The Fall Of The Star

CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1: Standards

T R A C E

I'm now convinced my acting is really not that convincing.

Wala man lang bumuhat sa akin nang magkunwari akong hinimatay. Kahit si Manager ay umiwas na saluhin.

At least show some concern, right!? Hindi pa ba sapat na sinisante na nila ako!?

To make things worse, sila na rin ang humanap ng school ko. Which seems to be helpful, right? But it's not!

"Public!? I've never been to a public school! Why can't I enroll in my previous university?! Or somewhere na mas sikat!? May aircon! "

Manager Phil looked at me in disbelief.

"Bakit, Trace? Sikat ka ba?"

Sumarado ang bibig ko.

Damn. That hurts a lot.

Suddenly, the car's AC felt much colder. I feel nauseous as if my gut has been twisted.

I'm used to negative comments coming from my bashers pero masakit pala na galing na sa manager ko mismo ang pagsagot na iyon.

"Look,Trace. I did not mean to… offend you pero iyon ang totoo and bilang manager mo, I want to give you the harsh truth na hindi ka na sikat."

Lalo pa akong sumimangot. Inulit niya pa talaga.

"Thanks… I guess?" Nanghihina kong pasasalamat sa kanya habang inaabala ang sarili sa mga views sa labas ng bintana ng sasakyan.

Sanay naman akong prangka si Manager. It's just that… reality slaps me hard.

"Why don't you just think of this as a… work shop? Para sa bago mong role? Who knows kapag nakita ni CEO ang performance mo ay bigyan ka ng redemption arc, hindi ba?"

Maraming ideya na sinasabi ni Manager para pagaanin ang loob ko.

Good job, Manager! Parang hindi mo naman ako pinrangka kanina lang at pagkatapos ay tinatangka mong lagyan ng benda ang sugat ko na ikaw mismo ang gumawa!?

How dare you!

The school is a 10-minute walk from my old house. Umaambon ng umagang iyon kaya tinawagan ko na si Manager para ihatid na ako.

I may be a big flop but I still want to look good. And besides, nakatipid pa ako.

The gates were already closed when we reached the school's main entrance. Nag uumpisa na ang flag ceremony kaya ipinarada na lamang ni Manager ang sasakyan sa tabi atsaka ako sinamahang pumasok.

Diretso kami patungo sa guidance office. Alam na ni Manager kung saan iyon kaya siya ang nauuna.

Luma na rin ang mga buildings dito. Like a deteriorating state. Maputik pa ang ilang lugar, konting ulan lang. Ugh. Sana lang hindi dun ang room ko.

Are these buildings even safe!? Paano kung maaksidente ako sa isa sa mga ito!? Aren't they even concerned about me!?

Some buildings looks nicer and newer compared to the ones I've seen before. The thing is, there are dick vandals and initials of couples who have surely broken up written on the sides of the wall.

My face scrunched up. The bathroom stinks of urine like it hasn't been cleaned up.

"Maliit TT ng bumasa ni2" One writing on the wall said. My face scrunched up.

CEO James will definitely have a piece of my mind. If he wants me to study, he better send me to a nicer environment. Hindi sa ganito!

I don't like it here. Pati ang private part ko, hinuhusgahan ng mga tao rito.