Behind the Time - Herophine

12

HERO

I packed my bags to go back to Africa and continue shooting, there weren't many scenes to shoot, most were already done, but they needed all the cast there. And I had a super plan to complete before saying goodbye for good to one of the most amazing places I've ever been.
I was startled by a text on my cell phone from someone I definitely didn't expect to talk to anytime soon.

"Hi! I need to talk to you. Call me when u can?"

It was Jô, she was online. My heart raced and in seconds, my uncontrollable fingers answed her.

"Hi! Could it be now?"

I try to breathe calmly. She finally spoke to me after what happened over Christmas... After our last conversation, the crazy audio, and the deleted messages. She video calls me and I accept, instantly. I see her beautiful eyes again, her hair even lighter, the sun hitting her face...

"Hey."

"Hey."

For a few seconds we just stared at each other. Until she smiles awkwardly, which makes me smile too.

"I liked the beard."

"Do you like?"

"Yes! It suits you!"

"I'll use more often then..."

"Oh stop! You always let it grow when you go back to London!"

"Yeah... And I always took it off when I needed to shoot Hardin..." I laugh with her.

"True! I miss you..."

"I miss you..."

We looked at each other again, we let the silence speak for us, and the funniest thing is that our eyes seemed to talk, as if everything made sense just by being there, looking at her.

"I... needed to talk to you... I was driving around and..."

"Wait, wait... Driving around?"

"Yes! I bought a car!"

"Really! That's cool, Jô!"

"Seriously, I'm loving driving and thinking about life, and I think about you a lot in these moments..."

Her eyes that were directed to the floor, look at me. Somehow, what she'd just said warmed me up a little inside.

"So... You're thinking about me..."

"Of course, Hero! I already told you that, I don't have the same facility as you do to forget someone!"

"Hey, hey, hey, calm down bro! I just wanted to make sure you still think about me like I think about you..." Another silence, and I complete: "As a friend!"

"Yes! As friends..."

"Yeah!" We laugh again.

"Hero, I just wanted to tell you that I'm not mad or upset with you... After the..."

"Christmas..."

"Yeah..."

"Jô, I said too much I know!"

"Oh, and I didn't? I woke up desperate, screaming at the girls for letting me answer you!"

I can't stop laughing listening to her.

"So... Are we okay?"

"More than fine... Friend."

"Friend. What are those bags over there?"

"Ah! I'm going back to Africa!"

"Really! Are you going to shoot again with the most badass actress in the world?"

"No... It's not you, Jô!"

"Oh shut up! Viola Davis is everything!"

"Yeah, I have to agree with that! What about you? How's your movie going?"

"We're done shooting now!"

"Serious?"

"Yes... Now we're on those final touches..."

"How cool! And... Someone... To warm that little heart?"

"Serious?"

"What?"

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"Huh? We're friends!"

"I know... But... I don't care about the women you're going to get after all that we..."

"Alright, alright! I won't ask anymore!"

"Are you seeing someone?"

"Huh!" I start to laugh at her curiosity.

"Alright, alright! I won't ask you!"

Good thing she didn't even ask, after the mysterious redhead appeared on the floor of the room I was in... I can only wonder who she was. I searched my friends' social media, and nothing to find out about the mysterious redhead. If Felix hadn't seen her too, I could have sworn I was dreaming.

"Well... I have to go Jô, I'll finish here and run to the airport."

"Okay! I was happy to talk to you... I felt like I needed to call you, and that time was perfect."

"Can I ask you something, Jô?"

"Of couse!"

"I want to know about that promise we made one day..."

"Promise?" Had she forgotten? Or was it something she said, doesn't really matter. "Ah! That if nothing goes right..."

"We got together in the end!"

"What's with that promise?"

"Is it still on?"

We face each other again, and the smile returns to our nervous faces.

"For me yes, Hero."

"Me too! So if nothing goes well..."

"We got together in the end!"

"Movie couple, huh?" We speak together. And with that certainty, I end the video call, with a calm heart, close my suitcase, take a deep breath, face my future, and everything that could happen from now on.



