Regina's cameo for Marimar was a huge hit that she had garnered more attention than they have expected. She was the talk of the town for days, weeks, and even months. Her management had to take that opportunity and immediately launch a project for her, and like they had promised, a debut movie for the Valeria Valetin, it happened really quickly. For her movie debut, she's going to star in a romantic comedy film titled Brewing Romance, wherein her character, Lucy is a simple coffee shop worker who will be in charge of the shop as her boss, the cafe owner, would go away on a holiday, and from there she will meet the running senator named Hector who will be smitten by her. And you know how it works, they'll have this connection, some drama, and then they'll eventually get married in the end. It was that simple.

Since this was her first ever project and also her debut, she'll be the main highlight of the film regardless of the leading man. That was a huge change from her projects with Louie before, even though they were a love team it doesn't seem that way. Madalas kasi kay Louie ang focus ng lahat, and she realized that a bit later. Regina's leading man in her debut film is another rising star named Enrique Santos, he already has his own love team but his management wanted him to do other things aside from being enclosed in just his partner.

Enrique was nice but Regina wasn't really buying his niceness towards her. Naalala niya pa rin kasi ang nangyari kay Louie noon, the trauma was still there and if she were to trust a man, that would only be Ali and her father. Working with Ali for a year was already enough for her to know the guy. He is the sweetest and he knows his boundaries too.

Her debut movie went well and during the first week, it was a blockbuster. Everyone was praising her acting, the way her emotions can change in just a snap, the way she carries her lines with grace and authenticity. If it wasn't obvious already, people loved Valeria Valentin and they wanted more of her.

As a result of her successful movie, more projects were in store for Regina. Photoshoots, magazine covers, endorsements, commercials, name it and she has it. She was fully booked and until now she couldn't believe that everything she dreamt of is already happening.

Ali drops a newspaper by the small coffee table that was in front of Regina. She peeked at it and a smile graced her lips as she saw her face and name on the cover.

"Your movie was a success, congrats!" Ali gave her a wink. "I already sent copies to your parents na rin and they're very ecstatic as well."

Regina takes the copy of the newspaper in her hands. It was her name on the headlines this time, not as someone's on screen partner, but her name.

"Kung ililipat mo sa limang pages 'yung dyaryo makikita mo 'yung issue about kay Louie." Natatawang sabi ni Ali.

"Oh, anong nangyari sa kanya? I don't want to exert any effort flipping the pages. Ang ganda kaya ng mukha ko sa headlines," she reasons, her eyes never leaving the front page.

"He was caught with drugs in his bag. Under investigation siya ngayon."

"He deserves it, that man is an ass."

"Of course he does," Ali chuckles lightly but stops as his phone began to buzz. "Tumatawag sa akin 'yung noontime show for your guesting, are you up for it?"

"Anything that you think will be worthy of my time, I trust you naman," Regina smiles, showing her appreciation to the young lad.

"Well okay," nakangiti si Ali habang kinakamot ang batok niya. "Pero wait, marunong kang kumanta diba?"

"Oo, bakit?"

"Good, then we're accepting the guesting," he winked at her again before clearing his throat and answering the phone call he received.

Regina shook her head with a scoff, her eyes focusing on the newspaper again. She was slowly taking the stardom by a drizzle, soon after it'll be a storm.

As Regina stands up, the newspaper fell from her hands. It drops by on the floor, pages scattering, flying and losing its order as it does so. Regina pursed her lips at the sight.

"Imbes na wala akong liligpitin magliligpit pa ako," scratching her temple, she kneeled down and picked up the pages.

Picking it up one by one, she paused as she sees a page with a small headline that says, A little girl has talent for acting.

For some reason, she found herself smiling at that. She's glad that other people are having a chance to share their talents just like her.

"Sana maging bituin ka rin one day. Good luck to you," she closed the page and continued on with what she's doing.

Soon, she was done picking up the newspaper pages. Maayos na rin ang mga pahina nito, uupo sana siyang muli sa sofa nang pumasok si Ali, medyo gulat ang itsura nito parang akala mo nakakita ng multo.

"Oh, what's wrong with you?" Regina asks as her hand places the newspaper on the top of her coffee table.

If it wasn't mentioned yet, Regina has her own place in Manila. Her parents bought this for her as a gift for her graduation. She was in college now and she took up a business course since she wanted to run their family business in the future. Looking back at Ali, he looked frantic as he looks at her.

