novelraw Chapter 100: Second female bread
Chapter 100: Second female bread
The tablet on the table gave a sharp beep.
At the same time, the door at the side opened and Ziva stepped out with a toothbrush in her mouth. Her hair was slightly messy and she still looked half absorbed in her morning routine.
She walked straight to the table, picked up the tablet, and glanced at the screen.
Seeing that it was a message, she paused for a moment and slowly turned her head to look around the room in search of her glasses.
Her eyes moved from the bed to the chair, then to the scattered files, but she did not see it anywhere. After a short pause, she let out a small breath.
She could not find it, and she clearly did not have the patience to search further at that moment.
She shifted the tablet in her hand and opened the message anyway.
The words were not completely blurred, so she could still make them out, but she had to squint a bit and bring the screen closer to her face. Her brows slowly drew together as she read.
"We’re pleased to confirm extra wine for the second female bread."...
Ziva went still for a second. Then she blinked in confusion. "What is this..." she muttered around the toothbrush, her voice quite muffled.
She lowered the tablet a little and looked back at the words again. "Extra wine... second female bread..."
She paused, thinking seriously.
"Am I a delivery person now..." she muttered under her breath.
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the message again. "Or is this meant for Elara..."
She stayed there for a few seconds longer, holding the tablet in front of her, but the words did not rearrange themselves into anything sensible. Finally, she lowered the tablet and placed it back on the table with a sigh.
"Wrong number," she concluded simply.
She turned and walked back into the bathroom. Standing by the sink, she rinsed her mouth slowly, then lifted her head. Just as she was about to move on, she paused.
The faint sound of running water continued, but she stood still, her brows furrowing. ’Second female bread...’ she repeated in her mind.
She pursed her lips.
’That does not make sense... Or is the sender illiterate...’
But then her thoughts paused halfway and she straightened a little. "Second female..."
There was a brief silence. Then suddenly, she turned and walked out of the bathroom much faster than before. She stepped into her bedroom and immediately started looking for her glasses properly this time.
She checked under her pillow, then inside the files she had left scattered on the bed from the night before.
But it was not there.
She walked out to the sitting room and glanced around the table and the couch. Then she checked the kitchen counter as well, just in case she had left it there without remembering.
Still nothing.
She returned to her room again and paused, her eyes moving around more carefully this time. Then she stepped closer to the mirror. As she stood there, her gaze lifted and she finally saw it.
Not on the vanity table, but rather... resting quietly in her hair.
Ziva went still for a second, then sighed softly. "...Found."
She reached up, took the glasses down, and cleaned the lenses with the edge of her sleeve. After that, she put them on properly and walked back to the table.
She picked up the tablet again.
This time, her eyes moved clearly across the screen.
"We’re pleased to confirm... Elara Veyne for the second female lead."
Ziva froze.
Her fingers tightened around the tablet as she read the line again. "Second female lead..." she murmured quietly.
She read it again.
It did not change.
She stood there for a long time, still processing it. Then she quickly tapped the screen and dialed Elara’s number. The call rang for a while before it was finally picked up.
"Hello, Ziva," Elara’s voice came calmly from the other side.
"Elara," Ziva said immediately. "Look at the message I got this morning. I’ll send it to you now."
She tapped a few times and sent the message. The small notification appeared on her screen, and she waited without moving.
"Have you seen it," she asked.
There was silence on the other end.
"Elara," she called again.
After a short pause, Elara’s voice came back. "Are you sure this isn’t a mistake..."
*****
Elara stepped out of the office holding the folder she had just signed. Even now, she couldn’t completely believe it– out of all the young singers in Starfall who had auditioned, she had been chosen for a lead role.
She knew she had some talent in acting, but still... she think there must have been someone better suited somewhere who simply hadn’t been called.
As soon as she came out, Ziva walked up to her with a bright look in her eyes. "Our lead actress," she said, poking Elara’s arm teasingly.
Elara lifted her lips and gently pushed her hand away. "You’re being dramatic," she said calmly. Her tone was soft, but it was clear she was trying to hide how overwhelmed she felt. "Don’t start acting like I’ve already filmed the whole movie."
Ziva was about to reply when her words suddenly stopped halfway. The sound of footsteps made both of them turn their heads at the same time.
Relanie was walking in their direction with her assistant just behind her. When she reached them, she stopped directly in front of Elara.
Elara’s gaze briefly shifted to the assistant first. Their eyes met for a second, but she said nothing and calmly moved her attention to Relanie instead.
So she also came.
"Oh," Relanie said, giving a small smile. "You’re still here."
Her gaze moved over Elara from head to toe. "I thought small roles don’t take this much time," she continued in a soft voice. "Or... are you still trying your luck around? I mean, after everything, I didn’t expect you’d still be coming back for more auditions."
Elara understand the meaning underneath those words. It was very clear.
She simply looked at Relanie with something close to a bored expression.
Beside her, Ziva’s face had tightened. She was watching Relanie unblinkingly, like she was holding herself back from saying something she would regret.