A month later
Mia
I was in my deep slumber when I heard my phone buzzing non-stop.
“s**t!” I mumbled as I got it from my bedside table. With an eye opened, I checked the caller ID. It was Rhoda, my closest friend at work. I checked the time. It was only five on Saturday morning.
“What the?” I asked myself, frowning, although I was kind of worried why Rhoda was reaching out this early morning.
“Hey…” I answered in a croaky voice, “Is everything okay?” I worriedly asked.
“Mia…” Rhoda said in a low sad voice.
She sounded sad, which wasn’t new this time. I frantically got up as I sensed something wasn’t right. It rushed blood into my body, making me fully awake.
“Is there something wrong?”
“Mia, No, but everything is okay… I know it’s your rest day, but I needed help….” Rhoda cryingly said to me.
“Shoot!” I asked her without having second thoughts.
I can’t let Rhoda down. She was one of my best support aside from Rizza. We’ve been friends for two years since I started working behind the scene of the entertainment industry. She was the top and head make-up artist in the studio. I was her favorite assistant, according to Rhoda.
“Ricky is in the hospital right now. I had to bring him early. He went home last night feeling sick after spending his day with his dad, and he woke me up saying he wasn’t feeling well, but he is okay now,” Rhoda shared,
“Oh s**t! No way!” I exclaimed in disbelief.
“Yes! My lord! My f*cking ex-husband didn’t tell me his son had massive diarrhea yesterday, and Ricky was dehydrated. He’s on a drip that’s why I need your help…” She elaborately explained to me.
Rhoda was five years older than me and had a seven-year-old son, Ricky. A divorcee single mom two years ago and had been sharing custody with Jake, her ex-husband.
“Please don’t beat around the bush, woman, tell me, I’ll do anything for you!” I firmly asked her. She was like my second sister, and she had helped many times before.
“I have a call time at the studio for Francine… you know her. She didn’t want anyone to handle her except you or me,” Rhoda said.
“Francine!?” My lord. Of all actresses to work with. The F-girl was one primadonna B in the studio.
“Yes… I know it’s your off today, and I wanted to ask if you could come to the shooting set and do her make-up. It was only a re-shoot. Apparently, the producers didn’t like her acting on the first shooting they did weeks ago.” Rhoda continued.
Palming my face, I closed my eyes as I heaved a sigh of breath. It was simple favor that I could spare for Rhoda.
“God, Rhoda, of course, I don’t mind it. You gave me days off a lot of time these past few months, and I can’t let you down.” I genuinely told her, “Anything for you,”
“Mia, my angel, thank you!”
“No worries, are you sure the little boy is doing okay?”
“Yes, you know the house for location scene for shooting, right?”
“Yes, don’t worry about that. What time is it again?” I double-checked. I knew it would be a small scene, and Francine’s make-up was just simple.
“at nine am today…you know her style. The scene will take place at noon, and it’ll be quick for sure.”
“Gotcha, lady, I’m on it!” I told her as I got up from my bed.
“I love you, and thank you, girl,”
Smiling, “Likewise, take care, and please kiss my little man for me,” I said before hanging up the call.
Slowly getting up, I suddenly felt a sharp cramp on my lower abdomen. “Great!” I sarcastically murmured. I went straight to my en-suite toilet to do my morning business.
It’s only quarter-past five in the morning. So I sat down on the toilet seat and saw the thing that I’ve been dreading to meet every month, and it's my aunt Flo’s monthly visit.
I always felt like the worst person whenever I got my period. I had terrible symptoms every time it visited me. From intense cramps to dizziness to uneasiness, name it all. And now that I had to work today, it would probably be a disaster.
I walked to the shower area and gave my body a hot bath. I could use my spare time to cook breakfast for Jen and Jamie soon as they woke up.
Jen had her operation the same day as my birthday. So, after leaving Theon’s house, I went home for a quick shower before going back to the hospital.
There, they had a small party for me. Rizza and Rhoda prepared something for me in Jen’s room. I was so surprised to know about it, especially when Jen announced she would undergo surgery before midnight.
The money that we used for the down p*****t was from Jamie’s company. He was given a loan big enough also to help Mrs. Griffley’s hospital bill. The old woman was beyond happy to know that I saved her life. Not just only me but with Theon guy.
And the 100 thousand dollar money that Theon paid for my one night service was used to complete the p*****t of Jen’s hospital bills.
Later that evening, while waiting for Jen’s surgery. I spoke to Rizza about what happened that night and how I ended up with Theon.
“You got to be careful. That Carter guy is a man-w***e” I remembered Rizza told me.
“I know, had no choice but to go with him… But I know it wasn’t right. You know where I am standing.”
“I understand you, girl. Theon is a nice man, though, aside from his handsomeness and his wealth, the only that was off about him was the way he treats women, he was gentle at first, but he throws them away like trash, I know you enough you won’t entangle yourself with him again.”
“Of course, that would only be a night affair. It’s over,” I assured Rizza,
And I know it was over. I had never seen him again nor bump into each other.
