To Marry The Prince

Chapter 2: The Idol

"Nasaan na si Aliyah? Did she change her outfit already? We have no time!" A woman stormed in the dressing room of the top female artist at the moment, Aliyah Grace.

"Yes po, she's changing right now," said a tall girl while twirling her ponytail. She gave a forced smile at the event's manager who rolled her eyes and left the room.

"Grabe ha? Sino ba ang may kasalanan kung bakit wala tayong oras? Nakakainis talaga 'yong Gina na 'yon! Bakit siya laging ginagawa na manager sa events mo? Sa totoo lang, siya lang ata ang kayang pag-initan ka!"

"Dan, calm down. May attitude lang talaga siya minsan, but she does her job well," said Aliyah from the changing room.

"Aliyah, anong well? She didn't give us a clear passage, halos isang oras ka rin na trap dahil sa kapabayaan niya."

"Maybe it's not her fault."

"Masyado ka talagang tiwala sa iba eh, siya nga itong nagpapunta sa atin doon sa likod. Ang ending, nandoon ang buong fandom mo. 'Di na talaga dapat tayo nakikinig doon sa bruhilda na 'yon."

Natawa si Aliyah sa panggigigil ni Dan. She's her assistant and best friend, sanay na siya sa pananalita nito.

"Masyado ka nanamang galit. Come,I need help."

Walking out of the changing room, Aliyah flipped her long curly brown hair to move it out of the way while she tries to zip her long light pink from the back.

Dan's mouth fell open while looking at her. Amazed with the beautiful woman in front of her, she clapped.

"Woah! Hindi ko na talaga kinakaya minsan, pati ako tinatamaan na sa ganda mo. Kailangan ko na yatang mag-resign."

Aliyah laughed, "Sira! Bilisan mo na, hindi ko mahila 'yong zipper. Baka magwala na 'yong bestie mo sa labas."

Dan rolled her eyes and stood up to zip up the dress. She double checked Aliyah's accessories and her make up before they go out of the room.

Today is the fan meeting of Aliyah, as a promotion of her new drama series that is about to be aired called "My Fate". Over a thousand people have come to the venue which can only hold up to a hundred since the ticket being sold is limited. But her devoted fans doesn't care, they just needed to be on the place for a chance to see her for a brief amount of time. May it be when she arrives or when her car hopefully passes by, it doesn't matter.

"Are you ready?" Dan asked.

Aliyah just smiled, the entire place was filled with loud screams and the series of camera flashes followed her as she walked to the center of the stage.

"Hello everyone, I am Aliyah Grace,"

Another wave of screams were heard upon hearing her talk. Her feet could feel the vibrations on stage because of how loud it was. She giggled and waved to the crowd.

"Kalma lang guys, ako lang 'to," she joked. Her fans are used to how she interacts with them. In every event, she talks to them as if they are her close friends. Another reason why everyone loves her.

"Aliyah! I love you!"

"Ah! 'Di ko kaya! Ang ganda mo!"

"'Wag ka ngumiti! Mahihimatay ako!"

Natawa si Aliyah sa mga sigaw sa kan'ya. Her fans never fail to make her laugh. Sa pag-upo niya sa kan'yang upuan, may nakita siyang sign na hawak ng isang fan.

"Ano 'yang nakasulat? Goddess, please marry me?" she read the sign out loud. Her fans started going crazy once again. "Hala baka hindi muna ngayon ha? Medyo busy lang kasi ako."

The lucky people that got the chance to get the tickets lined up to get her signature. Everyone that went up to her had no complaints, she's happily talking to them casually and taking pictures. One of her fans cried as she got off the stage to meet her friends who are waiting.

"Anong sabi sa'yo?" a teenage girl asked.

"Natatandaan niya ako, kahit na ang tagal ko nang hindi nakakadalo sa events," the girl started sobbing. "She called me Sandra, then she asked if I'm a hundred percent cured now. I can't believe she remembers."

Pati ang mga kaibigan niya ay naluha dahil sa kuwento ng dalaga. Sandra looked back to Aliyah at the stage. At the same time, the star looked back at her. She sweetly smiled and signaled the young girl to wipe the tears on her cheeks. Then she pointed to her head and gave the fan a thumbs up. The fan started to cry harder as she realized that her idol just complimented her wig.

Up to the last minute, Aliyah never failed to give her fans her full love and attention. When she was about to leave, she went out to the main entrance where a lot of people that failed to get in are waiting. She passed by a free chair, without thinking much she snatched it and stood on top of the chair while Dan helped her up.

