Chapter 1: Mikaela Luxury

"Kae!"

I looked at her with a smile on my face. She was following me because I took her lipstick---I was teasing her and now, she's totally pissed off. I smirked. "C'mon, Yana! Habulin mo ako,"

She takes a deep breath as she shakes her head, still following me. "You brat! Give it back to me!" she yells again.

"I will slap you once I caught you! Humanda ka talaga!" I laughed so hard. Her face was getting redder and I can't help but laugh.

I ran fast. I know Ariana, kapag sinabi niyang sasampalin niya ako, gagawin niya 'yon. Ayoko namang masampal dahil masyadong mabigat ang kamay ni Yana.

"Yzobelle!"

Napalingon ako sa kanya. My forehead creased as I stopped from running and pouted my lips. "I was just teasing you, Yana. Sasampalin mo ba talaga ako?" mahinang tanong ko.

"Tss! Akin na nga 'yan!" she took her lipstick and I smiled because she didn't slap me.

"Aray!" malutong na sigaw ko nang sinabunutan niya ako. "I hate you! Pikon!" sigaw ko dahil hindi nga niya ako sinampal, sinabunutan naman. She laughed.

"I get annoyed when someone interrupts me, Kae. Stop being a kid. You're already 20." She coldly said before going back to her chair and she then continued what she was doing a while ago.

My forehead creased as I stared at her. Why is she suddenly mad? Palagi ko naman siyang inaasar pero bakit ngayon lang siya nagalit?

I shrugged my shoulders and sat on my chair. Uumpisahan na rin ang pag me-make-up sa akin. I was just staring at myself through the mirror when my phone suddenly rang. Nakangiti kong kinuha ang cellphone ko at mas lalo akong napangiti nang makita kung sinong tumatawag.

"Mom," I smiled even though she couldn't see it. Sumandal ako sa upuan at pinag-krus ang mga binti ko.

"I'm going to your interview, Kae. What time is it again?" Mom asked.

"Later, Mom. After lunch. I hope to see you with Dad. Could you fetch him?" I pleaded her. Palaging wala si Daddy. He always says he's busy running the company and I hate it. Wala na siyang oras sa amin ni Mommy kaya nagtatampo na ako.

Silence ate Mom so I spoke again. "Mom? Still there?"

"A-ah. Yes, anak. I will try to ask him to be with us." She said. Hindi ko alam kung sasama si Daddy pero parang hindi naman. He never supported me. Si Mommy lang ang palagi kong kasama.

"Yeah, Mom. I'll hang up the call. Take care!" I cut out the call as I inhaled a large amount of air.

"Kae!"

Napatingin ako sa dumating and it was Brylle. I smiled at him. "What are you doing here? It's too early," I looked at the mirror again.

"Yeah, it's too early, Brylle. You're courting her, 'no?" ngumisi si Yana sa kanya.

"We're just friends, Ariana. I'm just here to support her," he winked at her.

"Wala kang taping?" I asked him, and looked at him through the mirror. He shook his head.

"I saved this date, Kae. Ikaw lang ngayon."

Tumawa ako at umiling. "Hindi mo ba susuportahan si Yana? She's your friend, too." I raised brow.

"I don't need him! Palagi kaya kaming nag-aaway, duh." She rolled her eyes.

"Whatever." Brylle said.

"Enough, guys." Awat ko sa kanila kaya wala nang nagsalita.

"We're here again and we have a beautiful guests! Please welcome, Mikaela Luxury and Ariana Climente!" the host said. Lumabas kami ni Yana sa backstage at nagpalakpakan ang mga tao.

"The beautiful women in the industry!" Karen said, the host.

She gave us microphone. Ngumiti ako sa mga tao pati na rin sa camera dahil live kami ngayon. "Hello po. I was so ecstatic to be here with you, guys. Keep on watching!" nag flying kiss ako at ngumiti sa kanila.

"I'm kinda bit nervous because I don't have any idea what the questions are but I'm happy that I'm one of your guests." Ariana said, smiling.

"Please take your seats, ladies." Karen said so we did what she said.

"So, uumpisahan ko kay Mikaela. Kae, what can you say about your popularity? You're now a big star," she smiled.

