Archive of Our Own

✮⋆˙RAY ⋆˙✮

Ray had always dreamt of being famous, ever since he was a kid his number one goal was to become an actor, to star in movies that make a billion in the box-office, to be successful, to be a worldwide name remembered for hundreds of years due to his soaring and transcending talent.  

That dream was only just beginning. He had been scouted by another famous actor, a big name, Kai Cenat. The guy was only a few years older than him, but it seemed like all his dreams had already come true. 

He had made and acted in his own short movies himself but when he met Kai he didn’t know a lick about him, he was Taiwanese and Kai Cenat was not a big name in his country at all, but for some reason the short man could just feel Ray’s talent and asked him to join him in the US to help and collaborate with movies together. 

Though, at the start he was indeed skeptical. He quickly found out that Kai was no creep and was incredibly famous back in his home country, the big USA.  

His parents were also a bit unsure, but he was eighteen, a legal adult. He was old enough to make his own decisions, and this was his dream, the thing he had wished for since childhood. He was not about to let this go. 

So, barely knowing any English he flew with Kai all the way to the USA and it seemed like everything was going to work out. 

He soon found out that he was wrong, very wrong. 

At the start it was definitely difficult, learning a new language was hard, but he was trying, so with Kai’s help he was getting better by the day. He was like a big brother to him, his new mentor. 

But the struggle was real, though he had acted in small school movies or just short movies with his friends back in Taiwan, actual, real Hollywood acting had to be learnt and studied. So, he worked hard, even too hard sometimes, Kai sometimes had to tell him to stop and take his breaks too. 

Which meant he had to keep working to his limit, until he makes it, until his dream is so close that he can taste it.  

Living with Kai at the start was all fun and games until he walks into Ray’s room unannounced every, single day. 

Today the older guy walked into his room with a skip in his step, “Ray, I have some good news.” Ray sometimes wished that Kai would knock, no respect for his privacy at all. 

Even though he was annoyed he basically owes the short man everything. Kai’s mansion was huge, and Ray was grateful that for almost a year Kai was allowing him to live with him. The bedroom he was granted was ginormous, and mostly everything was paid for, Kai had told him that his hard work was currency, and that only pushed Ray to work even harder. 

Ray turned his eyes from his PC - which he liked to play on in his spare time - to his friend, Kai.  

“What’s going on?” He asks. 

Kai quickly comes closer to him, “Got some good news from our agent.” 

Oh, yeah. They shared an agent now. Kai Cenat’s agents were also his, truly, Kai was treating him like his own little bro at this point. 

“What did he say?” 

Ray could see the bright grin spreading on Kai’s face and he couldn’t stop himself from smiling and getting excited too. 

“He said he got a movie lined up for you-”  

“Really?!” He jumps out of his seat excited and Kai nods bringing him to a tight embrace. 

Ray had currently only been an extra in some of those TV series and movies made for digital but seeing the smile on his friends face he knew that this was going to be generational. 

“What’s the script?”  

“Bro, he hasn’t told me yet.” Kai answers. 

“It better not be something stupid.” He asserts but Kai just laughs. 

“Ray, it’ll be a theatrical release, I promise, with me helping you, your name is going to be the talk of the world for weeks, maybe even years. And with you how could it not be successful?” Kai boasts, and Ray could swim in his endless praises.  

And all that was just what Ray wanted to hear, “Fuck yes!” One day, and it seems like that day was closer than ever, his hard work would finally pay off.     

 ✮ 

A week later they were in some type of office-looking place, Kai told him that it was basically where the ones that make the movies discuss and plan out everything altogether, Ray had barely understood him but seeing it in person, right now, definitely made it a little clearer for him. 

The long table was already accompanied by a bunch of old men and women in suits with a big smart board right at the end, there were two seats left, so that was where him and Kai sat. 

They were discussing for almost an hour, and all the words were going from one ear and out the other, it was worse that he could barely understand English as it is but their big and fancy words made it inconceivable, even Kai looked startled at times. 

So, Ray was lost. They were discussing about him but he barely even understood, he heard his name in the conversation like every second but they moved topic so quickly that it was even hard to register if they were talking positively or even negatively about him. 

At the end, they all go silent and Ray smiles, finally, he was getting overwhelmed beyond belief.  

“Ray.” 

He quickly turns to the women at the end of the table, fuck, he thought they were done?! 

“Huh?” He blurts, clueless. 

The women still had a slight smile on her face, which made Ray feel a bit more hopeful. 

“Do you like the idea right now?” 

Ray turns to Kai but it seemed like he was waiting for his answer as well, “Can you like, explain it easier for me?” Ray asks. 

Luckily, the lady didn’t seem too annoyed as she answers with the same corporate smile, condescending, but somehow still real at the same time, “Well, we’re planning a movie that’s at least over one hour and forty-five minutes, with the genre of adventure or maybe action, accompanied by another person,” she pauses, “we just currently don’t know who…” 

“Wait,” Ray pauses, looking at the people there in disbelief, “Is this not like a solo movie?” 

They all look at each other and after a second they all burst out into laughs and Ray just wanted to explode right there, maybe he shouldn’t have been so confident… 

One of the men at the side speaks up, he chuckles, “Kai, your friend here has some crazy aspirations.” 

And Kai awkwardly laughs too, and Ray felt even worse, fuck. Why would he even have his own solo movie in the first place?! Ray felt so embarrassed that he could melt himself into a puddle. 

One of the men hit their pen on the the table two times and the whole table goes silent again, must be the main guy, he thinks. 

“So, should we hold auditions?”  

All the others nod in unison and the whole meeting is quickly wrapped up five minutes later. He steps out the meeting room, and watches as all those worker split up to do their own stuff while he was left with Kai. 

