"I heard Henrietta's off the chart?" Another guy comments with a grain of salt.
Chris sneers then nods at him. "She already wanted to go solo first. But now, after that little hindrance I don't think she's allowed to participate anymore."
"It's quite pathetic if you ask me," Ana opines.
I ignore their gossip as I show Damien the draft I made. He hands it to Todd after a few minutes.
Then Zeb takes it from him. "What's your verdict Boss?"
"Let's try it now," confirms Damien.
••••
I toss and turn in my bed begging for some sleep again. That day I really slept well in his place, didn't I? I can't believe the year's ending.
Mom knocks on the door.
"I'm awake. Come in."
She comes in then sits beside me. I prop up against the headboard.
"Are you okay honey?" Her solemn yet wistful face begs my attention.
"Uhm...yes. Why wouldn't I be?"
She takes my hand in hers. I feel her hands have grown more frail and veiny.
"Can I ask the same to you?" I shift a little wondering how she'd respond.
She caresses my head. "You've become quite busy lately."
I feel a weak yet steady longing in her voice. I know what she's thinking. It's true that ever since the filming started I'm spending a lot of my time there. When asked I excused that it's related to that competition and we need to practice harder. I barely get 6 hours a day for myself. Sometimes it's even lesser. But atleast the trailer is blowing up already. I hope it becomes a hit.
"You know you can literally talk to me about anything Sein," she says again with a touch of hope.
Her answer to my previous question from the other day suddenly comes back. "Some people are hard to deal with my son," she answered, "People are complicated. When someone like this comes in life—you don't force them to change. You accept them. When you accept them they start to grow on you."
"And how does this benefits me?"
When I asked in return she smiled. "A piece of fulfillment."
Sometimes I really don't understand her riddled words. How him growing on me benefits me huh? What do I get out of it?
"Sein?" Mom pulls my cheek lightly. "Honey you're zoning out again."
"Oh.. No mom. It's just, I'm starting to get an idea."
"Of what?"
"Nothing mom. I think I'm feeling kinda sleepy now."
"Goodnight baby. But don't push yourself too hard honey. I've got only you."
"Aww mom... You've got me too mom. Love you."
••••
The next day: When I plan to head out, for the shooting after first class ends, Damien blocks my way. He won't even let me get up from my seat.
"Call your director and tell him to ask for you later when you're done with me." His commanding voice doesn't intimidate me as it did once.
"Done with what exactly?"
"Practicing of course."
"Didn't we do it the other day?"
"That was two days ago. You can be pretty forgetful my angel."
"I've told you not to call me that," I state sternly.
He inches a bit closer whispering near my face, "Oh? You didn't complain when I called you that back when we were alone."
Some students stare at our way.
"You've got to stop giving them the wrong idea, Damien."
"What wrong idea? Can you explain?" He's only a centimetre away from me now as his hand reaches behind me.
"What are you doing..?" Then I realise he's trying to take his headphones from the desk behind me.
"Why your heart's racing my angel?"
I whisk myself away from this unbearable closeness of us. "You're hearing too much these days. Get your ears checked please," I say pointing at them.
Todd walks to us. "Boss are we going? Let's practice on the terrace today."
Todd's been ignoring my existence since that occurance.
"Sure. Oh and you're coming with me," Damien intertwines his fingers with mine.
"But Damien..!" Todd grumbles. "We'd be better off without him."
It's rare of him to call Damien by his name. Guess he's still cautious of me.
"Why not ask your Boss to leave me alone then? I wasn't the one who begged to be in your team."
He doesn't even look at me as he pulls Damien to his side. "Let's go Boss."
Mika decides to be a spectator for the moment.
"Alright you two can go ahead first," Damien addresses them. "But Saint Angel is one of us now so I want us to get along. Is that understood?"
"Getting along?" Zeb scoffs. "That's one heck of a task."
Mika pats on my arm. "Don't mind them Saint. Come with me."
I don't see an option that says—Fuck you all. I don't have time for these bullshits.
I sigh. "Let me let Mr. Dean know first. But I can't give you more than an hour."
"Enough that will be." Damien shrugs.
I let myself being pulled away once again by this stubborn mule. Mr. Dean granted my request but I'll have to make it up afterwards.
"Hey Damien."
"Yes partner."
"I'm getting used to you dragging me these days you know."
He smirks. "Glad that someone's getting used to me."
"That was sarcasm you moron."
Mika tries to diffuse the tension. "So we gonna be using that song hm?"
Zeb gives me a condescending stare. "I don't think he's gonna sing that. Will you Mr. Saint? Cause last time..."
"Well... Nevermind that." I say, irritated by his accusing tone and today's gloomy sky. "I've got no other choice right? Plus I don't care about it you know. You can own my credit too."
"Are you saying we like to take other's credit and we're all useless?" Todd says in a quarrelsome tone.
"When did I say that?!" I say loudly.
"Oh boy here we go again." Mika acts to bang his head against an invisible wall. "You all need to see a therapist."
"Say that again you piece of trash!" Todd comes forward ready to punch Mika. Mika too grabs onto his shirt.
