Chapter 92 Meeting Diana's Father Again
"Mr Douglas, can you finish my shoot early today? I need to go and meet someone," Jin requested the director.
"Well lad, that would depend on your performance. If it's not up to mark then no matter how many times you'll request I'll keep making you give a retake until the evening. If you understand this then do your best and earn it. Tell me, can you do it?" Mr Douglas didn't outright reject Jin's request but instead stated his ultimatum.
"I'll do it," Jin replied with conviction. He had been regularly practising by himself before going to bed every day and implementing the feedback given by the director. He was confident.
"Very well then, be ready in 15 minutes," Mr Douglas stared at Jin for a couple of seconds and replied.
Fifteen minutes later a fully prepared Jin stepped in front of the camera and acted for the next 20 minutes like never before.
"Did he just get better?" The producer whispered to the director with an unbelievable expression. Jin was already a great actor comparable to those with a decade of industry experience. At that level, progress becomes very stagnant but he had surprised them once again.
"Yes…yes he did," Mr Douglas looked at Jin with sparkle in his eyes. Each movement which Jin made in front of the camera portrayed that he had completely absorbed all the refinements which Mr Douglas had constantly reminded him of during this time.
Seeing that Jin seemed to be in a zone Mr Douglas made him do several other important scenes as well. It was the same with all of them.
Mr Douglas observed Jin's acting with great seriousness. Although he did make a few mistakes and required a few retakes at times none of those retakes went beyond two.
"Cut!" That was the last scene of the day.
"I'll be leaving then," Jin informed the director and left.
Mr Douglas stared at Jin's back before averting his gaze. He looked at his right hand. It was twitching.
'I'm getting excited already,' He smirked before busying himself with other tasks.
…
"Sorry there…I was a bit late," Jin apologised to Diana. He had told her that he would arrive by eleven but currently, it was half past twelve.
"There's no need to apologise. I was with my dad in the meantime and luckily he's in a good mental state today. I can finally officially introduce you to him today," Diana said. She was thankful that Jin was adjusting his busy schedule for her.
"That's great news," Jin replied in delight.
"Yeah, let's go inside then," Diana guided Jin inside and they reached her father's room.
"Dad I'm coming in," Diana opened the door and entered.
"...Diana? W…who's with y..you?" Diana's father who had been solving sudoku on the newspaper while in bed turned towards the door and asked slowly. It was clear that he struggled with finding words.
"I wanted you to meet him. He's Jin, my boyfriend." Diana introduced Jin to her father.
"Boyfriend?..." He repeated the word as if to recall its meaning. He seemed to immediately recall the meaning of the word and sat up on the bed.
"You," He directed his words at Jin, "Sit there," He pointed at a chair a few feet away from the bed.
Jin looked at Diana for confirmation's sake and received a nod from her.
He then walked forward and sat down on the seat.
"How…long has it been … going on?" He asked slowly while trying to remember the words he wanted to say.
"Almost 2 months," Jin replied. He was patient with Diana's father and allowed him to complete his words at his own pace.
"How many girlfriends you've had…. until now?" He asked with a strict appearance.
"None, Diana's the only girlfriend I have and will ever have," Jin understood what he wanted to hear and gave it to him.
"...Good," He nodded in a satisfied manner and proceeded to ask a few questions related to Jin's family.
…
….
Their exchange lasted for about thirty minutes.
"You…better not make… my Diana … sad you understand?" that was the last thing he asked Jin.
"I understand," an affirmative reply came from Jin. At the same time, Jin thought, 'He hasn't forgotten anything while talking with me…he seemed to be in a better condition than I thought,'
"With that…I can…rest….at ease," Diana's father replied with a satisfied smile. He turned towards Diana and asked her, "You're…happy… right?"
Looking at her father's pleased expression Diana too smiled and replied, "Yes Dad, I'm happy,"
"Good…good." He turned to look back towards Jin wanting to say something more.
"Hmm, who are you, young man? I've never seen you before?" He asked.
"I…" Jin was about to say something but was interrupted by Diana.
"He's a new patient," She replied.
"Oh nurse you're here. Is it lunchtime yet? I'm quite hungry," Diana's father rubbed his belly to indicate how hungry he was.
"Y-yes, let me take you to the cafeteria," Diana helped her father up while trying hard to keep her smiling face and guided him to the mess.
'That must be hard for her,' Jin empathised with her as he saw Diana guiding her father to the cafeteria.
She helped her father with his food and later on, guided him back to his room for a nap.
"I'll be going then," Diana handed over the task to the nursing assistant after making sure her father was asleep.
"Alright, take care," She patted on Diana's shoulders and made her way in. It was always a hurtful experience to be treated as total strangers by one's parents. Many Alzheimer patients were therefore rarely visited by their loved ones.
However, Diana continued to persist and wanted to take care of her father whenever she visited him on Sundays. All the nursing assistants only had praise in their hearts for the strength and resilience that this young woman showed.
Diana nodded at the nurse and left the room.
Outside Jin had been waiting for her.
"You've stayed strong for long," Jin pulled her in his embrace.
"Yes, that's it…cry it all out…don't hold back anything…" Jin said as he rubbed her back to give her solace.
"You can always share these burdens with me…remember you're no longer alone in this got it?" Jin asked.
"Mhmm" An understanding hum replied a couple of seconds later.