MY LOVELY AUTHOR'S

BENALU REFUSES TO GO PART 1

            You know benalu?

            An example that always appears in symbiosis parasitism is known for its detrimental properties. Seeing Arata in the male lead's seat, my mind sent a signal to me and told me that Arata was the one who would interfere with your life later.

            Why should benalu??

            Because from the few times I've met him, none of those meetings have made me a profit and not a loss. If I had to weigh in between profit and loss, I found more loss in the meeting that took place between me and Arata. He entered into my life at will and made my quiet life slowly lose its composure. He always answered what I said and he never once gave up on me. Her lips, which always put on a smile full of charm, always protested my words and forced me to do this and that, out of my habit.

            So why do I call Arata benalu?

            Obviously because in my eyes and mind, Arata's existence would only be detrimental to my quiet life.  

            Shit. . . I grumpily saw the wave of Arata's hand acting as if we were good acquaintances who had known each other in a matter of a dozen years. I have to ask Warda later. I had to ask her if she knew Arata was the male lead in this movie based on my second novel Love Like Ectasy..

            “Do you know each other?” ask the director to me and Arata.

            “I-it, ka-“

            “Yes, Mr. Director. We met a few times. As I told you before Author Wallflower is my idol. I liked all his books from his first book.”

            I wanted to open my mouth first and answer the director's question,  but Arata first opened his mouth and gave an explanation for the wave of his hand to me. Arata answered the question wisely and made the awkwardness that occurred in the room melt away in no time.

            After I introduced myself, Arata then introduced himself as the male lead. Followed by the female lead played by a rising actress named Bora. After the two lead actors introduced themselves and their role names, it was their turn to introduce themselves one by one and name their respective roles.

            The introductory session ended, followed by a dialogue reading session each in a screenplay script created by the main screenwriter and I. The dialogue reading session went smoothly because each actor already understood how the role they should play.

            Two hours later, the dialogue reading session ended and the filming schedule with each location was later announced by the assistant director. Once the schedule is shared, the day's show ends and will resume two days later on the actual set.

            “Thank you for coming, Miss Asha, I hope the next month Miss Asha can help us if there is some dialogue that may have to be changed.” The director reached out his hand trying to shake my hand as a sign our cooperation began.

            I reached out my hand and shook the director's hand despite feeling a little reluctant. “Yes, Sir.  I also ask for his cooperation from the Father and please be understood if later I make a mistake. This is the first time I have worked as a screenwriter to take to the field.”

            The director smiled as he let go of his hand. “Sure I will understand, Miss Asha.”  

            “Ah. . . Mr Director, can I ask?”

            “Please Miss.”

            “Because I do not know how the casting run of the cast, can I ask how the male lead falls to Arata?”

            “Ah about that, did Miss Warda not tell Miss Asha?”

            I shook my head because I didn't know anything about the cast in this movie. “No, Sir.”

            Varda! I shouted inside my head in annoyance with Warda. You really!!! How could you forget to tell me this important thing??

            “Perhaps because Warda just gave birth, she forgot to tell me about the cast in this movie.” As a friend and co-worker of Warda, of course I have to keep the good name of Warda even when this time, I am really upset and want to be angry with Warda.

            After a few small conversations, I ended my conversation with the director and intended to return home soon. Because of my messy morning and outside of my plan, I didn't even have time for breakfast. Throughout the event, I tried hard to contain my hunger by eating a few packs of candy and drinking the water provided by the crew. The snack and sweet food managed to prop up my stomach but still did not satisfy the hunger from my stomach.

            “Where to go, Author?” Arata intercepted me right in front of my car.

            “Good day, Miss Asha.” Rama greeted me politely as always.

            “Of course go home, I can go where else.” I replied to Arata's words by passing through and unlocking the door of my car.

            Arata quickly snatched my car keys, got in my car and sat in the driver's seat.

            “What are you doing, Arata??” I'm trying to hold myself back against this shitty bitch who keeps bothering me about my life. “I'm really tired and don't have time to pay for your game.”

            “Get up and sit in the passenger seat. Today, I will accompany you to your meal and drive you home, Dear and beloved Author Wallflower.”

            Hearing the word love appear at the end of his sentence to me, it felt. It felt like Arata was playing around as if I was a woman who could be played easily just because he was a famous actor that many women wanted.

            I turned towards Rama who was standing beside me and let his actor Arata act as he pleased himself. “Master Rama, does this famous actor of yours have no other schedule? Why do I feel like this famous actor is too relaxed? Don't famous actors usually have many schedules such as advertisements and so on??”

            “That's true, Miss Asha. It's just. . . special today, Arata requested all his schedule be vacated because he wanted to learn the screenplay of this film, Miss.”

            I almost laughed at the answer that Rama gave me. Isn't that a coincidence?? Arata had his schedule vacated and the lead screenwriter had an accident that made me come here. A coincidence that may sound pleasant to the ears of others, it feels so painful to my ears and my life.

            “Please Miss Asha can help Arata learn it because Miss Asha is the original author,” added Rama as if he was justifying the actions of Arata.

            “Come aboard, Dear Wallflower Author.”

            I looked at Rama and Arata in turn and saw the two of them wearing the same smile - a smile that said I had no choice but to accept it.

            “We'll just eat then go home. Understood??” I gave a warning to Arata.

            “Sure, Dear Wallflower Author.”

            Finally. .. I was forced to again comply with the wishes of Arata who was sitting in the driver's seat in my car. Arata drove my car and took me away from the scene and left his Rama-manager just like that.