Being a celebrity doesn't mean that your fans will always love you. Damn, that's fantasy. I'm in reality.
"MANUELA, you have to study!" My manager, Tito Garry shouted. I'm tired because we go again, arguing over this topic. I secretly rolled my eyes.
This is where my world began to turn upside down. Imagine, I'm a superstar and I'm going to study because I have to prove something? Na-uh!
"What for? I don't have to graduate, and I don't need a diploma to prove something!" I screamed, as if I'm the boss.
I'm smart, he just doesn't know—because he's the stupid one. Bashers just don't know that I'm brainy, because they can't relate—they're brainless! My manager grinned and laughed, but not because he is having fun. He laughed without humor.
"You have to study again to prove that you're not fool. What kind of captions do you post on Instagram? They are now laughing at you because they thought that you're brainless."
Yeah right. After all, I am Manuela Carie Flores. I'm famous all over the country because I was the Teen Queen in the Philippines when I was a teenager, and I'll also say in Asia because I won Asia's Top Next Model and I've also been a guest on shows in the USA so I can say I'm on international level
Yes, yes! Whatever I do, I still have basherists or bashers—whatever! People will always find something that will make you look bad, especially if you're so good.
Even though I have carried my name around the world many times, and I am raising my flag, many still loathe me. They say I'm stupid, fool, and naive. They kept on emphasizing that I didn't finish my studies—of course I didn't finish. If I finished my studies, there will be no Filipino winner in an international model reality show!
I am Manuela Carie who was a guest on The Ellen De Generes, Good Morning America, The Late Show with James Corden, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Who would be their guests if I chose to study rather than pursuing my showbiz career?
So, for the peace of mind of this oldie manager of mine, my parents, and the whole management, I made a comeback. Not to telenovela, movies, or series, but to school!
"Aunt Lilah, what year of college did Manuela finish before she jumped into showbiz?" Tito Garry asked.
"Emcee has always been an actress. She was from Going Bulilit (Filipino children show)back then but she wasn't that popular ..." Mama explained. It's not important now I am the most famous Filipina today.
"So, what grade level did she finished, Auntie?"
"Second-year high school. Suppose it's grade eight now. If we let her study, she's grade nine now." Papa supported the idea of me, studying too! Why are they pushing me to study?
It's embarrassing for me to be in high school! I'm overage! Even in college, I'm too old for that!
"I thought you finished first year college, at least," my personal assistant, Dianne joined the conversation. I'm tired of this.
"At least I studied! And if I continued studying, MNL Entertainment wouldn't be filthy rich now. Isn't that right, Tito Garry?" I'm the reason why MNL Entertainment became the richest entertainment in the Philippines. I am their superstar.
"In that case, you will be enrolled as a grade nine student. It's only a year, Manuela. We'll just have to wait until your issue is forgotten," Tito Garry stood up, and gave me an assurance glance—the glance that I never wanted.
There's nothing wrong with me! I am just posting stuffs that I think is right, and the captions that I made came from the top of my heart!
"My body, my butt ..."
"It's better to give than to get ..."
"Time is not money but gold ..."
"Action speaking louder than words ..."
"Books are batter than boys, because boys are not books..."
My tears can't fight the feeling, and it rolled over my clear skin face. Am I really stupid? Do I deserve all the haterist (hate)?
-
A couple of months passed, and now I'm slaying not in a runway nor movies, but in a classroom. Finally, this school year is almost over, because we are currently in the fourth quarter. Just a little more time and I'm going back to America. I'm still part of Victoria's Secret fashion show, and I will be performing the newest Snow White movie this coming July. I'm already excited about my upcoming projects!
It seems like I won't be able to reach grade 10 for moving up because they are craving for my TV shows appearance. Ha! These punks miss me that much and they offer me plenty of projects.
I am currently in the school library to read our project in Filipino, Noli Me Tangere. According to our teacher, we will make this film and I can say that my groupmates will be very lucky because I will play Maria Clara and I'm also super sure that we will all have high grades for this project.