I arrive in Africa, it is perfect to see that nothing has changed, that we continue to training kickboxing, lines, that I meet everyone, from the production and the actors, especially my friend Jordan, who I will take for life. And the running routine returns successfully.

Every morning, we have breakfast, sometimes we do tests, to make sure we were all ok to shoot, we go to the dressing rooms to get dressed and we spend hours shooting. Couldn't be happier.

Some fans ask for a photo with me, I try to pay close attention to each one, I really like to feel closely the affection they have for me and for my work, through social media, it's not possible to feel all this.

A few days have passed since I set foot in Africa again. The shootings were already in the final stages, and the movie was amazing! I couldn't believe I was part of it, but I was very happy.

"Let's go."

"Where?"

"Party, go get ready!"

Jordan walks into my room and starts getting clothes for me to wear. He, more than anyone there, wanted to live his last moments with the crowd, in this surreal place. He's been looking for a place to hang out for days, and by the looks of it, he found it.

"Can you wait outside the room, so I can get ready in peace?"

"Do not be late!" He leaves the room laughing.

We arrived at the party, it looked more like a bar, with many people. The people there are very lively, more than the M-Boys, which is admirable, because finding people more lively than the M-Boys is almost impossible.

The difference there, besides the culture, dances and music, is that they don't need a drink to enjoy themselves. Women danced a lot, even more than men, and it's almost impossible not to look at them and not be attracted to one.

In the middle of the night I was drunk enough to talk to a woman without understanding anything she was talking to me, but she came to me, dancing in the most sensual way anyone had ever danced for me. I couldn't resist the kiss. Jordan was also with a girl, so I didn't feel bad about leaving my friend aside. I just wanted to enjoy one of my last nights there.

She's beautiful, she has a wonderful body, her skin, her scent, her braided hair, one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, her kiss almost swallowed me, her body glued to mine, and my hands roamed all over her. I wanted to live it all, and I wanted to be with her in that moment.


"Didn't even get the cat's number?"

"Jordan, I didn't understand anything she was saying, we communicate only by looking and touching!"

"Wow, sexy!"

"Shut up, you did the same! You can't even speak her name!"

"You also do not!"

"Then we're even!"

"You do realize we got the hottest women, they were wonderful! Now we can go home!"

I roll my eyes at him, but deep down I'm happy because, it was something I wanted to feel again, after what happened to my... Friend.




It was our last days in Africa, I still had to fulfill a wish I had thought of before the new year. I wanted to buy footballs, lots of them, and distribute them to as many children as I could find. I asked for help from one of the production guys, who knew places in Africa, and who could walk with me delivering these gifts.

We went to the market, bought a lot of soccer balls, and we started to fulfill my wish.

I met a lot of kids along the way, played some football with them, and left the ball so they could play even more. Football is a sport that I love, which is always present in my life. If I'm not acting or modeling, I'm playing football. My best friends and I are on the M-Boys team and I am very proud to be able to live in this life, with this sport so present.

There were many ball, many children, many places, I left the last ones with my friend, who also has a team. And I want these children to be able to experience moments as good as the ones I lived with this sport!

And I went back to the hotel feeling that my duty there was done. I finished a great movie, lived incredible experiences and even managed to fulfill a wish that was almost impossible! I made it possible! I said goodbye to everyone there. We took a lot of pictures, and I said goodbye to a great friend I had the honor of meeting, Jordan.

"Hey! You won't forget me, right!"

"Oh, you won't cry now, Jordan! It won't be long before that event happens..."

"True! I'll get tired of seeing you at this event!"

"Be prepared because it's going to be awesome! And I want to enjoy it!"

"Hero, enjoy it is my last name!"

"I thought it was Bolger!"

"Shut up!" We hugged and finally said goodbye to my friend. I will miss him, we are very much alike... In the way, in thoughts... Soon we will see each other again.

Now, my experience here is over, and I can't wait for what will happen in my life, when I get back home.