Kai sighs, “Sorry, man. Those guys can be really harsh, you don’t know how hard it was to deal with them when I was younger,” Kai brings him closer, “At least you have me to guide you. 

And Ray wished that made him feel any better, he lightly shoves the older man away, “It’s fine.” He utters, and Kai could tell he was upset. 

“Look at the bright side, man. This will be your breakthrough! And it’s not like you’re a background character or something, you’re still the lead and all eyes are going to be on you.” 

Ray contemplates, “I guess.” Kai was right, and his ambition was probably way too big for his own body, he had to cool down, and maybe this situation will not be as bad as he thought. 

“Thanks.”  

And Kai’s grin widens as he ruffles Ray’s hair, “This is going to be sensational.” 

This time, Ray surely believed him.  

✮⋆˙MADI ⋆˙✮

“You’re gonna audition?” 

Madi looks at the pole and there it was, a big poster plastered with 「 AUDITIONS OPEN 」 they were still on their bikes and Reem who was in front of him had quickly stopped right in front of it, waiting for his friend Madi to cycle right beside him. 

“I don’t have any acting experience, Reem.” He says to his friend, but his eyes still didn’t leave the poster. 

“You can’t stop looking at it though.” 

Madi shakes his head, “Let’s leave it, there’s no way they’re gonna pick me.” 

NYC was the home to talent, and though Madi knew he was talented there were probably hundreds of other kids in his city way more talented. He knew why Reem had stopped in his tracks and quickly turned to his friend with a glint in his eye, he had said once or twice that he wouldn’t mind going into acting one day, but he had never taken classes and he had just finished high school planning to go to a college nearby. 

His immigrant parents would definitely prefer him going to college than acting, but it wasn’t like succeeding and becoming famous wasn’t something that his parents wouldn’t like too. Many actors also fail as well and failure definitely wasn’t in Madi’s book. With the chance of hundreds of other NYC teens auditioning, there was no way. 

Reem grabs the poster off the pole, “Even if you don’t make it, auditioning won’t hurt man.” He pleads with his friend and Madi really didn’t want to give in, but it seemed like Reem with his bug eyes can make anyone side with him. 

He sighs, “Fine, fine.” 

“Yes!” Reem exclaims. 

“But this is probably going to be a waste of time.”  

Reem’s smile doesn’t falter, “Madi, be optimistic!” 

“Shut up, me even auditioning is being optimistic.” He mutters.  

“I don’t know why you’re being moody, this is a good opportunity bro. You always said you wanted to become an actor.” 

“I said that like twice.” He reminded. 

“That was twice too many.” 

He rolls his eyes but his best friend, Reem, still had that stupid grin plastered on his face, “So, what day are the auditions?” 

Madi takes the poster off Reem and uncrinckles it, he scans the poster once again and there at the bottom right it said, 'Saturday, 1st of August 2026, 12pm to 3pm.'

“That’s next week.” Reem states. 

“Yep.”  

“Can I come with you?” 

“Of course, you’re my emotional support.” He jokes. 

“Can’t wait.” 

“You’re acting like you’re the one auditioning.” 

Reem laughs, “Shut up, n*.” 

✮

Thinking about auditioning is one thing, going there is another. The duo both raced on their bikes to get there, they were late, really late, like over an hour late. 

“Fuck you, Reem!” He bellowed, speedily cycling around the cars. 

Reem quickly catches up to him, “It’s your audition, you shoulda kept up with the time!”  

Luckily, there was still a line outside, although, only being about four people left.  

“We made it right on time.” Reem remarked. 

They get off their bikes, “Yeah, which just tells us how long the line was.”  

“And remember what they say, ‘saved the best for last,’ right?” Reem grins. 

Madi couldn’t even get annoyed as he laughs, “Trying to calm down my nerves?” 

Reem smirks, “You know me too well.”  

Madi stands in line while Reem watches him from the side, the line was getting smaller and smaller until it was only him in front of that door. 

Once the next person had walked out with a slight smile on his face the nerves had immediately gotten to him and he wanted out. He turns around but Reem had seemed to teleport right before him. 

“Oh no, you’re not leaving.” Reem persists. 

“Every single one of them came out smiling, there’s no way.” 

 “We’ve rushed to come here and then waited almost twenty minutes, you’re not going anywhere, and plus, those people say anything to make them auditioners leave happy, you’ll only know once they get back to you!” 

Madi hated hearing Reem sound so motivational and smart, he wanted to leave, to run. But Reem’s determination to see him succeed was too much. 

“Okay.” 

Reem pats him, “Make papa proud!” 

“What the fuck-“ 

“Ugh, go inside!”  

When Madi steps in he notices the long table at the end of the room, they looked like judges to be honest. With their notebooks and pens in front of them and those cold and stern stares, he was really debating just running back out but he didn’t come this far for nothing. 

He stands right in the middle, “Hi.”  

They all suddenly starts writing, one word accumulated the rough sounds of pen and paper for almost ten seconds. Damn. 

The one right at the end finishes writing first, he looks up, “And your name is?” 

“Madi.” He quickly answers. 

The man turns to his colleagues, “Okay,” He faces right back to him, “There’s a script right at the side, we want you to act that scenario, and please, let it be less than 5 minutes.” 

Madi nods as he does what he’s told and he takes hold of the script, but before he could even read it another one of them is talking, the women right to the left, “Let’s hope we saved the best for last.” She says with a smile, and all Madi could think about was his best friend, Reem, saying the exact same phrase just a few minutes ago. 

“Um, okay.” He does one of those coughs people always do at the start to clear their throat, it was funny because it was totally unnecessary, his throat was clear as day. Madi doesn’t even know what was going on with him, it wasn’t like he was a shy or an introverted person, he doesn’t know what nerves were doing him like this. 

He reads over the scenario and takes a deep breath, luckily, the more he read the more it started to make sense, and like all the anxiety was going away, ‘Okay, I got this.’ He thinks.  

