Chapter 8:Getting it together and keeping it real somehow

With all the hoopla going around during the party, Jill and I never had the chance to dance.
Disappointed as I was that it didn't happen, I was also relieved.
I was afraid that an awkward moment might come out of that dance, memories of our past in California would come flooding back to her, and it was just going to ruin her mood.
I know she still has a lot of resentments towards me, she just doesn't know how to say it.
That thing at the pool was just an appetizer.
She's just putting all that at the back of her mind right now, but I know at some point, one of us would initiate "The Talk"

We did get to exchange numbers right after the party, but that was it.
I never had the guts to dial her number or send her a message.
Not that I was being chicken to reach out to her, but she was just too busy.
The past two days, if she wasn't in some mall promoting her album, she was off to some talk show.
Not that I was monitoring her activities, it's just that she's everywhere.
Why am I being defensive?

I almost jumped when someone knocked on my door.
"Who is it?" I asked.
"Kenny! Time to go! Your call time is at 9:00!" Joan said as she opened the door to my room. She suddenly looked alarmed, "Whats wrong?"
"You sure? You look pale. Are you sure you're alright?" she fussed over me.
"Quit fussing over me. I'm alright. I just got a little surprised with the way you knocked, that's all," I replied.
She smiled knowingly at me, "Been daydreaming again huh?"
"No," I said almost in a squeak.
Theres just no hiding stuff with this woman.
Or I'm just too transparent.
Whatever it is, I know I just cant hide what I'm really thinking when it's our road manager who notices the differences in my actions.

"Better be downstairs in 5 minutes or Jeff might blow his top! Gabe's awake already! He's going with you," she said as she gently placed a stack of magazines on the couch near the door, "Oh yeah, this might not be advisable to bring to the shoot," she said with a wink.

It was the first day of my Coke Light ad with her.
We were supposed to be working with some artists but they were doing it in groups first before the whole all-star gimmick.
The management decided on pairing the two of us up first before she worked with the others because they could see that we looked like we have good chemistry.
Even when Vickie was included in the line up.
Much to the chargin of Kenny-Vickie fans who have been rooting for us since rumors started that the two of us we're going out, scared that having Blade as my partner would screw things up between Vickie and me.

If they only knew.

Before I left Jeffrey gave me a piece of his mind, "I know you're nervous about all this, but this isn't the moment to screw up and let your issues haunt you. I'm pretty sure she's just going to take everything in stride and work as if you two dont have a past. The time will come that you will finally get to talk. Don't force it ok?

I couldn't help but feel grateful that Jeff was sensitive about this stuff.

"So now that she's here, are you still going on a break after all your commitments?" he joked.

I smiled at him,

"You might want to be a graciuous host and invite her for dinner later if she doesn't have any commitment after the shoot," he suggested

.
But that was walking on dangerous territory.

"Hey Mr.Daydreamer, we're here already. Better get ready because you're 15 minutes late already, you might get Blade irritated again," Gabe said as he literally pulled me out of the van.

I just smirked, "Let her wait, a superstar needs to wait at some point in her life."
Knowing that girl, she's probably late too. She's not exactly the poster girl for punctuality.
She was in detention several times because of her constant tardiness.
Joan just rolled her eyes at me and motioned me to walk faster.

When I walked in the studio, everyone was minding their own business, arranging the supposed setting of the commercial. The production assistants whisked me off to the dressing room, mumbling that it was a good thing the director was doing a conference call with the Coke Light execs.

Surrounded with production people I wasn't able to see if Blade was around already.

Oh well, I'll see her later.

***
I know I'm not the poster girl for punctuality but eversince I got into this business I try my best to always be on time when I have shows and appointments.
It irritates me when a co-worker is late and he wouldn't even be apologetic for it.
I'd appreciate it if you call in ahead of the supposed call time to tell the staff that you're going to be late but don't just be late and appear at work acting like nothing happened and you didn't interrupt the work schedule.
That's why whenever I rant about someone about his or her punctuality, Kirsten doesn't dare bring up the fact that as Jill, punctuality isn't my best asset.
They know I have a different personality when I'm Blade.
I wouldn't even care if you're the biggest person in the industry.

