Fail
The first day of working together finally came by in a blur. The welcoming party happened just a few days ago and still fresh from their minds about the embarrassing first encounters.
Mary sits comfortably on her chair as the hair stylist brushes her golden locks with care, as if it’s the most precious thing in the world. Mary missed this dearly. Having her hair done, cheerfully conversing with the staffs and skimming over the script with ease. It felt like she was the actress from two years ago, and she never felt home.
But it wasn’t entirely the same as years ago. Glancing at her left, Mary squints her eyes at Ririka whom shared the room with her. Both of them minded their own business, which Mary is thankful for, but for some unknown reasons, the silver-haired girl’s presence is enough to have the blonde irk.
Okay, focus. Don’t mind her. Mary takes a deep breath and looked over her script once again. Just a brief summary, Mary works as a stripper after being disowned by her family and left with nothing. Yumeko takes her in her club for that job. Ririka’s character, on the other hand, is a college junior whom was invited by some people to celebrate and just so happens to be at the same club, where their mc’s will meet for the first time.
Undeniably, due to the over excitement Mary kept having, she managed to read the whole script yesterday and is familiar with some scenes she practiced at home. It was nothing out of the ordinary and that boosted Mary to actually nail their first shooting.
As long as Ririka doesn’t fall behind.
How does she act anyway? That was a disadvantage of not watching your co-worker’s plays. But judging from the huge audiences, Ririka must be that good of an actress to win an award on her second year of acting.
Mary once again takes a brief peek at the latter, to make sure they both had it under control. In the end, her brows furrowed to see Ririka with eyes shut closed, head leaned down as her chin touched her upper chest. Did she just—dozed off?!
“Ririka.”
No response.
“Ririka!”
The said name flinches and looked at the blonde with drowsy eyes. If one could be extremely irritated, Mary is definitely that person. “Y-Yeah?”
“Why are you sleeping?”
“Oh, uh, I didn’t get any rest last night?”
Was that supposed to be sarcastic? In any way, it triggered Mary to shoot a sharp glare and let out a ‘tch’ along the way. To top it all of, Ririka looked too innocent to realize anything!
“Was that supposed to be my fault?”
“.. I never blamed you..”
That’s it. Ririka is officially the #1 person Mary dislikes. Her cheeks showed signs of embarrassment and all the blonde could do is to avert away. The stylist lowly giggled at the interaction, finding it intriguing. She would have find it acceptable to have the latter like this, but to have an audience? Major urge to actually dig a hole and buy a tombstone.
One of the producers, fairly young and beautiful, comes in with a genuine smile. “Please be ready in 15. The set is done.”
“I’ll grab your outfit, Saotome-san. Excuse me.” The stylist shortly bows and takes a leave. Ririka is already in her preferred costume for the first scene—a local college junior attire which is consisted of casual clothings. It strongly suited her long hair, though maybe any kind of clothes did fit her.
As for Mary, since her very first role of her comeback is a stripper, she is left in a furry bathrobe beforehand, considering her outfit is something that exposes more of her skin, and the weather is not all too warmly nice either. Wearing it right now would only end up having her shivering from cold later on.
Practice makes perfect. Mary faced her mirror once again, unconsciously putting the script down on the desk. She shuts all her thoughts out, having to imagine that this movie is her reality. That is her way of staying in character—you don’t have to act like it, you have to be it.
“‘Someone like you don’t seem to belong in any place near here. Bet your friends are sick of you being single and thought getting laid is the only option? This is a strip club, you don’t just drink around.’”
But it seemed off.
Did Mary lose her magic touch? Even herself is not satisfied with the way she spoke about it. Though recalling back at home, she did it perfectly up to her standards. How come it changed right now?
Was it because Ririka is actually staring at her? Mary caught the sight of a dazed woman reflecting on her mirror, which had her clenching her jaw and whipped her head towards the culprit, scowling as usual. “Could you mind your business? I’m trying to focus here.”