"Hello po! Sorry po kasi hindi lahat nakapasok, pero sana po sa susunod magkita-kita po tayong lahat!" she screamed as loud as she can for the people to hear her over the loud cheers. She stayed for a couple of minutes to sign the photos that some of the people are handing her. And took some photos as well.

A little girl about nine years old was in awe, admiring her idol who stands right in front of her.

Aliyah was talking to someone in the crowd when she felt a warm small hand that reached out to touch hers. A smile curved on her face when she saw the little girl looking up. Mabilis siyang bumaba sa umupuan para mas mapalapit sa bata.

"Hello, what's your name?" she asked. Instead of answering, the little girl frowned, her shoulders started to shake and seconds later, the girl started crying.

"Oh no, don't cry. Hala, 'wag." Wala na siyang alam gawin kung hindi yakapin ang bata. The tiny voice of the girl trembled in every word that she says.

"You are my idol, I want to be a singer just like you," she said.

Aliyah's heart melted, before being a successful actress, she started out as a singer. Hindi niya akalain na may fan siya na bata pa at alam na ang mga kanta niya.

"Really? Anong favorite song mo?" she asked. She watched how quickly the little girl let her go. As if hearing a magic word, she automatically changed. From crying to performance mode.

"The time spent with you was not enough..." the little girl started singing with dramatic hand gestures. " I can't hold you back, can't ask for more, this is rough..."

Aliyah's eyes became watery as she witness the little girl sing her debut single, "And before I let you go, I need you to know... " she joined in.

"A little secret, that I don't reget."

"I'll be waiting for you to fly by, my purple butterfly."

"Ang galing mo kumanta baby, you're better than me!" The girl hugged her, in the middle of the deafening yells Aliyah heard the little girl whispered.

"Bakit po kayo naiiyak?"

"It's also my favorite song, and you sang it so beautifully."

"Its been so long since I last heard you sing that song."

Napalingon si Aliyah sa pagsasalita ni Dan habang naglalakad sila pabalik sa van.

"Yup, it's an old song. I don't really perform it nowadays. Nakakagulat nga na kabisado 'nong bata. Siguro fan ang Mommy," she said.

Purple Butterfly is the first song that she composed. It gave her the win on an idol survival show and it started her career. The enchanting melody compliments the meaning of the song that talks about the magic of the purple butterfly. It is said that when you see a purple butterfly, it means that someone important will enter your life. No wonder the song became an immediate hit once she sang it.

News about her successful event surfaced on national television and online. But more than the event, people have focused on how she stayed to meet the fans that waited for her. She took the time to meet them as well, it's not part of the event but she did it. A lot of people are touched at how nice Aliyah is, she proved once again that she really is the Asia's Sweetheart.

On her way back to her place, Aliyah was knocked out on her van and slept through the whole ride. Dan woke her up once they arrived to her condo building.

"You did a lot today, buti nalang bukas free ang schedule mo."

Aliyah nodded, "Thank you for today Dan, ingat kayo ni Manong Tom sa pag-uwi."

Papasok na siya sa building pero napansin niya ang paglapag ng isang helicopter sa tuktok. She wasn't surprised, alam na niya na sakay noon ang kan'yang ama.

"Dramatic entrance nanaman siya," she whispered to herself. Umakyat na siya sa sarili niyang unit para doon hintayin ang tatay niya na siyang may-ari sa buong building.

Kahit na pagod, nag-ayos siya ng makakain para sa bisita niya. She washed her face to stay awake. After about five minutes, the door opened and the voice of her loving father was heard.

"Liyah baby," he called out as she run to hug him tight.

"Pa, buti napadaan ka? Ngayon ka nalang ulit dumalaw dito ha."

"Sorry nak, I've been really busy with the project in the province. Kumusta ka na? Are you eating well? Bakit parang pumayat ka na naman yata?"

Aliyah laughed, hindi pa rin nagbabago ang tatay niya. Kahit kailan ata sasabihin lang nito kung gaano siya pumayat.

"Pa, I gained three pounds, binobola mo lang ako."

Her father laughed, "Ay talaga ba? Akala ko talaga pumayat ka."

"Hmm, okay I forgive you," she said, giggling. "By the way, what brings you here? Hindi ka naman siguro lilipad dito para lang bolahin ako."

Biglang sumeryoso ang mukha ni Mr. Kim. He pulled his daughter to sit with him on the couch.

"I just finished a meeting with someone very important," he started. "I need to talk to you about it."

"Yes? What is it about?" Hindi pa namamalayan ni Aliyah ang seryosong mukha ni Mr. Kim. She grabbed the bowl of fruits that she prepared and ate the grapes.

