Scene of Eve

[chapter 13]

Ian silently handed me a flaxen shade handkerchief, an apple embroidered at the corner with a little ‘A’ right beside it.

“Did I ever tell you that I took embroidery lessons when I was younger?” Ian’s eyes were still on the road as he started his story.

A young Ian started to ask around for anyone who could tutor him in embroidering. In the end, he found himself volunteering in a retirement home near his school.

“I don’t find it funny.” I say after wiping the corner of my eyes with the handkerchief.

“Thanks.” Ian ducks his head for a moment, hiding the smile he has and the crinkle in his eyes.

With his eyes back on the road, he continued, “Most of the kids in my school don’t know how to knit. Or if they did, they were too embarrassed to let everyone else know.”

“What’s so embarrassing about it, though?” I asked with an appreciative look at Ian.

“Beats me. They probably don’t want to admit how mushy they get for people they love.” Ian said the last word in a whisper, ducking his head down again before looking at me for a second.

Love?

“So, the retirement home. Was that where you learned knitting?” I asked as I was gently tracing the knitted apple on the handkerchief.

“I needed an experience, no matter how basic it is, for a song.” Ian fiddled with his phone when the street light turned to red.

A familiar song started playing, the electric guitar was loud enough to wake my senses up. I started singing along with a surprised Ian driving the car again.

“You know?” He asked.

I nodded my head while still singing the rest of the song,

Love is what carries you.

It is there even in the dark, 

or mostly in the dark.

But shining out at times 

like gold stitches 

in a piece of embroidery.

_

We arrived at a stadium of some sort with a race track for runners. I can see the director talking to his camera men, pointing at different points in the field. Mike was also there, standing beside him.

“Ah! The Apple of my eye is here! Come here you, birthday girl.” Joey approached me and Ian, his arms open for, I assume, a hug.

“Joey, thank you.” He crushed me in a bear hug, his huge frame engulfing me fully.

“Speaking of birthday presents, I got you something that you’ll have to wait for a few more minutes. But for now,” Joey waves at Nessa and Hazel by a tent, both waiting patiently. Or at least as patient as they can knowing that Tiana is just inside the tent waiting for their fits of laughter to echo away from the tent. But after seeing Joey turn towards them, they knew it was their cue.

“Apple!” The two were running at lightning speed and I noticed how Tiana peeked her head out from the tent, squinting at the two running after me. She just smiled and shook her head watching Nessa and Hazel bombard me with their birthday greetings.

Forgotten, I hear Ian chuckle as his own team signals for him to join his team in the tent. I let the two giggling and crying girls usher me inside as well, following Ian right after. When we came in, Tiana was the first to take me away from Nessa and Hazel as she hugged me tight.

“Happy birthday, Apple. And welcome to Genesis.” Tiana said as she pulled me to a chair as we passed by Mike who smiled at both of us gently, busy with a phone call. After a few minutes, two said girls came running back at me, their kits on both of their hands, overflowing. I laughed at them as they were approaching. The way they try to hold on to every piece of object just so nothing drops and breaks. 

After the girls came and set the table with some light snack on the side and the make up kit, they started chit chatting about the scene. I was observing them with a small smile, thinking if now is the right time to tell them that they’ll be staying with me while I am signed under Genesis. I don’t know though if they would like it or not. Afterall, when we first started, they were both told that this was a temporary set up. They might have already made other plans for when my project with Ian ends. 

But Mike visited us, a pair of black leather roller blades with red laces, an apple dangling on each end. The wheels were red, and clean. 

It’s probably what I’ll use on set. That thought mildly scared me because I have never skated on land or ice my entire life. My dad didn’t know how to so he couldn’t teach me. And everytime my mother would try, I end up chickening out, not fully trusting her to keep my ankles intact after learning. 

“I’m pretty sure Joey has said something about a gift.” Mike said as he gave the roller blades to Hazel.

“Are you ok, Apple?” Hazel asked after noticing my face. Probably pale. Hearing this question, Joey arrived, patting Mike on the back.

“How’s my gift? Do you like it?” Joey asked, looking down at me.

I instantly nodded, the blood slowly circulating back, with my face feeling hot just moments after.

“You don’t know how to skate, do you?” Mike asked before Joey could leave. Everyone around me stared at me with wide eyes.