"Kakatawag lang sa akin ng management," he clicked his tounge, holding his hand that was formed as a fist up to his mouth. "How would you like to go on a few fake dates?"

"Fake dates?" Tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Um, oo. No touching nor kissing involved, wala talaga as in. Lalabas lang kayo para makuhanan ng pictures ng mga paparazzi's, that's it."

"Kailangan ko ba niyan Ali?" She asked him. If someone was to ask about what she needed or not, it was Ali. He was her manager after all.

"Of course you needed my answer," natatawa nitong sabi. "For me yes. This is only for pictures gaya ng sabi ko, tapos I made sure with the higher ups na pictures lang 'to. Don't worry Reg, they're more focused on you than combining you with a love team. Medyo may trauma sila with happened with Louie and his partner," a playful smile was visible on Ali's lips.

"Hindi naman siguro nila alam na ako 'yun no?" Regina giggles.

"Trust me they don't. Ni hindi ka nga nila kilala nung partner mo si Louie, lalo na ngayon na iba na 'yung itsura mo from before. People won't notice a thing."

Regina nodded. "Okay, so sino-sino naman ang makaka-date ko?"

"Wait," Ali pulled a crumpled tissue paper from his pocket. "Dito ko nalang sinulat wala na kasi akong time," he laughed. "Anyway, here are the men who you're going on a date with. Fabio Guerra, he's the same age as you are so I chose him. Blue Bautista, I know his name isn't quite loud but I chose him kasi I want him to have attention too and also he's kind of a nice guy, respectful, so mukhang hindi ka mahihirapan sa kanya. Ricky Salazar, medyo matanda sa'yo ng two years pero pinili ko kasi wala namang issues, syempre ayokong nahihirapan ka."

"Is that all?" Regina looks at Ali in anticipation. Parang may gusto pa kasi itong sabihin sa kanya.

"Sorry," Ali says all of a sudden.

"Sorry para saan? May ginawa ka ba?"

He cleared his throat. "Diba pumili ako ng magiging ka-date mo. Para pumayag sila sa ganong proposition kailangan pumayag rin ako sa gusto nila pero he's not the worst guy naman."

"Sino ba 'yan at parang ayaw mong sabihin sakin," her eyes grew large as a random name pops in her mind. "Hoy lalaki ka! Huwag mong sabihin sakin si Louie Sison 'yan! Sinasabi ko sa'yo masusuntok kita."

"Ang feisty mo naman," he gulped, holding the neckline of his shirt, slightly pulling it away. "Hindi si Louie."

"Eh sino nga kasi?"

"Johnny Benitez?"

"Huh," Regina pursed her lips. "Siya 'yung anak nung mag-asawang artista diba? In short, born of nepotism?"

"Siya nga. Apparently ilang beses na palang nagri-reach out ang management ni Johnny sa atin for a fake date. I said yes without asking you so I'm sorry. Kesa naman sa sila ang pipili ng mga ka-date mo, malay ko kung safe ba ang mga 'yun."

"You're doing your job Ali, I'm not mad and I understand," she ran her fingers through her hair. "Pero wait, why is Johnny Benitez reaching out to us?"

"Ang sabi nila sakin he wants to work with you that's why. You know the drill naman, what Valeria wants, Valeria gets. Ikaw ang star ng Rosas Studios," Ali raised his thumbs up to her. "Tatawagin ko na ang make-up artist mo at stylist para makapag-ready ka sa guesting. Anong kanta ang gusto mong kantahin mamaya?"

"To love again ni Sharon Cuneta."

"Copy madam, Reg!" He gave her a two thumb salute and walked away.

Regina chuckled at Ali's silliness. Who knew that she'd have a manager like him? Habang buhay na talaga siyang magpapasalamat na nagkaroon siya ng isang Ali sa buhay niya. Regina's smile went neutral as soon as she thinks of her fake dates that were bound to happen soon.

"Johnny Benitez," the name slips out of her mouth like metal being brought to fire. It stings and it burns. Saying his name was an enough warning for her yet she didn't knew about it yet.

