[Multi-Chap] Mud Baby (Aiba x OC) - Chapter 2
CHAPTER 2
Friday Morning at Taman Negara National Park Reception Centre.
“Mr Bakri, please meet Mr Suzuki from NTV Japan. Mr Bakri is going to be your guide and person in charge from the Tourism Development Corporation and Taman Negara representative.” Mr Lee introduced a short and thin olive skinned man with thick curly hair.
Mr Bakri shook hands with Suzuki and the rest of the crew as they were introduced.
“On behalf of The Tourism Development Corporation and Taman Negara, welcome.” he bowed slightly and smiled widely at them earning himself some polite bows from the Japanese crew.
“I understand you are here to take a recording of the Malay Gavial Crocodile, yes?’
“Yes, yes” Suzuki answered enthusiastically.
“Mr Aiba here is the representative host of the show, he and one camera man will follow you into the reservation.” Suzuki explained, indicating Aiba who was leaning against the wall a few feet away studying some papers in his hands.
“Our main focus is going to be the crocodile, but we would like to get extra footage as well, we have cleared it with your management office, so everything is okay.”
“No.”
“N-no, Mr Bakri?” Suzuki stammered, surprised.
“No. You are cleared for filming more wildlife. But you did not request for two people to come with me. Only one is allowed. The area requested is heavily restricted, it is the least tampered part of the reservation. Only two people go into the reservation, me and one more.” The short man stood his ground.
“Hah…. One moment please,” Suzuki smiled nervously and consulted Kimura.
“Kimura san, it looks like only one person can go in with the guide. What should we do?” the small man rubbed his hands nervously as Kimura called Yonaga over.
Both Kimura and Yonaga looked at each other, He must be new, they thought.
“Its alright” Kimura dismissed.
“Aiba kun is professional, he can host and handle the camera at the same time, right Yonaga?”
“He can, no problem there.” Yonaga answered confidently for his charge.
“You’re lucky that Aiba kun can handle it this time,” Kimura said coldly to Suzuki.
“Don’t let it happen again” he continued as Suzuki nodded nervously and went back to Bakri.
******
Aiba, Yonaga, Kimura, Suzuki and Bakri were scheduled for a meeting with a Professor Muhammad from the Taman Negara Wildlife Reserve Park in ten minutes. They waited in the conference room assigned to them, Aiba leafing quietly through the papers he brought with him while the remaining four discussed in detail the filming schedule over the next five days.
Outside the meeting room, the two camera staff sat and stared at the people in the glass enclosed room.
“Hey, Aki chan.”
“Huh?”
“I heard Kimura doesn’t need us anymore”
“Yeah, Yonaga san told me that Aiba san is going to carry a handheld camera and a face focus camera, and narrate at the same time…..”
One man thought Aiba chan really is awesome…..
The other thought One stupid hand held camera and one stupid face focus camera!!! Why then did we have to bring all those stupid equipment…..
Both men heaved a sigh and continued staring blankly at the occupants in the meeting room.
Five minutes later, a bearded young man wearing a skull cap walked into the meeting room.
“Good morning, gentlemen, I’m Muhammad, a pleasure to meet you” he said, shaking the hands of the people in the room.
“Now, I understand that Mr Bakri and Mr Aiba here are going to enter the restricted area, yes?” the professor began as he took a seat at the head of the conference table.
“Yes, Mr Kimura and Mr Aiba has been reading up on the wildlife found in this park as well.” Suzuki supplied nervously, hoping not to run into anymore trouble this early into his first overseas project.
Then Kimura explained to the Professor what they had prepared so far, with Suzuki’s help in translating. The professor approved of the filming crew’s preparations and gave more instruction to Aiba and Bakri on how to approach the wildlife.
An hour later, the men shook hands and with a hearty good luck and a friendly invitation to have lunch in the National Park’s Reception Centre after filming, the Professor left them with full authority to explore and record.
******