August Reveries (FreenBecky)

Chapter 1: The Day She Came Back

A/N: I'M BACK! And yes, I did some tweaks again.  Thanks for waiting and reading!

- ABBY -

"Thank you, everyone, for coming to my birthday event. I'm really happy to see you all again, my angels. Get home safe!"

I smiled happily and waved to my overly enthusiastic fans goodbye.

I descended the stage and made my way backstage, their loud cheers fading as I moved further down the lengthy corridors to my assigned dressing room.

I took off my earpiece, dangling earrings, and the rest of my neck and wrist accessories and placed them on top of the bright vanity mirror before crossing the room. I removed my heels, immediately feeling the soreness, and flopped down on the plush couch, resting my head with my eyes closed. Sighing.

Today's event was a success. But I'm beyond exhausted.

My schedule's been filled for months on end since the premiere of my third movie. Fan meets, magazine and television interviews, and other public appearances have been going left and right. I've done an excellent job at handling it—well, at least, for the most part of it.

Behind the scenes, however, I'm struggling to keep up.

The hectic celebrity lifestyle is just so demanding. And I've been doing it for quite some time now—non-stop. I'm reaching my cap.

I took my phone out of my pocket and sent my on-screen partner, Fon, a message to update her that the event was already over.

Fon promised she'd make it—that she'd attend my birthday event 'no matter what.' But, as has been the case lately, her schedule changed at the very last minute.

Sometimes, I can't help but wonder if she's doing it on purpose.

Then again, we've been doing a lot of individual projects lately, so I kind of understand the constant schedule changes. It's just that, for once, I wish she could follow through with her promises.

The frequent apologies are sounding more and more empty and insincere, and it's getting under my skin.

A couple of minutes after sending the text, I received her response—or rather, from her manager, P'Hans.

I rolled my eyes as soon as I landed on the words 'sorry' and 'she'll meet you later.'

I threw my phone beside me and shut my eyes again.

Fon and I met at the artist agency's cafeteria six years ago.

Four months prior to that, I was cast for my first-ever acting gig.

I was cast as a lead in a music video for a known Thai band. I didn't expect to get the role in the first place, nor did I expect to break into show business. Aside from my brief time as a Theatre kid, I had no prior professional experience in acting.

Nonetheless, an old friend reached out to me at the end of my first year, saying she pitched me as a perfect fit for the role they were looking at that time: a 5'4 woman in their late teens with a mix of Thai-Caucasian blood.

Submitting at least a short audition video would help her a lot; she practically begged me over the phone, desperate to impress her new boss.

But, at that time, I had just figured out what I'd do with my life after deciding not to pursue music anymore. So it wasn't an easy choice.

I planned to get myself involved in my Dad's diary business instead to help him run everything and be his right hand. So, I was really serious about getting my Bachelor's degree.