⊱ ──── {.⋅ ۵♡۵ ⋅.} ──── ⊰

In the hustle and bustle activity within the city of Manila, there was a small restaurant that is opened twenty four seven to cater the hungry stomachs of airport passengers. Works there is young petite woman, her hair tied in a bun secured in a hair net that somehow shows some of her baby hairs and a few bangs swaying on her forehead, while she wore a red shirt and black slacks, on top was a white apron with a few visible stains with a small metal name tag pinned on the right side of her chest that wrote Hi, I'm Nari, along with a pair of old and stained sneakers.

The woman stood in front of a table that had four people seated. She holds a pen in her hand and a small notepad where she wrote the orders of the newly arrived customers on the table.

"Repeat ko lang po," she says with a small smile, repeating the things she wrote on her pad. Once she made sure that everything was all clear she politely excused herself and went through the small order window, hitting the small bell as she places tge note on another stack of pending orders.

"Nari, pasuyo, ikaw muna sa cashier," says on of her co-workers.

She nodded her head and went through the register quickly moving to cater the waiting customers for their orders and payment. It was a busy morning for Nari for it was a Monday. Maraming tao ang bumabyahe at maraming tao rin ang umuuwi. It didn't took Nari a while to finish her duties within the register at nang matapos siya dito, sunod naman siyang pumunta sa mga kakapasok lang na mga tao para i-assist ang mga ito. She knew it, it was going to be a long morning.

Hours passed by, it was eleven thirty in the morning. Wala pang masyadong tao sa ngayon since it wasn't exactly lunch time. Kaunti ang laman ng restaurant sa ngayon at ito ang mga oras na natitira para magpahinga si Nari pati na rin ang mga kasama niya sa trabaho. Nari was busy mopping the floors to prepare for the following lunch hour, sigurado kasi siyang marami ang dadating mamaya at ang malinis na sahig, magiging malabo sa dami ng tapak ng iba't-ibang mga sapatos.

While she mops, the hanging TV on the wall began to sang the theme song of the noontime show on the channel that they were watching. It was loud and cheerful that sometimes she can't help herself but sing along. As the song of the show comes to and end, Nari kneeled down and wring out the excess floor shining solution on her mop. Nakatalikod siya mula sa TV kaya hindi niya nakikita kung anong nangyayari dito. It's not like she has time to watch, kailangan niya munang tapusin ang trabaho niya with all the time she has left.

You see, time is gold for someone like Nari, as her life isn't really easy at all. Pagtapos kasi ng trabaho niya, kailangan niya pang bumyahe ng matagal para lang makating sa eskwelahan na pinapasukan niya. Kung pwede nga lang lakarin niya ito, ginawa niya na para lang makatipid ng pera, but it was impossible as she doesn't really hold her time.

Nari slowly stands up and holds the mop and the bucket of shining solution and as she spuns around, her eyes went glued on the TV screen.

"Let us all welcome, Valeria Valentin!" One of the hosts says gesturing towards the woman who waved at the camera. "Music please!" Muli nitong sigaw sabay alis para iwanan ang babae na mag-isa sa stage.

A smooth jazz went to play on the background, Valeria was caught in the camera again, smiling so warmly while she holds a mic in her hand, slowly raising it up to her opened mouth and then she began to free the melodious, angelic voice that she has.

"Radio's fine. It helps me forget for a while."

Nari stared at the television screen, oblivious to her mouth being agaped.

"I look back and recall. Those days I had with you."

Valeria Valentin was singing and Nari was like a dumbfounded fool, standing in the middle of the restaurant's walkway. She was in awe. Nari felt like she was being lifted up high in the clouds with Valeria's voice. Para bang bata na hinehele ng ina para makatulog. Nari didn't knew that her eyes were already closed, she just allowed herself to be engulfed with Valeria's soothing voice to take her away into the paradise of heaven.

It was a surprise to her that Valeria knew how to sing, although she shouldn't be really surprised at all. That woman was talented, sa pelikula palang nito kitang-kita na ang galing niya. Hindi na rin siya magtataka kung narunong rin itong sumayaw o tumula. Mukhang lahat naman kayang gawin ni Valeria. Kaya niya nga ito hinahangaan. Napakagaling kasi nito. Maganda na, talented pa, lahat na yata. Hindi naman halatang paboritong bigyan ng blessings ni Lord si Valeria, para kasing sinungkit niya na ang lahat.