I let out a small laugh. "I wasn't expecting this life because at first, I didn't like to be an artist. To be honest, I was an introvert person but things happened. My Mom is an artist, she asked me to do this but I didn't accept what she wanted for me. As time passes by I've realized that my life was quiet and private so I've decided to do what my Mom asked me. I've realized that I wanted to make a new environment for myself. I thought I wouldn't be noticed 'coz I wasn't good. Hindi talaga ako marunong umarte, Karen," nakangiting sabi ko.

"You're just like your Mom, you two are big stars. Anong gusto mong sabihin sa mga fans mo?" she asked again.

I faced the camera. "Hmmm. I just wanna say thank you, of course. Kung hindi naman dahil sa inyo, wala ako rito. I'm sorry if there was a time that I was so quiet, pinag-aaralan ko pa kung paano makipag-interact but yeah, I'm thankful to you all." I smiled.

"How old are you again?" Karen asked.

"I'm just 20, Karen."

"Oh? You're so young! Wala ka bang boyfriend?"

Natawa ako sa tanong niya. I expected that question. "Wala pa." Tipid na sagot ko.

"Wala pa? Wow! Hindi ka pa nagkakaroon ng boyfriend?" namamanghang tanong niya kaya natawa na naman ako.

"I had a boyfriend when I was 19." Sagot ko. Do I need to explain why we didn't end up together?

"Is he an artist? Why you two didn't--"

"He cheated on me," I let out a small laugh and bit my lips.

"Oh my God?" gulat na sambit niya. "Why? What happened? Is it okay if you--"

"That's her private life." Singit ni Ariana kaya natahimik si Karen.

"No, it's okay. I don't wanna keep it in private because we were done. Siguro naman wala ng issue 'yon?" nakangiting tanong ko.

"I won't metion his name but yeah, he cheated on me. We were so happy until he met my friend. Hindi ko na rin babanggitin kung sino 'yung babae, respect na lang. Ahmm, habang kami... nililigawan na niya 'yung kaibigan ko." I explained.

Everyone remains silent. Napatingin ako kay Ariana at napabuntong-hininga siya. "But they didn't end up together because my friend knew that he cheated on me."

"That was a sad story." Karen shrugged her shoulders.

"Not anymore." I laughed.

"Okay! Let's move on. How are you, Ariana? Do you have a boyfriend?" Karen looked at Ariana.

"I'm good, Karen. Hmm?" tumawa ng mahina si Yana. "Wala, e. Kailangan ba 'yon?"

Nagtawanan kaming tatlo. Pagkatapos ng interview namin ay sinalubong ko si Mommy. As expected, she's alone. Dad didn't come with her. I smiled bitterly and kissed my Mom on her cheek. "Dad's busy?" I asked, half-smile.

"Don't worry, Kae. He'll come with us once he finished his works. We'll have a dinner date together with Ariana and Brylle. Susunod ang Dad mo." She caressed my face so I just nodded my head.

Hindi na 'yon pupunta.

Ariana's parents were in States. Close na siya kay Mommy dahil matagal na kaming magkaibigan at si Brylle naman, nakilala ko lang simula nang pumasok ako sa showbiz.

We went to China Blue by Jereme Leung. Located 'to sa Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard corner Coral Way. The seats were six. Pa-ikot ang mga upuan at napapagitnaan ako ni Ariana at Brylle. Pagkatapos naming um-order ay kinausap kami ni Mommy.

"I can't wait to see you guys in one project. Kailan kaya kayo magkakaroon ng project?" Mom asked as she took a sip on her wine.

"We don't know. For sure kapag nagkaroon kami ng project, si Kae ang bida, si Brylle ang leading man at ako ang kontrabida," tumawa si Ariana.

"My God, Yana? Ang nega mo. If that happens, I wish ako ang kontrabida. One year na ako sa showbiz at gusto ko rin maranasan ang maging kontrabida," I said.

"Hindi naman mangyayari 'yon. Palaging ikaw ang pinipiling maging bida, Kae." I looked at Brylle and rolled my eyes. You're not helping!

"Ariana is a good actress, Brylle. Mas magaling lang talaga siya maging kontrabida." My Mom said.

Ariana let out a small laugh. "It's okay, Tita. Mas nag e-enjoy naman ako sa ginagawa ko."

Natapos kaming kumain at hindi dumating si Dad. I won't get hurt, sanay na ako sa kanya. He was like that since I was younger. We're not even close. Palaging nasa trabaho ang utak niya at minsan na lang siya umuwi sa bahay.

Days passed and I was so busy. Sunod-sunod ang tapings at interviews ko kaya hindi ako nakauwi sa bahay. I decided to stay in my condo since malapit lang 'to sa lugar kung saan ako nagtatrabaho.

