Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Lola's POV

Ang malakas na sigaw ni Direk Bim ay nalunod sa maugong na tunog ng takong ko habang papasok ng opisina ng BTX Network. Nang magbukas ang pinto ay taas-noo kong sinalubong ang kumalat na katahimikan at mga nahihiyang ngiti ng karamihan sa pagpasok ko. Of course, this first day of my mission isn't done perfectly without a glamorous entrance.

Nagsuot ako ng pamatay kong glittery fitted dark violet formal dress at ang killer heels na 5 inches. I need to stand out. I already measured the height of my new apple-of-the-eye kung kaya ay sigurado ako na kahit suotin ko pa ang pinakamataas na takong sa buong mundo ay hindi ko mahihigitan ang tangkad niya. I just put on my simple make-up and hairdo and voila! 100% na mapapansin ako ng karamihan. At hindi ako nagkamali ng akala.

All eyes are on me but the feigning silence told me that new signed-up artists have the same feelings like me on every first-day. Nakakakaba at nakakaintriga. Ganoon ang nararamdaman ko ngayon.

A clever and cunning smile was placed on my kissable lips. "Am I too late for an introduction, Direk?" bigla ay tanong ko. Dinig ko ang maluwag na paghinga ng nakararami sa loob nang sabihin ko iyon. Tila matagal silang naghintay sa sasabihin ko.

"Not really, Lola. I'm glad you're here!" he said. Halata sa hilatsa ng mukha niya ang pagkainis sa taong tinutukoy niya. "Because you know... I'm really getting pissed with Scarlet. Ang sabi niya ay hindi niya matatanggap ang project na ginawa para sa kanya. This project was made purposefully for her career! And then, she suddenly suggested you to take the role. Nakakatawa, 'di ba? But knowing you, I'm not quite sure if you're okay with it—"

"Okay!" I answered, all smiles. Sa sobrang tingkad ng pagngiti ko ay nahahawaan ko na ng good vibes ng kaharap ko. There are some guys around us started to give me an amused look. Sanay naman ako. First day is always my forte. It's always what I prepare at first since first impression really lasts.

My eyes, though wanting to put up a big show, suddenly rooted for the apple. Nagsisimula nang maghanap ang mga mata ko sa lalaki na gustong gusto kong makita ngayong araw but he's nowhere to be found. Hindi kaya pinagloloko lang ako ni Scarlet? Naiisip ko pa lang na pinaghandaan ko ang lahat ng ito at pagkatapos ay lolokohin lang din ng isang oportunista-sister by blood ko ay nagkakaroon na ako ng maiitim na balak kung paano ililibing nang buhay ang babaeng 'yun.

Nahinto lang ang pasimple kong pagmamasid nang marinig ko ang boses ng kaharap ko.

"Are you sure?" Direk asked.

"Yes, Direk!" masiglang sagot ko sa kanya. "I want to try a new kind of role, actually. Iyong magugulat ang karamihan. Besides, don't you agree that I do this for a change? Villains are also tired of being villains. Hindi naman all the time ay ako palagi ang kaiinisan ng buong bayan dahil sa mga napapanood nilang teleserye. I like challenges," I wittingly added with a wink.

I laughed to myself with matching ngitngit. Oh, this should be a good pay, Direk, or else I'm not gonna sign up for this.

Si JD lang ang dahilan kung bakit ako nasa loob ng apat na sulok ng kwarto na ito. Hindi ko sasayangin ang oras ko para sa isang low-budget drama kung hindi lang dahil sa tempting offer ni Scarlet.

I'm rooting for that sexy guy. Gosh! All girls, mapa-showbiz man o sa elite circle, they all wanted to be with him. He owns the name of being the Filipino's Sexiest Man Alive. I can still remember his proud abs displayed arrogantly on every billboard sa EDSA. Mula buhok hanggang bukong-bukong niya ay walang tapon. He's God's masterpiece. Noong magsaboy ng kakisigan, ka-yummy-han, at kagwapuhan si Lord ay tulog halos lahat ng lalaki. Ang effort niyang magpuyat pero worth it! And as I was saying, lahat ng babae sa Pilipinas ay kinahuhumalingan ang isang tulad niya. Lahat ay gusto siyang makasama... maikama... Kahit isang gabi lang. Not that I'm into sex, but that's an essential part of riding the fame. Being around him might take me to ecstasy of fame. Hindi lang kasi siya basta Filipino actor, he's also a Hollywood actor. Nakakasalamuha na niya ang mga bigating artista sa Hollywood. Dating him is the biggest way to get to the top. Isa pa, hindi na bago sa akin ang ganitong kalakaran. I'm used to dating several star actors just to stay in the spotlight. At kapag hindi na sila sikat, I get the alibi of breaking their hearts because I don't feel the spark anymore.