Suddenly, Nessa and Hazel bombarded Joey and Mike with questions about my safety and if I would have a body double for this. I laughed as I imagined a body double skating perfectly. Well, it’s not a far fetched idea. Especially after confirming that I possibly have two left feet.

“That’s the point!” Joey guffawed, the whole tent looking at him. “Ian would be teaching Apple for the scene. And if anything happens? Genesis will take care of Apple, right Mike?”

Nessa and Hazel both dropped the things they were holding at Joey’s statement.

“Wait. Hold up. Genesis?” Nessa asked, her eyes looking at Mike first and then back to me.

So I explained how Mike offered me an initial contract. I told Nessa and Hazel that the contract was nearly perfect for me. But I wanted to add one thing.

“Add what?” Nessa asked after Mike and Joey just smiled. Hazel on the other hand was looking like a tomato.

“You’re replacing us?” Hazel said in between hiccups, her eyes red with unshed tears. Her face is reddening with more every second. 

“Oh, no. No, no, no, no.” I pulled Hazel for a hug and started to rub her back soothingly while I swayed us lightly side to side. She momentarily calms down only to burst out crying followed by Nessa’s own silent sniffs.

“I asked Mike if I can keep you girls with me at Genesis. But I’m not sure though because you might have prior stuff planned after my project with Ian.” I looked at Nessa’s shaking form and she rubbed her eyes as I started explaining.

“No! No prior stuff. None at all,” Hazel squirmed slightly in my arms and stared as she pulled Nessa beside her, convincing me, Mike, and Joey that “nope. Nothing at all for the future. So please-”

“Keep us!” Nessa interjected, not letting Hazel finish. I sighed in relief and stopped myself from crying so as not to smudge my eye make up.

“Of course I’m keeping you.” I said and opened my arms for another hug, the two teary girls hugging me tight as they whispered their thanks and “We love you so much Apple.”

In between Nessa and Hazel’s head both nestled on each side of my shoulder, I saw Tiana mouthing a ‘thanks’ from the tent’s entrance. With a smile back, my team is confirmed with Genesis. 

_

I left Nessa and Hazel with Mike after getting fixed for the scene. Mike also prepared a contract for them to consider the offer as well. I, of course, wanted them to have their own say in the matter. I don’t want them signing on to something that there’s no transparency of the deal. I also don’t want to box them with me. If they find a better deal, a better client? I’ll be happy for them to seek that out instead. It’s not like we won’t ever meet again. For one, I know that I’d like to keep them as friends. Or even sisters.

I chuckle at that thought and imagine my mom meeting Nessa and Hazel. She would love them so much. It’s easy to love them. Those two are just like those carefree kids that play together even without knowing each other's names. 

“How did the girls take the news?” Ian asked as he sat beside me, Tiana helping me tie the laces of the roller skates for me while she sat on the ground.

Tiana giggled at the mention of Nessa and Hazel while I just smiled with a shrug.

“This one doesn’t know how to skate.” Tiana told Ian as she stood up.

“Well, that is the scene. Right?” Ian said, thinking that Tiana was just reiterating my role for this particular shoot.

“No. What Tiana means is that I literally don’t know how to skate.” I firmly said and lightly stomped my wheeled shoes on the basalt looking ground of the stadium. 

Ian stared at me first with a shock then a knowing smirk.

“Goodluck.” Tiana whispered to me after patting my shoulders and taking her leave.

“No funny business, Ian. I mean it. I can’t skate for shit.” I retorted, Ian’s smirk only growing wider. Huffing out a breath, I crossed my arms and leaned on the bench as if telling him that I am not budging from this seat unless he promises no funny business on the tracks itself.

“Alright, alright,” Ian started laughing, both his hands raised midair as if in surrender. “No funny business.” He then offered a hand after standing - stable, might I add. I looked at his palm for a minute and then up at him, trying to find any mischief behind his intention to help me stand as well. 

“We’re rolling, okay? Just continue how you two want this to go!” We both heard Joey screaming from somewhere behind us. 

After a minute or so, my eyes still look back and forth at Ian's hand and his face. It’s not that I don’t trust him. I don’t trust myself. 

I remembered how I tried skating with my dad in our backyard but ended up getting my ankle sprained while my dad sprained his arms. Turns out he didn’t know how to skate as well. My mom, after we got back from the clinic, laughed her ass off. It’s like I can hear her laugh right now at my situation. 

