As a early sunrise hits the white gravel sparkling like a diamond, a notification flashed on the car's system and the driver rolls the car rounding the grand fountain of several layered ones and the manicured garden being cared by old aged workers.
"I was the first worker, who's been working for young Alla since the beginning of the journey. I have been her uncle figure before when she had nothing but fire in her eyes. I was living in a rented room with close due bills almost impossible to pay. She was my neighbour. Young. Beautiful. No family. No friends. Scholar student. Fire in her eyes working nonstop with her sewing machine. She pays up her own bills and I envied her. We both used to ignore each other. Other creep neighbours tried to approach her but her menacing look made their blood run cold. I woke up late at night just to guard her pressing ear close to my door, but no such people ever dared to come. But in return, many residents just started to disappear from the apartment. Strange case.''
''I remember that day clear as glass. She looked straight at me with suitcase in her hand, ready to leave and asked if I could drive, when landlord was with a group of men to get her overdue bills.''
Helpless. I said, ''Yes maam.''
She said, "Then drive.'' Stacking my bills to the landlord.
No contract, no interview. Just Trust.
2 years past, now she's… well- versed, hard working just as her young self…" His voice trailed, hiding those past as the early light glimmer over the driveway.
Inside, Alexia walked past the couch where the unknown person slept, with a orange cat plushie aside. She leaned down, to check the forehead but the man's eyes furrowed, with a hint of resentment as he witnessed her kissing the plushie at cheek.
The driver's gaze held on Alexia briefly with considerate and calm expression, quickly gets hardened. His eyes filled with dislike as they fell on the man walking nearby coat draped over his arm, ever-present, always close to her.
'' Uggh! This person, it makes sense to follow her close at everywhere being a main assistant''… he mutters, gripping the wheel. ''But house? Why would an assistant even live with his boss? A spike of irritation and suspicion coiled in his chest as he parked the car carefully into the spot.
The driver stepped out with bright smile greeting her and moved to open the door but the man was faster. He opened the door and Alexia enters not studying the situation. The driver got anxious as he discovered a dead stare on him. The driver tried to gesture Alexia about that using his full strength but he failed badly unable to move an inch.
"I will," the man said, his tone deep edged with warning, stepping closer. "Cause, I'm her personal assistant. And I take this job seriously."
A chill ran down the driver's spine and for a moment, the morning air felt heavier than before, as if those words carried more than they revealed and the world shifted to another, completely belonged to him. Just like that, it quickly turned back to morning bright light.
The driver stiffened, as he gasped for air to breath. "Assistant or not… he looks more dangerous than any mafia I've ever seen."
The assistant sat beside Alexia, face calm, enigmatic, and takes her hand like he own it and tends carefully to her bruised, pin-pricked hands with ointment and new medical tape while she was busy on call with her coming clients.
From the driver's front seat, he tightly gripped the wheel. ''If anyone needs protecting here… it's me—from him'' as he started the car and it head towards the heart of city.
In the heart of the busy and capital city, full of top tier building, the building of one of the least known entertainment company pulsed with activity. Behind a storage looking door, sharp voices cut through the muffled walls. Inside, the manager's words volumed up like a metal concert.
"Matrixxxx," the manager snapped, releasing his frustration before them. "What's this? Your album sales only saled up 4 in number which collectively counts a sample given to you all. The music video uploaded has a comments worse an any idol group.''
''Do you even realize that people are saying why the company was even selling the album of such group who are nothing but a waste for a company." He pulsed and pointed a finger at Rei.
"Reiii, a main vocalist of Matrix?''
''People are commenting, your singing is like a hyena bailing."
His eyes then, flicked to Classic. "And you-a main dancer? Sorry, also the group's visual, you've failed to stand out as visual even after working out at gym.''
''Finally,'' he turned to Frey. "Frey. Your rap? Forgettable.''
''You all need to be better so to keep your friend Lys atleast in this company if you want none." The room fell silent, tension pressing down with shame falling upon them.
At the hallway, a footsteps approached, with coolness and creating buzz among staff for a guy dressed in average outfit still creating chaos where other rising idols are styled professionally beside them. A figure—blonde hair half-tied, half loose, black crop tee under a fitted jacket, ripped pants hanging with casual defiance, a guitar strapped across his back walked through the hallway and paused hearing a commotion in the door.
Rei spoke first, voice strained stopping to spill something hidden word. "I'm doing my best to gain popularity. And I have even gained some fans that I uploaded in the youtube. They told me that my voice is healing, warm and soulful. Doesn't that count? " Classic and Frey tried to shut him.
''Did you uploaded the video without company's permission? How could you even think of that, when you have your own channel." The manager offended raised his voice with high tone.
Suddenly, the blonde figure enters the room and the manager raged face turns soften wotha false warmth. "Oh, Lys! Finally finished your shoot, did you?"
The members' eyes turned to him at once-envy, resentment, relief, all tangled together.
"Now I wonder… why didn't you call me in earlier?," Lys replied calmly, his voice steady but carrying weight. His gaze cut across the room like a blade. "As it was only to harass my group member and to force them to leave the group. "
The shift was subtle but dangerous almost like a open threat as his tone dropped lower, masking a warning in his smile."I only worked on this campaign for one reason because you forced my friend to make me join for official contract.''
''Now, I am done with your mistreatment, manipulation and a lack of sincerity and protection from the company who even haven't announced us a s a official group. You are just using our talent and songs to make your rising idol more famous, keeping us down.''
The manager stiffened, words caught in his throat as Lys suddenly torned the contract paper. Something in Lys's eyes pinned him where he stood harshly. Without another word, he hurried out, the door clicking shut behind him and said them shakingly. "Get your f*** out from the company." and ran cowardly.
The noise, he left behind was heavy and deep. Frey exhaled first signing deep squeezing the nose bridge. "Lys… why did you torn the contract we just achieved at last."
Lys turned to him in rage, authority radiating from his every word. "Stop mistaking threats for guidance. I won't allow this company to break us mentally further more."
Classic stepped forward, jaw tight, pride burning."You're our leader, yes. But you think you can rule and control us by toring the contracts. The rest of us work just as hard for this contract and you torned that. Just glue this contract and apologize to the manager."
Lys's eyes didn't waver. His smirk was slight, controlled, cutting. "I'm the reason you are still in this company. Visibility matter. Don't confuse your pride with the truth. Now, we're not gonna work back at this company again."
Classic's jaw tightened, his voice rising with raw defiance. "You can clearly say visibility matters. But I'm the visual of this group and that's my role. Not yours to line that up. Just go and apologize to the manager" The words hung in the air like a sharp and bitterness as nobody wants it to happen.
For a heartbeat, Lys said nothing. His gaze was steady, unreadable, the silence almost more dangerous than any reply. The other members shifted uneasily, caught in the crackling tension between their leader and their main visual, unsure which flame would burn brighter—or burn them all.