We'd Still Worship This Love

Chapter 1 - Managers

The bus ride to StarLight's offices in Makati was uneventful, giving Tripp time to rehearse what he would say to his manager. As he approached the familiar glass-fronted building, he noticed a group of excited young trainees entering, their eyes shining with the same hope he once had.

At the reception, Tripp flashed his company ID. The receptionist, a new face he didn't recognize, smiled politely. "Good morning, Mr. Palma. How can I help you today?"

"I'm here to see Manager Kim. Is he available?"

The receptionist tapped away at her keyboard, then frowned slightly. "I'm sorry, it seems Manager Kim is in a meeting right now. Would you like to leave a message?"

Tripp hesitated. He had made the trip all the way here; he didn't want to leave without at least trying to get some answers. "Actually, is there anyone else from the talent management team available? It's quite urgent."

After a few more keystrokes and a quick phone call, the receptionist directed Tripp to a small meeting room on the third floor. As he waited, Tripp's eyes wandered around the room, taking in the posters of StarLight's most successful acts. He noticed that the CONNECT:02z poster, once prominently displayed, had been moved to a less conspicuous corner.

The door opened, and in walked Ms. Park, one of the junior managers. "Tripp! This is a surprise. What brings you here today?"

Tripp stood, shaking her hand. "Ms. Park, thank you for seeing me. I wanted to ask about the auditions for the new drama. I heard StarLight is involved, but I haven't received any information about it."

Ms. Park's smile faltered for just a moment before she regained her composure. "Ah, yes. That project. Well, Tripp, you know how these things are. The production team has some very specific requirements for the roles. We're still in discussions about which of our talents would be the best fit."

Tripp nodded slowly, trying to read between the lines. "I see. And you don't think I'd be a good fit for any of the roles?"

Ms. Park's eyes darted away for a second. "It's not that, Tripp. It's just... well, your image is still very much associated with CONNECT:02z. The production team is looking for actors who can fully embody new characters without any... preconceptions from the audience."

The words hit Tripp like a punch to the gut. He had given years of his life to CONNECT:02z, and now it seemed that very association was holding him back.

"I understand," Tripp said, even though he didn't, not really. "But surely there must be some smaller roles, supporting characters that I could audition for?"

Ms. Park's smile turned sympathetic. "Tell you what, Tripp. I'll talk to Manager Kim and the production team. We'll see if there's anything that might work for you. In the meantime, keep working hard and improving your skills. That's the best thing you can do right now."

As Tripp left the StarLight building, he felt a mix of emotions swirling inside him. Disappointment, frustration, and a growing sense of unease. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was more going on than what Ms. Park had told him.

Over the next few weeks, Tripp threw himself into his work with renewed vigor. He attended acting workshops, practiced his lines daily, and even started a small YouTube channel to showcase his talents. All the while, he kept checking his email and phone, hoping for news from StarLight about the drama auditions.

But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into a month, Tripp's hope began to fade. He saw announcements about the drama's casting, recognizing names of other StarLight talents, but his name was conspicuously absent.

One evening, as Tripp was editing a video for his YouTube channel, he received a text from Carlo, another former CONNECT:02z member who had found success as an actor.

"Hey Tripp, long time no chat. How've you been? Listen, I heard about the StarLight drama thing. Tough break, man. If you want, I can put in a good word for you with my new agency. They're always on the lookout for fresh talent."

Tripp stared at the message, a mix of gratitude and bitterness washing over him. Carlo meant well, he knew that. But the idea of being considered "fresh talent" at another agency, starting all over again, was a tough pill to swallow.

As he pondered his response, Tripp's mind wandered back to a conversation he had overheard months ago, just before CONNECT:02z's last performance.

He had been running late to a meeting and had paused outside the conference room when he heard raised voices.

"We can't keep promoting them as a group. The numbers just don't justify it," a stern voice had said.

"But they have potential. Tripp, especially. With the right push-" This voice Tripp had recognized as Manager Kim's.

"Potential doesn't pay the bills, Kim. We've invested enough. It's time to cut our losses and focus on the members who can stand on their own."

At the time, Tripp had been too shocked to make sense of what he'd heard. In the whirlwind of events that followed - the group's disbandment, the others finding new paths - he had almost forgotten about it. But now, in light of recent events, those words took on a new, ominous meaning.

Tripp's finger hovered over his phone, Carlo's message still unanswered. Was this it? Was this the moment he had to face the harsh reality that his dream might be slipping away?

No, he decided. Not yet. He had come too far, sacrificed too much to give up now. If StarLight wouldn't give him a chance, he'd make his own opportunities. With a deep breath, Tripp began to type a reply to Carlo.

"Thanks, man. I appreciate the offer. But I'm not done yet. Not by a long shot."

As he hit send, Tripp felt a renewed sense of determination. He turned back to his computer, the video he had been editing still on the screen. It wasn't much, but it was a start. His start. And maybe, just maybe, it would be enough to prove to StarLight - and to himself - that he was worth taking a chance on.

The soft glow of the computer screen illuminated Tripp's face as he worked late into the night, unaware that his journey was about to take an unexpected turn. In the coming days, a chance encounter would set in motion a series of events that would challenge everything Tripp thought he knew about the entertainment industry, his former group, and himself.

But for now, in the quiet of his small apartment, Tripp Marco continued to chase his dream, one small step at a time. The road ahead was uncertain, but he was ready to face whatever challenges lay in wait. After all, in the world of show business, sometimes the most compelling stories happen when the cameras stop rolling.