Miggy's POV
Meynard picked me up right away when the screening started. Some of them are obviously not yet comfortable in front of the camera. You can see the discomfort in their expressions. Others are trying hard, so it loos ugly on the camera and it's obviously strained in acting. When in fact, it's just a simple washing of face, but their facial expressions are no longer natural. It should be balance, just the right mixture of confidence, even if you are nervous but still maintain the natural expression of the face, not trying hard to look. Then the audience has to believe her by the way she acts. She shouldn't get confused even when she picks up the facial wash tube and then squeezing a bit on her hand which are obviously shaking while caressing her face. What's worse is forgetting the lines of extreme nervousness.
The screening took a long time to end because the others were too nervous to take it. So, in order not to get used to what I said to my panel colleagues, they were given three takes each if it hadn't been done properly yet. Because our time will be wasted instead of having someone else be in front of us, it will be delayed because of them.
Gabie's POV
"Besh, I'm so nervous maybe like them, I won't be able to deliver the lines properly," I whisper to Jhay, who was sitting next to me in the back.
"Oh no! Just trust yourself. Then calm down. Just imagine that you are at home and simply washing your face in front of a mirror and when you need to say the lines, imagine that you are just looking at yourself in the mirror."
"Oh, how? How I do it? How will I calm?"
"Crazy! Stop talking! I can pinch your groin! I just don't know if you won't be able to do well later in front of the camera when you haven't collected for your thesis because you won't be able to get here in this audition because you were beaten by your extreme nervousness, so you clapped. After all, you can't graduate because you don't have the funding for your thesis."
"Yes, are you serious about not being able to graduate? Please take it back, I will have my thesis finish and pass!" I retorted.
"No! And you won't do anything if you don't improve on that right away, and if you do it right away, I'll take it back. Gets?" I nodded, unsure if I would perform well or not.
You have to give the panels a perfect shot. Remember that someone already knows you here and that you have posters of various brands of clothing and shoes. So, you will be really embarrassed if you don't do well. And don't forget to stick the thesis beshie in your clever nail! "he whispered angrily to me. I know he's annoyed because I've repeatedly told him that I can't do it. So, I don't blame him if he just wanders around annoyed with me.
"Next! Number eighteen!" shouted by the staff member. Yes, calling us by name is not as easy as calling us by number. I immediately showed my number to them and then placed me on a table with a small basin with clean water, placed on its side the facial tube and dry towel after washing.
"Have you memorized what you're going to say?" the staff asked me, the one who called my number earlier.
"Yes," I answered while trying myself to be calm.
"Okay, are you ready for take? Just relax, don't be nervous so that you can do well, don'' waste this chance," he advised me, that's what he said earlier to those before me.
"Okay. Thank you."
"Okay! Prepared for take! In three, two, one action!" he shouted.
"Gabie, think about your thesis so you have to do it well. For the thesis. For the thesis. For the thesis. For the thesis. For the thesis. For the thesis," I kept reminding myself so I wouldn't get carried away by my nervousness. "I can do this for my thesis!"
Because my mind became preoccupied with my mantra while doing the washing in front of the camera, I didn't realize that I had just finished doing it. Because of the shock of the staff shouting "Good take!" only then did I realize.
"You did a great job, congratulations! I guess you're the only one who's having taken one," he said while I was still wiping my face because it hadn't dried well before while in front of the camera because there was more to say.
"Thank you," I said, nervously smiling. Actually, my hands were trembling and cold, but I tried to hide it from everyone.
"Alright, go to the standby area first. I'll just call you again later, so don't go home yet," he instructed. I just nodded and quickly walked back to my old seat where I was next to Jhay.
"Besh!" he shouted sharply. "You did the right thing, besh! Congrats! You look very natural on the monitor. Oh, no you said you couldn't, but you did!" he teased me. I just laughed and then shook my head at him.
"Hahaha, shut up!" I just followed what you said to motivate myself. So, I made a mantra in my mind and then I just repeated that in my mind, so that I wouldn't be beaten by my intense nervousness, " I told him.
"Wow! Effective! I'm so happy for you!"
"Oh hey, let's not make any more noise lest they'll scold us," I rebuked, because I noticed that we were the only two noisy people inside the common hall of the hotel.
I'm bothered even when I'm done in front of the camera. I can't forget the eyes that were focused on me earlier as the staff talked to me before and after I had my shoot. This is my first experience with all of this. If the need wasn't really so great, I wouldn't have blown it up.
"Besh, do you think there will be another screening after this?" I whispered to Jhay, who was seriously looking at the monitor.
"I don't know. I didn't ask the staff before because I had to accompany you to the washroom, so I missed the orientation," he replied without even glancing at me. He was still staring straight at the monitor.
"Because I'm nervous, what if I don't get it?" I hesitantly asked.
"Stop thinking like that. Just trust yourself, okay? Remember, this is for your thesis!"
"I know but..."
"No buts..." Just shut up if you don't want to be slapped by my big hand!" he cuts to what I have to say.