“But it seemed like you need help!” Ririka exclaims. She stands up on her feet and settled behind Mary’s chair, resting her palms on each side of the blonde’s shoulder. The contact of their skins had Mary slightly jump. Does this girl have no idea what personal space is? Jesus Christ!
“I-I’m pretty sure you’re aware of it but you have got to read the mood. Like, what does that scene yell? Is the atmosphere too intimate? Or are they arguing? Delivering the act based from the tension is one way to help you. Would you like the both of us to try?”
Ririka spun the chair around and gripped on both of it’s arms, completely caging Mary whom shrunk down on her seat as the latter kept leaning closer. She has met the passionate orbs of the silver-haired, with no intention of mocking her yet that’s what Mary chose to believe in. It’s just in her blood to take it the wrong way, especially when an advice came from someone she did not particularly like.
“I-I know what I’m doing. If I need help then I will ask for it. But I doubt you’d hear it from me sooner or later. Now get away! You suffocate me.”
“Sorry!” Ririka quickly retracts, being too oblivious of how she made Mary in her current state. The same stylist came back and gestured for the blonde to take the costume. It came something along the look of a ‘bunny girl’, though more exotic.
Mary was about to untie her bathrobe when she became aware, glancing at Ririka whom stood a couple of gaps away from her. They both exchanged unknown looks, with the stylist in between them wearing an awkward smile.
Ririka could not seem to grasp what Mary is trying to say, but gladly the stylist took the minor issue into her own hands. “Um, Momobami-san, I think you should head out first and give Saotome-san a little privacy? She’s going to undress, after all.”
“Oh!” Ririka turns red at the sudden impure thought rushing in her mind. With a shaky hand, she turned the knob and practically ran outside the room, only to come back in and grab ahold of her script before exiting again, closing the door shut.
Mary releases an exhausted sigh, eyes drooping down low as her hands began to untangle the knot of her robe. She lets it smoothly fall down on the cold floor, leaving her only on her pair of sexy lingerie that she needed for the costume to come with.
“Momobami-san seems to be pretty excited with all this.” The stylist opens up a random conversation, to which Mary lowly grunts at.
“Considering she didn’t get any sleep? I’d say so too. I just wished she would be a little less hyper. She just took most of my energy, and the shoot hasn’t even started yet! Ugh.”
“I have worked with the Momobami’s before. Both of them. I haven’t seen Ririka-san this anxious. She must really adore you a lot. I’ve caught her watching a few of your films back then too!”
Mary did not even know how to react to that. She was indeed told the silver-haired had some kind of admiration towards her, but hearing it from other people just had her baffling with confused thoughts whether to be keen with Ririka or not. Fan or not, I still.. do not like her.
“Not that it matters to me,” Mary fixes her stylish headband above her head, slightly pulling her choker on her neck when it felt too tight. She takes some steps backwards, giving her a full view of herself. She lacked portion around her chest but hopefully her ass and waist curves would replace it. “I just have to cope up with her a couple more weeks and once it’s done, I’d get my life back and I will definitely decline any projects with the Momobami’s.”
“That’d be a shame. Imagine you and Ririka-san being a couple? What a large impact it would have globally. You two have large numbers of fans, you know.”
Ririka and her, a couple? Mary couldn’t think of anything besides daily migraines at this point. She shudders at the suggestion and shook her head in disapproval, before getting out of the room.
The staffs are all busy with their own tasks. Mary spots her manager having a talk with the director, Midari, who had a snarky grin on her lips as she plays with the other’s ponytailed hair. Sayaka doesn’t seem to mind it but it did look like she was close on slapping her hand away.
“Sayaka!” Mary came over to them. Sayaka exchanges look from Mary’s face to her body, earning a nod of approval. “I’m ready.”
“You sure are. I’m.. excited.” Sayaka turns to the director. “I hope you direct well.. and stop touching me.”
“Eh? I thought you missed me too.”
“Yes, that was three days ago. Now I don’t.”
Yeah, they were definitely friends before even being adults. Mary leaves them alone as she had no business with them any longer, and stepped inside the set. It was a pretty common looking strip club; neon lights, poles and all that. The main actors circled on one area, discussing with one another.
