CHAPTER ONE

TRECIA'S POV

(Kelan mo 'ko planong bisitahin?) mataray na bungad sa akin ni Feline nang sagutin ko ang tawag niya.

I sighed. "You know how busy my schedule is, Fel."

(Sus! Ang sabihin mo, ginusto mong magpaka-busy para lang kalimutan siya. Let me guess, it never worked.)

Bigla akong nairita nang banggitin iyon ni Fel. "I'm busy because I got busy. Not because I wanted it, and definitely not because of him." Mas lalo akong nairita. "And would you stop making everything I do connected to him? You're irritating the hell out of me."

Tinawanan niya lang naman ako. (Ewan ko sayo, Tres. Ang hilig mong mag-deny eh sa pagkakaalam ko nga, siya ang rason kaya uuwi ka kaagad sa Pilipinas. See? Nakakapangtampo kaya sa side ko.)

I couldn't help but roll my eyes. "Whatever, Fel. You never listened to anything I say anyway."

(That's because I'm obviously older than you, but you never addressed me as one.)

Napailing na lang siya. "Why don't you be like Martina? He prefers to be called using that nickname of his."

(Hindi kasi niya sure kung magpapatawag ba siya ng ate o kuya.)

Hindi ko napigilang matawa sa sinabi niya. "You're always full of things to say."

(Tama naman kasi ang sinasabi ko.)

"Whatever, Fel. Anyways, gotta go now. My manager is glaring at me. Bye! See you soon."

(Ingats, Tres! Bye!)

I finally ended the call and quickly walked towards my irritated manager. "Hey, Mommy France. What's with the long face?"

"Are you really asking me that question, Trecia?" She looked really annoyed. "I have been trying to contact you since this morning, but I never got any reply. Do you have any plans on giving me a heart attack? Huh, young lady?"

I flipped my long black hair. "I was busy talking to a friend and taking care of my hair, Mommy."

Napailing naman ito saka tiningnan ulit ako. This time, medyo nabawasan na ang pagkainit ng ulo. "Your month's vacation has been approved." My mood suddenly brightened up, which made my manager frown. "Don't celebrate so fast. They do have one condition."

I raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"They wanted you to shoot a commercial before you head to the Philippines."

I dramatically let out a sigh. "Seriously? If that's the same commercial I rejected, then I'm standing my ground, Mommy. I'm not gonna accept that offer."

Si Mommy France naman ang napabuntong hininga. "What is really your problem with that commercial? Is it your co-actor? Your dress for the shoot? The schedule? What is it?"

"I just hate that restaurant, Mommy." It was our restaurant. Now I hate it.

"I'm sorry to know that, sweetie, but it's an offer you shouldn't miss. That restaurant is now one of the most famous restaurants in the whole world, and for you to be in their commercial... It would be a great honor, Trecia," pagpupumilit ng manager ko.

I held my chin up and my face hardened. "When I say no, it means no, Mommy."

She sighed as if she had completely given up on me. "It's a no to the commercial and ba-bye to your vacation, or yes to the commercial and hello, vacation. You have to choose wisely, Trecia."

Naiinis naman akong tinalikuran siya saka nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa exit. I knew she was about to call my name, so I spoke first. "I'll think about it."

Hindi na muli siyang umimik kaya naman nakaalis ako nang tuluyan. So it's either entering my most hated place or having my most awaited vacation. Why do they have to be so mean?

Lumapit ako sa chauffeur ko na agad yumuko nang makita ako. "Where to, Lady Trecia?"

"I wanted to say to a bar, but I'm pretty sure that you have to say something to me since you talked first," walang emosyon kong salita.

He nodded. "Your father wants to have dinner with you. He said that he has to talk to you and it's regarding the movie that he wanted you to be in."

I let out an annoyed sigh. "Fine." As if he'll let me off the hook. Baka nga mas mabuti pang magkausap kami, at baka makumbinsi niya ang producers ng commercial na 'yon.

Muling magalang na yumuko ang driver saka ako pinagbuksan ng pinto. Once settled, I saw him enter the car and began driving. Nanatili na lang akong nakatitig sa labas ng bintana, at pinag-iisipan ang sinabing condition ng management.

Nang huminto ang sasakyan, saka ko lang napansing nasa labas na kami ng isang hotel—technically, one of Dad's most favorite luxury hotels. The chauffeur opened the door for me and guided me to properly leave the car before he left—probably to park the car somewhere.

Taas noo akong pumasok sa hotel, at katulad ng nakasanayan, karamihan ng mga tao sa loob ay nakatingin sa akin. I actually thought that no one would come near me since all the people here are obviously rich, but they really do surprise me.

"You are Trecia Davies, am I right?" The little girl seemed happy to see me.

But I wasn't in the mood, so I did not smile at her. "Yes, and?"

Her smile widened even more. "Oh my! Would you mind signing my notebook?"

I raised an eyebrow before realizing what I did and composed myself as I sigh. "Not at all." I took her notebook and signed it on a designated page. "Here you go."

She jumped in glee. "Thank you so much!"

I simply nodded before going back to walking. Napaisip tuloy ako kung nahalata nung bata ang pagtataray ko, pero mukha namang hindi. Tuwang-tuwa pa nga siya eh. Napailing na ako saka tuluyang pumasok sa main restaurant ng hotel. "I'm here for Theodore Davies."

The woman looked at her list before smiling at me. "This way, Ms. Davies." Inihatid niya naman ako sa lamesa ni Dad saka umalis.

"Good evening, Dad." I kissed his cheek before settling on the chair across from him.

He gave me a serious look before he greeted me. "Good evening to you too. Anyways, I already ordered a meal." Tumango na lang ako. "I'll get straight to the point here, Trecia. I want you to be the leading lady in my current project."

"Why do you even have to tell me that? We both know for sure that you already put my name on the casts' list," walang buhay kong sagot.

"Isn't it better to inform you beforehand?"

"Mmm-hmm. If you say so, Dad."

Sakto namang dumating ang pagkain namin kaya pareho kaming nanatiling tahimik.

My dad is a well-known movie director, that's why he wanted his daughter to be an actress. Mom was an actress and a producer, and since I'm the only child, their love for movies was forcefully passed on to me.

Now, I don't have a choice but to accept my written fate and do as I was told.

I was in the middle of eating my dinner when I remembered something. "About a commercial that they're forcing me to do, would you be able to talk to them and say I would never want to do it?"

He wiped his lips with the table napkin before he stared at me. "No. I'll be telling you to accept their offer."

"But, Dad—"

"No buts, young lady. You have already rejected three projects this year simply because their products reminded you of him," he pointed out, which stunned me for a moment. "I already let those slide, but this one is different. They're a huge fish that's already wanting to be caught by you. So don't be a brat and take it. After that, you'll be able to rest for the meantime."

Hindi ako makapaniwalang tiningnan siya. "You know about my vacation?"

"I know everything about you, my daughter. Especially if it concerns your career." He ended the conversation.

I had no choice but to keep silent and finish my dinner. And here I thought he'll understand me. Ano pa nga ba ang inaasahan ko?

Nang matapos ang hapunan namin ay naghiwalay na kami ng landas. My dad went home, while I went to my condo unit to rest my mind. I bet anytime it'll plan to shut down, or maybe explode—I don't know, but one thing's for sure. This luxurious world that I'm currently living in isn't what I wanted, and if this continues, I'm pretty sure I would do everything I can to leave it.