Contract Marriage With A Grumpy Idol

5: No Other Choice

“Are you guys five-year-old kids or something?!” Yelled Cait Emmanuel, startling the group of boys who sat inside the initially silent room.

Once they were alone and out of the meeting room with the board of directors, their managers, and a few concerned individuals regarding the issue of Augustus Immaculata's ‘marriage’, Cait Emmanuel's composure exploded, left her body, and vanished in the air.

Times like these were rare. She might have been too frustrated. Tired. And overwhelmed. Augustus had to look away in shame and guilt and fear.

“Cait, calm down,” Janvick bravely spoke. He then stood up and walked toward their fuming manager. He reached out for her shoulder and gently lead her to the nearest stool, sitting her down tamed. “Your nerves in the temple are about to explode. We do not want that, do we?”

“Seriously, Augustus Immaculata, how childish can you be? How irresponsible were you to do that thing without worrying what the future holds, without thinking how its possible consequences will affect not just you, your career, my job, the company, and Zero Degree's— you know, I get it. F*ck the company, even I do not like all their sh*ts. And you do not have to worry about my job. But you could have at least thought of the other boys. Goodness gracious!”

“I told you my stand already, Cait. You could have just pulled me out of the group. As early as I asked you to. It is okay. Better even. For you and for my best friends. By staying, I am just crucifying all of you. I keep on doing things to ruin you, until there is nothing left in hs. Trust me on this one, at least. I am truly sorry— not that I will promise not to do crap ever again. I am just genuinely sorry. So, this is why I am asking you to just pull me out—”

“No, uh, sorry. I do not mean it that way, Augustus,” Cait's face suddenly calmed down. Like an instant shift, the fury in her voice was gone. “I was just... frustrated over the management. That is all. I went through a lot of lashings because I did not look after you, apparently. They are right, of course, but who cares? I do not care what you do, as long as you are not hurting any person. And no, I will not let you out of the group. Zero Degree for life, remember?”

“What do you mean?” Augustus asked in confusion. And he could not differentiate the other boys' expression from his. “You are acting very weird.”

“Not really,” Cait giggled, “Augustus Immaculata, this is actually great, you son of a nuance! You did well!”

“Nah, you are crazy. What are you saying—”

“Where is your husband? Or pretend husband, your fake husband, in the right context. Did you bring the boy with you here?”

Augustus choked. The rest of the boys looked at each other in question, then turned to look up and stare at Cait in sync. Like their manager was an unbelievable endangered specie who showed up one day, caught on sight after a few decades of disappearing from the wild.

He did well? In what way? How the hell did he do good by playing wedding with a stranger he only knew the name of earlier that morning?

If anything, there was not one great thing with all these current fuss. It was affecting their reputation as a group, them as individuals, Cait as their handler, and the company.

“Yes. We went here with Augustus' ‘husband’, if we should call the innocent guy as that...” Janvick was the one to answer. In behalf of his bewildered band mates, even though he himself was puzzled just as much, “They— I mean he and his friends are sitting outside this room. You can see them anywhere around the hallway. Three boys. One is Rion Nathan Maestra.”

“Great, then! Janvick, you take Rion Nathan Maestra's number right now and give it to me later,” Janvick nodded at Cait's order, then obliged immediately and left the members. “As for you, Augustus, you will have to follow what the management says from now on. Am I making myself clear? This is for your own good, too. And for the whole group's. We will wait for further instructions.”

Augustus, as if just garnering his lost trance, closed his slacking jaw. He scoffed, “What? Are you all out of your d*mned mind, Cait? Please tell me you were joking? What is... good with this? Huh?”

“The publicity and attention, Augustus Immaculata. What is viral, gets known more. What is under the internet, gets forgotten. You are all over every platform in the age of technology. The news has reached great peaks and garnered positive and negative reactions. It even got to foreign and international news outlets. Making such a scene was a nice move, must I compliment you. And trust me when I say all that."

