A lady sat cross-legged on a monoblock chair in the far corner of a chaotic film studio. Her brows furrowed in fierce concentration as she clutched the script like it was the Holy Grail.
Save for flipping a page now and then, she barely moved. But from time to time, people glanced her way, not because she did anything dramatic, but because... well, she just had that vibe.
You see, pretty faces were as common as dramatic love triangles in show business, which was why it took more than just good looks for a celebrity to stand out and yet, she did.
There was something about her presence, like a quiet gravity pulling eyes in her direction. It wasn't as over the top like a goddess descending from the heavens, though if you asked, she certainly wouldn't mind the comparison. Nevertheless, she had that can't-quite-put-your-finger-on-it quality, the kind that made it seem like she carried her own personal spotlight, effortlessly shining even in the busiest of crowds.
Little did anyone know, the real reason for her glow wasn't divine intervention. It was pure, unfiltered self-satisfaction.
Celeste—with a spotlight—Concepción had been radiating an intense case of main character energy and was extremely proud of herself. She had been that way ever since she landed the role of Billie, the second female supporting lead, in this year's most highly anticipated movie.
CeCe, you gorgeous, unstoppable queen!
She smirked to herself, riding the high of her own mental pep talk.
CeCe had been in this industry since she was twenty and after four years of playing background characters like Bar Girl #3, #2, #4 or Passerby A, B and C—doing five-second walks in the background, she was finally moving up!
No more blink-and-miss-it appearances!
No more being told to walkslower BUT also faster BUT also invisible!
No more endless hours in full makeup only for the camera to zoom past her face like she was allergic to screen time!
No more bringing her own heels, her own eyeliner and sometimes her own fake wine glass because props forgot again!
This was it... her big break.
She was finally someone with a name. A backstory. A close-up. She could cry now and not just in the restroom between takes.
It had all been worth it.
CeCe, best girl!!!
She was practically vibrating. Internally hyperventilating. Like how could she not? She felt it. The future she had imagined a hundred—no, a million—times was finally falling into place.
Flashing lights? Award shows? A trophy in each hand? She wasn't just aiming for it.
She was destined for it!
This year's Grand Slam Actress would be none other than her, CeCe!
But okay, enough daydreaming.
CeCe took a deep breath. She knew she wasn't the most experienced and not the most talented either. Fine. She could admit that.
But she firmly believed in the saying: The chicken that woke up early ate the worm first.
…Or was it the bird?
Whatever. Same energy.
The point was, opportunity didn't wait around and neither did she. That was why she had arrived two full hours before her call time, hoping to mingle and maybe pick up tips from the veterans. With enough dedication and a bit of strategic small talk, she figured she could blend in long enough to become one of them. A pro!
Call her Celeste—hardworking—Concepción, from now on.
She straightened her posture and flipped her script open again, pretending to study it even though she had highlighted it within an inch of its life. Still, she traced each sentences with her pen as if it were sacred text, nodding occasionally like she was deep in thought.
She focused on memorizing her lines or at least looking like she was.
From time to time, she glanced up and flashed a bright smile at passing crew members, tossing in the occasional cheerful 'Hello!' or 'Good morning!' like a true PR-trained angel.
Let them feel her eagerness. Let them see she was humble. Let them believe she was worth investing in!
She was doing everything she could to establish an image which was present, unwavering and wholly devoted to her craft.
She knew that there was deliberateness in her actions, but CeCe would argue that she hadn't truly been faking it. Not entirely. She had really been doing her best to make it! She called it manifesting.
...with a bit of strategy.
"CeCe! I've been looking everywhere for you."
"What's up, Ms. M?" CeCe looked up and there she was, Melissa Yu or Ms. M, her agent.
She was impeccably dressed and looking far younger than someone in her 50s. Melissa moved with the calm precision of someone who'd seen everything and could still handle more.
To CeCe, she was more than just a manager.
She was her stylist, PA, driver, unofficial life coach and practically everything in between. She was also the one who first discovered CeCe when she was working at a mall during her first month in the capital.
CeCe came from a small island in the south-central part of the country and let's just say comfort was a luxury they could never afford and being 'not well-off' is putting it very kindly.
Life had always been tough so when she finished high school she took a leap of faith and moved to the city to try her luck. It wasn't easy but it was worth it, at least she was managing to get by.
She always found a way to hustle even if it meant taking on small gigs as a background extra or landing the occasional commercial even if she was barely in the frame.
It wasn't much but it allowed her to support herself though there was never much left for savings.
But now—finally—she had landed a major role. Her first big break
This was it!
After four long years of surviving on scraps and hope, she could now see the light at the end of the tunnel.
"I've been calling you but you weren't picking up." Ms. M simply responded, ignoring her previous question.
Confused, CeCe checked her phone only to realize it was completely dead. She blinked at the screen before looking up with a sheepish smile while holding up the lifeless device like that alone explained everything.
"Sorry... my phone died." She said with an awkward chuckle.
"Seriously, how long have you been clinging to that dinosaur of a phone?" Ms. M sighed, shaking her head. "You need to be reachable! What if a producer tries to call and it goes straight to voicemail from 2012?"
