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“An idol! Prapai! You are going to make me act with an idol!”
Prapai watched his younger cousin storm into his office. With a single glance it was clear the director was unimpressed with the way Phayu seethed before him. “Phayu, Sky chose him as the final candidate.”
“Oh, well, if Sky chose him,” Phayu stressed with a sarcastic edge. “Why are you listening to him when he doesn’t even bother showing his face-”
“This is his novel we are adapting, so he has the authority to choose the finalist for the role of Torn. He chose Rain, so if you have an issue with acting alongside an idol then take it up with him.” Prapai hummed. “Sky doesn’t bother showing his face, so I imagine it’ll be hard to share your grievances.” Prapai clicked his tongue, “What a shame.”
Phayu took a deep steading breath. “Pai. Rain is an idol with no acting experience. The only reason he is doing it right now is because whatever group he is in is suffering and needs the popularity boost. That should be reserved for side roles like witnesses or baristas, not the main character plastered across the promotional material.”
“You don’t know anything about Rain.”
“I don’t need to know,” Phayu said. “You’ve read the contents of the novel. All an idols’ acting experience is good for is their five second segments slotted into three minute music videos. What makes you think an acting rookie can carry a role charged with this much emotion! Even worse, he is a straight man who can’t understand the queer baggage this work contains. What would a straight man know about being taken seriously in court with every law turned against you because the ones making them won’t consider sexual violence between the same gender as sexual assault? He no doubt expects this production to be like GMMTV with their stupid notion that actors shouldn’t treat BLs any differently than lakorns.”
“We own GMMTV,” Prapai deadpanned. “In case you forgot your older brother’s ridiculous impulse purchase which will air this project.”
“You know what I meant,” Phayu spat.
Prapai rolled his eyes, “Nothing is set in stone. Rain is coming in for the callback, and if this conversation is any indication your chemistry read won’t work out. I hope you can be cordial for a few hours, and keep your barbed wire tongue in check?”
“Whatever,” Phayu muttered. “Let’s get this over with.”
Rain is cute, Phayu thought.
This was the reality Phayu was confronted with when the idol walked into the meeting room. Rain’s cloud-shaped glasses nestled on his dyed auburn hair, and he wore a light blue button-up with nice white dress pants. It seemed Rain thought similarly of Phayu if the way his glistening bubble tea shaped eyes and wide friendly grin focused on him was any indication. It was a shame the script didn’t consist of a single kiss scene, because it would make his inevitable subpar acting tolerable.
The conversation between Joy, Rain’s manager, and Prapai ended shortly, so the four made their way into a nearby studio space. There were a couple of cameramen who were inside, responsible for keeping the connection between the company and Sky’s home stable. Fortunately, the author graced them with his presence. The author in question wasn’t on the monitor, instead his profile picture consisted of his fluffy white dog Cumulus who Prapai could equally not shut up about.
“Rain. Joy,” Prapai said. “This is Sky, the original author and our consultant.”
“It is nice to meet you,” Sky’s measured voice greeted.
“Hello Khun Sky!” Rain chirped. “I am a huge fan of your work.”
Kiss ass, Phayu thought.
“Oh,” Sky said, clearly flustered. “Thank you.”
“We are here for the callback,” Prapai said, commanding the actor and prospective actor’s attention. “Phayu. Rain. Please take your places.”
The two moved into the center of the room, on the spots marked with an X. Prapai gave a thumbs up towards the cameraman in charge of the recording the production crew would watch back at a later date.
“Whenever you are ready,” Prapai said.
Phayu started without hesitation. He straightened his spine and spoke in a calm, professional voice like a lawyer would have. “Torn, I promise I’ll bring justice.”
Rain wasn’t caught off guard with his quick start. Instead, his grin disappeared into a monotone line, and the twinkle in his eyes hardened. “What makes you think a rookie like yourself can carry out a case as emotionally charged as this one?”
“Uh oh,” Prapai quietly commented.
Phayu felt his heart seize as the familiar words echoed throughout the room.
Rain didn’t hear their conversation, did he?
“This isn’t in the script,” Joy mumbled.
All four looked towards the monitor, for the author’s own comments.
