Getting to know Ririka
Mary huffs her breath along with an exasperated sigh as she shrinks deeper in her seat, eyes squinting and alternating from the crowd set in front of her, being in their own worlds. She had already been up and socializing with a few of them, excluding Yumeko as she tries to be far from the raven. Tonight was not the mood for exchanging cuddles for Mary—or any other night, in fact. She never particularly like physical affection from anyone towards her. For her, it was a distraction from her career. To feel those mixed emotions and date someone, that would be a another reason why her career would sink. She values her job more than dating—Mary is still young anyway. She can think about settling down with someone when she reaches 30.
But for now, Mary focuses on making the grandest comeback. She wanted to surprise everyone—those who underestimated her, mostly. It would be a big slap on their faces and Maru cannot wait to laugh at how ridiculous her antis look below her shoes. On a more good side, Mary misses her fans. Dearly.
“Do you mind if I sit here?” A soft voice broke the blonde from her fantasy of winning awards once again. She looks up to meet those sapphire orbs staring right back at her, expectantly. Why does she want to be here? Well I don’t!
“Yes.” Mary speaks, with no hint of being kind. She looks away, feeling her mood turning sour as it already is just at the glimpse of those innocent looking pair of pretty eyes.
It did not turn out how Mary wanted it to be.
She noticed the silhouette still beside her, standing. Mary contemplates on whether standing up and walk away from Ririka, but the problem is that there weren’t any vacant seats in sight. She did not have the energy to go search for one, though she could ask Sayaka to find her a seat but the purple haired is nowhere in sight. Asking Yumeko is the second option, and the result of having her clinging all night had her grimacing.
And so, Mary chose to stay in her seat and confront the latter.
“Why the fuck are you still standing?”
Ririka frowns lightly, her lips forming a pout as her hands are restless—like she could not decide where to settle it. “You said I can’t sit. So I am not sitting.”
“Yeah but I meant that you should go away and leave me alone.” Mary scrunches her nose. She haven’t met anyone who had a mentality like Ririka—the woman is merely obeying but it did not stop the blonde from building up her anger due to annoyance.
“But.. I want to talk to you.” Did that sound like a plead? Yes. Mary wanted to scream profanities to herself for feeling her stomach churn. Why would she feel uneasy? Was it because they are starting to earn weird looks from the others? Are they thinking that the great Saotome is treating her co-actress harshly? What a good day to start making enemies.
“Shit. Fine. Whatever. Sit your ass down.” Ririka obliges quickly, not wanting to remain standing any longer. She regrets wearing heels to this party, knowing she is tall enough to look down on anybody else, literally. The uncomfortable feeling is shown all over her face that Mary did not acknowledge. She didn’t care. “Don’t bore me or I’m calling it a night.”
“I’ll try. This is our first project together and I can’t help but feel excited about it. You are a great person and I admire you. Watching your movies, I can’t help but to think you’re a some sort of prince; saving the others. It fits your act. To be working together with you, it’s a pleasure.”
There was something in her tone that Mary absolutely could not bring to be attracted. More so, it felt like she wanted to be gone, or to stop that sound from invading her ears. “Wait, no, shut up.”
Ririka seems to be in a faze, lightly blushing as she looks down. “Sorry. What did I say?”
“It wasn’t from something you said.” Mary flicks her tongue, giving the latter a sharp look. “It was from the way you said it. Change it, or zip your mouth. Preferably the second one.”
Now she remembers why.
The way Ririka had spoke to her, it reminded her of someone. A close friend of Mary’s from the past. Someone she wanted to be with, someone she could have been with, only to be taken away from her. That friend of hers believed in her more than anyone did, admired her like no one else did. But she was gone before Mary could even take a chance. It was a memory she locked away, and hoped never to be reopened. They were still in high school back then, at least let Mary forget about that.
High school love. Disgusting.
It’s not like Mary still loved that person anyway. As friends, sure. But are they still friends until now?
“I’m sorry, how should I speak?”
