How We Never Met (MIKHAIAH)

Chapter 12

Mikha's POV

Sa music room by which is the only sound proof room in the island.

"What have you done? Didn't I already warned you? Stick to the script. Now we're both most likely going to lose our jobs Mikha." Sermon ni Adrian sakin.

"I know, and I'm taking full responsibility of it."

"Mikha, you don't know what you're talking about." He said.

"I have known that it will all end to this the moment I laid eyes on her in that event."

Tok tok tok

"Mikha? Are you there? Mikha." I heard Miss Mildred said. Yup, she's not really my Tita in real life.

"Yes, Miss Mildred." Sabi ko

"Señor Blue wants to talk to you." Seryosong sabi nito.

Eto na nga bang sinasabi ko.

Tsk

So, pumunta na nga ako sa office ni Señor Blue. And nope, he is not really my father. It was all just an act.

He is actually Direk Lauren and all of these cult thing is not real, it's a social experiment. In fact, my real brother is alive. He is working abroad along with my real parents.

So, we had a contract 2 years ago.

He said he wanted to make a so called reality show. Well, he already made history with PBB but this time he wanted something different.

He wanted to see how people respond to cults. So, he hired underground actors like me, Adrian, Miss Mildred, Michelle and all other casts to be part of this so called cult and see how much people we can recruit.

This social experiment hasn't been released yet so the 6 brides Maloi, Sheena, Stacey, Gwen, Colet and Jho had no idea what's going on and it shows the dangers of cults because these girls literally left their families and careers to be part of this insanity.

They were not supposed to be part of this show but everything changed because of Aiah.

Direk Lauren was particularly strict with rules and since we had a love ban policy, it messed everything up.

But I pitched him the idea one night na liligawan ko si Aiah to see if someone as pragmatic as her would fall for it or help me break the cult.

And as you can see, I fell for her.

So right now I'm in Direk Lauren's office and all I got to say is,

"Direk--"

"You know the rules more than anyone else in this institution and you broke it. You broke my trust Mikha Lim."

"B-because I-I can't do this anymore. I can't give up my morality for money and fame." I sincerely said.

"It's because of that girl, isn't it? Mikha, you don't even know her that well to give up everything you've worked hard for,everything we've worked hard for. You still have 1 year left in our contract. You know the consequences." He seriously said.

"Well then, take back every cent you paid me for this insane project. If being rich, famous, influencial, iconic or historical would only mean hurting Aiah further by lying to her, introducing her the person that I am not, feeding her detrimental thoughts that only intensified her anxiety, then I don't want it. I would rather starve to death and die as a nobody than that." I cried.

"Baka nakakalimutan mo that all of these started because you allowed yourself to get attached to her. At least be professional Mikha.

Don't get me wrong. I do care for my actors and staff and as you were taught during your training days, you have to discern your professional life from your personal life.

But now what you're showing me is that you no longer find the difference between those. And that's what I'm disappointed about because we have a vision, and that is to spread awareness and show people how easily they can be manipulated by media or our industry in general.

This is potentially a groundbreaking experience for our people. It can sometimes seem inhumane or ironically manipulative but our intentions have always been genuine and clear. We are here to open and heal blinded eyes to free people from detrimental beliefs and practices.

But here you are quitting from a once in a lifetime opportunity for some girl.

And you really think that once that girl finds out the truth eh tatanggapin ka pa niya?.

You really think that she genuinely loved you? I mean how on earth could someone with the right mind love someone she never met?

She does know your name, you had a couple of interactions but the rest are scripted. She believed that your father is evil, she believed that your brother was sacrificed, she believed that her own mother is a member of your cult and will soon be sacrificed together with hundreds of people, she believed that you are charming, caring and romantic by which you were not.

Almost everything she thought she knew about you are nothing but words printed on sheets of paper." Direk Lauren said.

"But loving her is not, that's an adlib that I never thought I was capable of. I love her enough to let her go. She doesn't have to forgive or love me back. She is free to leave whenever she wants. If I would be her, I wouldn't forgive or love myself either after all the things I've done.

But I would rather be hated for who I am than be loved for the person that I am not. Aiah deserves to know the truth and that's exactly what she will get.

For I will never forgive myself if I ever allow this chapter to end with how we never met." I sincerely and walked out.

..

Direk Lauren's POV

"And cut." I said with a smile on my face.

I wasn't wrong for choosing her for the role

Tumakbo palapit sakin ang isa sa staff hiding behind the door in the next room who were watching my conversation with Mikha the entire time from hidden cameras in my office.

"Di nyo ho ba siya pipigilan Direk?." Nag-aalalang sabi nung staff.

"Nope. That was our last episode. The show's over." Sabi ko.

"P-pero yung contract, yung duration ng project--" sabi niya.

"Sela, it's over. Whether their love story would end happily or just another unfortunate event is no longer part of our business. Mikha is an idol for a reason.

Talent can be quite admirable but a person's loving and empathetic soul is a thousand times worth admiring.

We've been trying to make Mikha the person she's not, not realizing that the person she have always been is far more better than that.

Mikha can effortlessly start a cult by just being herself and Aiah might be her first willing member." I sincerely told her.

"Uhm direk, are you talking about love?." Takang tanong ni Sela.

"I don't know, what's the difference?. Love is the most overused word that is ironically the most underpracticed."