Chapter 1
Sophia’s POV
“Good take!”
“Okay, pack up!” the director called out, and everyone clapped in excitement.
I just smiled and wiped away my tears. My team rushed toward me—someone fixed my hair, another adjusted my clothes, someone else worked on my shoes, and another handed me water while wiping dirt off my face.
It had been a long, exhausting, and emotionally draining day. We’d been filming heavy scenes all day. I think I spent the entire shoot crying.
“Are you okay, Sof?” my road manager, Rose, asked. I was still sniffling, a few stray tears slipping from my eyes. It was hard to let go of the character.
“Don’t worry about me,” I murmured, drying my face as I walked toward my tent.
Everyone was busy packing up. “P'wede bang mauna na ako sa sasakyan?” I asked, since I wasn’t needed there anymore.
I grabbed my bag. “Ms. Sof, sama 'ko!” Laurain offered, she was running while carrying my luggage. I nodded and was about to open the door when someone did it for me.
“Hi, Direk!” I greeted.
He smiled. “Thank you for today, Sof. You’re such a great actress,” he said enthusiastically. I wished I had even half of his energy at that moment.
I gave him a tired smile. “Thank you, Direk. Just a little exhausted,” I admitted, hoping he’d catch the hint that I needed rest.
He patted my back. “Of course. Take care, okay? Get some rest. Thank you again.” And with that, he walked off.
I sighed and headed straight to my car.
“You have a 10 AM call time for tomorrow’s noontime show,” Rose said as we drove home. “After that, straight to your magazine pictorial at 4 PM, then ramp dry run at 8 PM.”
I closed my eyes while listening to my schedule. Just hearing it was exhausting.
I was so tired sa trabaho na 'to. Don't get me wrong, all the achievement I had? I was grateful for all of those. Pero nakakapagod na. Gusto ko na magkaroon ng oras para sa sarili ko. Masakit lang dahil itong trabaho na 'to ay ipinaglaban ko, ipinilit ko. Why would I still do it? Well, I just don't want them to prove I was wrong. Let my awards say that I was right after all, even though I know there was no happiness at all.
***
“Rise and shine, Ms. Sof!”
A loud voice startled me awake. I groggily rubbed my eyes, stretching to adjust. Laurain was already pulling open the curtains in my room.
“What time is it?” I asked sleepily.
“9 AM,” she replied.
Hell. It felt like I’d only slept for thirty minutes. I groaned, squeezing my eyes shut before forcing myself to sit up. I had no choice but to get ready.
“What’s for breakfast?” I asked, grabbing my towel.
“Caesar salad. Binilinan ako ni Ms. Rose ba kailangan mong mag bawas ng carbo. para sa ramp event this week,” Laurain informed me.
Literal hell. I rolled my eyes.
“Fine,” I muttered, heading to the bathroom.
Salad. Again. When will I finally get to reward myself with real food after all this hard work?
The rest of my day was non-stop. High energy for the noontime show. High confidence for the photoshoot. And now, the dry run for tomorrow’s ramp event.
“Sophia, congratulations! Trending ka sa performance mo kanina,” the event producer mentioned.
I had no idea. I barely had time to check my social media. But I was used to that now.
After the dry run, I was walking to the parking lot toward my van when I heard loud, hysterical screams.
Curious, I turned toward the noise. A group of fans stood behind barriers, holding banners with my photo and bold letters:
"CONGRATULATIONS, OUR BEST ACTRESS, SOPHIA!"
Their screams grew louder when I looked at them—and even louder when I stepped toward them.
“Hi!” I greeted, smiling despite my exhaustion.
“Sof, oh my god!”
“Ang ganda mo!”
“Congratulations, Sophia!”
“You’ve got this, Best Actress!”
“Hindi ka pa nananalo pero ikaw na ang best-actress namin!”
I frowned slightly, confused. “Para saan to?” I asked. “Congratulations for what?”
“Hindi mo pa ba alam?” one fan gasped. “You’re nominated for Best Actress at the Universal Awards!”
“Late announcement, but we’re so happy for you!”
“Dalawa lang ang Filipino nominees this year at parehas kayong nasa Best Actress category!”
“We’re sure you’ll win!”
Their excitement turned my curiosity into a heavy wave of pressure.
“A-attend ka sa ceremony bukas?” one of them asked.
I turned to my team. They looked just as surprised as I felt.
“I don’t know… I’m not sure yet,” I replied.
Another award nomination. Every time I’d been nominated, I’d won. That built people’s expectations. But what if this time, I didn’t win? Would they still admire me the same way?
We took a group photo, and I thanked them before getting into my van.
“Are we going?” I asked once we were inside.
“I just checked my email,” Rose said. “Yes, they sent an invitation. The event’s in Hong Kong. We can book our tickets easily.”
More pressure.
“What about the ramp walk?” I asked. That was also scheduled for tomorrow.
“I already messaged the producer. Thankfully, they understand. They fully support your nomination,” Rose reassured me. “They said they’d make way for you to attend—because they believe you’ll win the award.”
And what if I don’t?
I had planned to sleep when I got home, but instead, I found myself staring out the window, lost in thought. Why did everyone make it feel like I wasn’t allowed to lose?
“Hey, Sophia. You need to sleep, okay? We’re flying to Hong Kong after your noontime show,” Rose reminded me. “I’ve already booked our tickets.”
“What about my gown?” I asked absentmindedly.
“The black off-shoulder backless one—the one you were supposed to wear to last week’s gala,” she replied. “Anyway, I have to go now. Take care.”
Once everyone left, I opened my social media. My notifications were flooded—friends from the industry, coworkers, directors, even personal friends congratulating me. But underneath all that praise, I felt the heavy weight of expectation.
Then something caught my attention.
"Josh Clark, CEO of Clarison Hotel and President of Clarison Airlines, is also nominated for ‘CEO of the Year’ at the Universal Awards."
I stared at his picture. He was older than me, but still incredibly fine. Broad chest and shoulders, fair skin, tall, sharp nose, kissable lips—but his eyes. They looked intimidating. Mysterious. As if hiding something.
My thoughts were interrupted by my phone ringing.
Patrick.
I smirked before answering. “Hello?” I said.
“Are you awake? You’re nominated, Sof! Congratulations!” he said excitedly.
“Yeah, thanks,” I replied, tired.
“Wanna celebrate with me?” he asked, his tone shifting slightly.I knew what he wanted. Not tonight.
“No. Let me rest,” I said, ending the call.