“I don’t know.. I don’t care.”
“.. Do you perhaps dislike me?” Mary brings her attention back to the certain woman. She felt delighted to hear the question, Finally, she knows how to read the atmosphere. But it was dropped when she saw the glint of dishearten flashing on Ririka’s eyes.
How the hell am I supposed to tell her that I don’t like her? She didn’t have to look at me like that! Mary felt guilt inside of her and she could not bring herself to tell her what she wanted to say. At least not until it felt like she had to. “No, it’s not that. I just want to get out of here and get ready for tomorrow.”
“Of work? You shouldn’t worry about work tonight. It is a party, after all. I am sure you will do great tomorrow. What happened last time won’t happen again.”
What happened last time won’t happen.. again?
That struck a nerve.
“Last time..” No. Mary spent months of reassurance to erase that. To believe that it wasn’t her fault. To convince everyone that she wasn’t like.. that. “Last.. time..”
How could it hit her like a bullet train, the thoughts, the flashbacks seemingly fresh—like it only happened yesterday—by someone she is only acquainted with? Someone she didn’t like, additionally. “You’re not just petty.. but insensitive too. God.. damn it.”
Mary abruptly stands and grabs her purse, without sparing a look she turns away. She did not want anything other than this night to end. But before she could even take a single step, soft palm wrapped around her wrist prevented her. “Saotome-san!”
“Are you trying to provoke me, Momobami? ‘Cause it sure is working. And you won’t like what happens next.” Mary threatens her, words sharp enough to cut. She most especially hated being provoked, and it just proves how she was right to dislike this woman. Rude bitch—
“I’m sorry, please don’t go. I’m really, really sorry.”
Okay, that is unexpected. It looked like Ririka had no intentions to bring a bad impression from the start (though it’s Mary who started to think that way) but then again, looks can be deceiving. Just what on earth is wrong with this girl?
Mary is clearly uncomfortable at this point. She doesn’t understand this woman in front of her and she resents that sensation flowing through her mind. It made her think that she is way too dumb to fathom, or that this person is on a another level.
As if her prayer’s answered, someone had to interrupt them. “Mary!”
Sayaka casually strides in, slightly jogging. She appeared to be disheveled, which is an unlikely sight for Sayaka herself, known to be collected and prepared at all cost. As soon as she was in front of her friend, she grasps the sight of a unfamiliar hand holding Mary. Tracing the arm to it’s face, she twitches a smile, suddenly feeling nervous. “Momobami-san! I see you met Mary already.”
Sayaka is quick to straighten her clothing, brush her hair using her hand and all she could to look perfectly normal like a few minutes ago. If Ririka is here, then so is Kirari! She raises her eyebrow at Mary, who watched her with amusement. “.. Sayaka, why were you looking messed up earlier?”
“Ah, I met the director. She is an old friend of mine and she must have.. missed me.” Sayaka shudders at the thought of doing her best to get away from the director, whom had been with her since they were teenagers. Ikishima Midari. Never would she have thought that crazy woman would have a job—or be alive, at this point.
“Well, I was about to text you, but since you’re here, let me tell you that I’m going home with or without you.”
“Oh, you can’t.” Sayaka nonchalantly shrugs, glancing at her empty glass. “The door won’t open because of some drunk staff or something.”
“Ririka, sister,” The newcomer, Kirari, calmly calls for her twin with a tap on the shoulder. Mary rolls her eyes, seeing how identical the two is—it definitely was like looking at two Kirari’s. Or two Ririka’s. “Our agent has called. I need to take off sooner than later. Would you be fine to stay here without me?”
“What, are you two supposed to stick together or something? That’s lame.” Mary did not even have the time to stifle herself from blurting that out. It was too late when she realized she said that out loud, when Sayaka smiles at her in a way of wanting to kill her.
“That would be none of your business. I do not see how you are not lame yourself.”
Right back at Mary.