He puts the paper back and turns to the three people looking at him, “Are you ready?” The man on the right says. 

“Yeah, a hundred percent.” He answers, 

The one in the middle finally shows emotion with a smirk, “I knew you weren’t that shy. Show us what you got young man.”  

And that gives Madi all the confidence he needs. 

The scenario was easy anyway, act out a person with his friend - who was by the way not there so he basically had to act out with an invisible person - robbing a bank together. He barely took it seriously and more like someone playing Pictionary, it was funny and at the end the shy shell he had put on earlier had completely gone away. 

When he was finally done he faced the three in front of them, and though, expecting all of them to laugh out loud, they all put on faces of astonishment, okay…  

“Um-“ 

They all start clapping at the same time, clearly impressed and Madi looked at them with total shock, were they pranking him? 

One of them spoke up, “Now that’s dedication.”  

Of making a fool of himself, surely? 

The women on the left agrees, “Truly, no other person had showed that much excitement and zeal today, what a good job. We have your details right?” 

He nods.  

Finally the one in the middle speaks too, “We’d really like to see you again,” he checks his notes, “Madi.” 

“Oh-okay.” He smiles, “Me too.” 

The women laughs, “…You’d like to see yourself?” 

“No-no!” He blurts, all three of them stare at him, “I’m just going to leave…” And they watch as he awkwardly steps out, what the fuck had just happened. 

Reem is still outside and has the biggest smile on his face, “So, how’d it go?” 

Madi is still in shock, “Uh, I don’t know.” 

Reem looks at his friend in disappointment, “You being serious, Madi?” 

Madi sighs, “I acted out the scenario they gave me in a more unconventional way, like it was a game, at the end thought I did pretty bad, they all started praising me and it felt so good! But then before I left I fucked it up and said something stupid and embarrassed myself, so, Reem, I don’t know!”  

Reem looks away, “Damn.” 

“Don’t make me feel any worse.” 

“And it was such a good opportunity too!” 

“Reem-“ 

“Madi, when are you ever going to have another chance? And you blew it!” 

Madi groans, “I only fucked up the end, which had nothing to do with the acting anyway, so there’s always a chance.” 

“Yeah, a 15% chance.” 

“I thought you were supposed to have faith in me.” 

“I did, until you fucked it up.” 

Madi just wanted to go to sleep and forget that this day even happened, “I told you man, there was no way from the start, you’re the only reason I tried, and as you can clearly tell, it was unsuccessful. Let’s just go.”  

Reem and Madi both get back on their bikes but before they left Reem says, “25% chance.” 

“Reem!” 

And his friend bursts into an array of giggles and Madi shakes his head in disapproval even with the slight smile on his face, he really hated how funny Reem was especially when he wanted to be pissed off at him. 

“Like I said, let’s just go.” 

✮

It took way too long, well, in his opinion.  

He had decided that college wasn’t for him, his parents were rightfully not too pleased but they decided to support his decision anyway, so he spent his time either at home, with friends or working at his local grocery store with his friend Reem who was never going to get into college anyway, his job luckily didn’t pay too bad. 

It had been about two months and he had almost forgotten about the audition as a whole, a week after he done it he had already came to the conclusion that he definitely didn’t make it. So, now there was possibly no way. 

…Until, he checked his mail. 

He always checked his mail before he went to work in the morning, so while Reem was outside on his bike waiting for him that’d be the first thing he’d do. 

“Be quick!” Reem groans, “I need that promotion.” 

Madi laughs as he takes his mail out, “Promotion? At a grocery store?” 

“Yeah, what about it?”  

Madi chuckles, he looks through all of them, okay this is for his dad, his mom, his sister, him- him! He takes it out of the bunch before getting it muddled up again, he once forgot to open a letter even when it was still in his hand so he just opens them the moment he gets them. 

“I don’t know why you love getting letters so much, watch it be about your Netflix subscription failing.” 

“Shut up.”  

He tears it open and he could hear the sigh coming from his friend, he skims over it quickly until he stops.  

'ACCEPTED'

For what? Did he apply to another college or something? It looked like his friend could see the confusion in his face, “Madi?'

“Wait!” 

There it was. 

“Reem!” He shouts with a bright smile, and his friend quickly gets off his bike to run to get right beside him. 

He snatches the paper off him, “Give me that!” Reem scans the letter and then pauses, “Oh my god!” He turns to him with a grin, “You did it!” 

Madi nods, “I did!”  

Madi could cry, but the shock was giving him too much adrenaline and he just wanted to shout and jump and tell the whole world, out of what, probably hundreds of NYC kids?? And he did it, he really did it. 

“So you’re the main guy for the role then?” 

“Y-yeah.” He was still in utter shock and his brain was trying to regulate everything all at once.  

“I knew you’d do it!” Reem brings him into a tight embrace, “I fucking told you!” 

“Hey!” Madi pulls them apart, “Don’t act like you were that supportive the whole time. This was all me!” He insists. 

Reem rolls his eyes, “Yeah, but I was the once that convinced you to audition in the first place, without me you wouldn’t have even gotten this letter.”  

“Okay, okay! But look, they gave me an address and said that I should meet them there in a week.” 

“Is the address in NYC?”  

Madi nods, “You wanna come with me?” 

“Yep,” Reem pauses, “but shouldn’t we, like, get to work first?”  

Shit. He forgot about that.  

✮⋆˙RAY ⋆˙✮

Ray yawned, he was currently ridden with total and utter boredom. How long had he been here? Almost two hours of nothing, he was so bored that he could fall right asleep then and there and the worse part is that he spent the whole first hour trying to make himself less bored just to end up feeling even more tired an hour later.  

He was about to fall asleep until he felt a nudge on his shoulder, “Stay up.” 

Kaleel?  

