Chapter 4

After finishing today's quota of school work, I get up for my other works. You can say, today was a big day for me. I had to meet the client Mrs. Ora had inferred I shall work with and I have to meet centineo to discuss the film.

I had been working with the drama club since sixth grade. Mr. Hemsworth was the one who encouraged me to become one. He said, "You are god gifted, Jacintha, you can copy every emotion, every feeling as if they are your own."

I would feel so proud of hearing his syllables and hug him and Zach in excitement whenever I won an award. Now that I look at those times, I feel, those were the times I don't think I would ever ask to forget but why do I still feel a hanging pain in my heart? For isn't pain a desire to forget rather than a desire to remember?

I had a grey sweatshirt on with navy blue jeans and my hairs were in a tight ponytail making my front hairs look like a part of my skin. I wore my shoes and went to the street I have been encountering a lot with, lately.

The street was located in the Greenwich Village area of Manhattan in New York City, which is about 15 minutes away from Midtown by subway and just a quarter-mile west of Washington Square Park. The street had nothing extraordinary to greet its visitors with but it was a pretty scene, with townhouses here and there and people walking around chatting happily as if their voices were dancing around them. I liked the scene.

Firstly, I had to meet the person with Mrs. Ora at a cafe. I got inside the address and a wave of deliciousness gushed over me. The decoration was pretty basic with wooden work everywhere and flowers and potted plants adorned everywhere. I spotted Mrs. Ora sipping coffee with a man in his mid-40s.

"Hey " I announced my presence whilst placing my backpack on the round table.

The man eyed me from to toe and said, "Hey, Jacintha. Sit."

Mrs. Ora also commanded me to sit. So, I did.

"Would you like anything?" He asked. To be honest, the walk did make me kind if thirsty but you are supposed to say no in these cases, So, I just shook my head in disaffirmation.

"This is Mr. Gregory Centineo." Sounds familiar, no?

"He lives around here and you will be working in his house starting tomorrow. Got it?" She glared right through me. I gulped my saliva in hopes of gulping my awkwardness too but in vain.

"What am I supposed to do there?" I asked.

"You will be in charge of my daughter's chores and you will tutor her too. Mrs. Ora here told me you are quite good at your subjects. She is in junior year."

"Okay." The only words my vocal cords could produce was okay.

"Oh, and he is the father of Noah Centineo, you know that kid, I suppose?" She asked. I don't think exchanging few syllables makes you know someone but I still said, " Yeah, I do."

I was more than happy to leave that place. I couldn't believe that I would be working in Centineo's house. I didn't want to but what could I do? I reminded myself that Zach needed me and I was just working. But, I didn't want him to know about my compulsions.

Centineo had texted me to meet in a small park. It was already 4 PM in the evening but I didn't have either the money or appetite to eat. I had been surviving on instant noodles since the day Tessa told me about the transfer. I could never be sure when I would need instant money for another surgery. If only those surgeries worked as they should.

Centineo arrived pretty late. His brown eyes were hanging with sleep and he looked kind of energetic for this. Well, So was I.

He had a blue hoodie on and black jeans with a denim jacket and brown boots. He still looked charming, as his fans said.

"Hi." He said in a monotonous tone.

"Sup." I returned.

"So, about the movie thing, I had been working on a script for two days. The first draft of the first half is ready."

"I thought we would be doing Authoress. "

"That will reveal my identity as Centineo blood. I don't want that." He replied.

"But, I liked that book. I haven't read it but I did. It has a different perspective, I guess." I know It shouldn't be my concern now but the words just came out.

"Are you Copycat345?" He asked. That was my username on the blog sites and almost everywhere. I don't like to share my real name outside. Centineo must have seen me online yesterday.

"Yeah," I replied.

"Why copycat?" He questioned. He was facing me now but I didn't dare to look at him.

I sighed, "Nobody has ever asked me that. But, it's because ever since my childhood I have been good at everything from singing to painting to writing to dancing. Everything. People would say I am a prodigy but I knew what I was doing all along. I was just copying the exact same notes, exactly the same colors, and the same moves. Nothing of that had my impressions of them. And the cat is there because I love them. I wish to die with them someday." This was the truth. I don't want to keep everything bottled up inside me but I just can't go and tell everyone. And for some reasons, I thought he would understand.

He smiled, "Impressive. And that is why you chose to be an actress?"

" I am not an actress yet. But, yeah. It kind of suits me. So, the script?"

He looked away for a minute and then returned, "I will write an entirely new one. The one with your personality so you don't have to act anymore."

I spoke while laughing, " Do you know my personality?"

"I have been in this personality business since middle school. Trust me." He got and was walking towards the exit.

"Where are you going?"

"Just come along, Jacintha."

This seemed interesting.