“Anyway, I am thirsty. I would have asked you to fetch me some but you are occupied on handling a child,” Kirari refers to the blonde woman whom screeched, wanting to scream foul words at the other. Kirari then notices a stranger staring right at her, Cute “Your glass is empty. Mind accompanying me to the buffet table and get refills?”
“I would love to!” Sayaka says, with no hesitation. She warns Mary to play nice in a form of a glare before being led by Kirari away. Once again, Mary is left with the other Momobami. She couldn’t even point who is worse—but both are definitely not much to her liking, that’s for sure.
“Could you let go now?” Ririka was back to their world at the question. She reluctantly loosens her grip, but still did not let her go.
“Stay.”
Now that wasn’t a plead. It was more like a demand, which caught Mary in a little surprise. “Let go first.”
Ririka did. And Mary fulfilled her request.
The awkward tension became thicker around them but it was only Mary who is aware. Ririka is different in person than she is on some films Mary unintentionally saw. Most certainly, she is also different from her own twin sister, Kirari. It was like meeting a whole new other person, who indirectly angered her. She forgave the other minutes ago, knowing it was not on purpose. But still, the wound did not go.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course.”
“How the hell did you get to be an actress?”
“Oh, about that,” Ririka hums, as if thinking deeply about her next words. “It was my dream to be one. And from.. er, my household, Kirari and I are treated differently. So at some point, she asked me to cover for her and as a good sister, I did. To pretend, to act like Kirari and to go unnoticed by them, it fired my passion for acting more. It made me feel like I can and will be a great actress. But.. well I was quiet and shy so I never really showed my talent to anyone, intentionally. I had just found out by then that Kirari auditioned to be an actress and even received a pleasant feedback, and so she.. recommended me to her agency as well. I auditioned and got in. My first film was not major or anything. I started out as an extra, then a side character, until a movie required twins so Kirari and I took that. Had a few recognitions or so and finally had my own movie. I was the protagonist—have you heard of my first movie? It’s about a silent girl who is mentally unstable, accidentally killing her bully at school which.. ended up kind of tragic.. I don’t think you watch movies like those.”
Oh no, Mary watches movies like that. Just not Ririka’s. Hell, she won’t bat an eye on her films.
“So your genre was more of a horror mystery thing? Why suddenly change into girls’ romance?”
“I..” Ririka turns red. “I wanted to have a movie with my favorite actress.. I’ve dreamed of it since I was new.”
“Eh?” Mary gulps, clearing her throat in an attempt not to show how that answer stunned her. A little confirmation wouldn’t mean anything, right? “Who?”
“Y-you..”
“Eh?!”
“Aah, I never expected to be paired with you though! I just thought I would be a sidekick or any minor roles..” Ririka waves it off, a little dejected from how the blonde reacted at her confession. She is still flustered, but it was now from pure embarrassment. Tears welled in her eyes as she looks away. “I mean, if you don’t want to be paired with me then that’s fine. I can always switch roles with Jabami-san.”
“Oh hell no I’d rather have you than Yumeko!”
The last time Mary and Yumeko had been on the same project was just before her hiatus. The two of them were not paired as love interests, but there was a scene where they would kiss from having the curiosity. It was supposed to be a peck, or like a long press of their lips but Yumeko just had to use her tongue. In the end, the scene was not included as it was not exactly pg-13. Yumeko and her tongue work in a another level, Mary is sure of that.
“Really?.. That’s.. I’m glad, Saotome-san.”
“Y-yeah.” Mary swears under her breath for stuttering. “It’s late. I’m going home.”
“Oh, alright. It’s pleasure to be an acquaintance now.”
“Yeah. Sure. Bye.” Mary walks away, palm resting on top of her chest. Her like of sight is only forward, not daring to look back or even at Yumeko, or Sayaka and Kirari casually talking closely by the table.
Still, Mary cannot believe this woman she had disinclination with is a fan of hers, for years. And still counting!
It felt warm in her heart.
Because someone still believed in her, not because Ririka flashed an adorable smile at Mary. No, definitely not the latter.
Okay maybe a little bit because of that damn smile.