Chapter 1: A Star Is Born

           Monday came, time passes quickly. People are busy. The usual busy scenario in a city. Cars everywhere, people talk to each other, the swooshing of trees, chirping of birds, and the cool breeze of the air. Employees in a café before going to work and students in the canteen before going to their respective room. A peaceful yet busy day for the first day of the week.

           Miana is walking down the street when something caught her attention in a convenience store. It is a magazine of the biggest companies in the Philippines. She looks at it for a long time until she realized that she will be late for work. Her mind is blank when she enters their office, she doesn’t even hear the greetings of her colleagues. She sat down not minding people around her who are already looking. Until someone made a noise at her table,

“Oh my! Why?!”

“Miana, you’re spacing out the moment you enter the office. What happen to you outside?”

“Ah, nothing. I’m just thinking about something. Don’t mind me, I’m fine. Let’s work now, Chelz?”

“Uh? Okay. Tell me something if you’re already, ‘kay?”

“Thank you for your understanding”

            Time appears to pass slowly. Her mind giving her headaches that make her unproductive towards her work. Her teammates already felt the sad feeling from her aura. For that reason, their manager dismisses them early for a long break and talk to Miana afterward.

“How have you been, Miana?”

“Uh? I’m fine, Sir”

“Really? You don’t look fine. Do you have a problem? We can talk about it now”

“Uhm, I don’t have a problem really. It’s just, my mind is overthinking things that I don’t have control. It worries me so much. I don’t want to go back to my past life. I already sacrificed a lot to be where I am now. It will be a waste if I go back and let my worries get the best of me”

“Yeah, I heard about it. Since you knew what to do, I hope you can stand up and never let those worries be a hindrance towards your work.”

“I’m sorry, Sir. It won’t happen again”

“I’m watching you while working on the team. Your mind is not here. The team is affected on what you are doing. You seem unwell and they are worried about you. Do you want to go home for the meantime?”

“No, Sir. I will finish today’s shift”

“Hmmmm? Are you sure? There is no turning back”

“Yes, Sir!”

“Okay, I already give you the best option but you refuse. So okay, eat first before going back to work”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you”

            She rushed to a fast-food chain to grab something to eat before going back not until she had been a bump to someone. Her mind goes fuzzy again. She can’t do anything. The lady’s coffee spilled to her dress makes her shout in anger.

“WTF have you done to my dress?!”

“I’m sorry, Miss. It’s an accident. I’m sorry. I’m sorry”

            Miana tries to wipe the spilled coffee on the lady’s dress, but the lady slaps her hands and even makes a bigger scenario.

“You know what?! This dress is expensive. I don’t think you can pay this with your salary right now. Do you even know how much this cost?! Haaaa?!”

            She felt small. At that time, people are looking at her. She felt the whole world is not nice that makes her eyes teary. She froze in the area and didn’t even dare to move even she been humiliated by a rich lady.

“Can you buy a new dress right now, you idiot?!”

            She humbly shakes her head that makes the lady mad even more. The lady start slapping her until she fell . Grabbing her hair from behind, she lay down and the lady starts dragging her outside the fastfood chain. The employees are panicking because of the whole scenario taking place in the store. That time Miana's eyes began to betray her. Tears falling on her cheek. Helpless and sobbing.

"Ma'am stop what you're doing. She already said she's sorry"

"What?! And what about this dress? I will beat the hell out of her for the dress she stained. That's simple, right? So, don't you dare to stop me or you'll be fired!"

The guards came with the police. They grab the lady's hand and take away Miana from her.

“Why are you stopping me?! That’s her fault, she deserves that you know?! Don’t touch me. Hey!”

“Ma’am, you already create a scene here. Go outside now”

“Who the hell are you and why will I obey you?! Make her pay! This dress is expensive than her life!”

“Ma’am let’s go to the police station. Please lower your voice. Other customers are already affected”

"No! Why are you doing this. I will call my lawyer! Stop! What are you doing?"

"Ma'am you have to right to remain silent until we reach the station"

"No! Call my lawyer!"

"Ma'am!"

The lady was shocked when the police shouts at her.

"Can you please remain silent? My ear aches because you keep on shouting"

           The lady silently walks toward the police mobile together with the police. Leaving Miana at the fastfood's door. She stands blankly and slowly walks outside. Not knowing a place to go, she walks while crying her heart out. She didn’t even care that people are watching her. She just knew that the pain she’s feeling is unbearable and needed to vent out. The sunny sky change into a gloomy sky and the clouds get darker. It is like the weather felt Miana’s strong emotion. Not a long while, the rain starts to pour. Makes everybody run to find a shelter. And there she is, walking, not minding herself that is already wet from rain.

“Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be”

Sonia Ricotti

            She saw herself dazzled by the light. Confused and feeling as her body aches from limb to muscle. Looking around to see where is she and saw a familiar face…

“Uhm? Where am I?”

“You are at the hospital Miss Miana, I wonder what happen to you”

“Uh? Why am I here? I am not sick”

“Are you sure about that? I saw you lying in the street deep-soaked by the rain”

            Then she remembers what happened. She began to feel the pain again that makes her eyes teary. The guy rushed towards her and gave her a cup of water and tissue. The ambiance becomes heavy until the guy decided to go out for a while and call somebody.

“Hello? Manager Choi”

“Hey Ethan, what’s the matter?”

“I’m at the hospital right now. I will see you tomorrow”

“Why? What happened to you? Did you catch up in an accident?”

“No, the team’s secretary is here”

“Oh? Why is Miana there? You need a back-up or how can I help?”

“Nope, I just called for you to know that I can't see you today and the secretary is here”

“The team is looking for her all this time, I just told her to grab a food then come back but she didn’t came. And she’s not answering her phone. Give updates whenever, okay?”

“Yes, Manager Choi. Copy”

            He came rushing towards her and hug her. The crying Miana cry her heart out to Ethan’s arms. A half-hour passes when Miana calms down.

“Are you okay now?”

“Yeah, I’m so sorry. And it’s rude because you been to this situation but I don’t know your name. All I know is I saw in the office last time. Uhm, I’m Miana, what’s your name, Mister?”

“You’re so formal Miss Secretary”

            Ethan can’t hide his laugh that makes Miana more confused.

“Uhm, why are you laughing Sir? Did I say something funny?”

“Uh, no no no. Don’t misunderstood me. I just find you so adorable and innocent like how people describe you?”

“Like how people describe me? How did they describe me then?”

            Ethan can see the big question mark in Miana’s face that makes him giggle more.

“You’re so adorable, Miana. People wants to protect you because you are so fine, innocent and pure”

“Huh?”

“Hahaha. Nothing. Don’t mind me. By the way, I’m Ethan, head IT Engineer of the Phillis Corp”

“Like, Ethan Meneses of the twin company Phillis. Like the famous Ethan, the handsome?!”

“Oh? Ethan the handsome?”

            Miana realized the words she said and started to hide under the sheets.

“Hey!”

“Nooooo. You didn’t hear anything, right?!”

            Ethan laughs at her cute reaction. He waits for her to remove the blanket while telling her some stories. It’s already evening when the doctor came to check up on Miana. She is already well and ready to discharge when she decided to go home.

“Sir Ethan”

“What’s with the formal address? Just call me Ethan. And what is it?”

“Uh, Ethan. I want to go home now. Uhhh, how much did you pay?”

“Ah. Don’t mind it. I will take you home now”

“Eh?! No, I will pay you. Just tell me how much”

“I want other payment”

“Hmmm? What is it? I will try my best to pay you”

“It is not that much, don’t be nervous. I just want to hear what happened to you. Maybe, next time. I can wait until you are ready “

“Uhhhh, sure”

“Getting late, let’s go?”

“Yeah, coming”

            Ethan started his car and start to drive towards Miana’s condo. He makes the quiet surrounding a lively one when he turns on the radio. She became comfortable with him and starts singing the song. They jammed until they reached their destination. Miana is grateful to have an acquaintance who turns into a friend because of a tragic incident that happens to her.

                                      “I love the silent hour of night,

                                  For blissful dreams may then arise,

                                     Revealing to my charmed sight

                                What may not bless my waking eyes”

                                                    -Anne Bronte

            Miana looks back at the day’s happening. And made her realize that people will judge you even though they didn’t know you in the first place. And will just respect you based on your job or your salary. And won’t even try to listen to your explanation because they are strongly believing themselves.

             “Long time being here, this is the first time that I encounter such incident and makes me so weak that I even passed out in the street. A shameful experience for me, and I don’t even know how to forget that one. The humiliation that lady gave to me, it’s unbearable. That’s the mere reason that I don’t want to mingle with people. Just one mistake, people will judge you. The people around look at me like I did something horrible no one came to rescue me other than those who do their jobs. It’s quite a day for me. The funny thing is someone help me, a famous lad from another company, he knew how to make me feel better. Now, I’m wondering, is this the time I should open up to people?”