“I do not understand a single thing. I still cannot get what ‘good’ are we referring to...”

“Poor boy. Let me simplify it. You know how exaggerated the media can be, no? All your career was built in proper way, organically and as simple as going with the flow. Now, let us swerve ways and try the other alternative. Manipulating the media and creating fake stories for convenience!”

“We are making music for the sake of making music. Not for... that—”

“Whatever. The label will soon drop you if this continues. You will have no choice but to obey and get along with it well, or drop it yourself before the company abandons your group and stake claim to your copyright and brand.”

Augustus tried his best not to elicit an offended response. Did his best. The whole band probably felt the same sense of annoyance, but then, they knew Cait was right and, although it was not certain, the possibility was huge. It just hurt that it was said with precision and detailed predicted ending, that they wanted not to admit it in order to achieve internal peace for once.

“Do not get me or that wrong. I love you guys and your music, and we need the company in order for you to continue, okay? Back to my trail, though, the media only got simple pictures taken by their paparazzi standing a few tens of meters away. They have not one real information about it. They just saw you with the person they found out as Rion Nathan Maestra. You were exchanging rings. While Calyx— this one pissed me off, eh. He was holding a d*mn Bible — God forgive me — and wearing a weird priest costume. Or whatever that is. He was even holding a bottle of what seems like isopropyl alcohol....”

“They made stories about those alone. Rumors has started to circulate the media, and then boom, the next thing we know of it was out of hand. When I realized what the f*ck is happening in the picture, it was ridiculous. Too absurd. You guys are so terrible— like terrible at role playing! I chuckled way too loudly in front of the raging and panicking directors. They were fuming, mad, out of their worried minds, watching the stocks and anticipating a decrease — though it did not come — and I was chuckling like crazy.”

Augustus winced at Cait's playful and mocking tone. At the way their manager was making fun of him, having a lot of enjoyment watching his unpaintable reaction regarding the matter.

If it was another day, he would have snarled at Cait Emmanuel and jokes he will be leaving the group unannounced and point at her as the reason of it. But today, he did not dare interrupt her moment. Not when he was currently giving her too much headache and this was probably the first time she has felt relieved, around them....

“From then on, though, I doubted the genuineness of the public's positive reactions. Until now, I honestly do still. Those hypocritical and mostly hateful people leaving site reviews....” Cait giggled, “BUT! I did not expect you to be that dumb in starting a scandal, Augustus Immaculata. I thought we have taught you better—”

“Can you please stop cackling in my face? Just please? It is annoying. You are pissing me off,” Augustus keened.

He then glared at the joyous woman in hopes of horrifying her, so she would stop. However, it was to no avail as Cait only rolled her eyes playfully, further teasing the man who already had nearly reddening ears.

“No will do, Augustus Immaculata. Take the embarrassment as the thing's worst price,” Cait replied. “Anyway, where was I? Ah, yes. if I did not learn that it was Calyx on that... strange brown gown, fake white beard, and a— what seems like a freaking pancake?! — up his head to pretend like a half bald old man.... and if I did not see the originally taken photos and was only presented with the images for the public with Calyx's figure blurred out— I would have believed it. I would have been invested in the surreal fiction-like articles, too, and wait for confirmation or any response from the company and Rion Nathan until the plot thickens.”

“I was high, okay— no, not with weeds or drugs or anything, just alcohol, just to be clearer. I was high with it on my system,” Augustus stomped his feet once when the other two remaining members — Shawn and Hans, also started to laugh at him alongside Cait. While the shy Calyx hung his head low in shame, hiding his face, slumping back to lower his gaze, “I was not in full control, and Calyx, he suggested that!”

“But it was cute and cool, right?! Guys?!” Calyx asked in defense for himself. “Right?!”

Shawn and Hans nodded politely. Although still giggling, they agreed. Shawn moved to pay Calyx's head.

