Page 111 of Play Room Actor

“Your fight made the rounds, and you’re an open book.”

I sighed, hoping that Dominic was okay with it. “What about you?” I asked as Jacob appeared through the side entrance.

“We’re going for lunch. Are you coming with us?”

“Hey, Kilian!” Jacob called as he caught up with us.

“Yeah, no, thanks. Maybe next time. Enjoy your meal!”

Sebastian waved goodbye. “See you tomorrow!”

As the two of them left the theater, I stood alone for a moment in the foyer. The clock showed it was already past twelve. They were probably finishing one or two more scenes before the actors went on their lunch break.

I entered the theater and quietly took a seat in the back row. In front of me, Theo, Eva the producer, and Manuela the dramaturg were watching the action on stage. It was the scene where Hamlet and Horatio encounter the ghost.

A key moment in the play, one I’d always liked. As I watched Dominic’s portrayal of Hamlet’s transformation from hesitant and doubtful to decisive and ready, I couldn’t help but see the parallels to Dominic himself.

He’d been reserved and distant when we first met. Even after landing the role of Hamlet, he seemed to have doubts about me and acted hesitantly in everything. Given that he’d grown up with foster parents, and the absence of his biological ones had likely left more scars than he’d ever admit, it wasn’t all that surprising.

But my persistence had broken through his shell, and he’d opened up to me. He’d even picked me up in Engelberg.

Who does that?

My dad had always done things like that for me. But he was my father. In a somewhat functional family, it’s expected that parents do those things for their troubled son.

Why did Dominic do it?

He owed me nothing.

Especially not after what happened at Livio’s place.

And suddenly, I saw what I hadn’t been able to see through the fog of the past two weeks. It was so obvious that I could have slapped myself. Nico had already told me this in the botanical garden.

Dominic does everything for the people he holds close. There aren’t many, but anyone who gets that place in his heart should appreciate it. He doesn’t even realize how selflessly he acts.

I crossed my arms and sighed. Did I still deserve that place? I’d worked so hard to gain his trust, and yet, I had pushed him away in the end.

“Okay!” Theo clapped his hands, and Eva and Manuela followed suit. “Let’s take a lunch break.”

I stayed seated and observed Dominic chatting with Eliah and Stephan, who played Marcellus. The three of them had great chemistry on stage.

“Are we eating on the terrace?” Eliah asked.

Stephan nodded, but Dominic made a gesture, signaling that he needed to grab something to eat first.

“Hello, Kilian! Good to see you!” Theo said as he spotted me coming down the aisle. “How’s it going? Are you back on your feet?”

I got up from my seat and saw out of the corner of my eye that Dominic had noticed me too. He stood tall on stage, watching as I shook Theo’s hand.

“All good, thanks.”

When I glanced at the stage again, Dominic turned away and disappeared through the side exit.

“What are you doing here?” Theo asked. “I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”

“Yeah, I …”

“We were just about to go for lunch. Want to join us?”