Today was exhausting, woke up at 6 a.m., then straight to shooting a commercial an hour away, afterward a quick 5-minute lunch in the car as we sped away to a movie set to shoot a scene, and immediately after a late-night talk show. I looked at my watch as the driver pulled up to the penthouse, it was 11.27 p.m., with tomorrow's schedule not being any different.
Soon, my house came into view, the building all lit up with a small gathering of figures surrounding the entrance.
Despite it being so late, I could tell from the small crowd of people that the paparazzi had been waiting for me to arrive. Seeing my car pull up near the entrance, they all went into position, patiently waiting to get the perfect photo for their tabloids or articles. At this point it should've been tiring for them to do so, it's been drizzling quite a bit for the past hour, and the cold night wasn't doing them any favors. But even with all the setbacks they all still waited patiently, resolute in getting a chance to take a photo of me.
"Nova, the paparazzi are here, should I drive to a side entrance or into the underground parking lot?"
George, my manager since my debut, knew I hated the paparazzi. it's not that I hated all of them, but some have crossed the line before. There have been times when there have been invasions of my privacy or free time. I still remember the time when one of them had snuck into the trunk of my car and tried to take a photo of me during my vacation, I even went out disguised yet they still found me in a matter of a few minutes. Thinking about them now, I felt shivers tingle down my spine. Brrrrrr… I don't ever want to experience that again…
"It's alright George, I just want to get back home as soon as possible, I can handle getting my picture taken if it means saving a few minutes getting home to shower, and then just collapsing in my soft bed. Much better than the naps I've taken on these car seats..."
"Suit yourself, here's an umbrella."
Pulling a sleek black pole out of the side of the driver's seat., and handing it over to me.
"It's still raining quite a bit out. Even if it's just a little drizzle, we can't have you getting sick, can we? You still have a shooting tomorrow, if you got sick, it would be the end of the world for the production team, their deadline is a bit too close for comfort."
"Yeah, I know that already, you don't have to remind me of my return to hell."
Chuckling to myself I grabbed the umbrella from his outstretched hand.
"That's the spirit, I'll pick you up tomorrow at 9 in the morning, should be enough time to get some well-deserved shuteye. By the way, the company has sent some gifts from fans and the like, they've been checked and screened already so you won't have to worry about anything. They should be on your kitchen counter, feel free to browse through them later."
"Noted, see you tomorrow, George."
"See you too Nova."
Stepping out into the rain, I slammed the door behind me and started to walk to the entrance. I was swarmed and almost blinded by the sea of flashes on both sides. I could hear them asking me for a better angle or to look at the camera. Familiar voices and faces could be heard and seen. Sometimes I can't tell if they're fans or dedicated paparazzi, resolute in being at all my shooting locations and house almost every single day.
Smiling at a few as I passed by, I almost made it to the entrance before something caught the corner of my eye. A glimpse of someone without a raincoat and crying, they were soaking wet and shivering, having been presumably standing in the cold rain the entire evening. It seemed weird that despite the countless paparazzi and bystanders with umbrellas surrounding me, not a single person was sharing it with this person.
The short glimpse of his tears as they glistened on his face made me falter for a bit. Making a quick mental note to have George contact the building management to provide some shade to the paparazzi the next time they are here. Not wanting to leave the person in tears all teary and in shambles, I walked over to them.
"Here."
I handed my umbrella to the man who stood there just crying, he looked up and was almost scared to death when he saw me.
"Mr... Mr.... Collins..."
"What have you been doing in the rain all this time?"
Seeing his fingers fumble with his camera, I could tell he was new at this, but judging from the tears and his trembling hands as he held the camera, it was broken.
"Ah, I just wanted to take a photo of you, sir..."
"In this state? Why didn't you get an umbrella? You're soaking wet."
Not paying any mind to the bright flashes surrounding us, I focused on making sure that the man was alright. I'm sure this will make headlines tomorrow or whatever, "Superstar Nova Collins, gentlemen of the year" or something along those lines. I don't have the imagination to come up with the innovative headlines that they usually do with me. Just from that, I could tell I was going to be cast into some romantic drama sooner or later. Picturing the sight of what I'm doing right now in my head, it was a cringe-worthy performance in my eyes but screw it, helping him was the top priority for now.
He was shivering, and his skin was cold to the touch as I held my palm to his head.
"Look, why don't you come inside and warm yourself up, I'll ask the building management to accommodate you and get you warmed up, would that be alright?"
His meager nodding was my answer and I led him away from the crowd, through the swinging doors and into the lobby, the security guards at the entrance blocking the rest of the paparazzi from following suit.
Weaving past a few columns and to the front desk, far from the entrance and the line of sight of their cameras, I had the man sit down while I asked for the staff to bring me a fresh change of clothes for him.
