Chapter 4 Double Body

A new day dawned, and Jojo emerged from her room, ready to take on the world. She wore cargo jeans and a purple top, her hair falling in soft waves down her back. A light lipstick added a touch of color to her lips, and she looked fresh and confident. She slung her handbag over her shoulder, preparing to leave, when her eyes landed on her calendar on the dressing table.

Today's date was circled in red, a reminder that her contract as a double was ending. She smiled, feeling a sense of excitement and anticipation. This was it, her chance to start anew. Her eyes wandered to the photocard of PK, the popular singer, on her dressing table. She picked it up, gazing at his charming smile.

"Wish me good luck, my PK," she said, her voice soft and playful. She kissed the photocard, her lips leaving a faint mark on the glossy surface. She gently placed it back on the table, feeling a sense of reassurance. PK was her good luck charm, and she needed all the luck she could get today.

With a deep breath, she turned to leave her room, ready to face whatever lay ahead. The world outside was full of possibilities, and Jojo was determined to seize them all. She walked out into the bright sunlight, her heart filled with hope and her spirit renewed. Today was a new day, and anything could happen.

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The filming site was a flurry of activity, with crew members scurrying about, setting up equipment and preparing for the day's shoot. Jojo walked through the chaos, greeting some of the familiar faces, but receiving only a few responses. Some of the crew members seemed too engrossed in their work to even acknowledge her presence, their faces a blur of concentration.

Undeterred, she made her way to the tent where Binnie was sitting, the makeup artists busily applying a light coat of foundation and powder to her skin. "Good morning, Binnie," Jojo said, her voice cheerful, also greeting the makeup artists with a friendly nod.

Binnie looked up, her eyes meeting Jojo's for a brief moment before returning to the makeup artists. "I see you're here, Jojo," she said, her voice neutral, neither warm nor cold. Jojo sensed a hint of distance in Binnie's tone, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She shrugged it off, assuming Binnie was just preoccupied with the day's shoot.

The makeup artists continued their work, their brushes and sponges moving with precision as they transformed Binnie into the character she was playing. Jojo watched for a moment, fascinated by the process, before turning to leave. She had her own preparations to attend to, and she didn't want to be late for the day's filming.

Today marked the final day of shooting for the highly anticipated thriller movie that had been in production for months. The film told the gripping story of Sarah, a young woman who sought revenge against the wealthy family responsible for her family's brutal murder. With a new identity, Sarah navigated a complex web of deceit and betrayal, only to find herself entangled in a forbidden love affair with one of the family members.

Binnie, the talented lead actress, brought Sarah's character to life with convincing depth and emotion. However, the role came with its challenges, particularly the high-risk stunts that left Binnie hesitant. That's where Jojo came in – a skilled double and stuntwoman who stepped in to perform the most perilous scenes. Jojo's expertise allowed Binnie to focus on the emotional nuances of the character, while Jojo took care of the physically demanding aspects of the role.

Jojo's contributions went beyond just stunts, though. Whenever Binnie felt uncomfortable with a particular scene, Jojo would step in and act on her behalf. She also served as a stand-in during filming, allowing the crew to set up shots and lighting without delaying the production schedule.

***********

"Do you think you'll get away with this?" Binnie scoffed, her voice laced with defiance, as she struggled against the ropes that bound her wrists. Blood trickled down her forehead, a testament to the villain's cruelty.

The villain sneered, his eyes gleaming with malevolence, as he yanked her hair, pulling her head back. "Yes, I'll get away with this, just like I did with your parents," he taunted, his voice devoid of remorse.

Binnie's eyes blazed with fury, and she spat in his face, her anger boiling over. "You scumbag, I'm going to kill you!" she snarled, her voice low and menacing. The villain raised his hand, ready to strike, but Binnie quickly shouted, "Wait!"

The Director and several crew members rushed to her side, concern etched on their faces. "Is there a problem, Binnie?" the Director asked, his voice calm and soothing.

Binnie sighed, her anger momentarily forgotten. "I have a photoshoot tomorrow, and I can't get hit in the face. Let my double act this scene," she pleaded, her eyes locked on the Director.

The Director nodded sympathetically. "Of course, we can't let our Binnie's face get damaged," he said, turning to the villain, who looked disappointed but not surprised. "Where is Dodo or Jojo, whatever her name is?" he asked, scanning the surrounding area.

Jojo, who had been watching from a distance, quickly rushed over. "Here, sir!" she said, her voice eager.

The Director turned to her. "Go and get changed. You'll act this scene instead of Binnie." Jojo nodded, hurrying off to change into the required costume.

"Okay, roll camera. Action!" The Director's voice echoed through the set, a signal for the actors to bring the scene to life.

Jojo, playing the defiant heroine, spat in the villain's face, her eyes blazing with fury. "You scumbag, I'm going to kill you!" she snarled, her voice low and menacing.

The villain, reveling in his cruelty, slapped Jojo hard across the face, the sound of the impact echoing through the set. Jojo's head jerked to the side, her eyes widening in shock.

"Cut," the Director called out, his voice firm. The camera stopped rolling, and the crew paused, awaiting further instruction.

Binnie, the lead actress, stepped forward, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Hmm... I'm not satisfied with the scene, Director," she began, her voice laced with a hint of manipulation. "You know it's the last scene, so we have to evoke such sympathy and emotion from the viewers. I think she should get hit harder." Her eyes locked onto Jojo, a calculating glint in their depths. "You understand what I'm trying to say, right?"

The Director nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Of course," he agreed, turning to Jojo and the villain. "We'll retake this scene."

Jojo's heart sank, knowing she was in for another take of physical and emotional abuse. Her face burned with each successive slap, her cheeks flaming red from the repeated blows. The Director and Binnie seemed insatiable, demanding take after take, their cruelty unrelenting. The villain, once reveling in Jojo's suffering, now looked on with a hint of pity, his slaps becoming less forceful as the retakes continued.

But Binnie would not be satisfied. She seemed to derive a twisted pleasure from Jojo's torment, her eyes gleaming with a malevolent intensity as she watched Jojo's face contort in pain. The slaps kept coming, each one a fresh agony, until Jojo lost count of the number of times she had been hit.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the Director called out, "Cut!" The villain breathed a sigh of relief, his eyes softening as he gazed at Jojo's battered face. Binnie, however, merely smiled, her lips curling upward in a cold, calculating smile.

With the torture scene finally over, Binnie took over, playing the role of Sarah as the police arrived to rescue her from the clutches of the villain. The male lead, Sarah's love interest, rushed to her side, and Binnie's expression softened, her eyes fluttering closed as she fell unconscious into his arms. The scene was a stark contrast to the brutality that had come before, a tender moment of love and rescue that left Jojo feeling drained and emotionally raw.

As the cameras stopped rolling, the cast and crew swarmed around Binnie, congratulating her on a performance that would surely earn her critical acclaim. Jojo watched with a mixture of disgust and resentment, her eyes scanning the crowd of admirers. Not a single person had stopped to ask how she was feeling, despite the fact that she was the one who had borne the brunt of the physical abuse in the scene.

Jojo's fingers traced the tender skin of her cheek, wincing as she touched the spot where the villain's hand had made contact. "That hurts," she muttered to herself, the pain a constant reminder of the brutality she had endured.

With a quiet sigh, Jojo gathered her belongings and slipped away from the crowd, her departure going unnoticed by the throng of people still fawning over Binnie. As she walked away from the set, Jojo couldn't help but feel a sense of injustice. She was the one who had suffered, yet Binnie was the one basking in the praise. The sting of the slap was nothing compared to the sting of being ignored and overlooked.