MY LOVELY AUTHOR'S

BENALU REFUSES TO GO PART 4

             “Cut!”

            The director's shout with the loudspeaker really made me want to leave this place. If I can. . I want to choose to go back to my apartment, turn again with my ear sounding and make my fingers dance to write down the picture that comes to my mind into my laptop.

            “Okay, we switch to the next scene! Prepare next set!”

            After three days of always coming to the set and sitting behind the director's chair and listening to his briefing on set, I started to feel a little saturated. Unlike a movie so that I see on TV or through a streaming service, the process of filming to get good pictures, suitable scenes and expressions is really difficult. Several times one scene had to be repeated dozens and dozens of times. And when that happens.. . I can only look with bored eyes or prefer to go elsewhere while still on set.

            For some reason being on this set and not doing a lot of activities, just made me feel like I was wasting my precious time. I hope that the lead screenwriter improves soon and makes me quickly return to my comfortable apartment.

            “This, Author.”

            In the middle of my daydream, a glass of banana milkshake was thrust towards me and made me aware of my daydream.

            “This??” I turned towards the hand that was thrusting the milkshake and found Arata already sitting on the empty seat beside me which was usually used by the assistant director. “Why are you sitting here??”

            “My hands are tired, Author. Quickly accept and let this hand rest a little!”

            Hesitatingly, I accepted the milkshake and asked Arata. “This is for me?”

            Arata drank his banana milkshake while leaning his body against the back of his chair. “Of course it's for Author. If not for Author, for whom else?? Here I'm a fan of Author, so I should have given my idol service as a fan.”

            “If you just gave me, someone else might misunderstand, Arata.” I was still holding the milkshake and hesitated to drink it because I suddenly felt a sharp glare pointing at me and that gaze was from Bora-versus Arata and the female lead in the film.

            Slurp. Arata was still drinking his milkshake before answering my question with his eyes closed. “They will also get it if they come to the beverage truck that is in the parking lot. The author does not have to worry about it, so now drink the drink and let yourself who already looks almost dead because of bored feel a little happy because this milkshake tastes really good.”

            “True they will get it too??” I ask again to make sure.

            Arata opened his eyes abruptly, pulled his leaning body and then looked towards me. His empty hand then held the milkshake that was within my grasp. Arata pushed the milkshake glass closer until the end of the suction touched my lips. “True, Author. Now drink and taste the taste!”

            Slurp. I did what Arata asked and tasted the taste of that banana-flavored milkshake.

            “How does it feel?” Arata asked me while leaning his body back into the seat of the assistant director.

            “Enak. It's really delicious. Not too sweet and refreshing.”

            “As your fan, I'm glad to hear it, Author.” Arata answered while drinking his milkshake and closed his eyes to rest.

            I did the same thing with Arata: leaning back in my seat while looking at the film crew preparing the set for the next scene. “Why are you sitting here and not sitting in your chair, Arata? Isn't sitting here, you're just going to make things difficult for Brother Rama?”

            Still closing her eyes, Arata answered my question. “Author doesn't have to worry about that. Brother Rama is an understanding and good manager. Little things like this won't cause him any trouble. And again.. . Sitting together with my idol, beloved author is the dream of every fan. Does Author not know that?”

            I almost choked on hearing Arata's words calling me ‘beloved author’ just like what Warda did when he was talking about Arata. “Uhuk. . . uhuk. .”

            “Uhuk. . . You are this!!!” I spouted out a little milkshake that I drank and made my chin wet by the milkshake. “Then sucks!! Why did you say that and surprise me??”

            “I said what?? Beloved author?” asked Arata still thrusting his handkerchief to me. “Use this, Author. Looks like you have a habit of spouting your drink when you're surprised. This is the second time I've seen Author like this.”

            It was. . . I didn't want to accept the handkerchief, but. . . I was forced to do so because the milkshake gushed out of my mouth and almost littered the clothes I was wearing. “Thank you but. . This happened because of you too, Arata!!!”

            “Oh come on, Author!! You were surprised and spouted your drink because of my call when out there my fans are doing the same. They call me by the call of their beloved Arata and many of them call me their future husband.” Arata smiled as if he was happy because he managed to prank me. “And another one. . Why did Author call me a bitch??”

            “Uhuk. .” I coughed again in shock at hearing that question from Arata. It seems. .. I accidentally mentioned the word benalu to Arata unconsciously because of my annoyance earlier. “I-it's because. .”

            “Because of what, Author?”

            “Ka-because you keep sticking to me and we keep meeting. So subconsciously, I called you a prick. That word suddenly came to my mind just like that.” I finished cleaning up the milkshake marks on my lips and chin. I looked at the handkerchief and thought it impolite to return the handkerchief in a dirty state when I borrowed it clean. “This handkerchief, I return it after I wash.”

            Arata pulled his handkerchief that I was about to put in my bag with a super fast movement. “No need. Sweep this hand, let me wash it later.”

            “But right. .”

            “Ssttt. . . Don't argue with me again, Author and let me rest in peace here. “ Arata immediately put his dirty handkerchief into his pants pocket, leaned back and closed his eyes while drinking his milkshake which was only a quarter of a glass.

            “Then thank you for that handkerchief loan, Arata.” My eyes returned to the crew who were setting the set and allowed Arata to rest in peace.

            “That, about benalu. .” Arata suddenly opened his mouth and surprised me.

            “Why? You don't accept me calling you benalu??” I asked without looking at him.

            “I love that call, Author. But. . Even if I am a prankster in your life, I am not a prick in the symbiosis of parasitism that will harm you as written in biology.”

            “If not a parasite, then what??” my reply.

            “I am the first and only real person who will give you symbiotic mutualism, Author.”

            One of my eyebrows rose to hear that ridiculous remark from Arata. No matter how I think about it, the pestle is always an example in symbiosis parasitism because its way of life has been determined to be parasitic on its host. “What is the value of your biology lessons so bad, Arata? How can benalu give symbiosis mutualism when his way of life has been determined to be parasitic?”

            “Therefore I say, I am the first and only benefactor who will give a symbiosis of mutualism, Author. I'll be a profitable asset only to you, Author. Remember that, Author!”

            I froze hearing that remark while looking at Arata's face that still closed his eyes as if he was asleep. This penniless . . is really dangerous, I thought.