“Continue,” Sky said. “I want to see where he takes this.”
Phayu cleared his throat as he turned back to Rain, “Torn-”
“Even worse, you are a straight man who can’t understand the baggage I carry as a queer one.” Rain’s eyes opened wider, moistened around the edges as his voice quivered with faux desperation. “What would a straight man know about being taken seriously in court with every law turned against you because the ones making them don’t consider sexual violence between the same gender as sexual assault?”
Phayu gritted his teeth as Rain honed in on him. “I can understand your apprehension, but this is my job and I will do it to the best of my ability.”
“For who?” Rain questioned. “You?”
“No, for you,” Phayu countered. “I swore an oath, and I will follow it.”
“Cut,” Sky commanded. “I like the fire Rain brings to Torn.”
“Thank you,” Rain said. His eyes drilled into Phayu’s head.
“Prapai?”
Prapai perked up. “Yes?”
Phayu found the way he sent heart eyes to a monitor disgusting.
“Please ensure Rain signs the necessary contracts,” Sky commanded. “I must take my leave as it is time for Cumulus’ walk.”
“Tell him I said hi!”
“I will not,” Sky retorted. “Rain, I look forward to your performance.”
The call disconnected.
Joy jumped up with a grin, “We will meet you in the other room.”
Rain shot Phayu one last strained smile, before he disappeared with his manager.
Phayu was left in silence until a hand landed on his shoulder.
“Phayu,” Prapai started.
“I know,” Phayu sighed.
Rain huffed in frustration as he fished around in his bag. He found the slightest hint of bright pink cardboard, and ripped it out as he flipped open the lid. He unwrapped a piece of gum and plopped it in his mouth, chewing aggressively at the city before him.
Just my luck today was shit, Rain thought.
Most days Rain was glad Joy was his manager for solo activities. True to her name, she was positive, encouraged him to look on the bright side, and was the best gossip his company ever saw. In many ways she made him feel like the bright eyed trainee who entered the company all those years ago.
Right now, he wished he could fire her for thinking this was a good idea.
The company were assholes, and they were creative in all the different ways they invented being a dick but they were familiar. At Theerapanyakul Entertainment, there was nothing but a new sea of names and faces who carried enough industry power to blacklist him from every studio throughout the country and then some.
Someone cleared their throat behind him.
Rain whirled around, putting on the fakest grin he could muster.
It was for nothing, as Phayu stood there with his hands in his expensive pockets.
It was clear his new co-star didn’t want him here. Rain didn’t want to be here either, but he wasn’t going to take slander lying down. Unfortunately, his effort in tanking the audition and getting a little revenge failed when the author liked his deviation from the script.
“Phayu,” Rain greeted him with a light voice. “What are you doing out here?”
“I want to apologize,” Phayu stated.
“For what?” Rain questioned. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
Phayu narrowed his eyes, “Rain, I know you heard us in Prapai’s office.”
“I don't even know where Khun Pai's office is,” Rain denied.
Phayu sighed, “Fine, don’t admit it, but I’m going to apologize anyway.”
“If you insist.”
“I am sorry for dismissing your talents as an idol.”.
“Thank you,” Rain said. He let his facial muscles slacken as he turned back to the city, ready for further isolation from the world.
“You accepted it, like that?”
Why are you still talking to me?
Rain plastered the smile back on his face as he turned around once more. “You didn’t say anything I haven’t heard before.” Rain looked down at the gum wrapper in his hands, “The straight comment is new, but I’m not surprised. Us idols are known for being perpetually single before fans, so there is no reason you’d know my dating preferences.”
Phayu’s eyebrows shot up, “You are-?”
“Bisexual,” Rain cut in. “If labels help you understand better.”
“You came out to a stranger,” Phayu commented.
“You made it clear you wouldn’t be comfortable if I was straight,” Rain said.
Phayu winced, “I didn’t mean to out you-”
“There was no other way I could take your comment.”
Phayu gritted his teeth, “It is not my fault companies see BL roles as cheap ways for their idols to gain acting experience.”
Rain rolled his eyes, “I’m sorry my company is preparing me for disbandment.”
Phayu’s head jerked back in surprise, “What? I thought this was going to save your group from disbandment.”