“Why the fuck are you here?” He questions. 

“Damn, can’t support a friend anymore.”  

Kaleel sits right next to him, he was basically right where he was months before in that office-looking place that he made a total fool of himself in, he winces, he still thinks about it at night.  

Thankfully, they weren’t in the same room because the flashbacks would haunt him every second and he would surely go insane. This room was a bit smaller. Had a large round table instead of the long rectangular one the last one had and had way less seats. 

Kai had dropped him off here saying that he was going to come back when the meeting finally starts, but unfortunately for Ray, Kai left two hours ago and no person had came into that room other than him, and now Kaleel. 

“When is your brother coming back?” 

Kaleel shrugs, “You think I know?” 

Ray rolls his eyes, “Then why are you here?” 

“You’re asking too many questions now,” Ray groans, “I’m here because of your movie.” 

Ray raises an eyebrow. “Huh?” He prays and pleads with god for a few seconds, “Don’t say you auditioned-“ 

“Of course not! You know how much nepotism talk I’d get, and anyway, I prefer singing over acting.” 

Phew.  

“I’m here because I have nothing else to do.” 

Ray sighs, “Really?” 

“Really.” He repeats.  

Ray sits up, “Entertain me.” 

“What?!” 

“I have been here for two hours I’m bored!” He yells.  

“Okay, sorry.”  

The door then opens and their heads quickly turn, there walks in two of who he thinks are the director and producer, the women introduces herself as the director and the man right next to her as the producer, both in more casual wear than suits like the whole group had the last time, it was good anyway because honestly, he hated the intensity of the last meeting and he fortunately doesn’t remember any of them from the last meeting too. 

As they sit down the women speaks up first, “Ray and…” 

“Kaleel! Kai’s little brother.” 

She nods, “Okay.” She looks around, “It seems that your brother isn’t here yet.” 

Ray interjects, “He was, but he left and didn’t come back.” 

“Kai Cenat seemed like the type of person to do that.” The man adds.  

And Kaleel couldn’t even defend his brother because it was true, “Shit, yeah.”  

“Wait,” The women says, “He hasn’t joined you.” 

Ray raises his eyebrow once again, he? 

“What do you mean?” He asks. 

“You haven’t met Madi yet.” 

Madi? Who the fuck was Madi? 

“The other co-lead on this project.” 

Oh. 

“Both of you are going to be working very closely together if it all goes to plan." 

The second she finished talking the door is slammed open again and there pops out two people he has never seen before. 

“Are we late?” 

Ray’s eyes lock onto the one who just spoke, dark eyes, dark skin, short hair. He was really attractive - not in a gay way, don’t get the wrong idea - and for some reason he felt drawn to him, which was weird as fuck, he was being weird as fuck, yo.  

Kaleel speaks up, “Nah, y’all are early.” He jokes.  

The guy besides the one that Ray called attractive - no homo by the way - spoke up, “Shit, sorry.” He could even notice the vape slightly sticking out of the guys pockets, he was kinda amazed on how unprofessional he was. 

Ray leans back, “It’s fine.” 

“You sure?” The other man speaks again. 

 
“I’m sure.” 

“Okay,” Ray also notices the slight smile the other boy has on his face, “the names Madi by the way.” He sticks his hand out for Ray to shake it and he does. 

“I’m Ray.” 

“Nice to meet you, Ray.” 

The woman speaks up again, “It’s good that it looks like you guys are already getting along, if we want this movie to work and be a success you guys need to at least become close.” 

Close? 

“Like, as friends?” Ray asks, he didn’t know you had to be friends with your colleagues now. 

“Of course not, but relationship is key in these type of movies, if both actors IRL can’t stand each other how will the final product of the movie come out?” 

“A mess.” Kaleel says, answering a rhetorical question. 

“Wait, why are you here?” Madi asks Kaleel. 

“Me?” 

“Yeah, you.” 

“I could be asking your friend right next to you that too.” Kaleel says pointing at the guy next to Madi. 

“He’s my emotional support.” 

“The names Reem, my guy.” 

“Yeah, and I’m Kaleel, Kai Cenat’s little bro.” 

Both Reem and Madi turn to eachother. “Never heard of you.” They reply in unison. 

And Ray couldn’t stop himself for bursting out laughing, okay, he got Kaleel good. 

“Why are you laughing?!” Kaleel exasperates. 

Ray shrugs, “If something’s funny you laugh, right?” It was self-explanatory.

“Yeah, but not at your friend!” 

“Ehem,” The producer in the room finally speaks up and the room goes silent and all heads turn to him, “We are already late so let’s start now.” 

Ray was basically half-asleep for the hour that the man and the others were talking, he just stayed silent the whole time but every time he was about the fall asleep he got nudged by someone. 

“You falling asleep?” 

He turns to his left, Madi? He sits up and yawns, “Nah, I’m good.” 

“Do you even understand what’s going on?” 

Ray shakes his head, truthfully, he doesn’t know a single thing that was happening. 

Madi laughs and Ray’s eyebrows perk up, he wouldn’t mind hearing that again. 

“You want me to explain a bit for you?” 

Ray nods, there was no need to lie, the boredom from the start had fucked everything up and now he was so tired that even in this important meeting he’s falling asleep, the only shocking thing was how only Madi had noticed.  

“Okay, so, it seems like this is a duo thing. Me and you as main characters of this like action movie, partners of some big organisation trying to rob the biggest bank in the world.” Madi whispers. 

“There’s like a million of movies like that, what’s any different about ours?” Ray questions, movies should be unique, movies that become extra successful and produce big names are unique, robbing bank movies, isn’t. 

Madi shrugs, “True.” 

Ray sighs and everyone turns to hims, “Can we switch some things?” He asks. 

“Anything wrong, Ray, you’ve been quiet for a while.” The director adds. 

