Chapter Four - Broadway
Tina Cohen-Chang; Broadway's newest icon. So many posters would showcase my name as the starring role in the production. All of those years of college, auditions, call-backs, failures, all of it, it all came down to this. The dream I've been wanting my entire life. And it was finally my reality. Mike was 28 and I was 27. He had become a choreographer for many music videos, including Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Lady Gaga and even Britney Spears! We were both living the dream.
Every now and again, when Mike and I both found a suitable free slot in our timetable, we'd go out for a date, or even just hang out. Our careers were so perfect that they fit around our social lives too. Nothing could be any better than this.
One particular evening, Mike and I were sat at a Chinese restaurant in formal wear; he wore a slim fit black tuxedo with a slim fit red shirt and tie to match. I had a short red dress with the same coloured lipstick as well as my hair curly and loose. As we sat down, we spoke quite a bit about our careers.
"So you're gonna be having your opening weekend in like seven days for Spring Awakening?" Mike asked intriguingly.
"Yeah. I finally got the role of Wendla and we're opening next week! Are you gonna come?" My face lit up, I was so fricken' excited.
"Definitely! Do you really think I'm gonna miss my darling's first ever opening weekend as a starring role!" he was now unintentionally imitating my exact reaction. We quickly leaned in for a little peck on the lips and moved back in unison.
"So when's your next music video gig then?" I asked, putting my chopsticks into the noodles.
"Tomorrow, actually. We're still doing the Britney shoot. She's a little bit of a diva, you see."
"Wow, really? How bad is she?"
"She keeps requesting new towels every two fricken' seconds, complains that the water isn't "cool" enough AND she has the audacity to criticize by choreographing skills. She's worked with me and we have planned it all, and now she wants to change it up? Ugh, I hate that in a person."
"Woah," I said, looking at Mike in the eye. "That's showbiz, huh?"
"Guess so," his face was frowning at this point. "So tell me more about this fascinating role of yours!"
A few days later in my new apartment, three days before my opening performance, my cell phone blew up.
"Hello?" I answered in the phone.
"Hello. Tina Cohen-Chang?" came a deep voice.
"Um, yes, who's calling?"
"I am calling to ask you if you'd be interested in going on a date with one Michael Chang Junior tomorrow night at his apartment to see a previous version of Spring Awakening?"
"Ugh, Mike, is that you!" I couldn't help but giggle at his dorky-ness. "What's with the funny voice, Mr. Choreographer?"
"What funny voice, madam?"
"Oh shut up you dork! I'll catch you there at eight," my giggle was so apparent that I knew that Mike was smiling through the phone too.
"Roger that." Mike quickly put his phone down and my smile grew immensely. It was lovely knowing that although we were so far apart, we still found a way to keep in touch. As I put my phone away, gazing at the picture of us at the background, I began to think of my performance. So Mike has decided to watch a former version of Spring Awakening with me. Clearly it's to help me out. But what if I'm not as good as them? What if everybody's comparisons are not in my favour and that I'm nowhere near as fantastic as this previous lead? Everything was rushing to my head so much that I began to feel a little light headed.
The following night I knocked on the door at Mike's apartment. He opened it quietly and I could see that he was wearing a plain white vest with navy blue jogging bottoms and a black robe on top. Then there was me with my posh black top with frilly translucent sleeves and black jeans. Smooth.
"Hey there, come on in," he said in a gentleman-like manner.
"Don't mind if I do," I replied over ecstatically, attempting to hide my nerves. I then made my way to the couch and sat down in front of the television.
"So, you ready to watch the person you're about to blow away in two days time?"
"Um, hell yeah," my elastic smile was present. He knew that it was fake. He also knew not to bring anything up. As he sat down, he placed his muscular arm around my delicate shoulders and pressed the 'play' button on the remote. Wendla started to open up dramatically with her rendition 'Mama Who Bore Me'. My stomach fell instantly. The knots inside began to tie up. My head felt a wide unease. How am I supposed to top this? I thought to myself. The vocals. The emotion. The movement. I was doomed.
After the production had finished, my eyes were fixated on the screen.
"Tina," Mike said softly, "are you okay?"
"What?" I replied. He knew exactly how I was feeling, and why.
"Listen to me," he announced suddenly, "you're Tina Cohen-Chang, you didn't go through years and years of tries, failures and work to just let it all get blown away by some silly little fear! Okay?"
"Mike, do you realise how talented that woman was? There's no way in hell that I could be better than her! Do you realise how difficult that will be!"
"You're Tina Cohen-Chang! Did you not hear the first time? Tina," he immediately wrapped his hand around mine and trapped my eyes within his. "There is no way that you are gonna ruin this chance you have because of a little stage fright. You've worked too hard to let it all go away so soon. Don't you have that much respect for yourself?" He was right. Everything he said was right. Why let myself blow all of this away because of a little stage fright? So I wasn't going to. Mike then lifted me up into his arms and quickly kissed my head. Pretty soon I felt the tender touch of his arm slowly pull off my clothing. One piece after another. I was then standing in my underwear in front of him. He kissed my head and sent a ray of excitement through my body. I felt a soft material being put over me. My nightgown. It was done so elegantly, and was so comforting. This was then followed by his arms slowly being wrapped around my waist.
"I love you Tina Cohen-Chang" he whispered as he lifted me on to the bed and placed me down. His masculine figure then appeared next to me. "This Saturday is your time to shine, Tina. You're gonna blow them all away."
"I hope so," came my soft reply to his hushed tone.
"You will so, Tina. I believe in you. And I need you to do the same as well, alright?" I need to do this. Not for me. For us. For him.
"Alright" I whispered. Slowly our eyes faded as we fell asleep. I was in his arms. He was holding me. Everything was as I'd needed it to be for the performance this weekend. But was it enough?