The event began at around fifteen minutes past six in the evening. Agent Yan made sure to remind Viviana to mind what she says on the stage a dozen of times before he let her up the stage.
This was Viviana's first press meet ever. So, there was a bit of nervousness in both the artist's and the agent's heart. Just for different reasons. One just because she had never done this before while the other was worried that the actress would blunt something she would on the stage and would make things worse.
Everything was going fine. The director was talking about the fun and the struggles during the filming of the drama. Humor one moment and emotional the other. Thanking the crew and the casts.
The same goes for the artist who played the main roles, the focus of the whole event. And as a supporting actor, Viviana's job was to sit on the stage and clap to what they were saying.
"Don't say anything if you're not asked to…" was what Yan Lui ordered her to do.
Viviana knew that there were some troubles going on in the internet and the company these days. And although she was one to enjoy dramas with tea, especially one with herself, she was not fond of being put on the spot which she knew was what the reporter wanted to do.
All she hoped for was for her to be unnoticeable until the interaction period ended and go down the stage. And it was going in the direction she wanted for a long time. So, she thought she could get away without any trouble.
But Viviana had underestimated the press' desire to stir up troubles.
"So. Mr. Miller we've heard a lot of your relation with other casts and crew members of the Royal Physician. But I've not heard much about how everyone interacts with Ms. Viviana on the set. No one has talked about her since the beginning of the event. So… I was wondering if she is not friendly or is she being kept away from the whole friend circle."
Even the buzzing of the fans were instantly enveloped with silence.
Viviana cursed in her mind. Not only did this reporter not only put Daniel on the stop, he had used her to bring down everyone to the pit. He had just made a direct accusation for isolating her in the crew. Which if not responded properly would not only cause troubles for everyone but also affect the promotion of the drama.
"Well…."
Daniel had to catch a few breaths before he could grab the mic. Director Sam was tapping at him signaling him that he could handle it. But Daniel nodded to him, giving the older man an assuring smile. But before he could give an answer to the reporter, someone beat him to it.
"Since this is about me, I can give you the answer, right?" Viviana suddenly spoke out.
"Umm… Please." The reporter had no excuse not to let her.
"If anyone of you really know me, you should know that I don't appear much in front of the media. I'm a pretty private person and would prefer hanging out in my own comfort zone over anything else.
So, it is not my coworker's fault for respecting my preference."
The reporter was taken aback enough by her answer that he could not counter it for a second. And by the time his head had sipped in what she had said and prepared to argue with her, Viviana began to talk again.
"Yes… I've missed many things during the shooting. I have missed having lots of fun and the inside story I could have if I had joined them. But that doesn't mean they were not there for me."
She then turned to the director as she continued,
"For instance. I have a principle of not drinking, which I think everyone knows now. And I appreciated that the director, on the first gathering of the cast and crew members got to know each other. There were also a few investors of the drama.
It's not uncommon to expect everyone present in the party to at least have a drink or two. But as I said before, I don't drink. At least in an environment where I'm not familiar with."
She then looked in front, at the hundreds of people who were listening to her attentively.
"Some people who didn't personally know me, came up to me to offer some drinks. I rejected all of them, but I appeared to be rude because of my actions. And I was becoming more uncomfortable as people kept coming to offer me drinks and me having to reject them."
Viviana turned to the director and smiled at him.
"And Director Sam, who noticed this, came up to me and asked me what happened. I told him that I don't drink. And then… he gathered everyone's attention and announced that I don't drink and that if anyone wanted to share a drink with me, he or she could do so with a juice or non-alcoholic drink.
And after that no one… and I mean no one, ever tried to get me to drink an alcoholic drink ever throughout the whole shooting period."
Viviana was not done yet.
"Not only this. There are many incidents where someone from the crew and my fellow actors went out of his or her way, made an excuse for me, to make me comfortable. Which I think makes them more considerate people."
She looked at the reporter who had asked the question dead in the eyes.
"So… Does this answer your question? Mr. from…" She looked at the level on his chest. "Buzz Republic. Me not participating in something doesn't mean they isolate me."
The rest of the crew was taken aback by her action. If the two and half months of being together in the same set had taught them anything about the girl, it's that she was an Unbothered Queen.
No matter what happened in the set, it always seemed as though she wanted nothing to do with any. Except for her last day on the set. Viviana existed in the set only when she had to be in front of the camera.