Fifteen minutes after Kenny arrived , the director assembled the whole production crew and the cast for a pep talk.
He talked about doing our best to make this project a success, being professional and reminded us to have fun.
He called the choreographer, the writer and the dancers so thay they could present the storyline and teach us the moves.
Amidst all this, Kenny was trying to catch my attention, but he wasn't getting any from me.
The director took the people he called aside first and left the two of us in the middle.
I was trying to avoid his gaze, I could feel that he was looking at me.
He walked towards me, and nudged me, "Hey! Woke up on the wrong side of the bed? You look cranky today."
I shot him a deadly look.
"I slept and woke up fine thankyouverymuch Mr.Chou, I hope you did too because you surely look like it. I just hope you don't oversleep the next time and be punctual. Please!"
"Whoa whoa! Dont breathe fire on me! You're not exactly the most punctual person on this earth Miss Esguerra!" he answered.
"Well right now I'm Blade, the rap princess. I'm professional and try my best to always be on time for my appointments," I shot back.
I saw the director pointing the choreographer to us and mouthing "Rehearse the steps!"
I turned my back to him and walked to where the choreographer was .
"Lets get to work."
***
Poor Kenny!
He was greeted by Blade, not Jill.
The rap princess wasn't exactly in the best of moods when he talked to her.
We saw the whole thing unravel.
It was like watching an old home video of them bickering at the smallest of things.
"Things never change, ten years of separation and they're still at it," I said when Jill walked out on Kenny.
Kirsten laughed."Think they'll patch up on their own and wont need you?"
"Darn! I hope so!" I said, "They're grown ups now, they'll be able to handle this."

When we were younger, we knew this two had something special going on.
Even when we were just kids, their closeness was different from the bond they shared with us.
We knew somehow, someway, someday, they would end up together or at least be a couple at one point in their life
The intensity of their love for each other was as intense as their squabbles that they would bicker at any given chance.
Being kids, their pride was as high as the Empire State building and would claim that their friendship is over, that they weren't going to talk to each other anymore, and that they don't know each other.
Of course, that's just bullshit.
They wouldn't talk to each other but their eyes would tell how much they miss each other.
Since my house was in between their houses, I would always end up being the middle man.
Geographically and figuratively. Sometimes even literally coz there were times when an issue would sprout up and I would be standing in between them.
When things were too tough for them to tackle, I come in.When their pride comes in between them, I do the talking. When they're simply just being unreasonable, I try to be the voice of reason.

Tough job! Especially when the people you're taking care of is as stubborn as Kenny and Jill.
It's a good thing I managed to have a life of my own when all of us we're still living in the same street.
With the two of them around and constantly bickering at each other, it's a miracle I managed to get out of the house once in a while.

The rewarding part about is when they make up. Seeing the smiles on their faces makes it all worth it.
And of course , my privacy.
When they make up, they leave me alone.

Kirsten and I were intently observing as they were rehearsing the dance steps. Jill was completely ignoring him and just following the choreographers instructions while Kenny was making an attempt to lead the dance steps everytime Jill committed a blunder.

When they called for a break, Kristen nudged me, "Someone's out to get you!"
"Uh-oh!"
I smiled at the two, "Hey guys, doing a good job!"
Jill smiled at me then sat on the chair beside me. Kenny just stood there, doing the steps.
"You alright? You look pissed?" I asked Jill.
"That guy!!!" she pointed, "How could he have grown up into a ...a.....grrrrrrr"
I laughed, "Deja vu! Deja vu!"
The director called her over, and when she left the seat, it was Kenny who took over.
"Okay Mr Chou, what's your case?"
"Geez! Such a big head! So what if I was late for 15 minutes.. she didn't have to bite my head off," Kenny mumbled.
"Dude you gotta understand, you're working with Blade, not Jill. Somehow there's a personality change once she enters her workplace."
"Still...Fifteen minutes!"
I didn't know what to say anymore.
I'm rusty already.

"Time is gold!" I nonchalantly said.

Kenny glared at me.
"Dude, choreographer calling you!" I said as I diverted his attention away from me.
He mischievously smiled at me, "You think I should just go ahead and kiss her?"
"Dude, its 2005, not 1995! That ain't going to work anymore!"

When they did finally make it official when Jill was 11 and Kenny 15,everytime Jill wasn't in the mood and would practically bite off Kenny's head, he would try to appease her by kissing her and it always was effective.

But he couldn't do that now.
It was like asking for a headache to come.
"Go come up with something else, just not that!" I suggested as he stood up and walked to where the rehearsal was going on.
***
I cant ruin the day just because we had a little spat.

