From Something To Everything (Bounprem)

47. Audition

Prem wanted to kill himself. He had gone for a walk and ended up playing basketball with a stranger for more than an hour. Now he was covered in sweat and looked like a mess, his wet clothes sticking to his body.

Taking a quick bath in the staff-only washroom, Prem changed into a fresh set of clothes. The blow drier was blowing hot air into his hair, drying it in the process.

He was thankful that Sammy had predicted that something like this might happen and made him carry all the necessities with him.

Leaving his hair partially damp, Prem exited the restroom and headed to the audition hall. He was shocked to see the area empty. He rechecked the room number to see if he had come to the wrong place. But no, he was at the right place. He was confused. There was no way the audition had ended. Yet he couldn’t find a single soul in sight.

Prem jerked when someone tapped his shoulders.

“You should go wait in the lobby at the end of the corridor.” A guy wearing a staff id said to Prem.

“Eh?” Prem blinked.

“The audition is happening over there.” The staff pointed in a direction. “Please go wait there.”

Prem thanked the staff and walked to the lobby.

The lobby had a few comfortable couches arranged in an orderly manner. Prem saw three people whom he had seen earlier that morning sitting there. He wondered what happened to the rest of the candidates.

As time passed more and more candidates joined the area. Prem was totally confused at that point. He didn’t understand where they were coming from.

He eavesdropped into their conversation about how difficult the first round was.

‘First round?’ he didn’t take part in any first round. Did that mean he was already out? Did he miss his chance? Prem panicked.

He got up from his seat and tried to leave the venue when a staff member stopped him. “Khun, the interview will be starting soon. Please go back to your seat.”

“I don’t think my name would be on the list,” Prem said pointing at the list of candidates qualified for the second round.

The staff member frowned and asked, “May I know your name?”

“Prem Warut.”

“Prem Warut, number zero two one. Your name is here.” The staff showed the list to Prem.

Prem’s eyes widened at the sight. He apologized and then went back to his seat.

How did he get to the second round without participating in the first round? Did Bosston pull some strings? Prem wondered.

The interview began soon and candidates were being called one by one. Prem felt slightly embarrassed among all the people who had truly qualified for the second round.

“Number Zero two one, Prem Warut.” A staff member called.

“Khrab.” Prem stood up from his seat and entered the door that the staff held open for him.

Upon entering the audition room Prem saw five people seated in a straight line. Among the five people, he only recognized one person, Ohm. As a fan of action movies, it was inevitable that Prem knew Ohm who was known as the best action hero in the Thai entertainment industry.

Seeing his favourite actor in front of him, Prem grew nervous.

The jury was discussing among themselves while he entered. Upon getting a cue from the guy sitting in the middle among the five, Prem introduced himself.

“Swadee Khrab, my name is Prem Warut Chawalitrujiwong.”

“Okay, you don’t have to give a detailed introduction to us.” The guy in the middle said flipping through Prem’s portfolio. “You are a National level athlete?”

“Khrab.” Prem smiled nervously.

“Are you feeling nervous?” The guy asked.

“A little Khrab” Prem licked his lips.

“You don’t have to be.”

Prem could only let out an airy chuckle and nod.

“So, Prem, we aren’t going to ask you to act out a scene from the script like we normally do in an audition. We want to know how much you understand the role you are auditioning for.” The only lady on the jury said. Her pausing mid-sentence made Prem’s breath halt for a second. “So, we will give you a scenario and you have to act as Tin [1]. Are you ready to give it a go?”

“Khrab.” Prem nodded.

The lady looked at the other judges who nodded at her before speaking.

“So, Prem, as you know N’ Ohm here is going to play the lead role in the series as Day.” The lady intervened her fingers and placed her hands on the table. “The scene we are giving you is ‘Tin’s first encounter with Day who is pursuing Sky [2]’. We want to see how Tin would react in that scene. N’ Ohm will be your assistant.”

Prem’s heart dropped when he saw Ohm stand up.

Ohm walked up to Prem who was standing there with a blank face and patted his shoulders. “Are the best. You can do this Nong.” He said slowly.

“Are you ready?” the guy in the middle asked.

Ohm and Prem looked at each other and nodded at the guy.

“Action.”

The moment the word was uttered Prem was gone and there was Tin.

“You must be P’ Day.” Tin looked at Day from head to toe with a smirk.

Day frowned and nodded.

“Swadee Khrab P’ Day.” Tin did an exaggerated wai. “I am Tin Sawat [3]. You must have heard of me before.”

Tin had the most annoying smirk that Day had ever seen.

“I am sure that you know that I am not here you make acquaintance with you.” Tin took a step forward, lessening the distance between him and Day. “I am here to tell you. No, warn you to stay away from Sky. He is not someone you should be playing around with. I know all about the bet you have with your friends.”

Tin’s smirk vanished and his eyes turned sharp staring right into Day’s eyes he continued “I better not hear that you are pestering him again.” Tin walked past Day.

“It’s not up to you to decide.” Day who had been silent all this while spoke.

Tin stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at Day.

“This is a matter between me and him. If he is uncomfortable with me being around him, then I think it should be him who tells me.” Day said in a tone as serious as Tin’s.

“Do you think that he won’t dare to?” Tin put his hands in his pocket and looked at Day. “Once he gets to know how dirty you and your lowly family are, he will surely distance himself from you.”

Day couldn’t stand Tin insulting his family. His fist flew towards Tin’s face which the latter caught.

“Woah woah. Big guy. You really have a bad temper.” Tin smiled provocatively still holding tightly onto the incoming fist.

The tension between the two boys increased with every passing second.

“Cut.” That was the jury’s cue for reducing the suffocating atmosphere.

Ohm and Prem snapped out of their characters and were welcomed with a loud round of applause.

[1] Tin – role for which Prem is auditioning

[2] Sky – name of Ohm’s partner in the series.

[3] Sawat-  Tin’s name.