Scene of Eve

[ chapter 3 ]

The scene continued until the sun started to set. We took longer than expected as Ian wanted to add a scene where it was just him and me left sitting on the mat while all the others were playing by the water, becoming a background lull to our little privacy.  

Now that was more awkward than the tunnel scene. At least in the tunnel, I could somehow hide in the darkness and the fact that eyes were not on me. But that? Although eyes were not on me directly, the darkening sky was taunting me as Ian’s arms were just under my head. It was as if the sky was mocking me, telling me how I was merely in the shadows. But a finger sliding from the bridge of my nose to the tip brought me back to where I was.  giggled as I lifted my hands to his, our fingers finding its way to one another. 

“Just do what you feel like doing. If you think it's a fit, then hit me with it,” he further continued in his usual hushed voice, his eyes twinkling like mine in excitement. I never had the reins. I was always just a ‘do this, do that’ kind of girl. Strings were thin but were sturdy around my limbs. Holding me down to nothing more than an empty character. A cyborg in human skin, blindly following commands. So that?  Having no strings attached to me and not in auto pilot? It was refreshing. It was exhilarating. It was so new that I, at first, could not hold on to the reins stabley. My hands were shaking, and not because of the cold, rather because of the unknown fingers entangled in mine, guiding me.

Take the reins, Apple. Now or never. With that thought in mind, I turned around and held myself up lightly with my elbow, body almost on top of Ian’s. I smiled down at him but my eyes refused to meet his, afraid and  unsure if this was alright. As if he knew my inner thoughts, a steady hand was on my cheeks and a voice telling me that It’s ok, Apple. Take the reins like I told you. Explore. And that waswhat made me look at him, and not just at his forehead awkwardly. As if supporting my explorations, Ian’s thumb gently caressed my burning cheeks as the tip of his nose met mine slowly. 

“Mind if I explore with you?” His voice was barely audible above the noises his friends were making, but it was clear. I held my breath completely and gulped as he brought his lips to my cheeks.

“AAAAAAAND CUT! THAT WAS NICE, YOU TWO.” The director's voice blazing through the chilly night broke both our concentrations away from each other. Unexpectedly, I pushed Ian down on the ground a little roughly. His cough was what made me apologize and offer a hand to help him up.

“I am so sorry, Ian. I didn’t know I pushed you that hard. I didn’t mean to-” I was stopped mid blabber as Ian’s laugh became the center of attention. Even more attention grabbing than the fun his friends had moments ago.

“Who knew you were also strong? But I’m okay. Just remember to be gentle with me next time. I break easily.” At this, I didn’t know if laughing would be rude or not because although he was smiling, there was something in his words that made me think everything is a facade. Instead, I just offered a nod and my hand again, as we both stood up dusting our asses with the non existent dirt. It was like we both wanted the little privacy to last for a little longer as we lingered around each other, not really saying anything. 

It was Xander who broke our bubble. Clearing his throat pretty loudly, he could probably wake a lion with how rough his voice sounded. As he approached, Ian stomped away and towards the director. 

“Whoa. You were great there, Apple. How come I haven’t seen you on bigger screens? Your acting was on point there.” Xander stood beside me as he patted my shoulders. Just when I thought he would finally leave, his hands slid lower on my back. His fingers started digging on my side.

I thanked him as I moved my body away slightly from his hands. Thankfully, Tiana came out from the tent and called for me. Her eyes strayed to where Xander was before finally landing on me. Her eyes seemed bothered when she looked at Xander beside me. She huffed her way towards us and pulled on my wrists. 

“You should avoid Xander at all costs,” Tiana whispered when we were far away enough for Xander to hear. Her stiff shoulder relaxed with every step away from him. 

I was about to ask her what was wrong but as we were getting closer to where Ian and the director were talking, her grip loosened and the next thing I knew? I was staring up at Ian’s warm eyes.

“Want to see how you did? The scenes were great, thanks to you, Apple.” Ian’s hold was tight, but not too much.  It was tight in a way that there was room for me to twist and turn away. But I couldn’t. I won’t.

Ian’s head tilted slightly towards the direction of the screen where our scene played, the director replaying it.

“Apple, Apple, Apple. Indeed you’ve become the apple of my eye. Where have you been all this time?” The director, Joey, clapped his hands before he gently cupped my cheeks.

Well. I’ve been here all along, really. I’m here but no one notices me.

I shrugged instead and giggled as I was led closer to the screen by Ian. We both re-watched the whole scene up until the last. 

“Oh! That was included?” I gasped as the scene closed with me pushing Ian down. 