The producer agrees, “Your silence made us believe everything was alright, something up?” 

“Can some stuff be changed?” 

Both filmmakers look at each other, the director fixes her glasses, “We’re in the early stages so yeah, changes can still be made.” 

“And those changes include the plot?” 

The woman looks at him confused, “…Yeah.”  

Ray turns to Madi who has a smirk plastered on his face, it made Ray even more confident, “I don’t agree with a bit of it.” 

In the corner of his eye he notices that Kaleel was sleeping, but he quickly focuses back on the filmmakers in front of him not wanting to lose focus.  

“What don’t you agree with?” She questions. 

Madi speaks up, “I think the whole ‘robbing bank’ thing is too cliche.” 

Reem nods and Ray realises that the other guys near Madi was still there. 

“Oh, okay.” She admits, “You agree, Ray?” 

“Yeah, I have another idea but it will be similar, not too different.” He insists 

“Tell us.”  

“I think we should probably expand on the main thing, which is like partners robbing a bank, maybe we should just add more to it?” 

The director and producer both look at each other and it seemed like they collectively agreed, “I see.” One of them says. 

“Guys, how long have we been here?!” Reem complains, fidgeting in his chair.  

“Well, as we’re almost out of time,” The director says, “we should come up with some new stuff soon, next meeting probably.” 

Reem groans and Madi slaps him in the back of the head, “Dude that hurts!” 

Ray wonders if he can even deal with this any longer and how he was even going to survive such mental torture as being in the room with all those guys any longer or for any more instances. 

But then he remembers about the dream that he was longing so much for, and it looks like he has to tolerate this for a little bit longer, and maybe he doesn’t hate it as much as he thinks. 

He clearly didn’t hate Madi, and Madi was the main guy, his co-lead, his partner for the next year, he’s glad that his and Madi’s personality seems to click because if it didn’t he’d hate this whole experience a lot more. 

The new guy, Reem, was collateral damage and Kaleel was as annoying as ever, so nothing really had changed other than he was a lot more closer to finally making it and that was basically the whole point of this, but being this close was making him a bit impatient, if he makes sure there are no distractions then this should be an easy rode to the top, right? 

Sadly, he was wrong, really wrong because there were distractions, really annoying distractions and it was all due to one person. 

His co-star, Madi. 

✮

A few weeks later all the little problems had been fixed, mainly the script, and he calls it a little problem because they only changed the plot a tiny bit but it still was worthwhile because it made it a little bit more unique than what it was originally, and that was good enough for him, and for Madi.  

Ray’s eyes kept on lingering on Madi and he just couldn’t look away, he doesn’t know what was so enticing that he couldn’t stop. He was lucky that it basically went unnoticed but every time he caught himself staring a little longer than usual he wanted knock some sense into himself. 

While on set Madi walks up to him, “You okay?” They were still at the start of filming but they were making good process, the director told the pair that filming wouldn’t be too long if they worked hard enough, and working hard was Ray’s forte so he had this in the bag. 

Ray turns to him, “Huh?” 

“You looked confused.” 

Ray’s eyes subconsciously land on Madi’s lips but he quickly looks up, “Yeah, just got a lot on my mind right now.” He admits, awkwardly. 

“Ah, I see.” 

It goes silent. 

“You’re doing well by the way.” Madi compliments, “at remembering your lines and stuff.” 

“I could say the same to you.” 

Madi chuckles and Ray could tell that taller boy was flustered, but before he could comment on it he was called over by the director. 

“Ray!” She shouts, 

“Sorry- I gotta go.” But his smile doesn’t falter. 

Ray thought that this would be easy, smooth sailing, he hated that it wasn’t. Because it should be, all of this should be easy and it was like he was stopping himself from reaching his own full potential. 

Something was blinding him, or was it someone? It was someone. It was definitely someone, and he knew who it was. 

He just prays that this whole situation doesn’t ruin his dream for himself, he can’t let childish crushes blind him and he can’t let love fuck everything up, so he’s going to ignore the part that longs for it, at least until the movie comes out and the promotion is over. 

He just hopes he can keep to his word. 

✮⋆˙MADI ⋆˙✮

Madi finds Ray intriguing, really intriguing. Or maybe he just finds Ray cute…? Probably both. 

When he told his family that he gotten the role they were all really proud of him, his older sister pulled him in for a hug and he could never forget the bright smile that his parents had on their faces, just minutes after his mom had posted him on her Facebook story and WhattsApp status telling the community to get ready for him, that her son Madi was going to shake the world. 

He had never felt better and that moment is going to a memory treasured for a lifetime.  

Now, he needed to make sure that those praises don’t go to waste and that he actually makes it, that he truly does make his friends and family proud. 

Currently, everyone was going great. They were almost halfway through filming and the rest of the crew and the cast were all pleased and proud every ‘CUT!” Came with laughs and smiles and he could swim in the kind words the director and the crew would say to him at the end of every day of shooting.  

He also has to give his new friend some flowers too, Ray, he was exceptional and was clearly the better actor by far, he was skilled beyond his ages and even though he wasn’t fluent yet, everything just made sense to him. 

Many people would expect Madi to be jealous, and some times he indeed was. But he couldn’t deny Ray’s greatness and Madi knew he was good too, he wouldn’t have gotten this role if he wasn’t, it was just that Ray was so different, and deep down he loved it even while being inferior. 

It was the end of shooting for the day, the director predicted that there was probably about two weeks more of shooting left which he was grateful for, though this was a fun experience going on set at 8am everyday from Monday to Saturday was tiring. 

He was packing up to leave until he felt a tap on his shoulder, “Huh? 

Oh. 

“Ray? I thought you already left?” He asks. 

The shorter man looks at him unimpressed, “Didn’t feel like leaving early today.” He admits. 

Madi smiles, “I see,” 

“You going anywhere?” Ray asks. 