            The next day, Miana visits their office and tell her manager that she will rest for the day. Her manager approves her leave and went rushing outside. She went to the Bad Café at Makati. Unwinding from yesterday’s stress when her phone starts to ring and saw who’s calling…

“Hello?”

“Hi! You are not in the office. Where are you?”

“Chilling somewhere, want to come?”

“Text me where you at, give me a few minutes to go there”

“I’m just kidding. But sure, keep safe Ethan”

“See you later, Miss”

            She hangs up and you can see the smile in her lips. She sips coffee while reading some e-books in her phone when Ethan came up.

“Hello, Miana”

“Hi Ethan, you really show up”

“Of course, you invited me”

“Any way, what do you want? Latte, coffee, tea, cola or food?”

“I will be the one to do the order, calm down. Just wait here, I will be back”

“Oh, okay”

            Miana tries to hide her smile but failed. Watching Ethan from afar makes her heart pound. The slow motion makes her confused that time.

"Is this even real?" Miana asked herself

***

 Present time: Friday

 Last day of work for the week, Miana is busy organizing the team's paper when the CEO calls a meeting that make their heart skip a beat

"What's this all about?"

"Did you know why he calls a meeting all of a sudden?"

"Is there someone who will be pulled out this time?"

"I'm scared"

Miana shrugs her shoulder, not afraid to anything, and walk straight to the meeting room.

"Good afternoon, Director"

"Good afternoon Miana. Looking good and confident today"

"As always Sir"

            The CEO smiles and wait for the others as he watched Miana takes her seat. Ten minutes later, the meeting starts.

"Good afternoon everyone"

"Good afternoon, Director"

"Are you confused?"

            Everyone nods except Miana who is confidently looking straight to the director. The Director stood up and walks around the meeting room, glancing every part of the company's employee.

"I have a big announcement today. Are you guys nervous?"

            The Director chuckles making the whole meeting room full of nervous and teary-eyed employees. He watches their reactions as he continues to walk around the room.

"Why are you nervous? I'm just asking questions, ah?"

Silence filled the meeting room, waiting for the announcement, they can hear their heartbeats pounding hard from their chests.

"Okay, here it goes, you guys knew that we have a branch in Canada, right?"

"Yes Sir"

"That branch needs me and another employee here and one employee at our twin company"

             The silent employees slowly look at the Director’s eyes. He is not lying about it. Their eyes sparkling from what they just heard.

"The board of Directors already made a decision last week. I look upon your profile one by one. And made a list of the potential employee to accompany me in America. Are you excited?"

"Yeeeeeeees!"

"As I was saying, one employee here and one employee from the Phillis Corp"

              Silence filled the meeting for the second time, this time, employees look at each other now. Trying to find words to say to each other. They treat each other as family now, with a single promotion, someone will be far from them.

"Okay, the ambiance became gloomy. This is the time where my words sinking in your hearts. This is not a goodbye, okay? I know how important your so-built family here. This is your second home, our second home. And I know what you feel"

           Someone cried her heart out makes other people to be teary and sad. The Director waits until they are calm.

"Our branch in America needs me and the chosen one. The flight will be next month,  there will be a new employee, replacement for the one who will be pull out"

Everyone is shocked.

"Let's get to the point, I want Miana to stand up"

"Me? Sir?"

Miana is now shaking as she slowly stands at her feet.

"Yes, you. The board of Directors chose you too. This is not my decision alone. Your profile exceeds our expectations and here you are, our humble secretary"

"Uh, why me Sir? Vice president is fit for the job abroad. I'm still unexperienced"

"I know you will say that. But your work progress is increasing every single day. And Vice President Carole will be the Officer in Charge here while I'm away. So, she can't be the one to accompany me abroad"

"Uh, but..."

"No buts Miss. That decision is final and I am observing each once of you since last year"

              Miana stands in full surprised and her colleagues came rushing to her. And all the words from the Director sink in to her makes her cry. She remembers when she starts working there, people are friendly. They even teach her things one by one. No one leaves with a heavy heart from the company. They left with a happy face and they are happy to go to office every day. Even problems they share, they comfort each other. She even remembers how those people treats her even though she is not from Manila. Those things will be brought until she reaches America, her dream country.

 This is not a dream, right?