Chapter 62 - Spare Key

"So what's up with you, what were you two talking about?" Jimmy innocently asked, unaware of the romantic moment he ruined.

"Rachel was telling me about the Tanakas and the project that you got." Daniel easily lied.

"Ohh yeah, Rachel I was intending to talk to you about it, the Tanakas said they will meet me after a month and they want to see the detailed project plan. I can manage all of it but I want to learn some basics from you. Can you spare me some time, I think just five days and two hours a day of mini-training would be enough."

"Sure, as I promised you earlier, I can definitely do that, is it okay if these five days are spread out randomly?"

"Of course, we don't have to meet every single day, based on your first day training I'll prepare myself before the next training and would simultaneously work on this project too."

"Yes, I was about to suggest that, it would be a great idea if you could, also start working on the project already before our first meet, we will have some direction then" she looked like a professional when she talked about work.

"Okay, then let's meet here at Danny's house as it is convenient for both of us, I would suggest just keep some of your clothes here, it will be more comfortable for you that way."

Rachel felt awkward with this suggestion but then Daniel said, "Yeah and also keep this with you, in case you are ever tired and want a break you can come to my home and rest." Daniel gave her the spare key which he has been carrying around in his pocket since before she came.

In one of their previous conversations Daniel told her he would be giving her a spare key to his house so that she can come and relax here whenever she wants. Rachel totally forgot about this conversation and at that time she thought he was kidding.

"Were you serious?" Rachel surprisingly asked.

"Why would I joke about spare keys, it is not even a good joke to crack about." Daniel seriously replied.

Rachel thought 'This guy's sense of humor is really bad it seems.'

"But Daniel wouldn't it be weird for me to have the spare key of your house?" Rachel was reluctant to accept his house keys.

"Why?"

Rachel wanted to smack her head somewhere, how can she answer this question, 'Because spare keys are something your close friends, family or girlfriend has and I am neither of them, should I say this but how can I say something like this, it would be rude' she felt awkward and was unsure how to handle this situation.

"Rachel we are friends and some day when you would come here to teach Jimmy I might be not here and he might come late so instead of waiting you can stay here and as I told you earlier you can come here and relax during your work hours too, my father bought an apartment near his office so that he can stay there itself if the work is too much and travelling would have just wasted more of his time and would be tiring, in times like these he used to inform us in advance then me, mom and Jimmy too used to go there and live in that apartment for weeks with him, so I understand how comfortable it is to have a home near your workplace where you can just relax, so please consider my house as yours and you can crash here whenever you want, you don't even have to inform me. During my university days, a friend of mine had a home nearby where we all friends used to crash a lot, consider this something like that." Daniel explained his intention behind offering her the spare key seeing the awkwardness she was going through.

Rachel felt very touched with his words, she liked his caring nature and found this gesture of his very warm and therefore she accepted the spare key, she added it to the bunch of keys she already had and thanked Daniel.

"Rachel I'll study the project more deeply and will let you know when we need to meet, is that fine?" Jimmy asked.

"Absolutely" then Rachel remembered something and asked, "By the way, what about the audition you got?"

Jimmy got very happy that Rachel remembers it, "Oh that, I got a call from my agent, that there is a women oriented play and they want me to play the second male-lead in it, lot of people are rejecting this role so they are conducting open auditions for this role where anyone and everyone can audition for it, so my agent booked a slot for me, I got my audition scheduled on saturday, as it is a rest day and I can also practice before auditioning."

"Jimmy but do ensure you still focus well on this project, don't get distracted." Daniel warned him.

"Of course Danny, I am not sure if I will even get this role but there is no harm in auditioning but I do want to give my best so I will practice but don't worry I won't practice during the office hours, I will only do so during my free time."

"Good" Daniel was happy Jimmy is learning to manage his time and is acting mature.

"If I may ask, you said a lot of people are rejecting this role, any idea why?" Rachel was curious to know.

"So, it is a women oriented play as I already told you, in this play men are all assholes and women are amazing, the second male-lead is a gay and he marries a woman so that his sexual preference is not revealed to the world and he continues having affairs with other men. Many actors don't prefer playing the role as a gay character at the initial stage of their career afraid that they would be sterotyped and assuming that they would receive only gay roles in the future and also the writer and director of the play want a younger person for this role, preferably a novice and they don't want experienced actors for it, that's why they are not getting that perfect actor they are looking for."

"Oh, then you don't mind playing a gay character? what if you are stereotyped too?" Rachel asked.

"Of course not, in some plays I might play the role of a doctor and in some I might play a police officer but in real I am neither of them, acting out something that we are not is a normal and the most obvious essence of the acting profession and at times these are the roles that are even more difficult to enact, if I am asked to play the role of a spoiled brat it would be so easy for me to play as I would be acting out myself but then this won't be real acting, this is not something that would bring out the real talent in me but rather me acting as someone that I am not I can actually prove my acting skills. So, I would be happy to play the character of a gay cheat as this way I'll be able to show multiple layers of my acting and emotions better, acting as an antogonist is more difficult than that of a protagonist, making people hate you is difficult and this would bring out more shades in a character and this is the first time I have been asked to audition for a proper role, so I don't want to let go off an opportunity like this."

Daniel was impressed hearing his baby brother's words, he never knew Jimmy was so open-minded and had such deep thoughts, he felt proud of him and hoped he would get this role.

"Wow Jimmy, you gave me a completely different perception and I really hope you get this role." Rachel voiced Daniel's opinion too.

"Thanks Rachel but please don't be disappointed if I don't get this role." Jimmy joked and laughed at his own joke.

"May the best man get this role." Rachel lifted her beer bottle and raised a toast.

Daniel and Jimmy followed the suite and did the same. 

Few minutes later their food was delivered. Daniel, Rachel and Jim had pizza with beer and other side dishes.

Jimmy saw Rachel and Daniel enjoying the food and he had a sudden urge to tease them and wanted to make them feel awkward, it is fun teasing people.

So, Jimmy asked her, "Rachel, do you have any friends who are single?"

She suddenly choked on her food and asked why, she didn't expect Jimmy to ask her something like this so randomly.

"See now my elder brother has found someone for himself so I feel it is time that I also find myself a girlfriend. You know why I never had a girlfriend Rachel?" Jimmy asked.

This time Daniel was the one who choked on his food, he was shocked with Jimmy's words and thought why the hell is his brother trying to create misunderstanding between him and Rachel.