Madi gives him a skeptical look, “Nah, was gonna meet up with Reem but he said he was too busy, I was just going to go straight home.” 

Ray smirks, “Well, I was just going home too, but then I remembered.” 

“Remembered what?” 

“That friends hang out together, and we haven’t.” 

Madi looks at Ray confused, “Isn’t being in set together 24/7 hanging out, basically?” 

“If that’s what you call hanging out, then probably.” 

Madi rolls his eyes but the still had a smile on his face, “So, what do you think we should do?” 

Ray does a thinking pose but Madi already knows that the shorter boy already had something in mind, “Movies?” 

Madi laughs, “We’re going to the movies while also making a movie?” 

“It will give us more experience.” Ray answers with a smirk, “You don’t wanna go with me?” 

Madi couldn’t deny and act like he didn’t want to hangout with Ray, he was his friend now and friends hangout with each other, “Why not.” 

Ray’s smile widens and he grabs Madi’s hand and pulls Madi with him as he runs off set, Madi couldn’t hide his flushed cheeks or the way that Ray was able to cloud all his thoughts. 

He quickly realises that a friend shouldn’t be making him feel this way, so soft and warmhearted ,so he internally shakes his head and remembers that if he wants this movie to work everything needs to be platonic, because him and Ray were just friends and so are their characters, friends, so he can’t let these weird feelings ruin that. 

Especially, since Ray was working so hard and had went on and on to him on how much this movie was going to mean to him. Each sentence and word made him feel even more and more like shit because he knows he shouldn’t be feeling this way about a friend, specifically a friend he was working on something this important with. 

“That movie sucked.” Ray blurts out as they both walk out the movie theatre, he was still holding his bucket of popcorn even though it was basically empty. 

“Let’s hope our movie isn’t anything like that.” He jokes. 

“I know, worst part is that I thought it would be good, all the reviews seemed fine.” Ray complains. 

“Maybe we just have better taste.” 

Ray shrugs, “Probably.” 

They stop in the middle of the street and Madi checks his watch, “It’s late we probably should get home.”  

Ray agrees, “Yeah, you got someone to take you home?” He asks. 

“Nah, was just going to call an Uber.” 

“Kai said he was going to pick me up, wanna come so he can drop you off?” 

And Madi would never turn down a free ride, “How longs the wait?” He asks. 

“Like 10 minutes.” 

“Okay then.” 

So they wait, and wait, and wait and after five minutes they get tired of waiting. 

Well, not him. Ray got tired of waiting. The five minutes felt like a few seconds for him but it seems like Ray wasn’t lying when he said that he was a little bit - very - impatient. 

“You’re fidgeting a lot.” He comments. 

“Sorry, don’t know what to do with my hands.” Ray admits. 

Madi stops himself from just reminding Ray that his pants have pockets but instead he cups Ray’s hands and interlocks their fingers, “Do you know what to do with your hands now?” He flirts, jokingly… 

Ray goes red and quickly pulls away, “Y-yeah, I’m good.” And even though Madi starts to think that he made a very bad mistake and should stop acting on his thoughts, fortunately, after a minute Ray was holding his hand again and Madi tried to act like his heart wasn’t leaping. 

When Kai finally pulls up in his car and rolls down his window they quickly let go of eachother but it was clear as day that the short man still noticed with the smirk on his face, “Get in y’all!” He grins. 

They hop in together, and it was silent for the first minute or two until Kai decides to speak up, “So, how’s the movie going right now?” 

“The filming is halfway done.” Ray answers and Madi could see Kai’s smile from the side.  

“That’s good.” 

It goes silent again, in the backseat Madi subtly moves closer to Ray until their shoulders touched and Ray leaned onto his shoulder and Madi couldn’t stop himself from embracing the shorter boy’s warmth. 

✮

They were almost at the end of shooting, only a few more days left until the final cut where they would have to wait a few months for editing and then a movie, Madi’s going to be in a movie, he still can’t believe it. 

The crew and the cast were taking their usual lunch break, he knew that Ray was definitely in his trailer and after Madi has finished his own meal and wanted to entertain himself, who better to entertain him than Ray. 

“Ray!” He bangs on the trailer door and it’s opened by his friend. 

“Madi?” The shorter boy clearly questions why he was there but he still lets him in. 

“Your trailer is way bigger than mine.” He comments. 

“Maybe they think I’m just better.” 

“Or it’s because you’re Kai’s guy.”  

Before Ray replies he clarifies for the other, “By the way I’m joking.”  

“Yeah, no hard feelings.” 

And Madi had to stop himself for telling Ray that he could never garner hard feelings for him. 

“So why’re you here?” Ray asks. 

“Boredom.” 

Ray smiles, “I suffer from that a lot too.” 

“Looks like we’ll suffer together.” 

Madi laughs and he could see Ray’s eyes linger somewhere, his lips. Oh. So, he quickly turns away pretending that he didn’t catch that but Ray persists. And he wished that the other boy wasn’t so confrontational. 

“Madi.” 

“Yes?” He answers. 

Ray ponders for a second, “How many people have you kissed?” 

Madi shrugs, “I have kissed and dated many girls.” He wondered why Ray was asking him that, wierd. 

Ray ponders for a few seconds and It seemed like a lightbulb just popped up right by Madi’s head, “You’re wondering if I’ve kissed any guys.” 

Ray laughs awkwardly, “Is that weird?” 

Honestly, if he was in any other situation he would’ve answered ‘yes, pretty weird,’ but since he liked Ray anyway, why not just go with the flow? 

Madi shakes his head, “Nah, but why do you wanna know?” He says softly. 

“Because I…”  

Madi patiently waits for an answer from Ray but instead it seems liked all the loose screws in Ray’s heads were turning and his expression quickly changes from gentle to befuddled, and it looked like it was due to his own actions. 