In return, the youngest boy's mood instantly soared. Getting the approval he needed, pride in his chest swelled. The worry in his veins diminished.

“Augustus Immaculata, you are way older by Calyx. A gap of four freaking years. You should be manning the way. You should always become the larger guy around him. He was on the process of adulthood, where he will need a lot of outside support to built the man he will become. He will need well-maintained guides in the transition period, brought by a more experienced grown up. In this case, it should be you,” Cait muttered, preached.

“You must be the man in command. Instead of relying on a nineteen-year-old kid, someone who spent his childhood in a closed room, practicing routines and chasing his dream at a young age. Someone who knows how the world outside truly works, has not seen its cruelty, as his life revolves around his career only. That boy knows nothing yet, aside from reading fictions, singing, dancing, and playing musical instruments,” she continued.

“I actually do not know anymore if you want to praise me for being an all-rounder and innocent kid, Cait. Or if you just want to drag my interest in reading fictions and imply that I will look like a dumb*ss once faced with real life difficulties. I guess a thank you will be enough, though. Thanks, Cait,” Calyx chimed in, frowning.

“Back to the main agenda, once more,” Cait cleared her throat, “The media play is not always negative. We can make use of it sometimes. This story with Augustus and Rion Maestra has already become too broad. Too complicated for us to resolve by denying it all. They have made up stories to tell the internet, have crafted Augustus' life and interests for their greater gain. They seem to have written your whole biography now. They have even searched for Rion Nathan Maestra's whole life, exposing his previous job, his mother and father's identity, and everything about him elsewhere without the man's permission.”

Augustus looked away in shame. The conflict, without a doubt, has turned into a messier problem. Even Rion Nathan Maestra was greatly affected by it. He would not be able to get back to his unknown lifestyle after this huge scandal. There was a pinch of guilt that started to bloom in Augustus' chest. Rion Nathan could have been sleeping in his duvet right now, a nobody, living in peace and silence. Yet, he had to ruin that for the man. Though that did not remove the irritation he was feeling for the latter.

“At this point, we do not have a choice but not to deny your relationship with Rion.”

“So, at this point,” she sighed, before continuing, “we do not have an ample choice, you see. One of the best ways out of it is not to deny your relationship with Rion Maestra. Go along with it and play the media's game, make it our own.”

“What are you saying? Of course, we have a choice! Cait Emmanuel, I know you can formulate a new plan. Tell them I am not gay, something like that. That will be enough reason—!”

“Augustus.”

“You can—”

“Augustus,” Cait repeated. For the second time she did, Augustus finally stopped rambling, “Think of it this way.”

The pop star tensed up. He shifted on his seat uncomfortable, preparing himself for the upcoming blow.

Cait was not joking around already. He could sense these kind of calm, their manager slowly losing cool.

“You are not free of the previous fuss yet. And now, this. Just a few days, you have been attacked and feist at for being a homophobe. See how they all turned their backs at you, even after the countless steps you guys slowly took to show off how you support the LGBTQIA community? They are not going to be angels at any given minute once given the chance to drag you down.”

Augustus nodded, offended. He knew Cait was right.

“Admit it now or on a later date, this will surely be the way out of that issue. Not only that, but this current one, too. Hitting two birds using one stone. Voila, you are the winner.”

“Cait,” Augustus bit his lower lip, refraining himself not to yell when it has sunk down his realization, “Are you hearing yourself? You do know too well that there are many homophobic people lurking out there. They are the ones making this world unsafe. They are openly throwing slurs and harassing the members of the community, they even go as far as hurting them physically sometimes.”

“Your point is?”

“Queer baits and sh*ts are circulating the media people consume, too. It is just as bad. Romanticizing queer relationships, while looking at real ones as if they are disgusting piles of dirt. And you think keeping this fake marriage with Rion Nathan Maestra and announcing it as legitimate will rather clean my already tainted image? It will even get worse once they find out!”