"Crazy! Don't stress me out. I'm telling you, you'll be able to get it! Trust yourself! I have a lot of trust in you. Can you also trust yourself? " He whispered confidently to me.
"Yes, I'm sorry, I just couldn't stop my feeling of being nervous," I said. He glanced at me, and I saw how he rolled his eyes at me.
Miggy's POV
"She is really beautiful. That's how women should be. Their beauty is natural, not full of lipstick on their faces. Sometimes it's like being a clown because they have too much make-up on their face. The cuteness of her smile, then the eyes glow for the fun of her look. The lightness of her aura made me nervous. She is the only one who is really different from all the auditionees," I whispered to myself as I watched him on the monitor.
"Because her face doesn't get me bored, even if I stare at her all day, I won't get tired, and I won't get tired even more."
"I really like this woman," I heard the panel next to me say, who is the representative of our company's client.
"Yes, I just thought," he agreed with another guy next to her right, I am next to her left, the client representative.
"So far, she is the only one who has delivered well on the lines given to them. Most of them make mistakes, but I love her confidence and then all her actions seem natural to her. Isn't it, sir? Do you agree with what I said?" she suddenly asked me as she turned to my side.
"Huh? Ah, I'm sorry I'm not listening to you," I lied because I was surprised that I was part of their conversation.
"I said, the woman who just finished a while ago was the only one who was able to properly deliver the lines given to them. And then she naturally acted in front of the camera," she actually repeated.
"Ah, yes. I agree," I agreed to end the conversation immediately.
"Uh, if I am the one to decide, I will choose her. But to be fair to the other auditionees who are present today, the audition will continue. I will let them show off their elegance, but I already have a choice. It's a good thing for her. I just don't know about you?"
"I also go for number eighteen. I'll choose her." I also wanted to say but I didn't continue because I don't want to be misunderstood.
"So does this mean this will be the last and final round of the screening?" the guy on her right asked her.
"It depends, but probably if no one can deliver the lines very well like she did, then this will be the last and final screening. That if, you'll agree with me? I know we still have to go through that in deliberation, don't we sir?"
"Tss, why does she always include me in their conversations? I don't like to participate" I whispered to myself.
"Yes, it's a part of the standard operating procedure that needs to go through deliberation to be fair," I explained.
"I thought sir, you're not listening to us anymore. hehehe..." she joked to me.
"What now huh? You still have the guts to really joke with me? Ha! We are not close," in my mind.
But I chose not to answer her because maybe what else came out of my mouth, I was just shaken even though the truth is I'm just holding back from being annoyed.
I was so grateful when the audition ended. I was the first to stand up because it was strange that I don't like to joined their conversation. Then I want to leave right away because I have to finish some documents that I haven't finish yet before because I need to be in the venue because the audition is about to start.
The team told the ladies that they will just be called to see what the result of what they did will be, anytime this week. We first need to discuss the selections tomorrow at the meeting, and we also need to review the video to make sure we make the right choices with the team, because they will also be asked for their opinion.
When I got up, I just invited Meynard to eat with me at the restaurant just inside the hotel after what he would do for me to finish what I had to finish. Since he was still working with the team, I went to the restaurant first so I could start the things I needed to do while I waited for him.
"I forgot ask what the name of number eighteen. Okay, tomorrow I'll know her name. Wait, why did she come to my mind again? But in fairness that she is really beautiful, she looks beautiful even without make-up. I prefer that because it's not fake for me, she's naturally beautiful. What is it that makes me such a fool? I'm reading for Pete's sake. I don't understand now what I'm reading because she's all I'm thinking. Why didn't I bother to check her folder? Urgh! How stupid I am!"
Mommy calling...
Mommy: Hello, little one!
Me: Hi, mom! How have you been?
Mommy: I'm a good kid. Thank you. Aunt Beth and I bonded with Carla and me earlier.
(This is exciting news for me.)
Me: It's great to hear from mom that you're doing well and having fun with them.
Mommy: Of course, because they are fun to be with. Only now have I been able to go to the saloon again. I can't even remember when I last went to the saloon.
Me: That's great to hear mom!
Mommy: Oh, I'm sorry I have to hung up because we're going to find a restaurant to eat. You and Meynard should take care, okay? I'll see you guys later. Bye.
"She didn't even wait for me to be able to say bye, she just ended the call. Well anyway, that's okay, it's important that she changed a lot. She no longer cries, and most importantly, she no longer drinks. Thank you, God! You gave me the opportunity to be with my mommy. I thought she was going to follow daddy. I don't want that to happen because I might not be able to handle it anymore if mommy leaves me too. I have not yet fully accepted the loss of daddy. But what if she finds out about his daddy's long-held secret? That's what I'm most afraid of right now because I don't know what mommy's reaction will be? She has not yet recovered from the loss of daddy."
"Hey bro? You're spacing out again," he said while patting my shoulder.
"Ah, I just remembered something. What? Are you done there?" I change the subject.
