Euphoria: Dosage of Rhapsodies

Chapter 47

Dahil sa balitang nalaman ko, napasugod ako sa studio just to make sure na totoo nga ang sinasabi sa akin ni Theo. It's not like I'm not believing my manager, but the news itself is unbelievable. 

Nagpapakatotoo lang ako. I don't see any single potential in Stacy. She can't act so, where did she get the courage to enter showbiz? At sinong tanga ang nagpapasok sa kanya? 

"So, it's true?"

Nang makarating ako sa conference room, naabutan ko ang ibang cast ng upcoming drama ko, including Echo, ang magiging leading man ko sa drama… and Stacy is with them.

"I'm not expecting to have another co-star?"

As soon as I get back to my composure, pinilit kong hindi ipahalata sa tono ng boses ko na ayaw ko sa presensya ni Stacy. There's no way they could find out my connection to that trash.

"Good thing that you've finally arrived, Corrine," said the TV director and led me to a seat. "Kim, the supposed actress to be the antagonist, just backed out from participating in the drama. We cannot proceed filming it kung kulang ang cast, and so we did a very quick audition para humanap ng kapalit ni Kim."

"And Stacy enters the scenario," pagpapatuloy ko sa kanyang sinasabi. "And it all looks fine with y'all to have Stacy and be part of the drama." 

"As if I still have any choice to disagree with this decision," I whispered.

"If Kim didn't back out, there would be no changes. We all not expecting this would happen-"

"I understand, direk," I cut his statement short. "Nakagawa na kayo ng desisyon, so be it. Instead of wasting our time just to be problematic of the reason why Kim decided to back out suddenly, let's just focus ourselves on starting to film the drama, shall we?" 

"That's what we're really gonna do. Thanks for your understanding, hija." 

Nanatili na lamang akong tahimik habang pinapasadahan ko ng basa ang script na nakaipit sa folder. I'm trying my best to not be distracted with Stacy who was just sitting on the chair in front of me. As if I'm not aware that she's glancing at me from time to time… and that's what makes me even more frustrated. 

"Please settle the date of when we will have to start the filming. Hanggang bukas na lang naman ang training ko sa wedding team, so be it on the other day onwards." 

"You took training?" asked Stacy, even drawing a shock on her face. "Nag-undergo ka pa sa training for the drama? Really?" And she sounded insulting.

"Do you have any problem with that, newbie?" I arched my eyebrow, enough to terrify this bitch. "Oh, I'm sorry for addressing you as a 'newbie.' My greatest apology if I ever offend you."

Sir Jeric, Echo's manager, sniffed. "It was Corrine's decision to undergo training for one month. She wants to familiarize herself with the nature of work her character has.
That's why she did that, and we, in the team, fully support her in doing that. 'Yon din ang dahilan kung bakit ngayon lang magsa-start ang pagfi-film sa drama, when in fact, at this time ay nangangalahati na dapat tayo." 

"It was so easy to familiarize Alicia's nature of work, though," rinig kong humirit pa si Stacy.

"But getting yourself familiarized and learning everything about your character is never a mistake. And I don't see anything wrong with putting myself in my character's shoes for just a month… I don't see the month having passed is just a waste of time."

I heaved a long sigh. "I'm working hard to be a good actress, especially since this is the first time that I had a chance to handle a lead role. I work hard because I want to grow, not just because I want to impress people. There is no satisfaction in doing something easy, anyway. So, the hard work I'm doing is what true satisfaction means to me."