The Many Smiles

Happy Birthday James! My original idea ended up coming out sooner than anticipated (and far more angrier given the sudden situation). I wasn't going to write anything else, but the picture Nadine's mom posted gave me a sudden burst of inspiration.

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Researchers claim there are a total of 19 different ways to smile. Some people stick to one or perhaps even two. Others, in contrast, may display a variety reserved for different situations and feelings. James Reid fit into the "other" category like most people, though one could argue he had a tad more different kinds than the average person.

The first smile he had was the "photoshoot smile." The one in which he's focused on looking presentable on the camera to radiate the persona called upon him. His eyes tend to look dreamily into the lenses while his lips curve just slightly upward. All must be slight as to not distort any features too much since it is a photoshoot after all. Sometimes he'll be asked to smile regularly--again dependent on the intended mood--but it wasn't quite regular as his eyes would show no emotion--naturally, since it was for a shoot--or look exhausted from the long work days.

The second smile was the "tired smile" the one he puts on when he wants to look happy for the sake of a photo, but is clearly exhausted from once again the work and consequent lack of sleep, or admittingly, even from a late night party. Unlike the photoshoot smile, his eyes appear dead--sometimes even threatening to close, while his lips are lazily open or just barley curved at all. Outside of work, there was a better chance one might catch that version above anything else because he always felt tired.

The third smile was the "no smile" look, which could mean one of two things. Either one) he was tired 2) was just not in the mood 3) potentially annoyed. But most of the times, it was the second choice. Because sometimes smiling can take a lot of effort, especially when one doesn't wholeheartedly feel the emotion behind it. Though there were times he didn't smile simply because, like anyone else, he was annoyed and there was no need to fake something, he had done too much of that already.

The fourth smile was his "acting smile." Because actors have to smile and appear happy as the said character they're portraying. So like any good actor, he found himself channeling the emotions in the particular scene. It was always quite convincing, but it was still different from a genuine James smile. He looked happy, but it wasn't his smile. It was Clark's, or Top's, or Basti's. 

The fifth smile was the "fake smile." Because while he was one to prefer not faking happiness, there were times he had to because he didn't want anyone to know something was going on. The fake smile is the one he and others put up to hide a feeling, to pretend to be okay. When he was going through a particular rough time, he always wore the fake smile. The one in which his mouth said something different from his eyes. In which he looked dead inside but had to wear a mask that he was okay. This isn't a smile unique to him, we all have our fake smile. It's our safety blanket. Our shield. The one thing keeping us from breaking down publicly. 

The sixth smile was the second most genuine. It was the "satisfied smile", the smile in which he was pleased with an occurrence. It was his victory smile, the one that came out due to success or even when things seemed fine. The public saw this fairly often in front of cameras (but not the ones for a fictional show or movie.) His mouth would be wide open and his eyes would show life as he basked in the glory and feeling of what was going on. This smile was even used when he was simply feeling good and in the mood. It was one that one could see in fun interviews, variety shows, or even in pictures with friends outside of work. 

He wasn't faking it, he was happy, so why, you may ask, is that not his, for all technical explanations, his so-called real smile?

it was because he had a seventh one ( and potentially more unbeknownst to us.)

The seventh smile was him in his rawest form. It was the smile that the public rarely saw, but the one Nadine saw every day.

The seventh smile was his most genuine smile reserved only for those he loved.  It was the smile he gave his little nephews and nieces, the smile he had around close friends sometimes and of course, his family. It was the smile that he gave Nadine sometimes in public because he couldn't resist, but more so when it was just them outside work and away from the cameras.

His face was the most relaxed because the smile would come so naturally. Like his "victory smile" his mouth was naturally opened and his eyes verified the genuineness, but there was an extra shimmer to it. A sparkle of love as the smile was so tender. It was a vessel of his happiness and sometimes he'd be so happy his eyes may even disappear. 

It was a smile that took no effort and many times came without him trying.

He'd wear it when Nadine does something so silly, but cute that he can't help but laugh and gaze lovingly. 

When she laughed he couldn't stop himself from wearing it because he found her so adorable and he was lucky to have her in his life.

When she was happy he was happy and her contagious smile had a tendency to rub off on him.

And it was a smile he'd put on from just being with her and other loved ones. The smile that comes out of not just happiness, but genuine happiness with the feeling of contentment and the hopes such a feeling could last forever.

That was his smile. His real smile. But not just anyone saw it.

Because what makes this different is it's a smile directed not at a situation or due to victory, but because it's always at someone or some people. But only those close to him, those he loves.

Though rare, it's been captured. Anyone could see it on the picture from February 11, 2016 when Nadine and him officially became a couple.

Or even in the photo her mother posted for his 24th birthday in which her hand is on his leg and they're leaning close together.

But one thing is for sure, Nadine being there increases the probability of catching his most genuine smile because while for us it's a rarity, for her it's the one she's grown accustomed to every day.

And likewise he sees her smile back as well.

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Of course, like anything. This is fiction and I have no idea if he has that many smiles. But this idea was prompted from the fact that I noticed he had this softer smile in the photo Tita My posted and when's just around Nadine in general, more so in the photo they or their friends take though like not the one in their interviews.