CHAPTER 5 : WHITE LIES

Yes, I will. Chant looked at his watch. It’s already 9 o’clock in the morning. Oh no! What time is our taping today, hon? He asked Mianne in a worried tone.

We need to go there 15 minutes before the call time. It’s professionalism. Our taping is 11 o’clock in the morning, Mianne answered. Why? Is there something wrong? Aren’t we go there on time? She asked in a curious tone.

I think you should call your manager that you’ll be late, let’s think of an alibi. I will tell my manager that I have stomachache, Chant told her. I think we will arrive there at 1 o’clock in the afternoon, it will take us one and half hours of travel before we reach the site where we will shoot the last episode of our movie, he added.

You are right! Mianne agreed to her boyfriend. We need to allot 30 minutes for preparing our things and we need to go there separately so; they will not suspect that we are together the whole night, Mianne uttered in a serious tone.

Wait, don’t talk, okay? I will call my manager, Chant said.

Chant dialed his manager’s phone number but he’s not answering his phone call. He dialed it many times but still he’s not taking his call until his phone got empty batt and shutdown on its own. Mianne did the same thing but her manager is not answering her phone too. She tried to call Direct Ysa but like their managers, she wasn’t able to contact her. She tried to send them message but unluckily, her phone got empty batt before her messages sent.

After one and half hours of driving, Chant finally took Mianne at her home then he went home to prepare his things too. Mianne arrived in the site first before Chant arrived there so, they will not suspect them that they have been together which became the cause of delay for the shoot.

Oh my gosh! Finally, you are here, Mianne. I’m so worried about you I thought we can’t finish this project today. Thank God you showed up here. How’s your migraine? Direct Ysa asked her in a concern tone.

Mianne looked at Ms. Tanya who is sitting on her taping chair holding a cup of coffee, she nodded at her and answered Direct Ysa’s question.

Yeah! I’m feeling well now that’s why I came here because I know how important to finish the movie today. The last episode is very important to all of the cast, Mianne said while gently touching round her temples to show them she’s still having headache.

Are you sure you are alright? Can you act for the last episode? Just tell me if you want to rest and we will move the taping tomorrow, Direct Ysa suggested. What do you think of that, Mianne? the director asked her in a worried tone.

No no no! I can do it Direct Ysa, don’t worry about me. I’m still having headache but it’s tolerable. I can handle it. Sorry for the cause of delay, Mianne apologized.

However, while Mianne is talking to the director Ms. Tanya is secretly smiling knowing that Mianne is just lying. She knew that Mianne spent her night with Chant but the real reason behind being late, she has no idea. The actress was able to internalize her new role, an actress who went late because of migraine though she’s just pretending. I am so proud of you, Mianne. What a fast learner and good pretender! Ms. Tanya whispered and clap silently when Mianne looked at her again.

By the way, let me just prepare the things needed for the taping. You take your rest first. Let’s just wait for Chant, Direct Ysa commanded.

I will, direct. Thank you so much for your consideration. Mianne moves her taping chair beside Ms. Tanya and whispered, is my acting good? Do you think Direct Ysa believed me that I really had migraine a while ago that’s why I came late? Mianne asked her for comments about what she had done earlier.

Well done, dear! I almost believe in your acting, dear! If I didn’t know you are just lying, I will believe you, Ms. Tanya complimented her.

Really? Thank you so much for the compliment, Ms. Tanya. We stayed at the cave for the whole night until the sun rises. It’s raining hard outside that night. What a sleepless night! See my eyebags? It’s getting mad at me, Mianne said in a joke manner.

Did you see me clapping silently? She laughed hard but still with poise. I told Direct Ysa that you have migraine. I know you already, dear. When I noticed that you are still not here the site 15 minutes before the call time, I know you encountered a problem. You never came late in every shooting and taping. So, I told her that, I’m glad you cope up, she added.

Thank you so much, Ms. Tanya for helping us. I wasn’t able to inform you about what happened because our phone got empty batt. Thank you for saving me, Mianne thanked Ms. Tanya for doing her a favor and she hugged the actress.

By the way, where is Chant? Ms. Tanya asked her.

He’s coming in 10 minutes. I told him to let me arrive in the site first before he went here, Mianne whispered.

After 10 minutes, Chant arrived in the set. Direct Ysa walks towards him and clipped his ear. Why are you late, Chant? Did you go on a date the whole night? Direct Ysa asked him sarcastically and looked at Mianne.

Ahm…Hmm... Ahh…He scratched his head and smiled. How did you know, direct? He asked laughing.

Chant had a stomachache. He called me late 3 o’clock in the morning, he told me that he will be late in the shoot today, Mr. Florence defended Chant knowing that Chant might tell Direct Ysa about the truth. Do you still remember that, Chant or you are not in your mind the moment you called me? Mr. Florence widened his eyes on Chant and signed, say “yes”!

Chant looked at him and nodded. Oh yeah! My stomach is calm now, he touches round his stomach and scratch his head again. Sorry, Direct Ysa for the cause of delay, he apologized.

You don’t have to apologize, Chant. I was the one who needs to apologize. I clipped your ear. I didn’t know you suffer in a comfort room for how many hours. Are you feeling good right now? Direct Ysa asked him in a worried tone. You better sit down first and take a rest for a while.