My phone vibrated so I took it inside my Balenciaga shoulder bag. My forehead automaticaly creased when I saw the caller. I'm not familiar with this number. Who could it be? "Fan?" I asked myself.

I didn't take the call. Bumalik ako sa pagkakahiga sa kama ko dito sa condo at sinuot ang eye mask. Pantulog pa ang suot ko at napabuntong-hininga ako nang tumunog na naman ang cellphone ko.

"What?" kinalma ko ang boses ko.

"C-come back..."

Napakunot ang noo ko nang marinig ang lasing niyang boses. Oh come on! Nagkamali ba siya ng tinawagan? Naiistorbo niya ang pagtulog ko. I ended the call.

Kinabukasan ay binalak kong pumunta sa convenience store. I was wearing a black jacket and jeans with black cap. Ayoko na mag pautos sa manager o assistant ko dahil simpleng bagay lang naman 'to.

I wore my Versace Baroque sunglasses as I stopped my car. Inayos ko ang cap sa ulo ko at pumasok na sa convenience store. Kinuha ko ang mga cup noodles though I know how to cook. Ewan, trip ko lang mag noodles.

The girl on the cashier noticed that I was Mikaela Luxury so I stared at her. Sinabi ko sa kanya na tumahimik lang kaya kabado siyang tumango. Wala naman masyadong tao kaya pinagbigyan ko ang hiling niya na mag papicture sa akin. I smiled at her and went out.

I was about to enter my car but two beggars suddenly approached me. "Ate, pagkain lang po."

My forehead creased. Tiningnan ko ang mga binili ko at binigay sa kanila ang mga tinapay na nabili ko kaya nagpasalamat sila.

"Wait!" I shouted. Papaalis na kasi sila.

"Bakit po, ate?" the girl asked.

"Where's your parents?" I asked.

Nagkatinginan sila at sabay na tumingin sa akin. "Ano po?" sabay nilang tanong kaya napahiya ako at napakamot sa ulo. "Nasaan ang mga magulang niyo?"

"Nasa bahay po, may sakit." Sagot ng lalaki na sa tingin ko ay mas bata sa babae.

"Saan ang bahay niyo? Samahan niyo ako sa bahay niyo." I seriously said. Nakatinginan ulit sila.

"Sigurado po kayo?" tanong nila kaya tumango ako.

Iiwan ko na lang muna dito ang kotse ko. Inayos ko ang pagkakahawak sa mga binili ko at sumama sa dalawang bata na sa tingin ko ay magkapatid.

Napalunok ako dahil masyadong masikip ang lugar nila. Ang alam ko ay Tondo Manila ito. Tumigil kami sa maliit na bahay at tiningnan ako ng dalawang bata. "Ate, sigurado kang papasok ka sa loob?" the girl asked.

"Oo."

Tumango sila. Gusto ko na rin makapasok dahil maraming tumitingin sa akin na mga lalaking nakahubad. Hindi naman ako maarte pero ayoko lang sa mga tingin nila.

Nakaramdam ako ng awa nang makita ko ang nanay nila. She was lying on bed, coughing. Lumapit ako sa kanya at inilapag ang mga dala ko. "Anong pangalan niyo, bata?" I asked them.

"Ako po si Carla, siya naman si Carlo." The girl said.

I nodded. "Kunin niyo 'to. Sa inyo na lang." Humarap ako sa nanay nila at tinanggal ang aviators ko. "Ma'am, para po sa pamilya niyo." I took her hand and gave my cash, 20 thousand. "Magpapadala ako ng mga tao rito para tulungan kayo sa pagpapagamot." I smiled at her.

She started to cry. I got panicked when she cried because I thought it was my fault. "Salamat! S-salamat sa'yo..." ngumiti ako at hinaplos ang kamay niya. "Walang anuman po. Aalis na ako." I stood up.

Tumingin ako sa magkapatid at nginitian sila. "Huwag kayong mag-alala, gagaling ang nanay niyo. Aalis na ako, Carla, Carlo."

Tinalikuran ko na sila pero napahinto ako nang maramdaman ko ang paghawak nila sa kamay ko. Napatingin ako roon. "Ate... salamat po." Carla said and I can't help but smile.

Bumalik ako sa kotse ko at sumandal. Mahina ang puso ko sa ganito, naaawa ako sa mga kagaya nila.