Echoes of your name: Ailee (City of the stars Series 1)

Kabanata 1

Pretend

It shocked the hell out of me. I couldn't smile. My body shivered at the way his thumb drew circles around my palm as he held my hand gently. Halos mangatog ang binti ko sa ginawa nya. He noticed it because he smirked!

I withdrew my hand and smiled at him. I need to think fast and act like there's nothing wrong. Whoever this man is, it means he's something big. Yeah, big. Uminit ang pisngi ko sa naisip. He corrupted my mind that fast. Damn it.

I looked around, mukhang wala namang nakapansin ng nangyari. Kung may nakapansin man, normal lang 'yon sa kanila, ako lang ang nagbibigay doon ng malisya. Iminuwestra nya ako sa aking upuan, umupo naman ako sa gitna at katabi sya.

Nagsimula na ang contract signing, and I couldn't concentrate, I keep reading his name, it sounds familiar, like a lingering memory from a far, far away place. Well, I might have read his name somewhere and he is the President of DVXH?

"Madamme..."

The reporters asked me a couple of questions, and I answered them like a straight-A student. It doesn't matter what my own opinion is; they need what they like to hear, and that's what I gave them. The signing lasted for almost 2 hours, and I need to attend the afterparty.

Ofcourse he'll be there!

Ang laki pa naman ng bayad sa akin ng brand na ito at mula sa araw na ito, lahat ng alahas na gagamitin ko ay sponsor nila. Naka-sign na rin ako kontrata at hindi ko pwedeng bawiin pa dahil mahal ang bayad sa breach of contract at magtataka ang mga tao kung bakit ko aayawan ang brand na first time kumuha ng global ambassador.

He smirked as he held my hand a while ago. That means he remembers me and the things we did. How unprofessional of me to sleep with one of my bosses at sa hinaba ng panahon na iningatan ko ang sarili ko, basta nalang 'yon mawawala ng ganoon!

We are consenting adults, for sure wala lang naman 'yon sa kanya. I was probably one of his quick lays last night. Hindi ko sya pwedeng sisihin sa nangyari dahil ginusto ko naman. Ako pa nga ang lumapit! Matanda na rin naman ako kaya okay lang? The best thing I could do now is be professional and pretend I don't remember anything from that night!

That's the only way to save my face.

I walked out of the building and waved goodbye to the thousands of fans waiting to catch a glimpse of me. They have banners, lightsticks, phone cases, letters—they have everything as long as my face and name are on it. They all chant my name like an anthem. Looking back, hindi ko maiisip na maabot ko ng tuluyan ang mga pangarap ng batang Ailee.

Hard work and determination really paid off.

Inalalayan ako ng mga bodyguard papasok sa limousine, nasa loob na ang manager ko, si Clara at Barbie. Agad kong kinuha ang cellphone sa purse, nag-online gamit ang dummy account. Hinalughog ko ang buong internet pero wala pa namang balita sa nangyari kagabi, lahat ng updated news ay tungkol sa damit ko, mga alahas at sa pagpirma ko ng bagong kontrata.

"Clara, naayos mo na ba 'yong kagabi?" tanong ko. Tinutukoy ang mga pictures at videos na maaaring kumalat at baka may CCTV pa nga.

Okay lang naman sana, I'm of age to do all those things pero halos teenagers and early 20's ang mga fans ko at napakalaki ng influence ko sa kanila. Hindi ko sila responsibilidad pero dahil role model nila ako, kailangang lahat ng galaw ko bantay sarado. My image is like that of a sheltered princess.

Kung lalabas ang nangyari kagabi, I can only imagine the effect of it on my career. Mawawalan ako ng fans, ng endorsements at magbabayad pa ako ng danyos!

"Nakausap ko na ang bar na tinutukoy mo, wala namang masamang balita tungkol sa'yo. Walang kahit na anong pictures. Wala ding kuha ang CCTV, burado lahat. Even the waiters and bouncers ay walang sinasabi."