I got out of the shower and prepped myself up. I prepared my bag and other things that I would need in the set, although they provide pieces of stuff for special actresses like Francine May. She was a princess and being Prima donna, which I didn’t mind since I didn’t care about her. Only for work, nothing more, nothing less.
Getting out of my room, I went straight to our kitchen to prepare breakfast for us. I plugged in the coffee maker and started cooking the eggs and bacon.
“Wow, you are so early today, huh?” Then, I heard Jen spoke behind me, “I thought it’s your off?” she added.
I turned around and saw Jen carefully sitting down at the dining chair. Her operation was a success, and she was still recovering at home. She’s alive and healthy now, and I can’t be happier now.
The night I sold myself with Theon was worth it. Finally, I have my healthy Jen back, and she’s looking better and greater every day.
Smirking, “Good morning to you too, sis,” I greeted Jen as I flip the pancake.
The aroma of freshly brewed coffee started to smell around the kitchen
“Are you working today?” Jen asked.
Nodding, “Yeah, Rhoda called me early. She’s at the hospital, Ricky is sick,” I informed Jen,
“Oh, is he okay?” she worriedly asked. But, of course, Jen knew how terrifying to stay at the hospital.
“Rhoda said he’s fine, but she had to ask me for help to cover her schedule,” I answered, “It’s the make-up job for re-shooting and whatnot,” I added.
I heard Jen heaved a deep breath, and I knew she wouldn’t favor it. “Oh, well… Just give yourself a break, sis, anyways, it’s Sunday tomorrow. So you have more time to rest,” Jen said, getting up from her seat.
“Stop right there, woman. I’ll help Mia, sit down!” We heard a deep man’s stern voice kiddingly yelled out.
It made me chuckle as I saw Jen’s frightened face after hearing Jamie’s words.
“Good morning to you too, love,” Jen greeted Jamie, sitting back on the chair.
Jen was still under recovery and can’t do any heavy loads of work aside from stretching by walking and moving a bit.
Jamie gave Jen a kiss on her lips, walked towards me, kissed me on my crown as I prepared the food, and then headed to get the plates to prepare the table.
“Good morning, big bro,” I greeted Jamie back.
We spent the next hour eating our healthy breakfast. Then, I told them stories about my next possible cameo project and asked their insights about it.
~
I borrowed Jamie’s car after eating our sumptuous breakfast. The ride to the film set was nearby our house, but it was located in a hilly place in California, so I needed a car to travel.
Arriving at the filming location, I went straight to the location film manager and property master, Jelly, to tell about my replacement for Rhoda. Jelly knew about it and directed me to go to the tent where Francine was set to stay.
It was only eight in the morning, and Francine won’t come until nine, so I settled up my equipment and all the vanity table. I was lucky to stay inside since the heat outside was scorching hot, and Francine’s tent had a built-in air-conditioner.
I heard the door opened, “Hey, Mia!” it was Kim, another assistant makeup artist on the set.
“Hey, Kim, who’s you’re working with?” I asked as I placed down the kits and putting my make-up brush bag on.
Placing her bag at the small table, “Oh, I’m assisting you. Rhoda called me, and to help you, well, I’m scheduled with her, though.” She said,
Puffing in relief, “Great, thank you, though I’d be alone here. I need someone with me,” I said, sitting in the chair.
“Yeah, I kind of knew why. You look pale, Mia.” Kim smirkingly told me. Like me, Kim was also an assistant to Rhoda,
“Yup, just came this morning,” I said, rolling my eyes as I massage my throbbing tummy.
“It’s a girl thing! I understand the only time I didn’t have mine was when I got pregnant, so It was better to have your period than having none because the symptoms remained bugging you for nine months!” Kim chaffed.
I chuckled at her remarks, of course. Well, it was giving me relief that I didn’t get pregnant after that wild night with Theon. Although he knew himself well enough that night, I was hoping he used protection because I was never in birth control pills.
Minutes later, Francine came in with her assistant Chana. I didn’t waste my time, and I started to glamour her up. Her scene was quite tricky since she was playing a maid from a low-income family in South America.
Her complexion was Hispanic, a beautiful face you would probably see in telenovelas down south of America. I had to airbrush her skin, making her darker and tanned. She would be involved in a pool act where the other main actor would throw her in. I had to make sure she was wearing waterproof make-up that would make her bright enough to see in the camera.
After some time of fixing her, it was now her call time at the set. The crew knocked on the door and told Kim to get ready.
“I’ll go with her, Mia, stay here. It’s hot outside, not good for you,” she offered me.
“Thank you, I’ll just fix the stuff, and I’ll follow you,” I said as Francine, and her assistant, together with Kim, left the tent.
Soon as they closed the door, I slumped my aching body on the chair. I was exhausted. I thoroughly did her make-up for more than two hours since the lady meticulously needed it for the shoot.
Heaving a deep breath, I tipped my head to the ceiling and closed my eyes. I heard the door faintly opened and closed, but I ignored it. It might be the one of the crew checking out.
“Arrghh!” as I rubbed my tummy, my cramping was terrible, and my back was aching and sore.
“I wish I was born as a man!” I murmured before chuckling. "Or Maybe pregnant,"