“Let me introduce to you the lead actor in the new film, His Bodyguard, who is making his first debut, Sage Carter.” The announcer says, the crowd erupting into cheers inside the giant auditorium, “everyone continue to give him a round of applause.”
The crowd jumps to their feet, clapping and cheering loudly as Sage Carter walks onto stage, waving his hand and smiling his best to the crowd even though his heart is pounding wildly in his chest. Sage is a handsome man, everyone can see that, and a damn good actor who seemingly came out of nowhere. His short, curly brown hair is slicked back from his face, showing off his delicate but strong features, straight nose, and full lips. His blue eyes are a clear-blue color that seems to suck everyone in who looks at him. He is a little on the shorter side for new actors, only about five-nine, but his fair skin and lean, muscular body is enough to drive everyone wild.
Everyone, including the bad people who want to see him fail.
Sage approaches Henry Wilkins, the host of the show who is clapping for him, a big smile on his face, but Sage could see the hostility in his eyes. It is quite known that Henry has never liked Sage for whatever reason, having always talked bad about him and saying that a man from nowhere couldn’t make it out in the real world as an actor. Sage paid it no mind, but in a way, it made him work better than ever to prove everyone who has doubted him wrong.
Sage shakes Henry’s hand, smiling broadly, “thank you for having me here, Henry, it has been a long two years but we have gotten far in this movie. I am so proud to be here today debuting and having the movie premiere with such esteemed guests.”
Henry’s jaw clenches, but he masks it quickly with a smile, “you’re right, Sage. Why don’t you sit down and tell the guests what it was like filming your very first movie and what you have learned from it?”
Sage nods his head, sitting down in the empty chair beside Henry. Sage is now facing the ground, seeing how they had sat down and are eagerly watching him, waiting to hear what he has to say. At this point in time, it is absolutely crucial for everything that comes out of his mouth to be something that won’t ruin his career nor turn everyone against him.
It's the unfortunate life of an actor.
Sage takes the microphone finally from Henry, feeling like he could be sick at any moment, but puts on his best mask, “hello, everybody! I thank you very much for being here today to watch the premiere of my first movie, His Bodyguard. I am so thankful for everyone who has supported me in achieving my dreams… even those who thought I wouldn’t be able to do it. Their discouragement is part of the reason why I was able to push through all the trial and errors, and keep my head help high.”
Henry winces, knowing it is a blow at himself.
“As many of you know, my name is Sage Carter, and I am twenty-two years old.” Sage murmurs, fully captivating the entire crowd, “when I was young, I wanted to be a prince.”
The auditorium erupts into laughter.
“You can laugh, I know how it sounds.” Sage tells them, chuckling softly, “I must admit, that is how many people saw me as well. They told me that I could never get anywhere in life by dreaming impossible dreams. Back then, I wasn’t sure exactly what I could do when everyone was against me. At times, I felt like achieving my goals was hopeless. That they were right. I was better off going to college, pursuing a career that I didn’t want to be in, but at least I would be making money, right? At least I would be doing everything that the world expected me to.”
Everyone is silent, touched by his words.
“One day, I realized that I couldn’t keep living for them. I needed to live for myself because at the end of the day, that’s the one person that I can rely on fully.” Sage continues, a soft look in his eyes that makes others tear up, “I dropped out of college, got disowned by my family, and went to an acting audition. I did my best; I know that I could’ve done better but for whatever reason, Director Hans saw something in me, and he took a shot at me.”
Director Hans is sitting in the crowd, looking really proud of himself. Sage kind of saw him like a father figure because he took Sage under his wing and taught him everything that he knows.
“Although I didn’t win the audition for what I had went for, Director Hans took me to acting classes, and within six months, I earned the role of Bellamy Hayes in His Bodyguard as the main lead.” Sage goes on to tell the crowd, “at first, I was really happy to know that all my hard work let me get the lead role, but then I started to doubt myself. Was I really good enough to be the lead character in Director Hans’ movie? I have never worked before in a movie, I was just a rookie, but what did he see in me made him think that I would achieve so much? So I asked him.”
“What did he say, Sage?” Henry asks curiously, a little interested now in this story that he has yet to hear.
Sage smiles to himself, remembering that night so clearly, “it had been a few days into recording, and even though I was told I was doing good, I wasn’t a hundred percent sure that I was truly ready to become a lead role actor, so I go to Director Hans and tell him this. I felt like a coward, that giving up in that moment is what a rookie does, and that I can’t prove to anyone that I can do this when I couldn’t believe in himself. Director Hans just smiled at me, placed his hand on my shoulder, and told me, ‘I understand how you feel’, and that was it.” Sage lets out a deep sigh, shaking his head, “Director Hans wouldn’t let me quit that day. He told me to keep going, to prove to them and myself that I deserve to be here, because I did. I worked hard for everything that I have done, and nobody can take that away from me. Not even myself.”
