Love and Hate Collide (JaDine FanFiction)

C7 • N

NADINE

• • •

"This will be the last time." I whisper to him as he walked away.

Why did I even fall for someone like him?

I sigh.

After James and I had a scene in Skyranch, I check my watch to find that it's already eight in the evening.

Having second thoughts on the matter, I still decided to visit him.

Hailing a cab, I went inside.

"Where to, miss?" The taxi driver says.

Debating if I should really do this or not, I recall what James said to me not long ago.

We both know I can make it without you anyway.

That was my breaking point.

"Moon Light Offices." I say.

This time, I'm going to prove James Reid wrong.

This time, it's my time.

• • •

"What! Why would you do that?"

I'm currently in Moon Light offices talking to Mr. Ben, our handler.

"I need it." I say.

"But your contract doesn't expire until another five months." He says. "And I'm afraid I won't let you quit the love team."

"Why!" I exclaim. "You know how people hate me anyway. So why can't I just give James a favor?"

"We all know what they're saying isn't true. Your glam team tells us otherwise, your RM is very fond of you, everyone you've worked with begs to differ. So tell me Nadine, why do you let them see you as a bad person?" He tells me, leaning over his office desk.

I slump in my seat. "It's easier that way."

Mr. Ben spins in his chair. "Stand up for yourself, N." He says.

I sigh. "You don't know how hard I've worked for this success and I'm grateful but honestly, it's suffocating me and I just think I need a break."

Mr. Ben sighs. And after a couple of minutes of silence, he speaks. "Of course, your well being is more important than money. I understand that. You're like my daughter and I don't want you to be hurt." He tells me sincerely. "So after the contract expires, you're off to go, N."

I smile at him. He's like my dad in the industry, too. Tears start forming on my tear bed. I wipe it away. "Thank you, Mr. Ben." I say. "When I come back soon, I'll be better and I'll be bolder."

He smiles, showing his teeth. "Atta girl."

• • •

ONE DAY LATER

Buzz!

Buzz!

I open my eyes, I was up because of the constant buzzing of my phone with a faint ringtone of my favorite song– The 1975's Chocolate.

"Hello?" I answer the phone groggily.

"Meet me in my office, now!" It was Mr. Ben and he sounded pissed.

"Wha– what? Um, okay, yes, sure." I tell him.

He slams the phone on the other line and I sigh.

I wonder what it could be this time. I jump out of the bed, and went directly to my bathroom where I took a shower.

After a quick shower, I went to my walk-in closet. "Aw, man." I said to myself. I don't know what to wear!

Talk about a girl's number one problem. Looking for clothes, I opted to wear a plain black fitting top that fits until just below my bellybutton, my Adidas leggings and my go-to white Converses.

I top it off with my Adidas ball cap with my hair in a ponytail and my white slingbag.

"I guess that's that." I said, grabbing my phone, keys and wallet and stuffing it in my bag.

I ignore the constant buzzing of my phone from notifications. I had no time for this.

I arrive at the offices an hour later. I literally am walking briskly to the offices, I knock on Mr. Ben's office.

"Come in." Mr. Ben's booming voice tells me on the other side.

He's mad.

I open the door to find him and a problematic-looking James but after he sees me, his features register mad.

"You two, in the meeting lounge now! We have a lot to talk about!"

I scurry behind Mr. Ben to the lounge. As we get in, everyone was there. Our production manager, our road managers and all the important people are sitting. James sits across from me and Mr. Ben sits at the head of the table.

He holds the projector's remote and turns it on. When it was on, I'm greeted by a picture of James and Ericka kissing. My eyes went wide.

I look at James across from me an he has his hand covering his face, his elbow prepped on the table.

"Explain this," Mr. Ben says. "To everyone."

James clears his throat. "It is what it is. I love her and I should be able to kiss her in public!"

The room is filled with murmurs and whispers. My phone continues to buzz, so I decided to check it.

They're notifications from Twitter. All about the issue at hand.

reynadine: I wonder how Naddie is. Are you okay @nadzlustre?

jamrickafever: that's what you get from being fake! lol not even sorry, @nadzlustre

It goes on and on. Some are sympathetic and some are savage. I lock my phone.

"No, you aren't allowed to do that!" Mr. Ben says. "As long as you're in a contract with Nadine, it should be only her."

James rolls his eyes, mad already.

"Don't worry, it's only five more months." I say, trying to lighten his mood but I fail.

"Will you shut up!" James said, looking at me. "I don't care what you think!"

"That's enough!" Mr. Ben says, slamming his fist on the table. Everyone turns to him. "You're going to drop the issue, tell them Ericka kissed you and it was a mistake. No more but's! And until your contract expires, I don't want to see you partying or with any other girl. Just Nadine. Got it?"

James sighs, defeated, so he nods.

Everyone still in shock by his sudden outburst.

"Good." Mr. Ben sighs. "Now, for the lighter part of this meeting, how are we going to promote your movie?"

"Mall shows?" Ms. Lani says.

"Meet and greets?" Ms. Poppy says.

"Social envolvements!"

In the end, they agreed that we tour the Philippines with mall shows that have meet and greets and we, James and I, promised to be active in every social media, acting all lovey-dovey.

The meeting ended at already two in the afternoon, so I decided to visit the nearby mall and get myself some frappe and waffles– my comfort food.

I sigh, as I take a sip of my frappe. What a long day. I didn't sign up for this.

I hear Paulo's voice in my head.

Come with me next month to Italy.

I can't wait to leave.