To Marry The Prince

Chapter 6: Changes

"Why are you looking grim like that? Anong nangyari rito sa babaeng 'to? Bakit sobrang sama ng lagay?" tanong ni Emily. Binibiro niya ang alaga na artista habang si Dan naman ay busy sa pag aayos ng mga kakainin nila ngayong tanghali. Naka- upo lang si Aliyah habang wala pa rin siya sa sarili niya.

"Huh? She seems fine, what do you mean?" even Dan isn't convinced by her very own words. She sounded a bit delusional to be honest. Because who the hell is she trying to fool? This woman right in front of them is clearly not in her right mind. She could pass as someone who's drunk or even someone who's sleeping with their eyes wide open. Aliyah is totally out of it right now.

"Fine?" Emily asked. She raised her left brow and checked on Aliyah who's slowly sinking down her chair. "Aliyah? Naririnig mo pa ba kami? Bakit hindi ka na namin makausap?"

Mabilis na nag ayos ng upo si Aliyah nang marinig niya ang problemado at galit na tono ng nakatatandang babae. Halos tita na ang turing niya sa manager niya, kaya naman may halong takot talaga sa tuwing umiinit ang ulo nito. She did her best to act normally, hindi rin nila puwedeng sabihin kay Emily ang pangyayari patungkol sa ex niya. Ngayon pa nga lang na hindi nila nasabi sa babae na hindi makakapunta sa shooting si Aliyah, mabilis na kaagad itong sumugod sa sarili niyang pamamahay para tignan ang lagay niya. At least now she can clearly see with her own to eyes that Aliyah is literally not capable of dealing with sh*t today.

"Emily, I want to talk to you about something. I should say it earlier, para hindi na makalimutan," ito ang unang narinig nila mula sa kan'ya sa loob ng ilang minuto. "I want you to deny every role offered to me that will put me in a very tough spot- I mean, ayaw ko na magkaroon ng intense romantic scenes. Walang kissing scenes, walang bed scenes- walang kahit na ano. Mas mabuti pa siguro kung wala nalang akong love team sa kahit na ano! Yes, I think that's the best option we have here."

Napanganga si Emily at Dan nang marinig ang walang hinto niyang pagsasalita. Dan shrugged and shook her head. Para bang sinasabi niya kay Emily na wala siyang kahit na anong alam tungkol dito sa napag desisyunan ng dalaga. Emily faced Aliyah, still very confused as to what had happened.

"Huh?" that's all she could say. Her head blanked out.

"I need to avoid any of those, please help me reviewing every script possible. Hindi ako puwedeng ma- link sa kahit na sino pa. Hindi ako puwedeng magkaroon ng ka- love team. Alam ko na pinaplano na nin' yong bumuo ng something with me and Cedrix. But please, hindi ko puwedeng gawin 'yon."

"Wha- huh? Why? What changed?"

"It's going to be a problem with the reputation of the Prince," she wanted to say, but she held it in. Hindi pa niya puwedeng ipaalam sa manager niya. Maging sa assistant niya ay hindi niya pa rin masabi nang walang itinatago. Ngayon kasi ay kailangan niya munang harapin si Prince Kairo at pilitin itong tanggapin na hindi na sila puwedeng tumalikod dito sa planong ito. She thought about it the entire morning. Yes, it's going to be her digging up her own grave and stabbing herself with a rusty shank straight to the heart, but she's willing to take it all in just to help the entire palace. She wants to help the Queen, and she wants to get Prince Kairo what he deserves. Even if it would take her own, she's willing to risk it.

"Emily, please do that for me, okay?" she stated once again. "Kung kailangan na dumoble ako sa pag re-release ng album o guesting for some music related stuff, reality thing, I don't care. Kahit na ano pa 'yan, basta huwag lang love- team. Gusto kong umiwas muna sa ganoon."

"But- but-" Emily kept on stuttering. She seemed to have short circuited upon hearing the request coming from her biggest star at the moment. Maraming mga offer ang hindi nila matatanggap dahil dito sa pakiusap sa kanila ni Aliyah. Parang nanghina tuloy siya, naririnig na niya ang pagbaba ng pasok ng pera sa mga pitaka nila. "That's not possible!"

"Aliyah, ano ba ang problema? Bakit hindi na puwede?" tanong sa kan'ya ni Dan.

"Strict ang papa ko. Hindi na ako puwedeng tumanggap ng mga gano'n na offer ngayon. Masyadong delikado. Hindi ko na puwedeng gawin. I will continue being an idol though, that one's easy. Hindi ko na kailangan na pahirapan ang sarili ko. Para safe na rin."

"Kailan pa naging strict si Mr. Kim? Hindi ba at wala naman siyang pakialam sa ginagawa mo noon?" tanong ni Emily. "Hindi puwedeng maging ganito nang biglaan Aliyah, mahihirapan tayo na mag hanap ng projects para sa'yo."

"It's actually fine with me!" she cheerfully stated with a huge smile on her face. "I am an Idol anyways. I can perform, sing and dance, sure! No problem. Pero ngayon bawasan na natin ang mga acting gigs. Parang hindi talaga para sa akin ang drama na 'yan."

Nakanganga pa rin si Dan at Emily nang nagsimulang subumo ng steak si Aliya. Hindi man lang nito hiniwa, halatang wala siya sa sarili nang binuhat niya gamit ang tinidor ang isang buong fillet mignon, at kinagat ito.

