Fatal Spotlight

Chapter 3

"Congrats, bro," Joseph greeted me with a wide smile as I stepped away from the crowd.

The noise was deafening; everyone was celebrating. It was the finale party for my series and also my last night here in the Philippines before I leave for New Zealand. My manager already cleared my schedule, so this is pretty much my last hurrah before I go. Just finishing some small business here and I'm off.

"Where are you going?" Joseph asked, appearing beside me.

Joseph and I have been friends ever since we worked together in a series. He's been in the industry since he was a kid, so he's practically a veteran at this point.

"You coming with me?" I joked.

He chuckled and shook his head. "I have work," he smirked. "Kailangan ko kumita," he added casually.

"Sus, yaman mo na 'eh," I teased back.

Joseph is loaded, no doubt about that. While I was still working my way into the industry, he was already playing everyone's son in every series. He's someone I genuinely admire.

"Oh, by the way," he said, tilting his head like he just remembered something. "I rejected a project recently."

I raised an eyebrow. "Why? Akala ko ba gusto mong kumita?"

Joseph rejecting a project? That's unusual.

"It's a boy love series," he began, shrugging. "At first, I wanted to do it, pero my manager didn't want me to. So ayun, no choice."

"So technically, it's not you who rejected it—it's your manager," I pointed out.

He nodded. "Exactly. Gusto ko talaga gawin, but I also have an upcoming series. Hindi rin kaya ng schedule."

"Ikaw ba? Would you ever consider it?" he asked suddenly, catching me off guard.

I looked at him, confused.

"I don't accept romance genres, bro," I reminded him before taking a sip of my drink. "Limot mo na ba?" I chuckled.

"Come on, just give it a try," he urged, grinning.

I sighed. "I don't know, bro..."

Then he said something that completely threw me off.

"Bro, malay mo hindi ikaw ang problema? Malay mo hindi ka lang talaga para sa babae, kaya hindi nagwo-work out," he said with a teasing smirk.

I choked on my drink. "What the—"

"Try doing a boy love series," he continued, laughing. "Let's see to it! Oh, by the way, they're still casting for the partner role. Alam mo bang pwede kang kunin?"

"Baliw ka," I laughed, shaking my head. "Bahala ka diyan."

As I was walking away, my manager spotted me and immediately pulled me aside.

"What's up?" I asked.

"Uuwi na ako," she said with a shrug. "You know, mommy duties."

A moment later, her teenage daughter, Kera, appeared beside her.

"Kuya Evan!" she greeted enthusiastically.

I smiled and gave her a quick hug. "Thanks, Kera."

"Congrats po! Ang galing mo talaga!" she gushed.

"Sus, sinong artista?" I teased, knowing how she loves to butter me up just to ask for an autograph from some other celebrity.

"Wala! Totoo 'to!" she said, pouting.

"Alright, sige na," my manager cut in, smiling. "Mauuna na kami ni Kera, nagpapasama 'eh."

I nodded. "Ano pa ba magagawa ko? Ingat kayo."

As they walked away, Kera waved at me. "Bye, Kuya Evan! Pahingi ng autograph ni Kim Soo Hyun, ha? Congrats ulit!"

I sighed in disbelief. This kid really brought up a Korean actor out of nowhere.

"Evan!" Joseph called, jogging towards me.

"Bro, kanina pa kita hinahanap!" he said, slightly out of breath.

"Bakit?" I asked, curious.

"Eryss was here," he said, grinning.

"Who's that?"

"He's the guy I told you about—the one starring in the boy love series," Joseph explained. "Sayang, umalis na siya kanina. Ang sweet nga, pumunta pa talaga para i-congrats yung buong cast. Apparently, he's friends with one of your co-stars."

"Is he a rookie?" I asked, not recalling his name.

"Yeah, he just started last year," Joseph said. "This boy love series is his big break. That's why the production's working hard to find a famous lead partner for him to help the show rate high."

Joseph smirked at me. "Malay mo, ikaw na 'yun."

I rolled my eyes, but deep down, I was intrigued.

"I'll think about it," I muttered under my breath.

But I don't really have plan to do that, I'm just gonna ask my manager first.