The House

Chapter 11

Sitting in our usual spots with our usual alcoholic drinks we sat discussing unusual matters. Dahyun had called in a couple favors and found out that the contract was completely legit.

"It's a big platform and for this you'll definitely get a sabbatical from work." Tzuyu spoke.

"It's not a bad idea to go but think of your mental sanity too that show has a lot of crazy people in it." Dahyun spoke taking a sip of her wine.

I nodded along to the conversation listening closely, remembering broadcasts about pulled hair, medical secret reveals, and even people covering themselves in stool or urine. I was still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was chosen, why me? What had I really done to be chosen?"

But it wasn't time to think about that, I cleared my throat thinking deeply on the matter. "I'll do it on one condition." I looked up at Dahyun, "Will you be my lawyer?"

Dahyun smiled widely, "Of course I will,"

Tzuyu rolled her eyes on the side muttering something about this being too similar to a marriage proposal. Before we ended for the night.

It finally hit me later on, when I went to bed, the signed contract mailed into the production company and my leave accepted by Tzuyu. I was about to take my first step into reality TV there was so much this experience this would hold. And I like always am a nervous wreak.

Especially because, reality TV exposes, more than what we want about us.

....

Ever since I signed the papers for the show, things had gone haywire. I had a full day shoot for my introduction video where I was asked random questions about my love life, hobbies, favorite color, honestly anything and everything about me. Articles popping up with my name tied to the show and Leia for the first time overwhelmed by phone calls and emails.

It was exhausting I don't know how I'm going to do this on the show and I'm so used to being behind the camera I didn't realize how awkward I get when a EF 85mm is stuffed in my face and that blinking red light when cameras are recording, is very distracting.

I fell onto my bed with a sigh, my thoughts running rampant

Besides me laid my travel bag half full of my clothes, 'that's the last one.'

"Come on get up," Maya, my mom, said,

I groaned watching her walk in, she had a frame in her hand, "What's that?" I asked

She held up the frame, it was a picture of our family when we had gone to the beach. The day was quite drab and we spent most of it fighting but we did manage to sit still and act like a cute family for thirty seconds when this picture was snapped by a couple wandering the coast.

"Why this picture? I remember how bad this day was, the sun kept hurting my eyes, we all got headaches at some point, I almost died from a wave, and dad and I kept fighting." I spoke getting up to continue loading my luggage.

She stood still for a while just watching me pack before she walked towards me, she put a hand on my shoulder halting me from my work and guided us to sit on the neatly made bed. "Is that all you remember about that day?" Her voice was soft, "What about how we got ice cream to shield us from the heat? How we walked behind you when you got your  headache in case you took a fall? Or how your father trailed you back to shore when you were swept away by that strong wave?"

I looked down at the picture, my eyes a tad glossy now. I was so consumed by the bad things, I hadn't realized the good about that day. "The important thing wasn't how the day went but who was around." She spoke,
I looked up at my mother and nodded my head,
"Try and look at things from a different perspective, my idea of that day is different from yours." She spoke, before getting up with a shaky sigh and wiping a stray tear. "Okay, what else is left?"