Ray’s face was ridden with total shock and Madi could only look back at him in confusion, “Ray, you good?” He asks concerned. 

“Yeah-yeah,” He stutters, “Ignore what I said before, you should go.” 

Madi wanted to ask Ray what had just happened but immediately he was getting pushed out of Ray’s trailer and as he stands outside totally confused Ray insists that shooting was going to begin soon and his team was probably waiting for him. 

Even though that was definitely true he was concerned for his friend, the face that Ray made so suddenly was probably going to be ingrained in his mind forever, it was haunting, like Ray just realised what he was even doing and caught himself off guard. 

It sounds stupid, but it did send a chill down his spine. 

“You sure?” He calls out but the door is slammed in his face, okay then. Rude. 

Madi walks back to his trailer rightfully upset, not just at Ray but at himself too, and the weird part is that he thought he’d never be able to get mad at Ray, but walking alone all he felt was rage. He didn’t even find kicking the rocks in the ground calming. 

He sighs as he reaches his own trailer door, when he steps in two members of the crew were already in cleaning up their stations. 

“Madi!” She pauses when she looks at his gloomy face, “…what happened?” 

“You wouldn’t wanna know.” 

✮⋆˙RAY ⋆˙✮

It looks like Ray can’t even keep up with his own rules, the first one was clear and was incredibly easy, ‘even if he falls in love with his co-lead on this movie he shouldn’t act on it until all promotion is over.’ Actually, that was the one and only rule. And he didn't even keep to it.

He really should be embarrassed, not only at his actions but by how he treated his crush and friend, by being so childish and making a game out of his feelings he accidentally disregarded Madi's feelings as well.

When the day is finally over Ray musters up the confidence to call his friend and to apologise, sadly, Madi was unavailable. He groans as he runs his hand throughs his straight black hair.  

He realised that he had been acting and thinking too close minded. By being so obsessed with making it he neglected the feelings of himself and the people he loved. He felt like utter crap, Kai, nor family or friends could cheer his solemn mood. 

After 30 minutes he calls Madi again and this time the other final picks up, “Madi.” 

He could hear ruffling from the background for a few seconds until Madi’s voice sounds out from his phone, “You good? You didn’t answer me last time.” 

Ray snorted, “Yeah, I am. I want to apologise.” 

“For what?” Madi questions, “For looking at me like I killed your pet hamster, nah, I’ve already forgiven you man.” 

“I’m not joking, I’m really sorry,” 

The line goes quiet again and it was clear that Madi was thinking and the wait was getting under his skin, “You forgive me, right?” 

“Maybe if you tell me why you acted like that I will.” And Madi hangs up. 

Woah, he wasn’t expecting that. Ray had been so used to getting his say that this caught him totally off guard, so Madi wouldn’t forgive him unless he tells him the truth. Makes sense, doesn’t mean he likes it though.  

The only bad thing was the truth would probably make him look worse, especially if Madi didn’t like him back. He’d look like a shit person and just a shit friend overall. Not good for his PR and definitely not good for his friendship with Madi, the friendship that was already on thin ice. 

“Shit.” He mutters.  

Ray had been acting self-centred this whole time, ever since he had landed in the US he had been acting like the only thing that mattered was him and success. That was the thing that was blinding him from the start, and he has been so clueless that he didn’t realise that the goal that he was so infatuated on was getting in the way of everything, how he interacted with the people around him and pushing stuff and others to the side because of his own selfish nature. 

He needed to fix this, and the first thing would have to be fixing himself, because he can’t be acting like this anymore and be treating other like this. He now had a movie to finish and a relationship to fix. Past him would’ve said this would be a piece of cake, now he was not too sure. 

All he knew was that the thing that mattered the most was Madi, it had always been Madi.  

✮

It was the last day of shooting, and though Ray had apologised again and again Madi didn’t accept it. It was quite frustrating but they were able to mask the current struggle in their relationship really well as nobody had commented it and they were still getting praised for their practicality and their good chemistry together. 

They talked, laughed, joked. But it was still strained, because deep down Madi was still pissed off at him even hiding it with his fake smile, it was clear as day that it wasn’t real but once again, only he had noticed. 

When the day was over most of the cast and crew agreed to go to some fancy restaurant to celebrate. Obviously, as the main leads of the movie they couldn’t deny such invitation so he and Madi both decided to join them. 

They go in separate cars which did raise some eyebrows, but it was no big deal anyway. Weirdly enough saying that the restaurant was fancy was clearly an understatement, the place looked so elegant that they all felt out of place, their glasses looked like chalices and the decoration looked out of this world, he was totally amazed. 

They do sit right next to eachother, but maybe they were just used to that. The first time he met Madi they sat right next to each other, stealing subtle glances off each other and quickly looking away flustered, now it just felt strained and he only had himself to blame.  

“Ray.” Madi nudges him. 

“What?” They were shoulder to shoulder and their proximity to each other would look suspicious even to the naked eye, even if they appeared as just friends to the world, because deep down they both now that their relationship isn’t as platonic as it once was; if it ever was. 

“You’ve been staring at the menu for like two minutes and you haven’t ordered anything.” 

“I just couldn’t figure what to get.” He lies. 

Madi points to the dish on the menu that had his favourite meal, “Maybe you should get that one.” Madi mocked. 

“Don’t like that one anymore.” He lies, again. 

“It seems like you don’t like anything any more, even your own friend.” Madi insinuates.  

Ray wished that he didn’t love Madi so much because in any other situation he would’ve already been arguing across the table, but instead he takes grab of Madi’s hand and suddenly pulls both of them to the men’s bathroom. 

“Ray! Let go!” Madi demande.

But the taller boy was pushed into the stall and he looked at him startled, it looked like Madi had definitely underestimated Ray’s strength. 

