The Big Pretense

Chapter 1

A/N: The image above does not belong to me. It belongs to the person who uploaded it on the internet.

Art's POV

"What the hell, why would he be calling at this ungodly hour," I muttered to myself as I fumbled for my phone that was incessantly ringing at two o'clock in the morning.

"Art!" my manager said excitedly after I swiped my phone screen.

"Hmm," was all the sound I could make. I couldn't afford to talk rudely to him because he was much older than I was plus he was the one running my career as a singer/dancer and an actor.

"Listen, I just got home after a drinking session with a group of friends which included a producer of BL dramas," I heard him say.

Drinking session he says. More of getting drunk session I would say, judging from his slurred speech.

"Mmm..." I made another sound just to let him know that I was listening.

"You have been offered a role in a BL drama," he said excitedly.

"Great!" I was wide awake now.

It had been two years since I had any acting projects. This would be my opportunity to hone my acting skills again.

"Don't get too excited now," my manager cautioned me, "you will not be getting the leading role. You will be with the supporting cast."

"Oh," was all I could say. I did not try to hide the disappointment in my voice.

But still, I shouldn't complain because I have been lacking in any acting gigs for too long. I should really jump at this opportunity.

"What is the story line of the drama?" I wanted to know.

"The producer wasn't too specific," my manager replied, "listen, tomorrow afternoon, meet me in my office and from there we will go together to the company offices that will be managing the series."

"What time tomorrow?" I asked, starting to get sleepy once more.

"Three-ish," he replied.

"Very well," I said, "good night, P' "

I left my apartment before two, to avoid getting delayed by traffic. It was a good one and a half hour drive to my manager's office so I had to give allowance to my travel time.

My manager met me at the door, his car key already in his hand. There was no time for him to invite me into his house to have some afternoon tea.

He told me to leave my car in his driveway. Then together we made our way to the production company offices which was less than half an hour away from my manager's house.

When we reached the offices, the receptionist in the lobby ushered us into a conference room where the producer and director were already seated at the long table.

Their heads were both lowered, studying the script of which each one had a copy.

They looked up when the receptionist announced our arrival.

My manager introduced me to the producer, Mr. Boonsri, and to the director, Mr. Siripool. (A/N: these are fictitious names. They do not exist.)

"While, we're waiting for the main actors to arrive, let me discuss the story line with you," Mr. Boonsri addressed me because it seemed like he had already discussed it with my manager who must have been too drunk last night to listen properly.

"Yes, P' " I said with a smile, "I'm all ears."

"So, this is the story of two business partners who are also lovers.  They had a big misunderstanding, and your role will be to try to patch things up between them because it is to your own advantage if they patch up. If they break up and separate, the merger that had been planned between their two companies will not happen and you won't be able to get the executive position that you have been hoping for," the producer explained.

"It sounds very interesting," I said, "I'm all in."

"Good, good," Mr. Boonsri said, the satisfaction evident in his voice.

There was a brief knock and two people entered.

One was P'Mew, and the other was Gulf, P'Mew's boyfriend, who, if I were to believe all the photos and videos in the media, had just recently gone through some kind of wedding ceremony, to make their relationship official.

I was very tempted to stand up and leave but I needed to act professionally, plus my manager would scold me no end once we leave the conference room. So I remained seated.

Both P'Mew and Gulf looked shocked when they saw me but I kept a steady smile, while looking at no one in particular.

Gulf seemed ready to turn around and leave the conference room, but P'Mew held on tightly to his elbow, preventing him from leaving.

"You have all met before, I'm guessing?" Mr. Boonsri said, looking all around him, first at me and then at P'Mew and Gulf.

"Not me," Gulf said, looking only at Mr. Boonsri.

"Well then, let me make the formal introductions," Mr. Boonsri.

"Mr. Boonsri," I interrupted, "would you please give me a few minutes with my manager?"

Mr. Boonsri hesitated, ever so slightly before saying, "Very well."

As soon as we stepped out the door of the conference room, I turned to my manager.

"I can't do it," I told him.

"Why not?" my manager asked, visibly annoyed, "this is your chance to go back to acting. You haven't had any acting projects in a long time."

"I will work harder in my entertainment career as singer/dancer," I pleaded, "but please, let's wait for a different acting opportunity. I cannot do this one."

My manager looked at me long and hard.

"You are not still in love with Mew, by any chance, are you?" he asked, his eyes squinting at me, his eyebrows deeply furrowed.

I turned my face away from away from him. That was all the answer he needed.