"Yeah. It's difficult to get to the bottom of where you're hiding your anxiety."
"Shut up! I'm the one you saw again!"
"It's just remarkable because you're stupid. I know it's not just a memory, eh?"
I gasped before I could speak.
"It's about Mommy, I remember."
"Oh, what happened to ma'am Barbs?"
"No, I'm happy because she's okay. According to mom she, Carla and Aunt Beth are having bonding time in the saloon. She dropped the call because they were in a hurry in looking for something to eat."
"That's it? Eh? What's the problem?"
"I was thinking about how would she react if she found out I was looking for the woman that dad used to have an affair? I'm just so afraid of how she would deal with it? I know she's not really okay yet, she's just having fun because she's with Aunt Beth and Carla."
"That is difficult. Wait, I just thought, bro, don't you want to let Sir Manuel know? Because I think he has the right to know it is his niece that you are looking for, he's the older brother of your father," he said.
"I don't know? I'm still really confused by all that's going on. I'm having a hard time but I have nothing to do right now but to wait."
"Let it go, bro. You can get through all this."
"Oh, by the way, let's order because I'm really famished. It is a hassle if we'll eat in the condo, because we still have to cook when we arrive. I haven't even finished what I'm doing," I lifted the folders in front of me at the same time.
I motioned to the waiter who was standing not far away. So, we were able to order right away and then we waited for a while and our food was served.
Gabie's POV
"Oh my gosh! If you had only seen her earlier, you would have thought that she already had a commercial, she acted in front of the camera like she's used to it!" he told mama. As usual, my bestfriend is making his scene again. You know that his life will probably be reduced if he can't talk. Just a joke, I still love him even no matter how noisy he is.
"That's great to hear for sure the agency will definitely choose her for that commercial," mama replied happily.
"Oh my! Please don't believe that, there are also better than me, you know! There also doing great!" I cut them both.
"My beautiful aunt! You have to believe me! Because I was the one whose watching there on the monitor. Then I heard a lot of positive feedback from the staff," he boasted.
"Oh? Really? What did they say?" I wasn't able to control myself not to ask.
"Secretttttttttttttttttttttttt!!! Of course, I won't tell you," he muttered like a child and stuck his tongue at me.
"You just made it up to cheer me up," I retorted.
"Of course not! Why would I make a story, should it make me rich?" he told me sarcastically.
"Let's just not be complacent because we are not sure yet. It's hard to hope and then in the end it will just hurt me, it's embarrassing when it happens."
"That's what you think! I believe you got them with your charm!" he stated with so much confidence.
"Hey! Stop you two! Stop bickering with each other! You keep on fighting when you're in front with the food! Come on, let's eat in peace instead," mama scolded us.
"But aunt, you believe me, don't you?" he was not yet really finish.
"Yes, I know that she is the only one who does not trust herself. But because we can't really be sure until there is no result, so just slow down first so that it will be too painful if someone else is chosen," mama explained.
The fun continued and we didn't lose our temper. Mama is always been our referee. But even though we always fight with each other like cats and dogs we truly love each other. I feel like I have a sister and a brother in one because of him. So, I can't bear not to see or talk to him even for a day, when I'm too busy at school and we haven't met yet, I'll be the one to call him when I get home.
"Mom," I found her stunned outside the house after we had curled up and washed what we had eaten. While Jhay immediately said goodbye after we ate because his mother called.
"Huh?"
"Is there a problem?"
"N-Nothing. Why?"
"You seem like you're in depth though," I commented.
"I'm just tired."
"Oh my gosh, didn't I tell you not to get too tired? Then there's no problem as much if you take a break from that online selling for a while. I can help you with the expenses here at home. You know that. The scholarship I receive is what I will give you for our monthly bills and grocery. I already have for myself and for my school needs and my daily allowance. Because of my gigs," I explained.
"It's okay. I can do it; I'll just take a rest and then tomorrow I'll be okay."
"My goodness! It's really hard to raise a parent," I joked to her.
"You're really full of sense, you know," we both laughed at each other together.
Miggy's POV
"Sir? Sir, Rick called me because you didn't answer his call."
"Huh? Why?"
"Willie called him, he said he's having news. He said he called you but you didn't answer his calls."
"I left my phone here on the table when I went upstairs earlier because the President asked me to come to his office to talk."
"I already told him because I looked at you here earlier but didn't see you. I saw your phone left on top of your table. Is it possible to set a time for that?"
"Check our schedule first. If you can set it later, then it's good. But if it's not available, then maybe after office hours. Then just inform them according to the schedule you can set for us to meet with them."
"Okie dokie!" he said and then he swiftly left my office.
"I get nervous every time the private investigator calls about my father's mother and daughter. To this day, I still don't know why I feel this way. I was still scared and worried about my mom, but I knew that I would find a way to help her. Even though I know it is possible to see them at any time, I admit to myself that I am not yet ready to see them. That's why I can't bear to tell them, especially my father, the reason he died."