School was tedious and exhausting.

It was my last year at university and I was saddled with projects left and right.

If it weren't for Yui and Folk, things would be tough and less tolerable.

But I had to persevere.

I fought for my desire to take communication arts.

My family were against it.

They wanted me to take a more lucrative degree like law, medicine or something related to business but I refused.

Even my dad who had long been separated from my mother weighed in on the issue but there was nothing they could say or do to change my mind.

I refused to be influence by their opinions.

I wanted something that I like.

***

When I got home after school, I heard unfamiliar voice.

I was surprised because we seldom get any visitors.

I opened the door and came face to face with a woman who had a warm smile and a kind face.

She had brown hair past her shoulders and sunglasses perched on top of her head.

"There you are," My mother stood up from the couch, grinning like the Cheshire cat.

My suspicion leaped to a higher level.

Even my grandmother looked happy.

What's happening here?

I didn't have a chance to ask because my mother practically dragged me to sit on the empty space beside the woman.

"Anueng, this is Genie." Her smile got even bigger.

"Hello," I bowed to the stranger.

"Hello, Anueng. Nice to meet you," She extended her hand so I shook it.

There was an assuredness in her handshake.

"Genie is Khun Nueng's manager," I bet my mother was bursting to give that important information.

What was she doing here?

I was tired and didn't have time to beat around the bush.

On the way home, I was looking forward to dinner and a quiet night.

It was impossible because I still have homework but this visit and this visitor wasn't what I expected.

"I don't mean to be rude but why are you here?"

Genie smiled, unfazed by the curtness in my tone.

"Anueng, you're hard to find." She chuckled.

"If it weren't for your podcast, we wouldn't have found you."

"Why are you looking for me?"

"Ah," The smile didn't leave her face.

"You're very straightforward. I like that."

"That doesn't answer my question. Again, why are you here?"

"Okay then," She was both amused and intrigued by my response.

"I don't want to take more of your time. Bill, that's our executive and well," She shrug her shoulder, "would like you to appear in one of our music videos."

Ah.

This thing again.

I thought of the business card that was probably shoved at the bottom of my purse.

"I'm not interested," Genie frowned, surprised by my answer.

When she didn't say anything, it was my mother who spoke.

"Let's not get too hasty shall we?"

"Why?" I scowled.

"I have no interest in being in front of the camera."

My mom glanced at Genie, embarrassed.

"Can we talk in private?" She stood up.

I opened my mouth to protest but my grandma spoke up.

"Anueng, listen to your mom."

That shut me up.

When my parents separated, my grandmother practically raised me as her own because my own mother was too busy making up for the times she lost when she was a teenager.

She was strict and her child rearing techniques would cause alarm but if it weren't for her, I don't know how I would turn out.

I looked at my mother with reluctance but I stood up.

***

When the lock to my bedroom clicked, I exhaled and steeled myself for what my mother had to say.

"Anueng, this is great." Her voice reflected the excitement she felt.

"For whom?"

"For you of course."

"Really?"

"Look, Genie came all the way to talk to you. Why are you throwing away this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?"

"Opportunity? For me or for yourself?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on, Mom. I think the moment you knew that she was Khun Nueng's manager, you already made the decision for me."

"That's not true. If I have then we wouldn't be having this discussion."

"Mom, I've seen what you did to the craft room. I never said anything because it's your life and you clearly idolized her for reasons I don't understand but I made my decision. I don't want to be in a music video."

Her shoulders slumped but she was undeterred.

"Aren't you afraid of what's going to happen if you say no? I mean it's not everyday that Khun Nueng's manager would drop a visit at someone's house to recruit you. She could have sent someone but she didn't. She came here to talk to you in person."

"That's okay. I could find other opportunities."

"Do you hear yourself?"

"Loud and clear."

"You don't understand."

"What is it I don't understand? She came here to ask if I wanted to appear in a music video. I said no. What's so hard to understand about that? Do I have to spell it out?"

"Your future hasn't started yet. Do you know what they could do to affect the career you wanted for yourself?"

The heat crept up from my chest to my cheeks.

"Are you threatening me?"
"I'm just telling you the truth. These are powerful people. They could make or break you."

"Mom, you don't have to be so dramatic about this. I know what you're doing. You're the one who wanted access to Khun Nueng. I don't. My answer is still no."

Her jaw was set and her eyes were dark and ominous but I was unafraid.

"Fine. If this is really what you want then it's up to you," She turned and left the room.

I went outside and gave Genie my final answer.

She thanked us and left.

***

"You said no?" My friends and I were at the quad.

Textbooks were splayed open in front of us.

While I was busy studying, Yui was busy scrolling on her phone.

She stopped when I told her about Genie's visit.

"Why did you do that?" Folk stopped writing.

"Why not? You both know I like working behind the scenes. If I wanted to be in front of the camera, I would have accepted the offers to appear in commercials."

They looked at each other.

When we're at the mall, random strangers would come up to me with their business cards and exciting offers but I always turned them down.

I have no interest in being the face of this or that brand.

"Your mom was right though. That was an amazing opportunity. Too bad you didn't want to do it." Yui said.

"There'll be others."

"But not as big as that," Folk remarked.

"I mean, it's Genie. Khun Nueng's manager. She looked for you and came to your house. I mean if that were me, I'd feel pretty special." He smiled.

"You and my mom should talk. I bet you'd get along fine." I teased.

"Folk has a point, Anueng. You were recruited by the person who worked directly with the most famous person in the world and you just turned it down?"

"I made my decision. Now can you just drop it? We only have ten minutes till our next class. I have to finish this," I tapped the notebook with the end of my pen.

"Whatever," Yui brought her attention back to her phone.

I flipped the page of the Psychology textbook and was about to write the definition of narcissistic personality disorder when my phone lit up.

I glanced at it and was about to ignore the caller when Yui picked up the phone and shoved it close to my face.

"What the hell, Yui?"

It was Khun Nueng calling.

I shouldn't have written her name as the contact information and opted for something less obvious like Ignore or Trouble, Don't Answer.

"Answer it," She said, excited.

"Why?"

"Because it's KN calling," She was practically yelling now.

Even Folk stood up to check the phone screen.

I let out a sharp exhale before pressing the accept button.

"Anueng?" I heard that cool voice that could make everyone's heart drop.

"What do you want?" I asked, annoyed.

Why can't these people understand that no means no?

"Can we talk?"

"I'm busy."

"Please?" There was an earnestness in her tone that made my heart swell.

Don't fall for it. I reminded myself.

"I have class in two minutes," I lied.

"Make it quick."