"Judging from the way he looks sir, this should fit him just fine, I couldn't find any proper clothes for him to change into, but they should work for now, much better than the ones he's wearing at the moment."
The lady had returned after just a couple of seconds, and in her hands was a change of the staff uniform that the building uses. I grabbed them from her hand and gave them to the man, still in tears, crying endlessly.
"Could you also get us some tea, please? To help warm him up."
"Sure sir, just wait a moment, it'll take a while. Shall I have the kitchen prepare some refreshments for you both too?"
"That would be lovely, thank you."
I gave her my usual smile on-screen smile that I could tell almost made her swoon as she scurried away to the back rooms.
Handing him the pair of clothes, he looked up once again and gave me a short thank you.
"There's a bathroom over there for you to change in."
Pointing towards the hallway behind him.
"I'll wait for you right here, don't worry."
"Ummmm okay..."
He stood up, wiping away his tears, still holding his broken camera, ruined from the rain as I could see the drips of water that came out of it. I watched his back while he shuffled towards the bathroom. Then I sat down on one of the couches, putting my hands under my chin, and looked down towards the reflective glass table. I asked myself this, what the actual f##k am I doing...
Handing my umbrella to him should've been more than enough, but why did I have to bring him in? Why did I invite him in? Why in the world did I say "I'd wait for you right here." What am I? Some parent who picked up a sad lost child? I just said I wanted to have a nice hot shower, a good night's sleep, and a tiny bit of relaxation in between. I was thinking of finishing that "War and Peace" book tonight, looks like I'll have to postpone it.
Sighing, I looked at the bags under my eyes, the makeup having been smeared as I smudged it with my hands, the rainwater facilitating their removal. Taking a napkin out of my pocket I smeared the rest of it off, putting on makeup has always been tedious, having it on is a nightmare. I could practically hear my skin breathe fresh air as I wiped off the caked-up material off my face.
As if on cue to distract my derailed train of thought, the receptionist came back with a cart, decorated with an assortment of cookies and biscuits, along with a pot of Chamomile tea.
"Here you go sir, do you need anything else?"
"Thank you, darling, that will be all."
Once again my smile made her legs weak, almost collapsing in front of me.
"If... If you need anything else, sir, I'll be right over there."
Once she said her piece she ran away back to the front desk, her ears flushed red and squealing ever so slightly as she ran away.
I'm still getting used to the fact that people still call me "the angel of beauty", to them my smile was the "cure to depression" but it's just a smile, I don't see any point in all the exaggeration.
Another thing I don't like about society, your face is everything, if you're not beautiful, you're excluded from show business or stardom. Outcasted to minor roles and insignificant background artists, an example of this would be the beauty standards that have been set nowadays. You either have to have a pretty face and body, or infinite assets if you want to be in the limelight, especially in Hollywood. In my case, it's the former.
"Umm sir thank you sir for the dry clothes, I'm sorry for being such a bother."
He was much more presentable now, in much more comfortable clothing with the slightly damp hair. I could see him more clearly now that he was looking me in the eye.
His hair was a light brown, the color lightened after it was dried. His eyes were a brilliant green, almost as if they were carved from the brightest of emeralds. His face, despite the swollen eyes and tear-stained face, was still pretty. Though describing a man as pretty in itself is weird enough as it is, noticing and looking at the minor details that made up a person was a habit that I couldn't get rid of.
A small mole under his right eye, noticeable against a white canvas. Signs of piercing on his ears, the indiscriminate holes being the clue. The slight twirl of fingers, fidgeting to distract himself from his embarrassment, his bright red ears the flashing siren. His lips, delicate and small, slightly chapped and a bit dry from the cold night, but moist enough from the rain that it was barely noticeable, but I still did.
As if feeling my eyes exploring his body, despite it only being a couple of seconds, he shied away from my gaze and sat down, looking at the platter of cookies before him, reaching his hand out for one and eating it. The way he held the cookie as he munched it down was akin to that of a hamster, stuffing its cheeks with food because of the ongoing winter to survive. So adorable. Ah crap, I give up, yes he's adorable, weird that I keep thinking of him like that but might as well give in to my intrusive thoughts for the day.
"So... Why were you out there all wet and sad like that hmm?"
I asked him in a playful and friendly tone, munching on a few of the cookies myself, screw the diet, I need the sugar to keep me awake.
"I wanted to... I wanted to get a good pho... photo of you sir, so I was cam... camping at the front entrance of your house sin.. since 8 to get one..."
"And you just stood there in the rain like that? Why in the world did you not get an umbrella or something to protect yourself?"
"I for... forgot sir... It already started raining and other people were waiting for you to... to come back to you... your house. I didn't want to give up my... my... spot so I stayed put."