“Of course. That is the perfect transition for our next scene on the beach, don't you think?” The director wiggled his eyebrows playfully at me. Ian, hands still lightly on my back, just chuckled and looked away.

“But this?” The director rewinded to a certain moment where Xander was obviously looking straight at me. I just didn’t notice that he was because at that time, Ian’s chest was just so warm behind me while his arms were secured around my waist, his lips whispering nonsense by my ear, raising the hairs on my neck.

“Maybe we could cut that scene? It’s just a few seconds. We could insert something else. After all, this first video is mostly a mirage of scenes.” Ian’s voice was firm. Of course it was. He knew what he was  doing. He got everything figured out. I was just a piece in his plans. Sooner or later it will be a checkmate for him. He would move on to a new round. Perhaps a new game. Meanwhile, I would continue being a piece in the games of others.

___

The sun was setting when every scene was finalized under the bridge. The first day was almost over, one scene left to work on. Though the scene was a little ‘on-the-spot’ as it was added last minute in replacement to the cut scene of Xander. Ian explained how we could simply follow his van to the venue. 

“How about what’s going to happen in the scene?” I asked as I tried to keep up with him as he was about to enter his van.

“Be natural.” He smiled as he placed a gentle hand on my already burning cheeks and closed the door.

I walked towards my own van in a daze. I always found the ‘be natural’ a little confusing everytime Ian says so. How could I be so natural when I needed to act out a certain persona? I needed at least something to make it ‘natural’ as he said. I couldn’t simply just dive in without any gears to keep up with the waves. I would drown in them sooner or later, even if I knew how to swim. It was easy to drown in them. Easy to get lost. That was what scares me most. I was alone in the boat with only the waves keeping me company. Slowly, they were getting stronger. Would I be able to keep up though? I don’t know.  I had not even strayed far from the shore and yet the waves were already making everything deep. 

“You okay?” Tiana’s soft voice brought me out of my thoughts and I just smiled at her as I got in the van.

As we made our way towards the venue, Tiana kept my thoughts occupied most of the ride. I was honestly thankful for her antics. But mostly I was thankful that she’s such a sweetheart to me. My team is full of giggly girls who are on the same boat as I was, just  trying to work their way up the crumbling ladder. In just a matter of hours, they dug a snug place in my heart, I couldn’t even imagine my future gigs without them. I really wanted to talk to Mike. Before everything would end, I needed  to at least have my team take a big step towards where they were heading. 

“Ms. Apple, Ian’s calling you again. I think you should just give him your number.” Tiana giggled as she looked at me. I reached for the phone too eagerly and I found myself breathless as I answered.

“You sound like you’ve been running instead of riding the van. Everything Okay?” Ian was chuckling but the concern was clear in his voice.

“Yes, everything’s okay,.” I replied with a deep breath, hoping I didn’t sound so out of breath anymore. 

“Well I just called to tell you about the scene. I was still thinking how it should go so I wasn't really able to give you an answer. I apologize.” His voice was a notch lowered as he apologized. Why would he apologize to me? I was just being my usual wreck ever since the day started. I should be the one apologizing.

“It’s okay. I should be the one apologizing for being a nervous wreck the whole day.” Tiana and Nessa were giggling, hushed whispers exchanged as their mischievous eyes locked on mine for a fraction of a second. 

“What? You’re doing so great, Apple. Accept my apology, yes? I know I’ve been giving vague directions so it’s my fault you doubt yourself. But you’re great. I’m thankful that my original model had a schedule conflict or else I would not have met a diamond in the rough.” My heart melted at that. It had been years since I started to blame myself for my situation, but no one ever thought of apologizing to me. I would either be ignored or trashed. Never a ‘diamond in the rough’.

“But I want your input on the project as well thus my vague directions,” Ian added. I was pretty sure that my heart had become a puddle. 

“My- I’m sorry. But my input? This is your project, Ian. I don’t think I’m cut out to give any opinions.” Tiana and Nessa both stopped at my words and looked at me with eyes full of adoration - or pity? - and they looked like they wanted to talk as well but Tiana held herself and Nessa down instead. Their giggles turned to murmurs full of urgency. Did I say anything wrong?

“My project, yes. And as my project, I do want input from other people. School projects are not done just by one person, right? Same with this. This is an effort of many and I would really appreciate their thoughts. Yours, the most.” Ian’s voice was firm and sure not giving any way for a debate.

“So I assume you want to ask for my opinion?” I whispered.

“Yep. You guessed it, babe.” A popping sound at his ‘p’ and I smiled finally feeling better as he sounded more relaxed after his gentle tirade about my doubts.

“How about I tell you once we arrive? I don’t know where we’re going so I really can't give you anything yet,” I answered timidly, already racking my brain for general ideas that can be done anywhere.

