Lights, Camera, Action!

CHAPTER 1: CHARLOTTE

CHARLOTTE

"Angeline, can I tell you something?" Duke said while we're watching the sunset, sitting on the back of his parked pick-up truck while listening song on a portable radio. I looked at his nervous face.

"What is it, Duke?" I asked. He held my hand and cupped my cheeks with his other hand.

"I love you, Anj. And I wish to spend my lifetime with you." he said. I smiled as a response to his declaration of love.

"Mahal na mahal din kita, Duke. Gusto rin kita makasama habambuhay."

Bigla naman naming narinig ang kantang I'll be kaya bumaba siya ng pickup at inayos ang sarili. Sinundan ko siya, I wrapped my arms around his neck and smiled. But Duke has other plans, he removed my hands from him.

"Anj," he said. "You're the most wonderful person I know."

I chuckled as a response. "What is it now, huh?"

Dahan-dahang iniluhod ni Duke ang isa niyang tuhod at may kinuhang maliit na pulang box sa bulsa ng kanyang taslan shorts.

"Maria Angeline Dela Peña," he opened the box to reveal an engagement ring inside. Not just an ordinary ring, it is a diamond ring. "Will you marry me?"

"CUT!" sigaw ng direktor. "Bravo darling, bravo!" nagpalakpakan naman ang mga staff na katulong gumawa sa pelikula.

Tumayo na si 'Duke', or should I say, Henry, at pinagpagan ang tuhod niya. Lumapit naman siya sa'kin para akbayan ako pero iniwas ko ang sarili ko sa kanya at humakbang palayo sa kanya.

"Well done, Charlotte." bati ni Henry. I faked a smile at him before turning away. Luckily, this project is over already. I can't wait to rest and not see Henry for a couple of months or even years.

I walked away from the scene, passing all the staff and the director, just to sit down beside my manager.

"Is there something wrong?" Brie asked. Brie is my gay manager, and also my bestfriend. Brie's a guy but I'll address her as a 'she'. Brie is the only one around since I don't have a lot of friends.

"It's finally over." I said to her and leaned my head on her shoulder.

"Finally, hindi mo na makikita ang Henry na 'yan dahil tapos na ang project niyo."

You're asking why we're so mad at him? Well, last week we were at a party with all the casts of our 'movie' when his ex-girlfriend blamed me for their breakup. Sinugod niya ako and buntik pa niya masampal mukha ko! Buti na lang kasama ko si Brie at tinulak niya 'yon bago ako masaktan. But the bad news is, there people who filmed the commotion and posted it on the internet. The news spread like wild fire and people were attacking me on the internet about it. Why me, right? I wasn't doing anything. I wasn't even a kabit.

And when we ask Henry to help us clear my name, he told us that the trouble that his ex made will help our movie famous. It took us a while before we convinced Henry to speak up for me. He probably like the thought that I'm his side chick.

But even though Henry made it clear to the public that we have nothing going on between us and I didn't interfere with their relationship, there were people who still don't believe it. Alam mo na, bashers. Mga inggit sa buhay ko.

I wasn't really gonna finish this project because of the incident pero dahil mapilit si Direk at isang scene na lang at tapos na kami, pinilit na niya ako. I NEED my money too. But I am not sure if I'll receive the amount I deserve, dahil sa kumalat na video ko online, baka wala nang manuod ng pelikula namin.

"Alam mo mhie, umalis na tayo dito. Ako na magpapaalam sa kanila, sabihin ko na lang na hindi maganda pakiramdam mo, mauna ka na sa van. Nandon naman si Kuya Manuel."

"Really Brie?" I lifted my head to look at her. "You're the best manager, ever."

"Oh sige na, mauna ka na." she said and stood up. "And don't turn on your social media, okay? Stay in one of your dump accounts."

Brie is literally an all-in-one and I'm so lucky to have her as my best friend.

I went to the van and rested. I can't believe I could finally get some rest. I covered my eyes with a sleeping mask and leaned the seat backwards.

"Kamusta, Char?" tanong ng driver ko.

"Okay lang po, Kuya Manuel. Pagod lang." sagot ko.

I'm Regina Iris Charlotte de Rio, or mas kilala sa pangalang Charlotte Rio. I'm an actress ever since I was a kid and you can say that I'm famous.

"Nandoon pa si Brie?" tanong niya.

"Opo, pinagpaalam ako."

Nabalot ng katahimikan ang paligid at tanging ang makina lang ng sasakyan ang naririnig ko. This is probably the end of my career. Sobrang dami ng issues na umuusbong sakin, puro naman fake news.

Na-involve na ako sa cheating issue before and it was tough. It wasn't true though, pero may mga hawak na pictures as evidences ang mga tao na nakaka-mislead talaga lalo na't ganon ang mga pictures. Kung sana alam nila ang buong storya bago sila mag-judge. Pero hindi, wala silang ibang pinakikinggan kundi yung mga lalake lang. Kahit sila pa yung may kasalanan, sila pa yung nauunang mag-defend sa sarili nila. Tapos sakin napupunta lahat ng hate, ng pamba-bash.

I was a child star, and sanay na ako sa mga batikos, alam ko namang hindi ko mapi-please lahat ng tao. Pero iba kasi yung ngayon, cheating issue. Eh hindi naman ako side chick 'no? Hello, mukha lang akong pang-side chick pero girlfriend material kaya ko. I cook, I clean, and I provide for myself.

Pero sadly, kahit gaano ka pa ka-professional tingnan, wala pa ring tatrato ng tama sa'yo kung ganito lang din yung mga lalakeng nakapalibot sa'yo ngayon. Yung mga katulad ni Henry. The world I live in is full of fake people with fake relationships. Bibilang lang ang totoo dito. Baka nga wala pa.

When will I find something real?