't care about gossip, whether you're... fighting... dating... " Nan's voice started to fade and Din laughed when he heard the word 'dating'.

"You sure you won't care If I date...?" Din saw Nan's eyes closed and breathing slowly. She's asleep. Din smiled seeing Nan's sleeping face. He touches her cheeks lightly and she makes an annoyed face.

"So cute." Din mumbles. Din never thought he will like her this much. Anything he does with Nan always considered a great memory. Whether in that he feels happy, puzzled, or sad. He can't feel at ease if he didn't see her face.

Din sees the clock and decides to move Nan, so she can sleep comfortably. Din lifts Nan to his room and lies her on his bed. But, unfortunately, when Din put Nan into bed, he heads spinning so badly because of the alcohol and Din half passed out on the bed, beside Nan.