Published on Twitter, July 4 (with the QuickFic before this).
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Alden sat in the wings, nervously tapping his feet while waiting for his dance number to be cued.
"Suotin mo, to," a dancer asked behind him. He handed Alden a white jacket with an "M" patched over the left chest. "M? Bakit naman M?" he wondered aloud. "Ewan sa props. Basta suotin mo iyan. 10 minutes to go." Alden stood to wear the jacket and checked his phone for the millionth time. Still no call. He gulped and shook his head in defeat. If the role belonged to him, they would have called by now. But they haven't. He put his phone back in his pocket when it suddenly rang. Alden's heart fell when he saw who it was. "Dad?" "Uy, nak. Tumawag na ba yung Artist Center?" Alden cleared his throat. "Hindi pa nga, dad. Baka hindi ko nakuha yung role, eh." "Di bale anak. Kamusta naman diyan sa Bulaga?" "Heto, mag-proprod ulit." "I mean, kamusta kontrata mo diyan?" Alden exhaled and closed his eyes. "Um...yun din, dad. Di ko rin alam," he admitted in a low voice. "Baka ma-extend daw ako, pero isang segment lang. OK na rin iyon. Two weeks din, tapos evaluate nila ako ulit." His dad's voice grew warmer over the phone. "'Nak, diba nag-usap na tayo? Kung hindi mo nakuha yung role, tapos hindi ka rin i-extend sa Bulaga, wag kang mag-alala. May ipon naman tayo." "Eh, kasi dad...si Rizza..." Alden gulped, fighting back tears. "Sorry, dad, ha" "Sige na 'nak. Mag-usap nalang tayo mamaya. Alam ko naman nahihirapan ka na sa mga tao diyan, eh. Baka blessing din ito." Alden shrugged, now feeling the full weight of defeat. He sadly put his phone back in his pocket. Maybe four years in the crazy world of showbiz was enough, he thought. His dad was right. Maybe this wasn't for him. "Ma," he quietly prayed. "May two weeks pa ako. Sana naman tulungan mo kami ni Dad." Suddenly, the floor director's voice sliced through his thoughts. "Alden! Cue na! Live tayo in 2 minutes!" she shrieked. "Andito na, direk." She walked to Alden and surveyed his costume. "Oh, ano tong M sa jacket mo?" He just shrugged his shoulders. "Teka lang." She held a finger up in the air as she continued to speak into her headset. "Andiyan na yung mag-dudubsmash? Oo, yung bago. Yung yaya." "Direk, may bago?" Alden whispered. The director nodded. "Mendoza daw. Makilala mo rin. Sige na, prod na! Go!"
