KRYSTAL
“WILL YOU MARRY ME?” Krystal was staring at her vanity mirror, lipstick floating just before touching it to her lips. She was still unsure if she was dreaming. She pinched her arms a couple more times after that odd phone call with Lucas, her childhood bestie, but she was still confused.
She just talked to Collin Sanchez, right? This isn’t a bizarre dream, right?
“Let’s just find out already.” Foregoing her usual pink lipstick, she decided that it was better to go to Sunrise Entertainment as soon as possible.
She wore her pink mask and made her way down her building. She was living in an upscale apartment that other celebrities like Elizabeth Sy, daughter of Sy Music, were living in. Her CEO got a unit there that he lets her use ever since he got divorced from his rich wife.
“You have to live where the elite live so people would think you are rich too.”
She has heard a few staff think that he was her mistress. But if that was the case then she wouldn’t have had to do odd jobs and have gotten better roles like their boss’ actual mistress, Luna Paza, did. She became a superstar after snagging major roles that were slated for Krystal. They both auditioned but she always gets the second lead role or the best friend of the female lead. Casting directors have said that she was just too innocent looking to be someone who could pull off those multitudes of Cinderella spin-off roles they were giving out. But she knew better. Their CEO had asked the production to choose Luna over her. She had long given up trying to understand why she has stayed in Lantern Entertainment.
“Do you think there is anywhere else you can go?” The snarky voice of her CEO rang in her ears. “You are a minus actress. You are lucky that you can even get roles at your age.”
Just once she wanted to play a cannibalistic serial killer. It would be a juicy and challenging role. She would just imagine eating Luna and their CEO. It would be a truly satisfying role to portray.
When she got out of the cab in front of Sunrise Entertainment, she regretted not fixing up her hair. Hoards of reporters and some fans were camped outside of the building. They came down on her like a mob wave. Flashes of cameras blinded her despite it being daytime.
Fans were hurling questions at her as well. “I am nobody! I just have to see my friend!” She dialed Lucas’ number and shouted at the phone. “I am outside, help me!”
She was trying to make her way through the mob when it parted all of a sudden. She looked up and saw that Collin was walking towards her. Reporters were moving away to get a better angle to shoot his worried face.
“I got you.” He put her jacket around her, half covering her head and hugging her close to him. “I’ll protect you. I’m here now. Don’t worry about anything.” He seemed to be whispering it to her but she could hear fans wailing in the background.
“Collin no! Say it’s not true!” the fans wailed loudly that she couldn’t hear the rest of what the reporters were asking.
All she could hear was what Collin said, “Please stop taking her photo. Move away, please."
When they got inside Lucas was there and Krystal couldn’t help but run towards him and cry in his arms. “That was so terrifying! Lucas, what the hell?”
“Come here.” She didn’t expect that Collin would grab her hand and half-drag her inside the building. They got into an elevator by themselves before he let her arm go.
“You need to learn to seek comfort from the right person when there are cameras. I guess you are more of an amateur than Lucas lets on.” Collin sounded pissed off.
“I don’t understand…” She realized her mistake. “I am sorry, I am just used to being with Lucas so I didn’t realize what I was doing.”
“What kind of fiancee runs into the arms of another man when she’s distressed?” Collin brushed his hair back in obvious frustration.
Krystal couldn’t help but smile. Lucas’ story about Collin being a very jealous person turned out to be true. She wasn’t even his real fiancee and he was already this way. She cleared her throat and put on her sweetest smile. Showtime!
“I promise to only get comfort from you moving forward, sweetie.” She saw his eyes shake upon hearing the endearment. “Sweetie? Darling? Oppa?”
The blush that was creeping up from his cheeks to the rest of his face almost made Krystal laugh out loud.
The elevator opened on the highest floor and Collin gestured for her to follow him. Holding his hand was a bit uncomfortable but Krystal felt warmth from it. She couldn’t help but smile at him which made his face get even redder.
“Tara, meet Krystal Nam. Krysta,l this is our CEO, Tara Yap.” Krystal was about to shake Tara’s hand but Collin was still holding her hand.
“I need this hand, sweetie.” Tara laughed when Collin choked then let go of Krystal’s hand abruptly. He sat down abruptly and tried to calm himself down.
“You’ll do just fine.” Tara shook Krystal’s hand enthusiastically. “You look innocent but you can handle his mood well enough, I think.”
“I can handle moody men well enough. I’ve been dealing with them at my job too often it’s second nature.” She couldn’t tell Tara that her own CEO was the most temperamental man she has ever met.
Tara laughed which made Collin even more exasperated. “I love her! Take a seat, lovely. Let’s get the hard part out of the way. Then you can let me know how we can pay you back.”
Tara placed the contract on the table and Krystal wanted to raise an eyebrow at such a simple contract. “I have to pretend to be his fiancee for a year and then stage a quiet break-up.” She wasn’t born yesterday so she needed more details than that. She sighed, “Shouldn’t this include an NDA? Or at the very least how much you are paying me for this role?”
“How much do you want?” Collin asked coldly.
“How much are you willing to pay me?” Krystal wasn’t about to let the Ice Prince of Nineteen take her composure. She’s been offered money to be someone’s arm candy before. She's refused money before. But she wasn’t going to let this be something they can get out of without putting a dent in someone's bank account.
“One million dollars, enough for you?” Collin was gauging her.
“Ten movie projects.” Krystal wasn’t a fool. If she got money now she wouldn’t be any different from Luna. But at the very least she should be able to afford a comfortable place to retire in.
“That’s not something I can give you.” Collin was a rapper after all.
“I will give you a nice and sweet fiancee. You give me your clout. Your agency can give me work. This way it wouldn’t seem too absurd that I am your fiancee.” She looked at Tara who was already making the calculations in her head.
“Let me get an artist contract ready.” Tara wondered, “Is your agency going to be okay with this?”
She called her CEO and put the phone on speaker. “Hey, Boss. It’s Krystal.”
“What do you want now?” His usual indifference doesn’t sting anymore.
“I am moving agencies.” She heard a couple of seconds of silence before he started laughing.
“Fine. Get your shit out of the condo and get the hell out of my hair.” The fact that she’s been in that agency for ten years doesn’t seem to give him pause. Krystal wanted to cry but she stopped her frustrated tears from coming out.
“Thank you. I’ll go to the office tomorrow to get the documents.”
“Come here now. I’ll have HR and Legal on it. Be here in twenty minutes.” He wasn’t even going to think about it. Krystal knew it was the right thing to do.
She stood up and faced Tara, “I’ll come back with the documents later.” She looked at Collin and said, “I guess we would be in the same agency sooner than expected.”
Lucas helped her get out of the building and drove her to her soon-to-be former agency. Lantern Entertainment wasn’t the bright light in her life. It was where she spent her youth precariously. She wasn’t going to miss it.
Luna was in the CEO’s office when Krystal came in to get her contract terminated. HR already had it printed as if they’ve been waiting for her to ask for it. The company lawyer was there to be the legal witness and the CEO of Lantern didn’t even bother to ask her why she was leaving.
“Have a nice life, Krystal. Break a leg.” Luna said sarcastically after the black folder was given to her. Inside were all the documents she needed for taxes and for her new life.
“See you around, Luna.” She smiled triumphantly at her which bothered the superstar.
Lucas was waiting for her in the parking lot and she got into the car to quietly cry. When they got back to Sunrise Entertainment, they took the underground parking route to get away from the reporters and fans who were still outside.
She got into the elevator and said to herself. “It’s showtime.”
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