2 The Day We Started

"Phew… The weather is so hot today."

Mumbling softly, I leaned back to my seat and fanned my face with the script in my hands. 

The sky over my head was clear without any clouds to obstruct the glaring sun. I hated that with passion. That sun always treated me as if I'm its fated enemy. 

On such hot and humid days, I wanted to stay home and drink some cold juice or lemonades. Though, I know I couldn't. 

That doesn't mean I can't try to look for some cool place. I tried to do that, but someone's voice interrupted me. 

"Hey Alice! Are you ready? your audition is in 5 minutes max!"

Ah. That was right, I almost forgot due to this increasing heat. 

The reason behind my presence here wasn't to complain or die from heat. I was supposed to have an Audition for a short TV Drama Series. This girl who just reminded me was my Manager, Annie. 

"That's right, what do I have after it too?"

"A live performance on Tissok at night, you said you had an appointment later right?"

She winked at the last part, subtly hinting to me about my 'appointment'. She was one of the few people knowing about my secret relationship as I was an Idol and an Actress. 

Not everyone was supposed to know about those affairs of mine. And her subtleness may not be enough. I gave her a look and sighed softly. 

Why did I choose such a complicated and busy career? 

"Careful, we can't have some accidents happening here."

Maybe my tone was too cold, Annie flinched and seemed to be almost in tears. She was so timid at times, and dejectedly lowered her head all the time when she felt she did something wrong. 

"Y-Yes, Alice, I'm so sorry!"

God had blessed me with a capable manager, however, she needed to work that attitude up. 

Either way, complaining about this was stupid. I was one of the most famous Idols, Alice Jovian. Even if my manager acted like that, I'd be able to help her out without much problems. 

I stood up, carefully patting my face with a tissue to not ruin my makeup. The heat was making me too sweaty for my own good. 

I beckoned Annie to come closer and she almost jumped on me, but I tried to be gentle with her as much as I could. 

"Don't worry, Annie. Everything is okay. How about you grab some lemonade for me while I finish this audition?"

Jeez, my voice was cold again. Heh, for some reason, it was hard to show genuine emotions after acting for my whole life. 

Sometimes, something told me I should be sad and resent this fact. But hey, I still got a lovely boyfriend who accepted me just as I was. Being a little bit unhinged didn't hinder our love.

Only you think like that. 

No, he loves me dearly despite how I act. It's a blessing. 

I silenced that whisper, the voice that came from the back of my head, and patted Annie's shoulder. 

I tried, as much as I could, to make my voice warm and reassuring when I spoke to her earlier. I think it worked a bit, seeing Annie perking up and jumping to grab some drink for me. 

Or maybe she just wanted to run away from me. 

Either way, that meant nothing to me now. I needed to finish this audition soon and go back. He was probably waiting for me. 

I approached the audition location with a soft smile, only to freeze in my place when one of the staff members pushed a new script to my hands. 

I resisted the urge to arch my eyebrow at that act, and decided to read the script instead. It was completely different from the one I was practicing.

Stifling my rising irritation, I politely approached the producer to inquire, "Excuse me, Producer? I thought the script was a different one."

"Err, well, we had to change the script at the last moment, please forgive me…"

The old man in his late 50s approached me and chuckled wearily, his back and face were sweaty. Yet it was clear that was not only due to the weather. 

I sighed, I thought I finished those silly stupid games of Actresses suppressing their juniors, apparently I was mistaken. 

"As the Chinese saying goes, there is always a sky beyond sky."

For now, there was a sky above me for sure. And it was hindering me from spreading my wings as I wished. 

Saying that sarcastically to the people around me, I looked again at the script and mused silently, this was a very interesting plot where I needed to be the victim. 

This character was important, however. Which made me pause. This was strange, if someone just wanted to throw me off, why would they give me an important role? 

Although I wanted to know, I decided this was not the time to question anything.

Haha, maybe you should.

No, I would not. I'm busy and I need to meet my boyfriend soon, Mei. 

I answered the voice internally, which made her grunt in disapproval. Soon, Annie arrived and started to explain my role more to me after handing me my drink. 

Telling me step by step what I am supposed to do was kind of annoying. But she did nothing wrong, this was her duty as my Manager. 

In this audition, I was supposed to play the heartbroken girl. Her husband cheated on her and forcefully manipulated her into submission. To the point she thought that wasn't something terrible. 

Haaa, with another regretful sigh, I murmured gloomily, "She's broken beyond fixing…"

Broken like you. Yet you do not acknowledge it, too. 

Mei was right, I won't acknowledge anything like that. Not because I'm truly being manipulated, though. But because she was delusional. 

Mei had accompanied me since I was young. She was so distrustful to people, so hostile. I was always glad that I was in control and not her. Or else, everything would have gone astray. 

It was all starting from that day, that I seem to be still unable to remember. 

Shaking those fuzzy memories off, I approached the stage and immersed myself into the character. 

It was always fun to get into other people's shoes. To believe I'm them, to know how they felt. 

And that was what I did. Earning myself the high praises of everyone around me, and surely irritating whoever wanted to put me into a bad situation. 

I simply showed myself as the real person in that scene. I was the character and the character was me. We're one, I'm her.

In that way, I was able to perform splendidly all of the time. 

Finishing that off, I evened my breath and changed my clothes with Annie's help, she was unusually calm. 

"Is something wrong?"

"Uh? Oh. No, I was just thinking about Sir Marcos, I think… I saw him just around the corner?"

Marcos? Why was she saying my boyfriend was here?

A bad feeling