Joy and Hope

3 wander

Lunch was a disaster. It's the only word fit to describe it.   You stuffed a few pieces into your mouth and left, mumbling thanks all the while trying and failing to hide your embarrassment. Well, at least you didn't spill the sauce on your top or choke on the slim tube or cooked rice. There would be no coming back from that.  Deciding that now would be as good a time as any to check your phone, you make your way to a quiet area. Watching that no one is around, you take out your phone and face a little bit of your reality. 

16 missed calls,

4 voicemails ,

8 text messages.

'Shit' you think 'I'm not this popular on my birthday' choosing to leave the voice mails for a more private time you read the messages.

> HaRi, (DongJin sister) "I heard you were in town, we should meet up for a coffee or brunch!? call me"

> Mr Lee (DongJin dad) "My sweet, Hope your flight wasn't too long, it will be good to see you, let's have dinner"

> HaRi, "Did you already leave, I was looking forward to seeing my big sis,"

> Mr Lee, "HaRi said you left already! Did u get called to work? They better make it worth it. Making you fly in and out, you're not a pilot. "

> unknown. "Baby, I miss you. Please call me back,"

> unknown. "What are you playing at? How can you sneak into our house and take my phone and laptop. When did you get in. Where did you go? Call me please. I need to explain"

> unknown. "For fucks sake, answer you phone. You always have your phone with you. Your being childish"

> baby sis "hey wanderer, how did you get on with finishing up the apartment? Not long now till you and DongJin can set up together and make it a home. I'm so happy for you, soon we could be both planning our weddings! Could you imagine. But don't even think about a double wedding.  I need some cute nieces and nephews so you better get on that too when he gets out. When are you going to put me in your diary? We have to go dress shopping.   Also our neighbours dog had a litter and Mitch says we should take one, some practice before we decide to have our own kids"

You send a voice note.

"Hey Button, I'm good, back in L.A, got a last minute flight before the talking job with 2 pay checks. Will call when I get settled, love you x ". Its not that your looking forward to telling your sister that your long term boyfriend has gotten married to someone else and that right now your not sure what way is up, but you know she will make you laugh and see the funnier side of it. That's once she is done verbally ripping him to shreds. Your sister is short and savage.

Putting your phone away and head back to the job at hand. Making a mental note to spend more time with your sister and more importantly, think before you act around the hpa. so far, you have been late, but not really and been over friendly with him. "Fuck you DongJin" you say under your breathe. That asshole isn't even here and he's causing shit.

The afternoon is hot. That will be the weather and the dancers, wow!  the woman and so sexy and the guys, well damn. How can they move like that, the choreography is complex, their movements sharp but yet so fluid at the same time. And to top it off they don't even look like they are trying. Every time the director yells 'cut' they stop take a breath and start again. 'Note to self, take the stairs every now and again!'

The hpa has completed all of his solo shots and is now monitoring the group scenes with great scrutiny. You remember he had a beautiful smile. Sweet and heart shaped, but you don't see that right now. His lips are straight, almost down turned at the corners, his almond shaped eyes, with a stare that would make those around him cower. He tilts his head to the right ever so slightly, the smallest hint of a smirk plays around those lips. Its hard to tell if he's pleased or not. Either way the look is making your kitty stir. 

It's not until you catch yourself looking for a second too long. 'Hey, nutjob, this is a contract, get your head in the game'. The dance crew take breaks between scenes as the weather is becoming increasingly hotter. Its decided that everyone will take a break around 3pm and your glad of the shade the crew had put up. There's not much of a breeze but hey, it's L.A.

The 2nd hpa arrives around 3:30, she brings her own m.u.a's and manager. Jhope's managers bring the hpa's together and ultimately you join them. Lucky for you she speaks both Spanish and English. So for now, it's only 2 languages. She's bubbly and ready to film her scenes. She gets set up and ready to go. It's now you, both sets of managers and Jhope watching the screen. He's so professional and encouraging, it kind of feels like you have been working along side him for ages, its not awkward. Still a little pissed at yourself for the lunch incident, you keep yourself formal when talking.  After her solo footage is done, she waves you over. You reintroduce yourself, and ask how you can help. Seems like she just wanted to get to know you a little more and possibly make a friend. She asks about your accent and how long you have been working with the team. "I've only met this team today they are very welcoming, my accent, its a bit of everything, I put that down to being around different languages in Europe for a long time. The joint scenes are captured quickly. you're kind of glad. It's been a long day, and you're still kind of jet lagged. Or is it emotional exhaustion. It couldn't be anything else!

The crew calls it a day and says that tomorrow's schedule starts at 4 pm. Everyone should be here and ready to shoot. That if done well, everyone would finish a day early. This announcement is met with cheers and smiles from everyone.

The ride back to the hotel. Even though there were shelters from the sun, it was still a very warm day. Dressed in jeans and a baggy t-shirt and not being one of the dancers you haven't really worked up a sweat as such, but you didn't have time to change from the flight, you can hear your shower and bed calling you by name.

You go with your hpa,  and his managers. While the managers talk passionately about the dancers and how they don't make them like Korean girls, you roll your eyes and look at your phone. You haven't had the chance to lay down in your hotel bed, and they are usually very comfortable, falling asleep almost immediately. You can't wait. Once back at the hotel, you can eat and sleep.

As your screen lights up, you see new notifications and some more voice messages. 

 Sleep will have to wait, you think.