“And here you are.” Henry chuckles, feeling a little guilty that he had judged Sage way before knowing the real him, “everyone here came to celebrate with you, Sage. How does that make you feel?”
Sage tilts his face down, a small smile flitting across his face, “it makes me feel like I finally accomplished my goals, and now after making my debut, I can happily tell you that I have another project in the making that we have kept on the downlow until tonight. I will be taking the lead role of the sequel playing Bellamy Hayes in My Bodyguard.”
The crowd jumps to their feet once again, cheering loudly for Sage and his accomplishments. As the speech finished, Sage rose to his feet and walks down to sit beside Director Hans and his other fellow actors who worked on the project with him. His co-star, Richard Garza, couldn’t be here tonight due to the birth of his daughter, but he was happily mentioned in the credits before the lights dim, and the movie begins.
Sage is a nervous mess in his seat though, hoping that everything would be okay.
A man can hope, right?
“Congratulations, Sage!” Kennedy Miller says as he pats his best friend on the back, “I knew that you had it in you. The movie has been getting five-star ratings everywhere. You’ll be happy to know that.”
“I am lucky.” Sage murmurs, sipping on his drink, lost in his own thoughts, “I didn’t expect to receive such amazing feedback from everyone. I truly thought this project was going to flunk out because I am a rookie. I should’ve known better.”
“You should have.” Jackson chuckles, sipping on his beer as well, “just because you’re a rookie, that doesn’t mean people are just going to debase you for it even though you’re a good actor. If you sucked, that would have been a different story, and no doubt you would’ve been bashed. We are so proud of you, Sage.”
Kennedy Miller and Jackson Harris were a part of Sage’s training group, but they had a lot more experience, having been acting since they were young. They weren’t rookies, but they were still trying to hone on their best abilities and become better actors. Sage has respected them very much, as close friends and as fellow actors.
Kennedy is a year younger than Sage, but you wouldn’t have expected it. He is a little over six-foot with a muscular frame, and tan skin from when he used to play football. His short brown hair and piercing blue eyes, he is a well known heartthrob, and everyone wanted him. He plays a lot of jocks in movies, relatively always being the bad guy. It works with his cocky demeanor, but he is well respected for it as well. He knows what kind of man he is, and he uses it to his advantage.
Jackson on the other hand is a totally different story.
Jackson is only about an inch taller than Sage, and on the downlow where not many people know, he is Kennedy’s boyfriend. He has short, curly black hair and ocean-blue eyes. He has fair, porcelain-like skin, and a lean, muscular body. Jackson is a sweet guy, and normally plays the golden boy in all of his movies. It is what he is good at, and he uses it to his advantage.
Sage almost couldn’t believe they were dating.
They are just so different.
But there is something else worrying him, something he never thought he would have to deal with before. As a rookie actor, he’s of course not that famous, but before he even debuted, he had been receiving weird gifts from an unknown fan. No one knew his address, at least not that he has ever publicized, but he thought it was harmless. He thought that he shouldn’t worry about it, but when he went home the night after the first showing of the movie, he was horrified when he saw his entire apartment looking a mess, the door busted in.
Fearful for his life, he got a hold of Director Hans who came and looked around, seeing that whoever broke in is long gone. Director Hans told Sage it might be best for him to get a bodyguard for 24/7 work, thinking that Sage is now in fear of being stalked by someone. Sage thought it was a little ridiculous, but he knew that he was right. He needs to get a bodyguard. Director Hans arranged with a security company to get a bodyguard for him but it would take a day or so.
Sage could live with that.
“I have a stalker.” Sage admits to his friends, seeing them now look at him in shock, “I’m not sure who it is, but they ended up breaking into my apartment. I have to get a bodyguard now, and I’m a little fearful to even go back to my place now. As an actor, I know that we receive gifts from fans, but I don’t want even want to think about what could happen from those. I don’t know why they are stalking me, what I have done to deserve it, but I just know that I’m going to have to get through it one way or another.”
Kennedy and Jackson are looking at him with pity, knowing exactly what it is like to be a rookie actor. Sage smiles sadly into his glass, feeling his heart thudding in his chest but he just can’t figure out what else to say. They aren’t even sure what to say to him either. But for whatever reason in that moment, Sage feels like he is being watched.
Sage looks up and over, detecting where this stare is coming from. He freezes when he sees a man standing in the shadows by the wall, leaning against it with his arms crossed over his chest. He is dressed head to toe in black with a weird black mask covering the bottom of his face.
And his eyes are trained directly on Sage.
Sage’s heart skips a beat, and goosebumps rise along his body, feeling the fear washing over him. His heart is now pounding rapidly in his chest, trying to form thoughts or something, but all he can do is stare back at the man, letting him know that he sees him…
And Sage is really afraid.
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