Mr. & Ms. Charming (AlDub/MaiDen)

Episode One : Charmaigne

I've always believed that the simple life was beyond beautiful. I found life better in the shadows where I can be who I want to be. Hindi rin naman ako mahilig magpasikat. I'm one of those kids na okay lang kahit saan mo ilagay. I'm pretty talented, that I may be proud of, but that doesn't mean I can perform as much as I wanted. I'm fine with it, though. Like I said, I like how my life has been. Kahit na may imminent threat sa family namin, I know my parents did everything to keep me and my brother safe. Like any family, we have issues, too, that are out of our control. These issues are the main reasons why I grew up in the shadows.

Hello nga pala. I'm Charmaigne Mendoza-Saure, Cham for short. I'm daughter to Dominic and Corazon, both prominent business people in Asia and the Philippines. Si mommy, known as The Madam, is very well known in the beauty industry. Her beauty empire surpassed that of Liz Uy, Rajo Laurel, and Tim Yap combined. Si daddy naman, shy-type ang peg. He was formerly a gambler, but changed for the better when he met my mom. Now, his investments are all-over Asia.

My kuya Charlie naman, though tinakwil ng parents namin years ago, is living his dream in Seattle as a bartender. Much to my parents' dismay, their unico hijo wasn't just up for the corporate world. They hit jackpot with me though. I was born to be a marketer. I'm the best in convincing people, ikaw ba naman magtago ng pagkatao mo buong buhay mo, I don't how I won't be the best in the field. We're still close though, kahit na nasa ibang bansa siya.

As for me, I'm currently in my last year in University. My parents wanted to exclude me from every family affair and hid me from everyone for some reason – my daddy's ex-wife. It was my kuya's sixth birthday when he was poisoned in his own party. They believed that it was dad's ex-wife who did it. My mom realized she was pregnant with me not long after, so to keep me from harm's way, she gave birth to me in the US, not wanting any news of my existence to break out. It has been twenty-two years of secrecy, and I must say, mas gusto ko 'yung freedom compared to a life that's exposed to the media.

x

"Cham, I have something for you!" It was my dad, as usual, knocking on my door. I'm already twenty-two but daddy still finds way how to baby me. I jumped from my bed and ran to open the door for him and was welcomed by a bouquet of roses, blue ones (Do roses exist in this color?) and a folder in hand. I sighed. Alam ko na 'to. Ito na naman si daddy sa match-making trip niya.

"Kanino naman 'to galing, dad?" I asked, taking the bouquet that was hiding his face. He smiled, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"Sa'kin, kanino pa ba?" He replied. "It's my way of courting you, baby, to make you say yes sa dates na I'm trying to set-up for you. You know how things are, Cham. I can't let you get married with just anyone. You're my princess. Besides, you're at the age to date, so why not? This is better than you hiding a boy from me."

I supposed this was the perfect time to wail and cry.

"Cham, don't even dare. Alam ko na 'yang gimmick mo. Hindi ako tatablan ng ganyan. Your mom, yes, ako, hindi."

"Dad, sa lahat naman ng parents ikaw ang bugaw, eh." I muttered. He chuckled and proceeded into my room, taking a seat in front my vanity mirror.

"Hindi kita binubugaw, baby. I just want you to know a lot of people. In the near future, when your mom and I decide to retire, kailangan marunong ka nang makipag-usap sa mga tao. I'm not asking you to date because I want you to get married already. Alam ko lang na you're lacking in that department and I want you to experience it." He explained.