CANVAS OF US ? Marius de Saeger

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The morning after their day of filming, Amora woke to the soft hum of a guitar coming from the common area. She followed the sound and found Marius sitting by the window, strumming a gentle melody. His hair was slightly messy, and the early sunlight filtering through the curtains cast a warm glow around him.

"Good morning," he said, looking up with a small smile.

Amora returned the smile, her heart fluttering slightly. "Morning. That's beautiful, what is it?"

"Just something I've been working on," he replied casually. "It's... kind of a love song."

She raised an eyebrow. "Kind of?"

He shrugged, his fingers continuing to move over the strings. "I'm still figuring it out."

Before Amora could respond, Lou burst into the room, dramatically yawning. "Alright, lovebirds, let's get moving. We've got a schedule today! You're lucky I'm not charging you rent for how much you're hanging around here, Amora."

She laughed, grabbing a pillow from the couch to toss at him. "Oh, please. You'd miss me if I left."

Lou caught the pillow with a grin. "Maybe a little."

-

The trio returned to one of their favorite filming spots in Brussels, an old theater with intricate architecture and moody lighting. The setting was perfect for the emotional climax of their short film.

As the director of the scene, Marius grew focused and intense, walking Amora through the emotions her character needed to portray. "This scene is all about vulnerability," he said, his tone soft but firm. "You're letting your walls down."

Amora nodded, but as the camera rolled, she struggled to let go. The pressure of perfection, and the way Marius's eyes seemed to search her soul, left her feeling exposed. After the fourth take, Marius called for a break, his brow furrowed.

Lou, sensing the tension, clapped his hands together. "Alright, timeout! Marius, stop scaring her with your broody perfectionism. Amora, come with me, we're doing a confidence reset."

Lou dragged her outside, where the winter air nipped at her cheeks. "Look," he said, his tone unusually serious, "you've got this. You're Amora freaking Morgan. You didn't come all the way to Brussels to let some artsy Belgian boy stress you out."

She laughed despite herself. "He's not stressing me out. Not exactly."

Lou smirked knowingly. "Oh, I see what's happening here. You're not just nervous about the scene, you're nervous about him."

Amora's cheeks flushed. "Lou—"

"Don't deny it," Lou interrupted. "And don't overthink it. Just... channel whatever you're feeling into the scene. Trust me, it'll be magic."

-

As the camera rolled, Amora stepped onto the stage, illuminated by a single spotlight. Her character's journey had been building to this moment, and the weight of it was almost palpable.

She began her monologue, her voice trembling slightly. "I thought if I stayed quiet, stayed hidden, I could avoid the pain. But it finds you, doesn't it? Even in the silence."

Her steps faltered as she crossed the stage, her arms wrapping around herself as if trying to hold herself together. "I tried to pretend I didn't care. About them. About him. About any of it. But I do. I care so much it hurts."

Her voice broke on the last word, and tears brimmed in her eyes as she finally let herself feel the weight of the character's emotions. She sank to her knees, her hands clutching the fabric of her skirt as the monologue dissolved into a quiet sob.

When the camera cut, the room was silent. Lou looked at Marius, his eyes wide. "Okay, that was... wow."

Marius didn't say anything at first, his gaze fixed on Amora as she wiped her eyes and stood up. Then, a slow smile spread across his face. "That was perfect."

Amora let out a shaky laugh, still catching her breath. "Really?"

"Really," Marius said. "You brought the story to life."

Lou clapped his hands, breaking the tension. "Alright, emotional genius, let's take five before I start crying too."

-

After wrapping up for the day, Amora found herself backstage with Marius. Lou had wandered off, claiming he needed to check the footage, leaving the two of them alone.

"Thank you," Amora said, leaning against the wall.

Marius looked at her, surprised. "For what?"

"For not giving up on me earlier," she replied. "For believing I could do it, even when I didn't."

He stepped closer, his expression soft. "I never doubted you, Amora."

The sincerity in his voice made her chest tighten. Before she could think, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him in a hug. He froze for a moment, then returned the gesture, his hold warm and steady.

They stayed like that for a few moments, the quiet theater around them feeling almost sacred.

"You're amazing," he murmured, his voice so quiet she barely heard it.

Her cheeks flushed, but she didn't pull away. "So are you."

Lou's voice echoed from the hallway, breaking the spell. "I hope you're not getting all sentimental without me!"

Amora laughed as she pulled back, though her heart still raced. Marius chuckled too, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Come on," he said, his voice lighter now. "Let's see what Lou's up to."

As they walked out together, Amora couldn't shake the feeling that something between them had shifted. And she wasn't sure she wanted it to go back.