Since when was Ms. M this dramatic? Her sass had evolved and joined the 2025 fashion lineup!
Still, she had a point. CeCe glanced at her phone with a cracked screen, a battery that dies faster than her last situationship and zero signal in elevators.
Okay, fine. Maybe it was time.
"Yes, yes, yes, I promise! As soon as I get my talent fee for this, I'll straight up buy a new one." CeCe said with a playful grin. "Why were you looking for me, though? Is there an audition?"
Ms. M's expression suddenly turned serious and she let out a sigh. "Bad news. The casting director said you don't fit the role. You're toostunning. They're looking for someone with a fresher, more innocent vibe."
CeCe didn't respond right away. She just sat there blankly, muttering under her breath.
"They said I was perfect for this role. The director even told me I was the Billie he had in mind when they were writing the script. Filming's about to start... I'm already here."
"I know, dear." Ms. M said with a sigh. "That's why I fought hard to get you some kind of compensation. It's not much but at least you're getting something out of this. A little something for your time."
She sat next to CeCe, lit a cigarette and said matter-of-factly.
"I heard the producer has a distant niece. She wanted to enter the industry."
Hearing this, CeCe blinked once. Twice. Then her face went blank as if her soul just quietly logged off.
"Anyway, they know they messed up so they're making it up to you with an advertisement. A perfume brand, locally made but has a solid reputation and a good image. Not bad."
"Tsk. Only one? Stingy." CeCe scoffed, letting out a soft, humorless laugh.
"Silly girl!" Ms. M chuckled, exhaling a puff of smoke. "People like us with no connections should be grateful we're getting something out of this situation. Others wouldn't be so generous."
"I know."
Of course, she knew. She had been here long enough to understand how this industry worked.
This wasn't the first time she got snubbed and definitely this won't be the last.
Ms. M was right, at the very least, she had gotten a benefit out of it. That should've been enough.
But it was still a bitter pill to swallow.
However, there was no point brooding over it. There was nothing she could do. This was how life worked.
This is just how it works.
Clenching her fists tightly, she flashed a sweet, almost innocent smile at Ms. M as she stood up and said:
"So, what now? Are we telling the director the unfortunate news that I'm backing out?"
Calm down. Just bide your time.
She kept telling herself this like a mantra as she stood up as if nothing had happened. It was as if she hadn't just received devastating news that made her dreams fly further and further out of her reach.
"I feel so bad. They'll have to scramble for a replacement at the last minute. Such a shame." She added, sighing dramatically.
She couldn't give up now, she couldn't afford to.
She had bet her whole life on this, there was nothing left for her but to move forward. However, it wouldn't be like this all the time, she thought, feigning optimism.
She was weak now, yes. But she wouldn't stay weak forever!
"It doesn't have to be that dramatic." Ms. M let out a soft chuckle, more amused than surprised by CeCe's sudden shift in attitude.
This was what Ms. M liked about CeCe.
She wasn't the best or the smartest but she had a certain cunning and a flexibility that let her bend and stretch without breaking. In an industry where the weak were stepped on and the strong were worshipped, that was exactly the kind of trait one needed to survive.
Ms. M's thoughtful gaze lingered a moment longer before shifting smoothly into businesslike efficiency as she checked her phone.
"Perfect timing. The milk tea I ordered for the crew as an apology just arrived."
CeCe chuckled at Ms. M's words. Honestly, she didn't know whether to be amazed or a little exasperated that Ms. M had already predicted her move and laid out the props for her next "performance." But then again… wasn't that to be expected? What else was there to do? For a moment, she couldn't help laughing at her own fleeting naivety.
CeCe's smile never faltered as she followed Ms. M to say goodbye to the crew, handing over the milk tea left and right as if it were a personalized apology note. When they finished, the two went straight to the director's office.
Inside, they made the usual small talk. Nothing too heavy. In no time, both parties reached an understanding, as both were fully committed to maintain the illusion of harmony.
"Sorry about this, director."
They seemed to talk about a lot of things, yet at the same time, it felt like they were talking about nothing at all.
"I understand." He replied. "It's not something we can control."
She wasn't sure if he was referring to her flimsy excuse or the real reason she had left the crew.
But frankly, she didn't care anymore.
What she didn't know was the director actually thought highly of her. He admired how gracefully she handled the rejection. Instead of letting it dampen her mood, she chose to turn the situation into an opportunity to leave a lasting, good impression.
He didn't know about the others but as far as the old director was concerned, if he had a suitable role in his next project, CeCe would be the first actress he'd consider.
In a way, CeCe's manifestation had come true, albeit through a twisted fate. She really had made an impression, just not in the way she had planned.
For now, though, CeCe was doing her best to carve out a door for herself. It might not seem like much, but for the girl she used to be, it was enough. If she could get something out of this, then she could consider all her effort—and everything she had gone through—not in vain.
The four years she had spent in this vast, unforgiving dye tank of society were not just for show, and today, just like every other day, she was still giving it her all to survive.