Why Can't It Be?

Chapter 1 - The Artist

"Good morning Camilla! Rise and shine!" dinig na dinig ko ang boses ni Mommy na ginigising ako.

I covered my ears trying to muffle her voice because I was still sleepy but then I realized, she should not be here.

"Huh?" tuluyan na akong nagising. "Mommy?" I asked taking off my pillow from my face.

"Hi baby girl. Good morning!" she went straight to me and hugged me.

"What are you doing here? Kailan ka pa nandito?" I asked as I sat up. I was still sleepy but I had to ask her what she was doing in my place.

I am turning twenty four this year and it's been two years since I decided to live on my own. I own a unit in a high end condominium.

"Ugh 'mmy! It's too early to bug me. I'm still sleepy."

"Well you won't be if you had not stayed very late." Mom said. I can sense a morning filled with sermon. "Or very early if I should rephrase that." she continued walking out of my room.

As the door opened, I can instantly smell the breakfast she was having in the stove.

"Hmm...beef tapa." I followed her outside. I sat on one of the chairs bringing my foot up. She quickly swats it making me startle.

"Umupo ka ng maayos. Para kang hindi babae." she tells me.

"Mommy, what's wrong having my feet this way? It's comfortable." I said bringing my foot back up to the chair.

"That is why your Daddy still does not approve of you living away from us. Look at how you behave." she points out and I am getting tired of the conversation that involves me and my father's opinion.

Ilang taon na ako sa showbiz and he hasn't approved of anything I do. Even when I made a name for my self. Did number of movies that I top-billed, commercials both here and abroad, albums, successful solo concerts--still, I did not hear that he was proud of me.

"Wala na po akong magagawa doon 'mmy! May gawin man ako o wala, he won't appreciate me." I scoffed.

"Camilla, stop it. That is not true. Of course he is proud of you. Hindi lang niya sinasabi but actually he is worrying a lot about you." Mommy tells me and I just shrugged and started sipping on mg coffee.

"What brings you here 'mmy?" I asked as if I did not know.

"Well, I really missed you." she answers me from the kitchen.

I am sure that she has heard of my recent issue. Me and Calvin have broken up. After nearly a year, we have finally split up. I was okay with it. I knew that he was seeing some new rising star and I did not bother to chase after him.

Why would I? I am Lila Sequia. Hindi ako naghahabol.

I have already told the press that I was the one who broke up with Calvin. They asked me what caused our break up. I was tempted to go into details but, nah...I'd rather not. It's a waste of time.

"Lila? Hey." I heard snapping of fingers. "You okay? You're spacing out. Is it a bad break up?" my mother looked at me with concern.

"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine. Just having thoughts." I said to her.

"About what? Is this about Calvin and--"

"No Mommy. I am okay with the break up. Actually, I'm over it. All it took for me to get over him was a bottle of wine. Don't worry about me Mommy, I am tough." I said. I started eating the beef tapa that she offered on the table.