Talking. We’ve been talking a lot in our scenes and it’s the one thing that could work for any scene. Anywhere. Anytime. 

“Of course. I just called to apologize and to tell you that you’ve been doing great, Apple. You really are the apple of my eye.” Ian’s voice grew softer as he replayed what the director said. My face felt warm as I imagined him saying this personally. I didn't think that I should think about it though. My heart suddenly clenched but not painfully. Rather, it clenched because it felt too warm and needed some time to hide itself until it found its composure back.

“Thank you, Ian.” It was the only thing I could say because it was the only thing my brain and my still-clenching-heart could muster up to think of saying at this moment.

“Of course. I’ll see you later, babe.” Ian chuckled before dropping the call.

Tiana reached for her phone, and as I looked up at her, three  pairs of eyes were staring at me expectantly, their eyes sparkling with anticipation.

Tiana, Nessa my make-up artist, and lastly, Hazel my stylist.

“Yes?” I giggled as I stared back at them.

“Oh come on, Ms. Apple. What’s the tea?” Nessa seemed like she was vibrating because of her excitement. 

“Tea?” I asked dumbfounded. I didn’t know what exactly to tell them when I didn’t know what ‘tea’ they wanted in the first place.

“Yes, yea. You and Ian.” Tiana’s finger was mocking me as she booped me on the nose as she said Ian’s name.

“What about us?” I shook my head, still in disbelief at everything that was going on and apparently what was not goin on.“

He’s smitten with you. He wasn’t like this at all with his past partners. Not even with his supposed partner.” Tiana had been an agent for a number of small artists like me. It was no surprise that she knew Ian way before the project.

“He’s being a professional by being considerate with an amateur,” I said. Nessa and Hazel both huffed and turned their heads up front, their arms crossed like a child that did not get what they wanted. 

“I’m just saying what my eyes obviously see. And I see-” I was thankful for a chance to cut Tiana as Ian’s van stopped in the middle of the street.

“I see Ian’s van stopping and him getting down. I think we should too,”  I said pointing at Ian who is apparently walking his way towards our van.

The three pairs of eyes started squealing as Ian got closer. Tiana winked at me before she opened the door for him and motioned for the rest of my team to unpack the essentials.

“Ready?” Ian reached his hand towards me and helped me down the car. 

As I held his hand, I looked around. We were in the middle of an abandoned street, barely any cars driving at all. Just a couple of street lamps lighting the way, some even flickering on and off. Probably no one even bothered to get the lights fixed because no one would ever bother stopping by. The streets are sandwiched in the middle of a forest, a sign that we were already out of the city’s reach. Away from the fast life. Away from the buzz of unnecessary voices and cars. Just the silence enveloped in the cicadas and frogs singing into the night.

“Don’t worry. There’s no prey here. Or at least there’s none I’ve seen from the last time I visited,.” Ian murmured quietly as he led me to a lamp post with a somewhat stable light.

“Rolling on your signal, Ian!” The director said on his megaphone. Ian nodded and gave a thumbs up his way. 

“We’re starting?” I asked, my palms in Ian’s hold started to sweat all of a sudden.

“Relax. Just be natural and do what you feel like doing,.” Ian whispered as his palms let go of mine and instead gently cupped my face and lifted it for our eyes to meet.

The lights suddenly gave out and I felt Ian lean closer. His warm breath hit just the tip of my nose. As the light came back, I looked up with surprise as Ian was way closer than expected. 

“May I?” His voice was low as he asked. His hands lowered to my waist as well pulling my body closer to his.

I nodded, my thoughts empty of anything else. His lips were so close that I felt that if I talked, my lips would accidentally touch his. 

But, what did he mean exactly? May he what? It can’t be-

My mind went blank once he leaned even closer and his lips lightly touched mine. It was just a mere second but that second froze along with my whole body. My brain, my lungs, my heart. Everything stopped for me and I couldn’t process what was happening around me. The claps and the gasps, everything was muffled. The only thing I can clearly hear is my heart finally beating again but with the craziest beat anyone ever heard. 

I tried to take a step back but when the cold steel of the light post met my back, I instantly jumped away, pushing my body back towards Ian again. Clumsily, I tripped as I collided with him once again. His arms wound tighter around my waist as he kept me steady and my hands landed on his chest.

“Okay?” he whispered as he placed his forehead against my chest.

Still finding it hard to find my voice, I just nodded once again. I didn’t even think I was capable of speaking. That one frozen second knocked the air out of my lungs along with my voice, rendering me speechless in Ian’s presence. Pliant in his arms. Drowning in his eyes. Melting as his warmth engulfs me.