“Oh! Saotome-san!” One of them called her.
Mary bows with gratitude. “Let’s do our best for the next months. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all.”
“Alright, alright! In places, everyone! Let’s go!” Midari spoke in a megaphone. Staffs went out of the set, being behind the cameras. Some actors dispersed at one side, leaving Mary and Ririka alone.
She had no idea why Ririka is still there when she is supposed to be with her circle of friends. “Er, Ririka.”
“Uhm.. you look good—great! I mean. The, uh, it suits you. You should wear it more—wait no! No don’t it wear it always it’s cold! But.. uh, you could if you want to! It.. just.. uhm..”
Ririka begins to blabber nonsense. It was as if playing a role of a troubled child—adorable but irritating. This seriously cannot be the one being the dominant woman in the story. What the hell.
“Ririka,” Mary gently tugged her sleeve, receiving the attention she had been wanting when Ririka stopped muttering. “.. Let’s have fun. And stop whatever that is, play out your role. I’ll see you in the set later.”
Then she walked away, siding with Yumeko and warmly greeted her in a way of occupying her personal bubble. Ririka struts away as well, as Midari begins to announce any introduction before the action.
Wait, did she just compliment me?! Those series of yaps were compliments, were they? She said I look good! Mary facepalms, beginning to feel her cheeks lightly heating up. It had just processed by now, and she couldn’t help but to feel her heart beating louder than before. Of course, receiving heartfelt messages from fans makes me like this. It’s just that.. I haven’t gotten one recently, yeah, that’s why I’m like this.
“But why did she look too passionate about it.” Mary mumbles to herself. The shooting had started, with Ririka being surrounded by her friends. The blushing mess had subsided, like a whole new different person got out of it’s cage as she watches how seriously determined Ririka looked.
But truth be told, Ririka is performing all too well as an actress. She shows how much she places effort on pretending to be someone else, almost looking like it is part of her personality to be someone else.
“Okay, cue the love interest.” Midari announces.
Mary gently carries a tray topped with various alcoholic beverages on one hand. She takes a deep breath, in hopes to relax her tense shoulders. This is it, this is your movie. I’ll do great.
And eyes locked with Ririka, whom reassured her with a look of proudness, to say ‘you can do it!’ fired something inside of Mary. She makes her entrance, as soon as she steps foot inside, Mary had thought she’s a different person. Her hips swayed with an inaudible music, the rhythm matching her suitably.
Maybe it was just her but she grew self conscious when the latter watched her every move. She should be used on getting eyed all over but right now, Mary gulps, almost losing focus on balancing the tray (thankfully that didn’t go away) and silently wished Ririka would stop doing whatever she is doing.
They both proceeded nonetheless of the trembling insides due to some unknown nervousness, especially in Mary’s which she just assumed to be her first day jitters but she of all people knew herself that her jitters are long gone.
And to bump onto Ririka, the glasses falling down the tray and shattering against the ground, before the static noise of a megaphone invaded them along with Midari’s voice. “Cut! Let’s retake that scene again! Y’all too stiff and it shows. Saotome, try to move more comfortably. Because it looked like you were intentionally bumping onto Momobami here. And Momobami, try acting a little bit more surprised? Damn.”
Even the last foul word didn’t escape the power of the megaphone. Surely a lot of them heard it, and Sayaka rolls her eyes before pinching Midari’s waist.
“Alright, take two everyone!” Mary returns back to her former spot, being given another set of drinks whilst the floor is being cleaned first.
“Ririka-san sure did well and so did Mary-san! But how come they all got so.. amateur when they’re both acting together by then? They must have something between them to act like that.”
Mary unwillingly eavesdropped from a nearby staffs. The idea of snapping at them was there but then Midari kept yelling on the megaphone. She haven’t had the foggiest answer to the rhetoric question either, she already knew firsthand that Ririka would be problematic in this film anyway. At least that was her expectations and it is confirmed.
But why the fuck is she problematic too?