"We're almost graduating!" Julie said happily she's like my little sister. It's because she's young, she's 15, and I'm 24, so old yet looks so young.
"You're too excited, Julie. There's still grade 10!" Nico, one of my classmates who is 18 years old, pointed. He is a repeater that's why he's old—well, he's the real stupid, not me!—just kidding! He's smart, but vicious. "By the way Emcee, we will miss you."
"Yes, Sis. We won't have a superstar classmate anymore. You will continue your showbiz career, right?" Chesca said, frowning.
"And, Manuela, we already consider you a sister. Don't forget us, okay?" Roel said, one of my classmates.
The five of us reviewed Dr. Rizal's story. I smiled at the four of them. "Of course! Study harder, okay? Even without me! I'll visit you next year. I'll bring you gifts and then let's keep in touch with a group chat. I'll visit you on your up moving next year. Is it up moving?" I'm not sure.
"Moving up, Sis," Julie said laughing.
"Whatever. Moving up or up moving, it has same meaning! It means you won't graduate because you have to attend senior high first."
They laughed, so the librarian silenced us.
I am happy with my classmates because they considered me their older"sister" and very different from people on social media. I guess the people you met in person are different because they know you better and they don't judge you easily, unlike in online world.
A couple of hours passed and we are still reading in the library. Noli Me Tangere is too long, it's been long hours! Still sick of the unexpected happenings! The ones I read on webnovel that has100+ are the chapters and I can finish it In just a day. But this? Every chapter is long, and painful.
"Ate Emcee, let's read it tomorrow," Roel said impatiently. Unbeknownst to me, they were standing there wearing their bags.
Nico yawned. "Yes, there's still tomorrow. And then ..." he looked at his watch. His eyes widened and he looked at us in shock. "It's about eight p.m! Mother will be mad at me."
We didn't realize the time. We went home at 6 pm and we had been here at the library for two hours but we still couldn't finish it.
"All right, you go first. I don't have a curfew so I'll end this. Be careful guys!" Smiling, I said to them while waving. The librarian, who had a round mirror and long hair, looked straight at us. He has a mustache so I feel he is a man. I only saw him now because this is the only time I've been study here.
After a couple of hours, I am finally done reading the novel. My God! My tears kept on dripping! Why this story is like this? It's just a story but it hurts so much! As if it's reality. I just wanna enter the novel and kill Padre Damaso and Padre Salvi myself.
Why did Sisa have to die? All she wanted was to see her children. And Elias, why did he sacrifice? The extra characters are really unfortunate because they are sacrificing for the sake of the main character.
How unlucky! I just realized that my own tears were dripping from the old book of Noli Me Tangere. Annoying! I am so affected by this fictional story! What happened to Maria Clara was also annoying.
She's so gullible! She immediately believed that Crisostomo was dead.
They are annoying couples! They never meet again. This story, it's even more painful than a breakup! Maybe Jose Rizal was broken-hearted that time.
I slapped the book because I'm really annoyed! I don't care if anyone saw me. Mind their own business! I glared at the book and I rolled my eyes.
You know, if I had a chance, I would change the story. Sorry to Rizal's fans but if I have the chance, I will do everything to keep Juan Crisostomo and Maria Clara together. I would also like for them to succeed justice.
"I will surely change the story!"
"Really? You're going to change the story?" I was surprised because the librarian was in front of me.
"H-ha?" How come he heard what I was thinking? Or did I say that? Can he read what I'm thinking?
"Ahm, yes. If there's a chance. Unfortunately, there's no chance. All right, I'm leaving Mr. Librarian."
I couldn't clearly see his face because it was covered with tinted glass and he had a mustache. I already stand up and arrange my things. I had a bad feeling about his presence—what if he's a stalker?You know, it's really hard to be beautiful.
"In that case, I will give you a chance to change everything. May you succeed in this mission, Manuela Carie Flores. Adios y buena suerte nuevo personaje."
After that, the old book that I feel is 1900's or older suddenly there's light and it shook. It suddenly pulled me, just like how it's done in the Superbook series.
{This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.}
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2021
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