Chapter 32 : Show me Pain

"You can do it, you can do it..."

Mei muttered under her breath while waiting for her turn.

She stood next to the other actors that coming from different academies throughout Asia, many awaiting their debut.

"Good luck," a girl whispered to her.

Mei turned around to see a striking tall young girl, smiling at her with her thumbs out.

Taken aback by the sudden whisper, she covered her mouth with her palm,

"Th...thank you, good luck to you too."

The girl chuckled and winked at her, before stepping into a room, "Aww sweetheart, I'm not an actress."

Before getting to say anything, Mei heard her name being called out with the rest of the contestants.

"Please head to Room 101 and 102 for your respective auditions."

Holding on to the script, she tapped her knuckles against her waist, exhaling loudly as she walked through the doors.

Her eyes lowered to the ground, Mei huffed softly when she found herself standing around multiple other new actresses.

The large room was surrounded by multiple people.

A total of seven judges, directors, producers, and writers sat in front of the young women, their eyes studying their every movement. Behind them stood various other assistants, running around here and there with a bunch of paper in their hands.

Feeling intimidated by their presence, Mei gulped, trying to remember the lines given in the script,

'The theme is pain, pain, pain. Just channel that inner anger, Mei, you can do that. It's just some method acting, you already have enough encounters with this emotion. Just do that, do that.'

A loud bang on a table sitting in the middle echoed through her ears, gaining everybody's attention.

A middle-aged woman stood behind it, raising her voice, she examined the girls, "Now! Many of you here are new but I hope every single one of you understands we won't be lenient because of that. You have gotten training, be it as long as 5 years or as short as 1, you are here now, standing in front of all of us for a reason. Your experience, and your thoughts all make a difference."

Clearing up her throat, she introduced herself, "I'm Jasmine Yu, you probably all recognize me as the daughter of Baihe Yu, Fang Agency's head director, but I am also the Production Manager and I will be overseeing this audition with the other respected directors and producers."

Stepping back to a chair, she announced loudly, "The audition starts now and the subject is Pain. You may go ahead."

Clenching her fists, Mei scratched her thumb, lowering her head and eyes, she looked at the ground, drooping her body to the side, her lips parted open, she took small breathes through her mouth, all while pushing the tip of her index finger on her thumb.

The others next to her tried their best at their attempt to inhabit pain.

One fell on the ground, her hands covering her face as she softly cried.

Another loudly wailed, her high-pitched voice causing shrills to the ones nearby.

A girl sniffed softly, shaking her head from side to side, her pigtails swaying alongside her.

"Stop hiding your face, we can't see who you are."

Mei stayed in her position, not daring to move an inch while a deep voice criticized everyone.

"You, the one screeching around. Your face and body tell a different story, stop crying so loudly and focusing on that screaming. Try moving your body better. And you, the one with the braids. I don't understand why you're even standing here. Acting cute doesn't magically make you an actress. Somebody kick this girl out. Your makeup and hair won't ever determine the quality of your acting. Is this the best we got from so many? What are you all? Robots? So many faces and none of you can portray me a heartfelt story through your emotions. Here I was being hopeful to find a true actress. Such a disappointment. And you..."

The man stopped talking when Mei suddenly felt shivers down her spine, feeling multiple gazes on her.

Keeping the posture, her breath fastened.

"What do you think you are doing?! Mei Ling! Don't just stand there and do nothing! Are you trying to make a joke of us? What is wrong with you!" Jasmine yelled, throwing a paper on the table.

Staying calm, she gritted her teeth in nervousness, "I'm sorry, what? I was being serious."

"YOU CALL THAT BEING SERIOUS? ARE YOU BEING FUNNY NOW?"

"Mei Ling, right?," the deep voice called out, "Show me pain. Such pain that even an idiot would understand."

Mei looked over to where the voice came from and saw an elderly man, crossing his legs, intently looking over at her. Noticing a paper in his hand, Mei realized that was her application paper that was being held so tightly onto.

"I'm sure you understood what I meant, Yup?"

Her nail digging deep into her thumb, she stuttered,

"O...Okay. As you wish then."