43: Chasing Yes

It is another taping day at the studio. This is the last shooting day, which is closing to its end because the story is now in its final part. Ashmille visited Drino’s studio because she had a day off, and he invited her to witness the last day of shooting.

“Hi, Ashmille!” It was Terryl.

“Hello. I didn’t know you were here.”

“I nagged at Drino to bring me to this place. I wanna see him acting live. I want to see more. Too bad, this is the last day.”

“It seems you have time for this.”

“Ah, yeah. I had some urgent matters to attend to. I escaped to see him. How about you?”

“I had my day off today. Alejandrino said there will be a small get-together after their last shooting.”

“That guy’s getting more stuff coming at him.”

“Seems so”

“Uh, Ashmille, the thing I did in college… You still remembered it?”

“I do, why?”

“I didn’t mean it. I meant no harm, but… I have to do it. It didn’t work as mapped out before, but now it is working again. And this time, it should work. I’m doing this for both of you.”

“It was strange for you to do it, so I kind of know it already. And I wasn’t interested.”

“I guessed so! You’re as cool as ever. Composed and chill but calculating.”

“Have you always seen me that way?”

“Ever since. But you’ve become softer now.”

Ashmille isn’t sure if that was a compliment or not.

“Now that we’ve talked again, Drino must step up his game or else…” he murmured.

“We’ve never talked much in college.”

“Yeah, it’s funny that we’re talking again like old buddies.”

Ashmille chuckled. “Looking back, you were funny.”

“I even laughed at myself after I did that. But gripping it is necessary for a believable performance.”

They both chortled, reminiscing about the single scene they had together in college.

“Why did you think Alejandrino should step up his game?”

“I can’t reveal it to you. If he won’t say it yet, you might as well figure it out. You figured me out, so figuring Drino out would be easier.”

“Okay”

“All clear?” He reached out his hand for a handshake.

They did a brief handshake after they understood their indirect conversation.

“About what I said during the dinner, you’re still as beautiful as ever. That was true.”

Drino approached them, frowning. What is this guy doing with Ashmille? He thought.

Terryl grabbed his phone and took a quick snap of Drino’s mad face. “The protagonist is here.”

“Hey, what are you doing?” Drino asked.

“You invited me here,” Terryl answered. “It’s nice to see how you work.”

“What are you guys talking about that you have to smirk?”

“Well, it’s your job to please people. It’s good you get paid for it.”

“You’re making fun of me while I’m shooting?”

“Yeah,” he faced his phone screen to Drino. “Look at your grumpy face.”

Drino swayed his hands gently so as not to see his picture. “You kissed her hand, and now you held her hand.”

“That’s what you get for leaving the candy uncovered on the table. The ants would take it before you could.”

Drino frowned. “Aren’t you supposed to be working at the hospital?”

“You’re working in a hospital?” Ashmille asked Terryl.

“Unfortunately, yes.”

“He was forced to. His father is the director of a hospital.”

“Ashmille, you wouldn’t mind dating a student doctor? I’m still in med school, but I’m proud to say I’m doing well at it. I will do better as a doctor if I have you.”

“What nonsense!” Drino exclaimed.

Terryl chuckled but went serious. “This time, I’m serious, Ashmille,” he glanced at Drino. “And Drino,” he said in a deep, flat tone.

.

Terryl gave Drino a small bouquet of blue-dyed roses. “Congratulations, my dearest best friend! I wish you triumph in your career and love life!” he gazed at Ashmille. “To you, as well. Feel free to visit me, too, at the hospital for a free executive checkup.”

Terryl left.

Drino overthought because of what Terryl did.

Ashmille marrying a doctor is better than marrying an influencer, which is an unprofessional career he considers. Furthermore, his business can be unstable, unlike in the hospital. His world is chaotic and full of rumors, which can ruin him and his partner.

In short, she is in better hands with Terryl.

“Action!” the director shouted.

They’re back to shooting, not long after Terryl showed up.

Drino is back to his senses, facing Ritch. This scene is another intimate one where Aldrin will confess his love to Marshe.

“I love you, Ashmille.”

The director, staff, script supervisor, boom operators, makeup artists, and cameramen frowned altogether. The world stopped in confusion.

“Who in the world is Ash meal?” the director shouted. “Is she one of the characters in the story, Drino?” he asked sarcastically.

“O-Oh, my bad. It’s Marshe, Sir,” Drino flustered.

“Another take,” the director commanded.

“Sorry,” Drino mouthed to Ritch.

“Action!”

Ashmille walked away from the studio when someone called her.

“Ms. Ashmille,” Drino’s manager called her.

“Yes, Sir?”

“Hi, I’m Drino’s manager. You know me, don’t you? We’ve seen each other a couple of times.”

“Yes, I know and heard of you from Alejandrino.”

“I see. Speaking of Drino, I was somewhat concerned about something you two.”

“What is it about, Sir?”

“I am not prying into your personal lives, but as Drino’s manager and for the sake of his and the agency’s reputation, I would like to ask you, are you dating?”

“Dating, Sir? Romantically?”

“Yes. Are you dating him officially as a couple?”

“What made you think that, Sir?”

“I forgot to mention, many claim that they’ve seen you being alone together in various places. It seems you’re not having a work-related meeting but a personal one. Is that correct?”

“We’ve been meeting sometimes, Sir. But it is work-related.” She cannot deny the fact that, despite their prototype dating might seem so real, it is still part of her job. That’s literally her job. It is to date Drino like a real couple to inspire him to take on his role as a romantic leading man in the short film.

“I’m not saying we forbid you two from having a good time, but getting too intimate is another topic. I hope you would understand what it means for his career.”

She fell silent.

“From what I know, Drino isn’t in a committed romantic relationship right now, either with a celebrity or a non-showbiz girl. So, I got complacent that he won’t do anything mindless that would shatter him. When the rumors about you two started to spread, I let it go at first, but it’s getting worse than before, when you were both abducted. It’s getting out of hand, so we need to extinguish the cause of it. If Drino hasn’t confirmed your romantic relationship with you, we strongly advise you to leave him if he won’t leave you. This is not being selfish, but we support our talents’ future and your future too by doing this. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Great. Thank you for understanding. If you need anything, here’s my info.” He gave her a calling card, and she accepted it.

***

“About your manager and agency, they weren’t fully aware of what I do as your character partner. Were you hiding it all this time?”

“I’m sorry, Ash-”

“You lied not only to me but also to them?”

“I didn’t disclose the whole information to them. I didn’t mention anything about our prototype dating. Just about you, accompanying me for my job like my personal assistant, so we don’t look strange if they’ve seen us alone together.”

“What’s your motive?”

“I wanted to be near you.”

Drino lied. Not only was his manager not fully aware that this character partner job was his personal request to be near Ashmille again.

“What?”

“It sounds absurd, yes. When we met, I was afraid of losing you again. I thought there would be no other ways of getting near you, unlike in college.”

“We could’ve stayed friends and been in touch online.”

“I’ve read the contract I signed to be your character partner. There was nothing wrong with it. You gave general descriptions about it, and it was all correct. I didn’t mind because I thought at least your manager would’ve known about this since the contract came from your agency.”

“Online interaction is totally different from personal.”

“Alejandrino, do you know how shallow your excuses are? How could you let your emotions cloud your judgment?”

“I admit that I am too dumb to do that. I’m sorry for disrespecting you.”

“Do I have to hear more reasons from you? Why do you even want to be near me?”

Drino was about to speak when she turned her back.

She paused for a bit. “Words without actions are assumptions, so are actions without words.”

She left him. Drino cannot move a step away to chase her.