“It will wipe away the dust in your name. Yes,” shrugged Cait.

“My f*cking goodness, Cait Emmanuel! We are better than this. You have taught us to be genuine kids and men, not fraudulent beings that only show off our good sides in front of the camera. It is you who made us good people, although it is out of your control that I have chosen to become a drunkard and be a d*mn nuance when I'm high. This is not you—”

Shawn and Hans by their side looked down, did not want to interfere. Calyx could only hide, too.

“Augustus Immaculata. Be reminded that this is all because of you, and about you. The company is just trying its best to save you, and I am the one who gets to explain it and face you. Keep your cool first and ponder, will you?”

“I am sorry...” Augustus retorted.

He had to bite his inner cheeks for containment. Cait Emmanuel was wrong. The company was so wrong. He did not want to do it. It was against all his moral values. To fool people for his own benefit....? He would rather choose to drop this dream and leave Zero Degree be the best band on their own, even without him.

“The mass is not reacting negatively, is not showing any violent reactions, and they are rather supportive. There are a few who are against, yes, but those delusional people's opinions are irrelevant. The public is mostly up into supporting you and Rion Nathan Maestra, as well as your relationship. They are rooting for you.”

“Look at it. One low-key and closeted celebrity makes a bold move. He marries his boyfriend proudly, out in the view, without minding what the world thinks. It is like a modern fairy tale. A fanfiction coming to life. And who would have thought that the fiction-like ordeal will ever happen, and it will be you, Augustus Immaculata?”

“But... it is not even true. He is not my boyfriend. We did not get married. He is a stranger to me, and I am also one to him...”

“Does not matter,” Cait stammered, “That is why we will prepare an agreement for the both of you. A one-year contract to make it last, to turn the fake scenario to a legitimate moment in the public's eyes for the mean time. We will register your marriage. Well, if you are scared to tie the knot, worry no more because it will not be forever by legal measures. It will automatically be void after a year.”

Augustus fell silent.

Why were Shawn and Hans and Calyx not reacting? They should defend him, say no, and tell Cait not to pull the plan and just sent it. They could said something to back him up...

He did not know how to react. He did not know what else to say. And how he was supposed to process everything.

When will this get done? He wanted to go back to bed and sleep. And maybe, just maybe, this will all be in his imagination when he wakes up.

“Augustus,” Cait stopped. She blew out a sigh. Then, sat beside the singer. She patted Augustus by the shoulder, then continued, “Please, just trust me when I say that this will benefit you and all the boys in the long run. Do it. For everyone you value and for yourself. People are talking about how well you two hid your relationship. Discussions are about how it must have been hard for a huge name like you to come out and show your true self. If you have seen how severe the attacks and accuses that you were a homophobic from yesterday — which I am sure you have, today is the complete opposite. It seems like they themselves are debunking it all, treating it as you hiding how you are in love with a man. The general public are glad and ready to look forward to you and your relationship all the way.”

“What about my conscience after this? What about me?”

“Your inner peace, I can never say. That, I am sorry, we are sorry,” Cait replied in a sad tone, “But you can easily announce yourself as bisexual. As we have tested the waters, people are rejoicing over your revelation. And well, are you not bisexual for real? You have low-key come out as one for a lot of times already, you are showing signs for them to gather. If you worry that you might fall for somebody else during the marriage with Rion Nathan Maestra that is not a problem. Will not be. We can always negotiate. One more thing, though, Augustus...”

“Just go on, Cait. Let us get this over with,” Augustus weakly muttered.

He almost wanted to slap or punch himself hard in the cheek. Punch his leg or kick a brick. Slam his head in the wall or cause a scene. Just in order to check if this reality was really happening, or he was just having a nightmare.

“If we are to tell the truth just so we can throw this issue off, if we deny it straight, they will conclude that you were just too intoxicated. That you were high and we're not able to navigate yourself into the catastrophic set-up, unconsciously. The previous allegations will prevail, and you will be imprinted as a homophobe for ages. You will not like that thing either. That is even worse.”

