The news had bee a sdal, and another spectacle took shape from that uproar. But what was happening with the life of the woman seen with Billy? The press desded on her home repeatedly, in every ceivable way, driven by their most primal instincts. Everyone wanted information about her. Fortunately, she wasn’t a public figure. She could be photographed, but it was far from enjoyable for her. It ofte like the tragic aftermath of two people ing together.

  –No, Mom, it was just something that happened,– said Merche, visibly lost. Her entire family kept b her with messages, all waiting for saresponse. Yet, she only replied to her mother and younger brother, the only two people she sidered truly important.

  –Things with him are always uable. I wouldn’t be surprised if he repced me with a supermodel tomorrow. For now, I’m just sav every moment of our time together. It’s votile, intense, and all-ing. I think I’ve mentally prepared myself for when it ends, but maybe that’s why it won’t,– Merche said. Her mother, always calm and perceptive, knew more about the recurring troubles tha on. It rojeerche projected her desires, knowing they could colpse at any moment.

  The press tinued snapping photos, each shot from ahat made her question how she could look so awful ihe cruel words hurt. Being with Billy felt like slowly bleeding out; sometimes, it was faster, but only when they were alone did the wounds stop. She doubted this at times, but then she uood two things: fame was chaotid utterly unmanageable.

  –Mom, I won’t try to deny the rumors, but it’s a mistake. He’s said himself that he’s too young not to have fun,– Merche admitted, perplexed by how everything had unfolded.

  –I’m afraid so. It’s easier to empty his wallet than his heart. And his assets are so vast, I doubt anyone could get through them in this tury,– Merche added while tidying up the kit and anizihoughts. She felt like everything happening around her could drive her mad. Oable was a box taining bck lingerie, handcuffs, and a blindfold. The sight filled her with premonitions that seemed to shape her mood.

  –But, my God, Mom, that’s something I won’t be sharing with you,– said Merche. Her mother, 15 years older, was her biological aunt but also her fidant and adoptive mother. Her younger brother, an 11-year-old boy, was the apple of her eye, someone she had watched grow up for so long. But the tryside wasn’t her pce.

  –They’re calling from work; I o hang up,– Merche said.

  –Why didn’t you answer earlier? – Pau replied.

  –I was talking to Greta, – Merche expined.

  –Oh, your mother. Well, Billy gave an interview yesterday. It was intense… You should see it for yourself. Anyway, he mentiohat Paul Booth gave you a tattoo and that you were there. The intrigue keeps building. If it’s true, we might be able to pay off the me year,– said Pau.

  Merche opened her ptop and started searg while the TV moved on to the story. Her face appeared, alive and full of details. She opened her inbox to find tless people requesting appois, while aab dispyed numerous articles about Billy. He was, undeniably, the ter of attention, while she remained a footnote, a small, vibrant figure on the edges of a world that wasn’t hers.

  When something wants to remain hidden, it oftes discovered. Ohat happens, it seems to appear everywhere, in every pce that once seemed obscure or unknow with no other option, she bit her nails.

  ...

  –e on, sweetheart. You’re the only person I care about, – Billy told Avril. He had gohrough all the messy details already, and she wasn’t pleased. Despite her reluce, she still felt pelled to ask—after all, they were close friends.

  –Liar. In a few days, I’ll have some singles ready, though I’m looking forward to hearing your album. There’s a rumor you’re releasing a record entirely in Spanish, – Avril said.

  –I am. There will be two: my Spanish album, Agustina, and another pnned for November or January. I’ve got some amazing singles lined up, and we’re already writing. I think I’ll call the sed one Immensity,– Billy replied.

  –We’re all eagerly waiting—not just me, but all your fans. They ’t wait to hear your songs, – Avril responded, still infatuated oher line.

  Billy, wearing headphones, began a workout. He pulled himself up and down the bar, sets of twenty, each with sistent strength. His goal was a solid rhythm of ten by ten.

  –e here, and I’ll sing every song for you. I feel lonely and think I need you,– Billy said.

  ...

  Later that day, he arrived at the Harry Potter set, ing up uer ses and Quidditch sequences. As a sedary character, his presence wasn’t always required, leaving him to observe the detailed chraphy of everyone else’s roles. It felt like attending a vention parade, with green ss, occasional shouting, and ughter. The atmosphere was satisfying, though repeated ses brought about iable tension. No one enjoyed doing the same over and over, but that was the reality of the work.

  He watched as every element started ing together seamlessly.

  –I hear there were issues with the tattoos you got,– J.K. Rowling ented.

  –Well, I always seem to get tangled up in things. But I ’t anize my life. I wanted a tiger on my back, dear dy. Though I apologize for the trouble,– the boy replied, fshing a smile at the author, a womairely itted tinality. She was reimagining Viktor Krum in a new light, not merely as a teenage idol.

  –I find it more troubling that you don’t care. But what else I expect from a rock star who doesn’t follow the rules,– J.K. sighed to herself. Billy ughed, ign her frustratioepped closer, his gaze unwavering, almost as though he already knew every part of her. With a pyful wink, he added:

  –Let’s just do what we o do. I’ll be the face that brings your o full realization. I’m Nordic, charming by design, and my goal is to embody a European charisma—a few words, a handsome face, and my fiery personality. It’ll be a hit.–

  ...