I was told I would pretend to be a damsel in distress who would run to him for help, then he would kick and punch my aggressors and we would kiss. The CCTV camera would then focus our faces as we are locked in a romantic embrace, after which he would completely disappear in my life. Then later on as I would search for him, the CCTV footage, which was clear and sharp, would be my sort of guiding star. Yeah, it was a lame concept, I thought, but the company felt there must be a romantic twist to the ad. They felt that the audience would be more receptive to the commercial if it has a touch of romance in it, especially with an endorser as handsome as Liam Hemsworth.
For the first take, I stumbled while I was fleeing my aggressors so mom's boyfriend, our director had to shout, "Cut!" The second take was almost perfect but I sneezed right on Liam's face when we were about to kiss. He laughed and asked me if he smelled bad. Actually, he smelled so good but my Japanese nose is not used to a strong scent.
"Are you sure I don't smell?" he asked again and raised his armpits. He smelled each one of them. People around us laughed. I apologized.
It took us fifteen more takes before we were able to perfect the scene. I felt really bad. During the last take, I could sense that he was pretty exasperated with me. Before my mom's boyfriend could say a word about my acting, I told him, "I told you so! I'm not an actor!" Then, I hurriedly left the set.
I didn't know he followed me outside. He gave me his jacket because I was shivering a bit. They made me wear just a flimsy, pink dress to make me look vulnerable on camera, so although it was only twenty degrees outside, it felt cold. I accepted the jacket and as soon as I held it around my shoulder, I sneezed again. He laughed out loud this time.
"I'm now convinced, I smell bad."
"No, you don't," I said in between sneezing. He couldn't stop laughing. And I noticed it made his eyes twinkle. I like the boyish look on his face every time he burst into laughter.
"It's all right. You can be honest with me. I don't mind at all and I wouldn't hold it against you."
"Actually --- uhm, we, Japanese, are not used to a strong scent," I said sheepishly. Though I had no problem showing my dislike for him if necessary, this time it's different. Japanese people don't feel comfortable confronting others about their smell, and I'm one of them.
He smiled again. "Yeah, I noticed. Not many people are wearing perfumes or colognes here, huh?" he answered.
"We love perfumes, too, but we use it in moderation. Just enough to make us smell good without bothering other people's nose."
"Okay. I'll bear that in mind," he said as I sneezed again. I had to give him back his jacket. He took it while apologizing.
"I have to go. I still have work at the hotel. See you around," and I ran to the nearest station. As I grabbed my bag from the locker, somebody almost hit me. I saw a lot of people pushing and shoving each other as they were running after a throng of people.
"Doshita no? (What's happening?)" I asked a fellow bystander. He stood on his heels and looked at what was going on.
"Hora! (Look!) Mirey Cyrus desu yo! (That's Miley Cyrus!)"
I stood on my heels, too, and stretched my neck. I saw the tip of her golden hair. And I felt a pang of sadness. Is she going to see him?
"Nah, I don't think so," was Akiko's response when I asked her at work if Miley was here for Liam. "They already broke up a long time ago. I don't think she would travel around the globe just to see him. She's dating someone else now."
