Page 19 of Play Room Actor

The gallery director concluded her speech with: “And now, let’s be enchanted by a light show that will take us to hiding places far from reality. Kilian? If you’re ready, the space is yours.”

The audience applauded, and Kilian’s grip on my arm slowly loosened.

“Are you okay?” I asked quietly.

“I should be asking you that,” he replied. “Can I let go of you, or are you going to topple over on me?”

I rolled my eyes. Of course, he just had to turn it around. The guy really had an ego problem. “I’m fine,” I said as he looked at me with genuine concern.

“Okay. Enjoy the show.” With a wink, he let me go and headed up the stairs to the gallery. He sat down at a table near the railing, where a laptop was set up, pushed a black strand of hair behind his ear, and put on a pair of headphones.

Then the lights went out, and ethereal sounds filled the darkness. I hadn’t even noticed how the large windows facing the street had been covered with light-blocking curtains to prevent any natural light from entering.

When the first light particles flashed on the walls and drifted through the space like delicate snowflakes, I turned around in astonishment. They were everywhere, dancing around me, transforming into butterflies, and flying up into the infinite space. A sense of awe came over me as I glimpsed up at the ceiling, where a portal to another universe seemed to open.

The music grew louder, and the light particles spun in a spiral, pulling me into a wormhole that brightened, exploding in opulent colors and mesmerizing sounds.

I couldn’t close my eyes. I did everything I could to keep from blinking, determined not to miss a second of this artwork unfolding around me.

Fuck! That bastard was more talented than I had expected. The variety of colors and arrangements shattered my concept of light, and I found myself on an acid trip I didn’t want to end—and all without any drugs.

I was in a spectacular storm of colors. Kilian sent me through a snowstorm, a sunrise, dark forests, caves, and other dimensions. I felt as though I could almost smell the lavender as a rich purple hue spread across the wall. I could also feel the heat as the light transformed into red flames that crackled throughout the room.

The climax was a symphony of blue, accompanied by atmospheric music mixed with the haunting sounds of whale songs. My senses were completely overloaded, but amidst that endless blue, my body finally calmed down. It was like breathing underwater, and I could smell the salt in the warm sea air.

Kilian had stopped time and taken the space to another dimension. When the music faded and the colors dissolved into the darkness, a sense of sadness settled within me, yet a smile remained on my lips, and my body felt light as though I were floating.

The lights had changed when they came back. It was no longer the same lighting as before. Kilian had transformed the entire exhibition space and created a vibe that brought the artwork into the foreground.

In an instant, the people around me burst into cheers. They clapped and shouted “Bravo” enthusiastically. It took me a moment to realize where I was. I gazed up at the gallery, where Kilian had risen from his chair and silently acknowledged everyone with a modest gesture that conveyed his gratitude.

The gallery owner stepped into the middle of the room and announced, “The light show will be repeated four more times during the exhibition. You can find the exact dates and times on our website.”

By now, Hector and Nico had rejoined me. It seemed that no one had been able to stand still during the light show. You had to move to fully experience the new spaces.

“That was insane!” Nico said, his eyes wide with excitement.

“Yeah, it was,” I agreed.

Fuck! Why does this guy keep getting more interesting?

I scanned the room, past Hector who was talking to the two guys who had come with us, Luca and Juri, when Nico appeared in my line of sight.

“What was going on with you earlier?” he asked, concerned. “Are you okay? You looked so pale.”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” I replied. “I just got dizzy. Haven’t eaten anything yet.” That wasn’t even a lie. Sure, there were some snacks here, but I wasn’t into olives or salmon sandwiches.

Nico squinted at me, his gaze intense. “You were about to pass out if Kilian hadn’t been holding you up. The whole speech.”

“That wasn’t …,” I immediately defended myself. “He just didn’t want to let go when the gallery owner started talking about him.”

“Why’s that?” Nico asked, amused.

“How should I know?”

Why did I feel like I was lying to Nico?

The applause rose again as Kilian descended the stairs and was instantly surrounded by curious visitors. I smiled when our eyes met. As big as his ego was, it was clear he was uncomfortable with all the attention. He pleaded with me silently to do something, but instead, I used the opportunity to wander through the exhibition and admire the artwork.