Now that I am here, marami akong gustong mangyari. Unang una na roon ay ang makuha ang atensyon ng isang James Dean Ferrer.

"Good! So, si JD na lang talaga ang problema ko..." sa wakas ay bulalas ni Direk. His smile made me remember my famous fake smile yesterday during my vlog session. Tinatago niya ang inis sa pangalan ng taong kanyang binanggit.

"JD?" I repeated.

"I mean James Dean. You know him, right? He should be here na dapat but he called earlier na mali-late siya dahil sa isang emergency."

"Ummm, Direk..." biglang singit ng isang isang babae na naka-shirt na may tatak ng BTX Network Logo at nakasabit ang mabigat na Company ID nila ang biglang lumapit sa aming direksyon. May dala siyang clipboard na may nakaipit na ilang papel at saka yumukod kay Direk. One of the staffs, I supposed. "I think you should see this..." Dinig kong bulong niya. Nakita ko na hawak na nito ang isang remote control at itinapat ito sa flat TV screen na naka-install sa wall sa harap naming lahat.

Kaagad na namayani ang katahimikan nang bumukas na ang TV.

It was a news flash coming in. All of our eyes have captured the headline as it goes like this: "JD Ferrer at Hannie Torres, isinugod sa ospital matapos magkaroon ng komplikasyon sa p********k!"

Halos hindi ko na maibaba ang nakaangat kong kilay sa nakita. Gusto kong matawa sa napapanood pero pinilit ko ang sarili ko na maging professional ang pagkilos. I balled my fist.

Oh, who wouldn't forget about the infamous JD Ferrer's bizarre movements? He's just the infamous sex machine of his age. Halos majority ng populasyon ng kababaihan ay willing victim para sa kanya. Who wouldn't? He's hot and sexy. Halos lahat ng clothing line, pabango, vehicle compainies, at iba pang line of business ay gusto siyang kunin o piratahin. Kulang na lang ay mag-endorse na rin siya ng flavored condom. Why not? Walang Pinay ang inosente at hindi alam kung anong mayroon sa isang JD Ferrer. He's the talk of the town, a top influencer, a multi-millionaire of his own blood and sweat. He's an ecstasy and a perfect fantasy to crave for.

Isa ito sa dahilan kung bakit gusto ko siyang makilala pa. My second reason: is he really rich on his own?

"Oh my God! Is this for real?!" bulalas na tanong ni Direk. Napatutop pa siya ng bibig. Hindi na maipinta ang kanyang mukha sa sobrang inis.

"Just take a look at the headline and the news! It's coming from BTX Network, our network!" bulalas naman ng isang artista na kasama namin sa loob ng room na iyon.

"And we all know that Hannie is the new flavor of the day. Hindi nga lang fit!" anang kasama kong artista na si Gaia Lopez habang tumatawa.

I secretly rolled my eyes and pompously opened the folder on the table and started to study the new project, not minding the commotion. I'm not going to be depressed by the thought that JD is already dating a dozen of it-girls. I'm not here rooting him for love. Duh! I wanted to ride on his fame and seek ways on how to maintain it. I will not be another Hannie Torres na madadala sa ospital para lang matanggal ang ari ni JD. I might even enjoy the fact that he's in me for a long time. LOL.

But kidding aside, wala akong balak na maging katulad ni Hannie. For sure, that girl will be in social media and cry all over the news and blame JD for all the dramas just like how the other girls reacted in the past. Si Yvette Sarmiento nga, isang sikat na modelo, hindi pinalampas ni JD. After a week, nabalitaan na lang na nag-suicide attempt ang babae sa pakikipaghiwalay ni JD sa kanya. Well,  alam naman kasi ng mga babae na hindi nagseseryoso ang isang James Dean Ferrer. Bakit kasi pinapatulan nila?

I continued reading through the papers as I heard Direk cleared his throat. Nagsawa na siya marahil sa kapapanood ng mga eskandalo ni JD.

Direk Bim is never a good director of his time. Everyone in the industry knows about him and how he pays his artists. Nagdaan na rin ako sa kanya noong nagsisimula pa lang ako sa industriya at hindi na ako gaanong umuulit not unless he's been pursuing the project to my late father and the all-time action leading man in his time, Albert Lee. Kapag nauuto kasi ni Direk si Daddy, saka ako napapa-oo sa kanila. Ayoko kasing binibigo si Daddy sa lahat ng kahilingan niya. I was always like that until his last breath.