Augustus blew a loud breath. He closed his eyes tightly until his lids hurt.

His image was crumbling already. What was there to protect? Why was Cait resuming this fight, when he himself was already willing to give it up? Why would they not stand up and just leave him be? They would be better off without him, anyway...

These past months were hell. For him. For Zero Degree. For Cait. And for the company.

He has been under numerous fires for allegedly picking up fights in different bars. He has been reported to have started commotions and made fusses while he was drunk.

Even if he did not and never really initiated any of those and he just got stuck in the middle of nowhere, regaining himself and pushing his body to move out, every news that broke still managed to make him look bad, worse, included, and at fault.

Most people believed the media play, of freaking course. Aside from their fans and loyal supporters who kept on defending him and believing his responses— he could not thank them enough for holding in.

Augustus has seen them. Those people protecting him in social media. Those people who said he will and can not do such. Those people who understood the often misunderstood takes, and spread that he might just have got stuck in between the mess. Although they also got personally attacked for no leaving him, they continued to love him, them.

The world he was in was just f*cked up. It should be a known fact.

Business. Show business. Entertainment industry. It was all about the money, not honesty. For the stories, not for the truth. For what would sell, not for what would make people feel safe.

He knew of it, but kept on denying. Of all the people, he should have known better.

He should have known better that claiming the truth that his marriage with Rion Nathan Maestra was not real would be the most embarrassing thing.

It would only further confirm him as an alcoholic— yes, he was, but knowing the game of the media, he will for sure lose his career. His best friends might also lose theirs.

Cait was right. The media was ass. The world was cruel. It was either they play along with it and use it to their convenience and good, or let it ruin their reputation until there was nothing left to take pride of.

“All right,” his shoulder dropped. And then, against his will, stated the decision he knew would be better for everyone else and not just him, too, “You can proceed with the arrangement. Do as you please. I will not say a thing again.”

Cait's smile widened. For all Augustus knew, the girl nearly jumped out of joy and pulled him in for a celebratory hug, if only she has not stopped herself from overly expressing her gratefulness.

Instead, Cait Emmanuel reached out and grabbed an arm. In her eyes were nothing but assurance and bliss. Augustus himself could not help but feel relieved, not nervous nor worried. The comforting gaze Cait was giving him was satiating. Although the idea of staying married with a stranger still baffled him.

“Thank you so much for the utmost trust, Augustus. I promise this will not go to waste. Thank you.”

Thank you. What should she thank him for, anyway? If anything, this was not even a willing move. He just did not have anything else to choose from. Aside from entrusting the ordeal to those who knew better, he would be defenseless.

He did not dare say it, either way. The look of excitement and hint of tired contentment in Cait's face was too pretty not to protect.

On the other hand, he also knew better how much his friends value their dreams. He has been with them ever since. During trainings. During the bad and the good. Everytime they would fail to top each monthly evaluation. Until they were on the line of debutants to kill the stage and record their own music. Until they succeeded, when they started to fall off, and even until now. He knew their passion and loves them for that. He knew their enthusiasm, has seen it and has took great pride of it whenever he would see that even though they were tired, they still could find a reason to stand up and dance. He has seen their excitement on and off he stage. He grew up with them, and they grew with him.

They were his best friends. His family. His corner stone. That if he lost them, he would lose himself, too. Vanity was fine. She could go. But once it was about Zero Degree, just the image of it was enough to break him down.

He could not afford to take their smiles and dreams away from them. No. He would not let such a mistake of his to break their established hard work.

He will just have to bear with it. After all, it was his fault and he should take over its consequences.

Just one whole year. Twelve months. Three-hundred and sixty-five days. It will not take too long.

It was not like he would have to always endure seeing his ‘husband’ in that span of time. See, if he thought of ways to deal with it, it did not seem that bad.