Sandali

Operation: Fake it Till We Make it ( Maki Edition)

[MALOI]

The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting an artificial glow on countless hours of practice reflected in the endless expanse of mirrors. Every muscle in my body screamed in protest, a dull throb that echoed the pounding bass vibrating through my bones. But the phone in my hand stole my attention away from the exhaustion. It was Ms. Lim, our ever-efficient manager, her name synonymous with organization and an unwavering dedication to BINI's success.

A quick glance at the message sent a jolt of panic through me. Apparently, some overzealous celebrity, whose name I barely recognized - Maki, a heartthrob singer with a reputation for fleeting flings - had declared me his new "potential love interest" and the rumor mill was churning faster than a P-Pop comeback countdown. Paparazzi photos, carefully doctored to imply stolen glances and secret rendezvous, were already flooding social media. The last thing we needed on the eve of our showcase, the culmination of months of relentless work, was a manufactured love story stealing the spotlight and distracting from the music, the very heart and soul of BINI.

A wave of exhaustion washed over me as I limped across the practice room. Every muscle ached in protest, a symphony of soreness that mirrored the pounding bass still vibrating through the air. Sweat clung to me like a second skin, and the fluorescent lights overhead cast a harsh glare on the scene of post-practice devastation.

Colet, however, seemed to defy the exhaustion. BINI's main vocalist and my best friend, she was a radiant burst of energy even amidst the sprawl of tired bodies. While I yearned for the blissful oblivion of sleep, her phone vibrated in her hand like a beacon of amusement, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes as she scrolled through social media.

Little did she know, her carefree world was about to collide with mine in a hilarious, heartwarming, and potentially life-changing way.

A mischievous glint ignited in my eyes as I crossed the room, the click of my heels echoing on the polished floor. Colet glanced up, her grin widening as she saw me approaching.

"Hey goofball." I nudged her, my voice laced with playful urgency. "What do you say we make Maki the most jealous celebrity a fake girlfriend could dream of?"

Colet's playful smile faltered, replaced by a furrowed brow. "Fake girlfriend?" she echoed, a hint of apprehension creeping into her voice. "Anong pinagsasabi mo, Maloi?"

My throat tightened. This was it. Time to spill the beans. "Maki, naalala mo siya? The singer? Apparently, he's decided I'm his latest conquest." I said, waving my phone with a grimace at the photoshopped image of us "caught" in a stolen glance.

"Oh my god." Colet gasped, her eyes widening as she peered at the screen. "This is a disaster! Naiimagine mo ba yung headlines? BINI Maloi tangled with another one of Maki's flings?"

A wave of guilt washed over me. I hadn't considered the impact on BINI's image, or the potential for negative press. "Exactly." I whispered, my voice laced with despair. "The comeback showcase is in a week, and the last thing we need is this fake romance stealing the spotlight."

"Fake girlfriend?" Colet echoed, a smirk slowly spreading across her face. "You want me to pretend to be your girlfriend? Parang halikan at PDA, ganon?"

I stared at her, momentarily taken aback. "Well, not exactly revenge." I stammered. "More like... publicly indifferent. Parang typical couple, ganon."

Colet's eyes gleamed with a mischievous glint. "So, basically, I get to publicly humiliate Maki in the name of BINI's success? Sign me up!"

"It's not exactly a laughing matter." I sighed, handing her my phone with the photos. "The media will go crazy. What about the fans? They might think..."

Colet cut me off, her expression turning serious. "They might think there's something real going on between us." she finished my sentence, a flicker of worry crossing her eyes.

"Exactly." I said, a knot forming in my stomach. "We have to be convincing, completely believable. And that means..." My voice trailed off, leaving the unspoken question hanging in the air.

Colet's playful grin faltered. The room seemed to hold its breath, waiting for her response. Would she go along with this crazy plan? And more importantly, could we pull off a convincing fake relationship without jeopardizing our own friendship?