This guy could barely speak properly, looks like the aftermath of standing in the cold rain all night was getting to him. I don't want to disturb the receptionist again, nor do I want to leave him alone shivering like this as I go get help. Taking off my jacket, I walked over behind him and wrapped it around his body.
The size difference was more notable now, his entire body was completely wrapped by the jacket, much like a blanket. I could tell that it helped warm him up since his shivers started to subside.
"Here, have some, it will help."
Pouring him a cup of tea, I handed it to him, slightly blowing it to hint that it was hot.
"Thank you sir."
"You know you don't have to keep calling me sir, just call me Nova, I don't like the formalities when it comes to conversations, it kind of just feels awkward to me. Oh by the way, I never really got to know your name, what is it?"
"It's Avery sir… I mean Nova."
"See that wasn't so hard now was it? Just one more syllable than sir."
Avery chuckled a bit to himself before resuming composure, straightening his tie and holding up the cup of tea for a sip. Cute…
"So Avery, why did you stand out in the rain since the evening till now? It's almost midnight?"
"Oh it wasn't 8 in the evening umm Mr. Nova, it was 8 in the morning."
Once again, he was twiddling his thumbs and shied away from my gaze, my god this kid has got to be some sort of idiot… Since 8 in the morning!?? Was this kid insane? I need to talk to the kid about how he's going a bit too far for this, I'm not that worth it, and it's just a photo. Does he need to go through so many lengths just for a picture of me? Sure it can make some coin, but getting sick and tired in the process isn't a good thing.
Just when I was about to poke Avery more about his reasons for doing so and to educate him about taking care of himself, much like a mother scolding her child, now that I was picturing in my head. All of a sudden a loud grumbling noise could be heard.
At first, I thought it was the thunder from the rain outside, now picking up into a storm, but then I heard a shuffle in front of me, I looked up from my hands and realized that the rumbling sound was coming from Avery.
"Um… sorry Mr Nova… I didn'y have any lunch so um…"
His face once again was like a tomato… I want to scold this kid, he looks like he's fresh out of high school, while here I am still in my 20s feeling like a middle-aged old man trying to educate their grandchild.
"Look here, Avery."
Snapping my fingers to get his attention
"First off, please take care of yourself, you can't just stand in the rain and starve yourself like that, you'll get sick. Second of all, don't go to such lengths just for a photo, if you're going to do that at the very least do something to pass the time and not just stand there."
Wait a second, were you just standing there the entire time?"
His slight nod gave me his answer. It's official, this kid is an idiot, somebody please pick up your child at the lost and found for god's sake.
"Sigh, I'm sure these cookies aren't going to be enough to keep you filled."
Looking at the small platter of refreshments, this wasn't a proper dinner, let alone a proper meal. Hmmm… I don't want to disturb the kitchen staff again, it's already so late, and most of the restaurants around here are all closed. He might be able to buy and eat some microwavable meals from the nearby convenience store, but those meals aren't that good for your health, and right now he's sick so I don't think it would be suitable for him for now.
"Hmmm how about this, Avery, do you want to stay at my house for the night, I'll make you something to eat. You need a proper meal."
Upon hearing this, it seemed as if my words were like poison, cause only seconds later, he collapsed, his face not like that of a tomato now. I think I'm looking at the planet Mars…
"Thank… Thankl you… you sir…"
He was crying once again. I do have a crybaby on my hands huh… Why was he crying... Was he that grateful for the meal? Though for some reason I'm starting to think that he's cute even when he's crying. And I immediately slapped my face mentally and internally screamed. He's crying, stop taking pleasure out of it.
Picking up his hand as if I were guiding a toddler, his teary swollen eyes and runny nose started to leave some stains on my sleeve as I held his hand, though I didn't mind. Wait I don't mind??? I'm bringing a stranger I've only known for like 10 minutes to my own home…And he just stained some luxury clothes… But whatever, I have a lot more others and I can just wash them.
Walking towards the elevator, I told the receptionist about the leftover snacks and tea still in the lounge area and that I would leave it to her. She nodded with some muffled giggling before leaving her post once again to clean up the table that we were just at.
As we walked towards the elevator, I thought to myself, why was I doing all of this? It was kind of out of character for me to do all this. Helping a random stranger just because they were crying profusely…
Looking back on him as I was about to second guess myself, I saw the pitiful and tired face that he had, which made me firm on my decision to bring him home. Well, he did have a long day, and I still haven't asked him why he cried. I'll assume it's about the camera, but I'll just ask that later.
His face right now was pulling my heartstrings, technically it's my fault for not coming home earlier and for the busy schedule that he had to stand out there for so long… I could feel each tear that fell from his eyes as he continued to cry as a tiny stab in my heart.
Looks like I'm bringing home a child…