“I said I’m sorry!” He exasperates, “What more do you want?” 

Madi glares, “I want you to tell the truth.” 

“Yeah, and what if the truth makes everything worse?” He questions. 

Madi rolls his eyes, “And what could that be?” 

Ray scoffs, “Think just for a second!” Ray locks the stall door behind them, “You’re not just a friend to me Madi, you’re more than that.” He admits. 

“You can read me out a list of apologies and explanations Ray, if it’s not the truth I don’t care.” He emphasised.  

“Maybe, if you let me finish I’ll tell the truth.” 

“I’m all ears.” Madi smirks, and Ray rolls his eyes. 

Ray moves closer to him until their faces were only inches apart, “Would you rather me show you the truth instead?” 

Madi’s breath hitches, “Yeah. Show me.” 

Madi’s answer was enough for him, and immediately he crashed their lips together, he could even taste that grape flavoured vape that Madi always had on him.  

Madi sultry moans fill the stall while Ray, the only one who clearly had a brain and released they were still at a restaurant was way more subtle about the pleasure he was feeling. 

He pulls Madi even closer while the other boy hastily runs his hand through his black hair while their tongues both fight for dominance, when they finally let go of eachother he could still taste Madi on his tongue. 

Madi’s face was totally flushed, eyes dilated and lips swollen, and Ray was so happy that he couldn’t see his face too because he knows he probably looks way worse, he chuckles, “You look crazy.” 

 Madi lightly pushes him back, “Shut up.” 

“Madi, do you understand now?” 

“You could have just said you’re in love with me Ray, before you kissed me. It would have looked a lot more romantic.”  

Ray blushes, “Yet you still liked it.” 

Madi sighs, “Let’s get out of here they’re probably waiting for us.” 

Ray quickly remembers that everyone else was still sitting down in the restaurant waiting for them while they were making out with each other. When they both walked out with smiles on their faces while it seemed like half of them were just curious on what had taken them so long whole the other half had a guess on what was really going on. 

In his opinion, the only shit part was that his and Madi’s first kiss was in a bathroom stall, an area of literal shit. Oh well, it wasn’t like there weren’t many other places he could kiss Madi in, at the park, beach, a rooftop of a crazy rich hotel, the possibilities were endless.  

Now that the filming was over it was only time until the movie hit theatres and the mass movie craze would start, and with Madi by his side he couldn’t wait. 

✮⋆˙RAY + MADI ⋆˙✮

 -1 year later.. -

The movie was an ultra-massive huge success. And all those words weren’t even big enough to describe the adoration and love it was getting it. The movie had hit a billion in the box office in three months, getting 4.6 stars on Letterboxed and an 8/10 review on IDMB. It looked like everyone in the word loved the movie and he didn’t know how and in a day Madi had gone to basically nobody to a star while’s Ray popularity was just growing and growing. 

The press tours, interviews and just social media as a whole had pushed them into total stardom their followers on Insta almost reaching 20 million.  

With friends and family all being thrilled it seemed like this was it, Ray had reached the  dream that he longed so much for which had brought him to Madi, the one he had fallen deeply in love with Madi had made what he thought was impossible to the possible, while also gaining a boyfriend on the side.  

The only thing left for them was the awards, and throughout the past year after the release of the movie they were both getting awards for different things from lesser-known to world class awards, and easily the biggest were the Oscars.  

Though they both knew their movie was one of a kind, the Oscars were different so they weren’t expecting too much, even just the nomination was great for them 

Appreciatively, they both got nominated for best Main Actor and though Ray said he wouldn’t mind if any of them won - if there was even a chance of them winning - him winning and holding an Oscar in front on the whole world would be utterly magical. 

They were announcing the winner of Best Actor and each second felt like years, then that one name was called out and the whole award ceremony burst into claps and whistles, smiles plastered on every face. 

Ray turns to Madi who looked totally and utterly shocked but the only thing that Ray could do was clap and have a wide smile on his face as he looks at his boyfriend in awe. 

As Madi walks on stage and is handed the award Ray couldn’t shake the pride he felt as he turned to his friends and family who were all clapping for Madi. 

As Madi broadcasts his victory speech mentioning his friends, his family, and then Ray and how much he had helped him make this movie special and worthwhile  he felt a pot on his shoulder. 

“Better luck next time then.” Kaleel says. 

Ray shrugs, “Yeah but you can’t lie and say he didn’t deserve it. He’s spectacular.” He compliments. 

“You guys are together anyways so the award goes home to both of you guys, doesn’t it?” 

Ray perk his eyebrow but instead of questioning on how Kaleel even knew that they were together, he just nods with a smirk, “Yep.” 

✮

At the after party, Ray finally breaks out of the crowd dancing in the middle and finds Madi on the balcony. 

He walks up close to him until they were standing side-by-side. 

“Still can’t believe it.” Madi utters with a bright smile, “ I am an Oscar winner. before you!” He jokes as he puts his arm around Ray and pulls him closer, “You jealous?” 

Ray laughs, “Yeah, defo,” 

They are left in a comfortable silence for a bit, though there was still small commotion coming from the inside of the party the only thing that mattered was them and the moonlight sky above them. 

At the start he thought that this would be the worst possible outcome imaginable, him starring in a movie and not getting the major award at the end would have sent him over the edge just last year, but it seemed like after meeting Madi he started to realise being successful isn’t just about getting all the awards and the fame but the relationship he made with him. 

Ray cups Madi’s chin and tilts the other boy's head down and with a smile on both their faces, their lips meet again, tender and passionate as they hold eachother closer.

On the other hand, Madi never thought that he’d ever be in a movie, nor did he ever think that he would fall in love with a co-star on a movie and be kissing him on the balcony right after winning an Oscar on the same film, maybe he should give more credit to Reem…  

Luckily, that’s one thing he’d never admit. 

THE END.