Mine! No Objections Allowed (Mikhaiah Adaptation)

Chapter 23 : Hard To Resist

"This reporter," Aiah quirked her lips. "....may I trouble you to please examine your question more closely next time, I've always been very clear about the fact that I like someone who is not in the industry. After this, I will only answer questions regarding the filming of the show."

However, the reporter refused to give up. "If you don't say who it is, how can I believe that you're not just looking to gain attention?"

This time Aiah's smile was not friendly anymore. Ignoring Maloi tugging at her shirt, she said, "Why would I want you to believe me?"

The reporter looked a little awkward and rephrased. "I.... I mean your fans."

"When did you become a representative of my fans'?" Aiah sneered. "My fans believe me, there's no need for you to be worried."

The other reporters were all as quiet as a chicken, their recorders held higher than their faces.

After the interview, Maloi attempted to fix the mistakes. Her artist had her eyes closed, putting on make-up as she slowly said, "Never mind them, if you have the time, consider what we will have for dinner."

Normally, Maloi was rather strict on her diet. But it's different once she's filming though; no matter how much she ate, she would always lose a few kilos by the time filming was over. She really had a peculiar physiology.

Maloi flung her phone away. "You're really getting bolder hmm, are you making it a habit to roast reporters?"

"You didn't recognize him?" Aiah asked, "That reporter, that was the guy who blurred my photo and said I flashed."

Maloi can barely follow all of the photographers and paparazzi all clamoring to get a viral response from Aiah. From the time she started gaining some recognition in her acting roles, to coming out as Bi, to getting in feuds with other actresses, Maloi knows its a lost cause to keep up with all the media people. 

Maloi answered, "There was so much media then, how was I supposed to recognize him? Actually, how did you know it was him?"

Aiah jeered. "I checked of course."

... she is really big on revenge. Maloi thought.

The make-up artist was helping her put on the eyeliner when her phone rang. She struggled to open an eyelid and glanced at the phone home screen, then hurriedly caught the makeup artist's hand. "Pretty lady, can I type a reply before we continue with the make-up?"

As it was far away and both travel and lodging required money, Aiah had not bring along her make-up artist. The production company had arranged for her to have a veteran make-up artist; when Aiah used to come to Manila for work before, she had helped with the make-up too. Having started acting with supporting roles and small productions that couldn't afford make-up artists for supporting roles.

The make-up artist smiled and shrugged. "As you wish."

Aiah was about to reach out to her phone, but Daisy was faster, putting the phone in her hand first.

Yesterday, she chatted with Mikha until midnight. Now that she thought about it, they didn't talk about much -all she did was ask Mikha about her army days. She finds voice messages too troublesome so she'd call Mikha directly -this was one big reason she slept late last night.

Mikha's voice was low and her stories were straightforward and to the point. It was nice listening to her.

Thinking about it, she really had just brought it upon herself; after listening to the stories, she looked at the time -midnight — and asked on the fly if Mikha had wanted to sleep.