“You don’t follow the pop music scene, do you?” Rain questioned. “My group, BerryBlast, is on an official hiatus. That isn’t good, especially when all the members are pursuing their passion projects or making solo music. I am here because acting was the only pivot I could see myself doing once my contract expires.”
“Why act?” Phayu asked. “You should be making solo music.”
Rain’s laugh was bitter and ugly, like lemon juice shooting into someone’s eyes.
“I’d dance, rap, and sing all my life if I could,” Rain said, as exasperated tears silently slipped out the confines of his eyes. “The company wouldn’t take the chance, not on me, so I’m standing in your stupid company building dealing with your two nepo baby asses and all the shit you and your cousin blow out your holes.”
Phayu frowned, “You shouldn’t curse.”
Rain slowly tilted his head at Phayu with a slow blink. “Oh, I’m sorry. Are you my father? Should I call you papa, dad, daddy? Are you going to spank me for being a bad boy? Fuck off, you don’t have any authority to boss me around.”
“It is polite,” Phayu insisted with a strained voice.
“Bold claim from the man who shit-talked me based on my job.”
“I apologized.”
“I never said I accepted it,” Rain shot back. “I thought you liked politeness? I can’t imagine anything more polite than being thanked.”
“You are insufferable.”
Rain sneered, “Sorry I’m not licking your ass thanks to your family’s name.”
“Would you stop calling me a nepo baby?” Phayu demanded.
“If the building fits,” Rain said as ran his hand along the railing. He couldn’t stop whatever this was, as the words tumbled from his mouth faster than he could think. “Poor Phayu Theerapanyakul. He gets to be openly bisexual and date both women and men. He gets to model and pivot to acting on his own terms. He can tell others to be polite because when he speaks the industry listens.” With every word, Rain backed Phayu further and further into one side of the balcony. “I bet you and Prapai ran around your penthouse lawns with expensive film equipment shooting home movies. I bet Prapai discovered his passion for filmmaking and you discovered your passion for looking good. I bet he promised you whenever he made his first film you would be the first actor cast in his production in a childhood pinky promise.”
Phayu ground his teeth.
“Poor Phayu Theerapanyakul,” Rain tutted. “The biggest hurdle he’s ever faced is a single idol with no weight in the industry not liking him. How long will I haunt you? Will I haunt you when you walk the red carpet alone again? Will I haunt you when everyone starts saying yes to you again? Will I haunt you when you’re still here, in your family’s building with your family connections, while I’m stuck working a cashier job-”
“What is going on out here?”
The two froze, and slowly turned their heads.
They didn’t hear the balcony door open, so Prapai stood there with a raised eyebrow. They realized how precarious their positions were with Phayu leaning back with a death grip on the railing, and Rain fully in his space face to face.
“Nothing!” Rain chirped as he ripped himself from Phayu. “Phayu was scolding me for keeping Joy waiting. He’s right, I have to get going now or else I’ll be scolded even more!”
Prapai relaxed, “Good. I thought my cousin was bothering you.”
“Not at all,” Rain said as he left the balcony. “He’s the perfect gentleman.”
Half way down the hall, Rain bolted until he disappeared into the elevator. Once inside, he let out a guttural scream as he slid his back down a wall. He looked up, his reflection stared back at him through the elevator mirrors. He gently combed his hair back down. Fortunately, he looked only a little frazzled so Joy shouldn’t ask too many questions.
His group shouldn't ask too many questions.
Som will hate him for making a bad impression on Phayu.
Rain wasn’t even the first picked for auditioning for this role, as the company turned down the audition opportunity for his group leader and grafted it onto Rain. The idol figured his company didn’t know who the role was from, simply saw the BL status and told Som to let Rain audition for it so they could tell their fans he was doing something. Som would make his life hell once he learned the opportunity positioned Rain opposite of the group leader’s longtime crush. Som talked about Phayu like he was a god. Rain never understood the appeal nor why anyone found a stranger bossing them around attractive.
Rain shuddered.
He wasn’t looking forward to when promotions started.
Whatever, Rain thought as he watched the elevator count down the floors.
Som hated him anyway.