"And I don't want to go on pretending. That its going to be a happy ending.
If I should love again. Once I've learned to love again. And, no, it will never be the same without you baby. This pain inside me is driving me crazy. 'Cause, its hard to love again."

Nari felt a soft tap on her shoulder, causing all the paradise of daydreaming in her mind fade away. Iminulat niya ang mga mata niya at nakangiti sa kanya ang kaibigan at ka-trabaho na si Pia.

"Di naman sa sinisira ko 'yung moment mo pero gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo na may klase ka pa at baka ma-late ka."

Nari's eyes grew wide. "Hala oo nga pala!" Chuckling to herself she glanced back at the television once more, smiling like an idiot at Valeria's close up camera shot. "Hindi mo kasalanan, ako 'yun."

"Sino kausap mo?" Pia lifted an eyebrow at her.

"Wala," she shrugged, walking away to return the mop and bucket from the closet supplies.

Nari went to stamp a time out in her working card. Oras na para umalis siya sa trabaho at mag-aral naman. She quickly took her work uniform off and went to change into her school uniform. She bid goodbye to her workmates and hurriedly exited her working premises. The airport was like a bazaar with all the people. Sobrang daming tao, malamang ay naghahanap na ito ng mga lugar na kakainan nila or bibilhan ng mga pagkain o di kaya pasalubong.

"Tiis pa Nari," whispering to herself she gained a light of hope.

She was on her first year of college and since college is very expensive, Nari had to take a good paying job. Hell, even if it wasn't a good paying job she'd still get it. Naging swerte lang talaga siya kasi nasaktuhan niya ang trabaho niya. Hindi man sakto sa mga kailangan niya pero nakakatulong na rin. Palabas na sana siya nang mahagip ng mata niya ang magazine stand na nakapwesto malapit sa pintuan ng building. Nari walked over to the stand, smiling to herself as she sees the latest girl magazine where Valeria Valentin is the cover.

"Ang ganda mo talaga," shaking her head, Nari went to check her wallet. May pera pa naman siya. "Excuse me ho, isa nga po nito." She took the magazine and paid for it. Of course she had to take one last glance at it before storing it on her small backpack. "Dibale nang walang makain mamayang hapon. Kwekwek nalang uli," chuckling, she went out of the building and hurriedly walked towards the loading and unloading station of the jeepney.

Agad na sumakay si Nari dito at kinuha ang libro para sa subject niya ngayon, binuklat niya ito at binasa. This was Nari's only free time, her jeepney and LRT rides where she'll be able to read her lessons. Kapag uwian niya na kasi mula sa eskwelahan, didiretso pa siya sa library para mag-ayos ng mga libro, kinuha niya rin ito bilang raket niya at pagtapos naman noon ay diretso tulog na siya pagdating ng bahay nila para mag-handa sa duty niya na nagsisimula ng alas diyes ng gabi hanggang alas sais ng umaga. Ngayong araw lang talaga siya natagalan sa duty niya dahil kulang sila sa tao. She stepped in and took the hours as soon as she heard that she'll be paid, she doesn't need to be told twice.

After two jeepney rides and one LRT ride, Nari now reaches the university where she goes. Takbo na ang ginagawa niya dahil late na siya ng sampung minuto sa klase niya. Reaching her said room, her professor was already there and when their eyes met, her professor simply gestured for her to enter which she's thankful for. Considerate kasi itong mga 'to sa kanya dahil nga nagta-trabaho siya. Nari quietly enters the room, sitting down on the available chair, she pulled her small binder notebook and took notes of the whole lesson.

Her five hour class came to an end and since she took too many hours on her shift earlier, wala siyang part time work sa library ng eskwelahan. Dumiretso ng uwi si Nari at hindi pa man siya nakakarating ng bahay nila, amoy na amoy niya na ang iniihaw na barbeque mula sa kalsada patungo sa kanila. Nari turns to a street where she saw her mother fanning the grill filled with different kinds of sticked meats. She was just like her mother, ang iba nga lang sa kanila, umaga, hapon, at gabi ito nagta-trabaho. She approached her mother, taking her hand to raised it up on her forehead. Nag-mano siya sa ina at niyakap naman siya nito pabalik.

"Buti naman nandyan ka na, eto nak oh, nalutuan na kita ng ulam," her mother, Risa, gives her a plastic bag full of the grilled meats she cooked earlier on.