“Hey!” Ian pulled me up gently, both his arms secured around my waist.

“We’re shooting a video, not a photo.” Ian chuckled as he slowly let go of my waist, his hands sliding from my arms and pulling them out from my chest. 

I can feel my legs wobbling beneath me and my hands holding on Ian’s tighter. 

“Don’t let go of me, please.” I was nearly crying as Ian moved us slowly onto the main tracks with no fences to hold on to.

“I won’t. I’ll hold on as long as we're on this track together.” I felt Ian’s hands squeezing mine in reassurance as he pulled me further. 

There were cameras somewhere far behind me and more cameras by the side. But I don’t see anyone else but Ian. I don’t hear anything else but Ian. I don’t even feel the cool breeze, just Ian’s warmth.

“Now one foot after the other.” Ian was still gently pulling - oh God, my weight. He’s pulling my whole weight with him? - while I’m like some rag doll.

His eyes were on my feet. But when I started doing what he instructed, his eyes were mirroring my own. Gone was the mischief minutes ago and in its place is just-

“Just look at me, okay? I won’t let you fall.” Just Ian.

I was still in a precarious predicament. It felt like hours of Ian alternating from holding my hands to holding me up by my waist just to keep me steady on my feet. And I was feeling more and more uncomfortable. But not because of Ian. But because I’m feeling more like a burden. He keeps telling me to take one step - or rather, one glide - after another. But I keep finding my feet stuck and Ian having to pull me forward against him.

Thankfully, we see Joey's assistant signalling us that we should wrap up the first take. I released a big breath and Ian laughed, his grip momentarily loosening. But after letting me go and when I was about to protest about me falling, Ian’s hands were back on my waist as he pulled me down on the ground with him, his body cushioning my fall with his arms caging me protectively.

“And, CUT!” Joey shouted and barked orders at the camera who was behind us. 

“I told you I won’t let you fall, didn’t I?” Ian said, raising his head, to look up at me. 

“But you fell instead.” I chuckled as I tried to push myself up, both hands on the ground caging Ian’s head.

“Fell for you.” Ian’s arms tightened around me, stopping me from standing and leaving a quick kiss on my lips before we heard footsteps approaching us. Looking up, it was Hazel followed by Nessa as she was polling on a little trolley, probably the make up kit.

I could see Hazel fighting a smile from appearing on her tiny vixen face as she scrambles to help me up. 

“Thanks.” I said as I sat on the ground followed by Nessa opening the little trolley she was pulling over.

“Uh. Your team instructed me to do your retouch to, uh sir-” Nessa started rambling as she placed a towel on the ground as a makeshift table for the make up.

“Nessa,” Ian chuckled as he too sat down, brushing his fingers over his long hair. “Ian. Call me Ian. I’m not your boss.”

“Right. Ian.” Nessa’s eyes were looking anywhere but him. 

A memory then pops up. Hazel told me how Nessa has a crush on Ian and at first hated that there would be a model who would act alongside him for this project. Of course, even I would be jealous. This project, according to Mike’s calculation, would at least take 6 months or so to complete. Ian’s whole album would not only contain music videos, but a whole mini movie. Mike didn’t give much detail. But now looking at it and remembering my talk with Tiana just a few nights ago, this could be a story of Ian and Lizel. Maybe it’s why Tiana says that people see Lizel. Probably because she is who I am currently in the scenes.

“You okay, Apple?” I heard Hazel ask as I felt something under my eyes.

Blinking, I hear Nessa apologizing, “Oh shoot! Sorry. Did I prick your eye or-”

“Relax Nessa, you didn’t. I was just remembering something Ti told me about.” I wiggled my eyes at Nessa suggestively, hinting that I knew of her crush towards Ian.

Hazel was no longer able to hide her laugh as he was combing through Ian’s hair. Nessa, in return, shot her a glare and signalled for me to keep the secret to myself for now. I pretended to lock my lips and threw the key only for Ian to ‘catch’ it mid air.

“Your secret,” Ian started as he ate the imaginary key and rubbed his tummy in satisfaction. “is safe here.”

“Safe until he poops it out.” Hazel said with a fit of giggles while finishing the last touches on Ian’s hair.

“Right. Of course. You. Shush.” Nessa directed the last two words at me, her cheeks growing redder as she started packing the brushes and the rest of the make-up on the trolley.