And for her to come up to reply to a trap question set by the reporter was not something that went along with her personality.
What the crew was feeling now was similar to what one would feel when the unaffectionate kitty initiated to sit on his lap. Not only them, those fans who were worried for Daniel and other cast members were also very touched by her defensive stance.
At the backstage, An Mey was stuck in a storm of emotion. She wanted to get up on the stage and cover up that uncontrollable mouth. As she knew that she couldn't, she wanted to bang her own head on the wall. But there was a bigger part of her that was proud of Viviana's action.
These days, she had been observing every small little change in Viviana. She was becoming more and more brilliant. Her eyes were not as aloof and dull anymore. She could see a flame raising in them.
She was indeed changing. Or… getting back to how she was… She didn't know which one it was.
She was seeing more and more hope in Viviana who walked in a path that was not usual. Almost rebellious…
But the problem was that Viviana's action was similar to opening a flood dam. Now the reporters who had been rudely slapped in the face by her, began to target her.
"I have a question for Miss Viviana." Another reporter raised his hands.
The host looked at Vivi's direction to see if she was okay with continuing with it. The actress was regretting jumping out a bit. But she soon got over it and decided to face the fire and nodded to the host. Then the question came.
"Miss Viviana has just mentioned this now. That you are uncomfortable with drinking in an unfamiliar environment. Is it because of some incident that happened before?"
"…"
Viviana was not expecting her little slip to be pulled out as a subject of target. She saw the glint in the man's eyes as he continued.
"In the variety that you participated along with Mr. Miller and Miss Lyra, you've talked about this. At that time, you've said something about you not being a good drunk and your co-worker seemed to also slip something about someone being sent to ER…. Do you have something to say about the incident?"
Lyra almost jumped in excitement.
'Let's see how you get out of this.'
She thought as she clapped her hands in her mind. She was glad that she had intentionally dropped this bomb in the show. And also, the production team for not removing it.
Viviana moved on her chair and got more comfortable.
"Let me get this right. Your question was if I have anything to say about what…" She turned to Lyra before looking back at the man. " About what Lyra said in the show, right?"
"Yes… That's the question." The male reporter nodded.
"Well… my answer to your question is…"
Everyone was putting up their ears to not miss anything. They were on their tippy toes. Especially An Mey and Elisa who were backstage. But then…
"No."
"???"
Of all the possible answers, no one was expecting Viviana to give that one word with two letters as an answer. And the reporter was too. So, he spoke out everyone's mind.
"Miss Viviana. What do you mean by no? The question that I asked_"
"Your question was if I had something to say about this incident you think happened." Viviana cut him off. "And I gave you an answer. That is no. I have nothing to say."
The reporter was so speechless that he scoffed. He then chose to directly attack Viviana and cornered her.
"Miss Viviana is reluctant to answer the question. Is it that there's truth to the incident? Did you get drunk and attack someone? Did you really send someone to the ER?"
But the answer he got came from a smirking face. One that looked like a fallen angel from the depth of the earth. One that was charming enough to let him keep on staring, but sent cold sweat down his spine.
"Mister reporter from Prime Time Media. I'm sure you have gotten into your job by studying for at least four years in journalism. Of which interview and broadcasting is a part of."
"???" The reporter was confused.
'What does this even have to do with the question?'
"If you're confused about why I brought up 'journalism' into this conversation, it's because there is a topic called 'research and fact gathering.' And nowadays, most reporters and journalists seem to forget this step and jump into conclusions."
"With the attitude you were coming at me, it was as if you were sure something really did happen. What made you sure that I got drunk and hurt someone?
And as for my answer… The answer I gave was perfect for the question you asked. Your question was if I had something about this incident you think happened. And my answer is no. I have nothing to say."
It was not only the man who was standing that was humiliated by Viviana's comment on journalism. It was the whole crowd of journalists in the auditorium that was implicated.
"Now next person."
Viviana took over the press interaction. Her eyes were challenging the rest of the reporters who were sitting. Daring them to stand up and ask her a question.
She felt the amazed looks given her fellow coworkers who were on the stage along with her and also from the ones who were amongst the audience. But Viviana didn't mind them. Instead, what she felt was refreshment.
She had always wanted to do that but had never gotten the chance to do so. And now she has done it.