Of course even if I was pissed at him, I had to work with him and I knew sometime today I had to talk to him or at least pretend we got along.
Specially when VJ Andy arrives and the Coke management will start shooting the behind the scenes clips for their special DVD.
But I can't pretend that I'm okay working with him right now.
I had to lower my pride and be the bigger person or this will affect my work.

I heard a knock on my door and i turned to my two companions, knocked out on the couches.Sometimes i wonder who's more exhausted with the whole tour thing, them or me.So much for giving the wardrobe crew a day off.I stood up and opened the door, and the sight of Kenny,standing in front of the door,holding a handwritten "I'm Sorry" sign almost made my knees give way and eant to hug the heck out of him but im not going to make it easy for him of course.Which was actually hard to do with him looking at me with those pleading eyes.

"I know i've been an ass, and for the sake of everyone's sanity, including mine and yours, can we call it a truce?"
"You promise not to be late?"
"Can you give me an allowance?"
"Im sure Jeffrey wont tolerate your tardiness"
"He does and he gives me at least 5 minutes tops"
"Well Mr Chou, if Jeff gives you 5 minutes, you've taken all three work days today!You're under probation!We haved 2 more days of shooting the ad, show me you''ll be punctual for the next 2 days and everything will be a-ok.
"Seriously now, we havent seen each other in 10 years, and you cut me out for the next 2 days for being late!who knows when we will see each other again"
"Dont give me that crap Kenny!And please...dont bring that aspect of our life at work,everything will just be drama if you do that!Lets just be professional please!Now if you'll excuse me i hear Jeff calling us already!"
I sure didnt expect that to come from him.
Oh well Blade!Shrug that off first and get back to work.
***
"Okay okay guys final run through please!WE gotta wrap up!Blade still has a show in Kao shiong tomorrow !We have to let her rest!"Jeff hollered as the choreographer was wrapping up the dance sequence for the Kenny and Blade ad for the Coke Light campaign.
"Huh?Didnt we have a shoot tomorrow?"Jill asked.
"Shooting has to be moved the day after!Dont you worry your manager has been informed of that"Joan said.
"Oh alright!Where is he anyway?"
"He's at Kaoshiong already!Doing his own promo!"Joan replied.
The choreographer called me over and instructed me to stand behind Jill then he asked Jill to lean on me, with her head to my chest.
I knew it and i felt it that she was feeling uncomfortable with our position especially after that confrontation before we headed back to rehearsals but i guess she was just being professional and not making fuss of the compromising situation we were in.
The choreographer asked me to turn my head towards Jill's neck and he made her brush aside her hair to make it look like that i was going to kiss her neck.
I was holding on to her shoulders as well and i could sense the tension on her shoulder.
"Hao le!Hao le!Very good!So realistic!If you didnt meet just a few days ago, i would think you were lovers in your past!"the choreographer told us in Mandarin not minding that Jill was still struggling with her mandarin.I sure hope she doesnt ask me to translate that!"
I smiled at him and Jill turne to Jeff asking what he said.
Jeff smirked"He said you guys look like lovers in the past!And from my stand point it seems like it!Dude he just wrapped up rehearsals and you're still holding on to each other!"
I looked at where my hand was, it was still holding her hand and the minute we both noticed,she broke off from my hand.
"So am i done?"she asked
"Yes you are!"Jeff replied,"You still have something to do?"
"Ummm...i wanna hit the sack early!Im exhausted!"she told Jeff."Can i be excused?"
"Sure,no problem!"
She ran back to her dressing room and JEff walked up to me."Come on dude!You're not going to accomplish anything today when it comes to reconnecting with her.You messed it up today!Lets just go!"/
"Tell me dude, am i trying too hard?Why cant she be comfortable with me again?She's ok with you, she's ok with the guys, why not me?"
Nicky approached us."Dude!Just give it a rest for now man!You're forcing the situation!You'll get your chance!
Jill, Kristen and Angela walked out of the dressing room, carrying their stuff.Joan approached them and offered to help.Jill refused, "Thanks Joan!but we can manage!"
"You sure!"Joan asked
"Yeah thanks!"
The girls approached us and said goodbye,giving each of us a hug.
Jill approached me and i didnt know if i was going to give her a hug or not.I just waited for her next move.
She gave me a tap on the shoulders and smiled."See you Chou!" and walked off with the girls.
"What the..."
Jeff and Nicky laughed."At least she acknowledged you,man!"
All i got was a tap!A freaking tap!
Without a word, i ran to the parking lot to try one more time but unfortunately they were gone.
***