"You- what happened to you?" Emily asked in a low sad tone. "Are you okay sweetie?"

Aliyah gave her a gummy smile. Her cheeks cutely popping up, "Of course I am!" she said, wiping the steak juice dripping down her chin.

When she felt it hit her chest she quickly slammed the food on her plate and pulled a napkin to elegantly wipe her face. Kitang- kita pa ang disappointment niya sa sarili dahil doon. Pinalo niya ang sariling kamay bago siya kumuha ng knife para hatiin sa maliliit na piraso ang karne.

"I'm gonna get in so much trouble if I eat like this," she pouted and whined like a little kid. Knowing that she made such a big mess. And if she ever does that in the palace or whenever she's with the royals, she will in deep trouble. She will be so embarrassed too! That's one thing that she should pay attention to. Kapag wala siya sa sarili niya kung minsan, masyado siyang nagiging clumsy.

"That's not how a Princess should eat, Aliyah," nanlaki ang mga mata niya nang marinig ang pagpuna sa kan'ya ni Emily.

"Wha- what?" did she accidentally say it out loud? Does she know what's happening? Bakit bigla nalang 'yon ang sinabi sa kan' ya nitong manager niya? Napuno ng pangamba at napakaraming tanong ang utak ni Aliyah ng dahil doon.

"Sweetie you are a Princess. Remember that please! I understand, masyado ka lang na komportable ngayon kaya siguro ganoon. Pero sa labas, baka makuhanan ng mga paparazzi. Oh my goodness! Hindi natin kakayanin 'yon, masyadong malaking issue. Baka kung ano pa ang isulat nila tungkol sa'yo. Alam mo naman na lahat ngayon bibigyan nila ng validation para lang makapanira ng pangalan ng mga artista."

Dan shook her head, "No, I don't think so," she stated. "Masyadong mahal ng publiko si Aliyah. Siya lang yata ang kaisa- isang hindi nila kailanman makakayang kainisan. Hindi nila kayang dumihan ang pangalan niya dahil sobrang gusto siya ng lahat! Imposible, sigurado ako na kung may lumabas man na issue patungkol sa'yo Aliyah, babaliktarin nila ang lahat para umayon sa'yo. Hindi na nga mahihirapan si Emily sa pag handle ng kahit na ano. Five minutes lang siguro na nakakatakot, basta hindi masyadong masama ang balita. Kung makita nila na clumsy ka or what, sasabihin pa nila na cute ka for sure!" she has a point. In fact, Aliyah thinks that the same exact scenario happened once when she was caught with a dirty top because she spilled coffee all over it in an event. Imbis na pagchismisan o siraan siya, natawag pa siya na cute at masyadong humble. Kung alam lang nila kung gaano kalaking issue 'yon para sa management niya, baka ang management pa niya ang pinag initan ng sambayanan.

When she heard the conversation of the two, she was delighted. Hindi naman pala siya nabuking, wala pa ring iba na may alam sa kung ano ang nangyayari.

"When are my days off?"

"Anong day off?" natatawang tanong ni Dan. "Girl, ikaw si Aliyah Grace! The top celebrity of the entire Aztariya. Kung day off mo sa kingdom na 'to, kailangan mo naman na lumipad sa Zoraya para um-attend sa mga event nila roon."

"Oh heck, " she sighed. Nakalimutan na niya kung gaano kalala ang kan'yang schedule. Hindi man lang niya kayang mag pahinga kung hindi siya a-absent or magpapaalam na may sakit siya. Kagaya ngayon, kung hindi niya sinabi na hindi niya kaya, paniguradong wala na siyang panahaon na magpakatamad.

"Why? Akala ko ba gusto mo na maraming trabaho para hindi ka masyadong nag o-overthink mag- isa? Ikaw pa nga ang nag request no'n," said Dan.

"Please give me at least three days off. Kahit na hindi na ako matulog sa loob ng apat na araw. Pero kailangan ko ng tatlong araw na pahinga. Tatapusin ko lahat ng kailangan tapusin sa apat na araw na 'yon, and I will vanish for three days. I wont be able to answer your calls and attend meetings too."

"Okay, you have to tell me what's happening. We already signed the events you have to attend, we already signed contracts for shows, hindi puwedeng tanggihan natin ngayon-"

"Hindi natin ika- cancel. Kahit na anong oras, darating ako. Basta kailangan ko lang na mabigyan lahat ng oras sa loob ng apat na araw. "

"Are you trying to kill yourself, Aliyah? Paano mo ipapaloob sa apat na araw ang trabaho mo na para sa isang buong linggo? What are you trying to do here? Ano itong mga biglaang pagbabago na ginagawa mo? Hindi natin 'to napag usapan."

"Please Emily," she held her hand. "Help me out, please," her eyes are enough to make her manager feel guilt. "I need this."

"Sweetie, please tell me why?"

"It's very serious family matter. And I'm so sorry, I can't share it with you fully, it's very confidential. Pero kailangan ko na gawin itong mga pagbabago na 'to."

"It's your father huh?" Emily asked. "Is he making you manage his company?"

"No- uhm, I can't really talk about it yet. In the future, once decisions are made final, I bet you two everything. You two, the both of you would be the first ones to hear."

"I hope it's all worth it Aliyah, masyado mong nilalagay sa gilid ng bangin ang career mo para rito."

"Already? That's only the beginning," she whispered to herself.

"Huh?"

"Nothing," she smiled. "I really hope it's worth it too."