"Hey hey!! Don't start now!" Zeb intervenes.
Damien grins at me mischievously as if he's enjoying every bit of it.
"What's the name of your song again, Saint?" Mika asks.
"Right. We don't know it yet. Say partner." Damien curiously gazes at me.
"Well... it's..." I scratch my head awkwardly. "I haven't found a name yet."
"Incredible. Now's good then." Zeb takes the notebook from Mika. "How about 'Keeping You'?"
"Nah. Sounds... I don't know...cliche?" Mika shakes his head.
Damien quirks his brows. "How about 'Forever'? What do you say?"
My phone buzzes with notification. I pull it out. One message from Chris. "Let's hang out today. The drinks are on me."
Ever since that night Chris often requests me for a drink or two. Even though I don't enjoy it like he does.
"Let's talk when I'm done with my...works. My shooting will end around 8/8.30." I type back.
"No problem." He replies pretty fast.
"Saint, Damien asked you something." Mika taps on my shoulder.
"Oh hm... Either one is fine. I have no objection."
••••
After I finish practicing with them I immediately rush to Eternals HQ.
"You're here finally." The makeup artist strides up to me. "Better start already."
After a while when she's done with my hair and makeup the designer, Mrs. Wilson pulls me aside. She has two pairs of fine looking suit in both of her hands as she lifts them up in front of my face.
"Now, I wasn't able to decide which would look best in this scene so..." She hands me them. "Try 'em. And let me be the judge."
Fine by me. Both of these look good though.
I try the first one she gave me. Teal colored suit with light orange brown stripped tie.
"Try the other one too please."
When I come out of the dressing room wearing the maroon suit with a green yellow Polka Dot tie the designer lady comes to fix my cufflinks.
She then attaches a sleek golden brooch on my left. "Ah this is the one. She gestures the makeup woman to give me a touch-up.
The makeup woman takes the brush in order to smear the face power again.
"How can that little angelic face possibly require more makeup?"
A voice teases the woman from behind. I know that voice very well.
"What are you doing here!?" I quickly turn back.
"Saint you're sweating... Let me just..." Mrs. Wilson dabs at my face. "Are you nervous for some reason? It's not even that hot today. Someone bring another fan here please," she orders.
The makeup woman is flushed by Damien's comment. "I-I believe Mr. Angel has a very natural and flawless face. But this is a film set and it's a movie—so everything needs to appear perfect."
Am I nervous? Why's he here?
I give him a cold stare.
"Can't I be here to see my uncle? I was bored a little so..." Damien asks Mrs. Wilson, "Where is he btw?"
She answers, "Out to get some fresh air and cigarettes. He'll be here in a minute."
Charles Dean is his uncle?! I shoot daggers at him that conveys the message —Why didn't you say that before?
He takes a stool to sit down next to me. "I didn't know you didn't know. Others know it. He's my maternal uncle."
So Charles is his maternal uncle. Kennedy's late wife's brother.
"We aren't that close though. Ever since mom... I didn't keep much connection with her side of family members," he says.
Then suddenly it hits me.
"Did you know that I auditioned here a month ago?" I interrogate. "Are you somehow behind my selection?"
"I know someone like you would think like that."
"Why do you mean by someone like me?!"
"Do you think I'm that kind to help someone like you with their career? You despise the idea of anyone helping you, isn't that right?" He pulls a face. "Besides I just wanted to see your acting today."
The way he says that makes me squirm under his burning gaze. The lead actress Charlotte enters.
"You look very elegant Mr. Angel."
Her hair appears a bit tangled at her right side. I gesture her to lean down. She does so thinking I might whisper something in her ear but instead I untangle the locks and tuck them behind her ear. "Now it's good."
She blushes under my touch. "Ah now I'm ready."
Charlotte is six months younger than me. Girls like her aren't very complicated though. Feminine, devoted to work and passionate. She doesn't intimidate me one bit.
Damien's fingers clutch the paper mug a little too tightly—in which the assistant boy brought him coffee a minute ago.
"Ouch!" He hisses as a bit of hot coffee splits.
Moron!
"Look who's here..." Damien signs with his eyes.
Mr. Dean walks in. "Woah it's rare to see you at my place."
"Don't get too happy about it uncle." Damien shrugs. "I simply had nothing else to do today."
"If you say so." He takes his chair. "I'm glad nevertheless." He watches my expression carefully then faces his nephew. "You know Saint right? He's you classmate."
"He's my partner too if you didn't know," adds Damien cockily smirking at me.
This guy is impossible!
"He's a pretty dedicated starlet, Damien. Kinda like you "
"We are nothing alike!" Both of us say at the same time which makes Charles laugh broadly. Charlotte smiles fondly at me.
"Shall we begin Charles?" The cinematographer asks.
The cameraman positions himself as the slate hit each other.
"Ready? Lights Camera and Action!"
Charlotte drinks directly from the bottle of cabernet sauvignon then pours some of it over her face. The sweet crimson flavour of intoxication drenches her bosom as she staggers towards me.
"You're drunk Florence." My hand goes into my chest pocket as I take out a pen.