“So, will I know the secret or could I guess?” Ian stood up and wiped dust off his pants before offering his hands once again to help me up along with Hazel’s arms supporting me from behind. Nessa, on the other hand, hurriedly left after packing everything.

“I’d like to keep my life a little longer. So go ahead and take a guess.” Hazel left after making sure that Ian can keep me stable on my feet, giggles still present as Ian kept asking her if she knew what Nessa’s secret was.

“I’ll find out sooner or later. But I do have a hunch.” Ian laughed as he watched Hazel’s retreating figure catching up with Nessa to the tent.

As I watched Hazel disappear, my eyes landed on a familiar face entering the same tent followed by Mike. But it could just be someone who looks like him.

“Ready?” I felt a gentle tug when Ian attached my hands on his waist, his back on me. 

“Ready.” I smiled up as he looked to his side, a smirk back on his lips. He’s a real mischievous one. But I know I’ll be safe. I trusted him since day one, nothing has changed since then. 

_

Ian was left outside shooting solo scenes while I went in the tent, supported by Tiana, back to my seat. Nessa and Hazel were quick to aid her as they gently untied my roller skates and massaged my foot.

“That’s gonna scar.” Tiana whispered as she looked at my blistered foot.

“Ointment!” Hazel squealed as she took out a small box in the trolley that Nessa had. 

“Is that a makeup kit or a first aid kit?” I raised my head as the unfamiliar voice approached and saw, not only my reflection staring back at me aghast, but I also see Tyson's looking back at me with a small smile. I tried to stand but Mike interrupted me by pushing me back down gently.

“Apple, this is Ty-” Mike started.

“Tyson.” The unfamiliar voice - but very familiar face - stood beside my chair and offered his hand for a shake. I placed my hand in his and shook it briefly. 

“Apple Rodriguez.” I replied quietly, feeling lame.

“She’s the newly signed model at Genesis, if you remember I talked briefly about her.” Mike thankfully stirred Tyson’s attention away from me as I started wincing with the sting as Hazel applied the ointment on the blisters.

“Ah yes. And speaking of models. Since I’m already here and I assume, momma Tats here is your agent. Aren’t you, Ti?” Tyson turned to face a blushing Tiana - or is she fuming? 

“Yep.” Tiana said, popping the ‘p’. I noticed how she kept avoiding Tyson’s gaze directed towards her. I discreetly look over at Mike, his back on the Tiana, a hand covering his lips.

“Then do you mind me asking for permission if I can borrow Apple for  my next song?” Tyson approached Tiana, putting his arms around her shoulder. Tiana just nodded, her head turned to the other side as she gasped for a breath.

“You are still going to coordinate with Mike. He is still the main agent of artists signed under Genesis.” Tiana was explaining while she was trying to writhe her way out of the arms around her.

“Of course! Though I do have to coordinate with Ian on this one. She’s technically reserved for a few more weeks with Ian’s own album coming up.” Mike pointed outside to where Ian was probably still shooting a scene or two.

“Sure, no worries. You know me Mike. I’m basically a one man team. I can wait.” Tyson was saying when the director came in with Ian right behind him, pampered by his own team by wiping sweat away.

“Tyson, Tyson. Tyson.” Joey guffawed as he pulled the latter for a quick hug. 

I decided to quietly sneak away from the boisterous reunion of Joey and Tyson. I slipped on my sandals and went to Ian. He was seated on his chair, one of his many stylists drying his wet hair. His view was blocked by the towel hanging over his head so I decided to play a little. Seeing me approach, the stylist let me replace his hands on Ian’s head.  Starting gently, I transitioned to shaking the towel violently along with his head.

“I know it’s you, Apple.” Ian chuckled as he grabbed my hand over his head and  intertwined it with his.

“Did I do a great job?” I asked, sitting on the chair beside him as the rest of his team dispersed somewhere behind us, leaving us in our own bubble once again.

“I advise you to steer clear of the stylist position. I’d like to keep my head, thank you very much.” He lifted our entwined hands and kissed the back of mine before looking up at me with a smile. 

I smiled back and squeezed his hand in return as he put it back and caressed his cheek with the back of my hand. With a contented sigh, the unknown nerves from moments ago, probably brought on by Tyson being a new addition to the usual people I see on set, was gone.