"Si nanay naman, baka naman malugi ka na nito?"

"Hindi!" Matigas na sabi ng nanay niya. "Aba, magagalit ang tatay mo kapag hindi kita binigyan tsaka may porsyento ka talaga dito, dalhin mo na 'yan sa loob at kumain ka na. Matulog ka na, bawiin mo naman 'yung araw mo."

Nari smiled and gave her mother a hug. She was thankful for having a sweet and caring mother to look after her. "Salamat nay, pasensya na di ko kayo matutulungan ngayon."

"Wala 'yun! Pasok na sa loob, sige na," Risa pushed her daughter away with a laugh.

Nari had to quickly get inside of their quaint home. Hindi naman ganoon kaluma ang bahay nila, pero mukhang sinauna kasi ang labas nito. Ang bahay nila ay mataas, may hagdanan munang dadaanan bago ka makarating sa mismong bahay nila, may palapag gaya ng mga bahay noon. Gawa sa kahoy ang mga pader nito dati, pinaayos lamang ng mga magulang niya para gawing bato, ang mga bintana naman at gawa sa capiz, may mga grills na rin gawa nung nanakawan sila noon. Ang sahig naman ay gawa rin sa kahoy pero matibay naman at hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin nabubutas kahit anong takbo ang gawin ng mga kapatid niya.

Nari finds their house unique and beautiful. Hindi problema sa kanya kung hindi moderno ang bahay nila, as long as the family that stays inside it is happy, then she's happy. Isa pa, pamana ng tatay niya ang bahay na ito sa kanya. Her real biological father, a Spanish soldier who died in a war. Hindi niya na ito nakilala dahil makalipas ang isang taon mula ng ikinasal ang nanay niya dito, nabalitaan nalang na namatay na ito sa gyera. But despite that Nari didn't grew up to be fatherless. May dumating na lalaki sa buhay ng nanay niya at pati na rin sa kanya. Tinatro siya nito na parang sariling anak at ano pa nga ba? Siya na ang tumatayong tatay ni Nari ngayon.

As Nari climbs up the stairs, the sound of running feet and high pitched laughter began to fill her ears, and as soon as she reached the two opened wooden doors, she saw two girls running around in circles, playing together. On the sofa was her tatay Ramon holding a brush and sticked meats, running the brush over the meat, coating it with his secret sauce as he calls it.

"Oh, nandyan ka na pala!" Her father was really ecstatic to see her. Itinaas nilang nito ang likod ng kamay para doon mag-mano si Nari, puno kasi ng sauce ang kamay nito.

"Hello tay," she greeted him, turning to her two sisters.

"Nancy, Nina! Yung ate niyo nandito na oh, kayong dalawa talaga!" Ramon called on his other two daughters.

Tumatawang tumakbo ang mga ito papalit kay Nari at mahigpit na yumakap sa ate nila.

"Hi ate, we miss you!" Nancy, the second daughter giggles.

"Inayos namin 'yung kwarto mo para matutulog ka nalang," sabi ng bunso nilang si Nina.

"Thank you," hinalikan niya ang mga ito sa noo. "Sige na, laro na uli kayo."

Nari watched her sisters run away from her, entering their imaginative world once more. Lumiko na siya at dumiretso sa kwarto niya at gaya ng sabi ng mga kapatid niya, maayos nga ito. Nari placed her bag on the back of her door, hanging it there as she takes out the contents of it. Kinuha niya ang mga libro at ang iba pa niyang gamit, gagawa kasi siya ng nga activities at homework habang kumakain siya. Pwede niya naman kasing pagsabayin ang dalawa. As Nari takes the contents out of her bag, she then hold onto the magazine that has Valeria's face.

A smile graced her lips as she stares at the front page. "Syempre dito kita ilalagay para lagi kitang makikita," as if talking to the magazine, Nari winked at it. Sunod niyang inilagay ito sa lamesa kung nasaan ang mga gamit niya at iba pang mga libro. She placed it on a shelf, making sure that the cover page was facing her. "Sinong hindi gaganahan mag-aral niyan?" She took one last glance of the cover page before turning her back away.

This is Nariah Dahlia Claveriá. A student by the morning, a worker by the afternoon and night. A mere dreamer who didn't know that soon enough would be walking among the stars.