"Aliyah, the Queen wants to meet you."

Naibuga ni Aliyah ang nginunguya niyang ubas.

"Queen?"

"Queen Olivia wants to meet you."

"What? Why?" Her face was filled with immediate terror. "Did I do something wrong? Have I offended her?"

"Nope, the total opposite of that."

"Tapatin mo na ako pa, kinakabahan ako sa pabitin eh."

"The Queen wants you to be the Princess."

Napangiti si Aliyah sa sinabi nito. Nakahinga na rin siya nang maluwag dahil sa narinig.

"Sinong director? Bakit hindi nalang sa Agency tumawag?" she asked. "Close kayo ni Queen? Bakit sa'yo pa nag-offer?"

Umiling ang tatay niya sa mga sinasabi nito. He held her hand and seriously said, "She wants you to marry the crown Prince."

Parang nabingi si Aliyah sa narinig. Parang umikot ang buong paligid niya. Confused, she sat in silence. Not knowing how to react with the information.

"The Royal family faces a huge problem right now. Dahil sa paninira kay Prince Kairo, may chance na mapilitan silang ilipat sa pinsan niya ang korona. But lady Felicia is honestly very different than the Queen, I know them both. Hindi makakatulong sa Aztariya kung malipat ang posisyon. Magugulo ang lahat."

"But- But why me?"

"Sa totoo lang, ang image mo ang kailangan nila. The Queen is asking for your help, para matulungan sila sa image ni Prince Kairo."

She failed to reply. Tahimik lang siya na nag-iisip sa kung ano ang dapat niyang gawin. Pero walang kahit ano ang nasa utak niya sa ngayon. Her father noticed how she turned pale. He hugged her tightly.

"Nak, I know this is very complicated. I'm trying to be very transparent para alam mo kung paano mag desisyon. Because of your status right now, the Queen asked me. But I told her that the decision is all yours. You can meet her tomorrow and whatever decision you make, we will accept it."

"Did you meet the Prince?" she whispered.

"I didn't, I don't think he knows yet."

"How can I decide kung siya mismo hindi niya pa rin alam?"

"The Queen is going to inform him, pero sa ngayon ang gusto lang niya malaman ay kung papayag ka."

"Pa, can I rest for now? Hindi pa pumapasok sa isip ko ang nangyayari."

"For sure, just think about it. We will go to the palace tomorrow for dinner."

Aliyah crashed on her bed and slept deeply the whole night. The next morning she woke up at five in the morning. She took a cold shower to wake herself up. She let out a sigh looking at the clock. It's only six in the morning.

"What now?" she whispered to herself.

Kinuha niya ang kan'yang cellphone para tawagan ang kaibigan. After a few rings, the tired voice of Dan answered the call.

"Dan, I have a question."

"Hmm?" Dan sounded half asleep still.

"If the whole kingdom is in danger, and you have a chance of turning things around, would you do it?"

"Kung may reward."

Kumunot ang noo niya sa sagot ni Dan, "Reward?"

"Mhm-hmn, kung ililigtas ko ang buong kingdom, as a reward, dapat ipakasal sa akin si Prince Kairo."

Mabilis pa sa kidlat na ibinaba ni Aliyah ang tawag.

"What the heck, she's making my head hurt more."

Bumalik siya sa kama para pag-isipan ang mga nangyayari sa kan'ya ngayon. She grabbed her tablet to search for Kairo Apollo Raven. His gorgeous face popped up on the screen. Muntik na niyang maihagis ang gadget dahil sa pagkakagulat.

"Okay, Aliyah. Kalmahan mo lang, chill. Research, okay," she tried to calm herself down.

Browsing through the articles, she couldn't stop herself from getting riled up.

"Puro issue, ang daming comments eh wala man lang picture na katunayan. This is imposible-" she caught herself reacting so much and force her brain to shake off all of the anger away. This is too toxic. Hindi niya inakala na mapapainit ng ganitong article ang dugo niya. She took a deep breath and sadly whispered, "Unfair."

Ilang sandali pa ay biglang nag-ring ang cellphone niya. It's her friend calling her back, Dan.

"Hello?"

"Aliyah, are you about to do something stupid right now?" bulaga nito sa kan'ya.

"No, I was just thinking about some stuff."

"Seriously tho, follow what your heart desires. As cheesy as it may sound, naniniwala ako na kung ano ang sagot na pipiliin mo, 'yon ang tama para sa'yo at suportado kita. You haven't failed after you decided on something yet. Talent mo 'yon."

"I already have the answer, but the problem is, I don't like that I do."