After the meeting, niyaya ako ni Scarlet sa isang high class bistro. As usual, bago pa man ako makaupo sa pwesto namin, may ilang tao na ang lumalapit sa akin, asking for a picture taking or for an interview with me. Nang makaupo kami, pinalapit ko ang manager ng bistro.

"Please give me a peaceful night and let the bees out." As soon as I said those words, the manager automatically nodded. They know the code. I hate paparazzis and the likes kapag gusto kong lumabas fake mask ko.

"So... you accepted the project?" panimulang tanong ni Scarlet sa akin.

I rolled my eyes and drank my margarita. "Hell, yes, bitch! Akala ko ba sure na si JD sa project? Bakit hindi naman pala? If I only knew this would happen, hindi na sana ako pumayag pa. You know how I hate being inside Direk Bim's flock. He's taking most of the money with him!"

Scarlet laughed. "Yeah, yeah, bitch. I know how you feel. And don't worry, JD has already signed up at hindi siya mapipigilan kahit pa ni Hannie. You wanna know why?" She cunningly smiled at me while saying those words. Iyon ang ngiti ni Scarlet na hindi ko nagugustuhan. If I'm mean, well, Scarlet is at some point higher than my level. Although she hates keeping up with other's fame, she likes seeing other people's downfall whenever she has the chance to look at it without even wishing. Ganoon siya kalupit. First class silent bully.

"I hate you for looking at me like that, bitch. So, you're saying that he's up to something?" paglilinaw ko ng tanong.

"Of course! May tao bang walang plano sa buhay? Of course he has a plan. A very cunning plan," pataas-taas na kilay na kanyang tugon.

"Spill it, bitch! Ayoko ng suspense. Gosh!" I can't wait to know what's behind the story. Something is telling me that JD Ferrer is not just any famous sexy man, but someone deeper than that.

"Hmmm... I heard a rumor that his downfall is about to start. You know... I really don't hate him. I like JD, but I just hated the news. Naalibadbaran din ako minsan. Kaya, mas magandang gumawa na ako ng move para sa downfall niyang iyon, doesn't it sound cool, bitch?"

I laughed. "Oooh. I think that's exciting! Ano bang score between you and JD? May past ba kayo na hindi mo sinasabi sa akin?"

Mas lumakas ang tawa ni Scarlet dahil doon. Buti na lang at nasa private room kami at malayang nakakapag-usap. "Wala naman kaming past, 'no! Let's just say na may kaibigan lang akong gustong paghigantihan kaya kinakausap kita na pumayag sa project ni Direk Bim. Because from what I heard, JD is rooting for a woman inside the project. And I think nakita mo na siya kanina," she revealed.

Napaisip ako. "Who? Gaia?"

"Bingo!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "What?! That low-class actress? He wants to hit on her? Eww!"

Scarlet laughed crisply. "Yeah. But I think Gaia is a big catch. Hindi dahil sa papasikat na rin siya, but because her uncle is the great Jo Herrera. Close sila ng uncle niya and that's why Gaia has been all over the TV because of him."

"W-wait... what's exactly this gossip? Are we really talking about JD pa rin? Because as you speak as of this moment, parang nagsusumbong ka sa akin na may isang lalaking social climber at oportunista like me. Are you saying that JD is one of my kind?" Parang hindi ko mapaniwalaan ang revelation ni Scarlet. Minsan, gusto ko na rin siyang batukan sa sobrang chikadora niya, but she has never reported something so baseless to me before.

Scarlet's lips curved a devilish smile. "That's why you have to find it out yourself. Seduce her, bitch. Tutal, you're a big catch for him. Big catch siya for you. If I'm right at my calculations, you will smell social climbing in his aura. If I'm wrong, then he'll definitely fall in love with you and you will ride on his fame."

Dahil sa sinabi ng kaibigan ko, napasandal ako sa couch.

Sa unang dahilan kung bakit ko kinuha ang project ni Direk Bim, I was always focused on rooting for JD, his influence and his wealth. But now, parang gusto kong umatras.

But I'm stuck in between.

Being a social climber, I know in particular that the most implemented rule that I, as a social climber, must adhere: "Never fall in love with a social climber like myself. If you wish for his/her fall, his/her fall will be yours, too."

Ang tanong: handa ko bang isugal ang oras at puso ko sa kanya?